- Overall-I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is the new normal. We have lost 10 out of the last 11 games and something has become apparent this far into the season. This program is in over its head. The effort of the players has been there all year, and the defense has played some of the best football of their lives considering who they have had to go against. The execution has lacked on offense and to a lesser extent on special teams. Here is the bottom line, we do not have the talent writ large to compete on this level. We just don’t. We have some guys who are talented enough to make a difference on this level, but we need to recruit better. We need to just do better in all areas. I applaud how hard these players are playing for our beloved blue and gold, but this offseason is going to be long and we are going to need to do some internal searching for why the program has gone from bonfire to dumpster fire.
- Offense-Same stuff. First off, I love Josh Magana, but the honeymoon phase is over. This is 2 games he threw interceptions on what were game winning drives that cost us the game. Magana has got to learn 3 things as a passer-1. When you throw a ball, its either hitting your receiver, or its hitting the ground. Now, I know, there are tipped passes and things that go bump in the night and QB’s cannot help that, but the air mailing the ball has got to stop. 2. If there are defenders closing in but the front is open, take that lane and run like your life depends on it. 3. Don’t force throws that aren’t there. Chunk it into the stands and live to die another down. We are down at running back right now due to injuries, and our wide receiver corps is really Keith MIller and then everyone else, but the tight ends have played very well. Preston Kilgore has really come into his own and had made some huge catches but writ large, we need more talent on offense, and really it comes down the most important part, which is the offensive line. They have not done a great job protecting any quarterback this year, and that has to improve. Does not matter what you have as far as skill players, if you don’t have a line to protect, your offense is as good as dead.
- Defense-Once again, they kept us in this game. The difference is, they have had injuries too, but have played with a high level and one thing DC Kyle Williams has done has adjust. Last week, Nicholls had their way with the defense in the first half with 21 points, second half, Lion defense held them to 6 points. Yesterday, 17 first half points only to shut out the Huskies in the second half. Some people have said they feel the defensive backfield is overly aggressive. Maybe, but when your offense sputters so much and can’t put up much, your defense has to score for you and that has been the story of the past two seasons. Its a shame their effort has gone for naught for 3-4 games.
- Special Teams-Mitchell McGarry might be the most important component to this team because he has done his job so well over and over again and yesterday was no exception. Aiden Martin again does his job and I can’t wait for him to take reigns next year in all sides of the kicking duties. There is a disturbing trend and I love Emmanuel Adagbon to death as he embodies everything a Lion student-athlete should be, but he is 5/11 on field goals and has missed two extra points. I don’t know what the deal is, and it could be a lack of protection because last year he was 10/12 on field goals, and based on how the line has not protected our running game, that might be on the line, and that needs to change because as I said, without a line protecting, you are toast whether running, passing, or kicking.
- Going forward-Next week we face a Lamar team that is much better than what we thought they would be. We have only two games left and there is a real chance we finish 1-9, but what you have to look for is the trends both up and down and just hope this is a necessary rough patch to get us ready for better days down the road. We have been there before.
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