Elon Game - Good, Bad and Ugly

[MolivaManiac]

Lots to digest from today.

The good:

-We are accumulating some good young talent on the roster. True frosh Singelton did a really nice job on the OL. Singleton, More and McConnell have the makings of a good unit developing there. Same goes for Dykes and Howard in the backfield.
-I thought Mancuso had a pretty solid game against a pretty sturdy Elon defense. I particularly like the way he spreads the ball around.
-Micah Breckenridge had his best game of he season at punter. By far.
-Another solid game for our front 4 on D, causing lots of pressures and getting some sacks. It is a shame that we are wasting a really good group on the DL this year.
-I thought Billy Caughell played with a lot of emotion and toughness.

The bad:

-Trau shanking a short field goal and putting a kickoff out of bounds at a critical time. I've had about enough of this stuff.
-CAA Officiating really hosed us twice in the fourth quarter with reviews and reversals of on field calls. Targeting is targeting, period. On the fumble, the ball was obviously moving before the runner was down. And the correct calls were made on the field ... and then overturned.

The ugly:

-What in the holy hell has gone on with this secondary this year? There is talent there but they either do not know how to tackle or just don't want to tackle. Bad angles. Blown coverages. Big plays. We need to find some new coaches or new players or both back there before next season. A complete mess.

Overall, a very tough loss but some bright spots. Hope we can refocus after the bye and get a few wins before the year is over.

 

[32counter]

 

[SpiderRick]

Good: Our players

Bad: Our coaches

Ugly: Our record since this coaching staff took over

 

[32counter]

 

[32counter]

Reversed Elon fumble and UR recovery included in these highlights:

 

[MolivaManiac]

Can an educated observer tell me if the 4th down play at 1:15 of the video is the fault of 95 Ejoni or 23 Jones? I am thinking the prior or perhaps a combination.

 

[SpiderFan26]

That's Ejoni's guy. You can run those blitzes with a versatile DE that blitzes when the back blocks and takes him when he flares. Jones looks to have the hook and probably is focused on the other side because that's where it's most likely going (if the back is covered)

Basically that seems to be the worst possible coverage for Ejoni to have a brain fart

 

[32counter]

 

[Eight Legger]

The worst part of this game was listening to Brockmeyer doing play by play for three hours on TV. Enough with Mr. Radio Voice there, sly. Good lord.

 

[32counter]

A couple of reversed calls didn't help Richmond in 38-28 loss to short-handed Elon
JOHN O'CONNOR·5 hours ago


ELON, N.C. - Elon played without its two best offensive players and still had enough to beat Richmond 38-28 on Saturday. Two replay reviews worked against the Spiders in the fourth quarter, when it was a one-score game.

The Spiders (3-5, 1-4 CAA) came around in the second half against Elon's rushing game, which was effective for most of the afternoon. UR cut Elon's lead to 35-28 with 8:48 left on a 40-yard Joe Mancuso touchdown pass to Jarmal Bevels on fourth-and-4. UR's next two possessions ended with a punt and with a sack. Each came after calls on the field were overturned by the replay booth.

"Coaches always tell us, 'Don't leave it up to guys in striped shirts,' " Bevels said.

With the score 35-28 and 8 minutes remaining, officials on the field ruled that UR's Darius Reynolds caused and recovered a fumble at Elon's 39. Replay officials overruled that call, apparently determining that the twisting Elon ball carrier was down, back-first, before Reynolds stole the ball during the tackle.

"I was looking at the [replay board], and it looked like [Reynolds] was ripping that thing out and kind of had it before they even went to the ground," UR coach Russ Huesman said.

It didn't appear on replay that there was enough evidence to change the call, but it was changed.

"Honestly, I think if we would have got that [fumble], I think momentum would have shifted ridiculously, and we probably would have gone down and scored," Bevels said.

With Elon still ahead 35-28 and 2:50 remaining, Mancuso passed for Tyler Wilkins (L.C. Bird) near midfield on third-and-10 from the UR 20. Wilkins did not make the catch and was hit high. Officials on the field threw a flag for targeting. That also was reversed by replay officials, and Mancuso was sacked at UR's 14 on Richmond's next play.

"Obviously, they saw something," Huesman said of the replay officials on the Wilkins' situation. "You hate for a kid to get thrown out of a game if it's not targeting, and so that one didn't bother me."

The Phoenix kicked a 37-yard field goal with 52 seconds left.

Elon (5-2, 3-1 CAA), ranked No. 11 in the FCS poll, played without Malcolm Summers, who averages 118.2 rushing yards. Summers has a hamstring issue. He ran for 292 yards on 40 carries in Elon's 36-33 win at UR last year. The Phoenix were also missing sophomore QB Davis Cheek, 2017 CAA offensive rookie of the year. Cheek suffered a season-ending knee injury last week early in loss at Delaware.

Elon rushed for 368 yards in last season's victory and gained 253 Saturday, with backup tailback Jaylan Thomas running for 150 and backup QB Jalen Greene gaining 79. The Spiders calmed down those two as the afternoon progressed.

"We got a couple of things adjusted in the second half, what they were doing and what they weren't doing," said Spiders linebacker Justin Rubin (13 tackles).

The teams traded scoring bombs in the first quarter, with Mancuso passing to Caleb Drake for 66-yard TD, and Greene hitting Corey Joyner for a 60-yard TD. The teams combined for five touchdowns in the first half, after which Elon led 21-14.

The Spiders head into their bye week. They have three games remaining, starting with a Nov. 3 meeting with Villanova at Robins Stadium.

"I don't want our football team to get used to losing," Huesman said.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

JOC writes without thinking. He makes his article sound as though we lost to their second
string. So was Brissett or Simpson who went down on punt return or two offensive linemen starters not key for us? Were we not missing players who could influence the outcome of a game? It is not exactly like we are the deepest team in the world. We need this bye week badly, plus maybe JOC can practice rewriting his articles.

 

[Spider B]

Regarding the secondary, I know it’s a young group but they have played a lot of football this year. I think there is some talent there. That said, they look like they are lost out there. The blown coverages kill us every game. As a group they just don’t tackle well. How many big plays have we given up because we miss multiple tackles? Combine the big plays we give up because of busted coverages with the big plays we give up because of missed tackles, it’s easy to see why our record is what it is. We have to get better in the secondary to take advantage of a really good defensive line.

Offensively, I think we have found a QB for the next 2 years, we have a lot of talent at RB and receiver, and the offensive line played really well. Really encouraged with the running game yesterday against a top level CAA defense.

 

[Ulla1]

JOC writes without thinking. He makes his article sound as though we lost to their second
string. So was Brissett or Simpson who went down on punt return or two offensive linemen starters not key for us? Were we not missing players who could influence the outcome of a game? It is not exactly like we are the deepest team in the world. We need this bye week badly, plus maybe JOC can practice rewriting his articles.

Carolina, I had the same impression about joc’s article. He often does this with articles involving other sports as well.

 

[DTSpider]

Wasn’t able to watch the game yesterday but honest question for Mo and others with a knowledgeable eye, how far away do you think the secondary is from being a solid unit? Is it just experience for the young guys? Is it lack of depth? I keep reading that we have talent but it hasn’t shown up to this eye. Our guys seem both a little undersized (particularly at safety) and a step slow (except for Vinson - but he appears lost in coverage). In other words, is it just coaching? Or is the coaching just that bad?

 

[MolivaManiac]

Wasn’t able to watch the game yesterday but honest question for Mo and others with a knowledgeable eye, how far away do you think the secondary is from being a solid unit? Is it just experience for the young guys? Is it lack of depth? I keep reading that we have talent but it hasn’t shown up to this eye. Our guys seem both a little undersized (particularly at safety) and a step slow (except for Vinson - but he appears lost in coverage). In other words, is it just coaching? Or is the coaching just that bad?

I hope someone more knowledgeable chimes in but a few thoughts specific to the personnel:

-Micah Keels was supposed to be the experienced player back there and we have not gotten anything from him this year. I guess it's spillover from his injury at the end of last season. There may be some character issues here too. I know he was suspended from at least one game last year for missing curfew the night before a game.
-I still think that Jones and Williams have some promise but they do sort of seem to be 'tweeners'. Are they big enough to play safety? Are they fast enough to catch a wide receiver? Given those questions, are they players that were better suited for a Rocco/Cosh/Trott zone than man assignments?
-Springs. He started the year at Safety and then had his disappearance and now is playing corner. That might be more out of necessity than anything. Some of the same size/speed questions may be here too?
-Marcus Vinson can really run but he seems to struggling with tackling and catching interceptions. Both Vinson and Springs are still young guys.
-After that, we have some other guys like Nicholson and Roberson who might be able to mark a 3rd or 4th wide receiver but lack the athleticism to mark top flight guys?

Overall, and i am no defensive guru, but i think more zone looks might help these guys out some. Hopefully the couple of recruits we have coming in can be pressed into action next year. We also have Funderburk coming in. Perhaps we will see more of him the last few games.

 

[REDS1]

Many have played different positions this year. Very young secondary but only 9 guys I believe...
Springs started at free safety this year but has moved to cb.He's young and a lean and will get better at cb.
Perry they 've moved him all over the place and really have to figure out what he is in the secondary. Perry played well last week at Albany.
Nicholson has been moved three times since the season started I heard. CB then strong safety to help out with the lack depth and then they moved him to dime because he tackles well.
Williams and Jones are the more experienced guys back there and are the leaders of the secondary. Jones tackles well and Williams has been a team player by moving from dime to safety.
Vinson is also young only played special teams last year. Remember this is his first year starting.

 

[I-M-UR]

traveling and couldn't watch or listen to the game; were we still playing the 4-2-5?

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

traveling and couldn't watch or listen to the game; were we still playing the 4-2-5?

We mostly played 4-3. Caughell, Rubin, Matthews.

 

[I-M-UR]

We mostly played 4-3. Caughell, Rubin, Matthews.

Well at least we tried something to beef up the linebacker corp to stop the run, unfortunately it didn't seem to help. Huesman has a lot of work to do.

 

[ChoppinBroccoli]

Nothing to disagree with in that post, Mo. I'll add a couple of thoughts:

The Good:
Mancuso to Drake on the first TD was the best ball we've seen from a QB all year. The offense just runs better with 12 than 7. Hopefully we can put that controversy to bed.

The Bad:
Huesman's game management decisions are not those of an underdog. I was riveted watching Purdue dismantle Ohio State last night. Attack, attack, attack relentlessly. Every time Brohm was faced with a decision, he chose the aggressive option. We are so cautious; it's a big reason we haven't pulled off an upset yet during his tenure.

Perspective:
5 years ago, 8 games into Danny Rocco's second season, we were 2-6 - including losses to Gardner-Webb and a bad Rhode Island team.
Our current 3-5 team has lost to Virginia (who's actually pretty good) and 4 CAA teams who all might be ranked in the top 15 in the country tomorrow.
Like we did 5 years ago, it's time to show our pride and run the table against the middling CAA teams left on our schedule. Let's discover what we have, whether freshman or upperclassman. There are 16 DBs on our roster. Let's find out who can tackle and wants the opportunity to start in 2019. Like you, I'm very excited about the young players who have already earned some playing time. A backfield of Howard/X/Dykes/Deontez? Yes, please! Heck, we might even be able to redshirt Dykes next year if Xavier can be a bell cow, and we can get some reps from Palmer.

 

[DTSpider]

We mostly played 4-3. Caughell, Rubin, Matthews.

Think we’ve been running the 4-3 for several weeks.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

Many have played different positions this year. Very young secondary but only 9 guys I believe...
Springs started at free safety this year but has moved to cb.He's young and a lean and will get better at cb.
Perry they 've moved him all over the place and really have to figure out what he is in the secondary. Perry played well last week at Albany.
Nicholson has been moved three times since the season started I heard. CB then strong safety to help out with the lack depth and then they moved him to dime because he tackles well.
Williams and Jones are the more experienced guys back there and are the leaders of the secondary. Jones tackles well and Williams has been a team player by moving from dime to safety.
Vinson is also young only played special teams last year. Remember this is his first year starting.

Teams seem to pick on Vinson more due to his experience level.

 

[CarolinaSpider]

We forget Xavier Goodall is out and having he and Dykes and their speed next year, could be something to behold.

I was disappointed Collins only got one carry. Also when a QB connects less than 50% that is not a good day. Now there were at least 4 throws that receivers had their hands on the balls for good gains. Wilkns only had one catch and heard he played with an injury. Second, Brissett would be making a huge impact if playing, due to fact he was freuently double teamed.

I still feel JM's receiver decisions needs some work and experience. Several times he threw into double and triple protection. When an aerial view was shown he had 1 or 2 receivers wide open 15-20 yards downfield. His throw to Drake for 66 yards yesterday and the throw down the sideline st Albany for 30 yards were precision A1. JM has unlimited potential.

 

[REDS1]

Keels is hurt.
Thomas is hurt
Banks- Redshirting.
Funderburk-Redshirting
Roberson -Special teams guy only.
Rogers -Not a caa player.

That leaves us with 9 in a young secondary.

 

[I-M-UR]

Think we’ve been running the 4-3 for several weeks.

The weeks tend to run together but I thought we'd experimented with it against Albany? either way it may have help some but to give up 284 yards rushing isn't a good sign.

 

[32counter]

Keels is hurt.
Thomas is hurt
Banks- Redshirting.
Funderburk-Redshirting
Roberson -Special teams guy only.
Rogers -Not a caa player.

That leaves us with 9 in a young secondary.

Is Keels really hurt?This should be a redshirt year if he decides to come back as a RSr.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Is Keels really hurt?This should be a redshirt year if he decides to come back as a RSr.

*if the staff decides he should come back for another year*

I really doubt it.

 

[32counter]

*if the staff decides he should come back for another year*

I really doubt it.

That was the point of my original -unanswered question.

 

[ur2K]

And what are we doing with the RB position? Are guys not healthy enough to get a handful of carries a game?

 

[Outoftheirminds86]

I have sat for 3 years and read these Richmond blogs and realized that you clowns really dont know football. I have observed yah debate about it's the coaches fault no it's the players fault no it's the wind fault well you know what the team sucks. Players have not developed and some of it is the coaches fault some of the players fault.

You have inconsistent oline and dline play, linebackers who cant read keys and fill run gaps, dbs who are scared of their own shadow cant tackle, dont want to tackle, no technique, no confidence just garbage but I forgot you are the same people that said Marcus Vinson was going to be great and Dionte Austin was a playmaker you guys dont know football. Running backs that fumble at the wrong time, and inconsistent quarterback play so of course you will lose games.

Lastly for the fools that are mentioning Keels injury and maturity I think you guys need to watch film of the 3 years he has played and sit beside real db coaches, wide reciever coaches and real football experts in general. He has arguably been your best db since he walked on campus. Your loyalty to Jordan cost you 2 games to 3 games last year. Mainsah was a good corner but he was not better than Keels did he make a random interception here and their yea but how many times was he beaten consistently. You talk about his character but you had a 6'3 190lbs db play dime which consistented of being a linebacker, a slot corner, safety all in one and performed well and sacrificed for this sorry team when he didnt have to.
You say the coaching staff dont want him back you really dont know what's going on in the locker room maybe you should talk to the coaches and ask them who is their best db is. Keels gave you one a glimpse how he is a shut down corner playing on one leg for two series the JMU game and two pass breakups wow your other Dbs were beating up and down the field like drums. Did you know the coaches begged Keels to come back and play one leg all year because one leg Keels is better than the Greatest DB in Richmond history Markus Vinson, and the playmaker/bench rider Dionte Austin. The injury is and real the metal plate is out the foot and he will be 100 percent for the next team so see you suckers in 2019 while he is playing field or boundary corner his natural positon for one of your rivals.
Miss a curfew so what he paid the price and moved on alot of people on this team do crazy stuff but you fools will never know.

 

[SpiderFan26]

^^^definitely not related to/friends with Micah

 

[Outoftheirminds86]

Team Manager I am. Who are you Team Manager for the intramural football team because what you be saying out your mouth I know you have know idea what's going on in the locker room. So keep getting water and training the student body members for flag football.

 

[Spider B]

Welcome 86. Bitter at all?

 

[Outoftheirminds86]

This is a blog let's speak the truth bitter about what? I dont think everyone is on the same page of analyzing football games and film that deals with the Richmond spiders.

 

[SpiderFan26]

I hope someone more knowledgeable chimes in but a few thoughts specific to the personnel:

-Micah Keels was supposed to be the experienced player back there and we have not gotten anything from him this year. I guess it's spillover from his injury at the end of last season. There may be some character issues here too. I know he was suspended from at least one game last year for missing curfew the night before a game.
-I still think that Jones and Williams have some promise but they do sort of seem to be 'tweeners'. Are they big enough to play safety? Are they fast enough to catch a wide receiver? Given those questions, are they players that were better suited for a Rocco/Cosh/Trott zone than man assignments?
-Springs. He started the year at Safety and then had his disappearance and now is playing corner. That might be more out of necessity than anything. Some of the same size/speed questions may be here too?
-Marcus Vinson can really run but he seems to struggling with tackling and catching interceptions. Both Vinson and Springs are still young guys.
-After that, we have some other guys like Nicholson and Roberson who might be able to mark a 3rd or 4th wide receiver but lack the athleticism to mark top flight guys?

Overall, and i am no defensive guru, but i think more zone looks might help these guys out some. Hopefully the couple of recruits we have coming in can be pressed into action next year. We also have Funderburk coming in. Perhaps we will see more of him the last few games.

IMO its consistency. I think Trent is one of the best we have in secondary and has done well at both spots, but no one else had really had enough consistency to lead to a dominate performance. Huesman puts a lot more stress on corners than Rocco did, but again if that's not working make a zone adjustment. It seems to be a tricky balance of wanting to work through issues vs making changes to accommodate players. How much do you change vs how much do you work on something to have it good enough

 

[SpiderFan26]

Ok 86, then analyze the rest of the team for us

 

[Outoftheirminds86]

Mancuso is the perfect quarterback for an RPO offense because he can run. You guys have beat up Kevin Johnson all season when he is not an RPO quarterback he is a pro style quarterback going forward he should look to transfer. Your running back positon is in great hands with Dyke, Goodall, and the kid from Charlotte. Gordon Collins could be the perfect running back with his height, strength and speed ratio but he runs with the ball like it has came out of the oven(fumbles) alot, plus his pass blocking is horrible. Thompson needs an agility ladder he has no wiggle and if blocking is not their he is done, but he does run hard like a man on drugs. Receivers are the strongest part of this team and probably the best collective group in all of Divison 1aa football. Heisman just did not recruit correctly their is no depth on this team. Need more transfers that can help, why waste scholarships on people who ride the bench or wont give playing time to such as the kid from Maryland.

 

[SpiderFan26]

Defense?

 

[SpiderRick]

So sorry that we're all a bunch of dumb ass fans, waterboy. Maybe don't lower yourself by coming here, and just go back to your PlayStation.

 

[DTSpider]

‘86 - your analysis seems pretty legit to these eyes. What are your thoughts on this years freshman class? It’s the only class Huesman has recruited so curious if you think it’s headed in the right direction there.