Plusses and Minuses

[MolivaManiac]

Some plusses and minuses from the UVA game.

Plusses:

-I thought the Pass Protection from makeshift O Line was adequate. Nice job by 62 McConnell in his first college game at center. We might have a player there.
-D Line held up very well.
-New long snapper Laughlin stepped in an did a nice job and i thought the punting from Breckenridge was adequate.
-We got out of there fairly healthy from what i could see.

Minuses:

-Hope we get Xavier back soon because we don't have a lot of pace from the guys back there today.
-We have some really good wide receivers and we need to do a better job getting them the ball.
-The onside kick after our touchdown was a horribly timed call. We had the momentum and we gave it away right away. Not a smart move.
-Second and third level tackling was just plain bad. Looked like Sam Houston State all over again. Needs to improve and fast or this season is going to snowball on us.

Lots of stuff to work on before next week. On to Fordham.

 

[Marley13]

Totally agree about the onside kick.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Some plusses and minuses from the UVA game.

Plusses:

-I thought the Pass Protection from makeshift O Line was adequate. Nice job by 62 McConnell in his first college game at center. We might have a player there.
-D Line held up very well.
-New long snapper Laughlin stepped in an did a nice job and i thought the punting from Breckenridge was adequate.
-We got out of there fairly healthy from what i could see.

Minuses:

-Hope we get Xavier back soon because we don't have a lot of pace from the guys back there today.
-We have some really good wide receivers and we need to do a better job getting them the ball.
-The onside kick after our touchdown was a horribly timed call. We had the momentum and we gave it away right away. Not a smart move.
-Second and third level tackling was just plain bad. Looked like Sam Houston State all over again. Needs to improve and fast or this season is going to snowball on us.

Lots of stuff to work on before next week. On to Fordham.

You seem to see what I saw. I will add that Markus Vinson not being able to come down with that pick after the dumb onside kick (seriously wtf was that we just scored on them straight up the play before) would of really put UVA in a position where Perkins and crew would have to beat us passing the ball (where they struggled) rather than pounding it down our throats(easy peezy against us). While impressed with Perkins legs, way to inconsistent passing the ball. UVA may of been up for it, but being down 10-0 with the fans already sighing "here we go again" as they did after our pick 6 would of made the game far more interesting. UVA was clearly better prepared this time around, slightly better talent then the last time we played them.

Considering we were aggressive with that Special teams call I was a little suprised that we opted for the FG (One we missed) on 4th and 1 when we were already down a couple scores. Add that to essentially waving the white flag with 3 TOs left at the end of the 1st half really left me scratching my head.

Also, KJ has a rocket but caught him throwing off the back foot quite a bit with some of his heaves.

I still feel more confident on our ability to convert a 3rd and 8 then a 3rd and 1.

We have an ACC caliber receiving core.

Have areas to improve in but I do feel better about our pass defense after the first game this year as opposed to last year.

No more damn weather delayed season openers.

 

[32counter]

Spiders took their medicine at Virginia, move forward with offensive intentions
JOHN O'CONNOR·1 hour ago


CHARLOTTESVILLE – That's over. Medicine was swallowed. Bad taste followed. Rinse and proceed.

No more this season will the University of Richmond encounter as much speed, size and depth as it faced in Saturday night's 42-13 loss at Virginia. Nor will the Spiders have to deal again with the slipperiness of new and unknown U.Va. quarterback Bryce Perkins, a 6-foot-3 210-pounder with tackle-avoidance quickness, savvy and a good enough arm to balance the Cavaliers.

Perkins finished with 108 rushing yards and 185 passing yards. UR coach Russ Huesman said the Spiders probably didn't adjust quickly enough to U.Va.'s option, but added that Perkins "is a big-time player. ... We were scrambling defensively trying to figure things out. Having a dynamic guy like that was tough."

The Spiders made some plays on both sides of the ball, said Huesman, "But the one thing, we've got to score points offensively."

Richmond's only touchdown came on a defensive score, the 72-yard interception return by linebacker Dale Matthews in the first quarter.

UR took its $405,000 check and boarded motor coaches for the ride home, without serious injuries. As in most of these FBS-vs.-FCS deals, the conquered leaves considering how this performance would have translated against an FCS opponent. The Spiders must be encouraged that they were able to move the ball via the pass against an ACC defense, and wonder if they can be better along both lines against the remainder of their schedule.

The line operations were the Spiders' biggest concerns coming into Scott Stadium, and going out.

While the Spiders hit some big plays, they did not establish rhythm because the ground game never engaged behind a thin and inexperienced offensive line. Richmond's defensive line wore down rather fast, in part because of the lack of depth. U.Va. rushed for 301 yards.

"They did a really good job of hitting our edges and getting us running, and bringing it down to one guy to make a tackle," said UR defensive lineman Andrew Clyde. "I think more often than not, we didn't make that tackle this day."

Kevin Johnson, the junior in his first season as Richmond's starting quarterback, experienced an uneven evening (11 of 28 for 194 yards and two late-game interceptions). Huesman liked that Johnson never looked rattled, a good sign in the coach's mind.

"I did OK. I had a few bad plays that I need to get better on, but I think I did OK for a first start," said Johnson, who redshirted last year after making three FCS playoff starts in 2016 in place of injured Kyle Lauletta.

Johnson periodically was able to take advantage of Richmond's greatest assets: receivers Cortrelle Simpson, Tyler Wilkins and Dejon Brissett. They combined for 151 receiving yards.

In the 2016 opener for both programs, the visiting Spiders won 37-20, outgaining Virginia 524-302. The Spiders led 13-0 and 30-7 with 10 minutes left. Lauletta, who passed for 337 yards and three touchdowns in that game, was on the Richmond sideline Saturday, taking a weekend break from the New York Giants.

Matthews intercepted a forced Perkins pass (one of his only obvious errors) and scored. The Spiders went ahead 10-7 midway through the first quarter, and that lead was Richmond's last of the game, which started 39 minutes late after a lightning delay.

Richmond, picked seventh in the CAA preseason poll, appears to have two inviting opportunities to recover and generate momentum before opening CAA competition Sept. 22 at Stony Brook.

Fordham, picked to finish third in the Patriot League, visits Robins Stadium Saturday. A week later, the Spiders host Saint Francis, which is projected as the fourth-place finisher in the Northeast Conference.

 

[32counter]

 

[32counter]

via

 

[LongTimeLurkerFirstTimePoster]

Some plusses and minuses from the UVA game.

Plusses:

-I thought the Pass Protection from makeshift O Line was adequate. Nice job by 62 McConnell in his first college game at center. We might have a player there.
-D Line held up very well.
-New long snapper Laughlin stepped in an did a nice job and i thought the punting from Breckenridge was adequate.
-We got out of there fairly healthy from what i could see.

Minuses:

-Hope we get Xavier back soon because we don't have a lot of pace from the guys back there today.
-We have some really good wide receivers and we need to do a better job getting them the ball.
-The onside kick after our touchdown was a horribly timed call. We had the momentum and we gave it away right away. Not a smart move.
-Second and third level tackling was just plain bad. Looked like Sam Houston State all over again. Needs to improve and fast or this season is going to snowball on us.

Lots of stuff to work on before next week. On to Fordham.

re: -The onside kick after our touchdown was a horribly timed call. We had the momentum and we gave it away right away. Not a smart move.

I believe I heard BB say that it was not supposed to be an onside kick, but Trau mis-hit what was supposed to be a pooch kick.

Either way, not to go all SpiderRick on the Special Teams, how can we have a guy who doesn't appear to have leg strength to kick a 45 yard FG kicking off? The math doesn't add up.

 

[SpiderGuy]

Totally agree about the onside kick.

Re: the on side kick - If it was intended, I'm just not getting it at that point in the game. Great if it works, but it didn't, and it quickly reversed our momentum. It didn't need to occur at that point in time in the game.

It reminds me of last year at JMU. Similar situation in 2nd half when we had a short field goal and were in the game. So we dial up a fake field goal on 4th and 3 (i believe). We got burned on that. It didn't need to occur at that point in time in the game.

Timing and decision making are crucial elements.

 

[MolivaManiac]

re: -The onside kick after our touchdown was a horribly timed call. We had the momentum and we gave it away right away. Not a smart move.

I believe I heard BB say that it was not supposed to be an onside kick, but Trau mis-hit what was supposed to be a pooch kick.

If true, and based on what I'm hearing about his meltdown on the sideline last night, sit 44 on the bench. Have the brother do placements and get Breckenridge do the kickoffs or find someone in the dorms that can tryout.

 

[SpiderFan26]

The tee flew about 15 yards on the "onside kick." To me that's a pretty clear signal that it wasn't intended. Didn't see the meltdown but not acceptable either way.

 

[URSpides2017]

Were any of you down on the sideline to hear what was being said before Trau flipped out? Huesman runs ridiculous schemes on special teams and then gets mad when they aren’t executed correctly. It’s funny how some of you turn on Griffin so quickly after praising him for the past two years.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

Why kick a FG when you are behind 25 points?

 

[DTSpider]

The tee flew about 15 yards on the "onside kick." To me that's a pretty clear signal that it wasn't intended. Didn't see the meltdown but not acceptable either way.

I could only catch what watchESPN showed on the sideline...but it wasn’t pretty. It appeared to my eye that Trau hadn’t followed the playcall (the kick was a short pooch kick) and that he was yelling back at Huesman. I don’t know the relationship but from this persons view I’d side with the coach on this. If coverage is running one way and the kick isn’t on the same side It all falls apart. But I’ll defer to the experts. Perhaps I should be happy that Trau cares enough to throw his helmet, but it all seemed rather childish.

 

[DTSpider]

All things considered - there were a lot of positives to take from a loss. I’ll do my judging the end of the first month, but no reason to panic yet.

 

[spiderstudent17]

I was impressed by our freshman long snapper and punter. I agree that we need to put more emphasis on getting touchbacks on kick offs. Special teams is a vastly important aspect of the game that is often overlooked

 

[KBBFL]

Were any of you down on the sideline to hear what was being said before Trau flipped out? Huesman runs ridiculous schemes on special teams and then gets mad when they aren’t executed correctly. It’s funny how some of you turn on Griffin so quickly after praising him for the past two years.

Because kicking a pooch kick is such a ridiculous scheme...

 

[32counter]

We had 3 red Zone opportunities that came away with 2FGs and a missed FG.

The missed FG was a 28 yd attempt ( ball on 11 yd line).It was in the series in which Simpson caught the 54yd pass play.The score at that point was 10-21.No points,no nothing.Should have somehow punched it in to make 17-21.

We started another drive from the Cav 37 after their bad(27 yd)punt.We drove to the 20 and settled for a 37yd FG.

 

[MolivaManiac]

The missed FG was a 28 yd attempt ( ball on 11 yd line).It was in the series in which Simpson caught the 54yd pass play.The score at that point was 10-21.No points,no nothing.Should have somehow punched it in to make 17-21.

That shanked field goal was the beginning of the end. Hit that and we are still in a 1 score game. Missing it took the wind out of our sails completely.

 

[Ulla1]

That shanked field goal was the beginning of the end. Hit that and we are still in a 1 score game. Missing it took the wind out of our sails completely.

Unfortunately, Mo, believe we were going to get our butts kicked, field goal or no.

 

[spiderjpo]

Positives: both defensive ends were active and disruptive at times. Punting and long-snapping were solid. Three TE targeted passes. Tyler Wilkins was super aggressive going after balls thrown to him.
Needs Work: kicking game, TACKLING/pursuit angles, 3rd down efficiency, high risk passes on first down or into double coverage on any down. No attempt to establish run game(hopefully due to FBS opponent)

This team has the pieces if they continue to develop and we get healthy. Hoping for continued improvement next two weeks and injured players that were out yesterday all are back by Stony Brook when we will really see what this team will be able to do.

 

[32counter]

Unfortunately, Mo, believe we were going to get our butts kicked, field goal or no.

That’s exactly why Russ is scheduling and opening up with powerhouses Longwood and IUPUI and St Francis NY next season and infusIng 30 pounds of food into each of the undernourished-adolescent bodies of the incoming frosh.He’s working on their vertically challenged jumping abilities too.

 

[DTSpider]

I’d be curious if the folks that were live had the same opinion, but from the limited amount I could watch love it sure seemed that Mo Jackson and Darius Reynolds were very disruptive. Realize depth is an issue along the d-line but if we have 4 guys that can penetrate that’ll really help out our young secondary.

 

[spiderjpo]

Totally agree DT Spider. My live view found them to be very disruptive as stated above. Probably a credit also to attention being given to Clyde and Ritten on inside.

 

[MolivaManiac]

Agreed. Against a less athletic quarterback (and we wont see a quarterback as athletic as perkins the rest of the year) the front 4's ability would have shown even more

 

[SpiderRick]

Either way, not to go all SpiderRick on the Special Teams, how can we have a guy who doesn't appear to have leg strength to kick a 45 yard FG kicking off? The math doesn't add up.[/QUOTE]

Now I'm a verb? Wow I'm coming up in the world!

 

[KE Spider]

Better than being a dangling participle.

 

[whampas]

Or a misplaced modifier.

 

[KE Spider]

Interesting to read everyone's take. I left with more questions than answers.

 

[FrontRoyalSpider]

Or a misplaced modifier.

Or a Dillweed!

 

[SpiderK]

That shanked field goal was the beginning of the end. Hit that and we are still in a 1 score game. Missing it took the wind out of our sails completely.

I agree Mo, that missed chip shot field goal ended any chance of a competitive game. However, the UVA QB could have run for 250 against us if they needed him to. They just didn’t want him to get hurt.

 

[Captain Anderson]

As already mentioned our second and third level tackling and angles on tackles were pretty horrendous on Sat. We made Uva's rb look really good on some very vanilla running plays. Those weren't plays where our d-line was getting destroyed...we had a lb or db there but he either took a poor angle or missed the tackle after contact. I will say #9 played a great game. Looking forward to big things from him this season. On the kicking front: if we don't have a K who can kick it deep we need to start kicking that deep pooch kickoff like Clawson used to employ. Make some poor upman have to catch that thing. That is if we have a K who can execute that kind of high pooch kickoff.

 

[MolivaManiac]

That is if we have a K who can execute that kind of high pooch kickoff.

i think this is the real question at the moment.

 

[PASpider]

The more important question is whether or not Huesman is the right coach for this program to achieve championship caliber status again. That question wasn’t answered yesterday or last season, but so far I’m not overly impressed.

 

[SpiderK]

The more important question is whether or not Huesman is the right coach for this program to achieve championship caliber status again. That question wasn’t answered yesterday or last season, but so far I’m not overly impressed.

Hard to forget Huesman went 6 and 5 in 1-AA with a NFL quarterback.

 

[whampas]

Hard to forget Huesman went 6 and 5 in 1-AA with a NFL quarterback.

Offense wasn't the problem. Not so Special teams and a new defensive scheme held us back.

 

[Captain Anderson]

Offense wasn't the problem. Not so Special teams and a new defensive scheme held us back.

Agree except for the JMU game ironically. Best game our D played all year. For 3/4 of the game we had superior field position and failed to take advantage. But it took half the season for the defense to start figuring out what Huesman wanted.

 

[SpiderRick]

And by then he had blown an opportunity to make the playoffs with a team that had a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run.

"If it ain't broke don't fix it"