BiffTFinancial
Local Heat Tracker
Rutgers: O looked solid early, OU didn’t stop them at all 1H (4 TDs, 1 FG), then they went into a shell 2H in part because their D couldn’t stop OU. Schiano and staff got outcoached, surprised they didn’t adjust better. They look like a potential over team if they don’t get the D addressed. Robb Smith and Zach Sparber are co-DCs and the program was very pleased to get Smith back from JMU. It’s game 1 so definitely more wait-and-see than panic. They have the players, they just played really undisciplined and got carved up by a MAC team.
Ohio: Man. I expected their D to struggle and their O to be solid. Well, their D really showed up 2H and their O was outstanding. The play calling was excellent (Smith keeping play-calling duties looks like a good decision) and so were Navarro and the skill positions. They ran for over 200 yards in Piscataway! WVU could be in trouble next week. At the very least, OU TT is on the list of leans.
Minnesota: Thank goodness PJ Fleck is coaching the Gophers rather than Schiano or Barry Odom because he held the ball for the final 9:45 when he could’ve easily scored (had Bulls +18’). As good as Buffalo’s D is, Gophers OL was able to dominate the 4Q. Also, Drake Lindsey in his first start pushed the ball downfield more than I’ve seen Gopher QBs do so in forever. The announcers pointed out multiple 3rd downs when old Minny would’ve gone underneath and instead allowed Lindsey to push it past the sticks. Significant departure from prior approach. I came away impressed with Gophers. Not challenge-for-#4-in-BIG impressed, but impressed. Hard to tell how good D is because Buffalo’s offense is so limited, but they did their job.
Buffalo: Very good D, limited O (Roberson doesn’t throw well between the hashes), well-coached. Could be good team for unders.
Wisconsin: Poor Billy Edwards. And poor Luke Fickell, but in a different way. No reason to expect Wisky to smash Miami here but it wasn’t impressive in the 1H when Edwards was in. Game 1 of new offense so can only judge so much but little reason of optimism. D looked solid but it was against Dequan Finn. If they don’t watch it they’ll compete for bottom 4 in the B1G.
Miami: Will be solid MAC team again despite all the turnover and Finn will determine how far they go. Difficult to judge O much when they only had the ball 20 minutes. D looks as if they’ll tough again.
Nebraska: O will have a much higher ceiling with Holgerson as OC and D remains strong despite turnover (note: they have some problems to address vs running QBs). Culturally, they have to learn to win close games first, and last night was a big one (and against a quality opponent).. Raoila is impressive. So far so good on Rhule Y3.
Cincy: Had +7 so wasn’t displeased by the Sorsby INT to avoid potential OT - a YOLO throw on a non-YOLO play. Cincy run game and D looked really strong. Passing game was bad. Caldwell and Walker both need more touches.
Ohio: Man. I expected their D to struggle and their O to be solid. Well, their D really showed up 2H and their O was outstanding. The play calling was excellent (Smith keeping play-calling duties looks like a good decision) and so were Navarro and the skill positions. They ran for over 200 yards in Piscataway! WVU could be in trouble next week. At the very least, OU TT is on the list of leans.
Minnesota: Thank goodness PJ Fleck is coaching the Gophers rather than Schiano or Barry Odom because he held the ball for the final 9:45 when he could’ve easily scored (had Bulls +18’). As good as Buffalo’s D is, Gophers OL was able to dominate the 4Q. Also, Drake Lindsey in his first start pushed the ball downfield more than I’ve seen Gopher QBs do so in forever. The announcers pointed out multiple 3rd downs when old Minny would’ve gone underneath and instead allowed Lindsey to push it past the sticks. Significant departure from prior approach. I came away impressed with Gophers. Not challenge-for-#4-in-BIG impressed, but impressed. Hard to tell how good D is because Buffalo’s offense is so limited, but they did their job.
Buffalo: Very good D, limited O (Roberson doesn’t throw well between the hashes), well-coached. Could be good team for unders.
Wisconsin: Poor Billy Edwards. And poor Luke Fickell, but in a different way. No reason to expect Wisky to smash Miami here but it wasn’t impressive in the 1H when Edwards was in. Game 1 of new offense so can only judge so much but little reason of optimism. D looked solid but it was against Dequan Finn. If they don’t watch it they’ll compete for bottom 4 in the B1G.
Miami: Will be solid MAC team again despite all the turnover and Finn will determine how far they go. Difficult to judge O much when they only had the ball 20 minutes. D looks as if they’ll tough again.
Nebraska: O will have a much higher ceiling with Holgerson as OC and D remains strong despite turnover (note: they have some problems to address vs running QBs). Culturally, they have to learn to win close games first, and last night was a big one (and against a quality opponent).. Raoila is impressive. So far so good on Rhule Y3.
Cincy: Had +7 so wasn’t displeased by the Sorsby INT to avoid potential OT - a YOLO throw on a non-YOLO play. Cincy run game and D looked really strong. Passing game was bad. Caldwell and Walker both need more touches.
