Generic Overview: Wvu vs K state A close friend of mine said watching this team is a lot like playing a old favorite record (CD for youngsters , I suppose), that every time it gets to a certain point, you know it is going to skip, fail to play, perform, no matter how many times you play it. Unfortunately, I am starting to feel the same way where our team is concerned. We have spurts where we play a little better at times, but the spurts never seem to last for a full game, most notably the latter parts of the games when it counts most, and parts that were better last game are not better this game, but revert back to old habits, etc, etc. Individual players put up some nice performances at times, but seldom seem to build on that for the next game., etc. I think it is fair to say this is not a mini-trend, but a ongoing one that goes back to the middle of last season. Many have compared the process to when RR was here, saying he went 3-8 the first season, which is true, of course, but we must remember that was his first season at the helm, not his third. Also, his teams showed improvement from that point forward, which clearly is not happening here. We are pretty much doing the same things now we did early in this season, late last season, to beat ourselves.We plug one hole in the dam only to see another one resurface that was fixed earlier. Bottom line, we find a way, be it a new way, or a old one, to prevent ourselves from having a chance to win late. Good teams absolutely have to find a way to finish games, as the first 3 quarters often only put teams in position to win games, then the good programs find a way to execute under pressure to get those wins in the fourth quarter--most of the time. IMO, we clearly are not doing that, for the most part, even when we often get some big breaks from the opposition to finish. We just dont seem to have that mental toughness to weather the storms of sheer will in the fourth quarter, and, we seem to panic a little on the sidelines at critical intervals of the game--again, IMO. It is as though we all are expecting something good late to win a game, but deep down, we know it is not going to happen--and it does not. I will be very surprised to see us win 6 now--very surprised. Worse than that, I dont see the consistent improvement anywhere that would indicate we are getting better despite the loses. I will be more than glad to eat crow for the sake of the University, the state. Matter of fact, I want to eat crow. Sadly, I dont think I will. Quick Notes On the Game: Positives: 1. I thought Trickett played pretty good for much of the game, less the 2 fumbles and one ill advised short slide that would have gotten a first down. The one INT. was a deflection that could have been caught. Unfortunately, we are not good enough to overcome the equivalent of 3 TO by our QB, no matter how well he played the rest of the time. 2.Thompson continues to make one or two really good receptions per game, leaving me to think he just might develop into a good one for the future. 3. Lambert continues to do a good job on FGs when given the chance. The one block looked to be high enough, but the middle of our line just collapsed on that one--totally. 4. Thank goodness for the 2 KST fumbles in the red-zone we recovered, or the game would have been over much earlier. 5. Big run after the catch by White. I would like to see him catch more of the balls thrown to him, so the QB would want to throw to him more. Negatives: 1. No way we should have tried a fake FG run by the holder on 4th and 7 inside the 10 yd. line with a chance to go up 12-7 just before the half. There are way too many defenders in a compacted area near the goal line for that to work. Seven yards is a mile in that situation. Its not like faking it out near midfield where defensive players are back deep to receive the kick, out wide to bock guys going down field to cover the punt, etc. Those 3 points were a lot bigger than the final score would indicate. Being down only one score in the fourth would have totally changed both the offensive and defensive strategy for both teams in a way that could have worked to our advantage. 2. The slide that was not a first down was a huge play there for the taking, we did not do it. A short punt followed which totally flipped the field, eventually ending up in a KST TD. 3. WRs, as a whole, still not making enough catchable receptions. 4. Considering the way Trickett had thrown the ball ( the 2 critical fumbles were on runs ), I was surprised at the switch in the 4th. I am not saying he would have led us to a victory at all, but I thought he had thrown well enough to get the shot, probably give us the best chance. Not much here all did not already know, not much that I have not written before, but, to be honest, we are pretty much where we have been for awhile, not much new to write about. I guess we are what we are--not very interesting. Here is hoping for a win next week. There is always hope when there is little else. This seems to be where we have docked our boat.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:18:17 +0000
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