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Thoughts on the Rice loss.....

Heath Hinton

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Jun 15, 2017
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After watching the game again, here are some notes/takeaways from the game:

1. Lange was a gamer. He was 23-37 304 yards 1 TD and 3 INT. Just like when Keyes came in against Grambling and the offense put up numbers, I said we have to remember competition. We have to do it here as well. Rice is a bad defense and that has to be taken into account. Not sure how much of the offense Jake knows yet, but after the first score, the Rice defense set back in Zone and baited Lange to throw it and he did. If Keyes is injured, then Lange will get work with the #1 group and will get better. Am I ready to replace Keyes with Lange? No, Keyes was improving. That interception thrown by Keyes was bad, but would be interested to know with his left leg injured that might have resulted in the pick. If Lange starts against UTEP, look for struggles and areas he will have to improve.

2. The O-Line is just bad. How could this group go from looking so good against FAU last season to what they look like now is beyond me. Washington is too slow at RT and needs to sit. Put someone out there who will at least get a hand on a guy in pass protection. They did run block better, but that had a lot to do with Rice dropping back in zone almost every play trying to bait a Freshman QB. 4 OC in 4 seasons. These guys have never witnessed consistency at the coach level, how can you expect them to do it on the field.

3 Defense played well enough to win, Rice did get 14 points off turnovers. In the 3rd quarter Rice owned the ball 11 of 15 minutes. For some reason the defense comes out cold in 2nd half. That needs to be adjusted.

4. Briggs is missing too many makeable FG. For whatever reason, too much penetration, rushing to get the kick off, That miss loomed large in 2nd half.

5. Even though it was Rice, this team is getting better. They were in the game until the end. IF Ty wouldn't have got hurt, would things have been different? Who knows?

6. Hall also had to be called out as well. Play calling was suspect. That deep throw at the end was a no need play. Plenty of time and good field position, throwing it deep when double covered, is just bad. Hall has to hit the transfer portal, problem is, he only has about 8 spots left. Look for him to push some schollys forward and sign more than 25. Unless the NCAA passes the 7 extra schollys this season, so we shall see.

Homecoming is this week, UTEP is coming to town.

USM has now had 4 head coaches and 5 quarterbacks in 1 season. Not sure any school in America could overcome that. With as much as this team has gone through, it is surprising that they are even competitive. That type of turnover on a team will wear down on anyone associated with the team.
 
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