MTSU Game Recap

0:44 Welcome back to the boundary Corner podcast, Ron, Siegel it is late on a Saturday night. My friend. How are you sir? I'm good, buddy, watching, Michigan. Close this one out against the dub. Yeah, that a little bit of good day for college football. Been a few few upsets a few close calls. It has Ohio State goes down to Oregon without cave on Thibodeau. That was a little bit shocking. The old BC quarterback, Anthony Brown leads them to Victory. Brian is Texas back. No sir. No, they are not an isolated.

1:28 In Fayetteville that Arkansas, we get that one wrong. Yeah, well you're wrong. That's okay. It's okay. Arkansas is defense. Show the hell up? They did you know who else showed the hell up and almost pulled out a massive upset, kind of driver. Oh yeah, Colorado abstain as well. AB state was on the door. I took the nine. You know, the hurricanes and their wonderful home stadium with 26,000 people not much of a place to play. So it was a really good day for college football and even better when the Hokies BL w.

2:23 We stay. We have we gotta get to W. Naught may be the prettiest. We we are not enthusiastic about this W but we will take it. We will take it. I was a hot garbage time touchdown from nailing the spread on the money at 28 and then you know we decide to put every young player in and they almost held but they did. I was in close. I almost I pretty much nailed. And what Tennessee state was going to do. I was a undersold Us by a field goal. So I was pretty damn close. If it was if it was Price, is Right? I hit that shit on the money. You did, you did hit the prizes to Bronson.

3:05 Let's first before we do anything else, let's toast the W. Yes, sir. Hey guys, you know, I'm repping fighting Hoagies here with this is actually Sierra Nevada. So you're writing fighting hokey, pull stand up a little bit, show the Sheraton. You get to find Hoagies long if shirt. I got the number Clear, Mountain, Air John laser shirt. We are truly 2021 spokespeople for the Hokies out there. So, but again, we got the W. I think, if I think if this run, if I tell you the game in the 3514 but it was 21, nothing in the first half. I think everyone is doing this game different but it didn't happen that way.

3:50 No, not the flow of the game is the problem and kind of the overall We're all feeling of way. The first half kind of went down was the problem, not necessarily what the end result is. I think we're pretty much fine with with the end result cover. The spread Captain, it orange length, especially the entire second half. But that first half just, it didn't sit. Well it didn't feel right and it kind of got everybody in a little bit of a funk, right? You're right. You're up. So let's jump into it. So before A jump into it though. Shout out, Matt Neal. What are you drinking tonight? Stan. Hello and listening in. I bet.

4:33 It's bourbon. I bet it's Tito's. Hey, I bet it's Tito's Tito's, and he does and some some Lacroix out there. All right, so Brian is effectively labeled the Middle, Tennessee State, the tale of two halves. So let's start with the first half and let's start the first play of the game Run. Keshawn King kind of in the doghouse little bit for the fumble. Last week comes out. Gets it right at the goal line. He takes it. He sees a crease left, he cuts and he goes. Yep. And you saw the leverage, he was going to get caught but not before he got just about to Midfield. I mean when that happened to me the first thoughts in your mind like it's like okay this is going to be a route. Yeah, I was like okay we're coming out the gate hot again, you know this this is kind of the energy that we brought to the start of the UNC game.

5:37 We're going to kind of keep that going and then the offense took the field and it just felt different Seem like they just couldn't get out of their own way. A little bit did really, like the way the offensive line was playing in the first half, but those first couple drives a particular look, like, they just weren't quite getting the calls where they needed to be weren't quite where they wanted to be getting to the second level. Blankenship was making plays. Did a good job of kind of running sideline, to sideline, to stretch some of those lateral runs out. And it was just just wasn't a good start for us. Yeah, it was yucky it. As yucky it looked super plane. Unlike you and see we did not attack the edges.

6:19 Any and in the passing game? No. Well, in Braun, something mean, you talked about was they were small undersized quick defense, would you have with the first play you have read would have been outside zone or if you around a little, something different. I mean, it's our bread and butter but at the same time it does kind of play into the string. So what they like to do and how they like to attack the offensive lines. So Have been nice to see something different. Something similar to kind of how we came out against UNC with that. Little swing pass to get Blackshear up open, get them kind of on their heels a little bit, you know, but it seemed like the the plan from the get-go was kind of to keep things vanilla on both sides of the ball.

7:04 That's kind of how we came out on the offense, the call the calls, were kind of vanilla kind of straightforward and unfortunately, the way we executed them reflected, That. Yeah, the way we executed reflected the way we executed it also looked like again why did not want to be right? Is because you know, like any time we get a ranking this early in the season it's like I don't necessarily say goes to the guys heads, but it's like it. We lose the chip. We had a chip last Friday night we played angry. What's up tally? Thanks for checking in with us tonight. Man in tally we got a we got Billy on here. Billy everybody will Bill appreciate you guys jumping in hanging out with us.

7:53 Exactly. For Billy though. Billy you're in the west coast man. It's the night has just begun for you sir, but it's the whole piece of We get it, we lose the chip and then it takes us having a bad have to get the chip back, you know? So the first two drives not good. It started the game off slow. But you know what? Brian, what we saw last week with UNC defense came to play again. Yep, defense came to play, had a couple couple plays where they had some positive. Then we would just we would put it back in the - there and then we got two quick three and out. It's to start the game for them.

8:36 I like the energy that the defense brought out the gate, which the offense would have batch that. But overall, first two drives ended up debt. What for total, three announce for both sides. They're so kind of a slow start on both sides all offensively and then we kind of woke up. It was kind of a weird way that we woke up man because we woke up after a Braxton Burmeister scramble that resulted in a big shot on his shoulder that end up. Taking Braxton back to the locker room for a little bit. Yeah, unfortunately, that had a happening. And when that happened, Brian, I just in the words of Leslie board and I just sat there. I went. Well, shit. That's the season. Usually wait, you went full in the other ear. Like alright.

9:23 We're done. It's over. Yeah. Stick a fork in this. I was like no. Well now we gotta we gotta wait on this man. Well, this is still I mean no disrespect to Middle Tennessee but this is still Middleton. Ceci, hold on there. But yeah, we'll just be thinking long-term whole season, not just one. Sure, sure. But it's also the fact that he got hit and he just laid there. Yeah. Laying there and we can we know his history with his shoulder and we haven't know that. One of the key things we want to do is try to try to limit that those big hits. You know, his game, he's going to take some shots but you don't want him taking shots like that you know, somebody that's on the the baseball team. Team, teach this kid to slide, please. Let's do that first.

10:09 If you don't teach him to slide at least teach him to leave his left shoulder, not his right shoulder. I mean he's a full-on gamer though because you know, we had a couple good plays from Knox. Kadem came in there, we got one another about 20 yards. Yeah. Or so on that drive after knocks came in. Then you know, Braxton comes back out, throws a nice little Fade to a v on Robinson and the left corner of the end zone. Good guys are up 7-nothing. Exactly, good guys up 7-nothing, they ran that route a little bit shorter than they did. Last week against UNC and nailed it perfect, something else.

10:50 And it might have saved for Braxton on that drive was there was a review for targeting dip because Braxton went out, he went to the tent. Then they took him back and I'm sure that it will just make sure he wasn't concussed. But I'm Ted was quick to so maybe he was back. He was back in the locker room. Probably shoulder pads off before they ever even got back from the review. So this is what I think. And with that, I think they went under the tent because test pool, you know you can get up in there, Brian feel, anything, feel broken know and probably the next thought was well you've bleeped up this shoulder before. Let's get these pads off us. Check your ranges of motion.

11:31 Get him back here. Pull the shoulder pads off. Check the range of motion. Everything looks good. Feel good. Yep. Let's go. He's on the sidelines. Throwing That targeting the review that took like four and a half to five minutes. I think that was big because it got him, they got him back out, make that touchdown pass and get the confidence up. Yep. Because I mean, at that point, throwing the ball that had been definitely Struggle Bus for most of the entire first quarter there. So getting him in a with a throw that he's comfortable with getting that touchdown that definitely got a little confidence, going back in the offense. Oh absolutely. And by the way what needs to be said is some of his passes you know the downfield stuff isn't where it needs to be, but the fade routes especially short yardage compared to what they were last year. When we Psalm they've gotten significantly better more touch more accurate.

12:27 Yeah. In that thing for both of those things are. So the touch gives the receiver a chance to be where he needs to be the accuracy. Obviously means that when it's thrown, it's not going to be a pic and it gives the receiver a chance to come down with it in bounds every time. So that is really big, in my opinion, and it's great to see. All right, so defense does its job again and then Tavian Robinson, absolutely wonderful punt. Return flips, the field and Brian, let me just say this between Keshawn King and Tavian Robinson. Any Royals in the booth today at Ian's? Bill here in.

13:09 Touchdown, tech gave me chills, but I think we have two Elite return men. In the country, not just in the ACC in the country, they both have good Vision, they both have good speed what we saw today, numerous times. You know, with a couple good kick returns and good punt. Return was we flip the field without having to do too much just those guys being good. Yep. And that's going to be key because I think that was definitely something that was lacking. Especially on the punt side last year is that they never got fully comfortable back there. Had a couple muffs.

13:51 We ended up kind of having a rotating cast of characters as we close out the year last year punt. Return That, that was more of a mitigating disaster position than it was about having any sort of positive impact on our team. And I feel like that's definitely turned into an asset at least in the early going of the year so far. Absolutely, he seemed very comfortable back there. He's getting the opportunities to run, which is really big. All right? So that sets up the really good drive. BB has that as a really good scramble. Which, you know, I'll have to ask you. Brian, you know. Yay, or nay.

14:35 Did you like him still scrambling after taking that pop? Yeah, because he's got to play his game. I don't want to see him change how he's approaching the playing the quarterback position, just because of one big pop now, I do want to see him, not take unnecessary hits at the end of plays. Okay, so there's a difference there, right? Yeah, one is how you're approaching. Your mindset in terms of what you do with the ball, the other is how you finish the play and keep yourself safe. So you can still make those plays. And as its closing out, you get out of bounds when you need to you slide ahead of the contact. When you need to, you make a good slide in that lead with your head and shoulder, right?

15:16 Okay. Truth of that you may live slides. Yeah. Don't, don't put yourself out there. Like you did the first time and get yourself absolutely killed. Yeah and I mean it wasn't a fighting for yardage getting the first down In. You had the first day on you just need to get down safely, right? Exactly. This isn't a John Elway sticking his neck out there to get the get the first down. It's not the Super Bowl, and you have to continue to drive to go take the lead or to extend the lead. Yep, it's early in the game. All right, so he gets a good scramble and we get down inside the 10 yard line and they bring in kind of Limerick. We get ten yards, Bloomberg up the middle, little little sweet to Big Stone Gap.

16:02 Yep. He Dives forward, he just misses it and then we take Connor blumrich up the middle one more time pounds it in its 14-nothing. The return of the wild turkey. We had a little diamond formation running on that one. It was it was a pretty sweet thing to see. Well simply shows that the the gears are turning a little bit there, in terms of at least getting Connor active in the The offense because I feel like that was something that we didn't really see a whole lot last week, that's an element. That's a wrinkle that we showed this week. We didn't show a lot of wrinkles on offense. This week getting Connor, blumrich involved in the offense, was one of the few wrinkles that we did present this week from. And we'll talk, we'll talk more about that in the second half and I kind of like what we did in the second half even more than what we did in the first so that his teacher asked exactly.

16:51 But let's, let's, let's just let me Dress for a second if you don't mind. Yeah, go for you had a similar guy, the last who years on this team, that you did not do these things with coaching staff and now he's out at North Dakota State so if anything I get more irritated because me and you call we were calling for like get Quincy, some packages like this. This. Yep, some packages like this because if nothing else it takes it makes them see something different on goal-line situation and you know, eventually with especially when you throw in those phases, like actually gets into State visually, they're going to sell out and there's going to be just an easy slant or easy fade route. So I'm done digressing about that because we have a similar guy that could do the same things and you chose not to do it.

17:52 Shout out qp4 tearing it up today. Oh, did he good day? Yeah, good day. Good day for him. Nice. Alright, let's jump back. Look at the defense again. You know. After kind of what happens, really great start. We start to see some old Ryan. What did you specifically see that kind of, you know, when they gave up the touchdown on that long drive? I saw a lot of off coverage Corners play in about eight eight to ten off the receivers. They were mixing in some covers six and looks like Middle. Tennessee was consistently attacking the half-filled side of that coverage behind the corner in front of the safety Corner.

18:44 Routes little kind of will sluggos things like that where the can get the wall then behind the corner back. Back and linebacker didn't have enough time to get over to make the coverage there. And it happened on key downs. And I think that was what it was more frustrating. Is that, you know, we have, we have good to you first down second down, they'd be either third and five or more. And then they would just keep running. Kind of the same route Concepts that kept kind of working in the same areas of the defense. And There was a moment where it looked like Armani. Chapman was a little frustrated with, with kind of those Concepts. Had a little, little little back and forth.

19:26 There with J Hamm or someone on the sidelines. And, you know, we kind of wrote out the rest of that drive like that. They ended up getting a touchdown. It was a close play. We're about an inch and a half from that being kind of a yeah, Linda incomplete pass. It was called incomplete on the field. He got that right foot down, just as he kind of secured the ball and then, you know, the Left foot came down out and little bit of wind out of the sails there. Just because you know when when we got the ball back, didn't do anything with it. Yeah, I think that was the more frustrating thing. Well, that three-and-out drive was frustrating in a lot of ways because it was the first time we kind of purposely took shots.

20:13 Down the field. Right? Purposely took shots. Yeah, and I know there was actually a sense of urgency. It was a one score game. We were getting late in the Hat, the first half. So they're actually feels like, okay, we're it's not just early going anymore. We're almost in the end of the first half and they're still in this thing, right? Exactly. And I think you mentioned something to me. Um, when we talked about 5:00 today you've said, that is the first place you should have seen. Like, this is how we should have came out immediately roll MVP, get a few yards and then attack them because they're clearly they're clearly song sinking in.

20:55 Here's why? Yeah, I would like to see, you know, shots down the field like that because I mean, there were a couple plays where we were running verticals across the board. We didn't see a whole lot of Those Outlet routes with Blackshear where he was kind of the guy underneath that if it wasn't there. There was someone to drop it off to. We saw one time where they rob was targeted, but it was clearly Braxton was just getting rid of the ball out of nice to seem, you know, some sort of Outlet route to, you know, get it into Blackshear. Maybe get five or six yards. See if he can break a tackle and get a first down. Yeah. And I'd like to see more levels to the concepts here. We're here.

21:35 We're not necessarily running for guys deep and there's there's no Outlet. You know, run Too Deep. Run Run something whipped up the seam run one guy on the outside deep and then you know maybe work in a dig or or a some sort of like play in the flats just to get get the ball out of nothing's working for you. I don't like these Concepts where we're just running for deep and there's, there's no really other option than either thrown it Deeper throwing it out of bounds. Exactly. And I think the big piece on you do that sort of concept is, we know how risk-adverse that they're teaching the quarterbacks to be about not turning the ball over.

22:15 Yep. Well, you're running these Concepts that essentially, that essentially, you're teaching them to be risk adverse and you're giving very high-risk Concepts versus, and we have guys that can do it, right? I think this is probably what frustrates us more than anything. versus running Blackshear or Holston, or Big Stone Gap, or any of those guys putting them out just in the flats or having them hook up 325 yards downfield, because if someone blows coverage and forgets about those guys and you're able to make that dump down, You're running guys. 20 30 yards off. Yeah there's going to be a if the guy doesn't make the initial tackle there is going to be that right there in front of those guys.

23:07 Yeah so did I mean like I said we're looking at Kind of what we did. I'm a I'm definitely looking at it and say, okay, well, they went full vanilla in this game that was that was by Design By Design. They weren't going to do anything. Yeah well I mean look at look at the UNC taping and look at this tape. The concepts are significantly less unique less inventive. There was not the only zero Throwbacks. I mean there was yet another There was none of that. So keep that in mind.

23:48 When you're evaluating, what this offense did today by no means, am I happy with the outcome? But at the same time, I recognize that by Design, this was supposed to be vanilla. The only difference is Middle Tennessee. Did a fairly decent job of stopping vanilla? Exactly, by the way, folks, if you see me and Brian's head or eyes move, We're watching Pac-12 after dark. We made some things on these games. So and that's why we just run this live right now, we're going to be up anyway, watching the late night games and, you know, showing our love for college football. So you'll see our eyes move pivot on slovis, just slid perfectly and then he did a Braxton slide across straight anymore.

24:37 If Braxton did that, like perfectly slide and then the next one, Look like an awkward draft going down. All right, so burn. One more thing before we hit a break here under 90 seconds, left the balls at like the 4 yard line. We finally, get aggressive. Tell me your frustration would happen. So I'm not frustrating that we did it in this game. I'm frustrated that we did it in this game, with 116 left inside, our own 10-yard line, starting the Artie, the drive when we didn't do that against UNC with more time and better field position. Can you explain that?

25:21 That's in that that's that's that's my beef, you know, I get that I'll say this. We needed to show after the the couple drives we had before that that we could still move the ball consistently against that defense just to just to mental. So I think some of that played a role, okay? But at the same time just I mean if you're going to be conservative or aggressive, situationally I would prefer it to be a little more predictable and I'm not saying predictable from a, you know, the It says it's coming to but you know.

26:01 If you're going to be aggressive in those situations, be aggressive or, no, but it's kind of, it was kind of weird that, you know, you get different treatment here. I get there's less Stakes here. So, yeah, it's 14-7. It's, you know, we have seen, you have the same roughly, the same lead, right? But you're playing a lesser what you consider a lesser opponents. So you feel like the stakes are lower right Stakes, a little you feel like if you make a mistake they're not going to take advantage of it especially way that Consider played the 85 percent of the first quarter so get it completely. All right guys before we do get into the second half, we are going to take a quick pause for a message from our digital Partners.

26:46 All right, Brian. Let's start second half and Middle. Tennessee, State comes out and probably has their second best Drive of the game to open it up, you know, and what they showed. And I hope that JC price and Bill Care on it. Sorry to be the throw you off there so that's all two questions. Come up they want to write real quick. Yeah, so so meals asking that, you know, if our passing game is based on smoking mirrors and misdirection, you know, why do we side decide to go vanilla against anyone? I think I mean, you got West Virginia, your, you got a big game coming up. Maybe they don't want to put some of the stuff on tape, but my beef, but that is that, you already put some of it on tape against you and see.

27:35 I'd rather you throw the kitchen sink out There and make West Virginia have to pick and choose how they're going to prepare against you. Then go full vanilla, but you still got some tape from you and see that they can fall back on. That's a good point. I'll let you continue into the second half, sir. Well, I'm gonna I'm gonna just follow up on that and makes it makes perfect sense, right? Like it makes perfect sense. You've already shown it. Why not continue to let the guys execute the plays on the field against live competition again. I think you said it before, sometimes this coaching staff outsmarts themselves and it gets us in trouble. I think the game today throwback to everybody, 2019, the game today could have been firming back in 2019. It could have yet, but I think we are have a much much better leadership group.

28:33 Between guys like Brock lettuce, Shamari Connor Dax Jordan Williams. And some in Jermaine Waller, you have more guys who can hold everybody together, where things like that, things weren't going, right. It was just like, what do we do? What do we do? What do we do? And it wasn't good. Yeah, leadership wise, this is closer to the the 2016 and 17 edition of the Hokies and hopefully Carries forward and games like this where we aren't quite fired on all cylinders. We've got that leadership to fall back on where we don't let you know, a couple of - plays whether offense or defense turn into two or three touchdowns that end up costing us the game.

29:19 Exactly. All right. So now let's go to Middle Tennessee State out of the half, as I've said, a couple minutes ago, had a really good drive to come out of the half and kind of show something. I hope built to your neck and that I hope JC price are showing the defensive line. The big play on that drive. Was a little throwback screen essentially, taking a girl, taking advantage of their aggressiveness on the of on the defensive line Brian. I know it was Middle Tennessee, State. But I know. Please like that or things as an offensive. Lineman you love and offensive guy. You love ya. And I mean the concept was great. I saw it coming before it.

30:02 Then I was like they gave a completely free rush to Bar know, something's coming, that's not by Design and then it all of a sudden you see the guy come out. The other side of the, the formation you see the the throwback from Hockman over there to him and ended up being what about 35, yard gain? I think on that play huge game, I mean really huge gain. And, you know, luckily, we they Get down to about the 30. And, you know, instead of going for it, regardless of down and distance, they chose to punt and they pinned us deep and, and I'm not saying, I mean, it's 14-7 so you get it. But I also, why is it not in the back of their mind? We scored one time on them.

30:56 We had to go out of our normal pattern, to score a touchdown. Every other time, we touch the ball. We did a little To nothing. Why aren't we taking advantage of this? But you essentially think they might be an empty the clip mode, right? Exactly. I would be you would think you would think given the scenario you're in how close the score is, you empty the clip but they did and they did and they decided to play it conservative. They thought their defense could could keep them around and our offense came out a little bit more Mojo in the second half. Yes they did. Typically it started with, I know we talked we broke it down a little bit, they broke it down, really good.

31:38 Actually in the the broadcast, the trade, the big ball to trade that kind of set up everything there looks like, Blankenship decided he was going to kind of free wheel a little bit. He wanted to jump under the route, gave a signal to the safety safety. Didn't quite get it. Thought he had inside leverage inside held here. If not Trey had a free release up, the seam ball was a little under thrown a little. If it was a perfect ball tree, probably walks in it wasn't but I will take an under throw over and over, throw anybody that saw the Tennessee first half can definitely understand exactly what I'm talking about.

32:25 And it wasn't just the one wide open one, but it was several others that were overthrown. There were five. I've over throws. We're like, What was completely wide open, which was terrible. Two of the other three. If he'd, even under thrown a little bit, they have a chance to catch the ball, if at worse, it's a pi. Yeah, at least in this situation, the way I think. The way we talked about it felt about bronze this, okay? If there's tight coverage, you must overthrow. You must you just have to. It's the safest place. The guy gets there and catches it wonderful. In this case would be be. Looked there was no one there.

33:09 Okay to under throw that. Yep. Okay, what I'll do? I want to see you hit in stride? Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Because you hit him in-stride. It makes every single defender on that side of the ball especially in the secondary safety. We've got to stay further back which What we do opens it up more as beautiful as that was the play that scored the touchdown on this drive. Brian had Jalen Holston looking like Khalid, oh Herbert with that cut because that cut was nasty, that was the best cut of Jalen holsten's career. That I've seen foot in the dirt and kind of weaved between two Defenders that were engaged in a block and then boom up the field. Early 90s as your shirt says.

33:57 They're nothing but clean Mountain Air. Oh yeah, number clean Mountain, Air touchdown. And in right there it's 28 the game's over. Effectively, right there. The game is over. We put enough distance from you want me to be 17, the games, get it 21-7, the game's over because they're already plane surrender COBRA. They can't hit their deep shots to get touchdowns. They're getting deep shots just to move the ball and The defense after that initial open drive timed up a little bit. Brian defense started playing a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage at the cornerback position. And there was less room for those guys to kind of get to their spot in their routes in the slower, they get to their spot, the more the defense can react in that zone coverage. Right.

34:53 True. But do you like it that we're playing that we were essentially giving them some easier? Rose. Do you like that? We're playing that cover six that soft quarters in a 21-7 game because games it's not over quite yet. But you feel like we have control. Well, that means the reason I like it is because what happens next? What we sow Waller in a good position, laughter cuts the route, he knows he's got help behind him and all of a sudden, you know, gets the pick runs it back for about 25 yards. We're sitting pretty again, right? We're ready to punch it in one more time. We are. So, I think what you're trying to, what you're kind of saying here is two score lead, you're doing this.

35:37 Eventually, they're going to get to a point when we're sending these zones, there's going to be no free run because there's going to be no where to go. And essentially, and I mean, I think we do need to do a better job of mixing up coverages and key Downs. Like, third, and five, third, and six. I mean, we can't be playing 89 yards off the ball. You know, we're inviting first downs. You're in blindly saying, you've got to react exactly right to stop the first down, right. All right. Okay. So we meet, we need to. I think we need to mix it up again, but I think Even looking at the defense, the calls were vanilla tonight. There was a couple Zone Blitz is here and there, but there was nothing that was put on tape.

36:25 That said, okay, I mean we didn't see the stunts that we saw against you and see we didn't see any of that stuff. Now, we saw big very basic in, you know, I'll go later on into how they ran the ball which wasn't very well. So your main intercepts ball. We're on the right side of the field after his interception. And then, you know what? We have next goes on. It was b. B's. Big scramble. And then like you did a good job. So he stepped up. He saw that, it wasn't their took off up, the feel made, a couple guys miss and that was a big run. And then, you know, Blackshear kind of took over the back half of that, that drive had a good run that said set us up in the the Red Zone, then closed it out. So it was it was really probably the in terms of fluidity kind of the most fluid drive.

37:24 We had it was it was one of those quick quick. Punches there. And at that point, you kind of felt like, all right, this this this game has been put in hand. We're comfortable again. We're doing what we want to do on offense for shutting them down on defense a little bit you kind of felt good about where it was heading. There still would like to see the offense be a little more consistent with some of their plays because we kind of got got back into some of that later in the game. But overall I'm happy With, with the way the second half went off fensively. Well, let me ask you this Raheem Blackshear, you know, ten Russia's. 53-yard didn't see much in the past game tonight. How did you feel about his day in general day in general? Really good anytime.

38:15 He's over five yards, a carry is a good good game for him. I like that. He had ten carries, I'd like to see him. Get about ten carries every game. I'd like to see him used a lot more than the One catch for five yards. He needs to at least get five targets a game. Minimum are you? Are you still? I guess now it is what it is. Like we're not going to see him come out of diamond. We're not going to see Colston him on the field the same time yet. Maybe maybe maybe that's in the cards for the next game. That's something they've never seen but it still feels like we're not last week. It felt like we took advantage of his whole arsenal today. Again with the vanilla game plan you don't and I don't like that because of this, you're going to play another team. If you take away the actual live situations where he's running the wheels or the flats, or you run some screens to him or doing some other things to him, all you have ever done, is put him in the Situation's behind practice, not live games and we start up with that.

39:26 You let them do it in a live game. You saw him get 60 plus receiving guards against you and I'm with you, I would like to see him get more opportunities in any. A game, because any game against live competition, is better than any simulation in practice, right? Woohoo. So that's what I would prefer to see is, is a little bit more. You don't have to, you don't have to show anything you haven't already shown on tape, but you need to, at least keep that those elements in your offense, right? Yes. But you've already shown against you and see. It's already on tape against a quality opponent one, similar plays. Yeah. We run the same thing.

40:07 But but again it's I think this is why the why we always are critical of the offensive staff, is because some of these designs are just like, you can show this 30 times. Yeah. And, and you can even say it again. Look how he was schemed open last week. Screaming somebody open is going to consistently happen because the second that they decide to move that linebacker to the flats, what you're doing is, you're opening up a slant route. Yeah. And you're open up the slant route, where if that Defender doesn't play perfectly and he puts it on the mate, on the money to tray or Tay and that other linebacker, you know, the weak side linebacker is out of place.

40:50 It's gonna be the strong safety or the free safety style to come down and take him out. And if they don't take him out, it's are. So it's like why are you outsmarting yourself? Yeah, like I said and you know, they made a point there with when Neal brought it in there. A lot of what we do is misdirection a lot of what we do is getting our Playmakers in space so they can make guys miss. When you take away those elements, our offense is very pedestrian because we don't we're not a especially this year coming off of last year. We're not a just line up and run it down your throat offense this year. That's not that's not our game. And when you go vanilla and you don't have that, it shows real quick and I think that's what we saw in this game.

41:35 True we have a more diverse offense than we did last year we don't have quite maybe the Home Run potential because of the way Khalil Herbert could run yep we have a more diverse offense to get the ball down. The field in numerous ways which we need to take full advantage of. We need to be better at matriculating. Like I like big plays as much as anybody else. I like the excitement of a big play. I don't think this offense is going to be an Exciting offense to watch but I think it could be a very efficient offense. If we do the things that we're talking about nature, all right? Brian, let's go last Drive Unit. A Robinson to get some big 26. Yard haul sets up Connor. Blumrich coming in 30-yard run.

42:23 I think kind of Boomer might be officially part of this offense in packages. Now, after we see him multiple times today not seeing him last week and then black sheer caps it in with the second touchdown of the day, you know? It's 28-7, the game's over. It's just another good drive to get people feeling good. That baby's actually 35 35 7. At that point. Yep 30,000 that made it 35 7. Yep. So long I'm looking up here. Stanford just should request to open with USC every year. Ha ha ha. I mean we definitely on the wrong side of that one stand up for USC.

43:17 All right, let's move on Braun Soca. So let's talk about Connor there because Connor got in their HVAC sweet. Took it to the one yard line. Things like that or what we talked about, we thought Connor might end up doing in this offense outside of, you know, the short Yardage heavy, backset like the wild turkey that that type of formation. And that's what you that what we want to see. I mean he is an athletic player, he is a little bit more of a athlete than kind of the other guys on the, on the line there, except me and Mitchell. Maybe the one exception that has that degree of athleticism. I don't think she quite has the top end that when we're at, can get to and he's designed to be a little bit more Shifty because he has played that quarter. Position has played HVAC for am before. So getting him involved is going to be good. I like that.

44:11 We at least saw what he could do even though we didn't see him throw the ball and I like that knocks got a couple drives there at the end. I know we kind of we've wrapped up the scoring here, but but not just got out there again after having that, you know, half a drive. When Braxton went down, he got two more drives late, yashoda, Again that he's capable of getting the ball down the field, a little bit, showed a little bit of his laugh. Lettuce is, mm. Yeah, yeah, I'm thinking he doesn't have, you know, he doesn't have Braxton level athleticism but he can, you know, make a guy Miss and get a first down when he needs to. Yeah, he's one of those own schedule, guys. You know you think about where he played down in Georgia, that was the Trevor Lawrence Division. And he was like right on the heels and then they won the State title the year after trailer went. So obviously he Was from a really good football background, but I think just the the kind of the end of the fourth quarter. You had some younger offensive guys, get out there. You had younger defensive guys, get out there. We talked about needing to look at the depth that happened. I wish it would have happened.

45:23 More myth third, not worn to the fourth but that is what it is because of our digressions in the first half. So yep. Brian you let them hang around for too long to Ali. Get any substituent snaps out there but it was nice to get something there at the end. Even though it was the garbage time was a lot more protracted than we wanted it to be. Yeah, 100% run. Now Brian before you know we close what that final thoughts here. Yesterday because it is nine 12 mil yesterday was 9/11 in the 20th anniversary and it's it's probably the honest truth Brian in our lifetimes.

46:09 It is probably the most earth-changing life-changing event that's happened to us. I was 18, you were seven. Yep. And I mean, a lot of things, you know, it changed a lot in real time and it changed a lot of how, you know, the next Decade or two how our day-to-day change. So there's definitely been serious ramifications from that moment. And you know, I think that's one thing that we kind of we kind of miss a little bit is that you know, regardless of how we're feeling you know, politically or socially or all that stuff. There was a moment in time there where we were kind of felt we felt United, We felt like we were on the same ground everybody everybody. She had come together in response to that and it'd be nice to get a little bit of that back. So but it was it was a sad day.

47:07 It was, it was sad to feel attacked and attacked in a way that targeted civilians and not military assets. And I think that was that was the big thing for us. It's absolutely right. So for, you know, thinking about it for everyone that lost their lives that day weather in New York at the towers at the Pentagon, or on flight 93 that went down in Pennsylvania and then for all the military in the subsequent years, but essentially lost their lives. You know, a tip of the hat and a big thank you.

47:47 Because it was the changing event of our lifetimes and it's been 20 years in. For some of y'all who are listening tonight, y'all are kids. We weren't we were on the present. We were, we were adults, we essentially, we're adults. I have football practice after after this happened that day and that was a different type of experience, you know, a lot of a lot of talking about things that were happening and those those ramifications and kind of what the what the future was going to show for us and how the next few weeks were GoGo and again we were I was in Halifax County. I was more or less removed from the actual events themselves and they still had that let that degree of impact on the day-to-day life and I can only imagine what the folks that live through that in real time in New York in in DC and on The on flight 93.

48:49 I can only imagine what that was like for them. So you still sad day day of remembrance and and something that will never forget In Our Lifetime, not at all. All right. So folks, we're going to go back to the football now and kind of hit our closing thoughts from today's game, the beta version, and I'm going to hit you with some stats crying. And then, I want your some of your philosophical thoughts here. All right, things I like for the day, Braun, who are over 50 percent, converting third Downs, On this team that must be consistent. We were right at 50% last week. 5.7 / rush if we rush 5.7 / Rush every game this year, we are going to win a lot of games. I don't give a damn what anybody says, because if we're going to run the ball, anywhere between 30 and 40 times a game like we did today, we're going to get 200 plus yards. All right, the things that didn't like or one more thing I did like zero turnovers.

49:45 You play Queen games, were going to beat. In every games or against lesser opponents like this, we are going to essentially run away from them. Yeah, well then like we have to clean up the first half, we have to clean up and every time we get the ball we must take advantage there. Cannot be three and outs. There can be non scoring drives but there cannot be three and outs. We're like in Keyshawn, Kings case when we get a three and out we're at Midfield. You are roughly 25 yards from putting points on the board. We cannot let that happen. And then the other thing is the passing game, we've got to kind of look at what Braxton does best and take advantage of it. So sir, I'm going to turn it over to you. What are your thoughts on some of this stuff? So my first thing is this, you talked about yards per carry. I'm okay with with what we did in the running game. I think we need to be more consistent with how we rush the ball and get to the next level.

50:47 So I'm going to go a little bit of criticism here on the offensive line. The offensive line is what I had the biggest problem with in the first half and it was poor pass. Pro-poor Blitz pickup and A poor job on combo blocks in the zone game of getting to the second level. We would more or less manage their defensive line, but then their linebackers would come up and make the play to yard three-yard gain. We can't make our entire game go off at two or three yard gain. So you got to be more consistent by getting to the second level. When we did get past that second level we hit some pretty good plays both in the scramble drill and a couple of those line up. Running plays, and especially some of the jet sweeps. So we did a pretty good job, total of getting yardage in those, you know, those big, gains offset, the negative plays.

51:42 I want us to be more consistent, especially in the first half, right? Yeah, second thing we need the need need to get something going in the passing game consistently because we did a really good job of peppering in the short passing game against UNC, especially in the first half. And I didn't see hardly any of that in this game. And I know again, I know they were going vanilla here, but that doesn't mean you go away from what's working for you, right? It's true. It's true. So that was frustrating. And on defense, I want to see a j Hamm. Get be a little bit quicker with the trigger on adjusting those, those coverages. When he sees that they're clearly taking advantage of The Off, Man.

52:29 And some of the, the cover six philosophies. He was going with for an extended period of time there because they were, they were just working it behind the corner in front of the safety. Every time there was a key down and we couldn't stop it. In on defense. Brian, you know, we get we gave up some big plays tonight. I think we can live with that. I think are pass. Rush is good enough. I do I think the password is good enough. Listen, you guys want to take five and seven? Step drops against Powell on garbage. Jordan Williams, Pollard Kendricks fuga bar no Griffin go for it. You're going to pay whether you actually get sacked or there right there and bearing down on you, so that's fine.

53:15 But we have to be careful with it as we get into games against better defense has become, plays are going to kill us. What I will. What I will compliment. I'm gonna compliment real quick. We did a good job of when there was that big play of as Ted last and likes to say be like a goldfish, we forgot about it. We moved on, we play the next play, right? So That's what you like to see. We didn't let one bad play. Turn into five that turned into scores consistently. Yep, the other thing, I noticed, 9 of 19 on third and fourth, and almost 50% cannot do. That cannot do that, especially how bad they were against Monmouth on third down. Like, yes, this is, I will caveat here caveat. So I was just talking about the one scoring Drive, they had. In the second quarter almost half of those third down, conversions occurred on that one drive. All right, so we take that drive out there. It's more like 40%, 40% conversion versus you know, 65% question.

54:27 Right at 50 productivity. Right in 50 percent conversion. Okay. Hi. The good 12 - plays. Three sacks nine. Tackles for loss, I thought we'd have more but clearly they were playing the underneath game. They were trying to hit him quick, but anytime we last week we're at 95%, I'd love to see the rush ratio, the quarterback hit ratio as well, but if you're twenty percent of getting a play in the backfield, That's one out of one every five plays, that is a good thing. As long as we stay between that 20, I'm going to hope there's a game where worth 30%, maybe it's next week and I get to be wrong about something that Brian you were not happy about the number of yards. They got your up, haha, I'm wanted less than 50 Prime there at one point eight per carry.

55:19 We had 66 total yards. Rushing I want to under fifty eight, I'll allow it. I'll allow it. So I mean, good job overall by the defensive line linebacker played. Well, Tisdale had a really good game again. I only feel had a solid game again. Consistently on third down, went through nickel, though. Love it. That's it. I mean, that's was running off more often than not on third down, unless it was third and short. He was coming off. If we could sub, we've got that sub package going in with three really good defensive backs. Now Brian, the one last thing, they're going to be people looking And saying, we gave over 300 yards to this offense. Do not count the last 86 yards.

56:03 That was literally all of our freshmen and this. That wasn't even to deeper on. That was like three and forty out there. You can count those yards, but you need it in context and understand that, you know, this was this was garbage time, right? So, if you take that out, 260 yards of total offense. Yeah, I'd like to see under 250 but you know, all right. Brian if I Spect a shins. All right, Brian. Here's the deal, man. Yep, I'm looking at pics. We actually had a good week. Okay. A good week. We had only about it. You can go no worse than 500. Okay, I'll take that.

56:46 No worse. That means you're not making much much ground on me. I'm not actually. I want seven and three it. I can go seven and Korea you, so you're so you might catch me. Let's see, or B? 0 b, 1 game back. No no no no. I'm not gonna be one game back because I started off so bad. That's going to take a little while. But here's what we got folks, Illinois's UVA Brian. Got that right? I still don't think UVA is a good team actually went back and looked at pick six previews and read some more stuff on Illinois that damn Nebraska game was a fucking anomaly but never really bad.

57:28 They were that was the outlier. I want some of that game early. Own. And there was just like, no one near UVA players and it's like, Look at some of Brenda Donald Sterling's passes their Ducks. If he goes and throws those next week against crimes and stormed up, they're going to have 4 plus turnovers easy easy. So Brian got that one right? I missed on that one. Tennessee pit. I got that one right? Brian? I took pick came close. Man. I called the hooker coming in and almost getting the come back. I didn't quite finish it though. Hookers. Now the quarterback at Tennessee? Yep. Occasional quarterback. Tennessee.

58:08 There's There's not even a question about. It looked more fluid in that offense. He was more consistent with throwing the ball again. I know I talked about it earlier, but Milton trying to throw anything further than 15 yards over shot every time every time like you would think, I mean it is, this would be one thing if there was tight coverage every time and all this, but he had three of those. His guys are either wide open or had two steps on the corner. Zack. You can't. This really miss those. Exactly. All right. Rutger Syracuse, we both cook. Rockers laying the two and a half. That was an ugly game. Syracuse was really in it to the end barriers has them fighting.

58:52 I just don't think there's the talent there and it showed today, that the way Rutgers has recruited last couple years with its Keanu, who has a nasty bird as that or Papa John's. But the way, when they start playing The Talented teams even if they have the perfect game plan, they execute great. Eventually the fourth quarter of the gas is going to run out Milton is pathetic t. Oo SM. Yes very pathetic. We both got that one right NC State we both missed on. Yeah, it's not so much the defense. I think we expected Mike Leach to get some points on them but they couldn't run the ball against that defense. Yeah, that was shocking.

59:45 That it took them. I mean they never really got the running game going. Leary was having to carry that offense and he you know, didn't do a bad job but he just didn't have a whole lot of help and you know that that was problematic. They really kind of got behind and you can't really fall behind against a team that Can do things offensively and then the defense for Mississippi State showed that they can, they can run with with a pretty decent offense. So NC State going down is definitely kind of my well, I don't call it an upset of the week, okay. All you've got to say some of us. Don't say what you said to me. I'll Fair we're not saying that yet. No, we're not saying that at all. Hey, but NC State going down definitely was kind of the, the Sha Shocker for me of the weekend in terms of teams, I thought we're going to kind of handle their business that didn't ya.

1:00:42 So it's sort of shocking to see that but you know, kind of is what it is, right? So we both missed on that one. AB State, Miami. Told you Brian hangover game? Hangover Miami is officially not my pick to win the coastal. Oh sour. Word on the canes and it only took two weeks only to couple weeks but I got that one right Brian. Swing on it. We nailed the game of the day we nail game of the day. Iowa's goes into Iowa, State goes into Ames and handles business, such as clean water, but they also took a nail today.

1:01:22 It took a big Elder day. You know what? I think. Matt camels probably found his home for the next 15 years. Okay. Now, I'll say that in two weeks, he's going to beat Oklahoma by like 20. He's the best coach in the country, Texas, not back. Not that that we both swung and missed on that one in Miss. Big-time terribly on that one, but we got Michigan, Right? Michigan will yield Michigan. Michigan, definitely Michigan. Without any expectations, is a different team. No, it's not Michigan. It's Jim Harbaugh with no. Tation Harbaugh with no expectations at Stanford. Look what they did.

1:02:05 Yeah. Great. All right. Unbelievable. Even when they were doing okay people still writing them off Harbaugh when he went to San Francisco. After six. And ten year, there were no expectations, right. None 13, and 3 to Kyle Williams fumbles from punching a ticket to the Super Bowl. So, when there's no expectations on Harbaugh, I think he just coaches looser. All right, but we got that. One, right? And then the big game of the day. I thought Ohio state with them without Kavon Thibodeau, but Anthony Brown. We talked about it earlier handles business. We nailed that one organ wins out rights of our 14 and a half easily lays there. And I tell you what it's really interesting to see Does the playoff picture of the moment?

1:02:58 It's I mean for real. It's really interesting because you have, you know, you feel like right now is a 2 SEC teams, guaranteed with Georgian Bama, don't know yet, we don't, it's too early. We don't list is too early. But I mean if you're using the sample size we have and projecting that out over 12 games, then the answer is, yes. True. Because right now, The Big Ten could be left out, the ACC could be left out. And you know, that would get things super interesting.

1:03:39 Yeah, I also think honestly other than Oregon that means you gotta see ya, I mean, they're down 14 right now to Stanford. So I was more saying like other than Oregon. I mean has any other non SEC teams really looked impressive How many teams teams that are in position to make the play off that you thought were in position to make the play off? Well, I'm glad you got Georgia and Bam and you get Oregon has anyone else looked interested in two weeks? Not really because Notre Dame did not look in Brussels today.

1:04:21 They mean they were borderline about the most certainly do so who knows and obviously so that gets us Brian five and four I'm six and Three at the moment. If Stanford covers, we're both going to finish about 500 and but Stanford cover. And also, I think we got that in the bag because I don't think I can see USC scoring 32 unanswered. Now they have, I won't find it in some way, so, you know, I'm going to get a few games back after starting absolutely terribly this year. Yeah. My week to went a whole lot better than my week one in my week. One.

1:05:01 Close to 500. So, I think this should put me above 500 altogether. If Stanford ends up finishing, how we think, or I'll bring a movie, you will be at 500 and 500. Okay, I'll take it. We had 500 yet. We're probably going to be up another hour or so. Yeah, ladies and gentlemen, if I get to 500 and you guys can officially say that, I'm just as good as flipping a quarter when it comes to betting. All these cases. We gotta we gotta go back and look at our combined pics here, Rutgers want to know, then 1 + 12, + 12 + 23 + 2. We can go five and two combined same pics. Okay, might be finding something. We like the same game.

1:05:52 Bet on a guy's as anything else. Popped up honking Nation. I don't think, I think we got this game unscathed, no injuries that we had, we had a couple. Of scares. You know, we had Mitchell with a Nick, we had obviously Braxton went back and then we had what was it Griffin had? That had that scare coming off of The Edge one time but I think overall you know nothing ended up being something that was going to keep guys from from significant time. Hopefully he had to Jenkins gets his foot, right? He'll be ready for next week. Yeah, I think it's got such a good will take Brian. There is one thing we missed Florida, State loses to Jacksonville State.

1:06:36 I was actually about to mention that because I saw that pop up in my feed here after closing out of their minds against Notre Dame on all those. See what Notre Dame did today. I'm not sure that this is necessarily a Notre Dame team to really talk about is is what Notre Dame did to Florida state is that they're going to kind of be what happened to us. 2018, learn some new things about the next week. I don't, I don't know if I don't think the first two weeks. We really know a whole lot about that. I think we know that Their offensive line is is very much average this year. They record you next week, okay.

1:07:19 Who is 2 and 0, but they have played Oregon, State, and Connecticut for Duty. Connecticut, today, 49 to nothing. That's can I give me a that's not going to be any game vacant Overlook. I mean produce probably not the greatest team out there but they will show up and they will give you hell for four quarters. So we want one. If they all come in there and start like they have the last couple weeks, they could take the L there, you know, cone cone showed some metal today and the way he finished that game. Yeah. But their defense isn't what it Was last year and their offense because of the offensive line. I mean, they had to find inventive ways to get Tyree the ball in space, where he can make some plays, because they're not a team that can just line up and run it down your throat anymore. Yeah.

1:08:14 I think, I think the defense and they're, they're still good up front on the line, but I think not having a su su a Jeremiah. I was going to say that that second level is where they're missing it because I don't those guys have grown into the position of what they need to be in that defense, I think even more. So with a new defensive coordinator and Marcus Freeman, you know, certain people out there love Marcus Freeman and he is not doing great to begin with anything else, breaking Brian and I felt tomorrow. Yeah, boys. We kick it off tomorrow. Looking forward to see what the Colts can do against the Seahawks. I know Curtis wants us to get the W so that's what matters the dove please.

1:09:03 I'll be probably listening. Yeah, a bunch of errands to do tomorrow. I'm going to probably be listening to the Niners game and the San Fran affiliate as I mow my grass tomorrow afternoon. So yeah, Brian if nothing else. Let's let's sign off here, let's watch the end of the holy word word. BYU just got like a nine-yard tackle for loss on like an inside hand. Hoff. Yep. That was the most. Unbelievable thing I've it was the most slow developing handoff I've ever seen and be white things. Blew it up that makes bronstein Springs. Little compressive, Arizona State in a dogfight with UNLV and USC having to make the comeback. So I'm going to sign it off.

1:09:45 Brian that wraps up this episode of The Boundary Corner podcast, I'm Curtis Wilson. I'm Brian Sigler, visit our website, boundary corner be t-dot-com. Listen to all of our episodes. While you're there, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, subscribe on our YouTube account, and your favorite podcasts source and scooting Spotify, and was on an Apple. If you're looking to join, the Hokie club and help achieve the Reach For Excellence campaign. Please visit boundary Corner V t.com forward slash giving to get started as always we let our buddy. Jason Long play us out play as in, catch him on Spotify and apple music. We thank you for listening and let's go okay.

1:10:27 Keys.