I only saw the highlights did anyone get a chance to watch it. If so how did Reggie look and how did Dustin Long lookat QB. Is the running game any better? Do you think anm will beat the red tekkies in Lubutt this year?

It kinda looked like the first game of the season for a new coaching staff. Neither Reggie nor Dustin outplayed the other. Each had an interception and neither had a touchdown pass, although both moved the ball well at times. So far, the running game is no better than last year, although Courtney Lewis shows promise. The Ags will need to improve a great deal to beat Tech. It will be interesting to see how this coaching staff responds to the challenge.

The running game is defintely better because Courtney Lewis is tons better than Derrick Farmer (relegated to back-up now) who has proven himself better than Cedric Benson who is going to rip NMSU a new one tonight.

When the Arkies pulled within 8 points, I notice that Fran abandoned the Long/McNeal rotation and put Reggie in out of turn.
There's your answer about who will be your regular season QB.
That 'playing both guys/giving them both a shot to show their stuff' baloney is for the media, Fran knows who he is going with.

Watch the game today on FSSW and answer those questions yourself.

I'm curious too about the Long/McNeal debate. During the game, most folks said Long looked obviously better, yet post-game, the consensus is that Reggie should be the starter....only Fran knows. I suspect he will dual QB all year while occassionaly sticking with the hot hand.

What Tag77 said.

Our OL is a like a kick in the balls after a three day tequila bender.

We did not look good. Reggie did better than I tought he did after I looked at the Box Score. The OL looked terrible. We need Hightower back very badly. Courtney Lewis got my player of the game. 9 carries, 74 yards, 2 TDs including a 42 yarder. He looked a lot better than Farmer did last night, IMO.

I noticed fran does not like passing the ball and likes to stick with the run, isn't that what RC did as a coach there.

• Long looked to be a step quicker than last season, but still threw an interception into double coverage (it was a decent throw, but Murphy had to go up for it and it got tipped into the ASU defensive back's hands).
  
  
• Reggie stayed in the pocket more than I would have liked and overthrew receivers on several occasions. When he did scramble, he should his usual speed and ability to make defenders miss.
  
  
• I hate to say it, but Derek Farmer is vastly overrated. I like the kid and he runs exceptionally hard for his size, but he lacks the vision necessary to be a big time back. Courtney Lewis ran well behind the OL when they were able to pick up stunts, simply because his first movement is so quick. He also showed his breakaway speed on his second touchdown. I was pleased that he possesses some power as well (somewhat evident by his first TD).
  
  
• Receivers can fly. A few overthrown balls prevented several would be huge plays.
  
  
• Jared Morris looked solid in the middle and his lateral movement appeared quicker than last season.
  
  
• Kicking game (field goals) looked promising. Last season, I got tired us having to either punt from the opponent's 35 yard line or go for it on fourth and long because of an unstable kicking game.
  
  
• Murphy will be a damn good return man, taking kickoffs for 60 and 85 yards respectively. Jason Carter showed he's not afraid to take a hit on punt returns and did a good job fielding them under pressure.
  
  
• I was pleased with the secondary, as they pretty much shut down the ASU receivers. They played well on run support too, IMO. ASU did rip off a few 7 and 8 yard runs between tackles, but they didn't get much on the sweeps. Obviously it's too early to make a reputable analysis of them based solely on a weak offense like ASU. I was proud that the WC didn't give up a touchdown though (ASU's lone TD came on a fumble return after Terrance Thomas got blindsided in the flats and dropped the ball).

All things considered, I am somewhat disappointed but we got a victory and a lot of first year starters showed great potential. Critics of the game say the biggest improvement from one game to the next occurs from week 1 to week 2. We shall see, as I think Utah is a formidable opponent to show us where we stand (8-9 wins is my best estimate, any more are certainly welcomed).

Good job to Texas Tech on a huge win, and I look forward to seeing the sips massacre NMSU tonight. Toss out the interconfernce game between OSU-NU and as usual, Gaylor and Kansas are the only teams to let the Big XII down this weekend.








[This message has been edited by Jock 97 (edited 8/31/2003 1:03p).]

quote:

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I noticed fran does not like passing the ball and likes to stick with the run

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That's what I tried to tell the Ags.



FICTION: "Many people, including me, bashed Simms for his inability to beat Oklahoma. But I don't care if Phil Simms is the QB, you can't win without a running game. Don't forget that Brown hasn't won a conference title. He's not a great gameday coach, a big reason why his teams will continue to lose to Bob Stoops and OU." -- Trev Alberts

He kept running delays from the shot gun. This only works when you (A)Have an offensive line that creates a seam, mainly from guards pulling quickly and tackles that trap stunts and (B)A back who has a quick first step and can see a hole open and cut back to hit it, or spring outside if it's closing.

Derek Farmer is good for running sweeps when the QB is under center and lowering his head between tackles. If he does break thru the line he is able to accelerate, but he doesn't have the finesse that Courtney Lewis has. Dino Babers would run a dozen of those delayed draws a game and maybe net 10 yards all day.

I'd like to see more running with Derek Farmer lined up behind Keith Joseph, or quick tosses and options with Reggie McNeal and Courtney Lewis.

most of the ags posting on here aren't exactly football knowledgable posters. i've laughed out loud more than a few times reading these 10 win predictions.

as i predicted before, we little talent and no depth with the exception of qb, wr, tb.

i've seen it said that RC didn't leave the cupboard bare and that i don't know what i'm talking about. i think my 6-6 prediction will ring true....not at all b/c of coaching, but just b/c the talent isn't there yet. we've got true fresh, rs fresh, and sophs EVERYWHERE.

there are some things to take into account though. i know for a fact we probably used 30% of our playbook...other positive were d long and reggie's performances which i didn't think were too bad at all considering the line's play and pegram looked consistent.

the bad thing....the D is going to be rough. no outside containment, little up the middle. we get blown off the line quite a bit. o line, well...i hate to say it, but arguably the worst o line in a couple decades. when you're that far down in the trenches, it effects every aspect of every game.

its going to be a rough season and i hope everyone here has learned that fran was dealt the cards RC dealt him. despite what goodfield, 91aglawyer or whoever says that we have talent, they're unfortunately very off the mark. if fran wins 7 this year, he should win coach of the year in the big XII, hands down. this has the ability to be a very long season but i have no doubt that 05 will be a complete change of pace. its just going to take a while. slocum, God bless him, was a couple seasons from running this thing completely into the ground.

5-7, 6-6, 7-5 depending on how the learning curve goes.

ark st - w
utah - iffy...W
pitt - loss
va tech - L
tech - iffy...with the same line play last night, L
neb - L
baylor - w, a very close w
iowa st - w
ok state - iffy...L
Ou - loss
mizzou - iffy
texas - L

we'll see how patient our fans are this season.

^
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Sip in cognito, please read this literature and get back to us. Thanks.

yeah, jock....i'm a complete moron. i'm sure you're one of the people who predicted the 70 point win....

i agree the last poster, you can pretty much throw that o line on the previous regime and his chums who propped him for the last 3 years.

yeah, jock....i'm a complete moron. i'm sure you're one of the people who predicted the 70 point win....

i agree the last poster, you can pretty much throw that o line on the previous regime and his chums who propped him for the last 3 years.

We play Kansas, not Iowa St.

I will break off the horns of all the wicked~Psalms 75:10

quote:

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That's what I tried to tell the Ags.

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No, PG. You tried telling us that Fran wasn't coming here.

Yes, you are a moron and no, I didn't predict a 70 point win. One for two though, not bad.

i'm not going to get in a pissing match, but we'll see who the b*tch is by the end of the season.

you might need to try gambling on CF...it'll show how little you really do know and is a humbling experience for someone such as yourself.

I think we did OK for a first game. Certainly nothing to brag about but it was a W. There are reasons for optimism but also some ongoing issues that won't be fixed overnight (the play of the OL) I think 7-5 is about where we'll end up and agree for the most part with Tag in that we waited too long to make a necessary regime change.

jock, great call on the ut game...

strike two, *****.