You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Football' category.
Living so close to the University (4.2 miles actually) sometimes affects your objectivity. It’s easy to get caught up in the grandiose imagery of an illustrious season. Especially when all you hear are reports from you’re side.
Want more? I’ve got a new address for Poke U.
Little easier to remember, isn’t it?
With only 10 more days before Gundy and Co. open their season against the #13 team in the Nation, the Cowboys are getting ready for a big challenge. Gundy, a couple assistants and some players have sent mixed messages to the media lately about how practices and their 2 scrimmages have gone. Most comments seem to negative – the kids were sluggish, too many mental errors, the defense was soft, etc. However, positive things do get sandwiched in between the sound bytes, which makes me think that OSU is play coy. Practices and scrimmages have been closed to fans and the media. Tulsa writers are starting to call Mike “paranoid.” I’m not sure I would call it paranoid, per se, but I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad move. The offense won’t be surprising too many people this year. The no huddle attack is in it’s third year at OState and, with a 7-6 team that featured an impressive win over Alabama in the Independence Bowl (a game in which both teams played well), Georgia shouldn’t be too surprised. Probably the only thing that could get them is how backup QB Zac Robinson is used – either as a slot, RB or QB giving Bobby Reid the option to be slot, RB or WR. D’Juan Woods graduated, Artrell Woods (no relation) injured, a second receiver could also surprise Georgia, but they will have to surprise OSU fans too, with Adarius Bowman being the only receiver with extensive game time.
I think what Gundy is hiding is the defense. OSU’s defense over the last few years has been marginal at best. They’ve shown flashes of what-could-be, but most of the time, they play on their heels and are reacting rather than making stuff happen. OSU’s D ranked somewhere around 96 last year, while the offense was at least in the 20’s (actually ranked No. 7 as the overall team offense according to ESPN.com. Supposedly Gundy has been, at least mostly, happy with the defense this fall. He has come down on them, but said he thought they were ahead of where they were last year at this time. Without revealing too much and me completely reading between the lines here, I think new D-coordinator Tim Beckman has stepped it up and turned the defense into something that can keep up with OState’s high-powered offense. I also think Rob Glass, the strength and conditioning coach, has gotten his feet wet and got players to beef up. Case-in-point: Donovan Woods. The QB-turned-Safety-turned-Linebacker looks to have easily added 15-20 pounds of pure muscle. DWoods was always a pretty big guy, especially for a QB, but seeing him in spring practice lining up as on outside LB, he looked like an LB! I always think the face shield makes players look tougher, but he was downright scary looking. His arms are HUGE!
By listening to the media with what the Cowboys are saying, you may think we aren’t ready for Georgia, let alone Florida Atlantic (Sept 8), but I think one has to read between the lines a little bit to get more of the truth. Next up: Offense.
