WMD's Quick Takes

[War Machine Dawg]

Tough game, mates. Had a couple quick thoughts I thought I'd share.

1. Our D is vastly improved. We miss Whitson off the edge, though. Not entirely sold on Hutzler, but he's definitely not the incompetent buffoon we thought he was last year.

2. Shapen is a Big 12 QB. Good, not good enough for this level.

3. Not having Brennen Thompson last week in the second half is probably why we lost. He's special.

4. We didn't invest enough in the OL. Our starters plus Jimmy Lewis are fine, but we have no depth. We desperately need to get one of Reese or Steen back to have a chance to go bowling.

5. Why the hell was Fluff, or anyone important on offense for that matter, in the game down 22? Thankfully we have Booth, but him getting tripped by the turf monster was a huge moment in the game.

6. On offense, let's get back to RTDF. Unless we get Reese or Steen back, Shapen has zero time to throw. Luke Doesn't Work couldn't block me in pass pro. Awful. But these big guys can run block pretty good, so let them do what they're good at doing.

It's frustrating. We're basically 2 OL injuries away from being really good. Forget the final score last night, it wasn't reflective of the game. D just completely ran out of gas and TAMU ran it up late. If we get just one OL back, we have a really good chance at winning the next 3.

[Tater]

To your point on 6 - we need downhill running not slow developing side to side runs. These boys a big and strong. Let them push the sleds for 4 hours and show everybody what hard nosed MSU football is about.

Shapen is a good QB. Hes the best QB on the roster and probably one of the best throwers we've had in school history.

That being said. Football is about putting the best unit of 11 players on the field to maximize winning. We don't have 5 OL that can make the style of football that Shapen can raise our ceiling to gaudy heights with. Therefore the whispers for Kamario will get louder. With a highschool style of run run run run shot pass - KT is built more for it and makes the better whole unit. When we get solid OL pass blocking, then Shapen by far is the better choice as a complete QB.

[basedog]

Tough game, mates. Had a couple quick thoughts I thought I'd share.

1. Our D is vastly improved. We miss Whitson off the edge, though. Not entirely sold on Hutzler, but he's definitely not the incompetent buffoon we thought he was last year.

2. Shapen is a Big 12 QB. Good, not good enough for this level.

3. Not having Brennen Thompson last week in the second half is probably why we lost. He's special.

4. We didn't invest enough in the OL. Our starters plus Jimmy Lewis are fine, but we have no depth. We desperately need to get one of Reese or Steen back to have a chance to go bowling.

5. Why the hell was Fluff, or anyone important on offense for that matter, in the game down 22? Thankfully we have Booth, but him getting tripped by the turf monster was a huge moment in the game.

6. On offense, let's get back to RTDF. Unless we get Reese or Steen back, Shapen has zero time to throw. Luke Doesn't Work couldn't block me in pass pro. Awful. But these big guys can run block pretty good, so let them do what they're good at doing.

It's frustrating. We're basically 2 OL injuries away from being really good. Forget the final score last night, it wasn't reflective of the game. D just completely ran out of gas and TAMU ran it up late. If we get just one OL back, we have a really good chance at winning the next 3.

Good post!

[1eyedog]

del

[parabrave]

About 4 is that you just can't put together an Oline every year. These guys got to play together as a cohesive unit for years. You can always get a new QB or WR but not a line. We need to spend more on getting quality linemen early and keeping them.

[BeardoMSU]

Solid take, dude.

[archdog]

Then go all in on HS OL and pick up a couple transfers to cover 2 years. We need beef. Mean beef up front.

[parabrave]

Then go all in on HS OL and pick up a couple transfers to cover 2 years. We need beef. Mean beef up front.

Not a bad idea.

[Tater]

Not a bad idea.

Almost like we kinda did a little bit of that.

Luke Work is a true sophomore
Jimothy Lewis is a redshirt freshman
Koby Keenum, Owens and James are Redshirt sophomore transfers.
Shumpert essentially has 4 to play 4 as a juco transfer

Mayberry & Brennan Smith have been disappointing senior transfers. Reese got hurt. We've been having to play 3/4 underclassmen.

The 2027 unit could be special. I really hope we line things up to retain all our talent through 2027 - KT - a cohesive line, maybe Bothwell / Gayten. Then cycle in some stud receivers. Could be an insane offense. That's part of what made 2014 click so well

[Coach34]

Yes- we must recruit good OL guys out of HS and develop. Then supplement holes with the portal. And that also costs money

OL guys are usually not ready to play as Freshmen and usually not all that good in Y2. OL guys flourish in Y3-Y5 unless they are special.

[War Machine Dawg]

Yes- we must recruit good OL guys out of HS and develop. Then supplement holes with the portal. And that also costs money

OL guys are usually not ready to play as Freshmen and usually not all that good in Y2. OL guys flourish in Y3-Y5 unless they are special.

This is why I'm cautiously optimistic on Jimothy Lewis. He's a true freshman, but he's been solid in his limited snaps so far. Obviously made some mistakes and will make more, but he's already way better than Luke Doesn't Work. Should've put him at RT last Saturday and just lived with the inevitable freshman mistakes he's going to make. He's at least shown the ability to play at the right level and has upside.

[Coach34]

This is why I'm cautiously optimistic on Jimothy Lewis. He's a true freshman, but he's been solid in his limited snaps so far. Obviously made some mistakes and will make more, but he's already way better than Luke Doesn't Work. Should've put him at RT last Saturday and just lived with the inevitable freshman mistakes he's going to make. He's at least shown the ability to play at the right level and has upside.

Depends on footwork and how they can handle speed off the edge.

[somebodyshotmypaw]

This is why I'm cautiously optimistic on Jimothy Lewis. He's a true freshman, but he's been solid in his limited snaps so far.

I believe Jimothy is a redshirt freshman. He’s in year 2.

[StarkVegasSteve]

We also need to stop RPOs right now. Shapen has no time to throw anyways but when he does actually have time he throws a good ball. Take away the RPO element and just let him throw or hand the ball off. If/When we get Albert back, we can start incorporating RPOs again. We also don't need to completely abandon east/west run plays. Gayten gets to the edge and around it better than any back we have. I'd let him and Booth carry the load. Let Booth be your between the tackles guy and get Gayten involved in some speed sweep action and sweeps to get him on the corner.

[Tater]

We also need to stop RPOs right now. Shapen has no time to throw anyways but when he does actually have time he throws a good ball. Take away the RPO element and just let him throw or hand the ball off. If/When we get Albert back, we can start incorporating RPOs again. We also don't need to completely abandon east/west run plays. Gayten gets to the edge and around it better than any back we have. I'd let him and Booth carry the load. Let Booth be your between the tackles guy and get Gayten involved in some speed sweep action and sweeps to get him on the corner.

Hard agree if you mean "slow mesh to allow decision making". I still want pre-snap to check between runs and passes. But if we see the gaping holes to run through like Aggy was giving us then i want a check to a handoff and no pretense on slow handoff.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Hard agree if you mean "slow mesh to allow decision making". I still want pre-snap to check between runs and passes. But if we see the gaping holes to run through like Aggy was giving us then i want a check to a handoff and no pretense on slow handoff.

A little bit yes. I just think right now the slow mesh isn't working. It's putting our timing way off with an OL that MIGHT hold up for 3 seconds MAX in pass pro. If you want to keep the pre snap stuff in there that's fine but we can't keep running the slow mesh RPO stuff when they're in Shapen's face before he has a chance to look at his first option. It'd be one thing if we were taking coverage sacks or Shapen was standing in the pocket when he had a chance to escape and either take off or get rid of the ball. But he 2-3 seconds MAX before he is hit. We need to get him in the drop back quicker to have a chance right now.

[TrapGame]

Having Reese out cost us two TDs b/c Blake was throwing too early b/c he didn't know if he had an A&M DE breathing down his neck immediately after the snap.

[Tater]

A little bit yes. I just think right now the slow mesh isn't working. It's putting our timing way off with an OL that MIGHT hold up for 3 seconds MAX in pass pro. If you want to keep the pre snap stuff in there that's fine but we can't keep running the slow mesh RPO stuff when they're in Shapen's face before he has a chance to look at his first option. It'd be one thing if we were taking coverage sacks or Shapen was standing in the pocket when he had a chance to escape and either take off or get rid of the ball. But he 2-3 seconds MAX before he is hit. We need to get him in the drop back quicker to have a chance right now.

Agreed. Our runs were very good against Aggy when we didn't slow mesh. I drafted that list up in another thread because it's how I felt watching. Data backs it up very well. First play of the game was really the only time the slow mesh did well as designed.

[Tater]

Having Reese out cost us two TDs b/c Blake was throwing too early b/c he didn't know if he had an A&M DE breathing down his neck immediately after the snap.

Would have been up 10-0 instead of giving them the ball for half on the INT. Directly a 14 point swing if Reese just played one specific play.

[TrapGame]

Would have been up 10-0 instead of giving them the ball for half on the INT. Directly a 14 point swing if Reese just played one specific play.

He pulled the trigger too early on Evans on a crossing route that would have been a sure TD in the first quarter. We were a starting LT from making this a respectable game.