Quick Thoughts: Better...

[ShotgunDawg]

I think I'm more passionate and have more to say when we lose than when we win, but here are some thoughts

1. The effort level this year was great. In a tough year both on and off the field, this team played hard and tough. That alone is the biggest sign of the culture change that has taken place.

2. Offensive line gets an A+ today. If this is a sign of how we'll pass protect against G5 & lower level SEC teams in the future, then we're going to be pretty good & set ourselves to for at least 7-8 win seasons on a consistent basis. This offense is hard to stop when they can't get pressure.

3. Tremendous job running the ball today, but I am curious as to why we just started doing it today? Was it something that Mizzou's defense did? Was it our OL dominating? Was it just the play calling by Leach? Did Leach sand bag the season in an effort to force the passing game & change the DNA of the offense? All questions I'm pondering but I have no good answer.

4. Rogers played OK today. His numbers were really good, but, when comparing him to others in our division, he's just got to get stronger, more athletic, & add a little thump to his passes over the off season. Will Rogers is a really good QB & just an OK talent. So over the off season, he needs to increase both his talent and skill.

5. I am drooling at the possibility of Tulu, Walley, & Knox in the same offense. Two games in a row, Tulu has burned the defender deep. It hasn't paid off yet, but we all see the potential. Add Knox, who is just as fast & little more polished than Tulu to the other side, along with Walley in the middle, & and safeties are going to have a real issue with our offense. We've simply never had the type of speed at WR that we'll field next year. It's going to open the middle of the field

6. Osirus the Virus played his best game in his career today IMO. He showed more fight, effort, & desire than I've ever seen out of him. If this is the Osirus we get, then by all means I hope he comes back next year. Seems like the coaches got in his ass this week.

7. The young RBs are better than I thought when given the opportunity to run the ball between the tacks. Marks really has to add 5-10 lbs of lower half strength in the off season to break arm tackles

8. I give the defense a B today. Great game by Forbes, but we've got to get better at safety. We're painfully unathletic back there. We got a chance to be good next year, but that position has to get better if we're going to compete for 8 or more wins. tough break losing Errol early but we got to see Boogie play MLB, like he'll have to next year. I didn't really notice him, so he must've been ok.

9. Overall, I think we've come a long way this year. Going from a team that couldn't move the ball vs the 3-8 to a team that showed it could move the ball vs zone & now demands that defenses mix up their coverage. We're on our way & making progress. Compared to the better teams in the West, we've just got to continue to add talent & speed. We're signicantly slower than OM, LSU, Bama, A&M, & Auburn on offense and at safety. We're bringing in some good speed, but need to continue to add to it. We've got to play faster!

10. Let's go to the bowl & game & finish strong. This program is on the rise & we're only going to get better. Don't forget that we're the youngest team in America.