Rewatch thread.

[PSYCHO(thesis)DEFENSE]

I'm not ready to give up on Warren, but I'm very concerned.

I've had concerns coming into the season just b/c it's one of the most important positions on the field, but I didn't see anything against USM that gave me reason to be any more concerned. If he'd been whiffing or lunging or getting beat inside regularly I'd be worried. Getting beat on a speed rush b/c you got out of your stance late and giving up a sack b/c your feet weren't set are things that happen to good linemen. We won't know much at all until he sees an SEC DL, but I saw a good LT vs. USM who needs reps and confidence.

[TaleofTwoDogs]

Rewatched the game last night to put my lingering USM questions to rest, & move on. What I saw:

? I couldn?t tell if Torrey Dale was being blocked or if he was doing the blocking. If we need someone to occupy a single blocker, he?s the man for the job, but he simply can?t disengage.

- Agreed, I saw that also but to his credit he did make a couple of moves during his playing time.

"Nick James is unblock-able head to head- played very well and physical" - Preachermatt83 & Coach 34

I rewatched the 1st quarter (since the D played almost the whole quarter) and both James & Dale were inter-changable with the exception that Dale actually had a few moves. Like Psycho said, if you need just a single block Dale was our boy, but James was even more so. I did not see any spin or swim moves, no foot speed or techniques just bull rushing and during several plays the USM OL angled him away from the runner. I saw no significant pursuit of the ball carrier unlike Jefferson & Jones who pursued the runner across the LOS and downfield. I like James, he's one of my favorite dawgs but he is not an elite lineman by any definition. "It is what it is" but hopefully this DL can still be effective against SEC offensive linemen.

[Coach34]

Rewatched the game last night to put my lingering USM questions to rest, & move on. What I saw:

? After watching the game live I didn?t understand why ppl were down on Rufus Warren. After re-watching, I confirmed those saying he was bad were unfounded. He had no more than 3 negative plays ? one of which resulted in a sack, & was very bad. On that play, he didn?t set a good base & payed for it, but that?s something you work on. The rest of the line played fairly well IMO, and Clayborn is the only one I didn?t see have at least 2 negative plays. Knowing Rufus? career arc, I don?t expect perfection out of a first time LT so I?ll take 2-3 negatives along w/ the positives & washes. Hevesy commented that he didn?t play the full 60 minutes like he?s capable, b/c he?s never played a full 60 minutes, & that comes w/ experience. He also didn?t go to the third level to block as I?d like to see, but that seemed to be scheme-related as he was trying to stay in formation w/ Malone. He had quick feet in pass pro, & when he did get out & run, he showed some speed. Displayed strength at times but needs to work on his punch. No way we?re giving up on Rufus any time soon.

? I was impressed by Clayborn & Desper, and as of now I?ll say we upgraded at C & RG, esp. in terms of strength & athleticism. Clayborn played almost error free, but I was esp. pleased w/ Desper. One play he kept 2 rushers at bay when Senior tripped in pass pro. Senior and Malone were solid but both had a few negative plays.

? Justin Johnson is just as refined a blocker as he is a receiver. This guy knows football. I saw him juking & making head fakes w/o the ball, just to get in better position to throw his block. When this guy adds some strength, look out, b/c he already understands spacing and running lanes to a T. More receivers from Hoover please.

? I couldn?t tell if Torrey Dale was being blocked or if he was doing the blocking. If we need someone to occupy a single blocker, he?s the man for the job, but he simply can?t disengage.

? I think JT Gray is the answer at Will. Should not be a wholesale yank, but I hope to see that transition develop over the season as he gets experience.

? I?d like to see Brandon Bryant play tougher w/ a little more of a chip. If he starts throwing his body around out there he could do some damage. That said, he seemed to play under control & make sure he was doing the right thing, which is probably more important as a FR.

? Bear Wilson opened an IHOP Saturday night & it stayed open past midnight. I wish I had watched him block more during the actual game. The play he made 3 blocks while escorting Dak down the sideline is the sort of thing you see from linemen on the last play to the win the game in cheesy football movies. He did it again later, w/ 2 key blocks & a pancake on 1 play. He doesn?t just mirror DBs & hand fight either, he?s looking to throw his 235 lb frame into somebody, put them in the dirt, then do it again. Some ppl call it cockstrong, some ppl call it grown man strength, but whatever it?s called, USM?s secondary felt it. Bear made some money Sat. night, & if he does that on film all year, he will be a Day 1 pick.

Good post Homie- Clayborn has a chance to be the best Center we have had in a long time. He is an NFL guy- no doubt

[archdog]

Oh, I forgot one...

-C Jones looked very very good.

C Jones had a great game. Solid 1st rounder type of game. His motor was going all game. I wonder if him and AJ have a wager on how many times they can punish the QB? The play after AJ got the "flying sack" Jones manhandled his guy but ran right by the RB looking at the QB. He was going for broke. Still almost made the tackle, but AJ came flying in and made the tackle by grabbing the guys foot.

By the way, the new ads at the bottom keeps forcing me down to the bottom of the page while typing. Those ads are bull and I will never buy anything from them for the rest of my life. Carry on. Rack space and upper cut, I do not care what it is you are selling now or in the future. Get a classier ad that doesn't 17 with the overall user experience of the website.

[3dawgnight15]

Potentially Stalingrad but it did appear Dak had shed the visor. Not sure why but clearly not there in the second half. Again, could be German in Pearl Harbor and what not