Going into this game I was a little nervous about the Grizzly defense against an offense that’s designed to stretch the field a bit more and has suddenly found a rhythm with a new starting QB. Davis put a bit of a scare into the Griz and game-planned well with a good rushing attack and the ability to stretch the field passing the ball – all while keeping Wags and Holmes as non-factors in the game. All of that said it was great to see the Grizzly offense find their footing as the game went on and keep the Aggies from being able to tie up the game.
As I kind of suspected the Griz opened slow, coming off the bye week, and their inability to find quick footing on offense proved for a very stressful 1st half of the game. It not for a few incredible catches by Jamaal Jones, who knows, it could’ve been 14-0 UCD at the half. In the 2nd half the Grizzlies got churning on the ground and UCD was unable to stop them.
Some general thoughts:
- 280 yards passing and 490 yards of total offense to put up 42 total points on the board – that pretty much hits about what UCD is allowing on average. At first (especially in the 1st half) I was growing more and more concerned that if this offense can’t get going against UCD then it’s going to be tough sledding the rest of the season. As the game went on, and especially after the 2nd half the rust was shaken off and the offense got going. It was a good mix of passing and running. JJ looked more comfortable in the pocket. And the running game found good traction – especially around the left side of the O-line.
- Some great plays from the guys this team absolutely needs on offense. 150 rushing yards for Canada and 3 TDs. 280 passing yards for JJ. 150 receiving yards for Jones. And a quieter day for Van but still a few highlight-reel plays.
- With Ellis Henderson done for the season it was great to see Sean Haynes back and making a long catch on a deep pass. If Haynes can keep working his way in and stay healthy he’ll be a welcome addition to this team in the 2nd half of the season.
- While it was all PATs Harrison Greenberg goes 5-5 and they’re all clean and dead-center. I’m hearing some interesting chatter on the kicking situation and I’m wondering who the coaches will be eyeing to make the trip to Poly since I assume they’re not going to take all 3.
- With Wags and Holmes mostly stymied by a surprisingly solid UCD O-line the interior tackles had a pretty good game. Multiple batted passes for Takai and some good plays in the backfield. Nothing was more clutch than Peevey’s sack to set up a 4th and long late in the game for UCD.
- What was the issue with our linebackers today? This group has largely not been victims of over-pursuit, arm or shoulder-check tackles, and getting out of position. Today that group was off and on and had some noticeable issues. You’d have a big stop by one guy and then bad missed tackle by another guy on the following play. Pass coverage was an issue too – I had people pointing out to me that the 1st UCD TD might not have been fully on Hermey’s shoulders but that the linebacker in coverage wasn’t there to help underneath.
- My concern of facing an offense like Davis’s is growing especially considering the slate ahead. We’ve got the spread/option team in CPSLO, then Sac, then EWU. The Griz have to go 3-0 or 2-1 over this stretch. Can the defense buckle back down?
- QB pressure was not there today. Was it the Davis O-line, their game plan, or did our blitzes and D-ends just not have a good game? Our pass defense is helped by pressure on the QB – that will need to be improved upon, not probably so much for UCD but certainly after that.
- Big props to the kickoff coverage team. I posted concerns about containing their returner and boy did they ever.
- O line had a rough 1st half but a better 2nd half. I’m not jumping on the “we’re doing way better” bandwagon yet but it was good to see better protection for JJ in the 2nd half that allowed him more time to throw the ball.
- Did you notice some of the great blocking by the WRs on some run plays and screens? A few times they totally took a DB or LB out of a play. Great execution on blocking by that group.
- Saw a replay on TV of that 4th UCD touchdown, it was a good call, no bobble and actually 2 feet in bounds.
- A lot of times you see special teams standouts transition to becoming good defenders the next season. That could bode well for Eric Johnson and Tyrel Garner who were listed as being in on some great special teams stops and plays.
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Griz are 3-0 in the conference and now hit the roughest stretch of their schedule. The offense needs to keep building on their 2nd half success and the defense needs to re-group a little bit. It was nice to see the Griz put up some points and have no turnovers or major errors/blunders in the game. No major injuries that I noticed and hopefully this team can just keep improving
On to Cal Poly! GO GRIZ!
As I kind of suspected the Griz opened slow, coming off the bye week, and their inability to find quick footing on offense proved for a very stressful 1st half of the game. It not for a few incredible catches by Jamaal Jones, who knows, it could’ve been 14-0 UCD at the half. In the 2nd half the Grizzlies got churning on the ground and UCD was unable to stop them.
Some general thoughts:
- 280 yards passing and 490 yards of total offense to put up 42 total points on the board – that pretty much hits about what UCD is allowing on average. At first (especially in the 1st half) I was growing more and more concerned that if this offense can’t get going against UCD then it’s going to be tough sledding the rest of the season. As the game went on, and especially after the 2nd half the rust was shaken off and the offense got going. It was a good mix of passing and running. JJ looked more comfortable in the pocket. And the running game found good traction – especially around the left side of the O-line.
- Some great plays from the guys this team absolutely needs on offense. 150 rushing yards for Canada and 3 TDs. 280 passing yards for JJ. 150 receiving yards for Jones. And a quieter day for Van but still a few highlight-reel plays.
- With Ellis Henderson done for the season it was great to see Sean Haynes back and making a long catch on a deep pass. If Haynes can keep working his way in and stay healthy he’ll be a welcome addition to this team in the 2nd half of the season.
- While it was all PATs Harrison Greenberg goes 5-5 and they’re all clean and dead-center. I’m hearing some interesting chatter on the kicking situation and I’m wondering who the coaches will be eyeing to make the trip to Poly since I assume they’re not going to take all 3.
- With Wags and Holmes mostly stymied by a surprisingly solid UCD O-line the interior tackles had a pretty good game. Multiple batted passes for Takai and some good plays in the backfield. Nothing was more clutch than Peevey’s sack to set up a 4th and long late in the game for UCD.
- What was the issue with our linebackers today? This group has largely not been victims of over-pursuit, arm or shoulder-check tackles, and getting out of position. Today that group was off and on and had some noticeable issues. You’d have a big stop by one guy and then bad missed tackle by another guy on the following play. Pass coverage was an issue too – I had people pointing out to me that the 1st UCD TD might not have been fully on Hermey’s shoulders but that the linebacker in coverage wasn’t there to help underneath.
- My concern of facing an offense like Davis’s is growing especially considering the slate ahead. We’ve got the spread/option team in CPSLO, then Sac, then EWU. The Griz have to go 3-0 or 2-1 over this stretch. Can the defense buckle back down?
- QB pressure was not there today. Was it the Davis O-line, their game plan, or did our blitzes and D-ends just not have a good game? Our pass defense is helped by pressure on the QB – that will need to be improved upon, not probably so much for UCD but certainly after that.
- Big props to the kickoff coverage team. I posted concerns about containing their returner and boy did they ever.
- O line had a rough 1st half but a better 2nd half. I’m not jumping on the “we’re doing way better” bandwagon yet but it was good to see better protection for JJ in the 2nd half that allowed him more time to throw the ball.
- Did you notice some of the great blocking by the WRs on some run plays and screens? A few times they totally took a DB or LB out of a play. Great execution on blocking by that group.
- Saw a replay on TV of that 4th UCD touchdown, it was a good call, no bobble and actually 2 feet in bounds.
- A lot of times you see special teams standouts transition to becoming good defenders the next season. That could bode well for Eric Johnson and Tyrel Garner who were listed as being in on some great special teams stops and plays.
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Griz are 3-0 in the conference and now hit the roughest stretch of their schedule. The offense needs to keep building on their 2nd half success and the defense needs to re-group a little bit. It was nice to see the Griz put up some points and have no turnovers or major errors/blunders in the game. No major injuries that I noticed and hopefully this team can just keep improving
On to Cal Poly! GO GRIZ!