Game 1: Colorado

RocheyAlum05 · Post by **RocheyAlum05** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 1:45 pm

Now that I've digested the game and spent some time cooling off -- I don't think it was really as bad as it looked, and it looked TERRIBLE. The run defense is concerning, but honestly, even when this team was putrid the run defense was always kind of okay - which leads me to believe that this game was an outlier. The edge is a problem, it's always been a problem, I have no idea why nobody seems capable of holding an edge or covering in the flat, but at this point complaining about that is like complaining about the weather, it's not going to accomplish anything.

The beginning of the game was bad and it set a bad tone. Blake was off, receivers dropped passes, things were sailing -- there were points on the field early that our offense didn't capitalize on. Much like the run defense, I think this is the outlier. We have seen this offense put up big numbers. I do think missing Sifrin is a thing, but I do not believe that we went from a prolific offense to an anemic one because we lost one player on offense.Whether it was being overconfident, or the altitude, the offense was just not clicking early and because of that we fell behind. Once the offense got it into gear, things were moving pretty well and with the score 14-14 everything looked to be heading in the right direction. That's when the wheels fall off.

Colorado drives down the field and scores to make it 21-14. At this point it appears we're about to get an offensive shoot out. Blake and the offense walk down the field on the next drive and get to the door step. Blake makes a TERRIBLE decision and gets picked off in the end zone. Instead of 21-21, Colorado takes the ball down the field. The defense actually does a great job of holding Colorado to a field goal and its 24-14. The offense fizzles on the next drive and a comedy of errors on special teams gives Colorado a short field, they score a touchdown and it's 31-14 at half time.

Honestly, if that Blake INT had been an incomplete pass, or a touchdown -- this game may have turned out completely differently. Once the score was 31-14 the team just mailed it in. They never recovered at halftime and the second half was a blood bath. Colorado comes out of the locker room with an 11 play drive and get a field goal and forget about it.

Obviously the mistakes are part of the game that have to be accounted for and we made a ton of them and deserved to lose. But while on paper this thing appears to have been a blow out, it really was only about 3 plays away from being a completely different game.

I'm trying to keep the faith here because I saw a lot of things to like about this team leading into the Colorado game and I saw none of those things on display on Saturday.

MajBugman · Post by **MajBugman** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 2:10 pm

This had the makings of a poop show when the schedule came out.

1) Buffs had played a game already. UMass was rusty on offense and we knew if they were going to win they had to put points on the board and keep the defense off the field because...
2) Buffs offensive line from left to right goes 295, 295, 315, 315, 320 lbs. UMass' defensive line is small by FBS standards (260,290,260 or something). UMass' linebackers go 220-240. If you aint big you better be fast or do some creative run blitzing, or stunts or something.
3) Add the altitude on top of the size difference and the time of possession in the Buff's favor, no es bueno.

rsox1221 · Post by **rsox1221** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 3:09 pm

JoleonLescottsHair wrote: I see you enjoying making stuff up. Here are the facts:

Nobody has pronounced the program dead, including me. In fact, if you bother reading (a challenge it seems) you would know that I state (in this very thread)- now see if you can follow along- "I would not be surprised if Coach Whipple rights the ship and every few years the team competes to be one of the 80 teams that are "bowl eligible." If an occasional 7-5 or 6-6 team and crowds of 20K are what people consider big time football the transition to FBS will have been a success. I am even willing to bet the Minutemen eventually have that one magical breakout season at some point and go 9-3 and play in a late December bowl game before returning to a more familiar run of 3-9 and 4-7 seasons." That is not pronouncing anything "dead." It is an assessment of where I think the program is headed. Rather than see that play out, I believe the program should be dropped down a level or closed up. Nothing is dead, just mediocre. I don't want that in UMass football or any sport. You don't agree, fine.

You sure that's not you being sanctimonious and douchey? Because it kinda seems like you're being sanctimonious and douchey. And instead of being sanctimonious and douchey, you could just ignore topics related to UMass football since you don't support it and everyone will be better off since there would be no interweb war of words. Problem solved. You're welcome.

JoleonLescottsHair · Post by **JoleonLescottsHair** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 6:05 pm

rsox1221 wrote: You sure that's not you being sanctimonious and douchey? Because it kinda seems like you're being sanctimonious and douchey. And instead of being sanctimonious and douchey, you could just ignore topics related to UMass football since you don't support it and everyone will be better off since there would be no interweb war of words. Problem solved. You're welcome.

I don't believe I was addressing you. I was pointing out where Ktabz had his facts wrong. Odd that this seems to bother you so much as this is twice now that you have felt the need to post about my party going skills and "sanctimonious" behavior. Did you say something about avoiding a "war of words?" Maybe you should take your own advice.

njumass08 · Post by **njumass08** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 6:22 pm

Joleon, I invite you to come to the game this weekend. I have two tickets for you for free and you can tailgate with us. Beer is on me.

You should come.

rsox1221 · Post by **rsox1221** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 7:01 pm

JoleonLescottsHair wrote:
rsox1221 wrote: You sure that's not you being sanctimonious and douchey? Because it kinda seems like you're being sanctimonious and douchey. And instead of being sanctimonious and douchey, you could just ignore topics related to UMass football since you don't support it and everyone will be better off since there would be no interweb war of words. Problem solved. You're welcome.
I don't believe I was addressing you. I was pointing out where Ktabz had his facts wrong. Odd that this seems to bother you so much as this is twice now that you have felt the need to post about my party going skills and "sanctimonious" behavior. Did you say something about avoiding a "war of words?" Maybe you should take your own advice.

It bothers me because an attitude like yours is embarrassing to me as an alum. You'd rather see the football program cut than support it. That's disgraceful to me. If you feel that way, keep it to yourself because here in the football forum, no one wants to listen to your bullshit rhetoric.

I'm definitely done addressing it now, you should be too. The door's that way bud.

Old Cage · Post by **Old Cage** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:15 pm

A little realism injected into the "we're going to a bowl game" fantasy is far from embarrassing.

njumass08 · Post by **njumass08** » Tue Sep 15, 2015 8:31 pm

Cage, we can still make a bowl my friend. Long season still to go.

MJatUM · Post by **MJatUM** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 9:13 am

MajBugman wrote:This had the makings of a poop show when the schedule came out.

1) Buffs had played a game already. UMass was rusty on offense and we knew if they were going to win they had to put points on the board and keep the defense off the field because...
2) Buffs offensive line from left to right goes 295, 295, 315, 315, 320 lbs. UMass' defensive line is small by FBS standards (260,290,260 or something). UMass' linebackers go 220-240. If you aint big you better be fast or do some creative run blitzing, or stunts or something.
3) Add the altitude on top of the size difference and the time of possession in the Buff's favor, no es bueno.

Good poitns all around, but particularly the part I bolded. If you can't beat em or even compete with em in size/speed/strength, you need to find creative ways to make plays. The vanilla D will not fly against P5 and even most G5 (like Temple) teams. Especially when you're down 3+ scores, you need to make something happen. Hoping for a better plan and a better effort all around on Saturday.

SEE YOU AT THE RAZOR!

Berkman · Post by **Berkman** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:08 pm

Isn't it time we put this to bed?

MJatUM · Post by **MJatUM** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:41 pm

I think it's time we put YOU to bed. Just kidding! Or am I? I probably am.

UMassHoops.com

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