We need to run the ball more frequently, and with physical intent, not flatfooted out of the shotgun. A warm weather balanced offense should feature 34-38 rushes per game, preferably the high end, like Georgia and South Carolina, which had 37+ last season. Stanford is very physical. They were a shade above 39.
Fisch was a ridiculous 30.9. That's volunteering to lose more than your share. He got too cute with the greed of scoring 40+ against stiffs as opposed to putting together a foundational style than can manage 24+ against top foes. Once you do that, the 40+ against stiffs will naturally tag along.
Morris needs better touch in the red zone. Along with running the ball often enough, that variable will dictate whether we we manage touchdowns or settle for field goals against top foes.
Against Florida, we'll own the energy and emotion for certain points early in the game but if it equates to field goals we're doomed, and it's ominous toward major games late in the season. Florida is going to wear us physically in the second half, just like their matchup at Texas A&M last season. We're improving athletically from position to position but Florida and FSU are simply more rugged and stingy.
Malcolm Lewis needs to be healthy. Pre injury I thought he was the second most clever and impressive newcomer last season, a special talent.
Defensively, just become a normal team. We haven't even been that. I've had to close my eyes at all the ghastly wide open spaces plays, when there's literally no defender in the picture and it looks like we're fielding 9 guys. Even in white uniforms we look skinny. Notre Dame made us look like twigs then the national championship game theme is now massive and strong Alabama looked in pre game warmups, compared to Notre Dame. Urban Meyer supposedly was turning his head in astonishment at the glaring difference between the two squads. I'm not a big believer in UTough. IMO, that's a crock, a band aid. You'll never catch up via that route. Get talented guys who are naturally huge.
Two or three disrupters need to emerge. McCord showed promise, also Terry. Porter is a huge piece toward mediocrity. That's meant as a compliment. I'm not as high on Pierre as others are. He gets too high and can be redirected. If anyone steps up at defensive tackle, that's a bonus. But when Golden concedes it's a fail I imagine he understands nobody will fully step up. The defensive backs are promising athletically. Very promising. Unless they demonstrate ability to take the ball away it won't matter. Lots of guys can arrive late and drop their shoulder. That blends to irrelevance after a while.
Punting needs to mature in a hurry. Botts didn't have a long transition period once he was the guy, but I remember all the hatred toward Bosher in his early days. I'd watch him in warmups and he was great but it initially didn't translate to the field.
