I'm still pretty bummed about last night's game...
Two things really stuck out yesterday:
1) The momentum shift after the Keitrell punt atrocity. Our offense finally sustained a long drive and scored a touchdown. The defense came out great and forces a Poly three and out. And we muff the punt?! Are you freaking kidding me? The sad thing is, once I saw that ball hit the ground, I fully expected our PR to try and field it. Why? Because that is the same dumb stuff that we've been doing all damn season. Seriously, just let Monahan fair catch every punt, I don't care, I know he will catch it or has the football sense to get away from it if he can't handle it. I will take a guaranteed change of possession over a "big play" because all the big plays for our special teams are for the other team. If we field that punt after that three and out and score again... it puts less pressure on our defense to stop that option attack and maybe change Poly's gameplan by making them play behind two scores.
2) The 4th quarter drive, the most important drive of the whole game... We hand off the ball three times in a row?!?!?!!!! Are you serious? Down 5, with about 6 minutes left, we go three and out off the same damn run play three times in a row? I am sorry, I just can't believe we couldn't come up with a better set of plays. Barnum's play calling was atrocious for that series and for a lot of the game. The run game wasn't working the whole night, and you don't allow arguably the team's best play maker (McDonagh) make a play? The game was done after that drive.
We had plenty of opportunities to really step on Poly's throat. They were a good team, that option attack is ridiculous. The defense forced some big turnovers and had critical stops, but you can't contain that running attack the whole game. It's just frustrating seeing our Vikes play with teams like Poly, SUU, and UND, coming so close, and coming out the other end. We might have some athletes, but minimizing mistakes and execution is the difference between the bottom of the conference and being at the top. Since we aren't playing for a playoff spot, how about open up the imagination and the playbook, and maybe let our young QB make some calls on the field, so he can truly grasp the playbook and be a force next year and the years to follow? I'm tired of seeing the same 8 plays and a flea flicker every game.
