IIt's a final: Cal - 37 Portland State - 30. So many chances..............Cal's defense played much better in the 2nd half. ..............Cal lost to #22 Northwestern 44 to 33 last week, so this isn't a bad Cal team. Go Viks!
-
Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts, upgrade to remove ads and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your BigSkyFans.com experience today!
PSU @ California, Sept 7th, 2 pm, PAC 12 Network
- Thread starter VikThunder
- Start date
DustRunner
Active member
Ugh, so many missed opportunities. That drop by Dean really hurt.
But at least we played hard, and we put a scare in Cal. And Kieran should put doubt to rest after today's performance.
But at least we played hard, and we put a scare in Cal. And Kieran should put doubt to rest after today's performance.
I was impressed with our performance today. Are all of the problems gone? No.
Better? Yes.
The good:
- Line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We absolutely dominated a Pac 12 team at times in this game.
- KM looked great on the road against a talented team.
- Tackling seemed better overall. There were some misses, but it seemed better against a quality opponent.
- DJ. He's a beast. I wasn't too hip on him putting that ball in the air right as he crossed into the end zone that could have been a disaster, but hey, we got the TD.
- Safeties. There were a lot of really, really solid hits by our safeties today. When you get a couple of good licks in early, you know that weighs in the minds of those guys on the other team that are running routes.
- Wholly crap that one handed catch by the Cal receiver in the first half for the TD was unreal. Good coverage by our guy as well. Great football play.
- Closs looked freaking great today.
- Punting. Loomis is solid.
The bad:
- Shaq. Three fumbles in two games and that one today changed the game. Do NOT go up in the air when there is nothing there. At this point, Lilley needs to be the #2 until Shaq can show that he won't put the ball on the turf.
- The drop by Dean was huge. Oh, and how about Ramirez coming in off the bench cold and tossing a perfect pass on that play?
- Bounces. Couple of near tipped balls for interceptions. What if?
- Injuries. KM came back, but I don't think that I saw Edgerson get back in. Not sure about Gaulke or Lutali. Was that Adams (82) that was down for a while with the knee injury?
Concerns/Questions:
- Penalties. Better (how could it be worse than last week?), but it MUST get better for us to win.
- Can't get defensive guys off of the field. Deep in our own territory. Ok, it's tough with Cal's very fast pace, but our guys were basically caught on Cal's side of the ball, and that in my opinion is coaching. You don't have to get to our bench, you need to be off of the field. Take the most direct route to get off of the playing field.
- Timeouts. Burton saved a TD in the second half with a timeout, but why didn't we take one on that incompletion down the right side in the first half where it really looked like a catch? That would have been reviewed, right? Yeah, it's easy to say that as I sit at home and watch that on TV, but don't we have guys with headsets up in the booth that can put that idea in his ear?
- Missed PAT. Fundamentals boys, fundamentals. That should have been an extra point for us and if we'd scored when we'd had the ball late in the fourth, that could have cost us the game if we'd scored.
All in all I think we should be pleased with what we saw today. Ironically, this sort of goes back to exactly what Burton said this week. Limit mistakes, make plays, get some bounces, and we could win. We were within eight points of the biggest win in the history of our program today. Next week should show us a lot about what we can hope for this season
Better? Yes.
The good:
- Line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We absolutely dominated a Pac 12 team at times in this game.
- KM looked great on the road against a talented team.
- Tackling seemed better overall. There were some misses, but it seemed better against a quality opponent.
- DJ. He's a beast. I wasn't too hip on him putting that ball in the air right as he crossed into the end zone that could have been a disaster, but hey, we got the TD.
- Safeties. There were a lot of really, really solid hits by our safeties today. When you get a couple of good licks in early, you know that weighs in the minds of those guys on the other team that are running routes.
- Wholly crap that one handed catch by the Cal receiver in the first half for the TD was unreal. Good coverage by our guy as well. Great football play.
- Closs looked freaking great today.
- Punting. Loomis is solid.
The bad:
- Shaq. Three fumbles in two games and that one today changed the game. Do NOT go up in the air when there is nothing there. At this point, Lilley needs to be the #2 until Shaq can show that he won't put the ball on the turf.
- The drop by Dean was huge. Oh, and how about Ramirez coming in off the bench cold and tossing a perfect pass on that play?
- Bounces. Couple of near tipped balls for interceptions. What if?
- Injuries. KM came back, but I don't think that I saw Edgerson get back in. Not sure about Gaulke or Lutali. Was that Adams (82) that was down for a while with the knee injury?
Concerns/Questions:
- Penalties. Better (how could it be worse than last week?), but it MUST get better for us to win.
- Can't get defensive guys off of the field. Deep in our own territory. Ok, it's tough with Cal's very fast pace, but our guys were basically caught on Cal's side of the ball, and that in my opinion is coaching. You don't have to get to our bench, you need to be off of the field. Take the most direct route to get off of the playing field.
- Timeouts. Burton saved a TD in the second half with a timeout, but why didn't we take one on that incompletion down the right side in the first half where it really looked like a catch? That would have been reviewed, right? Yeah, it's easy to say that as I sit at home and watch that on TV, but don't we have guys with headsets up in the booth that can put that idea in his ear?
- Missed PAT. Fundamentals boys, fundamentals. That should have been an extra point for us and if we'd scored when we'd had the ball late in the fourth, that could have cost us the game if we'd scored.
All in all I think we should be pleased with what we saw today. Ironically, this sort of goes back to exactly what Burton said this week. Limit mistakes, make plays, get some bounces, and we could win. We were within eight points of the biggest win in the history of our program today. Next week should show us a lot about what we can hope for this season
California 37, Portland State 30: Vikings give Golden Bears a scare
http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2013/09/california_37_portland_state_3.html#incart_flyout_sports" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Portland State vs. Cal, Sept. 7, 2013 (photos)
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2013/09/portland_state_vs_cal_sept_7_2.html#incart_river_default" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2013/09/california_37_portland_state_3.html#incart_flyout_sports" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Portland State vs. Cal, Sept. 7, 2013 (photos)
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2013/09/portland_state_vs_cal_sept_7_2.html#incart_river_default" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Golden Bears Withstand Viking Threat, Win 37-30
http://www.goviks.com/news/2013/9/7/FB_0907133801.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.goviks.com/news/2013/9/7/FB_0907133801.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A very entertaining game, with a lot of encouraging signs, but man we missed a great opportunity to get a win that would have been huge towards our playoff chances. I feel like I've been conditioned over the years by watching this team to expect a penalty almost every time there's a big play (especially against quality opponents), and this game was no exception (although the penalties didn't end up nullifying the scores in most cases this time). Also the drop by Dean just feels so Viks, we've been on the cusp of big wins over the years and stuff like that always tends to happen (the couple of dropped picks we had fall into that same category as well, although, again, those didn't end up hurting us that much). Overall feeling the best about this team that I have in awhile, but there's a lot of room for improvement.
I noticed a few guys went down in this game, but nothing looked too serious. Among them we're Closs, Lutali, and Edgerson, any one have any word on injury status? Speaking of Closs, man he is legit. Coming out of nowhere like this he's basically the new Ian Sluss. Our WR corp is the best it's been in a long time with Tatum emerging, Dean, and Thomas Carter, who hasn't done anything yet this season, but was arguably out best wideout last year, and Closs. Closs's injury was weird, it seems to be cramps since he was just standing on the line of scrimmage when he crumpled over, but then he didn't return the rest of the game.
Looking forward to our next meaningful game, but unfortunately that won't happen for a couple of weeks as we play ANOTHER NAIA school next week. I know it's probably a money-related that this isn't happening for us, but other big sky schools are playing teams South Dakota, South Dakota St., Stephen F. Austin, McNeese, San Diego, Appalachian St., Sam Houston St, etc. Those kind of game could potentially boost our playoff chances and would be way more entertaining than these non-DI walk-overs (although I am glad we scheduled the non-conference tilt with UC Davis). I don't want to see more than 1 non-D1 game per year and when we play them we should target schools that are elite at their own level like Carroll and Linfield. Matching up with successful small schools for those games will provide and better challenging and will make our playoff resume better.
Last, a couple comments about Shaq. He obviously has a big problem with fumbles and the one in this game killed us, but he is talented and hopefully will be an asset to us this year. The coaching staff has always seemed to be high on him, giving him carries that could go to Adams, but he hasn't been efficient on the field until this year (his yards per carry his first two years weren't very good). That being said watching him in this game he clearly has a knack for picking up yards and making guys miss. The broadcast talked about how the coaching staff noted that he has a really unique running style and I totally see that. Again his fumble may have been the difference I the game and we couldn't afford to let that happen again, but I don't think he got a single carry after that point and I'm not sure that was the right decision given the success he was having (although I still think DJ is the better player). Hopefully he can get his ball security issues under control for the rest of the season.
I noticed a few guys went down in this game, but nothing looked too serious. Among them we're Closs, Lutali, and Edgerson, any one have any word on injury status? Speaking of Closs, man he is legit. Coming out of nowhere like this he's basically the new Ian Sluss. Our WR corp is the best it's been in a long time with Tatum emerging, Dean, and Thomas Carter, who hasn't done anything yet this season, but was arguably out best wideout last year, and Closs. Closs's injury was weird, it seems to be cramps since he was just standing on the line of scrimmage when he crumpled over, but then he didn't return the rest of the game.
Looking forward to our next meaningful game, but unfortunately that won't happen for a couple of weeks as we play ANOTHER NAIA school next week. I know it's probably a money-related that this isn't happening for us, but other big sky schools are playing teams South Dakota, South Dakota St., Stephen F. Austin, McNeese, San Diego, Appalachian St., Sam Houston St, etc. Those kind of game could potentially boost our playoff chances and would be way more entertaining than these non-DI walk-overs (although I am glad we scheduled the non-conference tilt with UC Davis). I don't want to see more than 1 non-D1 game per year and when we play them we should target schools that are elite at their own level like Carroll and Linfield. Matching up with successful small schools for those games will provide and better challenging and will make our playoff resume better.
Last, a couple comments about Shaq. He obviously has a big problem with fumbles and the one in this game killed us, but he is talented and hopefully will be an asset to us this year. The coaching staff has always seemed to be high on him, giving him carries that could go to Adams, but he hasn't been efficient on the field until this year (his yards per carry his first two years weren't very good). That being said watching him in this game he clearly has a knack for picking up yards and making guys miss. The broadcast talked about how the coaching staff noted that he has a really unique running style and I totally see that. Again his fumble may have been the difference I the game and we couldn't afford to let that happen again, but I don't think he got a single carry after that point and I'm not sure that was the right decision given the success he was having (although I still think DJ is the better player). Hopefully he can get his ball security issues under control for the rest of the season.
BroadwayVik
Active member
Proud of my Viks, lots of film to review to serve as a clear teaching tool for some solid growth. They were contenders throughout the game; the win could have gone either way.
I'm wondering what the injury situation is. Is Closs okay? We have about three others hobble to the sidelines as well. I wonder how each of those players is doing.
That beautiful pass by Ramirez should have been caught.
I'm wondering what the injury situation is. Is Closs okay? We have about three others hobble to the sidelines as well. I wonder how each of those players is doing.
That beautiful pass by Ramirez should have been caught.
The Bald Faced Truth 09-09-13 Hour 2
Portland State Head Coach Nigel Burton joins the show to talk about the Vik's loss to California.
Coach Burton is on the podcast around the 20:03 mark:
http://www.750thegame.com/common/global_audio/379/107389.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Portland State Head Coach Nigel Burton joins the show to talk about the Vik's loss to California.
Coach Burton is on the podcast around the 20:03 mark:
http://www.750thegame.com/common/global_audio/379/107389.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
