Final Thoughts on from the Win Over UTC

Is Lindsey Lamar heading for a redshirt this season?

The game between the Bulls and the Mocs is over and as the Bulls prepare to face Nevada this Saturday in Reno, there are a few closing thoughts I had about the opening game and a few things I observed while watching the team in action.

Defense looks good – Face the facts, it is hard to judge the team after just one game and against an FCS opponent, but overall, they looked strong.  The front 4 got after the Mocs quarterbacks and stopped their run game, limiting them to under 50 yards total for the game.  Giddins, Mims, Chandler and Grissom looked strong, exploding off the line and causing issues.  The linebackers were all over the place making plays, DeDe Lattimore looks even better than last season, which is bad news for offenses.  The secondary didn’t make too many plays, due in large part to the lack of down field passing from the Mocs, so it was hard to get a read on what they are capable.

Offensive line wasn’t that sharp – The Bulls had two lineman, Darrell Williams and Quinterrius Eatmon, injured for the game, although Eatmon did play, but overall the Mocs were able to get some pressure on Daniels in the pocket.   It could have been from blitzes, Daniels rolling into trouble, but overall, the line didn’t have their best game (from my view) and the running game also suffered, failing to get going.   They will need to do a better job holding their blocks and opening running lanes to get the offense going against Nevada.

B.J. Daniels was B.J. Daniels – Daniels was not that bad in the opening game, but he was not that great either.  He made a few accurate passes, but he also threw  a few head scratchers, such  as the interception late in the first half and the touchdown late in the game to the back of the endzone where he was falling back and lobbed the pass up for grabs.  He moved around well, but was held to negative yards in the game and still needs to get rid of the ball instead of trying to be a hero.  Daniels will need to get better starting this week when they hit the road to face Nevada, a team that will make him pay for his mistakes.

T-Rex returns – Terrence Mitchell, who missed most of 2011 with the concussion, returned and looked just as fast as ever, both returning punts and at receiver.  He was the favorite target for Daniels and got a few looks at punt returns (not a smart move by the punter to even give him a chance).  With T-Rex back to form, it just adds another huge speed weapon in two phases of the game and makes the offense that much better.  We had not heard a lot about T-Rex through the camps, but he made it loud and clear he is back and ready to run.

Lindsey Lamar redshirt? – Coach Holtz mentioned after the game that senior running back Lindsey Lamar, who had bulked up and returned to running back in the spring, could redshirt this season.  Holtz mentioned he was a little rusty at running back and that carries would be limited for him (including Michael Pierre) and a redshirt could happen.   We all thought this would be a huge year for Lamar who has been the top kick return man and a special athlete out of the backfield with his speed, but seeing Kayvon Webster returning punts and Marcus Shaw and Willie Davis getting the carries after Demetris Murray, he appears headed for that redshirt, although Marcus Shaw is dealing with an ankle injury, so he could play.  I trust in Holtz and the staff, but think his speed needs to be out on the field.