Pudlugger
09-13-2003, 09:02 AM
Well we are 3 games into this season and have yet to nail down the starting positions that were big question marks in August.[Actually now that McKenzie is out there is one more question mark.] Some observations from a fan:
1.La Grange needs a center who is big and strong enough to keep the MLBs out of our backfield and free up Krause to stay fresh on defense. Krause is doing yoeman's work both ways, but it is not the optimal situation. Krause is the kingpin in the middle of the LG defense which is the weak spot right now. That is a key to this team's success. Notice how the defense lagged in the 4th quarter allowing Sealy to eat up the clock? Also, the turnover situation is related to the center situation due to either bad snaps or the MLBs stripping the ball from Anderle right after the snap in the backfield before the exchanges. Last night this arguably cost us the win, giving an easy 7 points to Sealy on a fumble recovery at the snap in the endzone.If we had a big center in there I think Anderle would be able to calm down a little and hit his receivers better or make yardage off tackle or guard. Develop the talent here.
2. The defensive line needs reinforcement. We really miss big Byron Hayes in the middle. Even if he didn't make the plays he would jam up the middle giving our MLBs the shot at the ballcarrier. Now we are giving up the first 2-3 yards off the ball and that killed us last night. Put some beef in the middle even if they lack experience. (We have good coaches to teach the defensive sets and moves and kids smart enough to learn. Again, it is a matter of developing the talent here).
3. The kicking game. If it had not been for some incredible athleticism of Sam Gunn #15 running back to pick up a low snap that went through his legs and somehow getting off a 35 yard punt LG would have been in more trouble. [BTW,Hats off to Neiser, I think he won the kick-off position last night with real precision, especially the final on-sides a beauty that almost worked.]
Some of the bright spots for LG were: the play of #24 Welch who looks real sharp in tackling and moving to the ball; #33 Wilson who made several nice runs and protected the football well; the blocking backs who looked sharp on the sweeps, really laying the pads on the Sealy Corners; the blocking of the tackles and ends especially on sweeps and off tackle right and left sides and, finally, the recievers, Schramm, Daniels and Hernandez who seemed to have caught everything that was catchable last night.[BTW Sealy's safety saved a sure TD in the first quarter when he got beaten on a long pass and held the defender rather than allow a completion. With the new pass interference rule this year we will see more of this. 10 yard penalty and first down is much better than 6 points. I liked placing the ball at the point of the foul because it prevented this strategy and made for better football IMHO]
If the middle were beefed up at DT and NG and the Leps find a center with size, I think you will see the Old Leps make a return. Good luck and practice hard this week. You have nothing to be ashamed of with two close games against play-off bound teams and a good win on a third. The Leps are going to be fine. :)
<small>[ September 13, 2003, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: Pudlugger ]</small>
1.La Grange needs a center who is big and strong enough to keep the MLBs out of our backfield and free up Krause to stay fresh on defense. Krause is doing yoeman's work both ways, but it is not the optimal situation. Krause is the kingpin in the middle of the LG defense which is the weak spot right now. That is a key to this team's success. Notice how the defense lagged in the 4th quarter allowing Sealy to eat up the clock? Also, the turnover situation is related to the center situation due to either bad snaps or the MLBs stripping the ball from Anderle right after the snap in the backfield before the exchanges. Last night this arguably cost us the win, giving an easy 7 points to Sealy on a fumble recovery at the snap in the endzone.If we had a big center in there I think Anderle would be able to calm down a little and hit his receivers better or make yardage off tackle or guard. Develop the talent here.
2. The defensive line needs reinforcement. We really miss big Byron Hayes in the middle. Even if he didn't make the plays he would jam up the middle giving our MLBs the shot at the ballcarrier. Now we are giving up the first 2-3 yards off the ball and that killed us last night. Put some beef in the middle even if they lack experience. (We have good coaches to teach the defensive sets and moves and kids smart enough to learn. Again, it is a matter of developing the talent here).
3. The kicking game. If it had not been for some incredible athleticism of Sam Gunn #15 running back to pick up a low snap that went through his legs and somehow getting off a 35 yard punt LG would have been in more trouble. [BTW,Hats off to Neiser, I think he won the kick-off position last night with real precision, especially the final on-sides a beauty that almost worked.]
Some of the bright spots for LG were: the play of #24 Welch who looks real sharp in tackling and moving to the ball; #33 Wilson who made several nice runs and protected the football well; the blocking backs who looked sharp on the sweeps, really laying the pads on the Sealy Corners; the blocking of the tackles and ends especially on sweeps and off tackle right and left sides and, finally, the recievers, Schramm, Daniels and Hernandez who seemed to have caught everything that was catchable last night.[BTW Sealy's safety saved a sure TD in the first quarter when he got beaten on a long pass and held the defender rather than allow a completion. With the new pass interference rule this year we will see more of this. 10 yard penalty and first down is much better than 6 points. I liked placing the ball at the point of the foul because it prevented this strategy and made for better football IMHO]
If the middle were beefed up at DT and NG and the Leps find a center with size, I think you will see the Old Leps make a return. Good luck and practice hard this week. You have nothing to be ashamed of with two close games against play-off bound teams and a good win on a third. The Leps are going to be fine. :)
<small>[ September 13, 2003, 06:51 PM: Message edited by: Pudlugger ]</small>