vs. Buffalo

[mbenecke]

Quick three-and-out from the Falcons and I'm worried it may already be snowballing.

Solid punt from Naranjo puts Buffalo back near their own 25. Let's see if the defense can stop the run here.

[Schadenfreude]

This one may get out of hand like the others but I must say the offense looks a whole lot more competent today. I'm feeling good about that.

A lot of this comes down to the play of the offensive line. it's better.

[BillyLP]

Yeah, it’s going to snowball into a significant deficit, but I’m just looking for improvements in effort, offense, and tackling. So far they are good on the first two.

[mbenecke]

Actually got a stop on third down, but a garbage spot gave them a first down. Terrible, terrible spot there - it was so clearly wrong.

[jpfalcon09]

Once the corners get some experience in man coverage and learn how to take better routes to ball carriers, things will start to improve. Giving guys ten yard cushions and taking poor angles is a big reason why these simple pass plays are going for big yardage.

[mbenecke]

BG has forced a 4th down and 1 at the 4 yard line. This Buffalo drive has gone on almost 8 minutes - they're sucking the life out of this defense by forcing them to stay out there - utterly demoralizing to not be able to get a stop. There's a timeout on the field and we're heading to commercial break, but I'd assume they'll go for it here.

[mbenecke]

And of course, we were close, but he breaks the tackles and runs it in. 21-3, Bulls - 1:18 left in the first half.

It's just so, so clear that what Loeffler's saying is right. We're just not big or strong enough to make tackles consistently at this level yet. Not having spring ball is showing up big time here, and it makes a ton of sense why we're praying hard to have spring ball in 2021 - if we don't, that sets back this rebuild even further. We badly need that off-season work with the strength staff.

[BillyLP]

That TD run perfectly illustrated what Loeffler was talking about with getting guys in the weight room. If Anders had more strength he should have been able to get that stop. Even though they’ve given up a ton of rushing yards, defense still looks a lot better tonight so far.

[jpfalcon09]

Could have been a worst half I guess?

Didn't realize Burns was a walk on at corner. Crazy he's starting. Either the program is super thin there or he's impressed.

[mbenecke]

McDonald completed a deep ball down the middle to Massey, but it ultimately ended in a turnover on downs just before the half. If the 4th down pass is thrown more accurately, we probably get one more shot at the end zone and then kick a field goal to end the half.

It's 21-3 at halftime. We get the ball to start the 2nd half.

[FalconTurf]

It’s been watchable. I see improvement, still a ways to go. Second half adjustments with lesser talent will not be good for BG. Keep pushing forward

[mbenecke]

CBS showed a great example of our roster breakdown:

Freshmen - 64 (43 true, 21 redshirt)
Sophomore - 10 (only 6 are scholarship players)
Junior - 16
Senior - 16

Unreal how young we are. It's so obvious that we were never going to be competitive this year - and I think that's okay. We have to keep working to get the numbers back before we can think about winning the MAC (or even being competitive, really) again.

[mbenecke]

In the first half, Matt McDonald went 9/13 for 102 yards. Clearly his best half as a Falcon.

Clair didn't have a carry in the 2nd quarter. I'll never understand why we go away from him when he seems to be our best player on offense.

[Schadenfreude]

Freshmen - 64 (43 true, 21 redshirt)
Sophomore - 10
Junior - 16
Senior - 16

That's amazing.

[roguewarrior]

The bathroom is warm! Ha. Better than expected, let’s hang in and get a score or two.