You're right, giving up easy scoring drives of 68 and 56 yards had nothing to do with it
We were gashing them on the ground WHEN there was a threat of passing. When there wasn't we couldn't run very well at all. The 68 yd play came *drumroll* ... after we finally let Pyron pass!
RPO…Zach did what he’s been coached to do for the past two years under Faulkner and Weinke. DB was playing off. It was effective enough for the next play to be a huge success. Jamal ran the next play like he was coached to do, and it was blocked to almost complete perfection. Rest is history. Job well done by all involved.
Our coaches need to start getting some credit though. They take a lot of heat and so do players. But Key does what he needs to keep the heat off the players, and he does an excellent job of it. To act like they don’t trust Zach or any player for that matter is simply crazy. Actually they have so much trust in Zach he downed our first punt of the game. Yes, he was the first guy down there on punt coverage. You don’t put a guy out on punt coverage if you don’t trust a guy, his ability, and his decision making.
These coaches aren’t idiots and they have reasons for each and everything they do. Just like the one single pass Zach had in the game. He made the right read and that’s because coaches like Weinke and Faulkner have the rep’d that play thousands of times with both Haynes and Zach. They aren’t making a guy the #2 qb and changing the play book for him. Yeah Haynes is a step or so faster than Zach and maybe a little more slithery. But there are a couple of different ways to skin a cat. Faulkner is brilliant and Weinke has his QBs fully prepared. So if Haynes isn’t able to go, Zach, or whoever it is, will be fully prepared.
We are 5-2 and this team has a very exciting opportunity in front of them. They have a chance to slay a giant. It will take a total team effort from everyone involved and associated with the football program…everyone. One thing I can promise you is coach Key and this coaching staff will have them ready for the moment. That I can assure you.