Purpleglasses wrote: ↑Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:46 am
It was a tough one to watch from Alabama...that said...
I believe that any really objective observer that actually watched Elon's game against USF would see what we were about to face an excellent team.
In that game, Elon's receivers dropped many big play, possession extending passes that were not really contested, they were just drops.
they also ran the ball very well against USF.
As you have always heard, the biggest improvements are between weeks 1 and 2. This past week, Elon did actually improve with their Receivers, and polished their running game.
We didn't improve. Defensive players were not filling gaps. They were shooting up field when they should have stayed at home, and we were missing tackles.
Offensively, we were one dimensional, and did not give the maligned QB's any time to try and stretch the field, so that some of that running game would (could) open up.
This is an adjustment the OL needs to make, and I am sure that Hendrix is capable of and will work to correct this issue.
What was unacceptable to me, as an observer, was the visible "head hanging" from players, and "giving up" when the rubber was meeting the road.
To correct a lot of this, some players need to grow up and mature. It is not always just a Skill improvement that is needed, it is a mental toughness that is needed.
They need to remember that no one individual is bigger than the team, and dedicate themselves to give 100% for 6 seconds at a time for as many opportunities they have while they are between the white lines.
The season is all still in front of them, they can do this, and we need to be behind them supporting them the whole way, win or lose.