[NU Sports] Kafka

[Michael Vance]

Though I am still overall positive on Kafka, especially long-term, I'm 
afraid that I'm going to have to disagree with a couple of Maureen's points.

mlinhardt at netzero.net wrote:
> Seeing Kafka in person I was impressed.
>
> The bad:
> #1 Skipped 1 pass, overthrew 1 pass, and underthrew 1 pass
> (interception)
>   
 From the stands I counted a lot more than one overthrown pass.  I 
didn't get a chance to see if the receivers were getting chucked or if 
it was just a matter of the timing being off between the rookie QB and 
his receivers.  But since most of them were in fairly crucial 
situations, I figured it was most likely a little over-excitement on the 
part of the rookie QB.
> #4 Threw it away on 4th down in the redzone at the end of the game 
> when we needed the score
>
> ...
> #4 probably compensation for taking the sack at Miami(OH) in a similar 
> situation.  He has to learn to throw it away unless we have nothing to 
> lose and then try to force a throw.
>   
Isn't that something that any QB should know, regardless of the level at 
which you're playing?  If it's fourth down, late in the game, and you 
have to score, you have nothing to lose by trying to force something and 
everything to lose by throwing it away.
> Somebody else posted on the lack of Herbert.
I remember commenting when Herbert got his first catch of the game late 
in the second.  His lack of involvement, whatever the reason, stood out.

Other thoughts:

-We came out in a 4-3 and UNH blew us out on those first two drives 
(albeit the second one was on a very short field).  On their third and 
fourth possessions, we were in the 3-4 and it really disrupted them.  
However, they did a fantastic job of adjusting, part of which was to run 
more, and after those two drives it didn't make much difference which 
defensive set we were in.

-For those who haven't read much about David Ball, he came into this 
season only five TDs away from Jerry Rice's I-AA career record of 47 
career receiving TDs.  Yes, *that* Jerry Rice.  Now he's only three 
away.  I think it's safe to say that the record will not only fall, it 
will be annihilated by the end of the season.  This guy will be playing 
on Sundays next year.

-I totally agree with everyone on the line play.  The RBs had to work 
for everything, with Tyrell getting stopped more often than not on the 
sweep and Terrell bulling through the line and carrying four guys with 
him.  And the secondary has gotten some flak, but Santos had all day to 
pass.  Too many times to count, the pocket collapsed and he just slipped 
away and eventually got a pass off or scrambled for positive yardage.  
The pass rush has to finish off "coverage sacks" because an experienced 
QB and receiving corps *will* eventually find an opening given enough time.

-I'm a little disappointed, but not terribly surprised that UNH put up 
34 points on us.  What hurt more was the problems with the offense.  To 
get completely shut out in the second half was embarrassing.  We should 
have had more, and probably enough to win.

-Michael