Shooting at the walls of heartache! Bang! Bang! Cougs v. The Warriors

[Katy Lied]

Famika Anae was involved in both of the injuries. The first one looked inadvertent, but the sportscaster pretty much criticized Anae for the second hit, which he called targeting or helmet spear of a defenseless player.

I wonder if Anae's size had anything to do with it. If a hit is helmet to helmet, and one guy is spearing down, and the other guy is spearing up, isn't the shorter guy at a disadvantage?

[ERCougar]

What were you hoping to ideally get from a one game sample? Most if not all of the issues you raise aren't going to be answered by any one game.

I guess I'm only saying it because I keep seeing comments or articles on how our offense has turned a corner, how we've found the new Unga, how we now have a QB controversy, etc. I don't think this game can be seen as even a small bit of evidence on any of these.

[Topper]

Famika Anae was involved in both of the injuries. The first one looked inadvertent, but the sportscaster pretty much criticized Anae for the second hit, which he called targeting or helmet spear of a defenseless player.

I wonder if Anae's size had anything to do with it. If a hit is helmet to helmet, and one guy is spearing down, and the other guy is spearing up, isn't the shorter guy at a disadvantage?

Let it be clear, I do not hope for or wish for injuries. But, I do want players who play clean and hard enough to cause injuries. I like Famika's bit of nasty in him.

[TripletDaddy]

I guess I'm only saying it because I keep seeing comments or articles on how our offense has turned a corner, how we've found the new Unga, how we now have a QB controversy, etc. I don't think this game can be seen as even a small bit of evidence on any of these.

Ah, Sheesh, I'm with you there. to that extent that people feel like happy days are here again, I agree with you that one game doesn't solve the seasons problems. If people want to put the weight of the world on taysoms shoulders because he played well against Hawaii, they are setting the kid up for a huge fall. The fans will turn on him even though it is highly likely that he will make poor decisions as a freshman.

I have been promoting tempered expectations regarding Hill because I think he still needs more time before we know much about him.

I will disagree slightly with you on the "small bit of evidence," though. In fact, my takeaway from the game is based on just that: a small bit of evidence. A small bit of evidence that Jamaal might be an effective speed back the can finally sweep right or left. A small bit of evidence that we have a QB that can throw a moderately deep ball that doesn't look like a desperation heave. A small bit of evidence that ross apo can be a part of this offense. Hawaii is a bad team, but you still have to play your game and our players took advantage of it on Friday,

Overall, I was simply wishing that hill didn't fall flat on his face. He didn't, by a mile. And he showed an ability to throw the ball. My takeaway is very tempered hope.

I agree with you that being world beaters against Hawaii won't help much over the next 4 games. But in order to legitimately improve and be in a position to answer all the questions you posed in your post, we had to look good against Hawaii. And we did. So that is a positive. I might be overly optimistic though.

[Topper]

Ah, Sheesh, I'm with you there. to that extent that people feel like happy days are here again, I agree with you that one game doesn't solve the seasons problems. If people want to put the weight of the world on taysoms shoulders because he played well against Hawaii, they are setting the kid up for a huge fall. The fans will turn on him even though it is highly likely that he will make poor decisions as a freshman.

I have been promoting tempered expectations regarding Hill because I think he still needs more time before we know much about him.

I will disagree slightly with you on the "small bit of evidence," though. In fact, my takeaway from the game is based on just that: a small bit of evidence. A small bit of evidence that Jamaal might be an effective speed back the can finally sweep right or left. A small bit of evidence that we have a QB that can throw a moderately deep ball that doesn't look like a desperation heave. A small bit of evidence that ross apo can be a part of this offense. Hawaii is a bad team, but you still have to play your game and our players took advantage of it on Friday,

Overall, I was simply wishing that hill didn't fall flat on his face. He didn't, by a mile. And he showed an ability to throw the ball. My takeaway is very tempered hope.

I agree with you that being world beaters against Hawaii won't help much over the next 4 games. But in order to legitimately improve and be in a position to answer all the questions you posed in your post, we had to look good against Hawaii. And we did. So that is a positive. I might be overly optimistic though.

My concern is what happens to the offense, when the speed of play ramps up. Hawaii is a dumbed down version of speed of play.

Hill seems to doubt his reads and took lots of time, that the good teams remaining on the schedule won't give him.

Williams showed talent but needs to believe in himself and just turn it on instead of looking for another move.

Tempered hope they won't crash and burn. I share these sentiments, by the way, yours and ER's.

I am still bummed we wasted a very good defense on this sucky offense.

[smokymountainrain]

I hope I'm wrong, but one thing I took away, was that it looks like losing EM could be a fairly significant issue in terms of run defense going forward. The D was great for the first four games, and I now have had some doubt creep in that they may not be as good for the rest of the season.

[pellegrino]

I might have been joking a bit. With that said Bronco has had things to say about fans before. I also think he's tired of the question. It would be much easier to say, "Taysom played great but is still limited in his knowledge of the offense. A healthy Riley gives us a chance to run the more complex offensive scheme that will be needed in the upcoming games".

so, that's what Bronco is saying here?

"Taysom's doing his part, there's not as much history between he and I as Riley and I and our team. I'm a Riley Nelson fan, and believe in his leadership ability when he is healthy and when he's capable to play the kind of game that he can play. That will be the biggest decision, is how he's feeling."

I just don't see how saying something like that benefits Bronco in any way.

[pelagius]

I just don't see how saying something like that benefits Bronco in any way.

Bronco, says odd things. But, I would listen to his post game interview with Wrubell. I thought in the more extended discussion with Wrubell he sounded much more reasonable about both Riley and Taysom (I think he says odd things when he is feeling defensive but in the more comfortable setting it was different). I come away thinking that Bronco now has a lot of confidence is Taysom and now doesn't seen any reason to play Riley unless Riley is basically very close to 100%.

[Shaka]

so, that's what Bronco is saying here?



I just don't see how saying something like that benefits Bronco in any way.

In his own long winded way Bronco is simply saying Taysom is inexperienced.

[pellegrino]

In his own long winded way Bronco is simply saying Taysom is inexperienced.

So that's what he means by having a history with Bronco? Not buying it. Even if that were the case then why mention anything about being a Riley fan?

[Shaka]

So that's what he means by having a history with Bronco? Not buying it. Even if that were the case then why mention anything about being a Riley fan?

A coach builds bonds with his players as they earn trust and work within the system. This is why coaches tend to be loyal to upperclassmen. Just like every other facet of life football players have to start at the bottom and earn their stripes. Riley has earned his and Taysom is in the process. I guarantee you Max and John also had a similar history. If Taysom becomes the quarterback we all think he will he will also have that relationship.

I'll be Bronco is a fan of many of his players.

[myboynoah]

Bronco, says odd things. But, I would listen to his post game interview with Wrubell. I thought in the more extended discussion with Wrubell he sounded much more reasonable about both Riley and Taysom (I think he says odd things when he is feeling defensive but in the more comfortable setting it was different). I come away thinking that Bronco now has a lot of confidence is Taysom and now doesn't seen any reason to play Riley unless Riley is basically very close to 100%.

That's what I heard as well. Made me feel better. Then I started wondering about gung-ho Riley telling the coaches he's 100% because it's the gritty thing to do, even though he's still 50%.

I'm going to take a leap of faith and believe that Bronco will start Taysom Hill again this week and keep Riley benched until he is sure that Riley isn't playing in pain and a detriment to the team. Then the season will end with Taysom winning the bowl game.

[Ygoat]

P. m

[Eddie]

Just a few observations from the game.

The defense is still good - albeit against a bad offense. But it was nice to see some backups get in as the game went on and still maintain the shutout.

Taysom did OK. My initial thought upon watching the game was that he ran too much. But if that is one of his strengths, maybe running him a bit was part of the plan to get him comfortable with what he's good at. I thought most of his throws were OK - particularly for his first start.

Let me agree with those who say Taysom is a better runner than Riley, and it isn't just because of speed. Riley tries to run over people. Taysom tries to get yards and score points.

As for a QB controversy - I think there is one among many fans. At least until Nelson shows that he can play well against a good team. I mean, let's face it - against good teams Riley has struggled. He's had a decent play here or there, but he hasn't had a good game. And more often than not BYU comes away with a loss. Until that changes, folks are going to wonder if Taysom doesn't give BYU a better chance to win with his better speed and stronger arm.

Williams looked good at RB - but I think we need to see what happens when he faces a team who actually knows how to tackle. He got a LOT of yards post-contact.

And speaking of attempting to run over DL or LB's...Nelson should let Lasike take on that role. I kind of like the idea of running Williams out there for the first 3 quarters or so and having players try to catch up with him, and then letting Lasike run the 4th quarter and just run them over when they're already tired.

I'll agree with those who recognize this is just one data point - but feel some level of optimism for the future. USU will be another data point against better competition.

[MarkGrace]

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - UH senior defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano is ending his football career, his family confirmed to Hawaii News Now. Hanohano was taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital in Provo, Utah after suffering a neck stinger in the first quarter Saturday vs BYU.

While understandably upset at how his career ended, his family stressed how fortunate they feel for Geordon's overall health, and how lucky they are that the injury was not worse.

Hanohano was part of the defensive line rotation this season, after seeing action in all 12 games as a junior last year. As a sophomore he appeared in 9 games. His redshirt freshman year, he played in 12 games.

Hanohano graduated from St Louis in 2008.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/1...er-neck-injury