@ Davidson 10/3

[VU2624]

This may be old news to some but I just noticed on the Valpo football page that the College of Faith game essentially didn't happen.

[usc4valpo]

This makes a perfect game environment for what is at stake.

[vu72]

So I saw that the football team is busing it to Davidson.  That's about a 13 hour trip.  Which games get air flights?  Just Jacksonville and San Diego??

[VULB#62]

That may just have been the bus to the airport (yes?)  They always flew to Campbell so this is about the same.  Also used to fly to Marist. This year, of course, USD came to us.

[VU2624]

The went via air

[vu72]

The went via air

Thanks.  I was hoping the kids didn't have to endure 26 plus hours of drive time!

[Dojan123]

I live in Charlotte, NC and it has been raining for days. The field is going to be a mess. I hope they have good cleats.

[VULB#62]

Big question is whether it is natural or artificial turf. Grass would be sloppy but art-turf will not be as much of a factor.

[VU2624]

Surface is listed as Field Turf so footing will be better if not great.

[VULB#62]

Video froze with 6 minutes to go in the first Qtr.  I paid $5.95 for this??

[VULB#62]

Got the video back but down 14-7 at the half.  Gave up a 37 yard pass down the middle for the second score.

We know they like to run the ball so we "load the box" with 4 DLs and 2 LBs to stop them with a front 4 of: 5'10/210, 6'4/260, 6-1/245, 6-2/205.  John Guilford is playing inside rather than his DE spot. No Del La Rosa (6-2/275) ?  They must be averaging 5 yds/per carry.  And, therefore,  we are not getting much of a pass rush when we do get them in a passing situation.  We did not look good on defense in the first half.

I missed our first drive for our only score    But what I saw on O, with the exception of Brandon running hard was not overwhelming.  On O they smelled out our middle screen and Davidson almost had another DL interception al a SHU.  Tipped pass interception again. Ryan is waiting too long to release it I think. 

Lets hope we pull it together in the second half.Need two scores and need to hold them.

[VULB#62]

Good start to the second half - 2 unanswered TDs/  Oooops gave up a long KO return and a short jump pass for a Tieing TD.

[VULB#62]

50 yard TD Pass - Clark to Catrine  Back up on top 28-21.

[VULB#62]

Defense has adjusted and brought in more size up front -- Guilford back at DE

[historyman]

Really need the D to come through now. 35-35

[VULB#62]

REALLY REALLY need the D to come through now 42-35 VU less than 2 minutes left.

[historyman]

Really need the D to come through now. 35-35

and they do. 42-35 Valpo wins!

I wonder what our record is in North Carolina.

[VULB#62]

VALPO WINS!  42-35

[VULB#62]

But not pretty.

Things to work on for Drake:

Secondary coverage
Player discipline
Better pass execution
Secondary coverage
Pressuring the passer
KO coverage
Secondary coverage
Stopping the run

[usc4valpo]

It is pale ale time!

[VULB#62]

Really need the D to come through now. 35-35

and they do. 42-35 Valpo wins!

I wonder what our record is in North Carolina.

Recently?  Since 2000.......
Cecchini
Won @ Davison 2015 42-35 -
Lost @ Campbell 2014 34-24
Carlson
Won @ Campbell 2013 49-42 (OT)
Lost @ Davidson in 2012 28-27
Lost @ Davidson 2011  30-22
Lost @ Campbell 2010 56-14
Adams
Won @ Campbell 2008 47-14 
Lost @ Davidson 2007 44-6
Lost @ Davidson 2005 48-17

Interesting that each of the last three coaches got at least one win th NC

Tom Horne lost to Davidson in 2002, but that was at Brown Field.

[VU2624]

I think every point today was scored by a player with Freshman or Sophomore eligibility which is great news for the future.

Need better performance on defense. Shouldn't give up the points they did to Davidson particularly in the passing game.

[VULB#62]

See my Honey-Do list below   

[VU2624]

See my Honey-Do list below   

But do we need better secondary coverage?

The pressure is a big issue because it's not there. It seemed better last year.

We'll see who the QB is when Stokes is healthy. I think he was looked upon as being ahead when he was hurt last week. He moved the offense the couple of drives he had vs. San Diego but is more effective in a short passing game. Clarke is more inaccurate short and throws a better deep ball.

[VULB#62]

There were two situations, for example, that in my mind requires the secondary coverage note - one a long TD and the other another long TD except the Davidson kid drop a sure TD in the end zone.  On the latter, the DB, in 1-1 coverage,  was 5 yards off and looking in the backfield and the kid ran right past him without a move and, fortunately, dropped what would have been maybe a 40yd TD.  There wasn't time for the rush to get the QB on that one.  The first was a Post-Flag that, with 6 DBS, should have been covered but wound up being a TD. In the second half, the heavier D-Line did put better pressure on the QB, but BOTH, no, ALL phases of D need to execute better. Davidson was a team that lived by the run and wound up being pretty good at passing against us.  Speaking of the rush, I am not seeing any stunts, twists and associated blitzes. When we rely on a lighter, faster D line, bull rushing doesn't work.  The other thing that I would like to see covered better is the LOS-5 yd depth pass.  We give up a lot of catch and runs in that zone too. 

At the end of the day though, what all of us expected to be kick-butt, the D, is not meeting expectations at this point in the season.  There are still 6 games left in the schedule to get that sorted out.  And Stetson, Morehead and possibly Butler can be wins if we do that.  But Morehead shut out Davidson, so......