UCF Post game thread

BCClone

Well Seen Member.
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 4, 2011
67,639
63,704
113
Not exactly sure.
I was really impressed with talent level of UCF, their dline gave us problems all night long, their RB is the real deal. Lot of athletes in the state of Florida and if they find a QB, they are going to be a problem down the road.
Gus has a problem now, with NIL above the table, his bagmen can’t get QBs as easily.
 

1SEIACLONE

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2024
2,707
2,489
113
63
Ames Iowa
Great time for the bye week, this team is really nicked up and could use the time to get healthy. Last night was the first time I really noticed the young LBers struggled getting into position and looked lost at times on the FSU long runs. Hopefully after the break we can get some players back, and finish the season strong.
 

BCClone

Well Seen Member.
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Sep 4, 2011
67,639
63,704
113
Not exactly sure.
That second pick six (it was basically) was off a couple different ways. Higgins and Noel literally ran into each other. Bad throw and also your two biggest receivers running into each other means someone ran the wrong route.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: VeloClone

CoachHines3

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Oct 29, 2019
9,573
19,530
113
How much did Neal play at LG. Rewatching the final drive and he’s in.
 

OWLCITYCYFAN

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2006
2,637
1,977
113
Iowa City
I was really impressed with talent level of UCF, their dline gave us problems all night long, their RB is the real deal. Lot of athletes in the state of Florida and if they find a QB, they are going to be a problem down the road.
UCF has speed and power in abundance. Our receivers weren't running wide open all over the field because coverage was tight and they were getting popped when they did get the ball. Two guys left the game (Carson & Ben) and many others were nicked up (Rocco, Jaydin).

I haven't decided if I like the new NFL kickoff rule, but the way Jaylon Jackson got hit at the ten after he ill-advisedly brought it out was stunning. I'm surprised he walked away from that and I'd wager he's feeling it today.

Anyway, I agree with your assessment that UCF is loaded with athletes and is only lacking somewhat in the skill position departments.
 

AuH2O

Well-Known Member
Sep 7, 2013
12,998
20,958
113
That second pick six (it was basically) was off a couple different ways. Higgins and Noel literally ran into each other. Bad throw and also your two biggest receivers running into each other means someone ran the wrong route.
I also think UCF had a good defensive game plan and adjustments through the game. ISU got a ton of yards on scramble plays and they were getting pressure like crazy. They were also all over the short and medium routes. They got beat deep a few times but gambled that Rocco would miss on enough. Constant pressure will do that.

Who knows what they all figured out, but ISUs pass pro had been great and UCF was getting great pressure all night.

ISU had success either spread with 0 or 1 TE. They did fine with the heavy personnel and tighter formations.

The heavy personnel packages with TEs split wide needs to go away and not come back. Playing Brahmer in the slot some gets some good matchups. But mostly the multiple TEs all spread out was a disaster. No space to operate underneath and Rocco running for his life.
 

acoustimac

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2009
9,241
10,824
113
Lamoni, IA
Well, I’ve had a sleepless night to think about this game. It was truly a good, bad and ugly affair.

Ugly
Rocco’s passing most of the night. On a side note…it looked like Higgins was a step slow (hobbled leg) and I wonder how that affected some of the longer passes in his direction?

O line protection. They had a terrible time keeping Rocco clean against the varying blitz’s UCF brought. This begs another point…if Rocco is off the mark will teams stack the box like UCF did?

Officiating. Some of the overall worst I’ve seen this year. Missed PI calls. Missed holding calls. Ball spots.

Bad
More injuries. We sorely needed tight end play last night in the passing game. Big B going down hurt.

Tackling. I’ve seen too many games where we simply don’t wrap up and/or take poor angles on tackles.

Play calling by Mouse (part of the time…see below). On some drives we had things working and then it seemed like he tried to get “cute” instead of pounding things. The delay of game inside the ten was def on the coaching staff.

Good
Grit. This team has grit in spades. The wheels are falling off the bus and these guys just keep battling. There was a no quit mentality out there.

Def backs. Overall they eliminated the UCF passing game.

Running game. I saw Sama running vertically into the line. Hansen was unstoppable until he got dinged up. Geesh…98 yards in one quarter?

Mouse’s play calls. The majority of the time he was mixing things up and keeping UCF off balance. This is the sole reason ISU had so many successful drives in the second half.

Great. That last drive. What a thing to behold.

This team PROVED last night they are a good team. It showed in everything they did to overcome adversity and pull this one out.
 

CloneIce

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
37,768
21,149
113
Gotta love the official literally right next to Higgins getting tackled on the pass to the endzone with ~0:52 to go who just stands there and throws no flag, back judge had to do it.
Back judge has the best angle on that play.
 

1SEIACLONE

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2024
2,707
2,489
113
63
Ames Iowa
UCF has speed and power in abundance. Our receivers weren't running wide open all over the field because coverage was tight and they were getting popped when they did get the ball. Two guys left the game (Carson & Ben) and many others were nicked up (Rocco, Jaydin).

I haven't decided if I like the new NFL kickoff rule, but the way Jaylon Jackson got hit at the ten after he ill-advisedly brought it out was stunning. I'm surprised he walked away from that and I'd wager he's feeling it today.

Anyway, I agree with your assessment that UCF is loaded with athletes and is only lacking somewhat in the skill position departments.
When Jackson took that hit, I commented to my wife "we were lucky he did not fumble the ball there." The guy for UCF blew him up on that tackle.
 

SaraV

Moderator
Staff member
Mar 13, 2012
8,712
9,596
113
Also, SIAP, but had to run to the bathroom at one point in the game. I'm pretty sure I heard Harklau say Tyler Miller was getting sick on the sidelines between plays. If that was true, it sure didn't help our OLine.