(Week 4, 2014) Post Bethune=Cookman

A slow start on offense but a good result by the end of the game.This was a game we were expected to dominate and we did just that, though there are some factors that need to be improve upon moving forward into the tougher matchups remaining in the season. On the ground the offense struggled to produce until the passing game opened up; with the vertical passing game clicking, UCF’s offense got rolling and managed to score a touchdown or more in each quarter after the 1st. Dontravious Wilson continues to struggle to find any holes and bust out a big run while the offensive line continues trying to gel. The offensive line managed to limit the pass rush to one sack against B-CU, but the remaining teams left in the schedule should present a tougher battle in the trenches. 

It’s easy to forget after last season that Justin Holman is a true sophomore and a first time starter, it’s unreasonable to expect him to have the same impact as his more experienced predecessor, Blake Bortles. However for the next two games, I hope he is able to get into the rhythm he found in Ireland and in the 2nd quarter of this game quicker. The offense goes as he goes and the quicker he can get the passing game going the more the defense stretches out and opens up the run game. By getting into a rhythm quicker, hopefully that should improve on the disappointing 3rd down conversion rate we’ve been experiencing (merely 41% on the season so far and a shocking 3 of 9 in the Bethune Cookman game) 

Defensively we looked impressive up front, holding B-CU to 1.7 yards per carry and under 100 rushing yards on the night. Though we limited their scoring on drives or the 3rd down conversions, their starting QB managed to complete 9 of his 12 attempts and managed to complete intermediate passes with relatively little challenge from the coverage (the longest receptions being 29 yards, 14 yards, 14 yards, and 10 yards). We were successful in limiting their passing game to 101 yards, however considering B-CU’s option offense very sparingly uses the aerial attack, what I saw from the secondary leaves me hoping for improvement once we face the more potent passing attacks further along the schedule. 

All in all, here’s hoping this gave the coaches and the team a lot of film to work with to keep improving and solidifying our team going into the thick of conference play.

Charge on!

Post Game Analysis (UCF vs Penn State)

That first half made me cringe. the second half gave me hope for the rest of the season.

I won’t hold Coach O’Leary at fault for starting DiNovo, he saw something in the guy during camp that said “Start Pete”. Whatever that was didn’t show up and Pete DiNovo failed to live up to the chances he was given to right the ship. Penn State was strong up front and our pass game was ineffective in the beginning so they were able to key in on the run and stuff our offense in the 1st half. Pete DiNovo was given till the first possession of the 2nd half to keep his job, he blew it and Holman came in.

We had opportunities to win the game in the 2nd half that we let slip between our fingers; the big ones that stand out to me are the 79 yd TD which resulted from blown coverage by Shaquill Griffin, the poor open field tackle that set up the 37 yd game winning FG, and the botched handoff that became a fumble (even though nothing came of it).

What has to be noted about this game though is that all of this that we saw on offense was without one of our best receivers and our workhorse RB, both of which were injured and sitting out of the game. That silver lining to this loss gives me much hope and optimism for the rest of the season. I cant wait to get cracking at Bethune Cookman in good ol’ BHNS