I know many are displeased with the way we've had to gut out these games. Very close and down to the wire. It's taking years off of my life. How close has this team been to really putting the game out of reach though?
If you look at Texas and West Virginia there were moments in the game where the Pokes were looking to take commanding leads. The Texas game was a 14-0 (maybe 3 or 6) lead and going down the field to make it 21-0 when Rudolph fumbled and gave ut life. If we take the ball down the field on that possession it's a completely different ball game. Last Saturday at West Virginia the Pokes have a good lead, a quiet stadium and all the momentum until Rudolph gets tackled for a safety. That gets the crowd fired up and the momentum swinging the other way. That game could have been put out of reach IMO if we just limit that costly mistake.
I think this team is closer to being really good then people give them credit for. They just need to take that next step and start to push these games out of reach for their opponents. There's a bye week and then KU, so essentially 2 bye weeks in a row. Time to start working on limiting these mistakes and taking that next step. Coaches need to step up their game in this regard.
tldr; there's several games this season where the pokes could have took demanding leads but turned it over, thus giving the opposing teams life and taking years of my own.
If you look at Texas and West Virginia there were moments in the game where the Pokes were looking to take commanding leads. The Texas game was a 14-0 (maybe 3 or 6) lead and going down the field to make it 21-0 when Rudolph fumbled and gave ut life. If we take the ball down the field on that possession it's a completely different ball game. Last Saturday at West Virginia the Pokes have a good lead, a quiet stadium and all the momentum until Rudolph gets tackled for a safety. That gets the crowd fired up and the momentum swinging the other way. That game could have been put out of reach IMO if we just limit that costly mistake.
I think this team is closer to being really good then people give them credit for. They just need to take that next step and start to push these games out of reach for their opponents. There's a bye week and then KU, so essentially 2 bye weeks in a row. Time to start working on limiting these mistakes and taking that next step. Coaches need to step up their game in this regard.
tldr; there's several games this season where the pokes could have took demanding leads but turned it over, thus giving the opposing teams life and taking years of my own.
