One thing I feel better about after last night, red zone. Not so much 20 and in, but inside the 5 yard line. For the last few seasons it seemed like we really struggled to get those yards. With the way we ran the ball last night, I fee like 1st and goal from inside the 5 is going to be almost automatic against our schedule. In years past, I never felt comfortable with that. Running the football is a really good thing. It loosened up Boise's coverage last night. Something that you didn't see in the Heupel era. A power runner like Bowser down on the goal line is something we haven't really had since the GOL era (once a hugger always a hugger, you old timers no what I'm talking about).
I don't agree with having a freshman out their fielding punts. Kickoffs sure, but not punts. That can change the course of the game in the blink of an eye. That being said, I think Gus has a vision of where he wants us to be in 2-3 years. I think he is going to do some things that is going to lead to some of us scratching our heads. Why are you doing this? I think he is going to try and win every ball game on the schedule, but I think he is really thinking a couple of years down the road. Get as many players ready as soon as possible.
I seem him as kind of a hybrid between Frost and GOL. There are times when you go for it and there are times when you play it safe. Frost, and Huepel for that matter, always wanted to go for it, or at least it seemed that way to me. GOL was very conservative, a little to conservative for my taste. Case in point, 4th and I think 3 from the Boise 45 with about 4 minutes left in the 1st half. Frost and Heupeul would have wanted to go for it, and maybe they get it. But, if they don't you hand over the ball to a team that has a good lead and the momentum with great field position. Could have been the ball game. But instead he punted (playing a team game, not just the offense has to win the game).. Played good defense, got a break from the Qb Center shotgun exchange and we got the ball back. Punt returner needs to field the ball though. Then came the turning point, on 3rd and I think it was 11, Boise called timeout when we were (it looked to me) trying to run out the clock. Frost did the same thing his first year against Maryland in an almost identical situation. Maryland ended up converting and going down and scoring right before half and turning the momentum of the game around. This time we benefited and certainly turned the momentum in our favor heading into half. Gus is an experienced coach who, IMO, knows when to be aggressive and when to lay back and take what the other team is going to give you. He will probably be wrong from time to time, but I am willing to bet he gets it right more often than not.
One other thing, it seemed like as the game rolled on, Gus grew more comfortable with calling plays that DG was in sync with. That may take some time to develop, but I think by mid season, look out. Cincy, watch out. In Gus I trust. For now anyways.
