1. Reiterating from a few of my earlier posts, I was very impressed with Haf’s calmness and demeanor with everything swirling around him in the last 4 minutes or so. He really did a great job, and seemed to be emotionally in control of everything. The best best best we can hope for is that maybe this was a turning point for him, maybe he is learning…let’s hope.
2. Ditto for the much maligned Applebaum. BC’s OL should push Army around, but last years wouldnt have and this wasn’t just leaning on your opponent who you outweighed by 50 pounds. BC was precise and organized when pulling two guards.
3. 1/2 a yard twice. Margin between victory and defeat was so narrow Saturday. If the Army qb isn’t 1/2 a yard over the LOS then BC never sees the ball again and loses. Additionally BC had 4th and 3 on the last drive. They ran the same exact qb draw that got stuffed on 4th and 2 the previous drive. This time BC got 3.5 yards. Moved the chains and won the game.
4. Very poor game by special teams. Missed XP, the snaps on all xp’s and fg’s were out of sync. The absolute worst thing you could have done coming out of the tunnel at the half is give Army life in any way. If they go 15 plays 70 yards, you live with it. Letting a kickoff returner with what appeared to be about 4.9 speed and no moves go for 60 yards was a blemish. To cap it off I have no idea what they are doing with the punter’s. The new kid really appears to be struggling. They finally put Candiotti back in there and he hit a good one to end the game. Also the cherry on the SH^t sundae was Bond fumbling the punt.
5. As for Bond…the Bond market was not a wise investment on Saturday. Step back gate for a kid having a very good year. The dropped screen pass was a big swing play.
6. I think it was the need of the game and the specificity of it being a smaller opponent but Castellanos can’t be carrying the ball 31 times. I wouldn’t give him more than half of that against any legit size and speed ACC opponent. Need to keep him outright.
7. Also with Castellanos, I think playing in the wet and cold maybe something that needs to be monitored with him. Wonder if hand size is also an issue in these situations.