The Three Goats of Week 10

3) UB True Blue

Watching on ESPN, I couldn't help but notice the home field advantage we had in ESPN games last year was not around. On Senior Day, the last game of the year and with the team facing elimination from Bowl Eligibility, I wanted to see a packed house really rattling the Ohio team. Instead I felt I could hear each persons individual cheer. I saw the diehards, this goat is not for you, but the fair weathers, 60 in Buffalo is as fair as your going to get in November even if the team is 3-6, so get in the stands.



2)  UB Secondary - Davonte Shannon, Josh Thomas, Kendric Hawkins

First Strike: All three DB's were fooled by the HB pass play. Second Strike: Kendric Hawkins made a great hustle play knocking the ball loose from the receiver at the 1 yard line, but it doesn't matter if you don't wrap up and tackle the WR. Kendric did not make that extra effort and thus, the Receiver was able to walk to the ball and fall on it for a touchdown. Third Strike: Davonte Shannon and Josh Thomas were about ten yards behind the play, running hard in pursuit, they would have been able to fight for the ball, knock it out of the end zone for UB ball at the 20, or pick it up and make a substantial return. They gave up before the whistle blew, a mortal sin in football.

This trickeration play on the first play of the second quarter was the last time Ohio scored a touchdown in the game. A turnover there would have been game changing.

Finally, I characterize the defense as "Bend then break then force a fumble at the one" If thats your plan, you have to recover the fumble, including this one, there were 3 Ohio fumbles that Buffalo failed to pounce on.

1) Marcus Rivers, Terrell Jackson & Zach Maynard

Zach and Terrell  are goats for disrupting the rhythm of the game by missing classes and earning a suspension.  When you defense can prevent touchdowns for the final 44 minutes of the game, you should win period.

Marcus Rivers is the #1 goat for failing to follow Wide Receiver rule number 1: Catch the ball with your hands.  Rivers allowed the ball to bounce off his chest pads and into the hands of the defense ending a very winnable game.

Zach Maynard again is a goat, I give him credit for back-to-back games with ball control, his interception late I blame on Rivers, other than that, he has no interceptions and no fumbles in two games.  I however continue to bash Maynard for decision making.  We saw first hand last week, game on the line, ball went to #1 receiver Freddie Barnes.  This week, game is on the line, Maynard's final two passes were to Terrell Jackson and Marcus Rivers.  Those passes resulted in a drop and a drop that created an interception.

Message to Maynard, you probably built a good relationship with Rivers and Jackson last year running the second team, but this year you have legendary senior receivers, use them, especially in the fourth quarter. Maynard, Jackson and Rivers will have time to build their chemistry in the next 2 years, but throw them balls in 2010, right now get the ball to Naaman.

It's so easy Jerry Davis can do it...