So now we turn our attention to Ball State. What should we be looking for in a game that ought to be a foregone conclusion in terms of the result, but so incredibly important in terms of developing some units that need to really develop fast because Arkansas is coming fast.
Let's set aside the units that proved against Arizona State that they are ready to go. Sure, these groups want to continue to develop, but I think we can safely not hyper-focus on them in these next two games: Defensive Line, Safeties, Punter, Kicker (for kickoffs), general special teams coverage units, Punt and Kick Returner. That is not a bad list, especially considering how talented some of those groups are. I mean, Garrett-Hall. Hello.
But that leaves a LOT of groups and positions that need to improve - and frankly, as quickly as possible.
Quick Hits
The simple one - Field Goal Kicker. Bertolet's first PAT was a little shaky, but the rest of his kicks were straight through the uprights, so this may just be seeing a few more kicks to gain confidence. Frankly, none of his kicks were from any distance whatsoever, so we really don't know much. Then again, considering the kicks he missed a few years back, it sure seemed like he has improved.
Running Back - James White is a necessary component, but as we saw against the Sun Devils, the talent level here is very thin, so developing options is key. Probably worth remembering that Brandon Williams is pretty much committed to being a cornerback now.
Cornerback - speaking of which, like Bertolet, we just need to see more and likely we won't see enough to really challenge this unit in this game, so we may not get enough information from this matchup.
The Substantive Units - in reverse order of work needed
Linebacker - Oh my... when we thought that we had developed at least some depth in the off-season at linebacker, we then find ourselves playing a walk on at linebacker for 48 - FORTY EIGHT - snaps against Arizona State. Clearly, the safety and defensive line play simplified things to a large extent for this unit, we still need to maximize the number of players who can be productive in this group.
The good news here is that everyone who lined up in this unit played well, was disciplined and tackled really well, so the foundation is good. And again, this is an opponent that will ask you to do your job but not tax you. It should be a good exercise for this group.
Wide Receivers - We now know that Christian Kirk is a playmaker extrordinaire. And Josh Reynolds is also a proven commodity. But Speedy Noil and Ricky Seals-Jones - you have work to do. While there is obviously some proven commodities in this group, a Sumlin offense needs everyone playing well and the other two receivers need to get it together. I have to admit, I was disappointed in the lack of development we saw from this group. The drops, the poor routes - you had all off-season to improve here, and it was hard to see any improvement.
On the flip side, this unit did block well downfield, especially on Kirk's late TD to seal the game. That is a clear improvement from last year.
Quarterbacks - After what we saw on Saturday, I expect us to see both QBs in every game for the near future. And we saw both really good and maybe not so good from both players. Allen started poorly, in part because of the blitzes from the opponents, and also the struggles of the rest of the offense. And the play calling was very conservative because of the level of opponent in a season-opener.
But some of his throws were off, and he missed some reads as well. Then again, after Murray came in to shake things up - and it certainly did - he came back in a played much better. Again, in part because the offensive line had settled in some and was a little more effective. Add to that, his courage on the 12 yard touchdown run to give the team some breathing room was impressive. It was almost as if we saw his entire 2014 season in one game - unsettled and unsure early, confident and strong late. This team trusts him.
Kyler Murray showed that he can be a playmaker at this level and showed a skill set that had many an Aggie drooling in anticipation. On the other hand, it is clear he has a significant learning curve. But he has never been described as not football smart, so that is something that will get solved - the only real question is how fast. But the thing that really left an impression was his ability to make things happen. Oh, how he made things happen and clearly he showed the field awareness to know how to get out of the pocket and get to the sticks. Once he learns how to read defenses and now throw into poor spots, you could see him doing really dramatic stuff.
Offensive Line - the season rests with this unit. It really is that simple. With their struggles on Saturday, you could see how it held the offense back. And that kind of performance will not win many games in the SEC West.
The good news is as the night progressed, they figured out a few things and found ways to get the job done against a defense that was prepared and blitzed ad nauseum. Now with two games against Ball State and Nevada, they should be able to figure out some more things. The question is can they figure out enough to handle Arkansas.
Frankly, this is the unit that I have had my eye on since last season and will continue to. If this group can't get it together, the Alabama defense will shred this team. This group has to figure out its best players and get them experience playing together as quickly as possible so that they can be effective against Arkansas, then put finishing touches against Mississippi State so they can be ready for the Tide (if any team could be ready for the Tide....)
So there you have it - what to watch for on Saturday as the Aggies take on Ball State. As the opening game of the new Kyle Field, it is going to be a fantastic experience. Let's hope for the season's sake that the players enjoy the moment, then realize, as Crash Davis said, "Moment's Over," and get to work.
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