Shayne_Pickering said:

This is why I think they were holding back on what they wanted to show. Jake and I talked about this on the Blue Raider Pod episode that comes out tomorrow, but they opened up the passing attack with some nice plays early to get a 3 score lead (even then only using those plays on 3rd downs) and then was forced into using them on that final drive

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They may have been holding back at first but what why they continue to do that when TN Tech came back and eventually went ahead? Also, that's just the offense. What was the defenses excuse?

I'm not concerned that much as I figured this first year was a throw away year and 6-6 or better was gonna be a surprise for me. Didn't Mason start slow at Vanderbilt before he got things going relatively well?

He held up last year & I think you’re slighting him in weight. Does anybody know how to use the eye test from watching performance instead of just labeling people based off numbers that are suspect at best. We can platoon our way to a dismal season or we can throw our best chance out there & fight with both fists. I’m betting on Willis!

TrueBlueFB_23 said:

No platoon needed! Stock figured that out real quick last year. Well from last year & what we saw Saturday/Sunday night Willis is much stronger than he even looks & is arguably the best blocking TE we have. Deceptively strong & very much a leader on that field. The guy doesn’t get penalties either. He was telling multiple people where to line up, etc. For anybody to think he’s just a pass catcher hasn’t watched the blocks that kid has laid while being at MTSU. He should be on the field 95% of the time or as much as he can give which was a lot from past history. The whole O runs better & when he isn’t targeted he draws the D his way opening up the other guys. Rotate the 2nd TE position but leave Willis unless you need a bigger body for certain plays. I don’t think you’ll find you need to replace him. He helped protect Vatiatto very well at times when OL needed help last season with a few leading to big RB gains & TDs. Who cares that he’s 6’4 215 to 220. He gets it done! The guy shed two blocks to make the tackle after a MTSU INT. One of the best defensive plays of the night. Don’t handcuff that guy for the sake of MT football. Unleash him!!!!

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Holden Willis is not holding up at tight end at 210 pounds without a platoon

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The plays vs Tech don’t matter it’s more the personnel. If Willis isn’t at TE any play he needs to be at WR. Point is he needs to be on the field. It changes everything. Even the QB confidence knowing he’s there. This isn’t upward league.

Shayne_Pickering said:

Holden was used all over the field in felt like but as someone who is more of a receiver than a blocker, there is always going to be a bit of a platoon at the position. With that being said there was a lot of preservation going on in general (and to a fault). Holden will be a big part of the offense. Him and Omari will be the two top targets in my opinion

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No platoon needed! Stock figured that out real quick last year. Well from last year & what we saw Saturday/Sunday night Willis is much stronger than he even looks & is arguably the best blocking TE we have. Deceptively strong & very much a leader on that field. The guy doesn’t get penalties either. He was telling multiple people where to line up, etc. For anybody to think he’s just a pass catcher hasn’t watched the blocks that kid has laid while being at MTSU. He should be on the field 95% of the time or as much as he can give which was a lot from past history. The whole O runs better & when he isn’t targeted he draws the D his way opening up the other guys. Rotate the 2nd TE position but leave Willis unless you need a bigger body for certain plays. I don’t think you’ll find you need to replace him. He helped protect Vatiatto very well at times when OL needed help last season with a few leading to big RB gains & TDs. Who cares that he’s 6’4 215 to 220. He gets it done! The guy shed two blocks to make the tackle after a MTSU INT. One of the best defensive plays of the night. Don’t handcuff that guy for the sake of MT football. Unleash him!!!!

Holden was used all over the field in felt like but as someone who is more of a receiver than a blocker, there is always going to be a bit of a platoon at the position. With that being said there was a lot of preservation going on in general (and to a fault). Holden will be a big part of the offense. Him and Omari will be the two top targets in my opinion

TrueBlueFB_23 said:

Not to mention not having our playmakers in the game & airing it out when they stick 8 in the box. Vattiato could have had a heyday with a mefiocre line. What happened to taking what the defense gives you & playing to our strengths? It’s not a balanced approach with your best hands not in the game.

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This is why I think they were holding back on what they wanted to show. Jake and I talked about this on the Blue Raider Pod episode that comes out tomorrow, but they opened up the passing attack with some nice plays early to get a 3 score lead (even then only using those plays on 3rd downs) and then was forced into using them on that final drive

MT01 said:

Not a problem they celebrated a win and came back and won a. Game they probably shouldn’t have. The stuff you’re getting to came today or comes tomorrow during film session. There’s a lot to fix. A lot to improve. And a lot to be concerned about. But celebrate the wins. That’s the goal.

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I'm glad you brought up Liberty who allowed Cambell to score 24. Yes, they scored 41 but Tech is now way better than Cambell. Tech's LB's and DL are way improved with the transfers and Wilder as a coach with a veteran coaching staff. The fact that they allowed 24 points which was 1 more than us and only scored 9 more points than we did says something to me. Cambell is a worse team as well. Maybe we aren't as bad as we think and Liberty isn't as good. We'll see but it's not the end of the world either way. We wanted a coacing change and this is what comes with it.

blueboro007 said:

Left at halftime. That safety and dropped pick 6 near end of the first half totally changed the game dynamic

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Not to mention not having our playmakers in the game & airing it out when they stick 8 in the box. Vattiato could have had a heyday with a mefiocre line. What happened to taking what the defense gives you & playing to our strengths? It’s not a balanced approach with your best hands not in the game.

Shayne_Pickering said:

Their two defensive ends, the linebacker that made plays all night, and a safety. Offense is all new outside of Potts under a first year head coach

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Linebacker Swafford transferred from Navy. Played for Meigs County. Another stouch defender Barnhart played at Oneida for great DC & HC Tony Lambert (also coached at University of the Cumberlands before going back to HS). Ashton Maples with 2 TDs vs us played at Maryville. Potts played for Powell and trained under the same trainer as MTSU Willis, Tee Higgins, Amari Rodger’s, etc. I’m telling you East TN has been loaded with college talent for some years now. Another Alcoa kid who played with Zeke Rankin & TK (MTSU), Gray Carroll went to Ga Tech & transferred to Liberty prior to 2023 season. Kid wanted to come to MTSU. Liberty took him & well likely face him at DE or LB. I guarantee you MTSU Willis knew those guys from East TN on TTU team. Do some research…,.he played those guys & probably knew them well. But we watched them come back, take the lead while our top weapon barely saw 25 to 40 percent of offensive snaps. Our OL in 2nd qtr. was unit 2 for crying out loud. We played 2s more than we played our 1s. The last drive was the only drive with our starters that weren’t injured in the game the whole drive!!!!! If we had played our 1s until we had them boat raced & then worked our 2s in the game would have been out of hand and we like Lu would have seen their 2s & 3s come in. They were in the game because we let them!!!!!! If Vattiato is in he needs Willis & Kelly & Stewart & #5 in the majority of the time with him. That’s how the P5s do it & for a reason. I hope this game management was just a fluke of some sorts or it’s just insanity & malpractice as a staff.

Seems like CDM made a statement in post game press conference about needing to find Willis more…..hard to do when he’s standing on the sideline. This is an absolute no brainer that a team’s returning pass catcher 1st team All CUSA, Reese’s Bowl Watch list & Shrine Bowl watch list isn’t available. Is he slightly injured or something?

MidTennMtneer said:

WKU should be very decent, but Duke should be a great tell, especially if we pull out a win over WKU. 2-1 with a P4 team coming to town. UT plays OU that weekend and it could be a prime time game which could hurt, but still should be a good showing.

And if CDM wants to stay here 20yrs, that's fine. IF.....big IF...he is winning a champ every 2-3 years and consistently 9-10 games a year. If CDM wins consistently someone will try to poach him, and if he does want to stay, great. But we shouldn't lock ourselves into an albatross of a contract just to keep him. That is the key.

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I think it's telling that there isn't a "auto renew" clause in any of the newer contracts MT has signed (CNM, CDM, and CRI). MT could win a national title in any of the big 3 & there's no lifetime clause.

And that's good.

IMO, I don't think anyone expected the "auto-renew" clause would be hang the athletic department. I think they all believed it was a little more security for Stock until he inevitably won (in their mind) a conference championship and bolted for a bigger program. That backfired.

Crazy having a conference game week 2.

WKU should be very decent, but Duke should be a great tell, especially if we pull out a win over WKU. 2-1 with a P4 team coming to town. UT plays OU that weekend and it could be a prime time game which could hurt, but still should be a good showing.

And if CDM wants to stay here 20yrs, that's fine. IF.....big IF...he is winning a champ every 2-3 years and consistently 9-10 games a year. If CDM wins consistently someone will try to poach him, and if he does want to stay, great. But we shouldn't lock ourselves into an albatross of a contract just to keep him. That is the key.

Protect yourself and others. Get vaccinated. Get every booster available.

Don't be a crazy person.

I was shocked at how much better Kennesaw St looked.

Shayne_Pickering said:

There were a good amount of people in the stands with a lot of people still coming in and a lot still at the Party on the Grove.

The rain derailed a lot of that. Interested to see what the stands look like for Duke and WKU

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Yeah there was a solid crowd growing. By far the longest I’ve ever waited to get through the gate. The rain really messed it up. I’m guessing the WKU game will have a lot of people there. Hopefully it’s better weather next time around.