Clint Stephens and other notes

Some odds and ends from the MAC opening loss.

First, BG entered the game without the services of Cam Jefferies who is injured.  We've struggled in the back end, but Coach says Cam is our most confident player.  And you have to give them credit.  They rallied a little.  Clint Stephens got his first real playing time this year and after struggling in an early possession, he played really well.  He had a pick, a fumble recover, a PBU and was solid in coverage.  Coach says he can still get better, too, as he comes back from injury.

Montre Gregory also started on the other side, and he seemed to make some plays.  Meanwhile, Robert Jackson, who had a lot of time early is shown as having played but did not get in on any tackles.

BG rotated a lot on defense, even at positions--like LB--where I think we are pretty solid.  It isn't unusual to see deep rotations on the line but you don't see it at LB as often.

There was some evidence of BG doing some innovative things on offense.  First, they used Grant Loy in a kind of Tim Tebow role.  Loy is the walk-on who has worked his way onto the depth chart.  He's 6'3" and 220 or something and was a highly successful HS Basketball player, too.  BG brought him in to run some read option type stuff and it was working and Coach says we will see more of it.

He was involved in a key play in the game.  BG was on the 4 in the 3rd quarter with the game tied and they called a jump pass.  Basically, you set that up with the read stuff.  Jinks said after the game that the jump pass was a "bad call," that Akron had gone "one high" which presumably means they have the safety right in the middle of the field where that play usually goes.  Now, Jinks was careful to note that Loy saw that and ate the ball and avoided the "catastrophic" play...this was shortly after all the Morgan talk.  Anyway, BG got the FG but failed to get the TD and that did make a difference.

The other innovative thing had to do with sending Doege out for a pass, a play that worked for 18 yards but got Doege injured.   Coach was asked about whether sending his QB out on a play like that was a good move, and he said that football is a rough game and you have to execute your game plan.

BG also scored on a reverse flea flicker that didn't actually seem to work but was rescued by a really nice throw from Morgan.

Other notes:

Matt Domer has been highly effective, however he was on crutches by the end of the game.

There seemed to be some conflict between Datrin Guyton and James Morgan at one point on the sidelines.

BG had an excellent kickoff return game.  Coach says we have been close and then you can add in the "parity" factor.  Andrew Clair has the ability to be a really good player for us.