Three things I learned in Cal Poly’s win over San Diego

Cal Poly beat the University of San Diego 41-14 on Saturday behind 100-yard rushing performances from Andre Broadous and Deonte Williams. Photos and interviews will be posted tomorrow. Here are three things I learned about this year’s Cal Poly football team.

1) Andre Broadous will keep the triple option efficient.

Mustangs quarterback Andre Broadous is experienced and makes consistently solid reads out of the triple option. The senior rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns and also passed for 135 and two more touchdowns. He was in complete control of the tempo and pace of the game. While any other stars offensively will have to be developed over the season, Deonte Williams showed a glimpse of what the rest of the offense may be capable of.

2) While the triple option is still the play, the fullback won’t be the focus.

While the Cal Poly offense moved the ball to the tune of 458 yards of total offense, the fullback, Akaninyene Umoh, was held to 38 yards on 12 carries — only 3.2 yards per carry. Umoh, however, did show a side of the fullback position we haven’t seen much lately when he caught a seven yard touchdown pass. Umoh will be an option, but he will not get anywhere near the number of carries we saw from Jordan Yocum or Jake Romanelli.

Yes, Cal Poly is still running the triple option, but their offense has the potential to be dynamic and spread around. The days of 40 fullback dives may be over.

3) The defense is still physical. VERY physical.

Cal Poly’s defense has always been known for its physical play and tackling in the front seven. You can add this year’s safeties to the group now. The Mustangs are thin at cornerback due to injury, but any receiver running across the middle for a pass will be well-advised to keep their heads on a swivel.

Running backs who get to the “second level” may also get a surprise when they run into Alex Hubbard or Dave Douglas.

Pictures and post-game audio should be posted by tomorrow.

2 Comments

1. 

   Expand

   09/01/2012 at 10:12 pm

   Thanks for the write-up.

   I agree with everything you’ve written.

   I’m excited about the rest of the year (especially Davis). We seem to have a chance at Wyoming, just need to mix up the playcalls and keep them guessing.

   Thanks for the coverage, and looking forward to the pics.

   Reply
2. 

   Coover

   09/02/2012 at 7:25 pm

   Thanks for the great article. I, too, agree with you on just about everything. But I was disappointed with the team in some ways.

   On Thursday night, I watched the stream of the North Dakota – South Dakota School of Mines game (and also the UC Davis – Azusa Pacific game). I was extremely impressed with the North Dakota. Their offense looked like it was in mid-season form. Their QB Hanson (until he was hurt) looked like he couldn’t miss on his passes. Everytime he threw, long or short, the ball WAS perfectly placed in the hands of his receiver for an easy catch. North Dakota was efficient and very effective.

   I did not see that with Poly’s offense. They made many mistakes (which I assume will be addressed in practice the next two weeks). Of course, some of the differences may be the quality of the opposing teams. SDSoM is considered by many as a weak Division 2 team and USD is considered as a strong non-scholarship FCS team, a team that will probably win the non-scholarship Pioneer League. My opinion is that the first teams of the USD team are probably very good, but they don’t have much in the way of reserves and that Cal Poly played an excellent FCS team until the USD 1st team tired. Poly simply wore them out with superior reserves. But the unfortunate comparison here is at QB.

   I love Broadous. I love the way he runs and I love the way he selectively passes the ball. But his accuracy is no where near the accuracy of that Hanson (who is expected to be back from his injury in time for the Poly game in Grand Falls). And I was disappointed in the Poly coaching staff play calling. Perhaps it was because the game was an out of conference game that certain calls were not made. I realize that Poly wants to hide something from future foes (though if they expect to win in Laramie, they will have to use their entire playbook). The point is, if Cal Poly expects to win games against such teams as North Dakota, UC Davis, and Northern Arizona, the offense will have to play better, be more efficient and effective, or we will lose. We simply made too many mistakes, mistakes that other teams WILL take advantage of.

   I think Cal Poly has a chance to go undefeated in Conference this year and end up in the playoffs. They have the talent. But they’ve got to stop making those glaring mistakes.

   Reply