UTSA fell to 0-4 on the season with a 33-31 loss to Colorado State. Here are five initial thoughts from the game.
1. UTSA needs to ride Jarveon Williams and the running game as much as possible. The junior had a school-record 85-yard touchdown run and broke the single-game rushing record with 170 yards. However, he only had 13 carries in a game that was never more than a two-possession contest and UTSA was leading to start the second half. Colorado State ran 24 more plays than the Roadrunners and a lot of that is because UTSA got away from the running game at times. UTSA averaged over eight yards per carry, came out even in the turnover margin and still lost at home.
2. UTSA needs more from Blake Bogenschutz and the wide receivers. Aron Taylor led the team with four catches for 69 yards, but no one else had over two catches or 22 yards receiving. Kerry Thomas had some drops. JaBryce Taylor didn't play until late, and while he showed something on his lone catch, he committed the offside penalty on UTSA's final drive to push the Roadrunners out of field position and stall a drive in Ram territory. Kenny Bias didn't record a catch and UTSA only completed nine passes in the entire game. That interception by Bogie in the third quarter really hurt, especially because it was an unnecessary throw. Sometimes an incomplete pass isn't a bad thing and Bogie needs to learn that going into conference play.
3. The offensive line played pretty well. There were some breakdowns when Colorado State ran games up front with twists and stunts, but the group did great in the running game. It was a much better week for those guys, but the right-side of the offensive line is still struggling. A holding call on Will Cavanaugh ended with a safety on UTSA and the Roadrunners lost by two points. Mistakes add up.
4. The defense did as well as could be hoped without guys like Drew Douglas and Marcus Davenport. The secondary struggled but the lineup at the end of the game was a senior, a junior, a sophomore, a redshirt freshman and a true freshman. The miscommunication in the back is understandable, but very frustrating. It is hard to tell if UTSA is in zone or man sometimes and that isn't a good thing because it means not everyone is on the same page.
5. Losses always hurt, especially in games that are winnable, but the team was much better this week. The non-conference schedule is a brutal obstacle for this team to overcome and an 0-4 start hurts bowl eligibility chances, but the team we saw today wins three or four conference games at the very least. It was a better performance, but it still hard to watch this team shoot itself in the foot.
1. UTSA needs to ride Jarveon Williams and the running game as much as possible. The junior had a school-record 85-yard touchdown run and broke the single-game rushing record with 170 yards. However, he only had 13 carries in a game that was never more than a two-possession contest and UTSA was leading to start the second half. Colorado State ran 24 more plays than the Roadrunners and a lot of that is because UTSA got away from the running game at times. UTSA averaged over eight yards per carry, came out even in the turnover margin and still lost at home.
2. UTSA needs more from Blake Bogenschutz and the wide receivers. Aron Taylor led the team with four catches for 69 yards, but no one else had over two catches or 22 yards receiving. Kerry Thomas had some drops. JaBryce Taylor didn't play until late, and while he showed something on his lone catch, he committed the offside penalty on UTSA's final drive to push the Roadrunners out of field position and stall a drive in Ram territory. Kenny Bias didn't record a catch and UTSA only completed nine passes in the entire game. That interception by Bogie in the third quarter really hurt, especially because it was an unnecessary throw. Sometimes an incomplete pass isn't a bad thing and Bogie needs to learn that going into conference play.
3. The offensive line played pretty well. There were some breakdowns when Colorado State ran games up front with twists and stunts, but the group did great in the running game. It was a much better week for those guys, but the right-side of the offensive line is still struggling. A holding call on Will Cavanaugh ended with a safety on UTSA and the Roadrunners lost by two points. Mistakes add up.
4. The defense did as well as could be hoped without guys like Drew Douglas and Marcus Davenport. The secondary struggled but the lineup at the end of the game was a senior, a junior, a sophomore, a redshirt freshman and a true freshman. The miscommunication in the back is understandable, but very frustrating. It is hard to tell if UTSA is in zone or man sometimes and that isn't a good thing because it means not everyone is on the same page.
5. Losses always hurt, especially in games that are winnable, but the team was much better this week. The non-conference schedule is a brutal obstacle for this team to overcome and an 0-4 start hurts bowl eligibility chances, but the team we saw today wins three or four conference games at the very least. It was a better performance, but it still hard to watch this team shoot itself in the foot.
