Game thoughts...
#27 stands out the same way Derek Barnett stood out. It's honestly insane. Double teams and getting held all game. Still, back there taking the snap.
Backend gets a B+. Second level gets a B+. Front four get an A+.
Props to Ekeler for setting up the punt return there. Very easy to go all out to block that but I love giving Dee the opertunity and taking a roughing the punter off the table. Special teams had a great game.
Now then... I am officially in the "The staff doesn't trust Milton" club. Obviously, the defense was playing out of their mind so that's part of it. But so many chances to put the game away. Milton either botched them or they didn't give him a chance. And can you blame them? His INT in the end zone was as bad as you'll see. The safety wasn't disguised... He simply never bothered to find him. Running out of bounds on a free play... I've just accepted Milton is going to inexplicably run out of bounds on average every other game. How much trust can you have in someone doing bone headed, inexplicable things? A heap of blame has to go to the Oline for awful penalties, but still..
Oline had a great day if you don't count penalties, which were back breaking. But I felt there were many plays that were blocked up and the RB just couldn't make one guy miss or find the hole. Don't know why Small is playing so much over Sampson. I'm sure they have their reasons. Small is a good player. Sampson and Wright are great players. They got home a few times on Milton but they were going to, they have a great front 7. Still, many plays where he had time, had open WRs, and could not make the throw.