Here's my take on the game - what do you guys think?

[Defensewins]

Coaching...coaching...coaching is the biggest difference for us compared to last year. Especially on defense. Defense led the win...not Portis. Defense did not give up a TD! Salavea and Pierce are major surprises. Barrow might be expendable.?.?
I have to give BIG props to M. Bowen, he played great. I have been bad mouthing him all preseason and he came to play today...FINALLY!

AnonEmouse- the only one of your observations I have to disagree with you is Rod Gardner. He played a little better than OK. I saw only one drop and it was on a very low/bad pass from Brunnell. He made some clutch 3rd down catches. His size allowed him to catch a few short passes and run over his DB and make the first down. If I can admit my bad about Bowen, you might be able to say Gardner played better than OK......maybe?

Mike Sellers had two great pancake blocks.
Andre Lott had a key third down play.

The only part of the game and team of concern is center. There were a couple of mis-snaps that looked like the centers fault. but I might be wrong.