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.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

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.

Actually, he dropped the third down pass that was low, but still catch-able, AND he had another drop on the very first play of the game -- a wideout screen. Hit him right in the hands and he dropped it.

Apart from those two plays, Gardner was serviceable. With Coles being blanketed, I was actually hoping for more from the passing game. He's the one who has to step up and pick up the slack when Coles is being doubled. Sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't.