Following last weeks performance that left a lot to be desired, the Red Raiders came out with a vengeance and put up 52 points in the first half then rested starters with the game in hand but managed to have a few successful drives from the backups.

This performance was obviously something going into the season that we expected to have on this side of the ball and it’s good to see that instead of carrying the baggage from last weekend the team decided to step up and show that they’ve got plenty of fight left in them.

Quarterbacks: A

Outside of Cameran Brown’s interception, this group was amazing the entire day. Behren Morton showed out and ran the offense to perfection. We even got to see Will Hammond get a chance for an extended time to show what he can do and boy was it nice.

This is the type of stuff that we wanted to see from the ACU game but unfortunately it was closer than we expected. Nonetheless it was nice to see the backups get a chance to play for more than just a few snaps at the end of the game because if their number is called they at least have some game experience to fall back on.

Running Backs: A+

This was the most important group as far as getting looks for the backups goes because unfortunately we found out earlier this week that Cam’Ron Valdez is out for the year with a leg injury which is just awful given the fact that he came back out of the transfer portal to stay with us another year and to have it lost by game three isn’t how anyone wanted it to go.

Tahj Brooks looked like his normal self and had an amazing game with a touchdown run from 21 yards out on a fourth-and-one where he broke it outside and found space to run. His vision is his best tool and it’s going to be the reason why he shoots up draft boards as the year goes on.

Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams both had solid games filling in for Brooks and then eventually taking over for him in the second half with the game in hand. Both guys scored on similar pistol formations with two tight ends in the backfield lead blocking. It was an amazing playcall and nice to see both guys reach pay dirt and get that confidence going.

Wide Receivers: A

This group showed off its depth as nearly everyone on the depth chart finished with a reception on the day. While the leading receiver from this group finished with just three receptions, most of the key guys had a big play or two that accounted for all of their receiving yards on the day as the ball was really spread around.

Coy Eakin had the most explosive play of the day after being re-routed before the snap by Morton into a fade route that turned into a 70-yard touchdown. Josh Kelly had the other touchdown reception for the group on a nice RPO read by Morton that saw Kelly run a slant and keep his eyes on the ball waiting for Morton to make his read and find him for the touchdown.

Tight Ends: A+

This grade is not only because Jalin Conyers and Johncarlos Miller II each scored on the day, but they also did amazing in the run blocking department with key blocks on the Dickey/Williams touchdown runs.

Miller II had a wide open 45-yard touchdown that saw him dunk the ball after reaching the end zone on the goal post. Conyers was open on a drag route inside the Red zone and found the end zone for the last score of the half that put the Red Raiders over the 50-point mark.

Offensive Line: B

Another solid outing for the offensive line as a whole, but nine tackles for loss on the day is not something that you want to see on a regular basis. Overall I feel like this group is finding their rhythm as a unit and has shown improvement from last week, but allowing that much of a presence in the backfield can’t happen often now that conference play is getting started.

The pass blocking was the biggest strength on the day with only one sack allowed and for the most part the pocket looked clean enough for the guys out there to make their reads and get the ball where it needs to be.

There were some nice holes in the run game as well as the big guys made life easy for the most part on the running backs, with a lot of those TFL’s coming when the game was already in hand and the backups were in.