SIX POINTS: TDR’s take on Grambling’s win over Northwestern

Six points from TheDerisoReport.com on Grambling’s second week of football …

ONE
At the halfway point of a brutal first month, Grambling’s record is about where I thought it would be: 1-1, though I didn’t think they’d be in this order. I didn’t think South Carolina State would be an easy win, but I thought Grambling could manage it. I figured Northwestern State to be tough loss, in the way of 2003’s McNeese State. Christian Anthony, personally, made sure it wasn’t.

It sets Grambling up nicely for this weekend’s rematch against Jackson State. These two teams have split the last two SWAC Championship Games, but third-year coach Rod Broadway has never dropped a regular-season game to JSU.

TWO
I don’t know how much of Saturday’s night problems on offense and special teams was the result of rain-soaked conditions, and how much was the result of still being out of sync.

I can tell you, however, that Greg Dillon appears to still be pressing – and he doesn’t have to. He’s found a pair of reliable hands in Van Phillips Jr., and the punishing combination of Warren/Walker (Warren, of course, this week) has been able to road grade every opponent that Grambling has faced.

And, when all else fails — as it did against Northwestern State, at times — this defense can also score in bunches.

THREEReunion update … former Grambling coach Melvin Spears, whom Broadway succeeded, returned to the area as Texas Southern’s receivers coach to face nearby ULM — and saw his SWAC team fall by a staggering sum, 58-0. Alcorn, GSU and Alabama A&M had been far more competitive in out-of-conference contests over the past three seasons. … Former Grambling starters Brandon Landers and Larry Kerlegan faced off as quarterbacks with Shaw and Concordia (Selma, Ala) on Saturday, with Landers coming out on top 14-7.

FOUR
There are connections in the looming home date at Oklahoma State. A week after topping Georgia, the then-No. 5 Cowboys struggled with Houston — who had handed Northwestern State a season-opening loss.

Tape from that game should be instructive for an overmatched Grambling squad looking for any possible edge to remain competitive: The unranked Cougars just never gave up.

Holding a slight edge, and face fourth down, Houston running back Bryce Beall Beall went after a 6-yard pass from quarterback Case Keenum that had been batted up into the air — and came down with it for the go-ahead score in the eventual 45-35 upset.

FIVE
Broadway has made it clear how unhappy he is with the rugged opening schedule his defending SWAC champions must face this season: MEAC champ South Carolina State, Southland Conference foe Northwestern State, defending SWAC East title winner Jackson State and then former-BCS Top 10 Oklahoma State — which fell to No. 16 in the AP poll after that loss to Houston.

But it broke a string of non-conference stumbles for the program — and gave him a chance to best GSU’s first Southland foe since Nicholls State in 2001, something that from a respect standpoint can’t be overestimated. I expect Grambling to make its own climb on the FCS charts, something that wouldn’t happen if it continued to play, in Broadway’s words, “Podunk U.”

And, as we talked about when the coach reupped with GSU, he gets paid for poll rankings, too.

SIX
Not since quarterback Bruce Eugene has Grambling had a player who could single-handedly change the course of a game like defensive end Christian Anthony — and it’s much harder to do from that position.

That he has been so dominant against out-of-conference opponents has to give comfort to fans worried about another series of early-season misfires elsewhere on the team.

It’s no doubt drawing attention from interested pro scouts, too.