...where the team looks totally unprepared to play and puts forth no effort in a huge November game.
Candle had a job interview this week and the team responded accordingly.
Let the speculation begin.
(11-09-2017 06:50 AM)FtLauderdaleRocket Wrote: [ -> ]...where the team looks totally unprepared to play and puts forth no effort in a huge November game.......
Welcome to November---Rocket Football style.
It is just a long standing Rocket Football tradition. Work hard from August thru October (or most of it, at least) until a number of team goals are clearly centered in the cross hairs with expectations raised to the sky foolishly thinking that somehow this year will be different before collapsing in one or two key November games (as many as is necessary to destroy any chance of achieving the main goal of a MACC). This program is truly cursed-----it is a bit like Moses who was allowed to get close enough to see the "promised land" from afar but was not allowed to ever get there, although unlike the biblical story, with the Rockets there is also the added torture of having this theme play out every single year via a Groundhog Day movie type deja vu.
Same old, same old to the point of becoming a bit tiresome although there is a slight twist this year. Usually it is just a matter of losing to a MAC West team in November (or even two as in 2015 if that is what is necessary to avoid playing for a MACC) and that is still a distinct possibility with the WMU game still pending. However this year the Rockets were TOTALLY DOMINATED on both sides of the ball by a MAC EAST team that will likely be playing for a MACC come December. IF (and that is a big if) the Rockets actually manage to get to the MACC game and are facing Ohio, anyone care to take a guess as to who the underdog will be and what and the point spread will be?
(11-09-2017 06:50 AM)FtLauderdaleRocket Wrote: [ -> ]Candle had a job interview this week and the team responded accordingly.
Let the speculation begin.
There was a Learjet from Lincoln into TOL on Saturday night, with a return trip Sunday AM...
Probably has nothing to do with Candle. Probably.
I had predicted a loss, albeit a much closer one, so I can't say that I'm entitled to be entirely disappointed or surprised...but I would not have predicted such a poor Rocket effort. Complete failure from the head coach all the way down. No adjustments on defense. Stubbornness on offense. Flat (almost tentative even) effort. Poor tackling. Offensive line that could control a 3-man rush. Basically, a perfect storm.
Hopefully, we win out and make some changes when we face Ohio in Detroit. That will make us all forget that nightmare in Athens & I , for one, would look forward to a re-match.
But...after that display last night, I wouldn't be surprised if we drop one of the last 2 games & find a way to once again give the West Division title to someone else. I'm concerned that the D line & LBs, who had played a few really nice games in a row, may have hit the wall for the season, and I'm not sure they have much left in the tank. I'm preparing myself for giving up plenty of yards and lots of points against BG and WMU. That means we're back where we started the season, hoping that the offense can outscore people in high-scoring games. If the O-line is back to performing like they did the first 3 games of the season, it's going to put lots of pressure on the Rocket offense to deliver.
As for the "what if..." of Candle already entertaining (or seeking) offers: certainly hope that's not the case. I'd be terribly disappointed in him & what I would see as a very selfish move at this point in the season. I prefer to believe that it's simply another indicator of a Rocket program that may not be physically or mentally strong enough at the stretch run of a season.
This is exactly what happened when Campbell left. The team laid an inexplicable egg that none of us could figure out, until Campbell announced his ISU deal and it all made sense.
I'd be willing to wager a few bucks that Candle had his mind focused on something else entirely.
Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
(11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
Interesting thought...this late into the season, I doubt there's much that we haven't shown in other games that Ohio wouldn't have seen on tape, though, so I'm not sure what he would be "hiding" (although we didn't throw much at all to the TE).
Additionally, this would smack of basically "throwing" a game & not caring if you lose this one, and that's not where I would want my program to be.
IMO, we simply got outplayed & outcoached by a team that is better at the moment than we are.
(11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
WInners come up with new plays. No I don't think he did that. I hope he did not do that. I think they weren't prepared or that he was out coached or out talented or some combination of those but not using the playbook, playing conservatively? No, the rule is, you play to win each game. Anything less than that is not sportsmanship. Certainly laying down would be illegal and lead to sanctions.
No.
(11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
No we just got our assses kicked. What was the excue on Defense? Let's not tackle them today so don't get mad at us if we have to play them again in December?
(11-09-2017 11:28 AM)eastisbest Wrote: [ -> ] (11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
WInners come up with new plays. No I don't think he did that. I hope he did not do that. I think they weren't prepared or that he was out coached or out talented or some combination of those but not using the playbook, playing conservatively? No, the rule is, you play to win each game. Anything less than that is not sportsmanship. Certainly laying down would be illegal and lead to sanctions.
No.
Disappointed that the coaching staff was unable to make halftime adjustments. Isn't that what they're being paid to do? Of course, Campbell couldn't do it either. Last head coach that had that ability was Pinkel. When Heacock was the DC here we had a good defense. Went to Iowa St and they're doing pretty good. Aren't our recruiting classes supposed to be better than Ohio's?
If it weren't so lopsided I'd say...short week of prep...Solich is a crafty old fox...might be let down from NIU week. I think we'll get to Detroit. Let's hope we'll be able to defense the qb option by then. We did certainly look unprepared and not forced up.
(11-09-2017 10:12 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote: [ -> ] (11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
Interesting thought...this late into the season, I doubt there's much that we haven't shown in other games that Ohio wouldn't have seen on tape, though, so I'm not sure what he would be "hiding" (although we didn't throw much at all to the TE).
Additionally, this would smack of basically "throwing" a game & not caring if you lose this one, and that's not where I would want my program to be.
IMO, we simply got outplayed & outcoached by a team that is better at the moment than we are.
Agree---the Rockets were on the verge of moving into the top 25 rankings and this loss put that puppy to bed for this season and that is not a favorable outcome for either the team or the coaches. It is tempting to believe (hope) that they were still too busy taking a victory lap after the NIU win and just forgot to take care of business at Ohio-----that thought is a bit more comforting than to believe the alternative which is that the Ohio D & O lines truly are as superior to the Rocket's line play as they appeared to be last night. The former give a glimmer of hope that a MACC may still be possible whereas the latter does not.
Football is a game of momentum. Give us back a few turnovers and get us a few scores and the outcome would have been different. Not that Akron is as good as us, but in our game earlier this season, their wheels fell off, everything we did was gold and the game got out of hand.
I'm too lazy to look it up, but hasn't the west lost to a few east teams in the MACC game after being heavily favored. Didn't BG breeze into Detroit and beat a heavily favored NIU team? Maybe Akron, Buffalo? Point being anything can happen in Detroit.
I said it in the another string, the field was slippery and affected both teams, but maybe us more, then the doors fell off. Back to my momentum comments above.
Don't underestimate a warm, dry field with a large, loud Toledo crowd. Let's win these two.
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This was a title match between boxers of different styles. Toledo is the sexy favorite, sprinkled with some NFL prospects capable of knocking you out with big pass and run plays. Ohio is boxer that goes for the body body blows. If you miss your haymaker/knockout punches and don't come prepared mentally for that, then Ohio slowly beats you physically and mentally for the entire game. That's how Solich wins at Ohio and that's why Nebraska was successful. Toledo could certainly beat Ohio in a rematch, but you have to be ready fight and get off to a good start. Hopefully they learned something.
I at least woke up this morning and no longer bitter about the loss. It doesn't kill our goal for the season - to win the MAC title. I've seen other teams come out and play awful - then turn it right back around and get back to playing well. I do think playing NIU on six days rest and winning, then turning around and having to travel to Ohio on six days rest while they had 8 days rest and their 3rd straight home game and senior night to boot. Now we get another game in 7 days - and it will be our 5th game in a span of 25 days (October 21st to Nov. 15th) - with 3 of them being on the road (the 3rd of the last 4 games on the road).
This is our true rivalry game. It will be BG's bowl game. It is also their last home game and will also be their senior night. We have beaten them in 7 straight games - but we appear to be on a downward trend. They are playing a lot of young players and have an upward trend at the skill positions - especially at QB. They have 2 wins - against Miami, Oh and a horrid Kent State team. Those 2 wins are against teams with a combined record of 4-16, with 2 of the wins against Austin Peay and Howard. We have two losses - to Miami U and Ohio U. They have a combined record of 16-2 on the year. We beat NIU, they lost to NIU by 31 points. We lost to Ohio by 28. they lost by 18.
Which teams will show up?
(11-09-2017 01:22 PM)MotoRocket Wrote: [ -> ]I at least woke up this morning and no longer bitter about the loss. It doesn't kill our goal for the season - to win the MAC title. I've seen other teams come out and play awful - then turn it right back around and get back to playing well. I do think playing NIU on six days rest and winning, then turning around and having to travel to Ohio on six days rest while they had 8 days rest and their 3rd straight home game and senior night to boot. Now we get another game in 7 days - and it will be our 5th game in a span of 25 days (October 21st to Nov. 15th) - with 3 of them being on the road (the 3rd of the last 4 games on the road).
This is our true rivalry game. It will be BG's bowl game. It is also their last home game and will also be their senior night. We have beaten them in 7 straight games - but we appear to be on a downward trend. They are playing a lot of young players and have an upward trend at the skill positions - especially at QB. They have 2 wins - against Miami, Oh and a horrid Kent State team. Those 2 wins are against teams with a combined record of 4-16, with 2 of the wins against Austin Peay and Howard. We have two losses - to Miami U and Ohio U. They have a combined record of 16-2 on the year. We beat NIU, they lost to NIU by 31 points. We lost to Ohio by 28. they lost by 18.
Which teams will show up?
Well if UT does not show up to win with chance to play in the MAC Championship than there is a real problem with coaching and leadership on this team
Maybe some of the “ Take no prisoners/punch em in the mouth “ mentality that Frank Solich instilled in his team last night rubbed off on the Rockets...
Oh, and some additional reps in the weight room wouldn’t hurt either...
(11-09-2017 01:08 PM)falconplucker Wrote: [ -> ]This was a title match between boxers of different styles. Toledo is the sexy favorite, sprinkled with some NFL prospects capable of knocking you out with big pass and run plays. Ohio is boxer that goes for the body body blows. If you miss your haymaker/knockout punches and don't come prepared mentally for that, then Ohio slowly beats you physically and mentally for the entire game. That's how Solich wins at Ohio and that's why Nebraska was successful. Toledo could certainly beat Ohio in a rematch, but you have to be ready fight and get off to a good start. Hopefully they learned something.
Good analogy! Hope we can find a way to counterpunch more effectively if we get a rematch. Yesterday, we elected to receive the smackdown.
(11-09-2017 10:00 AM)rocketinchitown Wrote: [ -> ]Anyone think Candle went conservative to not show the entire playbook as we most likely will see them in December?
No
I may be ticked off about last night...mostly because I drove 3 plus hours one way to freeze my assets off watching us get curb stomped...but winning last two games and then focusing on a MAC title would make this a great season. We’ve been used to 9 wins the last couple ones so a 10-2 mark would hopefully be viewed as an improvement. One game at a time and I hope we kick the ever loving sh*t out of BG next Wednesday l.