The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

After the 1st half last night, my comment today was going to be ODU = No "D" U. But they made some badlyneeded adjustments and looked much better in the 2nd half. So much better that I was looking to see if they had burned a few red shirts and put in the younger guys.

I've been screaming for weeks that they needed to stack the line and run blitz more to stop the run. I would rather give-up more big plays than continue to be ground to a pulp by the run game. If you don't stop the run, you lose. Period. Thankfully they changed it up and the guys played better.

Other observations include that we are way too simplistic with our run game. The running back always dives to the opposite side of where he lines up. We need more motion and different looks. Once in a while it might be nice to give them a two back look, as well.

Some how, some way, Wilder needs to instill more toughness in this team...especially the defense. They appear to be too much of a finesse team. Speed and finesse are fine, but you need some good old nasty ass toughness to be an elite team. Maybe with the new recruits.

As someone mentioned earlier, BW is learning how to be an FBS coach. He's smart, and I think he'll be a good one. But he's got a ways to go. I'm encouraged by the growth we've seen. I hope it continues.

(10-12-2014 06:35 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  Does anyone else feel the UTEP linebacker that took a shot at Heinicke's chin with his elbow/forearm (he was flagged for a personal foul) deserves further discipline from the team/league. It was a VERY cheap shot, and flagrant.

Agree. Pretty cheap.

Do we really need to mess with the run game? How are we running the ball so well if it's too simplistic?

(10-12-2014 06:35 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  Does anyone else feel the UTEP linebacker that took a shot at Heinicke's chin with his elbow/forearm (he was flagged for a personal foul) deserves further discipline from the team/league. It was a VERY cheap shot, and flagrant.

We were just talking about that and when we saw it, thought he should have been ejected. It was a definite, deliberate shot to the head. If he played for Bobby Wilder, he wouldn't be playing next week for sure.

(10-12-2014 07:56 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Do we really need to mess with the run game? How are we running the ball so well if it's too simplistic?

Correct...

It's a zone run scheme. Designed to be simple but fast in an up tempo system. And they do use split backs, they didn't at UTEP, but usually more than once or twice a game they have 2 in the backfield. That's how Vaughn and Lowe get carries. It hasn't been incredibly effective, but they do use it.

(10-12-2014 09:18 PM)MonarchCAM Wrote:  

(10-12-2014 07:56 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Do we really need to mess with the run game? How are we running the ball so well if it's too simplistic?

Correct...

It's a zone run scheme. Designed to be simple but fast in an up tempo system. And they do use split backs, they didn't at UTEP, but usually more than once or twice a game they have 2 in the backfield. That's how Vaughn and Lowe get carries. It hasn't been incredibly effective, but they do use it.

It seems a little more read option could make for a more effective passing game. Straight ahead, starting 4-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage doesn't
look very practical on 3-4 and short.

What is our success rate on those downs?

(10-13-2014 07:54 AM)Gilesfan Wrote:  What is our success rate on those downs?

I looked it up. on 3rd and 4th and short (3yds or less) ODU is 13-18 running and 3-12 passing (with 1 int, and 2 sacks.) They actually have a higher success rate on passing on 3rd or 4th and middle distance or longer.

(10-13-2014 05:48 AM)Old Dominion Wrote:  

(10-12-2014 09:18 PM)MonarchCAM Wrote:  

(10-12-2014 07:56 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  Do we really need to mess with the run game? How are we running the ball so well if it's too simplistic?

Correct...

It's a zone run scheme. Designed to be simple but fast in an up tempo system. And they do use split backs, they didn't at UTEP, but usually more than once or twice a game they have 2 in the backfield. That's how Vaughn and Lowe get carries. It hasn't been incredibly effective, but they do use it.

It seems a little more read option could make for a more effective passing game. Straight ahead, starting 4-5 yards behind the line of scrimmage doesn't
look very practical on 3-4 and short.

Remember too, that UTEP is one of the worst run defenses in the country. I'm too lazy to look back at our Marshall and MTSU stats, but I believe we had much less success running against those teams. I'm not saying our system doesn't work. I'm just saying it would be nice to add some new wrinkles to keep opponents a little off balance.

I wouldn't mind a little more read option...but do you really want TH to get hit more? He already is getting sacked 4-5 times a game now.

(10-13-2014 10:02 AM)MonarchCAM Wrote:  I wouldn't mind a little more read option...but do you really want TH to get hit more? He already is getting sacked 4-5 times a game now.

TH has been hit too much already this year. His body has held up amazingly well.

The shot by 43 was so deliberate, violent and flagrant that I was sure he'd be ejected. It is testimony to how bad the officiating in CUSA is that he drew just a 15-ysrd penalty -- and that no flag was thrown when TH was hit on the slide.

(10-13-2014 10:41 AM)jumpshooter Wrote:  The shot by 43 was so deliberate, violent and flagrant that I was sure he'd be ejected. It is testimony to how bad the officiating in CUSA is that he drew just a 15-ysrd penalty -- and that no flag was thrown when TH was hit on the slide.

The no call on the slide was definitely a game changer, too, as that shot to the head could have been, if Taylor had been injured. That could have been a season changer, in fact. It put him in danger of not only another concussion, but a broken jaw.

The guy that hit TH in the jaw definitely should have been ejected. BW has had the time to review that video, and I am confident he has (or will) communicate with with conference officials on that and the hit on the slide. We should probably hear more on this subject by the end of the week.

We got enough stops to win the game...period. quit blaming the D for these losses

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(10-14-2014 12:11 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  The guy that hit TH in the jaw definitely should have been ejected. BW has had the time to review that video, and I am confident he has (or will) communicate with with conference officials on that and the hit on the slide. We should probably hear more on this subject by the end of the week.

On the conference thread, a utep fan has said the guy won't be playing this weekend.

Z1, thanks for that. I gain some respect for the UTEP program in the way they handled this, even though you hate to see or play teams not at full strength.

(10-14-2014 09:57 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 12:11 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  The guy that hit TH in the jaw definitely should have been ejected. BW has had the time to review that video, and I am confident he has (or will) communicate with with conference officials on that and the hit on the slide. We should probably hear more on this subject by the end of the week.

On the conference thread, a utep fan has said the guy won't be playing this weekend.

As it turns out, he won't be playing because UTEP has a bye week...

(10-15-2014 07:55 AM)MONARCHSWIN Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 09:57 PM)ODUMONARCHZ1 Wrote:  

(10-14-2014 12:11 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  The guy that hit TH in the jaw definitely should have been ejected. BW has had the time to review that video, and I am confident he has (or will) communicate with with conference officials on that and the hit on the slide. We should probably hear more on this subject by the end of the week.

On the conference thread, a utep fan has said the guy won't be playing this weekend.

As it turns out, he won't be playing because UTEP has a bye week...

Oh wow... I totally didn't even catch that.

Does anyone have a video clip of the swinging elbow hit on Heinicke by the UTEP player robertson-harris? Trying to prove a point on the main boards, but sometimes seeing it is much more impactful than reading it.