A positive for Carey:

At the game I happened to be standing next to a father and his two sons near the concession line. Turned out the his oldest son was a recruit. And a pretty decent one at that since he spoke with Ferenz, Harbough and Fleck Among others. I asked him what he thought of Carey and how he compared to the other coaches. Expecting the worst, he suprised me by giving Carey a really positive review. Said he was amongst his favorites.

On a negative note. He said Fleck far and away left the biggest/best impression. Above any of the coaches. His dad said the same.

I hope the program turns the corner fast. The negative press about NIU football's fall continues to come out across college football and it is slowly unwinding years of program growth.

FootballScoop Staff ‏@FootballScoop · 3h3 hours ago

Things are bad here. Real bad.

FootballScoop Staff ‏@FootballScoop · 3h3 hours ago

A loss to Western Illinois, which isn’t unthinkable (think about that), would… well, let’s leave it at not good

(09-18-2016 10:57 PM)HuskieJoe Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 02:28 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:52 AM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(09-17-2016 10:28 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  I never heard an announced attendance, and don't see it anywhere else. Anybody know what it was?

14,513

That's horrible. Being on tv brings less people out to the stadium but that's unacceptable. It was a perfect day. Plus I'm ready to be done with cbs sports since we are 0-3 this year on that channel. Have we ever won playing on that?

Wasn't at least one of the UNLV games on CBS sports channel? We won both of those and probably a basketball game as well.

The Army game a few years back.

(09-19-2016 10:14 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 10:05 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 09:21 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  -Ryan Graham will play some great football as he gets more game experience. (Side note: I got a real kick out of a SDSU poster who said Graham will never be more than a game manager who holds our team back. He knows that for certain after watching a sophomore play one game. Apparently it is impossible for Graham to develop beyond what we saw on Saturday, he is locked in stone. Who knew? That guy is an incredible talent evaluator who needs to get into coaching immediately.)

Sorry but do you honestly think that Graham is going to develop into a game changing QB? Right now he's a sub par game managing QB. The stats would back that up even if you hadn't seen him play and it's even more evident having watched every snap. I don't doubt that he can improve but the ceiling looks very low. Our offense needs a play maker at the QB position and unfortunately we don't have one. Hare was not good in the small sample size we saw this year and Graham is worse.

I believe Graham has a chance to develop into an excellent QB, yes. Some may disagree which is the way of fandom. I do agree that he is not the prototype for our system becasue his running ability is just OK but think he has great potential as a passer.

Graham showed no arm strength or accuracy on Saturday. He had at least 3 or 4 throws that were way behind receivers, and some that a guy would have had to be 10 feet tall to catch. At this point I am not encouraged at all as it seems like he has regressed from last year, not gotten better as we were led to believe.

Another game like that this Saturday, and it may be time to pull the plug and start investing in Santa or Childers. Our inability to close recruiting deals with QBs has caught up to us. Losing the kid who went to Wisconsin hurt us big time as well as a couple others. Sadly at this point I don't see things getting a lot better until Rodney Hall (if he in fact signs) gets here and plays, but honestly that is 2 years out. Perhaps Santa or Childers will surprise me.

It is a huge shame as this is probably the most talented group of receivers I can remember and the only way we can get them the ball is through shovel passes like I saw Saturday. What a waste. Nothing personally against Graham but he has not shown he can be a regular starter at the Div 1 level.

Agree with Ritz on the throwing, decision making seems OK, but the throws weren't close. Not sure the QB that went to Wisconsin would have been the answer, I believe he's a Fullback at UW?

Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

(09-19-2016 12:57 PM)17Huskies Wrote:  Agree with Ritz on the throwing, decision making seems OK, but the throws weren't close. Not sure the QB that went to Wisconsin would have been the answer, I believe he's a Fullback at UW?

Yes Ingold is running back at UW that is used on short yardage situations. He had the dual threat stats in HS to fit our program, but who knows how well he would have done - that is usually a crap shoot!

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

Very true; Harnish struggled at times until he was a junior. Maybe Graham will improve.

Let's face it though: We ain't going anywhere without an excellent QB. To win in the MAC - and to get to and win the MACC - we need a super QB. With who we have now, plus the unplayed/untested QBs, we won't get anywhere. Just look at the teams who have won their respective divisions and the MACC. Also, look at the years we had better than outstanding RBs - Hammock, Turner, Wolfe, etc. - and never got to or won the MACC (without a great QB also). The other positions can be good; the QB needs to be great.

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

You are forgetting Ezra Saffold, DJ Brown and the ever elusive Spencer Tears. Not to mention some decent freshmen recruits. Not too thin or shabby if you ask me. I'll say this they did recruit decent wideouts, this coaching staff just could not recruit a high quality QB for the life of them which there was no reason. After Lynch kids should have lined up to be the next big QB here. Our staff flubbed that one. Perhaps Graham, Santa, or Childers can prove me wrong. I do have high hopes for Rodney Hall, I just hope this staff or the next staff can keep him in the recruiting class.

Give Graham some time.

Cooper rush year one:
56% compl, 15 td/15 int

Cooper Rush year two:
65% compl, 27 td/13 int

Cooper Rush year three:
66% compl, 25 td/11 int

Cooper rush year four(to date):
65% compl, 11 td/3 int

It should be no surprise there is improvement each year. That's what was disheartening about Hare. He regressed(injury's aside)

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

Chandler Harnish was a 2 star recruit who destroyed most of the records at his high school. Led his team to runner up spot in state championship, and 6th at state in the discuss. He passed for 4,760 yards and 48 touchdowns, and also ran for 2,343 yards and 35 touchdowns

Ryan Graham was NR, passed for 2007 yds and 24 TDs, ran for 1096 yards and 11 TDs.. What you need to know about Graham (Dad played at NIU).. Which is fine because he was never going to be the starter..

With Harnish we were coming off mediocre seasons..

With Graham we were in the Orange Bowl 1 year prior...

(09-19-2016 03:05 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Give Graham some time.

Cooper rush year one:
56% compl, 15 td/15 int

Cooper Rush year two:
65% compl, 27 td/13 int

Cooper Rush year three:
66% compl, 25 td/11 int

Cooper rush year four(to date):
65% compl, 11 td/3 int

It should be no surprise there is improvement each year. That's what was disheartening about Hare. He regressed(injury's aside)

...Are you really comparing Graham to one of the top 2 quarterbacks in the MAC who is bound to be drafted in the NFL this coming year?

Tears got on the field on Saturday, he definitely looks the part...a physical specimen. Nothing towards him though.

DogFan is not wrong, have to go back a ways to find a team that wins the MAC without a great QB. Probably Miami (OH) in 2011 when they beat us? You also have to go back a long ways to find NIU not playing in the MACC...We can all come up with whatever view we want pretty easily.

(09-19-2016 03:12 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

Chandler Harnish was a 2 star recruit who destroyed most of the records at his high school. Led his team to runner up spot in state championship, and 6th at state in the discuss. He passed for 4,760 yards and 48 touchdowns, and also ran for 2,343 yards and 35 touchdowns

Ryan Graham was NR, passed for 2007 yds and 24 TDs, ran for 1096 yards and 11 TDs.. What you need to know about Graham (Dad played at NIU).. Which is fine because he was never going to be the starter..

With Harnish we were coming off mediocre seasons..

With Graham we were in the Orange Bowl 1 year prior...

no comparison. Harnish was a great one for 4 years. He's not here so Ryan has to be himself and make the plays he can make. It just goes to show you how important a great qb is. Sometimes the guy you think is it, isn't. Our downturn started when Drew went vs Toledo. We have too many talented players to not be able to compensate for it.

(09-19-2016 03:12 PM)RedandBlackAttack Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 03:05 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Give Graham some time.

Cooper rush year one:
56% compl, 15 td/15 int

Cooper Rush year two:
65% compl, 27 td/13 int

Cooper Rush year three:
66% compl, 25 td/11 int

Cooper rush year four(to date):
65% compl, 11 td/3 int

It should be no surprise there is improvement each year. That's what was disheartening about Hare. He regressed(injury's aside)

...Are you really comparing Graham to one of the top 2 quarterbacks in the MAC who is bound to be drafted in the NFL this coming year?

No, I'm comparing the fans. Do you think every CMU fan was ecstatic about a guy completing just over 50% of his passes with a 1:1 td to int ratio? Or did they say it's his first year, let's give him some time?

(09-19-2016 03:18 PM)GCD70 Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 03:12 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

Chandler Harnish was a 2 star recruit who destroyed most of the records at his high school. Led his team to runner up spot in state championship, and 6th at state in the discuss. He passed for 4,760 yards and 48 touchdowns, and also ran for 2,343 yards and 35 touchdowns

Ryan Graham was NR, passed for 2007 yds and 24 TDs, ran for 1096 yards and 11 TDs.. What you need to know about Graham (Dad played at NIU).. Which is fine because he was never going to be the starter..

With Harnish we were coming off mediocre seasons..

With Graham we were in the Orange Bowl 1 year prior...

no comparison. Harnish was a great one for 4 years. He's not here so Ryan has to be himself and make the plays he can make. It just goes to show you how important a great qb is. Sometimes the guy you think is it, isn't. Our downturn started when Drew went vs Toledo. We have too many talented players to not be able to compensate for it.

I think our downturn was every year after Hare signed, when we couldn't find a QB.. I think we had one decent guy and he left before fall for Kansas or something (landon root???)

(09-19-2016 12:22 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I hope the program turns the corner fast. The negative press about NIU football's fall continues to come out across college football and it is slowly unwinding years of program growth.

FootballScoop Staff ‏@FootballScoop · 3h3 hours ago

Things are bad here. Real bad.

0-3 is bad. I appreciate them stating the obvious, however.

(09-19-2016 08:28 PM)Premier Club Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 12:22 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  I hope the program turns the corner fast. The negative press about NIU football's fall continues to come out across college football and it is slowly unwinding years of program growth.

FootballScoop Staff ‏@FootballScoop · 3h3 hours ago

Things are bad here. Real bad.

0-3 is bad. I appreciate them stating the obvious, however.

Not entirely sure that they're only commenting on the 0-3 record......

(09-19-2016 01:52 PM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 01:24 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  Regarding Graham's accuracy, he missed several guys no doubt about it. Being an optimist, I think that will improve as the game slows down for him. We will find that out pretty soon. Since we're critiquing let's give him credit for his good throws too. His TD to Kenny G was a thing of beauty and there were others besides that one. He was also under heavy pressure a lot of the time and our receiving corps isn't exactly replete with playmakers either. Once you get beyond the top three of Kenny G, Deucee and Blake it thins out pretty fast.

Regarding his ability to be a D1 QB recall that Chandler Harnish didn't look like a consistent D1 QB until he was a junior. Let's see where Graham is at the end of this year.

You are forgetting Ezra Saffold, DJ Brown and the ever elusive Spencer Tears. Not to mention some decent freshmen recruits. Not too thin or shabby if you ask me. I'll say this they did recruit decent wideouts, this coaching staff just could not recruit a high quality QB for the life of them which there was no reason. After Lynch kids should have lined up to be the next big QB here. Our staff flubbed that one. Perhaps Graham, Santa, or Childers can prove me wrong. I do have high hopes for Rodney Hall, I just hope this staff or the next staff can keep him in the recruiting class.

childers does not even travel or practice with the team he is on scout team ???