Some stats to consider:

Red Zone Chances:
Q1 1st & goal at EMU 10. 2 runs, a sack. FG. Yards gained 0.
Q1 1st & 10 at EMU 11. 3 runs. Missed FG. Yards gained 7.
Q2 1st & 10 at EMU 16. 2 runs, incomplete pass. Missed FG. Yards gained -2.
Q2 1st & goal at EMY 8. 1 scramble, 3 runs. TD. Yards gained 8.
Q3 1st & goal at EMU 7. 2 passes, 1 scramble, 1 run. Loss of Downs. Yards gained 6.
Q3 1st & 10 at EMU 18. 1 run. TD. Yards gained 18.
Q4 1st & goal at EMU 8. 2 runs, 1 pass. FG. Yards gained 5.

7 possessions with 1st down inside the EMU 18 yard line.
49 possible points
20 points actually scored
29 points left on the field

21 plays
14 runs
3 passes plays resulting in a sack or scramble
4 passes - 1 completion

Total yards gained 42.
2 yards per play.
Take away Thompkins' 18 yard run, and it is 1.2 yards per play.

Rest of the game:
377 yards on 54 plays
7.0 yards per play

Quite possibly the worst red zone showing I have witnessed by the Rockets. Sure, some credit has to be given to the EMU defense. Also, not having seniors Thompson and Swanson available hurt too and one of our biggest bodies up front in Atariwa. Still it seemed to me the play calling was atrocious. Rockets moved the ball up and down the field almost at will until they got inside the EMU 20. It seems like then the play calling reverted to 2 yards and a cloud of dust. That would likely have worked with some recent OLs. This year's line has pass blocked very well and opened holes for RBs between the 20s, but hasn't shown yet that it can just overpower a good DL and move it back to gain yards when the box is stacked. Yet, that's what was called over and over again. Very strange.

I don't like it when we almost always (maybe even always) have a yard or two to go & still run with Woodside in the shotgun. I get that the extra second or two away from the line of scrimmage after the handoff is meant to give the RB time to see his hole, but this O line isn't like previous O lines we've had. All it seems to do is give the D an extra second or two to crumple our O line which doesn't seem to be able to get a good push, and make the stop--sometimes even in the backfield for a loss. Would love to see us start to put Woodside under center and make the play just a bit quicker--if not even have him sneak. Either that, or start to run play action pass more often down there (although a taller receiver would help with that since there isn't much vertical space for a pass route).

Pretty pathetic. Such opportunities are not always easy to come by.

Don't like to second guess coaches, but bashing away with third string backs seems to fail.

Part of the problem is that play calling becomes much more difficult given this year's absence of 1) Michael Roberts, 2) a dominant O-line and 3) Kareem Hunt, possibly in that order.

(10-08-2017 03:23 PM)T-Town Wrote:  Part of the problem is that play calling becomes much more difficult given this year's absence of 1) Michael Roberts, 2) a dominant O-line and 3) Kareem Hunt, possibly in that order.

The OL hasn't been dominant since Greg Mancz graduated. I think Candle recognizes that and has really focused on it in the 2017-2018 recruiting classes.

Is there anybody in the Conference that could cover Bryce Mitchell in the End Zone
with that leaping ability?

(10-11-2017 09:38 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Is there anybody in the Conference that could cover Bryce Mitchell in the End Zone
with that leaping ability?

Kind of what I was thinking...taller target who can go up and make himself even taller--chances would be pretty good for a completed pass or pass interference over an interception. I'm not sure if he's already appeared in a game yet, but if he hasn't I wonder if Thompson's injury might not result in a redshirt being burned? Of course a lot depends on his transition to this level of play, but with half a season to go, I think it would be worth it. I would guess that he would only get better the more he plays, and TDs in the red zone will be even more important come November...

(10-11-2017 11:23 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 09:38 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Is there anybody in the Conference that could cover Bryce Mitchell in the End Zone
with that leaping ability?

Kind of what I was thinking...taller target who can go up and make himself even taller--chances would be pretty good for a completed pass or pass interference over an interception. I'm not sure if he's already appeared in a game yet, but if he hasn't I wonder if Thompson's injury might not result in a redshirt being burned? Of course a lot depends on his transition to this level of play, but with half a season to go, I think it would be worth it. I would guess that he would only get better the more he plays, and TDs in the red zone will be even more important come November...

In the CMU game notes, he's listed as having played in each game this year. Is he on special teams or something?

This has been a problem all year. Will be the end of any hope for a championship if it does not improve.

I wonder if they are holding things back for tougher games. Better start coming out soon

(10-11-2017 12:37 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  This has been a problem all year. Will be the end of any hope for a championship if it does not improve.

I wonder if they are holding things back for tougher games. Better start coming out soon

Not holding anything back with 11 injured,

(10-11-2017 12:34 PM)TampaRocket Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 11:23 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(10-11-2017 09:38 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Is there anybody in the Conference that could cover Bryce Mitchell in the End Zone
with that leaping ability?

Kind of what I was thinking...taller target who can go up and make himself even taller--chances would be pretty good for a completed pass or pass interference over an interception. I'm not sure if he's already appeared in a game yet, but if he hasn't I wonder if Thompson's injury might not result in a redshirt being burned? Of course a lot depends on his transition to this level of play, but with half a season to go, I think it would be worth it. I would guess that he would only get better the more he plays, and TDs in the red zone will be even more important come November...

In the CMU game notes, he's listed as having played in each game this year. Is he on special teams or something?

Yes, I've noticed Mitchell on special teams in a couple games. Was surprised to see him playing, given how deep our WR corpse appeared to be at the start of the season. Now with Thompson out and maybe Phillips too, maybe he'll get some chances at WR sooner rather than later.

The red zone problem is the OL, not our receivers. They can't open a hole wide enough to slip a poster of Kareem Hunt through sideways.

(10-11-2017 09:13 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  The red zone problem is the OL, not our receivers. They can't open a hole wide enough to slip a poster of Kareem Hunt through sideways.

We have been fortunate with years and years of good, great oline... it has come to an end. This year we are average, not terrible but barely average and not improving as we are banged up.

If we win the MAC it will be a feat. There is a chance without a great MAC team this year ala WMU last year.

Last I looked CMU was about 8th in the conference in run defense, so maybe our RB's will have a little more success this week. I watched the CMU/OU replay last evening and they seem to be somewhat vulnerable to the run.