One of the reasons this team isn't pulling away with its victories is because we are one of the worst teams in generating forced turnovers on defense. We have only gained 7 turnovers in 7 games. Meanwhile we have turned the ball over on offense 10 times. Somehow CMU defense is worse at forcing turnovers with only 6 on the season.

(10-18-2021 09:26 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  One of the reasons this team isn't pulling away with its victories is because we are one of the worst teams in generating forced turnovers on defense. We have only gained 7 turnovers in 7 games. Meanwhile we have turned the ball over on offense 10 times. Somehow CMU defense is worse at forcing turnovers with only 6 on the season.

The Huskies' secondary needs to stop dropping the easy INTs. I believe it's been two weeks in a row now where the opposing QB throws it right to a Huskie defender and they just drop it. The drop in the BG game probably would have went for six.

I think this is the week the secondary gets exposed for just how bad they really are. The Huskies have been lucky they haven't played against a QB who can take advantage of WRs constantly being wide open.

(10-18-2021 09:56 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-18-2021 09:26 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  One of the reasons this team isn't pulling away with its victories is because we are one of the worst teams in generating forced turnovers on defense. We have only gained 7 turnovers in 7 games. Meanwhile we have turned the ball over on offense 10 times. Somehow CMU defense is worse at forcing turnovers with only 6 on the season.

The Huskies' secondary needs to stop dropping the easy INTs. I believe it's been two weeks in a row now where the opposing QB throws it right to a Huskie defender and they just drop it. The drop in the BG game probably would have went for six.

I think this is the week the secondary gets exposed for just how bad they really are. The Huskies have been lucky they haven't played against a QB who can take advantage of WRs constantly being wide open.

That is going to happen sooner or later, and when it does Rocky is going to have to match that with his arm. I’ve been wanting them to at least try to gain some passing confidence these games so that when they do need to it’s not the first time they’re throwing to win. I thought BGSU sucked on offense yet somehow they were all the game at the end.

(10-18-2021 09:56 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-18-2021 09:26 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  One of the reasons this team isn't pulling away with its victories is because we are one of the worst teams in generating forced turnovers on defense. We have only gained 7 turnovers in 7 games. Meanwhile we have turned the ball over on offense 10 times. Somehow CMU defense is worse at forcing turnovers with only 6 on the season.

The Huskies' secondary needs to stop dropping the easy INTs. I believe it's been two weeks in a row now where the opposing QB throws it right to a Huskie defender and they just drop it. The drop in the BG game probably would have went for six.

I think this is the week the secondary gets exposed for just how bad they really are. The Huskies have been lucky they haven't played against a QB who can take advantage of WRs constantly being wide open.

Our secondary is bad. They got burned a ton last weekend. If BG could throw and the wind was less of a factor, we would have been blown out. We need to have safety help over the top, and need to blitz a linebacker to get pressure on the QB. If not we'll be in big trouble against any team that can throw.

(10-18-2021 10:09 AM)UnknownScout Wrote:  

(10-18-2021 09:56 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-18-2021 09:26 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  One of the reasons this team isn't pulling away with its victories is because we are one of the worst teams in generating forced turnovers on defense. We have only gained 7 turnovers in 7 games. Meanwhile we have turned the ball over on offense 10 times. Somehow CMU defense is worse at forcing turnovers with only 6 on the season.

The Huskies' secondary needs to stop dropping the easy INTs. I believe it's been two weeks in a row now where the opposing QB throws it right to a Huskie defender and they just drop it. The drop in the BG game probably would have went for six.

I think this is the week the secondary gets exposed for just how bad they really are. The Huskies have been lucky they haven't played against a QB who can take advantage of WRs constantly being wide open.

Our secondary is bad. They got burned a ton last weekend. If BG could throw and the wind was less of a factor, we would have been blown out. We need to have safety help over the top, and need to blitz a linebacker to get pressure on the QB. If not we'll be in big trouble against any team that can throw.

Yea, that's what worries me about the upcoming games - better QBs. We'll probably have to blitz a lot to get some pressure on them.

The only team the truly concerns me is WMU. That doesn’t mean we’ll beat everyone else of course but that’s the only game I’m not feeling confident about.

(10-17-2021 08:58 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  I'll be surprised if our boys win this one. They rarely beat CMU and almost never in Mt. Pleasant. If CMU plays the run as well as everyone says, I don't believe our team can score enough points to win. I think it takes 30 points to win this game and don't believe our guys can do it with their anemic passing attack of late. CMU recently benched their five star transfer QB and went back the chubby 5'10" guy (Richardson) who is probably better, and they've played better. Richardson is a baller, and they have great backs and receivers too. I see them putting up a pretty big number. I'm going 38-17 CMU.

I'll settle for our guys not getting sand kicked in their faces like the last two years. Those were embarrassing games, where CMU physically dominated for 60 minutes. They hit harder and played until a beat after the whistle, always getting in that last shove after the play. CMU played with a real chip on their shoulder (see what I did there), pretty much like anyone would like to see their team play. Let's see if our guys can match their physicality for once.

I think most CMU fans believe this will be very close. The line sounds about right, slight advantage toward CMU for being at home. We have a QB controversy for sure. Don’t look at Richardson’s stats, they are misleading.
He is a very limited QB and has a solid 5 dropped INTs this season. Basically, if Nichols doesn’t get going, we struggle badly on offense. I would be shocked if this is more than a TD win either way. We realize NIU is vastly improved.

Some of my confidence is rooted in handling NIU in recent memory. Same goes for WMU the opposite way. I personally think NIU plays into our strengths but this will be a tight game no doubt. FYI we are missing our #1 WR and I believe a couple defensive starters are still out too. Not an excuse because you have injuries too, but Richardson will struggle more with Sullivan out.

(10-18-2021 10:53 AM)7 Wrote:  The only team the truly concerns me is WMU. That doesn’t mean we’ll beat everyone else of course but that’s the only game I’m not feeling confident about.

Eleby is problem 1. Plitt is problem 2. The rest shouldn’t be a problem.

Hammock still has the "NFL'' mentality of avoid mistakes at all costs. He is aggressive in fourth-down calls because that's what the analytics say in the NFL, but I'd love to see us use play action / go for the jugular when we are ramming it down people's throats. The wind may have played a part last week. We were successful once, but I'd like to see more of it.

Why are we acting like this is Hammock’s first year as head coach? They’re so run happy because they don’t trust Lombardi. This one isn’t complicated. They’re way better at running than they were in Hammock’s first two years which plays a part somewhat, but they were never this pass adverse with Bowers.

(10-18-2021 11:49 AM)7 Wrote:  Why are we acting like this is Hammock’s first year as head coach? They’re so run happy because they don’t trust Lombardi. This one isn’t complicated. They’re way better at running than they were in Hammock’s first two years which plays a part somewhat, but they were never this pass adverse with Bowers.

If they aren't going to pass the ball with Rocky then why not give someone else a shot? Are they waiting until later in the season to give Hampton playing time in order not to burn his RS?

(10-18-2021 12:06 PM)timxlydon Wrote:  

(10-18-2021 11:49 AM)7 Wrote:  Why are we acting like this is Hammock’s first year as head coach? They’re so run happy because they don’t trust Lombardi. This one isn’t complicated. They’re way better at running than they were in Hammock’s first two years which plays a part somewhat, but they were never this pass adverse with Bowers.

If they aren't going to pass the ball with Rocky then why not give someone else a shot? Are they waiting until later in the season to give Hampton playing time in order not to burn his RS?

A combination of this, the fact they’re winning, and the fact Hampton hasn’t played a game since his Junior year of high school are all factors I’m sure.

They’re 5-2 and undefeated in conference. There’s been no need to consider burning Hampton’s redshirt.

At this point I would be surprised if Rocky is back next year.

Lombardi has thrown 146 passes in 7 games this year. Bowers threw 212 passes in 6 games last year, and that was with him splitting some time with Fletcher.

They do not want him throwing the ball. The writing is on the wall.

We control the game and keep our defense off the field by running the ball.

All those passing stats with Bowers last year got us an 0-6 record vs. MAC competition. Now we are 5-2 after establishing the run again.

It would have been nice to have Ross Bowers stay one more season but he chose to move on.

NIU is scoring 28.4 ppg (66th in the country) with the current offense vs 24.8 ppg last season.

Yes, the offensive line being way better and having an incredibly deep backfield is why the offense is better. Doesn’t mean the QB is good.

We let Marcus Childers be our starting QB for 2.5 seasons and he wasn't any good at passing the ball.

Rocky has only played 7 games here in a new offensive system. When he's needed to make plays he's done it. See GT game last passing TD and 2pt conversion, Toledo game where he hit Richie deep to setup our final game winning FG, etc. Those are situations where Childers would have thrown INTs and ended any comeback.

Hammock also said he wasn't going to throw in the windy conditions last weekend and said it was an interesting gameplan by BG to throw over 40 times in those conditions.

What does Childers playing under a previous regime have to do with this team?

I think it's as simple as we are better at running than throwing and like to play physical and control the game. Because we run better doesn't mean we are bad at throwing. This staff does a great job coaching to win the game. They're not interested in stats.

It looks like weather won't be a factor this weekend. I fully expect us to throw much more if CMU is able to stop the run, which by the way I don't think they can stop our run game so it will be more of the same. Can't wait to find out!

We are horrific at throwing. It’s okay to say it.

(10-18-2021 02:27 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  We let Marcus Childers be our starting QB for 2.5 seasons and he wasn't any good at passing the ball.

Rocky has only played 7 games here in a new offensive system. When he's needed to make plays he's done it. See GT game last passing TD and 2pt conversion, Toledo game where he hit Richie deep to setup our final game winning FG, etc. Those are situations where Childers would have thrown INTs and ended any comeback.

Hammock also said he wasn't going to throw in the windy conditions last weekend and said it was an interesting gameplan by BG to throw over 40 times in those conditions.

And did you ever complain about how inaccurate Childers was? I know I did. So did everyone on this board. And we were all correct. Childers and Lombardi have almost identical passing stats except Rocky throws more ints. Childers had 2/1 td to int ratio where as Rocky is 1/1.