(10-03-2023 08:44 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-03-2023 08:28 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  The next two weeks are going to make or break whether there is anything left for NIU football to salvage this season. NIU is facing the two best defenses in the MAC with Ohio ranked #3 in FBS and Akron at #27.

With the exception of the Kentucky game every other game Akron has played has been decided by three points or less. NIU will struggle to score like usual and it will be yet another close game. Seems like a coin flip on who wins this one.

Akron has played some God awful offenses. Outside of Kentucky who is only 65th and who rolled them by 32, temple is 90th, Indiana 107 and buff 108…then FCS Morgan state who is averaging 13ppg.

NIU’s offense is 115th which is worse than Temple, Indiana, and Buffalo. If Akron’s defense can keep them in all of those games then no reason to think they will not be able to do the same against NIU. Last year they held NIU to only 80 rushing yards and they are top 20 in rushing defense this season. NIU is going to have to show it has a somewhat functional passing game to win, otherwise it is just seems like a bad matchup for the offense.

On a side note check out how Akron beat Morgan State this season. Morgan State was beating them with less than a minute left. They were running out the clock for the win and the RB fumbled. Akron scooped the fumble and ran it in for score to win. They should be 0-5.

(10-03-2023 09:12 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-03-2023 08:44 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-03-2023 08:28 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  The next two weeks are going to make or break whether there is anything left for NIU football to salvage this season. NIU is facing the two best defenses in the MAC with Ohio ranked #3 in FBS and Akron at #27.

With the exception of the Kentucky game every other game Akron has played has been decided by three points or less. NIU will struggle to score like usual and it will be yet another close game. Seems like a coin flip on who wins this one.

Akron has played some God awful offenses. Outside of Kentucky who is only 65th and who rolled them by 32, temple is 90th, Indiana 107 and buff 108…then FCS Morgan state who is averaging 13ppg.

NIU’s offense is 115th which is worse than Temple, Indiana, and Buffalo. If Akron’s defense can keep them in all of those games then no reason to think they will not be able to do the same against NIU. Last year they held NIU to only 80 rushing yards and they are top 20 in rushing defense this season. NIU is going to have to show it has a somewhat functional passing game to win, otherwise it is just seems like a bad matchup for the offense.

On a side note check out how Akron beat Morgan State this season. Morgan State was beating them with less than a minute left. They were running out the clock for the win and the RB fumbled. Akron scooped the fumble and ran it in for score to win. They should be 0-5.

It’s hard to argue against the NIU offense not sucking, but if we are to have any hope it’s based on the notion that this offense is not really this bad. The law of averages( injuries aside) point to a big turn around soon. Maybe it never happens but I’d be shocked if they played this poorly all season.

It’s a fickle game. 1 or 2 more completions and a fg last week and we are talking about winning the MAC. And the Mac west is still a possibility. Not a great one but still a reality. Only two times since 2015 has the Mac west champ won 7 games. And those were exceptional teams. Toledo is not exceptional by any means. So 6-2 is a likely outcome. Can NIU go 7-0? I doubt it but win the next two(impressively)and we can start that conversation. All of my pie in the sky talk depends on Rocky improving each week

(10-03-2023 09:12 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  

(10-03-2023 08:44 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-03-2023 08:28 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  The next two weeks are going to make or break whether there is anything left for NIU football to salvage this season. NIU is facing the two best defenses in the MAC with Ohio ranked #3 in FBS and Akron at #27.

With the exception of the Kentucky game every other game Akron has played has been decided by three points or less. NIU will struggle to score like usual and it will be yet another close game. Seems like a coin flip on who wins this one.

Akron has played some God awful offenses. Outside of Kentucky who is only 65th and who rolled them by 32, temple is 90th, Indiana 107 and buff 108…then FCS Morgan state who is averaging 13ppg.

NIU’s offense is 115th which is worse than Temple, Indiana, and Buffalo. If Akron’s defense can keep them in all of those games then no reason to think they will not be able to do the same against NIU. Last year they held NIU to only 80 rushing yards and they are top 20 in rushing defense this season. NIU is going to have to show it has a somewhat functional passing game to win, otherwise it is just seems like a bad matchup for the offense.

On a side note check out how Akron beat Morgan State this season. Morgan State was beating them with less than a minute left. They were running out the clock for the win and the RB fumbled. Akron scooped the fumble and ran it in for score to win. They should be 0-5.

On the flip side, Akron could be be 2-3. Their kicker shanked a short FG at the end of the Indiana game. They went on to lose in 4 OTs.

This game will tell me a lot about our team. After getting our asses kicked by Akron to end last season, is the team chomping at the bit for payback? I was down on the field for that game, and the Dogs’ effort was flat out embarrassing. I hope they prove me wrong.

Akron 30
Huskies 24

(10-03-2023 09:48 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  This game will tell me a lot about our team. After getting our asses kicked by Akron to end last season, is the team chomping at the bit for payback? I was down on the field for that game, and the Dogs’ effort was flat out embarrassing. I hope they prove me wrong.

Akron 30
Huskies 24

If our guys show mental fortitude and show some determination to turn this season around, that will tell us all we need to know about this coaching staff. If the guys have already shut it down, there's really no need to support this coaching staff.

NIU 42
Akron 17

It'll be another let down if we don't put up 40.

Here’s what I like about NIU - the defense is fun to watch and the squad seems have ends who can rush coming out of their ears! First time in a long time.

My prediction is I am going to have fun watching this defense. They play hard and fast. It’s fun to watch that style of defense.

The offense is frustrating. If something starts to work - the offense goes back to **** that doesn’t. When the offense played with pace they moved the ball and everyone got energized (even the defense). No chance they do it again because it worked. I predict slow frustration watching this offense.

The defense is good enough for the win. 21-17 Huskies.

(10-07-2023 08:51 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  Here’s what I like about NIU - the defense is fun to watch and the squad seems have ends who can rush coming out of their ears! First time in a long time.

My prediction is I am going to have fun watching this defense. They play hard and fast. It’s fun to watch that style of defense.

The offense is frustrating. If something starts to work - the offense goes back to **** that doesn’t. When the offense played with pace they moved the ball and everyone got energized (even the defense). No chance they do it again because it worked. I predict slow frustration watching this offense.

The defense is good enough for the win. 21-17 Huskies.

The offense is going to start with trying to pound brown and it’s not going to work per usual. Then rocky lands some throws to then open the run up. I don’t think the coaches understand this concept by the way he calls plays but who am I

(10-02-2023 09:17 PM)NILAW Wrote:  Last season we got destroyed at home 44-12. I say we destroy Akron at their place 44-12. What great payback that would be!

I may not have gotten the score correct but we got payback!

(10-07-2023 05:54 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(10-02-2023 09:17 PM)NILAW Wrote:  Last season we got destroyed at home 44-12. I say we destroy Akron at their place 44-12. What great payback that would be!

I may not have gotten the score correct but we got payback!

You did have faith!!!

(10-07-2023 05:54 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(10-02-2023 09:17 PM)NILAW Wrote:  Last season we got destroyed at home 44-12. I say we destroy Akron at their place 44-12. What great payback that would be!

I may not have gotten the score correct but we got payback!

On their homecoming, no less.

[quote='BigChilla' pid='19194231' dateline='1696686713']
Here’s what I like about NIU - the defense is fun to watch and the squad seems have ends who can rush coming out of their ears! First time in a long time.

My prediction is I am going to have fun watching this defense. They play hard and fast. It’s fun to watch that style of defense.

The offense is frustrating. If something starts to work - the offense goes back to **** that doesn’t. When the offense played with pace they moved the ball and everyone got energized (even the defense). No chance they do it again because it worked. I predict slow frustration watching this offense.

The defense is good enough for the win. 21-17 Huskies.
[/quot

Chilla, you are correct. This defense gets to the ball and they tackle better than any NIU defense I can remember,

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sutton Smith's defenses were special. That group was dominant. This group is not near that level.

(10-09-2023 07:45 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  Sutton Smith's defenses were special. That group was dominant. This group is not near that level.

This group is good as a whole but there's just no big-time individual playmakers. But if Gumbs continues to improve he might become that guy.

(10-02-2023 10:38 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  I hope this isn't a case of too little, too late, but I think a half season of frustration is going to boil over and the offense explodes.

45 - 10 NIU

Dang someone got the script ahead of time. atta boy!