NIU 21:18 Iowa 38:42
NIU 29:48 UT-Martin 30:12
NIU 17:27 Army 42:33
NIU 28:30 Kansas 31:30
NIU 27:51 CMU 32:09
NIU 26:48 Ball State 33:12
NIU 26:58 Buffalo 33:02
NIU 33:01 Akron 26:59
NIU 24:53 WMU 35:07
NIU 29:03 UMASS 30:57
NIU 29:58 Toledo 30:02
NIU 27:34 EMU 32:26
NIU 32:27 Kent 27:33
We're averaging 41 PPG, and we won the TOP battle twice this season. We played a game last season where we gave up 70 yards of offense, and we still lost the TOP battle. If you think we're magically going to slow down on offense because we're playing Florida State, you're wrong. It's not how we play offense. In fact, I think we might actually try to go faster.
Gotta play the game we've played all year. Defense just needs to be on their a game, and o line just has to do what they've done all year.
I have confidence that this team will make the right calls. I think a lot is going to be won or lost on our defensive side though.
NIU had the TOP in the MAC Championship. I even remember thinking of how the game seemed to be moving slower.
I don't think that the offense runs as well when we slow it down. Do what worked all year long in the Bowl game and let whatever happens happen.
(12-05-2012 10:43 AM)Huskie_Jon Wrote: [ -> ]NIU had the TOP in the MAC Championship. I even remember thinking of how the game seemed to be moving slower.
A lot of it was because we had like an 8 minute drive to start the 4th (and didn't score). I wonder if that was our longest drive of the year.
Plays came in slow during the whole Kent game. I kept wondering when we would pick up the pace.
NIU 17:27 Army 42:33
and we scored more than 40 points!
wtf?
(12-05-2012 01:30 PM)NIU17 Wrote: [ -> ]NIU 17:27 Army 42:33
and we scored more than 40 points!
wtf?
They run the option, and we scored on a boatload of big plays.
Time of Possession is more important to NIU's defense than it is to the offense. With the lack of depth for NIU, you do not want FSU to win the TOP battle and run that many offensive plays.
NIU has to run more plays to keep their defense off the field and not their offense on the field.
NIU doesn't have a lack of depth.
Realtive to FSU we lack depth I think he means, and let's be honest we do. However, for us we have good depth and a lot of guys see the field which is good to get guys breaks. But I think you're right, I think they are going to be very high octane and run the so-called turbo offense, getting snaps off quickly. I haven't seen FSU enough to see if they huddle, how long they take, but I know NIU will bring the entire playbook and I think they don't make a whole lot of offensive subs to prevent FSU to sub and they are gonna be full throttle.
We lack talent relative to FSU's talent all across the board. We do not lack depth anywhere though. We'll sub just as much, if not more than Florida State.
(12-05-2012 11:26 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]NIU doesn't have a lack of depth.
Of course NIU has a lack of depth compared to the first string in FSU's offense...you can't rotate the number of guys to keep up with FSU's offense if they are running more plays and winning the TOP battle.
It isn't meant as an insult but just actual football IQ.
(12-05-2012 11:33 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]We lack talent relative to FSU's talent all across the board. We do not lack depth anywhere though. We'll sub just as much, if not more than Florida State.
This is only valid if you are talking about the same number of people on the roster...
If you are talking about the talent on that roster and stating that your second string is as good as the first, or that they can handle FSU's first string offense, than that is not correct.
(12-05-2012 11:34 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote: [ -> ] (12-05-2012 11:26 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]NIU doesn't have a lack of depth.
Of course NIU has a lack of depth compared to the first string in FSU's offense...you can't rotate the number of guys to keep up with FSU's offense if they are running more plays and winning the TOP battle.
It isn't meant as an insult but just actual football IQ.
It's not actual football IQ. It's not how we play. It's not how we play all year. We rotate guys as much as we do because of how we play.
(12-05-2012 11:36 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote: [ -> ] (12-05-2012 11:33 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]We lack talent relative to FSU's talent all across the board. We do not lack depth anywhere though. We'll sub just as much, if not more than Florida State.
This is only valid if you are talking about the same number of people on the roster...
If you are talking about the talent on that roster and stating that your second string is as good as the first, or that they can handle FSU's first string offense, than that is not correct.
I think in most football circles...depth would be described as your second string/back-ups being of the same quality as your first string...or that your first string simply doesn't get very tired.
As 7 mentioned, NIU doesn't lack this. We may have "starters" on defense, but there are plenty of positions (especially DE, MLB, and CB's) where we play some guys 50/50 compared with the back-up.
Will our defense struggle because of a gap in talent? possibly, but it's not because of lack of depth.
I would be concerned about depth on the O-line.
(12-05-2012 11:37 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ] (12-05-2012 11:34 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote: [ -> ] (12-05-2012 11:26 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]NIU doesn't have a lack of depth.
Of course NIU has a lack of depth compared to the first string in FSU's offense...you can't rotate the number of guys to keep up with FSU's offense if they are running more plays and winning the TOP battle.
It isn't meant as an insult but just actual football IQ.
It's not actual football IQ. It's not how we play. It's not how we play all year. We rotate guys as much as we do because of how we play.
I can understand the rotation of actual bodies on the field...
I think my point is just that NIU really needs to run more plays than FSU to have success in the game. The actual talent gap between the first string of NIU and the second string compared to FSU's offensive talent is fairly wide and you don't want your defense to get gassed when they are already overmatched with size and speed.
(12-05-2012 11:36 PM)PiKappNoleATL Wrote: [ -> ] (12-05-2012 11:33 PM)7 Wrote: [ -> ]We lack talent relative to FSU's talent all across the board. We do not lack depth anywhere though. We'll sub just as much, if not more than Florida State.
This is only valid if you are talking about the same number of people on the roster...
If you are talking about the talent on that roster and stating that your second string is as good as the first, or that they can handle FSU's first string offense, than that is not correct.
Our second string is as good as our first, or at least close. That's why we rotate so many guys. Are you really struggling this much to comprehend what I'm saying to you?
Again, FSU has a talent advantage across the board against NIU, sans QB. NIU isn't going to stop magically rotating players or slow down on offense because they're playing Florida State though.
And NIU may run more plays than FSU. They won't win the TOP battle, though.
Yea, we have very little dropoff when we switch from the starters to second-string on defense. Thus, we have depth. Simple as that.
So I understand that your starters are not much different than the second string...and you will rotate plenty of players.
If that is the case, than obviously the talent gap plays a bigger role.