(10-25-2014 10:01 PM)Henry Burlingame Wrote:  I don't think I've ever seen a team convert as many 3rd or 4th downs as UMass did today. I'm not sure whether to credit them or fault or our defense. Probably a bit of both.

Actually they did poorly on 3rd down, although it seemed like they got all of them. But they were 4of 5 on fourth.

(10-25-2014 08:09 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  My takeaways:
* some teams really are much better than their record--so it is with UMass. They certainly could have won this game.
* I think the Rockets won this one in spite of the coaches. Really--after a bye week I expected a much better looking UT team. Maybe next time we have a bye Campbell et al can take the week off. Playcalling at many times was mindboggling. Could have done with about 2/3 fewer passes. RUN the ball!
* Hunt looked very good--and we need him!
* our secondary isn't going to get much better--and I don't think having Norrils or Cole would make a huge difference. What did work was when we got pressure on their QB--he started to play much less decisively after that. Need to commit to bringing the heat more plays than not.
* can we recruit a punter? Or let Julian punt?
* run the ball! For whatever reasons, Woodside is regressing. Still locks in on whomever he's going to throw to. If Russell doesn't want to work to get open, then let's
experiment with 2 TEs--put both Zmolik and Roberts out there together instead of another receiver. Both can catch the ball and will be better blockers for the run game.
*love having Hunt back...but even UMass started to key on him. Ned to use him a bit as a decoy since we only run a 1-back offense. Do some hard play action and bring back the read option more.
*its great to still control our destiny...but I'd like to see this team start to look like a champion. Right now, I wouldn't want to play WMU again.

Roberts probably doesn't get the opportunity to catch those two balls if Zmolik played. Is he expected back for Kent?

I would love to see the stats on offensive holding calls we have had, and how many have been called against our opponents offensive line. We supposedly have the best O-line in the league and arguably one of the best defensive lines - yet we continue to see pressure on our QB along with 2 consecutive holding calls against Meyer and I don't believe UMass had one holding call on them the entire game.

Either we are coaching poorly, or we don't know how to hold properly. Saw Voss held twice today and though they were obvious enough to get called - but no flags.

(10-25-2014 11:22 PM)MotoRocket Wrote:  I would love to see the stats on offensive holding calls we have had, and how many have been called against our opponents offensive line. We supposedly have the best O-line in the league and arguably one of the best defensive lines - yet we continue to see pressure on our QB along with 2 consecutive holding calls against Meyer and I don't believe UMass had one holding call on them the entire game.

Either we are coaching poorly, or we don't know how to hold properly. Saw Voss held twice today and though they were obvious enough to get called - but no flags.

On one of their TDs a Rocket DL was pulled down by his jersey as he was about to hit their QB. RWT will no doubt swoop in to explain holding to us for the 100th time but I suspect even he might agree on that one.

Woodside may not have had a 'terrible' game, but he didn't look like a championship QB, imo. Hope he can get it together and I really hope our injury-prone RB can stay healthy. We need Hunt to win these remaining games.

(10-25-2014 10:56 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(10-25-2014 10:01 PM)Henry Burlingame Wrote:  I don't think I've ever seen a team convert as many 3rd or 4th downs as UMass did today. I'm not sure whether to credit them or fault or our defense. Probably a bit of both.

Actually they did poorly on 3rd down, although it seemed like they got all of them. But they were 4of 5 on fourth.

6/14 on 3rd down.

(10-25-2014 09:37 PM)indianasniff Wrote:  Woodside is horrible

I don't get that but it had been a downslide the last three games as others have noticed. Ball distribution has suffered but was better today, couple really bad and at least one ill advised passes aside.

Seems like it was three games ago he took a pretty hard hit that sent him off a bit wasn't it?

I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

If the critics we are as knowledgeable as they claim, they would be knocking down seven figures as a head football coach.

(10-25-2014 07:19 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  20,000 attendance listed. I saw about 17-18,000 actual people there - disappointing.

Concerns:

Still not convinced that Woodside is a championship quarterback.

Don't know why we aren't throwing at least 5 deep passes to Russell every game.

Stupid communication problems, penalties,coaching gaffes continue.

Still not using tight ends enough. Averaging less that 2 catches per game.

this

and why hasn't julian seen the field? first, as a punter. he can really punt, and ellis has been solidly mediocre. plus, julian could be a great fake punt option. and, then, at qb. even just for a series here or there. get him some real snaps. let woodside watch a series a game. i like woodside. i am not convinced he is the best overall qb. give the stud backup a few snaps maybe

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

I respectfully disagree with any assertion that Campbell has "positioned us to play in a championship". I think we've been damn lucky to win these last 2 MAC games. That hasn't been representative of any great coaching strategy or game prep. Any team that continually starts slow, has a handful of stupid non-contact/dead ball penalties every single game, calls plays that make little sense given the down, yardage and abilities of the players on the field, and can't seem to correct player technique issues such as poor tackling and a QB who always stares down his receiver, is not likely in position to be a championship team because of the coaching but rather in spite of it in my opinion. I will certainly be proud to celebrate a MAC championship if it does happen this season--but I will be very interested to see how we do next season in a conference that has some younger teams that are playing better than we are at this point, like WMU.

(10-26-2014 07:50 AM)pono Wrote:  

(10-25-2014 07:19 PM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  20,000 attendance listed. I saw about 17-18,000 actual people there - disappointing.

Concerns:

Still not convinced that Woodside is a championship quarterback.

Don't know why we aren't throwing at least 5 deep passes to Russell every game.

Stupid communication problems, penalties,coaching gaffes continue.

Still not using tight ends enough. Averaging less that 2 catches per game.

this

and why hasn't julian seen the field? first, as a punter. he can really punt, and ellis has been solidly mediocre. plus, julian could be a great fake punt option. and, then, at qb. even just for a series here or there. get him some real snaps. let woodside watch a series a game. i like woodside. i am not convinced he is the best overall qb. give the stud backup a few snaps maybe

Agree----Julian's one punt I remember was one of the best UT punts of the season --at least that is the way I remember it.

Aside from the fact that we need a reliable backup with some game experience, I suspect that if Julian doesn't see any game time whatsoever, he will probably leave the program at the end of the season as Woodside is a soph and Ely is a junior (who is eligible for a medical red shirt??) and, based on his HS record, Julian is just too good not to be playing somewhere.

(10-26-2014 07:37 AM)rockytop Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

If the critics are as knowledgeable as they claim, they would be knocking down seven figures as a head football coach.

+1

4 -- 0 in the MAC. Go Rockets!!!!!!

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

We barely beat one of the worst teams in Div. 1A/FCS. Good job?

(10-26-2014 08:51 AM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

We barely beat one of the worst teams in Div. 1A/FCS. Good job?

UMass is probably the MAC's most improved team and 19 points from being 7-2 with 2 "Big 5" wins.

(10-26-2014 08:51 AM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

We barely beat one of the worst teams in Div. 1A/FCS. Good job?

Would not go that far as we are not a bottom 10 team. Using Massey Rating those teams are by conference:

SunBelt
---------
Idaho
George State
Troy
New Mexico State
App State


MAC
----------
E. Mich
Kent State


AAC
----------
SMU
Tulsa

CUSA
----------
North Texas


Massey Rating

Compared to last week, we stayed the same at #113 and you fell 2 to #73

The Rockets play badly but find a way to win ugly. The minutemen play OK but find a way to lose. Detmer actually won the game for UT by just being an intimidating presence.

Everyone wants another Bruce but he actually was a nonfactor until his third year in the program (the redshirt sophomore year when we beat Pitt). Woodside is in his second year and hopefully will learn from his mistakes. There is no guarantee that when Ely comes back he will be the player he was before the ACL injury. Woodside may be our starter two more years.

There's no doubt that SMU is the worst in Div. 1A, with Georgia State a close second (congrats on that win over a team that's barely 1AA). Saying that UMass is good because they have a bunch of close losses (yes, losses, not wins) is like saying that getting blown out is better than beating a Big Ten team.

(10-26-2014 07:55 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 05:56 AM)Dwight Wrote:  I'm amazed at how negative most posters are about our football team and its coach. From reading this board over the last few weeks, you'd never know that Campbell has us positioned to play in the conference championship game. Every other team in the MAC would love to be us right now, but some of our fans can't enjoy the ride because they're too busy raging against our supposedly incompetent coach.

I respectfully disagree with any assertion that Campbell has "positioned us to play in a championship". I think we've been damn lucky to win these last 2 MAC games. That hasn't been representative of any great coaching strategy or game prep. Any team that continually starts slow, has a handful of stupid non-contact/dead ball penalties every single game, calls plays that make little sense given the down, yardage and abilities of the players on the field, and can't seem to correct player technique issues such as poor tackling and a QB who always stares down his receiver, is not likely in position to be a championship team because of the coaching but rather in spite of it in my opinion. I will certainly be proud to celebrate a MAC championship if it does happen this season--but I will be very interested to see how we do next season in a conference that has some younger teams that are playing better than we are at this point, like WMU.

I don't think it makes sense to say a college team is good in spite of the coach. That might make sense if you were talking about a first-year coach who was winning with a former coach's players. But Campbell is in his third year, and recruiting has not fallen off at all under his reign. Campbell is responsible for every facet of his team - recruiting, teaching, motivating, preparing for each specific game, and executing a game plan. If he has weaknesses, then his strengths have more than compensated for those weaknesses. The team's record is proof of that.

Did it look like it finally dawned on the OC that the screen passes were not helping? I only remember one early in the game which, as usual, went nowhere. There were probably more than 1, but I don't think nearly as many as usual.

Swanson is doing really well, but without Hunt I don't see how we could have won.

Very disappointed with the mistakes and sloppiness. This is what makes me question the "players coach" type of coach--not necessarily HS, but assistants as well. The way ex-Rockets talk about Nick Saban maybe it is better to have a grown up who can instill discipline.

I thought we would do better up front on both sides of the ball than we did, thus Frohnapfel slayed our secondary, no problem. Although, give him credit for making some pin-point throws to receivers who hauled it in despite being well covered.

As far as Julian, we have Kent up next. They are the new Eastern, so hopefully he can at least get mop-up duty.

I think our punting has been pretty decent, all though Ellis did hit a bad one. It's gonna happen.

However, our return performance is dismal. Is anybody coaching them at all?