Although I have been critical of Ely, I think he's a great young man who has all the attributes to be extremely successful in life. I'm hoping for the sake of the team that he doesn't get, or take, a sixth year of eligibility and is able to move on with his life.

The next three games we will be facing quarterbacks that are completing passes at about a 70% rate. Ely is at 54%.

We need a reboot at the quarterback position with a real competition between Woodside, Guadagni and whoever else wants to compete, without a predetermined savior already chosen by the coaching staff.

Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

(11-04-2015 11:05 AM)adunifon Wrote:  Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.

(11-04-2015 11:15 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:05 AM)adunifon Wrote:  Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.

This...

Ely had some horrendous passes, and the receivers had some drops at bad times when a catch was needed. The last play the ball went through Hunts hands. Russell is all or nothing, and with Roberts it's always an adventure. Tom Brady would have a 50% completion percent with some of our receivers.

(11-04-2015 11:15 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  [quote='adunifon' pid='12595350' dateline='1446653142']
Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.


Agree totally. When we three and outed in our first possession without running the ball, I thought we were in trouble. And why don't we ever run outside the tackles?

(11-04-2015 11:15 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:05 AM)adunifon Wrote:  Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.

Toledo had one run of over 10 yards in the second half. Hunt's 37 yd run.
Toledo ran the ball 23 times for 90 yards in the 2nd half. That's 3.91/carry. Take out Hunt's 37 yd run, and you have 53 yards on 22 carries. Do the math and that's a whopping 2.4/carry. NIU stopped the run in the second half.

(11-04-2015 11:15 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:05 AM)adunifon Wrote:  Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.

have been saying the same thing all year, but no one is listening. Can't keep opening with a screen pass to Corey Jones. All the teams know how we start, but we won't make a change to running the ball to begin the game. Makes no sense to me.

(11-04-2015 11:56 AM)toledobrad Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:15 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(11-04-2015 11:05 AM)adunifon Wrote:  Goal the rest of the year is simply to not burn woodsides redshirt.

Goal should still be to go 10-1. Need to reevaluate the Offensive game plan. We need to focus our attack running the ball. Screw the first down pass until a team can prove to stop the run. NIU did not stop the run last night, the coaching staff did. Way to many first down passes. Amazing on the first series when we got a turnover, we have the ball in NIU territory and we throw three passes and don't get a first down. I knew we were in trouble right then, because it showed me the coaches game plan was flawed from the start. They so badly want to be a passing team, because that's how you can put up big numbers. That's great against the bottom rung of the MAC. But when you play against the better teams, you have to focus on what you do best. And that is running the ball.

Toledo had one run of over 10 yards in the second half. Hunt's 37 yd run.
Toledo ran the ball 23 times for 90 yards in the 2nd half. That's 3.91/carry. Take out Hunt's 37 yd run, and you have 53 yards on 22 carries. Do the math and that's a whopping 2.4/carry. NIU stopped the run in the second half.

The thing with running the ball is that it wears down a Defense and eventually the long runs pop and so does the play action pass over the top... which unfortunately is not part of are scheme.

Well I said on another post that I don't understand what everyone sees in Ely. For some reason he did not get a chance at Bama . THE BETTER QB IS ON THE BENCH. You win over 40 games in high school then you must know what your doing. Last night we again saw our receivers dropping the ball. But did anyone besides my self see the ball get to the receivers before they were looking for it? Is that the fault of the QB or the receivers? Now in going to a different QB I know you can still drop the ball. But we need to do something different because if we don't we will not win another game.

I would agree that 10-1, even 10-2 would make a very good season. We'll be the bridesmaid again, but at least we won't be the easy one. With beating Arkansas and ISU we got a little icing from the cake too.

(11-04-2015 11:26 AM)utrocks84 Wrote:  Ely had some horrendous passes, and the receivers had some drops at bad times when a catch was needed. The last play the ball went through Hunts hands. Russell is all or nothing, and with Roberts it's always an adventure. Tom Brady would have a 50% completion percent with some of our receivers.

What he said.

(11-04-2015 05:53 PM)Babes boy Wrote:  Well I said on another post that I don't understand what everyone sees in Ely. For some reason he did not get a chance at Bama . THE BETTER QB IS ON THE BENCH. You win over 40 games in high school then you must know what your doing. Last night we again saw our receivers dropping the ball. But did anyone besides my self see the ball get to the receivers before they were looking for it? Is that the fault of the QB or the receivers? Now in going to a different QB I know you can still drop the ball. But we need to do something different because if we don't we will not win another game.

I think Ely is pretty good.
Not what we are used to around here in terms of completion percentage. He doesn't have a sure handed Carl Ford, Lance Moore or Donta Green or Eric Page to pass to either. Or tight ends like Hopkins or Andrew Clarke.
He has some awful cold streaks too though. When he is off he is really off.

It seems to me the receivers are not physical enough. It would be great to have a couple guys as tough as Jones that we 6'3" and very athletic. The receivers have made some big plays, but have dropped too many balls. Ely should be at high 60% completion percentage or better with less drops. Somehow some guys think he is terrible after we face the toughest defense all year.

I don't get that. He may have been trying too hard. At least he has a sense of urgency to win. The receivers need to step up. Fortunately, Toledo's QB cupboard isn't bare if Ely doesn't get another year.

I agree that Ely has had some struggles...but think about how many balls have been dropped throughout the season...drops that have been right in the receivers hands. I don't put much stock in comparing QB's by completion percentages either. We've had guys in the high 60's & 70's, but those QB's also benefited by the huge amount of screens and quick outs that we used to throw. Ely has been asked to go down the field a lot more than our offenses in the past. Think about how many deep or intermediate throws he makes per game...not making excuses, but those throws aren't high percentage to begin with.

Route running seems to also be a problem on at least a few passes each game.

While we will never know, I believe the pass game would have been better if Landry had played. I do think that Thompson has shown potential. Still think we need to try the JUCO route again and find a taller receiver with experience to add to the ranks next season...regardless of who our QB is.

Also need to remember that he has only had 10 starts in his entire collegiate career and the mop-up duty at 'Bama was not enough to even call it a portion of a full game. Different aspect from being a practice QB than being in the game.

He has a lot of zip on the ball - and as was pointed out by the announcers, one of the reasons he had no sacks is that he gets the ball out fast - partially because he is not getting a lot of time from our O-line. Does anyone else seem to think we get very little pressure on the opposing team QB's and that their pocket is "roomier" than the one we provide to our QB? When we do get pressure, the QB breaks out and runs for a lot of yardage, or we get a sack. So 90% of the time, we are providing too much time and a lot of room to run outside the pocket for the opposition. That's what I see anyway. And to make it worse, we do not have a QB that is adept at running - although it looks like he is starting to do that more - and an injury is probably not too far behind. We should just recruit whoever NIU is going after.

(11-04-2015 11:40 AM)UTLAW Wrote:  Agree totally. When we three and outed in our first possession without running the ball, I thought we were in trouble. And why don't we ever run outside the tackles?

(11-04-2015 11:56 AM)toledobrad Wrote:  Toledo had one run of over 10 yards in the second half. Hunt's 37 yd run.
Toledo ran the ball 23 times for 90 yards in the 2nd half. That's 3.91/carry. Take out Hunt's 37 yd run, and you have 53 yards on 22 carries. Do the math and that's a whopping 2.4/carry. NIU stopped the run in the second half.

I think you might find a more positive result running with a running package instead of running with a passing package. NIU didn't have that many blockers to get through to in order to get at our RBs. Of course they would have adjusted but it would have at least then been our strength against whatever they could muster instead of a weakened form of our strength.

Running in a pass first versus running in a run first, different results.

IMO, Ely's most effective role is to hand the ball off primarily, keeping D honest with short passes, in FRONT of his receivers instead of making them reach behind, and a little touch wouldn't hurt. He has a strong arm and uses it a bit much on the shorter over the line passes and he throws low. I think he owns the record for tipped passes. Receivers have very little time picking up the ball when coming through the line, if it makes it past the line. If he doesn't learn to roll out to open a passing lane, he's not going to the next level anyhow. Time to move him backwards a step or two in his development until they find a package of plays in which he can be successful and let him compete if he gets his additional year.

Ely covers up for weaknesses in the OL.

(11-08-2015 10:33 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Ely covers up for weaknesses in the OL.

I saw your post on that in the other thread. I didn't really follow your reasoning for what those "weaknesses" are but isn't it something ANY QB could do?

Other than quick passes to no where, no one, or the wrong one, what is he doing to "cover-up" that any of the other QBs couldn't do? He's not rolling out, moving in the pocket or stepping into the pocket, making it difficult for the D to get to him. He's a sitting duck. That's not the o-line's fault. There's no o-line in the country that could better protect a QB like that. Meanwhile we have 3-4 RB's that can equally rip off long runs. They don't get through the lines by themselves.

As in the othter thread, I'm not sure what you are saying the weaknesses are in the o-line or what the QB position is doing or can do to "cover" them up?