After all this discussion about this game, I think we may just need to come to some realization. Its just not as good of a team we are normally accustomed to. Yes, some plays are left on the field by the QB, but there is also less talent around the QB than normal. I think we just get blinded sometimes and cannot be as objective as we could be if we were more divorced from a team. Bottom line to me is, NIU just has to hit the recruiting trail hard, and find offensive playmakers at RB, WR, QB, everywhere. That is not to give up on the players that are here, but you need those 1 or 2 type of athletes that just make everyone better around them. NIU doesn't have that type of playmaker this year.

It's amazing the defense has only given up 6 points in the first half for 3 games combined.

(09-16-2018 05:22 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  After all this discussion about this game, I think we may just need to come to some realization. Its just not as good of a team we are normally accustomed to. Yes, some plays are left on the field by the QB, but there is also less talent around the QB than normal. I think we just get blinded sometimes and cannot be as objective as we could be if we were more divorced from a team. Bottom line to me is, NIU just has to hit the recruiting trail hard, and find offensive playmakers at RB, WR, QB, everywhere. That is not to give up on the players that are here, but you need those 1 or 2 type of athletes that just make everyone better around them. NIU doesn't have that type of playmaker this year.

Definitely miss having gamebreakers like Turner, Wolfe, Harnish, Lynch, Golladay. Defense/O-Line combo about as good as you can expect in the MAC - what could’ve been if it was packaged with one of those 5.

We have a gamebreaker who might be better than all 5 - he’s just on defense and can’t score unless the other team gives him the ball.

(09-16-2018 10:13 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(09-16-2018 05:22 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  After all this discussion about this game, I think we may just need to come to some realization. Its just not as good of a team we are normally accustomed to. Yes, some plays are left on the field by the QB, but there is also less talent around the QB than normal. I think we just get blinded sometimes and cannot be as objective as we could be if we were more divorced from a team. Bottom line to me is, NIU just has to hit the recruiting trail hard, and find offensive playmakers at RB, WR, QB, everywhere. That is not to give up on the players that are here, but you need those 1 or 2 type of athletes that just make everyone better around them. NIU doesn't have that type of playmaker this year.

Definitely miss having gamebreakers like Turner, Wolfe, Harnish, Lynch, Golladay. Defense/O-Line combo about as good as you can expect in the MAC - what could’ve been if it was packaged with one of those 5.

We have a gamebreaker who might be better than all 5 - he’s just on defense and can’t score unless the other team gives him the ball.

What is such a shame is for how many years did we say "If NIU only had an average to slightly above average defense, they would unstoppable". Now we get that and the other side of the ball goes downhill, ugh

Win the MAC West.
Win the MAC.
Win the bowl.

Do two of three above and that's another successful NIU football season.

(09-17-2018 08:15 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Win the MAC West.
Win the MAC.
Win the bowl.

Do two of three above and that's another successful NIU football season.

That should always be the goal, but it will be difficult this year with the two or three totals wins I am predicting for this team. It's very difficult to win games with no QB and offense. We have a chance against Ball State and/or Miami (O) and that's it, IMO.

I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

Of course we should support the QB, and most of us do. That does not change the fact that at this point he does not have the skills to lead this team. We can only hope that he improves, even though there has been little to no improvement from last year. That is why so many of us advocate a change to put a fresh face in the lineup and see what happens. If Carey continues to avoid that, all we can do is support Childers and hope he improves.

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

I have been critical of Childers as much as anyone. I would love and hope nothing more to eat crow and he proves me all wrong, but you could see the upside with Harnish his soph year, not sure you see that with Childers.

I'll still never forget that opening game against Minn. Harnish's soph year when we almost beat them (they had eric decker that year) you could see Harnish had all the tools was just inconsistent that season. Then his Junior year he took the huge jump forward.

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

Here are the stats for Harnish and Childers:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/pla...ish-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/pla...ers-1.html

It is not even close. Childers' 4.3 yards per attempt and 325 total yards (108 yards per game) passing are very bad. Actually, unless there is marked improvement Childers' FR year will be better than his SO year.

I like others do support Childers improving, which is what I said before the CMU game. He did make some good plays; so we are seeing some flashes but there simply is no consistency. It is clear that absent something drastic Carey will stick with Childers. So yes I am pulling for Childers and hope he improves significantly. However, I am starting to think what you see is what you get.

I am not sure there is no viable alternative at this point. Carey and the others that make these decisions have shown poor decision making in the past as to the QB position. I am getting more convinced that our QB coach cannot coach up QBs.

(09-17-2018 09:52 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

I have been critical of Childers as much as anyone. I would love and hope nothing more to eat crow and he proves me all wrong, but you could see the upside with Harnish his soph year, not sure you see that with Childers.

I'll still never forget that opening game against Minn. Harnish's soph year when we almost beat them (they had eric decker that year) you could see Harnish had all the tools was just inconsistent that season. Then his Junior year he took the huge jump forward.

NIU has had stockpile of good receivers through Harnish years. I'd like to see what Childers can do with more talent around him

(09-17-2018 10:59 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 09:52 AM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

I have been critical of Childers as much as anyone. I would love and hope nothing more to eat crow and he proves me all wrong, but you could see the upside with Harnish his soph year, not sure you see that with Childers.

I'll still never forget that opening game against Minn. Harnish's soph year when we almost beat them (they had eric decker that year) you could see Harnish had all the tools was just inconsistent that season. Then his Junior year he took the huge jump forward.

NIU has had stockpile of good receivers through Harnish years. I'd like to see what Childers can do with more talent around him

Harnish's first two years he had who? Matt Simon for one and Palmer for both? The others were who? Willie Clark, Landon Cox ?? I'm going off the top of my head, but it wasn't that much better for his first two seasons.
I still think Tears (if he gets his head on straight) could be one of the best WR in the MAC, if not the best WR in the MAC and Wesley has all the talent as he came over from the Big 12 and saw time as a true freshman. Childers just can't get him the ball deep.

I respect Childers and I thank him for trying his best and putting his body and soul on the line for NIU and I respect him for the commitment he has made to make himself better and the team better.

That said, I have seen little to no improvement in his play and I think that he has a very limited upside. I do wonder if our QB coach is weak and unable to help him develop. I do believe that this coaching staff has proven over and over again that they are inept at recruiting, evaluating and developing athletes at the QB position.

It’s nearly impossible for any wr to get open if you run almost exclusively short routes. The threat of going deeper is what makes those moves in the short route work. The notion that this wr group isn’t talented is ridiculous. Ratings wise it’s the best recruits NIU has ever had. But if the defensive secondary just sits on those outs and crossing patterns, even Antonio Brown would struggle to find space.

So the question is: is the NIU passing game short because Childers can’t hit a pass beyond ten yards. Or is it just calling short plays as an offensive scheme? Idk for sure. I do know Childers can not connect downfield. And I do know previous qbs threw downfield plenty in this offense.

(09-17-2018 12:33 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  It’s nearly impossible for any wr to get open if you run almost exclusively short routes. The threat of going deeper is what makes those moves in the short route work. The notion that this wr group isn’t talented is ridiculous. Ratings wise it’s the best recruits NIU has ever had. But if the defensive secondary just sits on those outs and crossing patterns, even Antonio Brown would struggle to find space.

So the question is: is the NIU passing game short because Childers can’t hit a pass beyond ten yards. Or is it just calling short plays as an offensive scheme? Idk for sure. I do know Childers can not connect downfield. And I do know previous qbs threw downfield plenty in this offense.

I think it's a combination of both.

Just because someone is young doesn't mean they will get better. I have seen very little improvement from last year. We were told he got a better long game, but I've seen 4 deep balls and 0 of them have been close...so right now, show me that he can improve.

(09-17-2018 12:47 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 12:33 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  It’s nearly impossible for any wr to get open if you run almost exclusively short routes. The threat of going deeper is what makes those moves in the short route work. The notion that this wr group isn’t talented is ridiculous. Ratings wise it’s the best recruits NIU has ever had. But if the defensive secondary just sits on those outs and crossing patterns, even Antonio Brown would struggle to find space.

So the question is: is the NIU passing game short because Childers can’t hit a pass beyond ten yards. Or is it just calling short plays as an offensive scheme? Idk for sure. I do know Childers can not connect downfield. And I do know previous qbs threw downfield plenty in this offense.

I think it's a combination of both.

I think its a combination of both too. NIU receivers run the most basic of routes, and in some instances not even routes at all. More often than not, they are there just to spread the defenses out. I feel awful for Childers because there are simply no plays to be made out there, and when there are plays to be made, he is tentative because just like in the Iowa game he will get scolded if he takes a chance down the field. Its an extremely difficult situation to be in, and Im not sure any QB can succeed right now at NIU. Its a big cluster at this point.

(09-17-2018 03:25 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 12:47 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 12:33 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  It’s nearly impossible for any wr to get open if you run almost exclusively short routes. The threat of going deeper is what makes those moves in the short route work. The notion that this wr group isn’t talented is ridiculous. Ratings wise it’s the best recruits NIU has ever had. But if the defensive secondary just sits on those outs and crossing patterns, even Antonio Brown would struggle to find space.

So the question is: is the NIU passing game short because Childers can’t hit a pass beyond ten yards. Or is it just calling short plays as an offensive scheme? Idk for sure. I do know Childers can not connect downfield. And I do know previous qbs threw downfield plenty in this offense.

I think it's a combination of both.

I think its a combination of both too. NIU receivers run the most basic of routes, and in some instances not even routes at all. More often than not, they are there just to spread the defenses out. I feel awful for Childers because there are simply no plays to be made out there, and when there are plays to be made, he is tentative because just like in the Iowa game he will get scolded if he takes a chance down the field. Its an extremely difficult situation to be in, and Im not sure any QB can succeed right now at NIU. Its a big cluster at this point.

Carey just doesn’t handle certain types of athletes well. He only knows tough love type coaching. That takes a certain type Of athlete. Childers seems to be the fragile type who needs coddling. Give Carey the right type of athlete and he’s not a bad coach. Give home the wrong type and he’s a disaster.

(09-17-2018 08:25 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  I just want to remind everyone Childers is only a sophomore and I would bet if someone took the time to compare him to Chandler Harnish at this stage the numbers wouldn't look all that different. Like it or not he is our QB for the foreseeable future. This board should support the starting QB at NIU. There really is no viable alternative at this point.

This is Childers 3rd season on a college campus and he has started 12 games now. He was outperformed in one half by the CMU backup QB who had zero starts.

(09-17-2018 03:53 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 03:25 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 12:47 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(09-17-2018 12:33 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  It’s nearly impossible for any wr to get open if you run almost exclusively short routes. The threat of going deeper is what makes those moves in the short route work. The notion that this wr group isn’t talented is ridiculous. Ratings wise it’s the best recruits NIU has ever had. But if the defensive secondary just sits on those outs and crossing patterns, even Antonio Brown would struggle to find space.

So the question is: is the NIU passing game short because Childers can’t hit a pass beyond ten yards. Or is it just calling short plays as an offensive scheme? Idk for sure. I do know Childers can not connect downfield. And I do know previous qbs threw downfield plenty in this offense.

I think it's a combination of both.

I think its a combination of both too. NIU receivers run the most basic of routes, and in some instances not even routes at all. More often than not, they are there just to spread the defenses out. I feel awful for Childers because there are simply no plays to be made out there, and when there are plays to be made, he is tentative because just like in the Iowa game he will get scolded if he takes a chance down the field. Its an extremely difficult situation to be in, and Im not sure any QB can succeed right now at NIU. Its a big cluster at this point.

Carey just doesn’t handle certain types of athletes well. He only knows tough love type coaching. That takes a certain type Of athlete. Childers seems to be the fragile type who needs coddling. Give Carey the right type of athlete and he’s not a bad coach. Give home the wrong type and he’s a disaster.

I just don't think Carey should be allowed anywhere near a young player. The devastation to confidence by forcing QBs to play in his offense is a disaster waiting to happen. Its like throwing someone in a snake pit Indiana Jones style, getting bit by snakes, and then asking that person why in the hell did you get bitten by snakes.