(10-28-2013 02:06 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:55 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:54 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  Rain rain come our way, even snow help us win this game!!!

With the beauty contest this is becoming...a well attended game for Ball State has probably never been more important at Huskie Stadium than Nov 13th.

True...but here enlies the rub...you have to pick 1:

A.) Poor weather conditions to minimize the passing game of both teams
B.) Strong fan attendance for greater homefield advantage

Which you taking? I would rather see inclement weather so NIU can just pound the rock all day and hopefully BSU finds it tough to launch it's ariel attack....

How did The Little Mermaid get dragged into all this?

(10-28-2013 02:16 PM)baltimorehuskie Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 02:06 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:55 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:54 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  Rain rain come our way, even snow help us win this game!!!

With the beauty contest this is becoming...a well attended game for Ball State has probably never been more important at Huskie Stadium than Nov 13th.

True...but here enlies the rub...you have to pick 1:

A.) Poor weather conditions to minimize the passing game of both teams
B.) Strong fan attendance for greater homefield advantage

Which you taking? I would rather see inclement weather so NIU can just pound the rock all day and hopefully BSU finds it tough to launch it's ariel attack....

How did The Little Mermaid get dragged into all this?

"I'll go under the sea as long as you got rid of them crabs"

I think the only reason the bend don't break works is we have less field to cover when they get in the red zone, not because we defend better. They are better when they don't have to cover so much area which is good. What ever keeps the score down. I'm ok holding teams to FGs instead of TDs. I like our chances in those games.

(10-28-2013 01:57 PM)BobL Wrote:  NCAA Total Defense Stats
Rank G Plays Yrds Y/P OffTD OPPTD yrds/gm
89 Northern Ill. 8 631 3452 5.47 25 27 431.5
90 Fresno St. 7 567 3025 5.34 26 27 432.1

http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/c...team/22/p2

FWIW Toledo is 73 and Ball State 85

edit: is it possible to do any kind of formatting in a post?

I was going by CBS sports, but the Total Defense is right on at 85. I am interested in how poor they are against the run, which plays to our strength.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...-cardinals

Per NCAA.com

RANK TEAM G OPP RUSH OPP RUSH YDS YDS/RUSH OPP RUSH TDS YPG
49 Northern Ill. 8 306 1173 3.83 7 146.6
103 Ball St. 9 375 1862 4.97 15 206.9

A couple of stats I found interesting are that we are last in the MAC in passing yards allowed but first in completion % against and second in pass efficiency D. I think that suggests we either give up too many long pass plays or that teams just throw a lot more passes against us than they do against other MAC teams.

Like i said before, i could care less about yards given up. If we keep holding teams to less points like we have the last 4-5 games then we are fine.

I'll believe the defense is better when we don't play against BSU like we did against EIU. I think the defensive line is better in rush defense, maybe because Wells is in there now, or maybe the other guys have figured things out.

This defense is not one of our best, but as has been mentioned, they continue to get better. Jimmy Ward has been saving our defense for the better part of 4 years. Our DLine is active and athletic but lacks size, I look for Bishop to finish out the season strong. Our LBs are adequate; Bass can be outstanding, but has not come near his potential, Boom keeps making strides, Santa is solid, but is not athletic enough to play at less than 100%. When he is right he can make plays, and he is seldom out of position. I like what I see from the young kids, especially Folliard. Our DBs have played much better of late. DD is a playmaker, and he is getting better at avoiding ill advised risks. I may be in the minority, but I think this is a very well coached unit.

(10-28-2013 04:25 PM)Djud Wrote:  This defense is not one of our best, but as has been mentioned, they continue to get better. Jimmy Ward has been saving our defense for the better part of 4 years. Our DLine is active and athletic but lacks size, I look for Bishop to finish out the season strong. Our LBs are adequate; Bass can be outstanding, but has not come near his potential, Boom keeps making strides, Santa is solid, but is not athletic enough to play at less than 100%. When he is right he can make plays, and he is seldom out of position. I like what I see from the young kids, especially Folliard. Our DBs have played much better of late. DD is a playmaker, and he is getting better at avoiding ill advised risks. I may be in the minority, but I think this is a very well coached unit.

I may be in the minority, but I think Payton is better than Santa.

Santa played the last two seasons primarily on passing downs. Last years defense was really good.

Am I missing something with him "not being athletic enough" other than him being white? He's certainly more athletic than Mays and maybe more so than Payton.

I'd have no problem with Santa going back to being in the nickel defense only, but yeah.

(10-28-2013 05:20 PM)7 Wrote:  Santa played the last two seasons primarily on passing downs. Last years defense was really good.

Am I missing something with him "not being athletic enough" other than him being white? He's certainly more athletic than Mays and maybe more so than Payton.

I'd have no problem with Santa going back to being in the nickel defense only, but yeah.

See Santa always reminded me of a slower Zach Thomas or Hunter Hillenmeyer...

Haha. He gets hurt a lot and isn't particularly great against the run. Pass coverage/athleticism, not the issue.

(10-28-2013 05:20 PM)7 Wrote:  Santa played the last two seasons primarily on passing downs. Last years defense was really good.

Am I missing something with him "not being athletic enough" other than him being white? He's certainly more athletic than Mays and maybe more so than Payton.

I'd have no problem with Santa going back to being in the nickel defense only, but yeah.

He's athletic enough to have a nose for the ball but not enough to be a good tackler.

(10-28-2013 05:28 PM)7 Wrote:  Haha. He gets hurt a lot and isn't particularly great against the run. Pass coverage/athleticism, not the issue.

How about one more INT of Wenning Santa.

(10-28-2013 02:06 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:55 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(10-28-2013 01:54 PM)NIU8484 Wrote:  Rain rain come our way, even snow help us win this game!!!

With the beauty contest this is becoming...a well attended game for Ball State has probably never been more important at Huskie Stadium than Nov 13th.

True...but here enlies the rub...you have to pick 1:

A.) Poor weather conditions to minimize the passing game of both teams
B.) Strong fan attendance for greater homefield advantage

Which you taking? I would rather see inclement weather so NIU can just pound the rock all day and hopefully BSU finds it tough to launch it's ariel attack....

Nope. I'll take nice weather with a real, true sellout of 24K +.

(10-28-2013 05:30 PM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  He's athletic enough to have a nose for the ball but not enough to be a good tackler.

+1

Our stat on defense may have improved but we didn't get any turnovers against EMU although we should've had at least 4 picks. Gotta take advantage of those.

(10-28-2013 10:27 PM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  Our stat on defense may have improved but we didn't get any turnovers against EMU although we should've had at least 4 picks. Gotta take advantage of those.

Funny, I noticed at least twice where DB's could have tried for INT but instead they batted the ball down with 2 hands.

Wondering if this is the coaches wanting to eliminate the big plays that have resulted from failed INT attempts.

(10-28-2013 05:20 PM)7 Wrote:  Santa played the last two seasons primarily on passing downs. Last years defense was really good.

Am I missing something with him "not being athletic enough" other than him being white? He's certainly more athletic than Mays and maybe more so than Payton.

I'd have no problem with Santa going back to being in the nickel defense only, but yeah.

Interesting take, I wouldn't say he's unathletic. Obviously, he plays d1 ball for a good team.

I wouldn't say he's more athletic than Payton though. More seasoned definitely. JB is in his own class at athleticism at LB for NIU.

I think Santa is smart enough, he puts himself in good position.I think coaches would agree as well, hence the "team gets lined up quicker with him out there" from Carey.

It's all about being in position and not making mistakes. Santa won't make the mental mistake, he just can't always make the physical play. That helps others rally to the ball though if you can slow it down.

That mental part of the game is big on passing downs, it also didn't hurt with Vic being banged up and not being very good for Santa to get more reps there. He's not gonna be the guy to have a lot of forced fumbles and takeaways, and he isn't the biggest hitter. A smart guy, who will be in the right spot.

If he was more athletic, you'd see less missed tackles by him, he'd be a better run stopper, and he would have had a pick 6 this year.