I actually don't think UT has played that well most of the season. We beat Arkansas and Iowa State but I believe we were lucky to win both games. The first halves against EMU, Stony Brook and Ball State we didn't look good at all. The second half against EMU and Ball State we played well. Last night against NIU we didn't play well at all pretty much the entire game. I hate to say it but I really think that NIU and UT are both average this year. NIU played harder last night and took advantage of our mistakes and we didn't take advantage of their mistakes. I have watched every game and I so far this season we have played two good halves of football against BSU and EMU. Coach Campbell didn't show any emotion, our play calling was not very good, poor execution, dropped passes, and leaving their go to guy wide open several times deep. Its a bummer but that is my take so far.

(11-04-2015 07:04 AM)Stpetebeachrocketfan Wrote:  I actually don't think UT has played that well most of the season. We beat Arkansas and Iowa State but I believe we were lucky to win both games. The first halves against EMU, Stony Brook and Ball State we didn't look good at all. The second half against EMU and Ball State we played well. Last night against NIU we didn't play well at all pretty much the entire game. I hate to say it but I really think that NIU and UT are both average this year. NIU played harder last night and took advantage of our mistakes and we didn't take advantage of their mistakes. I have watched every game and I so far this season we have played two good halves of football against BSU and EMU. Coach Campbell didn't show any emotion, our play calling was not very good, poor execution, dropped passes, and leaving their go to guy wide open several times deep. Its a bummer but that is my take so far.

I agree with your take...I've said it before and I will say it again...why / how does this team look uninspired during the stretch run of the season, year after year? Have any of the teams over the past 5-6 seasons shown any improvement as the year has gone on? Teams should continue to get progress as the season goes along...eliminate penalties, catch freaking balls, etc...play calling should improve as well as the staff gets a better feel for the teams strengths. I still can't believe how we basically ran at will the 1st quarter and then we start emptying the backfield and throwing on 1st & 2nd down. I just don't get the thinking with this staff at times. I really want to support the team and not be overly negative, but when are we going to see some change? That's great that we can beat up on the bottom end of the MAC...big deal. We do not win the games that count. Sure, ARK was a big win....we played well and deserved the W, but ARK made plenty of mistakes that allowed us to escape with the W. Beating ISU was nice, but they are a bottom feeder in their conference...big deal that they are a "Power 5" team...I looked at that game as though it were against a decent MAC foe. I liked the attention UT received for being undefeated but I felt that it was going to come to and end eventually...heck, I thought it was going to end at UMASS, until the real UMASS decided to show up in the 2nd half. I don't see this team (or any in the past 5-6 years) having what it takes to get the job done when it matters. Is it coaching, the players we recruit...I now I'm biased, but our teams / players look more athletic / skilled than the majority of the teams we play. I know looks don't account for squat, but you can tell that we have plenty of athletes. For whatever reason, those athletes do not seem to improve over time. For example...look at Russell...when he was a FR, I thought he had a chance to be one of the all time great WR to come out of our conference. He has regressed year after year. The poor kid can't catch a cold now...although, he did make a few nice grabs last night, but still had his share of drops. I know I'm rambling, but the point is, this program has not learned how to win. How do you turn that around? Is Campbell's message..."The Process"...really getting through, or is at just a nice slogan, like "Toledo Tough?" After watching that abortion last night, I would do away with any reference to "The Process" and "Toledo Tough"...it's freaking embarrassing.

[Psychological effect of losing still in effect]
At the beginning of the season, after our initial OOC battles and successes, it was exciting because we could tell that, as far as physical ability and depth, we did have all the pieces necessary to be a pretty darn good team. I still feel this way. We all witnessed the potential. We also witnessed the mistakes in the beginning and realized that there was work to do, especially with the passing offense.

Well, here we are in the heart of the season, and you guys are right. I expected more of a fine-tuned machine at this point, but the noticeable improvements aren't there in the spots where they were desperately needed (mostly the passing game and ability to play a prevent defense). But, we don't seem to be getting in sync with "The Process", whatever that may be. Just once, I want to see a team in November that is humming, with seasoned execution, and ready to play anybody. We have the potential, I sure would like to see some of it.
[/Psychological effect of losing still in effect]

Speaking of humming, is anyone watching BGSUcks annihilate OU?

Has Ohio U ever played well in November though?