They outgain us 441 to 425, total offense. They owned us running the ball. Ok, this isn't funny any more, where's Hester?

(11-09-2016 11:54 PM)emanoh Wrote:  They outgain us 441 to 425, total offense. They owned us running the ball. Ok, this isn't funny any more, where's Hester?

Kind of strange nobody has any idea what the injury is.

Maybe it's not an injury. Maybe it's one of those black hole, violation of team rules things?

(11-09-2016 11:57 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Maybe it's not an injury. Maybe it's one of those black hole, violation of team rules things?

They said injury again tonight. HIPPA has changed injury reporting. Hope he heals fast and is rested for BSU.

Toledo+Carey>NIU

Hope you appreciate us giving the 2nd best RB 19 carries and the best RB 5 carries. Just thought we'd try to help.

Anyway, congrats on the win, we needed to play well on offense to outscore Toledo, and we didn't.

(11-10-2016 12:33 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Toledo+Carey>NIU

Toledo>NIU for most of the football hx between these schools. Easy to blame the coach but no coach was missing tackles on Hunt or holding on big plays. No egregious lunacy like Beckman's refusal to call TOS. Toledo had better talent where they needed it. BTW, Golladay is a beast.

Graham obviously stinks, but we see the guy behind him for one play. Considering that Carey was already wrong about Maddie, which cost us against SDSU and WIU (he was still a WR for most of those games plus the USF game), it's very possible that our #3 is better than Graham. Then, we don't play Huff (about 7 ypc for his career and with good speed), who is a better RB than Bouagnon, who runs like Bob Eucker. Then we have an illegal formation penalty at this point in the year? Where's the timeout if we're set up wrong? Then we keep having Graham roll out when it's obvious that he can't hit the broad side of a barn when on the run (or sometimes, when stationary).

Toledo had better talent at QB, that was the difference, as it usually is. Give Toledo credit, they usually have a good QB, more consistently than other MAC teams it seems.

NIU has had it's share of injury bad luck at QB. Graham was good early but it looked like the hits added up. Lynch and Harnisch always killed us because they could take those hits and keep making plays. Graham wasn't the same after the 4th or 5th stick, and he's a mediocre thrower to start with. I thought NIU's staff did a great job of preparing and scheming on both sides. They were the sharper team for a half, but the Rockets made some adjustments and had more talent on offense. our D is very beat up, but some of the young guys held their own on the line. Taafe and Woodley finally showed up in the second half and NIU hurt themselves with penalties ( a couple were blockers trying to make up for getting beat). Of course, the game was won by Kareem Hunt. He stepped up and refused to lose in the 4th quarter. That 3rd and 6 pass catch where he absorbed a direct shot from the LB and shook it off and ran for the first will be the play of the season if the Rockets get by WMU and win the West.

Glad to see the Rockets come back & find a way to win. When the offense is clicking it is every bit as good as WMU's. The D...well, there are unfortunately many moments when they have been a special kind of bad. Have been able to overshadow the D with the O, but we really need more consistency from it these last 2 games & bowl game.

This NIU team isn't as good as traditionally but still made a game of it--probably hurt themselves equally as much as Toledo beat them. We can't take Ball State lightly and start yet another game slowly if we want to get to 9 wins.

Seems like we've created much of the adversity that we've had to overcome. Poor tackling really concerns me.

Did anyone hear the player (or coach, not sure) yelling that was very easily heard on the ESPN audio after Woodside hit Roberts for the 27yd TD to start the 3rd quarter? They yelled in a very pumped up and positive voice, something like "It's just f$&?ing effort! That's all it is, effort!".

After I witnessed the stop by the D, we had that drive, I and heard that expletive, I knew we came to play for the 2nd half!

Great to finally get over the hump. Not to take anything away from NIU over those 6 long years, they were a good team no doubt, but we had not played our best football and given the EFFORT required to win those games. They didn't necessarily have the best team every year, but they had desire and intensity that we couldn't match. Kareem and our guys somehow figured that out in the 2nd half last night. Hopefully we can build off this lesson going into this last stretch.

(11-10-2016 07:08 AM)ToledoMike Wrote:  Did anyone hear the player (or coach, not sure) yelling that was very easily heard on the ESPN audio after Woodside hit Roberts for the 27yd TD to start the 3rd quarter? They yelled in a very pumped up and positive voice, something like "It's just f$&?ing effort! That's all it is, effort!".

After I witnessed the stop by the D, we had that drive, I and heard that expletive, I knew we came to play for the 2nd half!

Great to finally get over the hump. Not to take anything away from NIU over those 6 long years, they were a good team no doubt, but we had not played our best football and given the EFFORT required to win those games. They didn't necessarily have the best team every year, but they had desire and intensity that we couldn't match. Kareem and our guys somehow figured that out in the 2nd half last night. Hopefully we can build off this lesson going into this last stretch.

Game balls definitely to hunt, jvj and woodside. Line gave woodside more time in the second half as well.

For the life of me I can't figure out why the coaching staff hasn't instructed jones to take a knee on any kickoff into the end zone. You can't do what he did last night.

Don't understand the defensive philosophy most of the time. It's like video game offense against our d a lot of the time.

Ultimately I suppose candle figured out how to do what Beckman and Campbell could not. Remains to be seen if he can get the team over the finish line. Going to be a tall task with what stands in the way this year.

(11-10-2016 07:32 AM)adunifon Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:08 AM)ToledoMike Wrote:  Did anyone hear the player (or coach, not sure) yelling that was very easily heard on the ESPN audio after Woodside hit Roberts for the 27yd TD to start the 3rd quarter? They yelled in a very pumped up and positive voice, something like "It's just f$&?ing effort! That's all it is, effort!".

After I witnessed the stop by the D, we had that drive, I and heard that expletive, I knew we came to play for the 2nd half!

Great to finally get over the hump. Not to take anything away from NIU over those 6 long years, they were a good team no doubt, but we had not played our best football and given the EFFORT required to win those games. They didn't necessarily have the best team every year, but they had desire and intensity that we couldn't match. Kareem and our guys somehow figured that out in the 2nd half last night. Hopefully we can build off this lesson going into this last stretch.

Game balls definitely to hunt, jvj and woodside. Line gave woodside more time in the second half as well.

For the life of me I can't figure out why the coaching staff hasn't instructed jones to take a knee on any kickoff into the end zone. You can't do what he did last night.

Don't understand the defensive philosophy most of the time. It's like video game offense against our d a lot of the time.

Ultimately I suppose candle figured out how to do what Beckman and Campbell could not. Remains to be seen if he can get the team over the finish line. Going to be a tall task with what stands in the way this year.

Jones terrifies me every time he touches the ball.

(11-10-2016 07:34 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:32 AM)adunifon Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:08 AM)ToledoMike Wrote:  Did anyone hear the player (or coach, not sure) yelling that was very easily heard on the ESPN audio after Woodside hit Roberts for the 27yd TD to start the 3rd quarter? They yelled in a very pumped up and positive voice, something like "It's just f$&?ing effort! That's all it is, effort!".

After I witnessed the stop by the D, we had that drive, I and heard that expletive, I knew we came to play for the 2nd half!

Great to finally get over the hump. Not to take anything away from NIU over those 6 long years, they were a good team no doubt, but we had not played our best football and given the EFFORT required to win those games. They didn't necessarily have the best team every year, but they had desire and intensity that we couldn't match. Kareem and our guys somehow figured that out in the 2nd half last night. Hopefully we can build off this lesson going into this last stretch.

Game balls definitely to hunt, jvj and woodside. Line gave woodside more time in the second half as well.

For the life of me I can't figure out why the coaching staff hasn't instructed jones to take a knee on any kickoff into the end zone. You can't do what he did last night.

Don't understand the defensive philosophy most of the time. It's like video game offense against our d a lot of the time.

Ultimately I suppose candle figured out how to do what Beckman and Campbell could not. Remains to be seen if he can get the team over the finish line. Going to be a tall task with what stands in the way this year.

Jones terrifies me every time he touches the ball.

I turn away & refuse to watch every time he returns a punt or kickoff this season based on his past experiences--no kidding. He just is not a threat returning kicks anymore, and teams know it. Need to make them change their game plan: go ahead--kick into the end zone, thank you very much for the extra yardage, as we will take the ball on the 25 now...and, put Thompkins or someone else back there, so that when the opponents do change mid-game and kick off short of the end zone, we have a different look for them on the return.

You never know what's going to happen with Corey on returns. He has got to be of the mind set that he can make a play every time he touches the ball. Then again on the first set of downs, he grabs a pass and brings the ball out beyond the 20 for operating room and a first down.

One thing - I am now comfortable with Corey making fair catches. NIU did not get the opportunity to cover a punt that bounced and rolled deep into UT territory.

(11-10-2016 08:23 AM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:34 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:32 AM)adunifon Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 07:08 AM)ToledoMike Wrote:  Did anyone hear the player (or coach, not sure) yelling that was very easily heard on the ESPN audio after Woodside hit Roberts for the 27yd TD to start the 3rd quarter? They yelled in a very pumped up and positive voice, something like "It's just f$&?ing effort! That's all it is, effort!".

After I witnessed the stop by the D, we had that drive, I and heard that expletive, I knew we came to play for the 2nd half!

Great to finally get over the hump. Not to take anything away from NIU over those 6 long years, they were a good team no doubt, but we had not played our best football and given the EFFORT required to win those games. They didn't necessarily have the best team every year, but they had desire and intensity that we couldn't match. Kareem and our guys somehow figured that out in the 2nd half last night. Hopefully we can build off this lesson going into this last stretch.

Game balls definitely to hunt, jvj and woodside. Line gave woodside more time in the second half as well.

For the life of me I can't figure out why the coaching staff hasn't instructed jones to take a knee on any kickoff into the end zone. You can't do what he did last night.

Don't understand the defensive philosophy most of the time. It's like video game offense against our d a lot of the time.

Ultimately I suppose candle figured out how to do what Beckman and Campbell could not. Remains to be seen if he can get the team over the finish line. Going to be a tall task with what stands in the way this year.

Jones terrifies me every time he touches the ball.

I turn away & refuse to watch every time he returns a punt or kickoff this season based on his past experiences--no kidding. He just is not a threat returning kicks anymore, and teams know it. Need to make them change their game plan: go ahead--kick into the end zone, thank you very much for the extra yardage, as we will take the ball on the 25 now...and, put Thompkins or someone else back there, so that when the opponents do change mid-game and kick off short of the end zone, we have a different look for them on the return.

Agree on Thompkins- I'd like to see him get more carries and touches period. He has a nose for seams and some acceleration.

(11-10-2016 03:38 AM)pono Wrote:  NIU has had it's share of injury bad luck at QB. Graham was good early but it looked like the hits added up. Lynch and Harnisch always killed us because they could take those hits and keep making plays. Graham wasn't the same after the 4th or 5th stick, and he's a mediocre thrower to start with. I thought NIU's staff did a great job of preparing and scheming on both sides. They were the sharper team for a half, but the Rockets made some adjustments and had more talent on offense. our D is very beat up, but some of the young guys held their own on the line. Taafe and Woodley finally showed up in the second half and NIU hurt themselves with penalties ( a couple were blockers trying to make up for getting beat). Of course, the game was won by Kareem Hunt. He stepped up and refused to lose in the 4th quarter. That 3rd and 6 pass catch where he absorbed a direct shot from the LB and shook it off and ran for the first will be the play of the season if the Rockets get by WMU and win the West.

NIU dominated the LOS on both sides in the first half. The Rockets OL really stepped it up all second half. With the exception of one long, sustained drive after the break, UT's defense, particularly the front seven, took charge in the second half.

Sure happy Kareem set his alarm clock and answered the bell.

(11-10-2016 09:23 AM)NewMex RocketFan Wrote:  

(11-10-2016 03:38 AM)pono Wrote:  NIU has had it's share of injury bad luck at QB. Graham was good early but it looked like the hits added up. Lynch and Harnisch always killed us because they could take those hits and keep making plays. Graham wasn't the same after the 4th or 5th stick, and he's a mediocre thrower to start with. I thought NIU's staff did a great job of preparing and scheming on both sides. They were the sharper team for a half, but the Rockets made some adjustments and had more talent on offense. our D is very beat up, but some of the young guys held their own on the line. Taafe and Woodley finally showed up in the second half and NIU hurt themselves with penalties ( a couple were blockers trying to make up for getting beat). Of course, the game was won by Kareem Hunt. He stepped up and refused to lose in the 4th quarter. That 3rd and 6 pass catch where he absorbed a direct shot from the LB and shook it off and ran for the first will be the play of the season if the Rockets get by WMU and win the West.

NIU dominated the LOS on both sides in the first half. The Rockets OL really stepped it up all second half. With the exception of one long, sustained drive after the break, UT's defense, particularly the front seven, took charge in the second half.

Sure happy Kareem set his alarm clock and answered the bell.

Last couple games we've seen flashes of the old Kareem. His will to gain yards seems to be back.

Thought it was a huge turning point with a 14-3 deficit & Niu getting the last possession of the 1st half, and the first possession of the 2nd half, that could have easily been our death blow right there. We got off the field both times with the score unchanged, and turned around and posted TD's on 3 of their first 4 offensive possessions. Then on our game winning drive you could literally see demons being exorcised right there in the atmosphere. It was a thing of beauty.