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Field Turf Offline
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Post: #61
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-03-2017 10:32 PM)NIUHuskie4life Wrote:  How many balls were thrown at WRs feet? Really pathetic that's our best option at qb.

I've said before that I don't think Graham is the best fit for our offense. But I think the cause for many of his poor throws Friday were due to concerns over pass protection. The rolling pocket NIU employed forced Graham to throw on the run. He also rushed some passes while in the pocket. Carey had mentioned in the post game radio interview that they wanted to get rid of the ball quickly. Bottom line, Graham should be much better against less stout defenses when he has a chance to set his feet before throwing the ball.
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2017 11:28 AM by Field Turf.)
09-04-2017 11:28 AM
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Rabid Squirrel Offline
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Post: #62
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 11:06 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:00 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:56 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:51 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 08:52 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  They didn't just lose a bowl. We got smacked around like we didn't belong on the field. Just like Bowling Green MAC title game and Boise State bowl game. Carey inherited a great program and the drop has been significant. QB issues are his to own because he can't recruit. We should have been getting stud QB recruits after everyone saw what Harnish and Lynch did at NIU (and Lynch going to the Heisman ceremony). Now five years later we are supposed to praise him because his recruiting is finally getting better?

This kind if thinking is the root of the Carey hate. The idea that NIU was on its way to greatness. It never was. Carey didn't inherit a great program. NIU has never been great. Miami wasnt headed to greatness after Ben. CMU wasnt headed to greatness after Lefouvre. And WMU is not headed to greatness after Fleck. And no, we shouldnt have stud QBs lined up to come here after Harnish and Lynch. This program caught lightening in a bottle and had its moment....just like every single other MAC program who had a few great years.

And this type of thinking is exactly why Carey is still our head coach. Gosh forbid anyone expect better than mediocrity. We shouldn't beat low level major schools, we shouldn't beat other good mid-major schools. We are just a MAC school. We should be grateful Carey even wanted to be our head coach. He could have had so many other head coaching opportunities but thankfully he picked us.

We have mediocre facilities, mediocre fan base, less than mediocre media coverage, a less than mediocre conference, less than mediocre funding, a far less than mediocre college state, a less than mediocre college town, mediocre recruiting....sure, I guess I see why we should be far better than mediocre.

We had worse facilities, worse fan base, worse coverage, etc. in the past but that didn't stop good coaches like Novak, Kill, and Doeren from turning NIU into a mid-major power. Carey is a dud and we should expect more than mediocrity.

Not to diminish any of those coaches....But how does Novak not get any hate for turning a 10-2 then 9-3 team into a 2-10 team in just 3 seasons? Shouldn't it have been said he ruined the program(even though he built it)? Kill was 13-13 WITH Harnish his first two years. 29-29 after he left NIU(never found a great QB). Doeren inherited Lynch. He's 2 games under .500 since he left(never found a great qb). If you wanna give them credit for recruiting Harnish and Lynch, why havent they been able to duplicate it? Those guys were all very good coaches but finding great QB's is a whole bunch of luck, yet crucial to your success. If this 2017 team had Harnish or Lynch I'd wager theyd go 10-2 this year and Carey would look like a pretty good coach.
09-04-2017 12:10 PM
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Post: #63
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 11:28 AM)Field Turf Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 10:32 PM)NIUHuskie4life Wrote:  How many balls were thrown at WRs feet? Really pathetic that's our best option at qb.

I've said before that I don't think Graham is the best fit for our offense. But I think the cause for many of his poor throws Friday were due to concerns over pass protection. The rolling pocket NIU employed forced Graham to throw on the run. He also rushed some passes while in the pocket. Carey had mentioned in the post game radio interview that they wanted to get rid of the ball quickly. Bottom line, Graham should be much better against less stout defenses when he has a chance to set his feet before throwing the ball.
Yes, it's no coincidence we give up the fewest sacks in the nation. There's a tradeoff being inaccurate quick or on the run passes that hurts a QBs confidence. Having the fewest sacks is actually not ideal and probably reflects too conservative of a game plan.
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2017 12:29 PM by Big Redd.)
09-04-2017 12:27 PM
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NIU007 Offline
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Post: #64
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 12:10 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:06 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:00 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:56 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:51 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  This kind if thinking is the root of the Carey hate. The idea that NIU was on its way to greatness. It never was. Carey didn't inherit a great program. NIU has never been great. Miami wasnt headed to greatness after Ben. CMU wasnt headed to greatness after Lefouvre. And WMU is not headed to greatness after Fleck. And no, we shouldnt have stud QBs lined up to come here after Harnish and Lynch. This program caught lightening in a bottle and had its moment....just like every single other MAC program who had a few great years.

And this type of thinking is exactly why Carey is still our head coach. Gosh forbid anyone expect better than mediocrity. We shouldn't beat low level major schools, we shouldn't beat other good mid-major schools. We are just a MAC school. We should be grateful Carey even wanted to be our head coach. He could have had so many other head coaching opportunities but thankfully he picked us.

We have mediocre facilities, mediocre fan base, less than mediocre media coverage, a less than mediocre conference, less than mediocre funding, a far less than mediocre college state, a less than mediocre college town, mediocre recruiting....sure, I guess I see why we should be far better than mediocre.

We had worse facilities, worse fan base, worse coverage, etc. in the past but that didn't stop good coaches like Novak, Kill, and Doeren from turning NIU into a mid-major power. Carey is a dud and we should expect more than mediocrity.

Not to diminish any of those coaches....But how does Novak not get any hate for turning a 10-2 then 9-3 team into a 2-10 team in just 3 seasons? Shouldn't it have been said he ruined the program(even though he built it)? Kill was 13-13 WITH Harnish his first two years. 29-29 after he left NIU(never found a great QB). Doeren inherited Lynch. He's 2 games under .500 since he left(never found a great qb). If you wanna give them credit for recruiting Harnish and Lynch, why havent they been able to duplicate it? Those guys were all very good coaches but finding great QB's is a whole bunch of luck, yet crucial to your success. If this 2017 team had Harnish or Lynch I'd wager theyd go 10-2 this year and Carey would look like a pretty good coach.

They were 2-10 because of a boatload of injuries.
09-04-2017 12:49 PM
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7 Offline
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Post: #65
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 12:49 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 12:10 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:06 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:00 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:56 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  And this type of thinking is exactly why Carey is still our head coach. Gosh forbid anyone expect better than mediocrity. We shouldn't beat low level major schools, we shouldn't beat other good mid-major schools. We are just a MAC school. We should be grateful Carey even wanted to be our head coach. He could have had so many other head coaching opportunities but thankfully he picked us.

We have mediocre facilities, mediocre fan base, less than mediocre media coverage, a less than mediocre conference, less than mediocre funding, a far less than mediocre college state, a less than mediocre college town, mediocre recruiting....sure, I guess I see why we should be far better than mediocre.

We had worse facilities, worse fan base, worse coverage, etc. in the past but that didn't stop good coaches like Novak, Kill, and Doeren from turning NIU into a mid-major power. Carey is a dud and we should expect more than mediocrity.

Not to diminish any of those coaches....But how does Novak not get any hate for turning a 10-2 then 9-3 team into a 2-10 team in just 3 seasons? Shouldn't it have been said he ruined the program(even though he built it)? Kill was 13-13 WITH Harnish his first two years. 29-29 after he left NIU(never found a great QB). Doeren inherited Lynch. He's 2 games under .500 since he left(never found a great qb). If you wanna give them credit for recruiting Harnish and Lynch, why havent they been able to duplicate it? Those guys were all very good coaches but finding great QB's is a whole bunch of luck, yet crucial to your success. If this 2017 team had Harnish or Lynch I'd wager theyd go 10-2 this year and Carey would look like a pretty good coach.

They were 2-10 because of a boatload of injuries.

And they were bad at the end of 2015 and all of last year because all the QBs died.
09-04-2017 12:55 PM
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NIU007 Offline
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Post: #66
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 12:55 PM)7 Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 12:49 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 12:10 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:06 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:00 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  We have mediocre facilities, mediocre fan base, less than mediocre media coverage, a less than mediocre conference, less than mediocre funding, a far less than mediocre college state, a less than mediocre college town, mediocre recruiting....sure, I guess I see why we should be far better than mediocre.

We had worse facilities, worse fan base, worse coverage, etc. in the past but that didn't stop good coaches like Novak, Kill, and Doeren from turning NIU into a mid-major power. Carey is a dud and we should expect more than mediocrity.

Not to diminish any of those coaches....But how does Novak not get any hate for turning a 10-2 then 9-3 team into a 2-10 team in just 3 seasons? Shouldn't it have been said he ruined the program(even though he built it)? Kill was 13-13 WITH Harnish his first two years. 29-29 after he left NIU(never found a great QB). Doeren inherited Lynch. He's 2 games under .500 since he left(never found a great qb). If you wanna give them credit for recruiting Harnish and Lynch, why havent they been able to duplicate it? Those guys were all very good coaches but finding great QB's is a whole bunch of luck, yet crucial to your success. If this 2017 team had Harnish or Lynch I'd wager theyd go 10-2 this year and Carey would look like a pretty good coach.

They were 2-10 because of a boatload of injuries.

And they were bad at the end of 2015 and all of last year because all the QBs died.

True, but in 2007 they had a ridiculous number of injuries in addition to the QBs.
09-04-2017 01:00 PM
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NIU05 Offline
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Post: #67
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-03-2017 09:44 PM)7 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 09:24 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 08:24 PM)7 Wrote:  The clock management thing for me is tough because while the end of the first half was super conservative, Carey knows he has Ryan Graham playing QB. Do you really want to be overly aggressive against a good defense with a bad QB? If he has Graham out there chucking it and he throws a pick, everybody is also ripping him. Graham was something like 5/14 passing at that point too. As I said, there's no doubt the defense got hung out to dry, but I'm not sure there was a good answer at the end of the first half except recruiting better QBs...lol.

As for the end of the game, they took a shot to the end zone the play before the FG so I'm not sure how anyone calls that conservative. The big play on that possession was the tackle by the BC DB on Beebe on 2nd down. If Beebe gets past him he may have scored.


At the end of the first half, Carey ran it 3 times up in the middle in a row. It was clear BC was shutting that down and going to take a time out quick after each play to get the ball back. Not saying he needs to take risks with Graham, but I feel like there definitely could have been a little more creativity than what he did. That showers absolutely zero faith in his offense and just completely killed all of the momentum and lost us the lead going into halftime.

At the end of the game, the clock mgmt was just as bad. Houston Nutt said the same thing on the postgame show. Carey was playing for the tie the whole way. Let tons of time run off after each play and only through it to the end zone once. We got that big pass interference penalty and the first play he runs after is the QB draw that never works!? That made it clear immediately that he wasn't going for the TD. Those were the types of things that were frustrating. The 4th and 1 jet sweep was insane, just a lot of head scratchers.

Bottom line, we had every opportunity to win that game and Carey played it too conservative and very little confidence in his squad. You can't tell me Jerry Kill doesn't call that game way more aggressively and that we don't come away with the win. That's how you beat P5 teams, you stay aggressive and go for the win. Carey needs some balls

Him not having balls is why he started Graham in the first place. Went with the conservative option, low risk, low reward


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Come on man, we're going to act like Jerry Kill was a notoriously aggressive coach now? People HAAAAATED Limegrover's offense, and rightfully so.

May I direct you to the final drive of the 2008 Independence Bowl.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/pla...=283632348

1st and 10 at NIU 23
(0:31 - 4th) Northn Illinois penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
1st and 15 at NIU 18
(0:15 - 4th) Chandler Harnish rush for 10 yards to the NoIll 28.

2nd and 5 at NIU 28
(0:05 - 4th) Chandler Harnish pass incomplete to Landon Cox.
3rd and 5 at NIU 28
(0:00 - 4th) Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 4 yards, fumbled, recovered by NoIll Eddie Adamski at the NoIll 28.

In case you forgot, NIU got the ball back with 31 seconds left and they ran a legit, designed QB draw.



And to say the QB draw "never" works is laughable. It's been arguably their most effective play the last 5-10 years and the QB run was easily their best play on Friday night.

But don't let facts get in the way of being irrationally angry.

Kill had Harnish / Lynch. Kill & Doreen were closers. The he way closed us out while at SIU was impressive. We just don't have enough playmakers on offense.
09-04-2017 01:20 PM
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7 Offline
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Post: #68
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 12:10 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:06 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 11:00 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:56 AM)epasnoopy Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 10:51 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  This kind if thinking is the root of the Carey hate. The idea that NIU was on its way to greatness. It never was. Carey didn't inherit a great program. NIU has never been great. Miami wasnt headed to greatness after Ben. CMU wasnt headed to greatness after Lefouvre. And WMU is not headed to greatness after Fleck. And no, we shouldnt have stud QBs lined up to come here after Harnish and Lynch. This program caught lightening in a bottle and had its moment....just like every single other MAC program who had a few great years.

And this type of thinking is exactly why Carey is still our head coach. Gosh forbid anyone expect better than mediocrity. We shouldn't beat low level major schools, we shouldn't beat other good mid-major schools. We are just a MAC school. We should be grateful Carey even wanted to be our head coach. He could have had so many other head coaching opportunities but thankfully he picked us.

We have mediocre facilities, mediocre fan base, less than mediocre media coverage, a less than mediocre conference, less than mediocre funding, a far less than mediocre college state, a less than mediocre college town, mediocre recruiting....sure, I guess I see why we should be far better than mediocre.

We had worse facilities, worse fan base, worse coverage, etc. in the past but that didn't stop good coaches like Novak, Kill, and Doeren from turning NIU into a mid-major power. Carey is a dud and we should expect more than mediocrity.

Not to diminish any of those coaches....But how does Novak not get any hate for turning a 10-2 then 9-3 team into a 2-10 team in just 3 seasons? Shouldn't it have been said he ruined the program(even though he built it)? Kill was 13-13 WITH Harnish his first two years. 29-29 after he left NIU(never found a great QB). Doeren inherited Lynch. He's 2 games under .500 since he left(never found a great qb). If you wanna give them credit for recruiting Harnish and Lynch, why havent they been able to duplicate it? Those guys were all very good coaches but finding great QB's is a whole bunch of luck, yet crucial to your success. If this 2017 team had Harnish or Lynch I'd wager theyd go 10-2 this year and Carey would look like a pretty good coach.

People apparently now think 10-2 is the normal and it should happen every year. As I said a few pages ago, I can't think of a word for it but illogical.

You know when mid majors go 10-2 and compete for access bowls? When they have great QBs. Alex Smith at Utah, Kellen Moore Boise, Colt Brennan Hawaii, Lynch, Blake Bortles UCF. Terrell might be the worst of the group of 5 QBs to make an access bowl and IIRC he won the MAC MVP last year.

Compete for the MAC, make a bowl game, spring the occasional upset vs a Power 5 team. That's always been the goal since I became a fan. Obviously 2013 was a little different, but for the most part it hasn't change.

Losing to an ACC team because you missed a FG and calling for the coach to be fired as a MAC school is nothing short of insane.
09-04-2017 01:21 PM
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7 Offline
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Post: #69
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 01:20 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 09:44 PM)7 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 09:24 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 08:24 PM)7 Wrote:  The clock management thing for me is tough because while the end of the first half was super conservative, Carey knows he has Ryan Graham playing QB. Do you really want to be overly aggressive against a good defense with a bad QB? If he has Graham out there chucking it and he throws a pick, everybody is also ripping him. Graham was something like 5/14 passing at that point too. As I said, there's no doubt the defense got hung out to dry, but I'm not sure there was a good answer at the end of the first half except recruiting better QBs...lol.

As for the end of the game, they took a shot to the end zone the play before the FG so I'm not sure how anyone calls that conservative. The big play on that possession was the tackle by the BC DB on Beebe on 2nd down. If Beebe gets past him he may have scored.


At the end of the first half, Carey ran it 3 times up in the middle in a row. It was clear BC was shutting that down and going to take a time out quick after each play to get the ball back. Not saying he needs to take risks with Graham, but I feel like there definitely could have been a little more creativity than what he did. That showers absolutely zero faith in his offense and just completely killed all of the momentum and lost us the lead going into halftime.

At the end of the game, the clock mgmt was just as bad. Houston Nutt said the same thing on the postgame show. Carey was playing for the tie the whole way. Let tons of time run off after each play and only through it to the end zone once. We got that big pass interference penalty and the first play he runs after is the QB draw that never works!? That made it clear immediately that he wasn't going for the TD. Those were the types of things that were frustrating. The 4th and 1 jet sweep was insane, just a lot of head scratchers.

Bottom line, we had every opportunity to win that game and Carey played it too conservative and very little confidence in his squad. You can't tell me Jerry Kill doesn't call that game way more aggressively and that we don't come away with the win. That's how you beat P5 teams, you stay aggressive and go for the win. Carey needs some balls

Him not having balls is why he started Graham in the first place. Went with the conservative option, low risk, low reward


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Come on man, we're going to act like Jerry Kill was a notoriously aggressive coach now? People HAAAAATED Limegrover's offense, and rightfully so.

May I direct you to the final drive of the 2008 Independence Bowl.

http://www.espn.com/college-football/pla...=283632348

1st and 10 at NIU 23
(0:31 - 4th) Northn Illinois penalty 5 yard False Start accepted.
1st and 15 at NIU 18
(0:15 - 4th) Chandler Harnish rush for 10 yards to the NoIll 28.

2nd and 5 at NIU 28
(0:05 - 4th) Chandler Harnish pass incomplete to Landon Cox.
3rd and 5 at NIU 28
(0:00 - 4th) Chandler Harnish pass complete to Landon Cox for 4 yards, fumbled, recovered by NoIll Eddie Adamski at the NoIll 28.

In case you forgot, NIU got the ball back with 31 seconds left and they ran a legit, designed QB draw.



And to say the QB draw "never" works is laughable. It's been arguably their most effective play the last 5-10 years and the QB run was easily their best play on Friday night.

But don't let facts get in the way of being irrationally angry.

Kill had Harnish / Lynch. Kill & Doreen were closers. The he way closed us out while at SIU was impressive. We just don't have enough playmakers on offense.

Ole Jerry closed out that Miami game real good, didn't he? Kill NEVER won a conference title OR a bowl game as an FBS coach. Not a single one.
09-04-2017 01:23 PM
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MiamiHuskie Offline
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Post: #70
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
UCF was 13-1 in 2013, beating #6 Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl. 2014, 10-3. 2015, 0-12 including an FCS loss.

Teams do fall off after banner years, like we did.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't happy about the play calling and some of the obvious QB errors against BC, but we didn't get blown out by any means against an ACC team. We should have won, which is why we're all so frustrated.
09-04-2017 01:35 PM
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Post: #71
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-03-2017 10:40 PM)7 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 10:10 PM)NIU32 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 10:01 PM)7 Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 10:00 PM)prairiedawg Wrote:  
(09-03-2017 09:51 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  The positives are being overwhelmed by the tidal wave of negativity this program has built up over the last two seasons. It's funny, my girlfriend of the last two years is a trooper and watches or goes to all the games with me. She has no experience with the great things prior to 2015, and she's now like - "how do you endure this? Its so depressing."

This program needs something to get excited about. Some positivity. And while there are some things I loved about friday - Pugh! Smith! both lines and Beebe, I too was resigned to a "how are we going blow this" mentality. Graham has become the symbol for Huskie futility and seeing him put into the line up has become dispiriting and almost exhausting.

Carey and the coaches have ZERO confidence in Graham. Rod is such a wuss it makes me sick with the 3 straight runs then the kneel down after giving up the TD before the falf. It's an amateur football game ya sad sack...man up and play the game and quit being a bltch.
Because this board is beaming with confidence for him or...?


That's the frustrating part though. If Graham is Carey's guy and he went out and won the job with no doubts then Carey needs to be fully confident in him. It's clear he isn't. If Graham isn't that guy, then why not take some lumps and go through the growing pains with Santa or Childers? I just want the staff to be confident with their guy and play to win.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Because the fact of the matter is there is a serious void of talent in the QB room. Ask anyone who attended a practice in the fall and Graham was clearly the guy.

As I've said before, the issue with Carey is the fact Graham is the best option, but I just don't see how you can watch Carey/U to coach aggressively with a QB you, me, them, and everyone else isn't good.

As for Graham, he wasn't great but I don't agree with this seemingly overwhelming thought he was god awful. I can think of four Hare games off the top of my head which were easily worse (Ohio State, Boston College, CMU 2015, Kent State 2014).

Better QB play and "we" win, yes, but we saw Hare go up against the same opponent two years ago when they went 3-9 and 2 of their wins came against FCS teams and Graham played far and away better than Hare did.

I guess I'm talking myself in circles here, but they have a QB who we know isn't great, they outgain an ACC team and have a FG to send it to OT and the first reaction is to the fire the coach? I understand the frustration of the end of 2015 and then last year play into it, but come on.

The only words I have for it is unrealistic and illogical. There's no way anybody who watched that game objectively would sit there and go "wow, NIU was obviously outcoached."

I usually agree with you 7, but I have to disagree here. I watched the game with several people (an OSU fan, a MSU fan and an Aggie fan) and to a person after the game was over they said that it was our coach that lost this game for us. It was obvious even to those without a horse in the race.
09-04-2017 01:41 PM
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MiamiHuskie Offline
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Post: #72
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
Hare was 11 for 25 for 81 yards against BC in 2015, 153 total offense for NIU.
Graham was 15 for 38 (!) for 190 yards, 367 yards for NIU.

Statistically, it was almost equal this year in passing, rushing, TOP...even the score, except we were on the wrong end.

Is BC's defense as good as it was two years ago? Unknown, but our offense was better this game than last.

This was a tough, frustrating loss, made worse by bad coaching decisions.
Maybe Graham will surprise the rest of the year, like he did in the Toledo game when Hare went down a couple of years ago.
09-04-2017 02:20 PM
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huskie1stdown Offline
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Post: #73
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
BC, Neb, SD State is the bar not EIU, EMU, KSU,CMU.
We should strive to be better than the MAC if we want RESPECT.
Nobody respects us anymore.
09-04-2017 02:31 PM
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george14 Offline
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Post: #74
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
On paper I thought BC would win handily. Trust me, I know any loss sucks but BC was 7-6 last year and they are an ACC team. NIU played well. I think you guys are improved from last year.
09-04-2017 02:48 PM
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Post: #75
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
We're worse at the most important position, QB, compared to Maddie or Hare (or maybe even Santacaterina) from last year. We also took a hit at WR. Other than that I think the team is better. It's hard to tell from that one game.
09-04-2017 03:02 PM
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Teamduh Offline
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Post: #76
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 03:02 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  We're worse at the most important position, QB, compared to Maddie or Hare (or maybe even Santacaterina) from last year. We also took a hit at WR. Other than that I think the team is better. It's hard to tell from that one game.
We have a punter that has skills.

Defense was getting pressure.

Talent at RB position.

Those 3 things will keep us in most games.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
09-04-2017 03:34 PM
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Post: #77
Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 03:34 PM)Teamduh Wrote:  
(09-04-2017 03:02 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  We're worse at the most important position, QB, compared to Maddie or Hare (or maybe even Santacaterina) from last year. We also took a hit at WR. Other than that I think the team is better. It's hard to tell from that one game.
We have a punter that has skills.

Defense was getting pressure.

Talent at RB position.

Those 3 things will keep us in most games.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk


And two things that will keep us out of most games:

1. Ryan Graham

2. Rod Carey
09-04-2017 04:07 PM
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NIU1981 Offline
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Post: #78
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
First off I want to congratulate everyone who has contributed to this thread, no kidding. It is full of interesting discussion about the game with little of the relentless negativity that pollutes so much of the board. Great stuff, a message board at its best.

I finally went back and re-watched the game, watching Graham and our passing game in particular. While we certainly need better QB play it turns out there's plenty of blame to go around. I charted every passing play of Graham's and came up with the following:

Completions - 15
Incompletions - 24
Interceptions - 1
Misses (passes that REASONABLY could have been completed with a better throw) - 10
Drops (passes that REASONABLY could have been caught) - 4
Hits/Batted Balls - 2
Receivers Not Open (Where Graham had to try to jam it in anyway) - 7

So yeah, ten misses is a ton, but the receivers also have to get open and catch the ball. Some of not getting open might be technique and some might be playcalling. BC played press coverage with one safety all night and we never really figured it out. Several of our incompletions were deep sidelines where the safety was easily able to come over the top. That seemed to be playing into their hands.

Everybody needs to do better including the coaches. I mentioned the pass selection above. There were several other questionable calls already noted in this thread such as the jet sweep to Beebe on fourth and one. I don't have too much of an issue with the three straight runs at the end of the half considering we were starting on our own 14 yard line. I wouldn't have minded a pass attempt on third and five but many coaches would have run there. I do have an issue with the attempted fade to Blake on the last play of the game. That play hadn't worked all night, why go to it again. We end up having to kick and of course the kick is low and gets tipped, ballgame. It's like we made just enough plays to lose. So, so many chances to put that game away.

Overall there are many reasons for optimism, also noted earlier in this thread. Our defense is going to be great this year, the O-line looks pretty good (fun fact I heard while watching the tape: BC had 47 sacks last year!), Marcus Jones is exciting, etc. As far as Graham goes, the coaches aren't going to ride with him missing ten throws a game. He has to get better or Santa will be in there. We should adjust expectations there though. Santa had eight months to beat out Graham and didn't do it. Expect growing pains from him if/when he plays.

Does anyone know how Coach Diersen is after getting rolled up on the sideline?
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2017 04:20 PM by NIU1981.)
09-04-2017 04:10 PM
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MaddDawgz02 Offline
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Post: #79
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
(09-04-2017 04:10 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:  First off I want to congratulate everyone who has contributed to this thread, no kidding. It is full of interesting discussion about the game and devoid of the relentless negativity that pollutes so much of the board. Great stuff, a message board at its best.

I finally went back and re-watched the game, watching Graham and our passing game in particular. While we certainly need better QB play it turns out there's plenty of blame to go around. I charted every passing play of Graham's and came up with the following:

Completions - 15
Incompletions - 24
Interceptions - 1
Misses (passes that REASONABLY could have been completed with a better throw) - 10
Drops (passes that REASONABLY could have been caught) - 4
Hits/Batted Balls - 2
Receivers Not Open (Where Graham had to try to jam it in anyway) - 7

So yeah, ten misses is a ton, but the receivers also have to get open and catch the ball. Some of not getting open might be technique and some might be playcalling. BC played press coverage with one safety all night and we never really figured it out. Several of our incompletions were deep sidelines where the safety was easily able to come over the top. That seemed to be playing into their hands.

Everybody needs to do better including the coaches. I mentioned the pass selection above. There were several other questionable calls already noted in this thread such as the jet sweep to Beebe on fourth and one. I don't have too much of an issue with the three straight runs at the end of the half considering we were starting on our own 14 yard line. I wouldn't have minded a pass attempt on third and five but many coaches would have run there. I do have an issue with the attempted fade to Blake on the last play of the game. That play hadn't worked all night, why go to it again. We end up having to kick and of course the kick is low and gets tipped, ballgame. It's like we made just enough plays to lose. So, so many chances to put that game away.

Overall there are many reasons for optimism, also noted earlier in this thread. Our defense is going to be great this year, the O-line looks pretty good (fun fact I heard while watching the tape: BC had 47 sacks last year!), Marcus Jones is exciting, etc. As far as Graham goes, the coaches aren't going to ride with him missing ten throws a game. He has to get better or Santa will be in there. We should adjust expectations there though. Santa had eight months to beat out Graham and didn't do it. Expect growing pains from him if/when he plays.

When you say 8 months to beat out Graham , it makes it sound like there was a real competition.
09-04-2017 04:13 PM
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17Huskies Offline
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Post: #80
RE: Boston College Game Thoughts
The game p*ssed me off quite a bit, took 24 hours to get over it. That being said, I'm excited to continue to watch this team, lots to be excited about. Some really fun players on D, could be dominant in the MAC, Beebe is back, I like some of the movement Jones got out of the backfield.

In the end, we haven't recruited/developed a good QB, so it's probably accurate it will be a struggle all year. And that will suck. But this team will still be fun to watch.

Out of all the hate, crazy there hasn't been much more about Huff and Carey hating him, he just dances around too much, too often. I hope he gets it together and hits some homeruns, but he was disappointing on Friday (although he had an awesome special teams tackle!)

Did Blake even catch a ball? he seemed to be the deep outlet, and that just wasn't happening with our QB.

Already much said about Sutton and Pugh, but what about the overall tackling from the defense as a whole? Was pretty great.
09-04-2017 05:01 PM
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