You could argue that early 3rd quarter possession we had turned the game from that point forward. Run it down their throat on first down for 7 yards, then throw a terrible pass on 2nd down. The announcers even pointed out the stupidity of it. We have 18 year olds playing receiver and a running game that had been controlling things, so why chuck it on 2nd and short? Get first downs and keep the drive going.

Obviously we lost for a lot of reasons and Iowa is the far better team but that playcalling was insanely frustrating and have to think we keep that a game heading into the 4th with proper game planning and play calls.

Iowa had a better QB better WRs and a better coach. Otherwise I think it was pretty even. Oh yea, better kicker.

(09-02-2018 01:12 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Iowa had a better QB better WRs and a better coach. Otherwise I think it was pretty even. Oh yea, better kicker.

Better OLine and a better pass rush.

I still think Iowa finishes in the bottom half of the Big Ten.
I think NIU and most of the MAC should be ranked 100 or higher.

(09-01-2018 06:38 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Just got an e-mail from sports marketing to pack the stadium next Saturday. I could not stop laughing....and I really needed a good laugh.

yeah- got that email-- timing is everything-- they had all summer to presell tickets for that Utah game-- but they start to market minutes after a horrendous loss?????

(09-02-2018 08:51 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I still can't believe they sent that e-mail minutes after the game to pack the house next Saturday. Are they freakin' nuts? Fans are pissed and reeling from the loss, and they get a bouncy e-mail about packing the house for Utah. Unbelievable. If they're gonna send it, do it later in the week.

It was probably automated under the assumption Saturday would’ve been competitive

Play calling is lamented everywhere.

https://gbmwolverine.com/2018/09/03/mich..._content=1

I definitely believe we should have run more, but if you want to win at Iowa we have to succeed in the pass game at times. We were not going to run for 350 yards and 5 TDs.

If we stopped passing and kept running, we may have kept the score down a bit by holding field position / getting a few first downs, but we aren’t going to have 16 play 80 yard drives very often. Then everyone would say we didn’t pass enough, we run too much, and the play calling was too conservative. Lots of Sunday morning quarterbacks with a lot of opinions on here.

It sucks having a passing game that can’t get it done. But that was against Iowa and I think we will be better in MAC play. I don’t see the pass game worse, and feel we will have a competitive game Saturday night under the lights.

My biggest complaint is we were pounding the ball, don't change. Childers needs to step up. We were spoiled by Garnish, Lynch and for awhile, Hare. No stud QB no offense

(09-02-2018 01:20 PM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(09-01-2018 06:38 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Just got an e-mail from sports marketing to pack the stadium next Saturday. I could not stop laughing....and I really needed a good laugh.

yeah- got that email-- timing is everything-- they had all summer to presell tickets for that Utah game-- but they start to market minutes after a horrendous loss?????

Was pretty funny to open my phone after going out for game seeing the message. I was like "really?"

(09-03-2018 07:25 PM)klake87 Wrote:  My biggest complaint is we were pounding the ball, don't change. Childers needs to step up. We were spoiled by Garnish, Lynch and for awhile, Hare. No stud QB no offense

as this team has become all Careys we see what happens. What should have happened in offseason was that Carey was either fired or at least demanded to stay out of anything offense related. He is clueless

(09-04-2018 05:34 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-03-2018 07:25 PM)klake87 Wrote:  My biggest complaint is we were pounding the ball, don't change. Childers needs to step up. We were spoiled by Garnish, Lynch and for awhile, Hare. No stud QB no offense

as this team has become all Careys we see what happens. What should have happened in offseason was that Carey was either fired or at least demanded to stay out of anything offense related. He is clueless

I am not a big fan of Carey, but I would really like you to communicate what it is about the system, the play calling, the scheme or even the coaching that is resulting in Childers struggling, and or his lack of development. Childers has been in the ideal situation to develop. He comes into this season with more game experience than any other RS Sophmore in program history. He was given the reins at the ideal time last year (the weakest part of our schedule) and was never pulled from a game regardless of how he played. He was allowed to make mistakes and the coaches never waivered in their commitment to him. He has receivers that can catch the ball, get open, and yes get separation (if you want proof check out Wesley catch against BSU last year). Please back up your statement of the problem (system and staff cannot develop a QB) with what you would want this staff to change or do differently.

(09-04-2018 05:48 PM)Djud Wrote:  

(09-04-2018 05:34 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-03-2018 07:25 PM)klake87 Wrote:  My biggest complaint is we were pounding the ball, don't change. Childers needs to step up. We were spoiled by Garnish, Lynch and for awhile, Hare. No stud QB no offense

as this team has become all Careys we see what happens. What should have happened in offseason was that Carey was either fired or at least demanded to stay out of anything offense related. He is clueless

I am not a big fan of Carey, but I would really like you to communicate what it is about the system, the play calling, the scheme or even the coaching that is resulting in Childers struggling, and or his lack of development. Childers has been in the ideal situation to develop. He comes into this season with more game experience than any other RS Sophmore in program history. He was given the reins at the ideal time last year (the weakest part of our schedule) and was never pulled from a game regardless of how he played. He was allowed to make mistakes and the coaches never waivered in their commitment to him. He has receivers that can catch the ball, get open, and yes get separation (if you want proof check out Wesley catch against BSU last year). Please back up your statement of the problem (system and staff cannot develop a QB) with what you would want this staff to change or do differently.

There was not a single open receiver on the field on Saturday, I am not sure what people except Childers to do. Throw a ball to a player on a 5 yard route that is absolutely blanketed as the receiver runs laterally across the field. What in the heck was that supposed to accomplish. The play calling from Carey is probably the worst in FBS. You are at midfield running it down Iowa's throat and you go to a 2nd down pass play that had little chance of succeeding, are you kidding me? People get on Childers for not releasing the ball, but this is what he is told by Carey, to eat it, take the sack and live another day. Carey just wanted an offensive possession to be over without a colossal mistake, there is ZERO ZERO ZERO intention of moving the ball. QBs have zero chance to succeed in this system and I would highly encourage anyone to not come to NIU if they have QB skills as long as Carey is here, because those are not valued one bit. His incompetence we have seen translate off the field also in absolutely not being able to make a decision who he wants to go with at QB. The musical chairs of QB has stunted the development of any QB that comes to NIU now. I have never seen such a mismanaged cluster in my life. As long as Frazier is here, nothing will change. Frazier does not want coaching move interfere with his 24/7 attempt to get out of DeKalb. It is just a bad situation right now with this program and what is most frustrating is that there is no evidence it will get any better soon, at all because no one Is being held accountable for anything

And once again, you state your opinion but offer no insight as to what needs to be done differently. I am asking specifically about Childers development; what needs to be done that hasn’t been done (this year or last)? Childers has the coaching staff’s undivided support! He even indicated today that after the pick, he “put his arm around Childers and asked home how can we learn from this”. When has Carey ever done this in the past? Believing and sticking with a QB even as he struggles is a huge factor in the development process. The only thing I get from your last statement is that the should not have thrown a pass on 2nd down after pounding Iowa with the run. Even if this point is valid, how does it contribute to Childers lack of development.

There were a number of plays (at least six times) where Childers ran out of the pocket and took a hit as he delivered the ball because the DE simply disengaged the OL. Every DL was engaged although the OL were being pushed back. A veteran QB steps up in the pocket in that situation and either throws or scrambles. As long as the DL is engaged stepping up in the pocket gives you more time and better footwork. Not to mention better field vision. Childers is not being coached very well. These dopes wouldn’t give the ball to Harbs and he averages nearly 7 yards per carry and about half of his runs were against a goal line defense trying to stop the run.

(09-04-2018 06:08 PM)Djud Wrote:  And once again, you state your opinion but offer no insight as to what needs to be done differently. I am asking specifically about Childers development; what needs to be done that hasn’t been done (this year or last)? Childers has the coaching staff’s undivided support! He even indicated today that after the pick, he “put his arm around Childers and asked home how can we learn from this”. When has Carey ever done this in the past? Believing and sticking with a QB even as he struggles is a huge factor in the development process. The only thing I get from your last statement is that the should not have thrown a pass on 2nd down after pounding Iowa with the run. Even if this point is valid, how does it contribute to Childers lack of development.

Your statement about what Carey said after the interception is what Carey said he said. That's not in line with the "outburst" that Childers said it was. Did anybody at the game see it? Carey is not someone I'd call a father figure. He blasts and chews up his QBs for throwing interceptions, as has been pointed out here since last year. Is it surprising to anyone here why our QB play has been crap? One more interception and I wouldn't be surprised if we see Graham, if he can still throw at all.