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Let's take a breath
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numbersdontlie Offline
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Post: #1
Let's take a breath
Do we have issues that need fixing. Yes.
Penalties and clock management are the two most egregious.

Was Vandy winable? Yes.

We move on to MAC play and need to recognize that our schedule will get easier.

Let's evaluate Hammock & Co. After the season is in the books.
09-28-2019 05:36 PM
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MaddDawgz02 Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Let's take a breath
An accurate evaluation of Hammock wont be able to be made until 2 seasons from now.
09-28-2019 05:44 PM
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MiamiHuskie Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-28-2019 05:36 PM)numbersdontlie Wrote:  Do we have issues that need fixing. Yes.
Penalties and clock management are the two most egregious.

Was Vandy winable? Yes.

We move on to MAC play and need to recognize that our schedule will get easier.

Let's evaluate Hammock & Co. After the season is in the books.

Good points. I forgot that NIU was 1-3 after 4 games last year too,to Iowa, Utah, and FSU, and really hadn't scored much except the 24 points against CMU. Won ugly against EMU, and things started to click, mostly because of the D.
I need to put things in perspective, which I will after the beers are opened.
No day drinking during the early games, I'm normally ready for Betty Ford anyway after an NIU football season.

Let's regroup and get going in MACC play.
09-28-2019 05:57 PM
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NorthCoast Away
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Post: #4
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-28-2019 05:36 PM)numbersdontlie Wrote:  Do we have issues that need fixing. Yes.
Penalties and clock management are the two most egregious.

Was Vandy winable? Yes.

We move on to MAC play and need to recognize that our schedule will get easier.

Let's evaluate Hammock & Co. After the season is in the books.

Don't spot that team 14 points and NIU wins relatively stress free.

The OLine opened some running lanes and allowed that to finally get going a bit and gave Bowers (at times) decent protection to pass the ball. The schedule will ease up the rest of the way.

It takes a while for NEW Offenses to gel. That doesn't excuse the defensive and special teams lapses (a lot of which falls on coaching) but the sky isn't falling.

I noted on another thread that the games that will likely decide the West (EMU and Toledo) will come late in the year when NIU is (hopefully) healthier and has gained some Offensive cohesion. NIU will be fine.
(This post was last modified: 09-28-2019 06:01 PM by NorthCoast.)
09-28-2019 05:58 PM
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NIU05 Online
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Post: #5
RE: Let's take a breath
We have a decent team that is a little out of since with injuries, new systems and a new staff. Transition year.
09-28-2019 06:50 PM
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NorthCoast Away
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Post: #6
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-28-2019 06:50 PM)NIU05 Wrote:  We have a decent team that is a little out of sync with injuries, new systems and a new staff. Transition year.

Yes.

Transitioning, not rebuilding. Well said.
09-28-2019 07:02 PM
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NIU007 Offline
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RE: Let's take a breath
Nebraska getting crushed.
09-28-2019 07:57 PM
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NIUfilmmaker Offline
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Post: #8
RE: Let's take a breath
Just sucks as that was a very obtainable SEC win, even during a transition period. still very up on Hammock and Co. Hope we get a bowl invite out of 2019...
09-29-2019 12:40 PM
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NIU05 Online
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RE: Let's take a breath
(09-29-2019 12:40 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Just sucks as that was a very obtainable SEC win, even during a transition period. still very up on Hammock and Co. Hope we get a bowl invite out of 2019...

a Bowl invite would be a major accomplishment this year
09-29-2019 02:28 PM
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badmoonrising13 Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Let's take a breath
The injuries, poor OL play, mental mistakes, penalties, and special teams incompetence are what’s costing this team right now. The fact they still should have won yesterday says a lot about the potential of this team. Bowers is an absolute stud. Our receivers either have to learn to get open or be able to make the tough catches. I counted five passes that hit the receivers’ hands and bounced right off because there was a defender right on them...
09-29-2019 02:42 PM
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MiamiHuskie Offline
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Post: #11
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-29-2019 02:42 PM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  The injuries, poor OL play, mental mistakes, penalties, and special teams incompetence are what’s costing this team right now. The fact they still should have won yesterday says a lot about the potential of this team. Bowers is an absolute stud. Our receivers either have to learn to get open or be able to make the tough catches. I counted five passes that hit the receivers’ hands and bounced right off because there was a defender right on them...

Bowers has to avoid the long, drawn out sacks.
09-29-2019 03:26 PM
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pvk75 Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-29-2019 02:42 PM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  The injuries, poor OL play, mental mistakes, penalties, and special teams incompetence are what’s costing this team right now. The fact they still should have won yesterday says a lot about the potential of this team. Bowers is an absolute stud. Our receivers either have to learn to get open or be able to make the tough catches. I counted five passes that hit the receivers’ hands and bounced right off because there was a defender right on them...

On your last point, think that's evidenced with Tears, who has/can make some spectacular catches. He either "hears steps" or is thinking too much about the run after the catch. Have to focus on the catch first. With a lot of good receivers I've watched, they seem to practice catch-and-spin, away from the close-in defender. Brinkman seems to get it. Crawford maybe too, but they're TEs, so block-and-turn is part of their basic technique.

On NIU defense, halftime SEC game analyst pointed out how left end of NIU line squared the shoulders, a dead giveaway to the Vandy offense that they would block straight up. That opened a hole for their RB several times, which means somebody on the Vandy staff was able to point out things like that.
(This post was last modified: 09-29-2019 03:48 PM by pvk75.)
09-29-2019 03:44 PM
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cosine4 Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Let's take a breath
(09-29-2019 02:42 PM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  The injuries, poor OL play, mental mistakes, penalties, and special teams incompetence are what’s costing this team right now. The fact they still should have won yesterday says a lot about the potential of this team. Bowers is an absolute stud. Our receivers either have to learn to get open or be able to make the tough catches. I counted five passes that hit the receivers’ hands and bounced right off because there was a defender right on them...

I agree 100% and am hopeful that the potential will shine in MAC play.
09-30-2019 07:12 AM
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Rabid Squirrel Offline
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RE: Let's take a breath
NIU won all the major offensive categories: First downs, T.O.P., total yards. And the defense gave up 373 yards. Vandys avg coming in was 363 yards. That was vs Georgia, LSU and Purdue. I'd bet a healthy NIU would only of given up 280 yards.

The biggest take from this game is Cox and the run game. If Cox can anchor that left side and continue to improve this team is golden.

The defense is going to have to find its groove with all the injuries. With some of the top talent out they're going to have to play smarter. Clean it up, learn their responsibilities and improve each week.

A home game and comfortable win will do a lot for the teams confidence. We've been down this road guys...Our OOC schedule is a gauntlet and takes a toll. I predict everyone feels much better about this team after Saturday and going forward.
09-30-2019 08:21 AM
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HuskiePride12 Offline
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RE: Let's take a breath
(09-30-2019 08:21 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  NIU won all the major offensive categories: First downs, T.O.P., total yards. And the defense gave up 373 yards. Vandys avg coming in was 363 yards. That was vs Georgia, LSU and Purdue. I'd bet a healthy NIU would only of given up 280 yards.

The biggest take from this game is Cox and the run game. If Cox can anchor that left side and continue to improve this team is golden.

The defense is going to have to find its groove with all the injuries. With some of the top talent out they're going to have to play smarter. Clean it up, learn their responsibilities and improve each week.

A home game and comfortable win will do a lot for the teams confidence. We've been down this road guys...Our OOC schedule is a gauntlet and takes a toll. I predict everyone feels much better about this team after Saturday and going forward.

+1 to everything there.
09-30-2019 12:49 PM
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NIU1981 Offline
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RE: Let's take a breath
Negative plays are killing the offense. Eliminate those and they'll score a lot of points. Their first four possessions were done in by five negative plays and two offensive penalties. Every first half possession had a negative play and/or offensive penalty.
(This post was last modified: 09-30-2019 01:07 PM by NIU1981.)
09-30-2019 01:00 PM
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pvk75 Offline
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RE: Let's take a breath
Northern needs Ball State like Vanderbilt needed Northern. And +1 on the comment that these o-o-c skeds are putting the kabosh on the team's ability to recover and adjust. Looking forward to STF's plan to balance o-o-c with 2 home, 2 road for the first 4. But for now, 8 MAC games ahead, and 4 are at home. Looking forward.
09-30-2019 02:48 PM
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