(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:15 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:10 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  IMO, the jury is out on Hammock. Calls for firing him now are ridiculous after just winning the MACC. Next season will be the year we will be able to evaluate Hammock as our future coach or not.

What is so magic about next year? Why not this year?

Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Couldn’t agree more.

(11-03-2022 12:48 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:15 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:10 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  IMO, the jury is out on Hammock. Calls for firing him now are ridiculous after just winning the MACC. Next season will be the year we will be able to evaluate Hammock as our future coach or not.

What is so magic about next year? Why not this year?

Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

The train had no engine when Rocky went down. When Hampton got hurt it went off the rails into the ravine. And Hammock blew up the bridge.

hahahaha that was good! (and true)

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:15 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:10 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  IMO, the jury is out on Hammock. Calls for firing him now are ridiculous after just winning the MACC. Next season will be the year we will be able to evaluate Hammock as our future coach or not.

What is so magic about next year? Why not this year?

Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:15 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  What is so magic about next year? Why not this year?

Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

Can you tell, at all, how good a QB is from practice? I mean, they aren't rushing the QB and hitting him in practice, like they do in a game. And it's when the lights are on that you find out who can play.

(11-04-2022 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

Kyle started off so hot. But he looks like an aging vet in the back nine of his career now. Smart player, but his body just doesn't have it in him anymore. Would love to see him as a coach.

(11-04-2022 01:20 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

Kyle started off so hot. But he looks like an aging vet in the back nine of his career now. Smart player, but his body just doesn't have it in him anymore. Would love to see him as a coach.

Way back in the wayback, when I said with 8 years done Pugh might be a good candidate as a young coach, I either got ignored or dunked. I still feel that would work with a guy who has the fire, knows the program and plays a critical spot. Get the $ by paring down to one DC. Ok, that's my tiny entry into the maelstrom.

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:00 AM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 09:15 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  What is so magic about next year? Why not this year?

Next year I am assuming we will not be hit with a historically bad list of injuries to the most key players on the team. The crazy amount of injuries this season derailed the team and is the most critical reason why we have struggled. Sure, there has been some head scratching coaching moments, but key players injuries override it all. Next year will be different because I am banking on the rash of key player injuries will not repeat.

This seems so obvious to me, but understand I might be in the minority.

Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Hammock’s recruiting is interesting. I started to list positions he couldn’t recruit to save his life and safety, corner, and linebacker on defense were glaring. On offense QB and WR. The line recruits are better than we give them credit for.

Outside of Rayner, is there a guy on defense who was a nice recruit who isn’t on the line? Lafayette before his injury? His linebacker recruits suck. Walk on rattin and Carey guys are the only ones who can play.

There isn’t a young defensive guy that I am excited about who doesn’t play line. Maybe White, but he’s a transfer.

(11-04-2022 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

Hilarious. Pugh is the only Novak guy still on the roster.

(11-05-2022 11:27 PM)Rawdog10 Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

Hilarious. Pugh is the only Novak guy still on the roster.

I thought he was a Sadler recruit

Pugh was AMAZING when he had Sutton, Corcoran, Juwon, and other guys around him. He doesn’t have that right now but he’s balling. One guy can only do so much. I’m sure he’s grading out pretty well…

We’ve really been spoiled with high level of play from QBs since Harnish, Lynch, Hare, Maddie, and Rocky. The rest of the guys just don’t measure up to that level of productivity. At a quick glance Nevan looks like he can develop into that level. It’s just a matter of whether he can feel as comfortable in games as he does in practice. Some guys can do it quickly. Hopefully, he is one of those…

(11-04-2022 12:15 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-04-2022 11:02 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 04:31 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 02:46 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(11-03-2022 10:25 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Losing your star QB is often a death blow to your championship hopes. So once we lost Rocky it was fair to think that repeating as champion was doubtful. And that's normal. What's not normal is losing your star QB and becoming a train wreck of a team that may only win 2 to 3 games. If your entire hopes are tied to your QB you really haven't built much of a team.

Not just Rocky though, a bunch of other key players that have been discussed.

And that’s where quality depth comes in. Hammock lost Cox who was a Carey recruit. Lost Joiner who was a transfer. Lost Thornton who was a transfer. Lost Lombardi who was a transfer. Just what the hell has he been doing with his actual recruits for the last 3+ years? Not one of his recruits have been able to step into these positions as back-ups and be any good. There are 16 WRs on this roster and Ham needed two transfers to replace Richie and Rudolph.

Good point. The recruiting seems very shaky at best.

If Hammock’s recruits are still “developing” they’re going to need to be here as long as Kyle Pugh to have productive careers.

While I give Ham another year before I start harshing on him, I sometimes think the same, our depth seems lacking. Last year Rocky was outstanding, we had Richie and Rudolph (a walk on), and alot of big breaks (remember the botched FG kick by CMU last year? that was a sign from the heavens...).

We'll know real quick next year if this year is a fluke and we return to a winning team, or if the year is a waste and coaching change cometh.

Ham is easy to like and his heart is in the right place, not so much with Carey. For that reason, I'm still rooting for Ham to turn this ship around.

Repeat (as have others): let Cremascoli start the last three games, with Lomax and Fletcher as backups. Lynch is not it, no matter his lineage, or they'd have been using him like Cremascoli. Pending the status of Lombardi, Hammock (and Eidsness) will know more about who NIU has coming back.

And if he doesn't want to see anyone potentially good run off to FCS, he'd better do it while there are games to do it with. IMO we already lose enough locals to schools like WMU. Not far away are ... Fletcher (Flint, Mich.), Cremascoli (Winnetka) and Lomax (Elgin).

And start thinking about who is going to be the DC of the two there are, or someone else needs to come in.

Carey sucked and you were all right about that, but at least it was a hire that made some sense. University association aside, Hammock was a ridiculous hire.

(11-06-2022 05:50 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Repeat (as have others): let Cremascoli start the last three games, with Lomax and Fletcher as backups. Lynch is not it, no matter his lineage, or they'd have been using him like Cremascoli. Pending the status of Lombardi, Hammock (and Eidsness) will know more about who NIU has coming back.

And if he doesn't want to see anyone potentially good run off to FCS, he'd better do it while there are games to do it with. IMO we already lose enough locals to schools like WMU. Not far away are ... Lomax (Flint, Mich.), Cremascoli (Winnetka) and Lomax (Elgin).

And start thinking about who is going to be the DC of the two there are, or someone else needs to come in.

Lynch might have the worst arm of anyone to ever play FBS football.

(11-06-2022 06:24 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(11-06-2022 05:50 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Repeat (as have others): let Cremascoli start the last three games, with Lomax and Fletcher as backups. Lynch is not it, no matter his lineage, or they'd have been using him like Cremascoli. Pending the status of Lombardi, Hammock (and Eidsness) will know more about who NIU has coming back.

And if he doesn't want to see anyone potentially good run off to FCS, he'd better do it while there are games to do it with. IMO we already lose enough locals to schools like WMU. Not far away are ... Lomax (Flint, Mich.), Cremascoli (Winnetka) and Lomax (Elgin).

And start thinking about who is going to be the DC of the two there are, or someone else needs to come in.

Lynch might have the worst arm of anyone to ever play FBS football.

That’s why he should be a RB, not a QB.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Oops. My bad. Doubled up listing Lomax. He's from Elgin. Fletcher is from Flint, Mich.

Regardless, point is the same. And if Lynch sticks, maybe they ought to try him at RB. Then there is Hampton. Don't know how to read much about him, except he does not appear mobile or know how/when to use the pocket.

(11-06-2022 07:51 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Oops. My bad. Doubled up listing Lomax. He's from Elgin. Fletcher is from Flint, Mich.

Regardless, point is the same. And if Lynch sticks, maybe they ought to try him at RB. Then there is Hampton. Don't know how to read much about him, except he does not appear mobile or know how/when to use the pocket.

I don’t know what you do with Lynch except make him the emergency QB or a few situational RPO plays. He’s not fast enough and also not strong enough to be an RB. He’s not that difficulty to bring down. He just has FCS written all over him.

Hampton’s pocket presence is a concern. Cremascoli’s was much better. Much like a RB finding holes, qb pocket presence has an element of instinct. The sample sizes were small but I saw more potential from Cremascoli than Hampton so far. Let the best man win in camp next year.