RE: Official NIU-TURD-ledo GAME THREAD!!!!!!
Defense has improved so much. Love how aggressive they were. Bodes well for the defense going forward how well Thomas is playing, because after Deveaux leaves, Rayner and Asimo are the only LB's on the roster who aren't converted safeties. McGee and Rodgers together will be a really good CB combo. Brown has improved a lot since taking over for Lafayette. If he is 100% healthy in camp next year, Brown could challenge Hansen to start. Hansen is really good down in the box, but just not a good enough athlete to consistently win in man to man coverage in the open field. Ester and Taylor inside are turning into a wrecking crew, which is covering up for our DE's still having a ways to go development-wise.
O-line was pretty good. Cox has played way too many snaps to still get the penalties that he does. Brown, Ducker, Waylee are one hell of a RB room all on their own. Considering we haven't even seen Bolden, Lawson, Chapman and Blakemore carry the ball yet, that is a crazy good room. Thought that McCray and Toure have shown well with the additional opportunities w/ Tucker out. The WR's are definitely not the issue with the passing game. Lombardi is super inconsistent. He seems like he is lost in his own head right now. Then you go and watch that game vs Michigan last year and you can see that he does have the ability. He just needs to find it right now. I know a lot of people want to see other QB's get reps, but I'll repeat the same thing I said last week. #2 QB is a true freshman who didn't even play a SR year in HS. #3 is a 2nd year freshman who had a first year that involved no real offseason, and a broken wrist that didn't allow him to throw a football for several months. After that is a true freshman walk on, and a 3rd year player who was a VERY late transfer in. If we were playing in games that were up 3 TD's or down 3 TD's, and Rocky was struggling, we might see someone else. But they aren't going to put someone out there for their very first real snaps in the middle of a game where literally every play is important. If this happens next year, I would guess we would absolutely see someone else get some snaps. On the other hand, the thing I like about Lombardi is he doesn't hang his head, he keeps competing, and so far he has come through when it really matters. That 3rd and long run, and the dime to Richie were the difference in the game. If he can get himself figured out, I don't think anyone in the MAC beats this team. Also, reiterating many others questions about Joiner....Having a TE that can really run would make such a huge difference... Having a guy that can win downfield out of those TE heavy sets would absolutely guy these defenses that are putting 8-9 guys in the box. I'd just really like to know for my own sanity, is he injured or are coaches dissatisfied with him in some way (blocking maybe?)...The people want to know!!!
Overall, same conclusion as last week. Young team that sure isn't pretty, but is still finding ways to win games as they learn, and despite not even coming close to playing a full game of their best football yet.
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Official NIU-TURD-ledo GAME THREAD!!!!!!
