I don't know how anyone could be criticizing Rocky right now after his last two games. He has been terrific and the reason why we won last week and a huge part of why we were competitive. I was extremely impressed and pleased with his progress as a passer. We just need to coach up the defense as hard as we have coached up Rocky. On defense, we need to start playing the ball... You know, the most important thing in all ball sports.

Yea, the RB room is deep, good receivers although thinner now with Ritchie injured, and Rocky is playing well now. O-line did well pass blocking. But that D-line - we are going to have to seriously blitz to get any pressure at all apparently.

(11-04-2021 10:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:38 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:28 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  I do not understand anyone looking forward to a MAC Championship game. Not without answering what the hell happened. Earlier this year I said I have NEVER seen a team run an offense as effectively as Michigan against us. It was truly unbelievable. As if our defenders were just actors in a Michigan video on how to run an offense. Last night I felt the same way -- except it was Kent State. No offense, but Kent State!

I am not sure there is any excuse against Michigan, but I KNOW there is no excuse against Kent State.

That's what I was thinking. Last night doesn't deserve a sequel.

It was a 5 point loss on the road to the team leading the MAC East. The defense has issues, but it’s not panic time.

Beat Ball State and you need to split the last two games to get Detroit. They’re fine.

Oh, I understand that, and I agree.
I just meant, I don't understand anyone eager to face Kent State again. Not unless A LOT of garbage is addressed on defense. Ball State is all that matters right now -- not some hypothetical rematch.

(11-04-2021 11:34 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 10:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:38 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:28 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  I do not understand anyone looking forward to a MAC Championship game. Not without answering what the hell happened. Earlier this year I said I have NEVER seen a team run an offense as effectively as Michigan against us. It was truly unbelievable. As if our defenders were just actors in a Michigan video on how to run an offense. Last night I felt the same way -- except it was Kent State. No offense, but Kent State!

I am not sure there is any excuse against Michigan, but I KNOW there is no excuse against Kent State.

That's what I was thinking. Last night doesn't deserve a sequel.

It was a 5 point loss on the road to the team leading the MAC East. The defense has issues, but it’s not panic time.

Beat Ball State and you need to split the last two games to get Detroit. They’re fine.

Oh, I understand that, and I agree.
I just meant, I don't understand anyone eager to face Kent State again. Not unless A LOT of garbage is addressed on defense. Ball State is all that matters right now -- not some hypothetical rematch.

I misunderstood, my bad. Yes I would prefer not to play that offense again too lol

(11-04-2021 10:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:38 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:28 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  I do not understand anyone looking forward to a MAC Championship game. Not without answering what the hell happened. Earlier this year I said I have NEVER seen a team run an offense as effectively as Michigan against us. It was truly unbelievable. As if our defenders were just actors in a Michigan video on how to run an offense. Last night I felt the same way -- except it was Kent State. No offense, but Kent State!

I am not sure there is any excuse against Michigan, but I KNOW there is no excuse against Kent State.

That's what I was thinking. Last night doesn't deserve a sequel.

It was a 5 point loss on the road to the team leading the MAC East. The defense has issues, but it’s not panic time.

Beat Ball State and you need to split the last two games to get Detroit. They’re fine.

Agreed, bad D last night but our glass is more than half-full and improving. 8-4 season with a chance at a conference championship and trip to a bowl game, not too shabby, and every NU and Illness fan would trade places with us (once again) in a heartbeat.

(11-04-2021 12:24 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 10:29 AM)7 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:38 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-04-2021 09:28 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  I do not understand anyone looking forward to a MAC Championship game. Not without answering what the hell happened. Earlier this year I said I have NEVER seen a team run an offense as effectively as Michigan against us. It was truly unbelievable. As if our defenders were just actors in a Michigan video on how to run an offense. Last night I felt the same way -- except it was Kent State. No offense, but Kent State!

I am not sure there is any excuse against Michigan, but I KNOW there is no excuse against Kent State.

That's what I was thinking. Last night doesn't deserve a sequel.

It was a 5 point loss on the road to the team leading the MAC East. The defense has issues, but it’s not panic time.

Beat Ball State and you need to split the last two games to get Detroit. They’re fine.

Agreed, bad D last night but our glass is more than half-full and improving. 8-4 season with a chance at a conference championship and trip to a bowl game, not too shabby, and every NU and Illness fan would trade places with us (once again) in a heartbeat.

Agree, I’ve just tried to enjoy the ride this year, fun watching this team grow and they’ve exceeded my expectations. Next year should be a much better ball club all the way around. Love Coach H

(11-03-2021 11:25 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 11:05 PM)DPD Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 10:51 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-03-2021 10:44 PM)DPD Wrote:  Just finished watching the game after recording it.

Random thoughts-

Don’t even know where to start with our defense. Awful. Lacking talent but also don’t understand why we call a cover 0 with as suspect as the backs are. We can’t get pressure either way might as well have at least a single high safety at all times.

Rocky (glad he looked okay in the sideline) can be frustrating. He filled the stat sheet, and WRs had some bad drops but sometimes he’s just terribly inaccurate.

I’ll have to go back through the thread, but I’m curious if the thoughts on the onside kicks and 2 pt tries. I actually didn’t mind them, it’s not the reason we lost. I was not however, a fan of the actual play calls on the conversions.

The team is going to be exciting in the coming years. We need to get seriously better on defense in all areas. I think we may have some players on the D line that are just playing 2-3 years earlier than they otherwise should. Same maybe said for the CBs

They’re not too young. They’re just not that good. Good D linemen, Heflin, Kramer, Smith…..made plays the first season they hit the field. These guys, the starters anyway, are 20 games into their careers and have not done a thing. That’s not to say someone MIGHT develope down the road, but there is no impact D-linemen right now. Or you would have seen glimpses.

That’s Fair. I don’t believe any of those guys contributed at least not heavily as freshmen. When they did, I think they (name Kramer and Heflin) benefitted from 2 years of Sutton dominating. 2 freshman and 2 redshirt freshman starting in the 2 deep I just looked at. IMO If Sutton smith was on the team 1-2 of them would be showing some flashes.

Either way, we need to add some transfers to this defense for next year.

Sutton surely did benefit both Kramer and Heflin. But none the less they were impact players as true sophomores and carried that production after smith left. Other guys have made huge impacts as Soph. Lurry for one. I guess what I’m saying is I don’t think they’re any impact guys on the D, because young or not, you can see greatness. It took all of us about 2 games to identify true freshman Rudolph as a star last year. I can’t say there’s anyone on D I can identify as even POTENTIALLY great.

Agreed. I should clarify- I don’t think anyone of them can or will be great even 6 years of playing time won’t do that. I do think each of them would be serviceable playing in what normally would be their Rs JR or Sr years. In baseball terms everyone of them are negative WAR players.

I complained a bit during the bowling green game about our run/pass balance, wanting to see the ball get to Richie and Rudolph’s hands more frequently. Well I changed my mind despite the unbelievable stats thrown up in the passing game. I initially attributed the inclination to run to hammocks affinity to RBs. Well I realize now he may just have known what could happen if the opposing offense finds a rhythm and we’re in a shootout. I’m good with ducker 30+ times from here on out.

Late question ... how many times did NIU go for two and not make it? Thanks anyone.

Twice.

Going for 2 is dumb unless you're having your way with the other teams defense, or it's late in the game.

(11-07-2021 12:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Going for 2 is dumb unless you're having your way with the other teams defense, or it's late in the game.

does 650 yards not classify as having your way with a defense?

(11-06-2021 02:00 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Late question ... how many times did NIU go for two and not make it? Thanks anyone.

Those wasted 2 points could’ve come in handy at the end, giving us a chance to tie with a FG. That’s of course contingent on the defense getting the ball back.

This was an epic game. If you don't want to see a rematch there's something wrong with you...

(11-07-2021 01:08 AM)7 Wrote:  

(11-07-2021 12:32 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  Going for 2 is dumb unless you're having your way with the other teams defense, or it's late in the game.

does 650 yards not classify as having your way with a defense?

They were tried early in the game before the vast majority of the yardage.

(11-08-2021 09:13 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  This was an epic game. If you don't want to see a rematch there's something wrong with you...

I really think a rematch would go much better for NIU. Kent got to give NIU looks they haven’t seen all season. Offensively and defensively. For sure Hammock would make adjustments and do better against the hurry up offense and stacked line defense.

(11-08-2021 11:02 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(11-08-2021 09:13 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  This was an epic game. If you don't want to see a rematch there's something wrong with you...

I really think a rematch would go much better for NIU. Kent got to give NIU looks they haven’t seen all season. Offensively and defensively. For sure Hammock would make adjustments and do better against the hurry up offense and stacked line defense.

It certainly would be an indication of which coaching staff is more competent and adept. Obviously, they're both excellent staffs to have turned their programs around the way they did. We certainly need to learn how to make plays on defense. We must be at the bottom of the national rankings in sacks, TFL, and turnovers. We need to fix that ASAP.

(11-08-2021 09:13 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  This was an epic game. If you don't want to see a rematch there's something wrong with you...

I’m not sure about it (it’s been suggested that there could be something wrong with me, ha).

It’s going to be them or MiamiU and NIU beat Kent St in the MACC to go to the Orange Bowl. Meanwhile, that loss to MiamiU in the Jerry-Kill-Minny-interview MACC hasn’t been avenged.

Me kinda wants MiamiU.

“We” still owe Akron (Carey and company blew that opportunity 2017).