How much did his absence change what the offense got done? Gotta think with 9 in the box Rudolph runs crazy behind them. It also effects Lombardi who maybe threw what, only twice to the slot? Did we go only two wide so much bc of the lack of experience of Mccray/kasper? If Rudolph takes a couple to the house does EIU get out of that defense and we can run?

I was really hoping Hammock would focus on the passing game more. With 2 new starters at wr I’d think their reps are more beneficial than the RB’s(except Waylee)

(09-02-2022 12:08 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  How much did his absence change what the offense got done? Gotta think with 9 in the box Rudolph runs crazy behind them. It also effects Lombardi who maybe threw what, only twice to the slot? Did we go only two wide so much bc of the lack of experience of Mccray/kasper? If Rudolph takes a couple to the house does EIU get out of that defense and we can run?

I was really hoping Hammock would focus on the passing game more. With 2 new starters at wr I’d think their reps are more beneficial than the RB’s(except Waylee)

It didn't seem like the WR's had a hard time getting open, it's just that we were hellbent on running the ball for some reason.

Tucker and Thornton were open pretty much whenever they wanted to be it seemed like. Even Kacsper got open and Lombardi hit him with a dot, he just didn't catch it.

Just felt like there was not enough balance...way too run heavy against a defense showing 9 in the box. I get the OL is good, but that's not a good proposition.

(09-02-2022 12:45 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(09-02-2022 12:08 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  How much did his absence change what the offense got done? Gotta think with 9 in the box Rudolph runs crazy behind them. It also effects Lombardi who maybe threw what, only twice to the slot? Did we go only two wide so much bc of the lack of experience of Mccray/kasper? If Rudolph takes a couple to the house does EIU get out of that defense and we can run?

I was really hoping Hammock would focus on the passing game more. With 2 new starters at wr I’d think their reps are more beneficial than the RB’s(except Waylee)

It didn't seem like the WR's had a hard time getting open, it's just that we were hellbent on running the ball for some reason.

Tucker and Thornton were open pretty much whenever they wanted to be it seemed like. Even Kacsper got open and Lombardi hit him with a dot, he just didn't catch it.

Just felt like there was not enough balance...way too run heavy against a defense showing 9 in the box. I get the OL is good, but that's not a good proposition.

Just thinking they may have thrown a bit more with Trayvon out there. Obviously. But the impact could have been a lot. Trayvon is the kinda player that can effect the QB, the RBs and the defense.

(09-02-2022 01:47 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-02-2022 12:45 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  

(09-02-2022 12:08 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  How much did his absence change what the offense got done? Gotta think with 9 in the box Rudolph runs crazy behind them. It also effects Lombardi who maybe threw what, only twice to the slot? Did we go only two wide so much bc of the lack of experience of Mccray/kasper? If Rudolph takes a couple to the house does EIU get out of that defense and we can run?

I was really hoping Hammock would focus on the passing game more. With 2 new starters at wr I’d think their reps are more beneficial than the RB’s(except Waylee)

It didn't seem like the WR's had a hard time getting open, it's just that we were hellbent on running the ball for some reason.

Tucker and Thornton were open pretty much whenever they wanted to be it seemed like. Even Kacsper got open and Lombardi hit him with a dot, he just didn't catch it.

Just felt like there was not enough balance...way too run heavy against a defense showing 9 in the box. I get the OL is good, but that's not a good proposition.

Just thinking they may have thrown a bit more with Trayvon out there. Obviously. But the impact could have been a lot. Trayvon is the kinda player that can effect the QB, the RBs and the defense.

Shemar Thornton is a worthy substitute. Kaczper the Friendly Ghost would be too, if he could catch.

Friendly because I barely saw him out there.

(09-02-2022 01:51 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Shemar Thornton is a worthy substitute. Kaczper the Friendly Ghost would be too, if he could catch.

Friendly because I barely saw him out there.

I was very happy with Thornton last night. But Rudolph is the only guy who is gonna take a 7 yd slant to the house. It’s just much easier to connect on a short pass and let the wr run the other 60 yards than to connect 45 yards down the field in stride on the throw.

Im stating the obvious when I say Rudolph was a big loss. But I think last night was just our first taste. The passing game wasn’t bad, but it was rarely a big threat. We primarily won last night due to the big threat in the run game. When that gets shut down it would be such a difference to have that big threat from a WR.

I’m with you, Rabid. Last night was an opportunity to throw it 40 times and see what we have in the WR corp. I think the jury is still out with that group (aside from Tucker).

WR depth is a massive concern

(09-02-2022 02:05 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-02-2022 01:51 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  Shemar Thornton is a worthy substitute. Kaczper the Friendly Ghost would be too, if he could catch.

Friendly because I barely saw him out there.

I was very happy with Thornton last night. But Rudolph is the only guy who is gonna take a 7 yd slant to the house. It’s just much easier to connect on a short pass and let the wr run the other 60 yards than to connect 45 yards down the field in stride on the throw.

Im stating the obvious when I say Rudolph was a big loss. But I think last night was just our first taste. The passing game wasn’t bad, but it was rarely a big threat. We primarily won last night due to the big threat in the run game. When that gets shut down it would be such a difference to have that big threat from a WR.

You are right. Shemar can stretch the field. But he's not a Tyreek Hill/Tommy Lee Lewis type of game changer

I was expecting the Rudolph absence to be somewhat offset by joiner and Mccray/Kasper. Why Joiner isn’t focused on more I will never know. Maybe this isn’t realistic but I’m expecting Tucker and Thornton to have the same performance each week they had last night. But the TE/slot position needs to produce 8-10 catches and 75+ yards as well. Last night the Outside WRs - B+, slot - D, TE - C-

(09-02-2022 02:59 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  I was expecting the Rudolph absence to be somewhat offset by joiner and Mccray/Kasper. Why Joiner isn’t focused on more I will never know. Maybe this isn’t realistic but I’m expecting Tucker and Thornton to have the same performance each week they had last night. But the TE/slot position needs to produce 8-10 catches and 75+ yards as well. Last night the Outside WRs - B+, slot - D, TE - C-

Maybe Eidsness isn't the dude we need him to be. I gave him a little bit of credit with all the past teams, because they lacked personnel. But we haven't been passing as much as we should be.

(09-02-2022 02:23 PM)7 Wrote:  WR depth is a massive concern

Agree 1,000%.

This is all coaching. We can’t just pass on third and long and expect the passing game to click. We gotta let Rocky get in some rhythm and tempo. We should be able run when we want but we’ve got to allow the passing game to get their timing during the game.

Ratdog is already missed.

(09-04-2022 03:37 PM)MiamiHuskie Wrote:  Ratdog is already missed.

Especially his blocking. It felt like they ran last years offense with this year’s personnel and it didn’t fit.