(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

Indeed, we went thru two overtimes and came away with no points. Thru the last two quarters and two overtimes we scored 14 points. That's not good enough. Waylee had more yards rushing than Hampton had passing.

I guess when you have a head coach who was a RB, you are going to have a heavy run offense. That has been NIU’s trademark since the Novak days. Other MAC teams can recruit effective passers, but not NIU. We just need a QB who can hand off and perhaps run a little. That’s NIU. We live by the run and die by the run.

When I watch Hammock’s misuse of the offense I think “WWCD”? What Would Carey Do?

(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

The team scored 38 points. Just think how many they'd score if he actually could deliver.

(10-02-2022 12:02 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  When I watch Hammock’s misuse of the offense I think “WWCD”? What Would Carey Do?

Probably have the QB run the ball 35 times a game.

The Ravens were up by 10 at the half. The Bills ended up covering lost ground in the third. In the final moments of the game, they went for it on fourth and goal and Lamar got picked off. Josh Allen drove down field, ran the clock down and kicked a field goal.

This script SUCKS.

(10-02-2022 02:59 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

The team scored 38 points. Just think how many they'd score if he actually could deliver.

38 points should get you a win. With a half decent defense our offense would get more possessions leading to a higher scoring offense.

But scoring no points in two overtimes is pretty pathetic. The offense got the ball twice at the 25-yard line and came up empty.

The offense needs to let it rip. The opposition will score 40. We gotta put up 50… That’s gotta be the mind set. But we won’t. Conservative is the fall back plan whenever the game is close. And we’ll keep losing.

(10-02-2022 04:51 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 02:59 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

The team scored 38 points. Just think how many they'd score if he actually could deliver.

38 points should get you a win. With a half decent defense our offense would get more possessions leading to a higher scoring offense.

But scoring no points in two overtimes is pretty pathetic. The offense got the ball twice at the 25-yard line and came up empty.

For one, no one is saying this offense if perfect or has operated at peak efficiency. But they also never should have been in OT.

With that said, is it the offenses fault that Richardson missed a 25 yard field goal with the wind behind him?

Now, of course, if NIU puts up 3 then maybe Ball State does thing differently and aren't kicking a 53 yard FG to tie the game up.

But, that game could have been over there.

He also missed a chipshot earlier in the game that would have changed things dramatically down the stretch.

So yeah. Richardson is a problem and a liability too.

Again, the offense isn't perfect but they almost have to be because the defense is terrible and the kicker sucks for some reason. I think he needs another injection like the one he gave himself after last year's Ball State game.

(10-02-2022 05:06 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 04:51 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 02:59 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

The team scored 38 points. Just think how many they'd score if he actually could deliver.

38 points should get you a win. With a half decent defense our offense would get more possessions leading to a higher scoring offense.

But scoring no points in two overtimes is pretty pathetic. The offense got the ball twice at the 25-yard line and came up empty.

For one, no one is saying this offense if perfect or has operated at peak efficiency. But they also never should have been in OT.

With that said, is it the offenses fault that Richardson missed a 25 yard field goal with the wind behind him?

Now, of course, if NIU puts up 3 then maybe Ball State does thing differently and aren't kicking a 53 yard FG to tie the game up.

But, that game could have been over there.

He also missed a chipshot earlier in the game that would have changed things dramatically down the stretch.

So yeah. Richardson is a problem and a liability too.

Again, the offense isn't perfect but they almost have to be because the defense is terrible and the kicker sucks for some reason. I think he needs another injection like the one he gave himself after last year's Ball State game.

While the offense has definitely outperformed the defense, they both suffer from the same affliction. Performance issues in critical situations. The D was great in the first half. Then just an utter collapse. They get close to getting stops but just fail on crucial 3rd and 10s over and over. And while the offense does very well most of the game they fold at the worst times. The two turnovers they got produced zero points(I believe). A couple times a first down would seal the game and they come Up short. Their OT performance.

This team has found ways to mess up almost all the critical moments, D and O, in all these losses.

If you were to tell me a running back would rush for 230 yards and three touchdowns and we would lose, I would think you were crazy but it happened. When a true freshman is your leading tackler, you know you got problems on the defense.

Including the Bowl game against Coastal, we have had 5 games (maybe Kentucky is bit of a stretch) in a row that could have gone either way with a play or two & we have lost every one of them. I think all the injuries we have had are not acknowledged enough- I know the "the Hard Way", but all the players that are out is truly unbelievable. That we have been able to hang in every game with one arm behind our back is commendable. Let's get some guys back, beginning with Lombardi and get this ship turned around now!

I don’t want to hear about injuries. All we hear from the coaching staff is depth and competition. And “next man up.”

And yet the coaches coach scared and are afraid to let them play.

(10-02-2022 05:47 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 05:06 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 04:51 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 02:59 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(10-02-2022 10:58 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  I can see the D is bad. But when the offense needs points Hampston can’t deliver. Without Rocky this team will struggle to win

The team scored 38 points. Just think how many they'd score if he actually could deliver.

38 points should get you a win. With a half decent defense our offense would get more possessions leading to a higher scoring offense.

But scoring no points in two overtimes is pretty pathetic. The offense got the ball twice at the 25-yard line and came up empty.

For one, no one is saying this offense if perfect or has operated at peak efficiency. But they also never should have been in OT.

With that said, is it the offenses fault that Richardson missed a 25 yard field goal with the wind behind him?

Now, of course, if NIU puts up 3 then maybe Ball State does thing differently and aren't kicking a 53 yard FG to tie the game up.

But, that game could have been over there.

He also missed a chipshot earlier in the game that would have changed things dramatically down the stretch.

So yeah. Richardson is a problem and a liability too.

Again, the offense isn't perfect but they almost have to be because the defense is terrible and the kicker sucks for some reason. I think he needs another injection like the one he gave himself after last year's Ball State game.

While the offense has definitely outperformed the defense, they both suffer from the same affliction. Performance issues in critical situations. The D was great in the first half. Then just an utter collapse. They get close to getting stops but just fail on crucial 3rd and 10s over and over. And while the offense does very well most of the game they fold at the worst times. The two turnovers they got produced zero points(I believe). A couple times a first down would seal the game and they come Up short. Their OT performance.

This team has found ways to mess up almost all the critical moments, D and O, in all these losses.

Points for: 31.6 ppg
Points against: 35.6 ppg

That is not "the same affliction".

One of those units is doing well, the other is terrible.

Btw, that 35.6 ppg ranks 118th out of 131 teams. They are in the bottom 10% of FBS football in points allowed (compared to right at the middle of the pack in points scored).

Only Toledo is scoring more per game in the MAC (33), while NIUs defense has outperformed only Bowling Green (41.6 ppg), Akron (38 ppg), and Ohio (42 ppg).

We are barely better than Akron on defense...let that sink in.

While the offense has its warts and has stuttered in big moments. The defense has been a total failure from the opening kickoff of the EIU game until they walked off the field yesterday.

Again, there are only 13 teams who have given up more points than us.

North Texas, Utah State, ULM, Akron, South Florida, Louisiana Tech, FIU, Colorado State, Bowling Green, Ohio, Colorado, Hawaii, and Charlotte.

That's it. Not even a New Mexico State or UMass on that list.

That's not a lack of performance in critical situations. That's a lack of performance....period.

This is college football, if you want to get noticed by the committee or votes, you have to be ready to hang 70 points on your opponent, because they'll do it to you. You should be out there to demoralize them and make them wish they didn't schedule you. That doesn't mean go out and play dirty or try to hurt people, just keep the pedal on the floor for 60 minutes, don't let up in the 3rd because you're up by 17. Win by 70 should be the goal.

(10-02-2022 09:25 PM)UnknownScout Wrote:  This is college football, if you want to get noticed by the committee or votes, you have to be ready to hang 70 points on your opponent, because they'll do it to you. You should be out there to demoralize them and make them wish they didn't schedule you. That doesn't mean go out and play dirty or try to hurt people, just keep the pedal on the floor for 60 minutes, don't let up in the 3rd because you're up by 17. Win by 70 should be the goal.

Not NIU! Our goal is to win by 1 point - if we win.

What I just can't understand is that this is the same staff that put together a masterful defensive game plan against KSU at the MACC.

And let's be honest, the Defense hasn't been bad in the first half of every game. It is the second half that is the collapse.

Is the other teams halftime adjustments that crafty? Is our D out of gas? Or is our scheme that easy to figure out after playing against it for a half?

Today NIU finds a way to win. Will be ugly but they win.

Lafayette has a day on D.