We have Rock Bottom, Lost Season, How Stubborn is Hammock, Hampton, Shattered Expectations ... it seems some posters have something to say on this season's disaster and just don't want it getting lost in an existing thread.

So, naturally, I've added this one. It's all IMHO.

Right now, Hammock is in the midst of disaster but stuck with his staff and the responsibilities distributed. No big changes mid-season will happen.

Now look where he comes from. This is a small staff. Hammock's most recent college experience comes from a big staff at Wisconsin. Then there was an NFL staff where each coach is a specialist. His direction is CEO-type management. It's hard to suddenly go small.

Hammock also had to be a hey-good-buddy guy to get staff in-house with a small budget, and a short time to find it after being in the NFL for five years. Hammock doesn't want to fire someone who came in that way. Yeah, I'm the guy who said right after EIU that when you have 2 DCs in charge, then nobody is in charge. Not brilliant. Just obvious. But I also think I know how the dual-DC happened.

Hammock had/has Derrick Jackson as Assoc. HC/ DC. When Dan Jackson left for Vandy in February, he hired a replacement. Among other things, Co-DC was given to Nick Benedetto ... sometimes a title/opportunity is partial compenation for lack of a budget to pay better. Men's bball has done the same thing, IIRC.

As to this season ... Hammock had one taste of success, 2021, where skills were good enough, some guys were standouts and the breaks went NIU's way. That's why we and he were so high on 2022. But "normal" is back and -- think about it -- Hammock never had "normal" until now (first year > Covid > post-Covid > now). "Normal" means not the circumstances of the first three seasons.

Since it's been mentioned elsewhere, after the Charlie Sadler fiasco, Joe Novak had five build-up seasons -- three losing and two at 6-5 each -- before the breakout with 8-4/7-1 in 2002 (unfortunately, not enough bowl games available then). Hammock was an asst. in 2005-06; Derrick Jackson was in 2005, so it's not like these guys don't know what it looks like.

I hope Hammock can shake this off, reshuffle and do better. The opportunity will likely come after this disaster is over. Realistically, expectations of radical change before that are an exercise in emotional futility. Take a deep breath and let it play out.

As to now, plenty to talk about game-by-game. Still six "regulars" to go.

Next: @ EMU 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+

(10-10-2022 07:05 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  We have Rock Bottom, Lost Season, How Stubborn is Hammock, Hampton, Shattered Expectations ... it seems some posters have something to say on this season's disaster and just don't want it getting lost in an existing thread.

So, naturally, I've added this one. It's all IMHO.

Right now, Hammock is in the midst of disaster but stuck with his staff and the responsibilities distributed. No big changes mid-season will happen.

Now look where he comes from. This is a small staff. Hammock's most recent college experience comes from a big staff at Wisconsin. Then there was an NFL staff where each coach is a specialist. His direction is CEO-type management. It's hard to suddenly go small.

Hammock also had to be a hey-good-buddy guy to get staff in-house with a small budget, and a short time to find it after being in the NFL for five years. Hammock doesn't want to fire someone who came in that way. Yeah, I'm the guy who said right after EIU that when you have 2 DCs in charge, then nobody is in charge. Not brilliant. Just obvious. But I also think I know how the dual-DC happened.

Hammock had/has Derrick Jackson as Assoc. HC/ DC. When Dan Jackson left for Vandy in February, he hired a replacement. Among other things, Co-DC was given to Nick Benedetto ... sometimes a title/opportunity is partial compenation for lack of a budget to pay better. Men's bball has done the same thing, IIRC.

As to this season ... Hammock had one taste of success, 2021, where skills were good enough, some guys were standouts and the breaks went NIU's way. That's why we and he were so high on 2022. But "normal" is back and -- think about it -- Hammock never had "normal" until now (first year > Covid > post-Covid > now). "Normal" means not the circumstances of the first three seasons.

Since it's been mentioned elsewhere, after the Charlie Sadler fiasco, Joe Novak had five build-up seasons -- three losing and two at 6-5 each -- before the breakout with 8-4/7-1 in 2002 (unfortunately, not enough bowl games available then). Hammock was an asst. in 2005-06; Derrick Jackson was in 2005, so it's not like these guys don't know what it looks like.

I hope Hammock can shake this off, reshuffle and do better. The opportunity will likely come after this disaster is over. Realistically, expectations of radical change before that are an exercise in emotional futility. Take a deep breath and let it play out.

As to now, plenty to talk about game-by-game. Still six "regulars" to go.

Next: @ EMU 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+

Stop it, PVK! You always provide a voice of reason! You are making us look bad*W*!

(10-10-2022 07:05 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  We have Rock Bottom, Lost Season, How Stubborn is Hammock, Hampton, Shattered Expectations ... it seems some posters have something to say on this season's disaster and just don't want it getting lost in an existing thread.

So, naturally, I've added this one. It's all IMHO.

Right now, Hammock is in the midst of disaster but stuck with his staff and the responsibilities distributed. No big changes mid-season will happen.

Now look where he comes from. This is a small staff. Hammock's most recent college experience comes from a big staff at Wisconsin. Then there was an NFL staff where each coach is a specialist. His direction is CEO-type management. It's hard to suddenly go small.

Hammock also had to be a hey-good-buddy guy to get staff in-house with a small budget, and a short time to find it after being in the NFL for five years. Hammock doesn't want to fire someone who came in that way. Yeah, I'm the guy who said right after EIU that when you have 2 DCs in charge, then nobody is in charge. Not brilliant. Just obvious. But I also think I know how the dual-DC happened.

Hammock had/has Derrick Jackson as Assoc. HC/ DC. When Dan Jackson left for Vandy in February, he hired a replacement. Among other things, Co-DC was given to Nick Benedetto ... sometimes a title/opportunity is partial compenation for lack of a budget to pay better. Men's bball has done the same thing, IIRC.

As to this season ... Hammock had one taste of success, 2021, where skills were good enough, some guys were standouts and the breaks went NIU's way. That's why we and he were so high on 2022. But "normal" is back and -- think about it -- Hammock never had "normal" until now (first year > Covid > post-Covid > now). "Normal" means not the circumstances of the first three seasons.

Since it's been mentioned elsewhere, after the Charlie Sadler fiasco, Joe Novak had five build-up seasons -- three losing and two at 6-5 each -- before the breakout with 8-4/7-1 in 2002 (unfortunately, not enough bowl games available then). Hammock was an asst. in 2005-06; Derrick Jackson was in 2005, so it's not like these guys don't know what it looks like.

I hope Hammock can shake this off, reshuffle and do better. The opportunity will likely come after this disaster is over. Realistically, expectations of radical change before that are an exercise in emotional futility. Take a deep breath and let it play out.

As to now, plenty to talk about game-by-game. Still six "regulars" to go.

Next: @ EMU 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+

Nope. Not gonna take a deep breath. A young team which they are, should be showing improvement from year to year. They have gone backwards by a mile this year so far. I get that injuries are a factor, but we were in and should have won at least two of the last 4 games. Coaching and lack of adjustments cost us more than the players did. The morale takes a major hit when the players are not sure if the coaches know what they’re talking about. This is a game of momentum which NIU currently has none of. This is not a budget issue. It’s a competence issue, it’s a thinking you are better than you are issue. It can be fixed, but won’t be fixed this year unfortunately

What's even more frustrating to watch is that teams that lost a lot of production are doing better than us-- WMU, Coastal C., Ball State, Buffalo, etc.

(10-10-2022 08:12 AM)BDB5yp Wrote:  

(10-10-2022 07:05 AM)pvk75 Wrote:  We have Rock Bottom, Lost Season, How Stubborn is Hammock, Hampton, Shattered Expectations ... it seems some posters have something to say on this season's disaster and just don't want it getting lost in an existing thread.

So, naturally, I've added this one. It's all IMHO.

Right now, Hammock is in the midst of disaster but stuck with his staff and the responsibilities distributed. No big changes mid-season will happen.

Now look where he comes from. This is a small staff. Hammock's most recent college experience comes from a big staff at Wisconsin. Then there was an NFL staff where each coach is a specialist. His direction is CEO-type management. It's hard to suddenly go small.

Hammock also had to be a hey-good-buddy guy to get staff in-house with a small budget, and a short time to find it after being in the NFL for five years. Hammock doesn't want to fire someone who came in that way. Yeah, I'm the guy who said right after EIU that when you have 2 DCs in charge, then nobody is in charge. Not brilliant. Just obvious. But I also think I know how the dual-DC happened.

Hammock had/has Derrick Jackson as Assoc. HC/ DC. When Dan Jackson left for Vandy in February, he hired a replacement. Among other things, Co-DC was given to Nick Benedetto ... sometimes a title/opportunity is partial compenation for lack of a budget to pay better. Men's bball has done the same thing, IIRC.

As to this season ... Hammock had one taste of success, 2021, where skills were good enough, some guys were standouts and the breaks went NIU's way. That's why we and he were so high on 2022. But "normal" is back and -- think about it -- Hammock never had "normal" until now (first year > Covid > post-Covid > now). "Normal" means not the circumstances of the first three seasons.

Since it's been mentioned elsewhere, after the Charlie Sadler fiasco, Joe Novak had five build-up seasons -- three losing and two at 6-5 each -- before the breakout with 8-4/7-1 in 2002 (unfortunately, not enough bowl games available then). Hammock was an asst. in 2005-06; Derrick Jackson was in 2005, so it's not like these guys don't know what it looks like.

I hope Hammock can shake this off, reshuffle and do better. The opportunity will likely come after this disaster is over. Realistically, expectations of radical change before that are an exercise in emotional futility. Take a deep breath and let it play out.

As to now, plenty to talk about game-by-game. Still six "regulars" to go.

Next: @ EMU 2:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+

Nope. Not gonna take a deep breath. A young team which they are, should be showing improvement from year to year. They have gone backwards by a mile this year so far. I get that injuries are a factor, but we were in and should have won at least two of the last 4 games. Coaching and lack of adjustments cost us more than the players did. The morale takes a major hit when the players are not sure if the coaches know what they’re talking about. This is a game of momentum which NIU currently has none of. This is not a budget issue. It’s a competence issue, it’s a thinking you are better than you are issue. It can be fixed, but won’t be fixed this year unfortunately

Totally agree.

Take a deep breath or not. Your choice. But Hammock knows he has to make staffing adjustments, now or probably post-season. He has to make some offensive play and/or player adjustments. He has to see how his other QBs do. He has to shift gears from running into the box. He has to pass on first down occasionally. He has to get a pass defense coordinator (Dan Jackson was before he left). He cannot do what Mallory and Novak and perhaps Pettibone did not do ... get stuck and stay there. Otherwise, if/when Lombardi and Rudolph come back it won't matter to them, or the other guys coming back. Hammock is not dumb.

(10-10-2022 12:06 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Take a deep breath or not. Your choice. But Hammock knows he has to make staffing adjustments, now or probably post-season. He has to make some offensive play and/or player adjustments. He has to see how his other QBs do. He has to shift gears from running into the box. He has to pass on first down occasionally. He has to get a pass defense coordinator (Dan Jackson was before he left). He cannot do what Mallory and Novak and perhaps Pettibone did not do ... get stuck and stay there. Otherwise, if/when Lombardi and Rudolph come back it won't matter to them, or the other guys coming back. Hammock is not dumb.

But are you not concerned with the quality of players he is recruiting? Is there one standout player on defense? Just one? On offense obviously Rudolph. Then Waylee and Brown. But he was a NFL RB coach so you expect quality RBs. He still hasn’t started single WR from any of his classes. His best O-linemen is a Carey leftover. Big Z is also a Carey recruit. Fletcher was his first QB recruit. Hampton second. That’s it.

How much Hammock is willing to change now will have to be seen very quickly, probably the EMU game (at least in my book). He has to do something to lift the team's attitude. Passing on first down is not a bad idea. Playing Lynch for a solid half would be good too. See what we really have, not tape of Lynch at Temple with RC there.

Of course I'm concerned about recruiting. But I'm not a recruiting statistician and only see what I see in games. That's the only judgement factor I have. And there are some guys we haven't seen much, so why are they there? (Quick add: why not see a little Fletcher. Not like burning a redshirt. And some of those WRs you mentioned).

I took some deep breaths, but we're still 1-5...

(10-10-2022 12:26 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  How much Hammock is willing to change now will have to be seen very quickly, probably the EMU game (at least in my book). He has to do something to lift the team's attitude. Passing on first down is not a bad idea. Playing Lynch for a solid half would be good too. See what we really have, not tape of Lynch at Temple with RC there.

Of course I'm concerned about recruiting. But I'm not a recruiting statistician and only see what I see in games. That's the only judgement factor I have. And there are some guys we haven't seen much, so why are they there? (Quick add: why not see a little Fletcher. Not like burning a redshirt. And some of those WRs you mentioned).

I’d love to see Fletcher. If you’re not going to let Lynch throw then let Fletcher do the same. He is the better runner IMO

Coach of the year 2021 - 2021 MAC Champs. Not worried one bit about Hammock. We had a miracle season last year. we won many tight games because of COACHING. Law of averages catching up, some bad injuries to our top playmakers combined with every MAC team hates us and feels they "owe" us one that's the year we are having. We will re-group enough to eff up a few teams season. Still a SOLID program, with MAC Championships in its blood.

(10-10-2022 12:37 PM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  I took some deep breaths, but we're still 1-5...

I took some deep breaths and now I can't get rid of that foul smell and taste of Toledo.

I will be taking deep breaths vs EMU. Of course it will be out of a bag filled with contact cement.

(10-10-2022 12:46 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-10-2022 12:26 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  How much Hammock is willing to change now will have to be seen very quickly, probably the EMU game (at least in my book). He has to do something to lift the team's attitude. Passing on first down is not a bad idea. Playing Lynch for a solid half would be good too. See what we really have, not tape of Lynch at Temple with RC there.

Of course I'm concerned about recruiting. But I'm not a recruiting statistician and only see what I see in games. That's the only judgement factor I have. And there are some guys we haven't seen much, so why are they there? (Quick add: why not see a little Fletcher. Not like burning a redshirt. And some of those WRs you mentioned).

I’d love to see Fletcher. If you’re not going to let Lynch throw then let Fletcher do the same. He is the better runner IMO

Agreed. I think that Fletcher is the better runner/athlete, but I don't recall if he ran the read option as well as Lynch does. Regardless, no reason to burn Lynch's redshirt if all they are going to use him for is running.

(10-10-2022 12:49 PM)NILAW Wrote:  

(10-10-2022 12:46 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(10-10-2022 12:26 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  How much Hammock is willing to change now will have to be seen very quickly, probably the EMU game (at least in my book). He has to do something to lift the team's attitude. Passing on first down is not a bad idea. Playing Lynch for a solid half would be good too. See what we really have, not tape of Lynch at Temple with RC there.

Of course I'm concerned about recruiting. But I'm not a recruiting statistician and only see what I see in games. That's the only judgement factor I have. And there are some guys we haven't seen much, so why are they there? (Quick add: why not see a little Fletcher. Not like burning a redshirt. And some of those WRs you mentioned).

I’d love to see Fletcher. If you’re not going to let Lynch throw then let Fletcher do the same. He is the better runner IMO

Agreed. I think that Fletcher is the better runner/athlete, but I don't recall if he ran the read option as well as Lynch does. Regardless, no reason to burn Lynch's redshirt if all they are going to use him for is running.

Totally agree on Lynch. Whenever Lynch is brought in, even my cat knows he is going to run with the ball. It is no longer a secret even though Hammock must think it is.

Wow.

Some seem to be able to predict the future on top of the Alabama and T OSU like expectations. Even Michigan didn't fire Harbaugh after 11-8 over 2 seasons. Only 1 MACC in last 4 years, one being COVID!!!

Hammock's head was called for after 0-6. Won MACC. Now again it's his head, even a "a pattern" with a MACC.

From 2011, only 4 other teams won title. Only one had multiple, BGSU to not return since 2015 and become a doormat since 3 straight appearances. And no other team has reached the championship more that 2x in that span!

If you think MAC titles every 2/3 years, title game 3/4, 3/5 are the norm....titles 1/4,,,perhaps title came 2/5 are not acceptable I suggest you find a P5 team you loath to follow. That's what MAC grads in Michigan and Ohio did, do and will continue to do.

Wake me in 2 years when a sensible discussion can start of whether Hammock should be let go.

Agree. As said, Hammock is not dumb. This team is in the dumps. It's his job to lift it. Start by doing different things. Got six games and a c--p season to do it. Lotsa guys with the 4 "free " games. Learn something.

(10-10-2022 01:03 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Agree. As said, Hammock is not dumb. This team is in the dumps. It's his job to lift it. Start by doing different things. Got six games and a c--p season to do it. Lotsa guys with the 4 "free " games. Learn something.

Although Hammock is "not dumb", I'll bet we do not see many substantive changes in the use of players or in play calls.

(10-10-2022 01:00 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Wow.

Some seem to be able to predict the future on top of the Alabama and T OSU like expectations. Even Michigan didn't fire Harbaugh after 11-8 over 2 seasons. Only 1 MACC in last 4 years, one being COVID!!!

Hammock's head was called for after 0-6. Won MACC. Now again it's his head, even a "a pattern" with a MACC.

From 2011, only 4 other teams won title. Only one had multiple, BGSU to not return since 2015 and become a doormat since 3 straight appearances. And no other team has reached the championship more that 2x in that span!

If you think MAC titles every 2/3 years, title game 3/4, 3/5 are the norm....titles 1/4,,,perhaps title came 2/5 are not acceptable I suggest you find a P5 team you loath to follow. That's what MAC grads in Michigan and Ohio did, do and will continue to do.

Wake me in 2 years when a sensible discussion can start of whether Hammock should be let go.

Most people aren’t at a “fire Hammock” phase yet. But we are at a “you need to change what you’re doing” phase. And that is completely reasonable. It’s not just this year either. Recruiting and play calling have been questionable for 3 out of 4 seasons. He is learning on the job. Yes. So we all want to see what he has, or has not, learned.

(10-10-2022 01:03 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Agree. As said, Hammock is not dumb. This team is in the dumps. It's his job to lift it. Start by doing different things. Got six games and a c--p season to do it. Lotsa guys with the 4 "free " games. Learn something.

I'd be delighted by us doing different things, mix things up and the like. How much could it hurt? We'll see about being delighted.