I think you’ll see another WR added before fall practice

(01-18-2023 03:29 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  I think Hammock did an OK job here.

2 corners were a need. They played a lot of man, so I am thinking we see a lot of man this season. The linebacker is a 4-3 middle linebacker, hammock called him a middle linebacker, might signal the end…or at least a limited amount of seeing the “huskie backer” out there. I suspect he is trying to bring in at least 1 or 2 more.

Needed running backs. He got 2 juniors and some young guys. Needed skill at WR, hammock got 1. Need more in my mind. The TE from juco is a nice add. I am not concerned with the TR spot, we go 3 deep with pass
Catchers, and if gumbs learns how to catch its 4 deep.

Overall a nice little haul. Would have liked more, but these guys all fill some needs. The safety is still going to show up, but he graduates this spring. That’s a spot where I thought we needed 2. Replace both starters.

You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

(01-17-2023 11:51 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(01-17-2023 09:05 PM)ChicagoHuskie Wrote:  

(01-17-2023 07:19 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(01-17-2023 04:29 PM)7 Wrote:  Jordan Gandy is enrolled in classes, btw. Sounds like he’s back

He should have taken that Hawaii offer. I know I would have. As passionate as I am for NIU, DeKalb can't compete with Hawaii beaches, weather, and beauty.

Hawaii is nice, but from a football perspective this was a no brainer for Gandy I would think. NIU has a great chance for a turnaround season and do some special things next season. Hawaii program has no shot of a good season. Glad to see Gandy stay home.

Hawaii is overrated. Beaches smeaches. The banks of the Kish are far better for sun and fun.

Plus Hawaii plays in a Track & Field stadium.

LOL

(01-18-2023 04:23 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 03:29 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  I think Hammock did an OK job here.

2 corners were a need. They played a lot of man, so I am thinking we see a lot of man this season. The linebacker is a 4-3 middle linebacker, hammock called him a middle linebacker, might signal the end…or at least a limited amount of seeing the “huskie backer” out there. I suspect he is trying to bring in at least 1 or 2 more.

Needed running backs. He got 2 juniors and some young guys. Needed skill at WR, hammock got 1. Need more in my mind. The TE from juco is a nice add. I am not concerned with the TR spot, we go 3 deep with pass
Catchers, and if gumbs learns how to catch its 4 deep.

Overall a nice little haul. Would have liked more, but these guys all fill some needs. The safety is still going to show up, but he graduates this spring. That’s a spot where I thought we needed 2. Replace both starters.

You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

The huskie wasn’t a nickel. While they wanted him to behave like one - no one they trotted out there could cover. Crusty safeties are not the answer. Dillion Thomas was great there because he was a safety/corner hybrid, not a slow safety.

Let gandy come back if he wants. Throw him in the nickel. Let him cover the slot. True 4-3 base D here we come.

(01-18-2023 05:46 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 04:23 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 03:29 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  I think Hammock did an OK job here.

2 corners were a need. They played a lot of man, so I am thinking we see a lot of man this season. The linebacker is a 4-3 middle linebacker, hammock called him a middle linebacker, might signal the end…or at least a limited amount of seeing the “huskie backer” out there. I suspect he is trying to bring in at least 1 or 2 more.

Needed running backs. He got 2 juniors and some young guys. Needed skill at WR, hammock got 1. Need more in my mind. The TE from juco is a nice add. I am not concerned with the TR spot, we go 3 deep with pass
Catchers, and if gumbs learns how to catch its 4 deep.

Overall a nice little haul. Would have liked more, but these guys all fill some needs. The safety is still going to show up, but he graduates this spring. That’s a spot where I thought we needed 2. Replace both starters.

You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

The huskie wasn’t a nickel. While they wanted him to behave like one - no one they trotted out there could cover. Crusty safeties are not the answer. Dillion Thomas was great there because he was a safety/corner hybrid, not a slow safety.

Let gandy come back if he wants. Throw him in the nickel. Let him cover the slot. True 4-3 base D here we come.

Dont get hung up on position titles. The Sam/Huskie/Nickel/or whatever you want to call it is basically the same position. Who plays there is based largely on body type. You get killed against 11 personnel playing with a regular SAM. 11 is the prevalent personnel group in college and the NFL. In 2021 in the NFL 75% of the time 5 or more DBs were on the field. The college game is even more spread out than NFL. And for teams like Georgia or Michigan who live in 12 personnel you have a real delema because one of those TE's is a serious receiving threat. Slow safeties down there at the Huskie are basically off-ball linebackers.

(01-18-2023 06:29 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 05:46 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 04:23 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 03:29 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  I think Hammock did an OK job here.

2 corners were a need. They played a lot of man, so I am thinking we see a lot of man this season. The linebacker is a 4-3 middle linebacker, hammock called him a middle linebacker, might signal the end…or at least a limited amount of seeing the “huskie backer” out there. I suspect he is trying to bring in at least 1 or 2 more.

Needed running backs. He got 2 juniors and some young guys. Needed skill at WR, hammock got 1. Need more in my mind. The TE from juco is a nice add. I am not concerned with the TR spot, we go 3 deep with pass
Catchers, and if gumbs learns how to catch its 4 deep.

Overall a nice little haul. Would have liked more, but these guys all fill some needs. The safety is still going to show up, but he graduates this spring. That’s a spot where I thought we needed 2. Replace both starters.

You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

The huskie wasn’t a nickel. While they wanted him to behave like one - no one they trotted out there could cover. Crusty safeties are not the answer. Dillion Thomas was great there because he was a safety/corner hybrid, not a slow safety.

Let gandy come back if he wants. Throw him in the nickel. Let him cover the slot. True 4-3 base D here we come.

Dont get hung up on position titles. The Sam/Huskie/Nickel/or whatever you want to call it is basically the same position. Who plays there is based largely on body type. You get killed against 11 personnel playing with a regular SAM. 11 is the prevalent personnel group in college and the NFL. In 2021 in the NFL 75% of the time 5 or more DBs were on the field. The college game is even more spread out than NFL. And for teams like Georgia or Michigan who live in 12 personnel you have a real delema because one of those TE's is a serious receiving threat. Slow safeties down there at the Huskie are basically off-ball linebackers.

If the coaches think it’s “the same position” that’s an issue. It’s not, different responsibilities which require a different skill set. Slow safeties weren’t the answer…we learned that last season.

We have zero speed at the safety spot so running out safety #5 as the starting huskie wasn’t the move…shocker.

This season is going to be simple. Attack 4-3. Nickel back when needed. Not going to be cute. Man coverage with a blitz package that might be the most “advanced” thing about this defense. Keep it simple.

In my opinion, the entire defense is too slow. I thought the d-line did a better job creating pressure on the QB, but they could rarely finish the job. Too often they allowed the QB to scramble and make plays running for a big gain or finding an open receiver down field. The LBs look like they run with cement shoes and the DBs would constantly get burned. The whole situation reminds me of the early Jerry Kill days. After the the bowl loss to USF, Jerry said that the team lacked speed and that they would address that in recruiting. After that, the team got faster and the wins were a plenty.

(01-19-2023 10:43 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  In my opinion, the entire defense is too slow. I thought the d-line did a better job creating pressure on the QB, but they could rarely finish the job. Too often they allowed the QB to scramble and make plays running for a big gain or finding an open receiver down field. The LBs look like they run with cement shoes and the DBs would constantly get burned. The whole situation reminds me of the early Jerry Kill days. After the the bowl loss to USF, Jerry said that the team lacked speed and that they would address that in recruiting. After that, the team got faster and the wins were a plenty.

What’s bad is that Hammock said that after he came in. Said he fixed it. He did not. This team is slow.

(01-19-2023 09:40 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 06:29 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 05:46 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 04:23 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 03:29 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  I think Hammock did an OK job here.

2 corners were a need. They played a lot of man, so I am thinking we see a lot of man this season. The linebacker is a 4-3 middle linebacker, hammock called him a middle linebacker, might signal the end…or at least a limited amount of seeing the “huskie backer” out there. I suspect he is trying to bring in at least 1 or 2 more.

Needed running backs. He got 2 juniors and some young guys. Needed skill at WR, hammock got 1. Need more in my mind. The TE from juco is a nice add. I am not concerned with the TR spot, we go 3 deep with pass
Catchers, and if gumbs learns how to catch its 4 deep.

Overall a nice little haul. Would have liked more, but these guys all fill some needs. The safety is still going to show up, but he graduates this spring. That’s a spot where I thought we needed 2. Replace both starters.

You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

The huskie wasn’t a nickel. While they wanted him to behave like one - no one they trotted out there could cover. Crusty safeties are not the answer. Dillion Thomas was great there because he was a safety/corner hybrid, not a slow safety.

Let gandy come back if he wants. Throw him in the nickel. Let him cover the slot. True 4-3 base D here we come.

Dont get hung up on position titles. The Sam/Huskie/Nickel/or whatever you want to call it is basically the same position. Who plays there is based largely on body type. You get killed against 11 personnel playing with a regular SAM. 11 is the prevalent personnel group in college and the NFL. In 2021 in the NFL 75% of the time 5 or more DBs were on the field. The college game is even more spread out than NFL. And for teams like Georgia or Michigan who live in 12 personnel you have a real delema because one of those TE's is a serious receiving threat. Slow safeties down there at the Huskie are basically off-ball linebackers.

If the coaches think it’s “the same position” that’s an issue. It’s not, different responsibilities which require a different skill set. Slow safeties weren’t the answer…we learned that last season.

We have zero speed at the safety spot so running out safety #5 as the starting huskie wasn’t the move…shocker.

This season is going to be simple. Attack 4-3. Nickel back when needed. Not going to be cute. Man coverage with a blitz package that might be the most “advanced” thing about this defense. Keep it simple.

It's literally the same position. The responsibilities do not really change. I'll give you an example. At BYU they had three different names for the same position. The "Flash", the "Nickel", and the "Cinco". The only difference was each name coincided with a "body type" that they matched with personnel. In 2020, 92% of defensive snaps in all of FBS had a least a 5th DB or Hybrid player on the field. "Attack 4-3" is a nonsense name Mike Mallory and Scott Shafer decided to call the defense so that it sounded tough. It's a recruiting pitch. Much the same way schools use HUSKIE, BANDIT, VIPER, LEO, or any other cool sounding name as a recruiting pitch. In the Novak days with Mallory, Shafer, and Narduzzi they played with an "Apache" (Shafer and family spent some time on a reservation). The "Apache" was the strong safety. Even now Narduzzi plays with a "Star" and a "Money." The "Star" is a hybrid player that plays generally to the field or the passing strength. None of this stuff is advanced. NIU will play man (0 or 1), cover 2, cover 3, cover 4, and cover 6 all with some likely match principles. And if they stay in a 40 front, even the blitzes aren't complicated. Most teams that play 40 fronts don't want to blitz much and will rely on a pass rushing 3 tech (O'Malley) and a great EDGE rusher (TBD). The goal is to find a player regardless of body type that can play in space. What that guy is called is irrelevant. If you're saying the safeties are already slow, why do you want a theoretically slower LB in the same spot? In pass coverage this player will still mostly play man, hook to curl, or curl to flat with match principles (wheel routes for example) depending on the coverage regardless of who is out there.

(01-19-2023 10:43 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  In my opinion, the entire defense is too slow. I thought the d-line did a better job creating pressure on the QB, but they could rarely finish the job. Too often they allowed the QB to scramble and make plays running for a big gain or finding an open receiver down field. The LBs look like they run with cement shoes and the DBs would constantly get burned. The whole situation reminds me of the early Jerry Kill days. After the the bowl loss to USF, Jerry said that the team lacked speed and that they would address that in recruiting. After that, the team got faster and the wins were a plenty.

Team speed is definitely an issue. The other MAC coaches told us that at the beginning of the season. They said we're big, but not super athletic. We look like a P5 in terms of size, but we don't run like P5 teams.

(01-19-2023 03:35 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 10:43 AM)timxlydon Wrote:  In my opinion, the entire defense is too slow. I thought the d-line did a better job creating pressure on the QB, but they could rarely finish the job. Too often they allowed the QB to scramble and make plays running for a big gain or finding an open receiver down field. The LBs look like they run with cement shoes and the DBs would constantly get burned. The whole situation reminds me of the early Jerry Kill days. After the the bowl loss to USF, Jerry said that the team lacked speed and that they would address that in recruiting. After that, the team got faster and the wins were a plenty.

Team speed is definitely an issue. The other MAC coaches told us that at the beginning of the season. They said we're big, but not super athletic. We look like a P5 in terms of size, but we don't run like P5 teams.

Regarding speed, not sure we added speed in the portal. By that i mean lightning quick or a sub 4.5 forty guy.

(01-19-2023 03:33 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-19-2023 09:40 AM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 06:29 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 05:46 PM)BigChilla Wrote:  

(01-18-2023 04:23 PM)The Grinch Wrote:  You're going to see a 5th DB or Huskie type player on the filed anywhere between 60 and 80 percent of the time. The only difference 4-2-5 and 4-3 defenses is which body type is on the field. The Nickle/Sam/Huskie/Whatever is for all intents and purposes the same player in scheme. But with the prevalence 11 personnel, traditional off ball Sam backers become liabilities.

I guess they addressed needs with this group. We'll find out if they can play soon enough. I am curious about the lack of pursuit of a few EDGE rushers in the portal. Unless the unseen young EDGE guys have garnered confidence from the staff, they may have missed on filling potentially the biggest need on this team.

The huskie wasn’t a nickel. While they wanted him to behave like one - no one they trotted out there could cover. Crusty safeties are not the answer. Dillion Thomas was great there because he was a safety/corner hybrid, not a slow safety.

Let gandy come back if he wants. Throw him in the nickel. Let him cover the slot. True 4-3 base D here we come.

Dont get hung up on position titles. The Sam/Huskie/Nickel/or whatever you want to call it is basically the same position. Who plays there is based largely on body type. You get killed against 11 personnel playing with a regular SAM. 11 is the prevalent personnel group in college and the NFL. In 2021 in the NFL 75% of the time 5 or more DBs were on the field. The college game is even more spread out than NFL. And for teams like Georgia or Michigan who live in 12 personnel you have a real delema because one of those TE's is a serious receiving threat. Slow safeties down there at the Huskie are basically off-ball linebackers.

If the coaches think it’s “the same position” that’s an issue. It’s not, different responsibilities which require a different skill set. Slow safeties weren’t the answer…we learned that last season.

We have zero speed at the safety spot so running out safety #5 as the starting huskie wasn’t the move…shocker.

This season is going to be simple. Attack 4-3. Nickel back when needed. Not going to be cute. Man coverage with a blitz package that might be the most “advanced” thing about this defense. Keep it simple.

It's literally the same position. The responsibilities do not really change. I'll give you an example. At BYU they had three different names for the same position. The "Flash", the "Nickel", and the "Cinco". The only difference was each name coincided with a "body type" that they matched with personnel. In 2020, 92% of defensive snaps in all of FBS had a least a 5th DB or Hybrid player on the field. "Attack 4-3" is a nonsense name Mike Mallory and Scott Shafer decided to call the defense so that it sounded tough. It's a recruiting pitch. Much the same way schools use HUSKIE, BANDIT, VIPER, LEO, or any other cool sounding name as a recruiting pitch. In the Novak days with Mallory, Shafer, and Narduzzi they played with an "Apache" (Shafer and family spent some time on a reservation). The "Apache" was the strong safety. Even now Narduzzi plays with a "Star" and a "Money." The "Star" is a hybrid player that plays generally to the field or the passing strength. None of this stuff is advanced. NIU will play man (0 or 1), cover 2, cover 3, cover 4, and cover 6 all with some likely match principles. And if they stay in a 40 front, even the blitzes aren't complicated. Most teams that play 40 fronts don't want to blitz much and will rely on a pass rushing 3 tech (O'Malley) and a great EDGE rusher (TBD). The goal is to find a player regardless of body type that can play in space. What that guy is called is irrelevant. If you're saying the safeties are already slow, why do you want a theoretically slower LB in the same spot? In pass coverage this player will still mostly play man, hook to curl, or curl to flat with match principles (wheel routes for example) depending on the coverage regardless of who is out there.

Next your going to tell us that recruiting services that hand out stars to high school players don't actually employ hundreds if not thousands of people to evaluate the thousands of recruits each year. Instead you'll say they give out stars based on who the recruits have offers from and how many offers they have.

You are truly "The Grinch"!

I'm not going to tack on to the post about the defense because it is already very long.

I think the biggest issue with the defense since this staff took over is their inability to create a true identity. One scheme, one style, one skillet that they have mastered and use a majority of the time, with variations split from that to counter what offenses are doing. Instead, they have seemingly tried to create whole new defenses based on their opponents. Even when they keep something scheme-wise the same from one week to the next, they change the personel. There's been no consistency and that is why guys are constantly out of position and look so slow. They are thinking and reacting instead of anticipating and going full speed.

They need to decide what their identity is going to be. Are they a 4-3, or a 3-3-5, or a 4-2-5. Are they a blitzing team? Do they play man or zone? Do they attack and force more turnovers but give up more big plays or play conservative and make teams execute 10-12 play drives?

Stop trying to be good at 100 different things, and become GREAT at 1. Then build/branch from there.

Also, evaluate personnel quarterly (every 3 games) and make changes as needed. Guys need time on the field with live game reps TOGETHER to really gel. The back end have 7 different starting combos last year. There was a 3 game stretch where they were the same guys, the other 9 weeks there was at least one, most times two, changes per week.

Grinch, you wrote a lot there…and I am not reading all that (insert meme here)

Doing a quick skim it looks like you are missing the point. The problem with the 4-2 with a huskie is that they threw a backer/slow safety in there and wanted him to perform like a nickel.

A”base” 4-3 with a nickel fixes that. In todays football you employ the extra DB way more than your base D….so let’s trot out a guy who can cover and not a crusty safety.

Without a Dillion Thomas on roster (a guy who started at corner) we didn’t have anyone who could cover. Refused to just say **** it and have rodgers, Byrd, and gandy out there. I know…it’s not like they could cover much of anything anyway….

Clearly who ever the defensive mastermind was wanted to try something he saw on TV. He didn’t have the players for it.

(01-21-2023 12:21 AM)TXHuskieJA26 Wrote:  I'm not going to tack on to the post about the defense because it is already very long.

I think the biggest issue with the defense since this staff took over is their inability to create a true identity. One scheme, one style, one skillet that they have mastered and use a majority of the time, with variations split from that to counter what offenses are doing. Instead, they have seemingly tried to create whole new defenses based on their opponents. Even when they keep something scheme-wise the same from one week to the next, they change the personel. There's been no consistency and that is why guys are constantly out of position and look so slow. They are thinking and reacting instead of anticipating and going full speed.

They need to decide what their identity is going to be. Are they a 4-3, or a 3-3-5, or a 4-2-5. Are they a blitzing team? Do they play man or zone? Do they attack and force more turnovers but give up more big plays or play conservative and make teams execute 10-12 play drives?

Stop trying to be good at 100 different things, and become GREAT at 1. Then build/branch from there.

Also, evaluate personnel quarterly (every 3 games) and make changes as needed. Guys need time on the field with live game reps TOGETHER to really gel. The back end have 7 different starting combos last year. There was a 3 game stretch where they were the same guys, the other 9 weeks there was at least one, most times two, changes per week.

Yep. Yep, yep, and yep.

Absolutely right. You have to give guys the chance to play together. And individually to make mistakes and learn from them and get better. That has been a big disappointment to me-- they way players appear-- make mistakes... and then disappear. If the player was good enough to appear-- then let him work through the mistakes. Otherwise, were you wrong in saying he was good enough? I sincerely hope this facet gets better!

Also correct on pick one thin g and get (I would say not good, but GREAT) at it, and then move on. I would add that then be excellent at 2, or 3 or 4 or 5 things. But beyond that, you are fooling yourself that you are going to be good at everything.