BG at WMU Game Thread

[Falconfreak90]

I have to admit I am greatly concerned about the psyche of the team right now...these last two weeks have been terrible and we have a lot of tough games still to go. The talent is there, no question in my mind. I think it's time Hurley gets a shot. I like Schilz but Hurley was right there with him all thru camp...let's see what he can do. I think Schilz will get the start vs tsun but if he falters early, Trent should be given the opportunity.

BTW, the last 3 times we've played WMU we've lost 45-14 (2005), 41-7 (2010) and 45-21 (2011). F that.

[Flipper]

Haven't seen the game...I was at a wedding...BTW, 30 minutes in a church on a perfect Saturday in exchange for free drinks is a trade I'll make every time...but you have to be concerned. When your head coach is saying you're better than a year ago because you made it through a whole half of a game before you fell apart....that is not good.

[jpfalcon09]

I have to admit I am greatly concerned about the psyche of the team right now...these last two weeks have been terrible and we have a lot of tough games still to go. The talent is there, no question in my mind. I think it's time Hurley gets a shot. I like Schilz but Hurley was right there with him all thru camp...let's see what he can do. I think Schilz will get the start vs tsun but if he falters early, Trent should be given the opportunity.

BTW, the last 3 times we've played WMU we've lost 45-14 (2005), 41-7 (2010) and 45-21 (2011). F that.

100 points given up the last two games and over 1100 total yards is an embarrassment. What worries me is we're seeing the same trends as last year, a decent start to the season, followed by a regression in many aspects of the team's play. It seems like the defense can't handle any speed backs or QB's that can scramble, a lot of missed tackles were in open space that would have prevented big gains.

I like Schilz too but he is too inconsistent and lacks football IQ. He has a bunch of talent, but makes dumb decisions and forces a lot of bad passes. Is Hurley the answer? Probably not, but I would like to see him get in on a few set plays against UT to throw a new wrinkle in. The kid definitely knows how to use his feet.

As coach said yesterday, we're 6 games in and the youth excuse is no longer valid...either you're good or not good enough and the UT game is going to be the bellwether for this program and can serve as either a launching pad or a landmine for how the rest of the season goes.

[hammb]

A buddy & I made the trip to Kalamazoo. We have talked for years about scheduling a trip to a BG sporting event @ Western so we could also check out the great breweries in the area. We had hit Bell's before after a BG hoops game a few years back, but New Holland & Founders were just up the road. With the awesome weather forecast it seemed like the perfect day to head up and catch the game.

For starters let me say I really like WMU's campus. Lots of hills, tons of tailgating, a great overall atmosphere. Yeah, it was homecoming (with amazing weather), but overall it seemed like the game was more of an event than we have at BG. Secondly, I didn't think WMU's stadium was anything special, but I love how the one side appears built into the hillside...we watched the game from the grassy hill in the corner of the one endzone. Made for a great afternoon for football.

Then the game started...ugh...

First of all: this WMU team looked good. They're better than BG. And they're better than us by a LOT. #83 is a different type of athlete than I've seen against BG this year. There was something about him that if you watched hew as just EXPLOSIVE in comparison to everybody else on the field. He'll be playing on Sundays, I think.

Secondly their kicker has a monster leg. He put the opening kickoff through the uprights and was kicking anything with the wind DEEP into the endzone. Drilled a 41 yard FG with TONS of room to spare as well.

I see people calling for Hurley, but I don't understand why. We left after the 3rd quarter because there was beer to be drank, but from what I saw Schilz played alright. He isn't mobile and can't throw when he is moving, but when he has protection he does alright. The offense was killed by penalties and tons of dropped passes. The running game was also really inconsistent. There were a couple drives where Samuel was gaining yards, and when that happened the passing game looked better as well...but for the bulk of the game we weren't getting much on the ground at all.

And really, any talk about the offense is completely and totally irrelevant. What I saw in Kalamazoo yesterday was one of the most piss poor pathetic defensive efforts ever. And this as somebody who has watched a LOT of SHITTY ASS defense from these Falcons over the years. Coverage was nonexistent, and tackling was an embarrassment. I'm not sure the first Falcon to the ballcarrier took the guy down more than once all game long. And with a QB that can scramble like that where the HELL was the containment defender!? That's either piss poor discipline or a horrid gameplan, because every single time the QB went back to pass he had a lane to run for 15 yards untouched if he wanted it.

The coaches & players on defense should be freaking embarrassed by what they put out there yesterday. The offense was able to move the ball at times, but really needs to gain some consistency...everybody on that side of the ball. Defense though...was just putrid.

More importantly Bell's Brewery still creates amazing beer, but their brewpub is nothing spectacular. New Holland's restaurant had one of the best barfood appetizers I've ever eaten to go with some fantastic beers and distilled spirits. The place is an awesome treat, and well worth going out of your way for if you love good beer/spirits. Their single malt whiskey is a bigtime WIN. Founders Brewery put forth a great effort with one beer but was lackluster in the other. The overall feel of the place is that of a rowdy college bar. Paying cover at a brewpub was a bit of a shock, and I have to say that the atmosphere wasn't what I preferred after such a long day of driving and it being the 3rd brewery of the day. Still, some good beer to be had.

[60yearsofsicsic]

Chimie,

While you might feel like you might not want to read the site anymore, I have watch 15 years of football at BG and while you might be okay with losing to a "potential" MAC contender I am not atleast not to be out coached that bad when you have better players... I wanted to be part of the national conversation and Clawson is not going to take us there so as far as I am concerned he can go after the year. Also if you dont think Hurley deserves a chance I dont think you have been watch the last 2 years.

[Oldballcoach61]

Just got back in town from th game. It was tought o watch at times.

Shilz is young , but he makes way to many bone head mistakes for the time he has playd. Never checks off the primary reciever and looks down the recievers , telegraphing most his passes. He will not run vertical and doesn't like contact. It is well time to give Hurley some meaningful tim behind center. BG had way to many 3 and outs, which kills your defense.

Defense scheme was akward yesterday. With a mobile QB, we went dime about 75 %. We had 6 DB's on the field, and QB would just run vertical for 6-8 yds a pop. We played 8-9 yds off the line with our corners and that was a disaster. Poor tackling and out of postion players all day long. Are secondary is young, but they have NO confidence . They played reaction ball instead of playing on instinct. Tackling was an after thought. I think the front 4, when BG actually ran a 4 man front, was getting decent pressure, but coverge and contain was not there. What is with a 3 man , 6 DB defense? Play base 4 man front and lock up you assisgnments. We also played 2 true freshman on the Dline yesterday , at the same time. #97 Maynard saw his first action yesterday at DT.

This Saturday will tell us where the team is at, but the young guns have to start palying up to their potential.

[Flipper]

Interesting comment from Coach Clawson about the 4th and 1 we missed...he basically said that if Schilz had lowered his hips and presssed he might have made it.....that seems like he's questioning his toughness a bit as well.

I don't know that we should panic and turn the season over to a RS freshman just yet....if the coaches are thinking in those terms I hope they're sure because if it's a move they make I dont think they can go back agaion this season (barring injury). If Hurley is the guy he has to be the guy for the final half of the season.

We simply have to play better this week or we run the risk of seeing what could have been a bowl eligible year turn into a free fall.