Next up: Northern Illinois

[Hammer]

It feels like this team mailed in the season during that Akron game.

[jpfalcon09]

They covered at least!

[fanatic13]

What the hell was that last drive clock management? We need to bench Matt schilz 2.0. There's a lot of positives and progress on this team but we won't get where we want with this offensive play calling and qb play

[MarkL]

Teams were even on the scoreboard in the second half. Lost by 8. That kick return TD was a killer. If that doesn't happen, and finish one of those drives, we win.

Woulda. Coulda. Shoulda. Three straight conf games that way.

[Flipper]

Horrible QB play....throws behind guys on stuff to the middle of the field, overthrows every deep route and chucks the out routes into the ground.

[FalconTurf]

Competitive just not winners

[jpfalcon09]

I'd like to see Davis or Melton get reps as the season draws to an end. McDonald ain't it.

[mbenecke]

They covered at least!

6-1 against Vegas this year, I believe.

Something positive to take away. Lol

[Rollo83]

Irony is McDonald is playing because Loeffler is feeling pressure in year three to gets some wins and see progress. Quarterback is actually holding them back. Should be getting someone else some experience. Instead, we’ll be in same boat next year…either McDonald starts in his fifth year or we break in a new guy with little experience. Sets the whole “rebuild” back in my opinion.

[Class of 61]

SIXTEEN of FORTY ONE? Good grief! We were out of town visiting family so I could only click on Suri to check scores occasionally. But reading your comments, this is NOT satisfactory by any means. McDonald just is not a consistent QB. It’s time to see what else we have in the QB room. Hard to believe that we have SIX QBs on roster and NO one is capable of seeing some playing time. Easy to complain and we don’t see practice.( backup QB s also most popular till they play, but Akron used a 3 rd string guy last week who changed the whole complexion of game.( did he play this week?).

[Class of 61]

Part two of my comments/ questions… 300+ yds given up rushing? What has happened to the tackling we show over 1st 4 games? LBs look like they’re doing the job…is it the DL whose play has slipped. We’ll be heading back for EMU game so I won’t have to ask then.

BTW, I have TWO seats on 50 yd line available. If anyone is interested in them PM me ASAP.

[Schadenfreude]

Irony is McDonald is playing because Loeffler is feeling pressure in year three to gets some wins and see progress.

I doubt this. I don't know that Loeffler is feeling that much pressure. (Except the pressure he puts on himself, sleeping at the office because he's working so hard, etc.) This team has shown clear improvement from last year. The Falcons have a couple of games and they've been in nearly all of the others.

I imagine McDonald is playing because he is the best we have right now and he has experience in escaping some of these awful rushes defenses are putting on us. Why put a freshman back there and set him up for target practice? I'd hate to see a youngster fall into bad habits because our pass blocking is not great right now.

Of note: We've been in all of our games except that first one. If we were in a blow out one way or the other, that would perhaps be a good moment to put someone else in there under center and see what we have. We haven't really been in that situation this year.

I understand the frustration. I was there. McDonald had some bad throws, especially in the first half. Sure, it was windy out there, and maybe some of his receivers weren't always in the right spot. Even so -- yeah, it was frustrating. Especially throwing deep -- that just wasn't going very well today.

I do take some heart in the fact that we found a way to run the ball better. Also, we knew going into this that Northern Illinois ran the ball really well, so I don't assume our defense has just lost what it had going.

The Falcons battled back. We had a chance to tie it at the end. It could have been worse, I guess.

[Schadenfreude]

I'd like to see Davis or Melton get reps as the season draws to an end. McDonald ain't it.

Once we get into November, Loeffler would no longer be at risk of burning their redshirts.

[Rollo83]

Irony is McDonald is playing because Loeffler is feeling pressure in year three to gets some wins and see progress.

Why put a freshman back there and set him up for target practice? I'd hate to see a youngster fall into bad habits because our pass blocking is not great right now.

Because you are investing in the future. Sure he’ll take some lumps but that’s part of the learning process. Then, you go into next year with a guy that’s got some starting experience.

Obviously, Loeffler is going with the guys he thinks gives him the best chance to win NOW. But I’d rather have a guy like Clawson that is thinking ahead and says I need to get someone ready to lead my team in year four or five of this plan. That’s when this thing comes together. What? We go 0-12 with a freshman instead of 2-10 with McDonald? What’s that get us?

We’ve made some strides on defense this year even though it inconsistent. But what scares me is Loeffler is an offensive guy. We’ve shown nothing positive there.

[ZuluWarrior]

I will continue to point out that there are 30 Freshmen/Sophomores on the 44 man two deep roster. 30!!
I find the progress on the team, expected by many to perhaps be the worst in FBS, more than encouraging. I know the QB role is the most important one and gets the most scrutiny, but with an incredibly young O line and loss of players like Clair, I think McDonald has performed admirably.