Isn’t 40-something points enough for our defense?

BGSU33 · Post by **BGSU33** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 2:04 am

I’m trying not to dwell on the loss to Wisconsin any more than I already have, but I’ve got to ask the question……can’t we win a game when we score at least 40 points? We’ve lost two of our last three games (dating back to the end of last season) after scoring more than 40 points. We scored 41 and lost to Toledo and scored 42 and lost to Wisconsin. But man did Wisconsin just run the ball down our throat. I read in the Toledo Blade when Brandon said we probably wouldn't face that kind of RB or line again this season. Newsflash…. I just hope the coaching staff remembers, the same was said a year ago after we lost to Oklahoma and NIU turned around and shoved it down our throats even worse a few games later. The bottom line is, our offense has proven time and time again we can score on probably anyone. But until our defense proves it can at least slow a (good) team down a little bit, we’re going to fall short from winning these kinds of games - or a MAC Championship for that matter. Our special teams could use some tweaking as well.

Falcon52 · Post by **Falcon52** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:00 am

Why we didn't do this over the spring and summer, I have no idea????

After this season, Coach should appoint 1 person to scour the JUCO colleges and find 4 of the biggest and meanest D-Lineman. Offer them full rides and work on stopping the run. Back on our '92 team we were able to slow down Raymont Harris, Eddie George and Robert Smith. Now we can't stop any running back. I'm worried about playing Ohio U now. They my option us to death.

I'm worried.

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:37 am

Falcon52 wrote:Why we didn't do this over the spring and summer, I have no idea????

After this season, Coach should appoint 1 person to scour the JUCO colleges and find 4 of the biggest and meanest D-Lineman. Offer them full rides and work on stopping the run. Back on our '92 team we were able to slow down Raymont Harris, Eddie George and Robert Smith. Now we can't stop any running back. I'm worried about playing Ohio U now. They my option us to death.

I'm worried.

I'm willing to bet Ohio U doesn't have a ground attack the level of Wisky.

Falcon52 · Post by **Falcon52** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 9:58 am

I agree. But I'm not sure we can stop anyones ground attack. Carrying over from last season, anyone who had just a little bit of running game beat us. Other than Memphis and we had to break DeAngelo's leg in order to stop him. This actually goes back several years. We couldn't stop Northwestern from running either. What we did do in that game was cause fumbles and turnovers. If it was not for that, they would have run all over us.

Wisky has a great running game, however until we stop somebody from running, I will remain worried.

By the way, I think our offense is the best in the country! Hands down. I wish Omar would stay for next year.

For those who say we can't win the big game, 2 bowl wins beat Purdue, beat NIU in what was truly the biggest home game in the history of BG, due to college gameday and all. I didn't feel good about Wisky headed in. I do feel good about beating Boise.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:13 am

I agree we have a problem with stopping the run that dates back to our 2004 opener.

We've masked the problem some times by getting ahead of teams early and taking the ground game off the table. This is what seemed to happen in the Memphis game, for example.

That said, it's only a been a problem with teams that have been able to execute on the ground.

The only MAC teams that proved they could do this to us last season were Northern Illinois and Toledo.

I think worrying about what Ball State or Ohio will do to us on the ground is an overreaction.

CapitalFalcon · Post by **CapitalFalcon** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:26 am

I remember a post I had way back on the old AZZ board about how we needed to emphasize the run more and have a more balanced approach. I got jumped on b/c I was told how for years the MAC was seen as the Big 10's little brother and tried to play the same type of rush offense and it didn't work and how we were doing our own thing. Well, that's all well and good until you face the Big 10 and they run at you with everything they've got and then some. I am sure that our defense has spent much more time defending the spread than they have the run, and I think that was quite obvious Saturday...