NIU Game thread

[Globetrotter]

I think since the season is lost we need to rotate QB's and see what we have.... Before we let our best QB Transfer

Completely agree. Schilz just does not have "It".

[jpfalcon09]

Hurley won't play this year unless its mop up or due to an injury. Season is over so all we can hope for as fans is as best of a finish as possible and hopefully some young guys at other positions get to play and show what they can do for next year.

[musicman2343]

I really wish we had that pick...

Take your pessimism and negativity elsewhere.

Nice knock down defense.!

Oh give me a break. That's not pessimism. That's just hoping for a better result.

Pessimism would be "We can't ever get a pick."

[mc3022]

On a positive note I think that Schillz has played a pretty solid game so far. He doesn't seem to have happy feet and appears more comfortable in the pocket...when he has had time

Offensive Line needs to figure this rush out

I have not watched super close but I think he is one of the worst QBs I have seen in terms of decision making, he puts his WRs in positions where they clearly can't make the necessary plays. It could be because of the line but on 3rd and 13 why in the world are you throwing to the 3 yard out?

Alot of people have been very critical of Schillz's play this year. Although he defiantly needs work its promising to see him improve. This has been one of his best games since Idaho.

[bgsufalcon24]

I think what's most dissappointing about games like these is that it's obvious that we don't match up talent wise with teams like WMU and NIU. We're getting beaten around tonight and it's mostly because they're just better than us talent-wise, especially in the trenches.

We have to do something about our offense and our offensive schemes because we have talent on that side of the ball. Because let's face it, if we aren't able to put 30+ points on the board consistently (like we did in the 1st month of the season) we're not going to win many games. I'm not confident that we'll ever be able to recruit the athletes necessary to be able to play consistently good defense.

[MarkL]

NIU has four seniors on O line, lots of experienced playmakers, a four year starter at QB, and depth. We have a secondary with freshmen and sophomores everywhere and a lack of proven depth at all positions, though certainly not a lack of talent. Our d played really inspired for most of that third quarter but I'm a little afraid the age/experience/depth difference is about to show up in a big way.
But ... where NIU is now, we could be as early as next year. Where we were last year and this year is where NIU was a few years ago.

[Globetrotter]

Hurley won't play this year unless its mop up or due to an injury. Season is over so all we can hope for as fans is as best of a finish as possible and hopefully some young guys at other positions get to play and show what they can do for next year.

So why not play Hurley?

[BGGrad01]

I agree with some of the posts that our defense is more athletic than years past, but I don't think the best athletes on that side are given the chance to use it. Our corners are 8-10 yards off the line and moving back at the snap and the safeties are 15 yards off and moving back. If Harnish breaks the line, he has 10-12 yards every time because the safeties are so deep. Bring the boys up closer to the line and let the corners play some press coverage. Perfect example right there - 10 yard pass WIDE OPEN because of the scheme.

[mc3022]

NIU has four seniors on O line, lots of experienced playmakers, a four year starter at QB, and depth. We have a secondary with freshmen and sophomores everywhere and a lack of proven depth at all positions, though certainly not a lack of talent. Our d played really inspired for most of that third quarter but I'm a little afraid the age/experience/depth difference is about to show up in a big way.
But ... where NIU is now, we could be as early as next year. Where we were last year and this year is where NIU was a few years ago.

+1

[Globetrotter]

I think its a ton of game planning too. We look horrible and outcoached big time.

[BGSU33]

It's like we are playing a man down on both sides of the ball.

[Globetrotter]

I agree with some of the posts that our defense is more athletic than years past, but I don't think the best athletes on that side are given the chance to use it. Our corners are 8-10 yards off the line and moving back at the snap and the safeties are 15 yards off and moving back. If Harnish breaks the line, he has 10-12 yards every time because the safeties are so deep. Bring the boys up closer to the line and let the corners play some press coverage. Perfect example right there - 10 yard pass WIDE OPEN because of the scheme.

x1 our game plan seems awful.

[Globetrotter]

Our teams seem to give up pretty easily.

[BGGrad01]

Regarding QB play, I think Schilz is solid throwing it, but the read play isn't an option because he isn't a running threat. Next year without Cooper, Jorden, Hodges, and Hutson, we're going to have Schilz throwing to young wide receivers and Samuel carrying it 25 times a game. We're going to be limited in what we can do and I would much rather have an athletic quarterback that gives us a threat in the run game even if we sacrifice some of the passing game.

[Globetrotter]

It's like we are playing a man down on both sides of the ball.

x1