NIU Game thread

[Globetrotter]

It's time for Hurley. I've seen enough of Schilz for the year. The only time he can sustain a drive is when there is 1 minute left in the half ( Wyoming, Toledo, and tonight).

Agreed.

[bgsufn]

We get outschemed and the momentum of the program is going down. We are still young but I would atleast make feelers to coach Stud. I don't know a ton about him but it seems like striking while the iron is hot would not be a bad idea. OC from the national champion coming home to BG would be great. Would not mind giving Clawson another season if we could not get Stud but I think feelers should atleast be put out.

I was going to reply and say that there is no way we could afford Coach Stud, but he is only making a total of $253,000 ($313,000 if all bonuses are earned). I was really surprised to see that. It is the last year on his contract and some of the LSU faithful are ready to let him go. I'd be supportive of putting out those feelers.

[hammb]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

[Warthog]

for this offense.

I gotta ask, what exactly is our offense??? Some times we are spread with 5 WRs, sometimes we are heavy with 2/3 TEs and a FB, sometimes in shotgun, sometimes under center, sometimes with crazy formations (5 skilled guys out wide on one side). What is our identity? Who our we? When we are in a situation where we have to get a score, what scheme are we going to run?

That is my biggest beef with Clawson. I thought he was more of a run-oriented offense (traditional type offense) and I am fine with that. But that certainly isn't what we are doing. And to run a spread offense, I really think you need a QB who can run with the ball, and Schiltz isn't that. I think this lack of focus on an identity is a big problem.

[kdog27]

for this offense.

I gotta ask, what exactly is our offense??? Some times we are spread with 5 WRs, sometimes we are heavy with 2/3 TEs and a FB, sometimes in shotgun, sometimes under center, sometimes with crazy formations (5 skilled guys out wide on one side). What is our identity? Who our we? When we are in a situation where we have to get a score, what scheme are we going to run?

That is my biggest beef with Clawson. I thought he was more of a run-oriented offense (traditional type offense) and I am fine with that. But that certainly isn't what we are doing. And to run a spread offense, I really think you need a QB who can run with the ball, and Schiltz isn't that. I think this lack of focus on an identity is a big problem.

+ 1

[jpfalcon09]

Schilz will continue to start as long as Ruggiero is the OC here, after all he's the reason why Matt decided to come to BG. Is Hurley the answer? Probably not, but I would still like him factored into the offense in some packages. I agree 100% with Warthog, our offense is a mish mash of formations, we don't consistently stay in one package which is why I believe the offense fails a lot.

Its not a good sign that the OL is struggling considering how highly Brandon touted these kids when he recruited them. We lose Bojicic after this season at center, who IMO is irreplaceable. I still think the scheming and planning is poor, if its combined with personnel that can't get the job done, then I guess we have a longer road ahead of us than we all thought.

I thought Samuel did a good job running the ball to the outside last night, but yet again was stuffed up the middle. Our OL can't sustain blocks long enough either to do delays or draws, which really frustrates me. There are no major injuries this year to speak of so I don't know what excuses there are to use on offense.

Our last 6 games, we've now scored 94 points. NIU has scored more than that in two games. Our defense gets put in bad situations due to the offense's inability to move the ball consistently and score. I think exploring coach Stud coming to BG is a good idea at this point, and IMO, losing 5 of your last 6 after a 3-1 start is an indictment on the current coaches...they lost this team after the WVU/WMU games and never really got them back. It will be very interesting to see how this team performs the final two games of the season.

[takeoffeh]

I turned the game off at the half. Terrible play calling. The team has no discipline. I personally feel that this coaching staff is in over their head. What happened to BG football?

[Class of 61]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

Hambb,
Not sure where you get the idea that Hurley "can't throw"....because he never seems to get the CHANCE to do so.... like any other QB, he needs to have a few series IN A ROW in order to get any kind of rhythm...and I can't recall any game where he's been allowed to throw the ball, including last nite... runs for a 1st down on 1st play, two handoffs to a 3rd string TB, one incomplete pass (that admittedly wasn't thrown all that well)... how MANY passes has he even THROWN this season for you to make that judgement?

[Globetrotter]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

Hambb,
Not sure where you get the idea that Hurley "can't throw"....because he never seems to get the CHANCE to do so.... like any other QB, he needs to have a few series IN A ROW in order to get any kind of rhythm...and I can't recall any game where he's been allowed to throw the ball, including last nite... runs for a 1st down on 1st play, two handoffs to a 3rd string TB, one incomplete pass (that admittedly wasn't thrown all that well)... how MANY passes has he even THROWN this season for you to make that judgement?

16

[kdog27]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

Hambb,
Not sure where you get the idea that Hurley "can't throw"....because he never seems to get the CHANCE to do so.... like any other QB, he needs to have a few series IN A ROW in order to get any kind of rhythm...and I can't recall any game where he's been allowed to throw the ball, including last nite... runs for a 1st down on 1st play, two handoffs to a 3rd string TB, one incomplete pass (that admittedly wasn't thrown all that well)... how MANY passes has he even THROWN this season for you to make that judgement?

I don't think he is the answer but I would like to see him get some meaningful playcalls to know for sure. Can't tell much when the game is over and the calls are dumbed down to handoffs on first and second then throw on third and fourth down when the other team knows it is coming.

[factman]

Some of us have watched a number of practices and scrimmages from last spring thru the current time, but of course not near as many as the coaches, but it is VERY clear watching the two in practice and game/scrimmage situations over time that Schilz is the better choice as a starting QB, and after all, if the coaches didn't think that, they would be playing Hurley, as it is their job on the line.

[Globetrotter]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

Hambb,
Not sure where you get the idea that Hurley "can't throw"....because he never seems to get the CHANCE to do so.... like any other QB, he needs to have a few series IN A ROW in order to get any kind of rhythm...and I can't recall any game where he's been allowed to throw the ball, including last nite... runs for a 1st down on 1st play, two handoffs to a 3rd string TB, one incomplete pass (that admittedly wasn't thrown all that well)... how MANY passes has he even THROWN this season for you to make that judgement?

I don't think he is the answer but I would like to see him get some meaningful playcalls to know for sure. Can't tell much when the game is over and the calls are dumbed down to handoffs on first and second then throw on third and fourth down when the other team knows it is coming.

I am almost certain Schilz is not the answer.
We may be able to find out whether or not Hurley is the answer with two meaningless games at the end of the year. Then we won't have to try to keep him around for next year if he is not in the QB mix or give him snaps that Stokes, Johnson or Freshman should get in the offseason. Its better for Hurley and better for the program to do this sooner then later.

[Globetrotter]

Some of us have watched a number of practices and scrimmages from last spring thru the current time, but of course not near as many as the coaches, but it is VERY clear watching the two in practice and game/scrimmage situations over time that Schilz is the better choice as a starting QB, and after all, if the coaches didn't think that, they would be playing Hurley, as it is their job on the line.

I agree with that logic but many times the starter may not be the better player but the more conservative choice. There are many examples of the backup being the better player. Qbs get hurt all the time and never claim their position back.

[BGWriter]

Well if Schilz is going to be the QB, something else has to change. This offense is putrid. I don't mean sad, bad or pathetic -- I mean putrid. They're almost embarrassing to watch, and a lot of that falls on the play calling.

It's way too predictable, and it doesn't play to whatever strengths these players have. Continuing to run up the middle when you aren't able to get one yard most of the time, just doesn't make sense, especially on first down when the defense is expecting it (because that seems to be all you do).

The MAC is an offensive league, for the most part. If you can't score points, you aren't going to stay in games. We've seen that several times this season.

We won't even begin to try and explain the defense, but the offense plays a role in its ineffectiveness, too. If your offense doesn't makes plays and eventually score, your defense eventually wears down.

[hammb]

Hurley will never play QB in this offense. He doesn't have an arm...period.

I don't care if he's light years smarter, faster, and more athletic than Matt Schilz he can NOT throw the ball well enough for this offense. The only way he plays is if we transition to a zone read offense, and I don't think Clawson wants to do that.

I cringe at the thought of watching him try to throw the ball...I've seen better arms playing drunken football in the parking lot before the game starts. Memories of Freddie Barnes (the QB NOT the WR) keep flying back into my head...

Hambb,
Not sure where you get the idea that Hurley "can't throw"....because he never seems to get the CHANCE to do so.... like any other QB, he needs to have a few series IN A ROW in order to get any kind of rhythm...and I can't recall any game where he's been allowed to throw the ball, including last nite... runs for a 1st down on 1st play, two handoffs to a 3rd string TB, one incomplete pass (that admittedly wasn't thrown all that well)... how MANY passes has he even THROWN this season for you to make that judgement?

I don't think he is the answer but I would like to see him get some meaningful playcalls to know for sure. Can't tell much when the game is over and the calls are dumbed down to handoffs on first and second then throw on third and fourth down when the other team knows it is coming.

I am almost certain Schilz is not the answer.
We may be able to find out whether or not Hurley is the answer with two meaningless games at the end of the year. Then we won't have to try to keep him around for next year if he is not in the QB mix or give him snaps that Stokes, Johnson or Freshman should get in the offseason. Its better for Hurley and better for the program to do this sooner then later.

How have you made this determination that Schilz is not going to be the answer?

Look I'm all for changing QBs. You will be hardpressed to find somebody that feels QB play is more important than I do...I think your entire offense is predicated on QB play.

That being said, I'm not seeing Schilz as definitely not the guy, nor am I seeing him as the biggest issue with our offense. The biggest issue I have with our offense is it being terribly predictable (you can tell from our formation whether it's going to be a run or pass a LARGE percentage of the time). If we're in shotgun it's either a pass play or a delayed draw...Very rarely do we run other runs from that set. If we're under center it's almost certainly going to be a run...very rarely do we run a standard 3-5-7 step drop and pass from that. We also do a terrible job mixing plays. Far too often we'll go run run run or pass pass pass...and rarely mix in play action even if the run has been working. In short I don't see QB as the main thing holding this offense back. Especially since he has shown time and time again that when you put him in a 2 minute offense and let him chuck it around the field he CAN make the throws. And this isn't a case of taking a bunch of easy crap against a prevent either...he routinely eats up yardage 15-20 yards at a time when allowed to play this way.

Moreover, I see a QB that has an arm unlike any we've had at BG...his arm is better than Harris/Omar, even. We've talked about how this system looks like a mishmash of god knows what, but if I understand correctly what we WANT to become (running, vertical passes, playaction, etc), then I think Schilz absolutely can be the guy in this sort of offense.

People are forgetting that he's only a sophomore and has shown improvement from last year to this. He has a big arm, and while not real athletic (nor supremely accurate), he has shown he can make the throws when the coaches ask him to. More importantly, what we have seen from Hurley is NO ability to make those throws. I will readily admit you can only tell so much from playing in garbage time, but I don't think I've seen a single good, crisp pass from him when he has been out there. And it's had little to do with the game situations either; he flat out doesn't have zip and doesn't throw spirals. It's been a pretty small sample size but they haven't been pinpoint accurate either. In short, what I see from him is a pretty big step backward from Schilz in terms of "arm talent".

Personally, I don't have a problem with sophomore QBs making mistakes in the mental aspect of the game. It is expected, and if he can grow from those he has certainly shown the physical ability to play the position. ESPECIALLY if we want to become a pro-style pocket passing offense, which is what I thought our goal was. If we're trying to be a spread dink & dunk offense with the QB picking up yards on the ground, then I will readily agree Schilz isn't our guy, but I didn't think that's what we were looking for.