MSU game thread...

[kdog27]

I thought the same warthog but they could've been prepared for that too and purposely not scored. Kicking the extra point didn't bother me. I don't think anyone saw no more points coming. 17 returning starters last year, 17 this year. If there was ever a team built to win these games it should be this one. Quite frustrating.

Anyway we had a great time. Met up with some other BG fans tailgating and all the MSU fans were great to us.

Beat Toledo.

[BGWriter]

My criticism of the play calling comes from some of the decisions on critical downs -- like the fourth down earlier in the game. You can only go to the well so often before a defense begins to expect certain plays. Good offensive play calling should have another play you can run that is set up by a similar formation, so the defense believes you are going to try and hit them with the same play that's been working up to that point.

But my biggest coaching criticism remains the continued lack of preparedness by the team in the first half, and the (apparent) need to go to halftime for adjustments.

All season the team has come out slow and gotten behind by several scores, and all season they've made GREAT adjustments at half, come back and, in most cases, won the game when they were behind early.

Good coaches have their teams ready to go from the start and don't start slow game after game after game. Something isn't right, and has to be corrected. This was one of those games where falling behind early DID cost us the game. It takes a lot of energy to come from behind, and it also means you can't make mistakes (like drop passes or have turnovers in key situations).

I totally admire what Clawson and his staff have done to upgrade the talent level of this program. It's far and away better than it has been in a long time -- perhaps since Urban's days (especially on defense). But they need to take that next step and right now they seem to be making a lot of the same mistakes from game to game.

[jakehovs23]

This team has a personality under Clawson that has persisted since he got the job: they don't win close games against "bigger" competition, even though they arguably have more talent.

Whether that's because it's in their heads, or it's coaching, or a combination, who knows? But Clawson has zero wins against BCS competition and has also lost some games (at the end, typically) that should never have happened.

I'm not into moral victories, either.

They should have won this game. Period. It was a golden opportunity to make a statement for the program, and they couldn't do it -- again.

I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps having the same coaches for all these years is totally a good thing. I'd like to see some new blood offensively with the play calling; some more creativity and imagination.

Now on to the Toledo game: even though it's not as critical in the MAC East chase as the Buffalo game will be, it's TOLEDO, so they have to find a way to play better early in the games (this is a coaching issue, folks), and sustain it to the end. A win over your rival is always wanted, needed and desired, regardless of what the standings say.

Roll Along!

This sums up how I feel. Yeah we played hard.... yeah yeah I'm tired of not winning close games. I don't get these first quarters. We survived it but wtf! Why is our first quarter game plan so awful? This team should have been beaten.

I am so sick of "almost."

[jakehovs23]

Really looking forward to Toledo game though. MAC championship goals are all still intact. Beat slUT!

[Rollo83]

I thought our play calling was fantastic yesterday. We started out throwing from a moving pocket and hitting the underneath stuff. Then, once we had their D-line thinking pass rush and their linebackers dropping into coverage, Green had some holes to run through.

That’s an SEC defense and we had them on their heels for much of that game. I thought we had a great game plan for them offensively. Sure, there’s a few that we’d like back because of poor execution or a great defensive play, but you can’t be upset with how we played offensively against that team.

Defensively, we better be ready for a much tougher test against the likes of Toledo, Ohio and Northern Illinois (if play them) than what we got yesterday. Mississippi State didn’t have much of a passing threat or at least didn’t show it if they do. They played most second half with running quarterback and we were able to slow down the run and get just enough pressure on the quarterback to get us off the field on third down.

The better MAC teams that I mentioned earlier will spread us out and make us defend the entire field…like Indiana did. Too bad about yesterday, because Mississippi State was ripe for an upset. They reminded me of a Purdue, Missouri or Kentucky team that we’ve been able to beat in the past.

[BGWriter]

I thought our play calling was fantastic yesterday. We started out throwing from a moving pocket and hitting the underneath stuff. Then, once we had their D-line thinking pass rush and their linebackers dropping into coverage, Green had some holes to run through.

That’s an SEC defense and we had them on their heels for much of that game. I thought we had a great game plan for them offensively. Sure, there’s a few that we’d like back because of poor execution or a great defensive play, but you can’t be upset with how we played offensively against that team.

Defensively, we better be ready for a much tougher test against the likes of Toledo, Ohio and Northern Illinois (if play them) than what we got yesterday. Mississippi State didn’t have much of a passing threat or at least didn’t show it if they do. They played most second half with running quarterback and we were able to slow down the run and get just enough pressure on the quarterback to get us off the field on third down.

The better MAC teams that I mentioned earlier will spread us out and make us defend the entire field…like Indiana did. Too bad about yesterday, because Mississippi State was ripe for an upset. They reminded me of a Purdue, Missouri or Kentucky team that we’ve been able to beat in the past.

When did this fantastic play calling really get going? Was it after BG was already behind 14-3? I guess it must have been, since they didn't score any touchdowns up to that point. So I guess the question is: what took so long?

[Rollo83]

I thought our play calling was fantastic yesterday. We started out throwing from a moving pocket and hitting the underneath stuff. Then, once we had their D-line thinking pass rush and their linebackers dropping into coverage, Green had some holes to run through.

That’s an SEC defense and we had them on their heels for much of that game. I thought we had a great game plan for them offensively. Sure, there’s a few that we’d like back because of poor execution or a great defensive play, but you can’t be upset with how we played offensively against that team.

Defensively, we better be ready for a much tougher test against the likes of Toledo, Ohio and Northern Illinois (if play them) than what we got yesterday. Mississippi State didn’t have much of a passing threat or at least didn’t show it if they do. They played most second half with running quarterback and we were able to slow down the run and get just enough pressure on the quarterback to get us off the field on third down.

The better MAC teams that I mentioned earlier will spread us out and make us defend the entire field…like Indiana did. Too bad about yesterday, because Mississippi State was ripe for an upset. They reminded me of a Purdue, Missouri or Kentucky team that we’ve been able to beat in the past.

When did this fantastic play calling really get going? Was it after BG was already behind 14-3? I guess it must have been, since they didn't score any touchdowns up to that point. So I guess the question is: what took so long?

Five of our first seven drives ended up with a FG, touchdown or missed FG. We had two series in the fourth quarter that ended with unsucessful 4th down tries after 9 and 10 play drives. We had the ball for three and a half minutes longer than Mississippi State did in the second half. We weren't playing UMass or Murray State at home here. Disappointed in the outcome but not the effort from players or coaches.

[factman]

We also had 2-3 critical drops in the first half that had nothing to do with the play calling.

[Falconfreak90]

Not in anyway saying that the refs cost us the game or a no call on this play did, but on the 4th down play where Burbrink dropped the ball, how is that not a helmet to helmet or targeting call. Shouldn't that be called, especially since they are trying to take that stuff out of football at all levels

Went back and watched the game on dvr to see this play again...spot on Cincy. That should have been targeting as well. It was clearly helmet to helmet and had it been flagged, we would have had 1st and 10 on the MSU 40 yd line.

[Beaker]

The Toledo game is pointless. As long as we beat Buffalo we can go to the championship game and win the MAC. I'm looking forward to that November 29th matchup.

If we lose to Toledo we can still achieve all of our goals for the year. I just hope we play somewhat well in a few weeks and compete.

The Toledo game is NEVER pointless. Not ever! I just hope the players are as pissed off over the critical mistakes and lost opportunity to win on saturday as many of us in this forum are and they use that as fuel to come out at the opening kickoff and pound the Rockettes to dust.

If we beat everyone left on the schedule but lose to Ohio and Ohio doesn't lose anymore, we will be sitting home for the conference championship game. Each and every game is critical and one loss could be all it takes to keep us from winning the East. We have to have total focus each time we step onto the field the rest of the way.

We have to hope they take a positive lesson from last week about playing with a sense of urgency in the fist quarter, instead of waiting until you're behind in the 2nd half. It cost them last week and it will cost them again, if they don't correct it, as we face strong opponents in the coming week that won't let us off the hook like some earlier teams have.

The passing game is really going to need to step up, more specifically, the receiving game. WAY too many dropped passes by this group and it's not just limited to one guy. Gallon has nearly vanished in this offense. I know he was hurt last week, but even before that he wasn't producing anywhere near what he was doing at the end of last season. I'm not sure if it's partly due to a lack of chemistry with Johnson, an improved running game or something specific with Gallon, but whatever it is, we are a much better offense with him being a big part of it. Bayer is under-used as a receiver. I hope that's because they didn't want to showcase him too much to draw attention for these games coming up and we will see him targeted more.

This is a veteran team and they know what's at stake. I hope they get and maintain a mental focus that enables them to play the way they are capable of playing and fulfill the expectations we all had for them coming into the season.

[kdog27]

I agree beaker. Coming into this season I thought our receivers would be our biggest strength but they are the weakness of this team IMO. I was saying it before the MSU game that they don't make plays. For the most part Johnson is putting the ball right where it needs to be. You rarely see one of these receivers make a catch in traffic, adjust to a bad pass or create some separation in tight coverage. On top of that way too many drops. I think Johnson is doing a really good job and clearly getting better and better but he can't do it all.

[jpfalcon09]

Hard for me to criticize the team after that game, but obviously any type of loss stings, especially on the road against an SEC team. However, I think this was a program defining effort and should give everyone enough confidence moving forward that they can run the table and get to Detroit. As far as the receivers, I've noticed Gallon just doesn't have the speed to create separation off the line. Corners are jamming him and he's not able to push through it. Joplin's been much better at this and Burbrink as well has seen an increased role by being able to create space for himself. I really hope this effort gets enough buzz generated to sell out the Toledo game. The team deserves a great crowd.

[sum1udontknow]

Gallon was either hurt coming into play Saturday or got hurt early because he was in street clothes on the sideline in the 2nd half much the same as Boo Boo was.. So you didn't see him do anything because he was on the sideline.

[footballguy51]

Gallon was either hurt coming into play Saturday or got hurt early because he was in street clothes on the sideline in the 2nd half much the same as Boo Boo was.. So you didn't see him do anything because he was on the sideline.

We all realize he got hurt very early in the game. The point that was being made was that he's been non-impactful so far this season, which is unusual for him.

[BillyLP]

Not in anyway saying that the refs cost us the game or a no call on this play did, but on the 4th down play where Burbrink dropped the ball, how is that not a helmet to helmet or targeting call. Shouldn't that be called, especially since they are trying to take that stuff out of football at all levels

Went back and watched the game on dvr to see this play again...spot on Cincy. That should have been targeting as well. It was clearly helmet to helmet and had it been flagged, we would have had 1st and 10 on the MSU 40 yd line.

Also noticed this during the game and yelled things at the tv screen that my girlfriend could only describe as "words you never use." There were many other things that contributed to the loss and ultimately I was still proud of the result but this was a huge no call in retrospect.