Turdledo Gameday Thread

[Schadenfreude]

Isn't there a troll curfew?

[Rocket_Fanatic]

I was amazed at your play calling all night. I realize you overthrew several deep balls but even 5 or 10 yd slants over the middle would've been huge gains. Our pass defense is so awful that even in frigid conditions, 300 yds and several touchdowns should still be expected.

Oh well, glad we won but if we face again in Detroit, you'll beat us by two scores...

[Browns]

I'm not sure I really understand how you can say their coaching was superior. Running the ball for 7 to 8 yards a pop will makes a coaches job quite easy.

[MarkL]

I'm not sure I really understand how you can say their coaching was superior. Running the ball for 7 to 8 yards a pop will makes a coaches job quite easy.

Their offensive line is great but I think they are all seniors. Next year we'll see ... I expect a big dropoff in production.

[kdog27]

I don't understand the home run or nothing mentality usage of Lewis lately. This guy emerged as a star by catching the ball all over the field and having a couple games in a row with double digit receptions. Now he is the primary receiver only when he runs a vertical. Yes he gets open but everything has to be perfect for these plays to work.

Seems like they handed Knapke the entire play book for the Indiana game but since then he is only allowed to use the first and last page of it. First page has RB middle and the last page has has hail mary.

I'm glad we won the East but like I have said before that's not really very impressive. 4 teams from the West could win the East and we currently sit 0-2 against the West.

I'll agree Knapke isn't the guy for the system but you're not going to lead me to believe these receivers are not at least decent for it. With 6 good receivers you should be able to make it work.

The defense has developed nicely since September. They got worn down last night but that's on the offense for putting them in a bad situation over and over again.

If we can't beat them with all the pressure on UT I can't see beating them in Detroit either.

[BGSU33]

“We love to play Bowling Green because we like to win,” said Toledo linebacker Ray Bush.

That about sums it up right there.

[jpfalcon09]

“We love to play Bowling Green because we like to win,” said Toledo linebacker Ray Bush.

That about sums it up right there.

Yep, all mental for BG, just as much as it is for Toledo against NIU.

[Flipper]

Is Knapke gunning it deep because that's what he reads or is he doing it because that's what he's told to do?
You have to figure the intermediate routes are open in the middle of the field if the safeties are playing deep and supportingthe CB's on the sidelines...

[Flipper]

I was amazed at your play calling all night. I realize you overthrew several deep balls but even 5 or 10 yd slants over the middle would've been huge gains. Our pass defense is so awful that even in frigid conditions, 300 yds and several touchdowns should still be expected.

Oh well, glad we won but if we face again in Detroit, you'll beat us by two scores...

I'd like to think we'd win...by my count we left 22 points on the field with the following: Lewis dropped TD, settle for FG, Lewis steps out of bounds, lose TD, punt. Knapke overshoots Burbrink by inches in the end zone, FG. Moore misses catchable TD, 4th down sack. This doesn't even account for Lewis falling down and failing to catch a wide open throw down the sidelines on our last "drive"...but I really don't think we will win. We've been seeing these same issues all year and I have little reason to think we'd fix them by the time the MACC rolls around.

Maybe next year with Johnson or Callaway or Nicholas under center and Robbie Rhodes as a primary target...but then we'll have lost our top 3 DE's, our top two LB's and 3 of our top DB's to graduation, so who knows how good we'll be on defense....

[kdog27]

Is Knapke gunning it deep because that's what he reads or is he doing it because that's what he's told to do?
You have to figure the intermediate routes are open in the middle of the field if the safeties are playing deep and supportingthe CB's on the sidelines...

That's what I have been thinking. It's hard to tell on TV but you would think so.

[BGSU33]

The only way we are ever going to be Toledo again with the way they like to play is to jump all over them early and build a big lead. Over the last several meeting they score first and hold leads on us and then just pound the hell out of us with the ball. They want to run the ball. It's what they do best and it has become a formula for success against us because we can't get ahead of these guys and we have to constantly play from behind. Last year we held a brief lead at the end before they stuck a dagger in us, but in the last three years I think was the only time we led off the duration of any of those games.

I also believe in the last four meetings we haven't given up more than 28 points to Toledo, but our offense can't get in gear and we can't keep them from just pounding the ball at us. Until we can score and put them in a hole and make them get out of their comfort zone, this losing streak will continue against them because we are playing right into their hands.

[Rollo83]

Is Knapke gunning it deep because that's what he reads or is he doing it because that's what he's told to do?
You have to figure the intermediate routes are open in the middle of the field if the safeties are playing deep and supportingthe CB's on the sidelines...

That's what I have been thinking. It's hard to tell on TV but you would think so.

Guys,

I watched the entire game from the press box and I could see the entire field. On those deep balls, they were mostly his only option. I didn't see any receivers breaking routes over the middle of the field. I miss a tight end that works the middle of the field against a linebacker. OK, so we don't have a tight end, but can't a wide receiver create that miss match over the middle? I think they are protecting Knapke. He's thrown some interceptions this year on those routes and so they've taken them out of the playbook. Only trouble with that is it makes so predictable only throwing screens and fly patterns. Can't play to lose when you're afraid of a mistake.

[BGSU33]

UT just seems to bring out the worst in BG sometimes. In the last several years alone UT has made the key plays to win while BG has faltered. Last year's clutch drive when they fell behind facing 3rd & 27 and then scored the game-winning TD one play later on 4th & 11 was a prime example. BG also had a Joplin drop on the next drive that could have won it. Last night, we were given very short fields multiple times and didn't take advantage. We also had numerous big play passes that were near misses and the TD wiped out by the foot out of bounds. We make a few of those missed plays and we probably win the game. But we didn't. Which is why were continue to lose to them.

[hammb]

Is Knapke gunning it deep because that's what he reads or is he doing it because that's what he's told to do?
You have to figure the intermediate routes are open in the middle of the field if the safeties are playing deep and supportingthe CB's on the sidelines...

That's what I have been thinking. It's hard to tell on TV but you would think so.

Guys,

I watched the entire game from the press box and I could see the entire field. On those deep balls, they were mostly his only option. I didn't see any receivers breaking routes over the middle of the field. I miss a tight end that works the middle of the field against a linebacker. OK, so we don't have a tight end, but can't a wide receiver create that miss match over the middle? I think they are protecting Knapke. He's thrown some interceptions this year on those routes and so they've taken them out of the playbook. Only trouble with that is it makes so predictable only throwing screens and fly patterns. Can't play to lose when you're afraid of a mistake.

In the Buffalo game we used Ronnie Moore on those slants and drags all day long and Knapke either didn't see him open (he was) or missed the throws.

Whether it's the QB, the receivers, or what I don't know, but we flat out suck at timing/rhythm offense right now. And that fact is made even more painful when we lose our top RBs and cannot really move the ball on the ground all that well.

I watched some highlights of Jimmy G running Babers offense leading up to the draft and it looked nothing like what we're doing right now. I just have to think our talent is limiting the ability to run the scheme to its fullest potential.

[mscarn]

Seems like they handed Knapke the entire play book for the Indiana game but since then he is only allowed to use the first and last page of it. First page has RB middle and the last page has has hail mary.

Very true, and it's becoming clearer and clearer that the system and the play-calling is holding this team back.

1) In addition to pretending like the middle of the field does not exist, the passing game does next to nothing to scheme receivers open. Some have blamed execution, but this is Week 11. The bar was probably set irrationally high after the Indiana game, but not only has the offensive staff failed to improve upon or maintain that standard, they've gotten progressively worse. Timing and rhythm are non-existent and a 31% completion percentage against a shaky secondary is on the coaches and their ability to prepare a unit to execute.

2) Predictable patterns have emerged in the play-calling. What's the first play they hurriedly run after getting a first down? A run up the middle, usually for little to no gain. They perpetually play in 2nd and long situations because of this. I cringe when poor Andre Givens is endlessly sent into an 8-man box and slams into a wall of defenders before he has the ability to use his athleticism. Our rival pulls guards and gets their back downhill going left or going right into space. We go straight into the middle, and we go there when everyone knows it's coming.

2b) We had reverses ran against us that gained first downs on a couple occasions. Where were the plays that are saved for the rivalry game on our end? Ronnie Moore running the wildcat was a new wrinkle and the best thing they did the whole game, but where were the trick plays or tendency-breakers? Anyone remember the Josh Harris throwback to the QB touchdown during a Toledo game of years' past? Something like that would have been nice to see.

3) This offense was first designed for Art Briles' high school team (Stephenville) in Texas and later applied to two Texas college programs (Houston and Baylor). It was not designed for late November games in the freezing and snowing Midwest. The weather stymies whatever chance we have with the passing game and renders the offense even more one-dimensional than it is. Babers' last game with Eastern Illinois in the FCS playoffs was in a snowstorm and they didn't (or couldn't) do the same things they had done earlier in better conditions more suitable for passing.

Babers is a smart and perceptive coach who has to see this. This week he said that winning the division despite the injuries was a validation of his system for those who know the game of football. I'd say it's the product of a group of excellent players playing within a system that has its strengths but plainly needs to be adjusted to fit this team, this conference, this geographic location and the different dynamics they all bring.