Maryland

[Tswam]

Offensive and defensive lines got manhandled. O-line is bad and D-line is too small and lacks depth. Defense looks better than last year but got worn down. The offense looks limited. I realize that some of that can be attributed to being out talented but we're very predictable. At this point we're a 3 win team. Need to see some positives against EKU.

What was the deal with the penalties on the coaching staff? I sit on the west side and didn't see what happened.

[Flipper]

Generally speaking...we seem to be at Blackney 2000 levels so far as interest goes.

The OL was supposed to be the strength of the team. They struggled with pass protection against Oregon and struggled completely this week. The defense looks better...but if we can't run the ball and eat clock, they're going to get worn down every...single....week.

I think...or maybe hope...we're better this year and we can be .500 MAC team. Beat EKU and we're at five wins for the year. Hey look at that, the department can now say we more than doubled the win total going into 2019!!

We are where we are and you can only hope for improvement. I don't know if we're better served by another 2-10 disaster that forces the University to look at making a change now, or if we're better served by Jinks going to 5 wins this year and maybe 7-8 next year. Another disaster year and the program will be DEAD. A few years of mediocrity and maybe someone decent wants to step in after Jinks contract runs out...neither scenario is very attractive.

I have zero reason to think Jinks will be Dave Clawson and have a Championship team that can beat mediocre P5 teams after a few down years.

Chris Kingston jerked off on a huge pile of someone else's money...and here we are. If there's been an AD that did more damage to the department as a whole...I'd like to hear about him, because I don't think anyone comes close to Kingston

[jpfalcon09]

Generally speaking...we seem to be at Blackney 2000 levels so far as interest goes.

The OL was supposed to be the strength of the team. They struggled with pass protection against Oregon and struggled completely this week. The defense looks better...but if we can't run the ball and eat clock, they're going to get worn down every...single....week.

I think...or maybe hope...we're better this year and we can be .500 MAC team. Beat EKU and we're at five wins for the year. Hey look at that, the department can now say we more than doubled the win total going into 2019!!

We are where we are and you can only hope for improvement. I don't know if we're better served by another 2-10 disaster that forces the University to look at making a change now, or if we're better served by Jinks going to 5 wins this year and maybe 7-8 next year. Another disaster year and the program will be DEAD. A few years of mediocrity and maybe someone decent wants to step in after Jinks contract runs out...neither scenario is very attractive.

I have zero reason to think Jinks will be Dave Clawson and have a Championship team that can beat mediocre P5 teams after a few down years.

Chris Kingston jerked off on a huge pile of someone else's money...and here we are. If there's been an AD that did more damage to the department as a whole...I'd like to hear about him, because I don't think anyone comes close to Kingston

The Kingston thing really leaves me wondering what really was going on there. He hires an unqualified coach out of Texas only to split soon after to take a job with Learfield, in Texas of all places. Was there something behind the scenes there we missed?

We're miles away from beating any P5 programs like 90% of the conference. If the team stinks it up next week then I'll begin sounding alarms.

[gmartin]

For all of you complaining about Kingston go back 5 years and you all were bowing down to him as him being the greatest AD in BG history. Everyone was bashing Greg Christopher and then praising Kingston. Everyone loved that he was driving a bright orange truck. And now those same people are bashing him.

[MarkL]

Mark L you are now known as Mr. Negative! With the way the schedule is its difficult for our athletes to have a positive attitude when your lose your first 3 or four games of every season. That is where your coach comes into play. Jinks has too many excuses and nobody is buying it anymore. Going 1-3 or 0-4 is time to turn the page and change the culture of the program.

I posted numbers. Facts. Objective truth. There is nothing subjectively positive or negative about numbers. Stats do not lie. And yes Jinks has given too many excuses and I quit buying them long ago.

[MarkL]

The Kingston thing really leaves me wondering what really was going on there. He hires an unqualified coach out of Texas only to split soon after to take a job with Learfield, in Texas of all places. Was there something behind the scenes there we missed?

Interesting but no, I don't like to play the conspiracy game. Here's how I see it. He had the wrong criteria when looking and hired the wrong guy.

Christopher's criteria in 2008: experienced head coach who knows how to build a program from the ashes. Result: Clawson. Home run hire.
Kingston's criteria in 2013: an exciting hire to take a talented team to the next level. Result: Babers. Home run hire.
Kingston's criteria in 2015: somebody from Texas Tech because he thought Texas Tech and Babers ran the same offense (no), and somebody who wouldn't immediately bolt. Result: Jinks. Bad criteria, and the most baffling hire I have ever seen in the MAC, except maybe Enos at CMU. Well, at least he was right on the won't immediately bolt part ...

[Flipper]

For all of you complaining about Kingston go back 5 years and you all were bowing down to him as him being the greatest AD in BG history. Everyone was bashing Greg Christopher and then praising Kingston. Everyone loved that he was driving a bright orange truck. And now those same people are bashing him.

Yes...often when a new hire STARTS OUT and makes a couple of nice gestures, you respond with optimism. Particularly when his predecessor had the interpersonal skills of a fish. As time passes and you see the decisions that person makes...and you begin to realize that he's a full fledged maroon...your optimism fades. When you live with the consequences of his idiocy for years...you really begin to hate on the guy.

So....yeah...

[Schadenfreude]

Generally speaking...we seem to be at Blackney 2000 levels so far as interest goes.

Yes. We hosted Pittsburgh that season. Only got 13,000+ for that game if memory serves.

I'm shocked at how small the crowd was last night, but it is what it is. The weather certainly didn't do us favors.

The game experience was fairly positive. Concessions were fine. The had a couple of food trucks in the end zone, for example, and it was nice to have that kind of variety.

[MarkL]

They had a couple of food trucks in the end zone, for example, and it was nice to have that kind of variety.

Now THAT is a positive development! What were the food options? That's something we've been asking for around these parts for several years now.

[pdt1081]

I'm shocked at how small the crowd was last night, but it is what it is. The weather certainly didn't do us favors.

They gave a ticket, concessions voucher, and 50% off ticket code to every 4th and 5th grader in BG.

[footballguy51]

They had a couple of food trucks in the end zone, for example, and it was nice to have that kind of variety.

Now THAT is a positive development! What were the food options? That's something we've been asking for around these parts for several years now.

They had kettle corn, and they also had a bbq trailer. I'm sure there were others, but I remember those two.

[BillyLP]

Was at the game and a few quick notes:

- I'm surprised that many people even showed up. You couldn't have asked for more miserable weather to sit through. If I hadn't driven in from Chicago, I would have skipped the game myself. It was really just bad luck on weather. I think if it were a clear day the place would have been 90% full.

- I was waiting for Maryland to break it open basically the whole game. The size difference and depth was clear from the moment both teams walked out and I knew it was a matter of time before their run game had the BG defense sucking wind. BG was thoroughly manhandled on both sides of the line. Maryland is a good and strong team and will win a few big ten games this year.

- Fundamentally, I think the defense actually does look better. They tackled better in the first half and seemed to read plays really well. They were just not nearly as talented as UMD. I think in MAC play (assuming the whole team isn't injured from playing 3 P5 schools in one year, which I still think is asinine) they will show to be much better than the previous two years.

- Impossible to read how the offense will do. Doege had no time in the pocket, Clair had no space to run anywhere, they had a lockdown corner on Miller. The bright spot is that Morris looked like a handful. His size and hands should do us some favors in conference games.

Overall, I think this OOC schedule is just too brutal to get a good read on anything. Oregon and Maryland will probably both be Top 25 teams, and GT runs a triple option that will probably give us nightmares. If we can rout EKU in between, I think that means things are trending up. If not, then I might be favoring a change at the top.

[zete]

Nice post Drummer, that pretty well sums it up.

[Class of 61]

I’m most concerned about Miller’s injury. I realize a guy with his size is vulnerable to injuries, and he’s been fortunate to have been pretty healthy thru his career. But a “hammy” can be a lingering thing throughout, if not treated properly. Hargrove got destroyed on the return and is another little guy who looks like a keeper if still in one piece.
This, of course, can happen against any opponent, but this early season schedule is exceedingly tough with 3 P5 schools .
What’s really scary IMO , was the way our lines got handled. Our right DE looked lost against the sweeps and motion of Md offense. And Right OT was beaten countless times, leaving Doege totally vulnerable.

[Schadenfreude]

Nice post Drummer, that pretty well sums it up.

I agree. I think Drummer summed it up pretty well there.

As far as the food trucks: I'm unsure if this was the BBQ truck footballguy51 was referring to, but there was one dishing out Latin food. My pal had a Cuban sandwich and I had pulled pork over beans and rice. Both meals came with plantains on the side. It was a nice change of pace from the usual stadium fare and we didn't have to wait in line at all.