Was it me or did the team and the coaches looked tired and flat at today's game. UNI did not play their best game but WIU couldn't do anything. Norvell didn't make good decisions passing the ball, and on defense that was some of the worst arm tackling I have ever seen. Once again the nickel zone defense killed this team, of course it didn't help they weren't on their toes, and UNI burned them.
Plan and simple there is no heart on this team. I hope they take advantage of their lone bye week and find a way to finish strong this season.
Just Looked Flat
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sealhall74
- Posts: 5983
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
I agree we came out looking flat. But UNI D Line dominated this game. We could not run a lick. Norvell had little time to deliver the ball. Not a good combination for winning a football game.
Embrace the pace of the race.
Just a couple of quick things:
Didn't seem like we were able to open up any holes for running. Baker did great with what he was given, but when you've got nowhere to run...you can't run anywhere.
No running game forced us to pass more than we usually do. A few times we did well with that, but it seemed like Norvell was really trying to force passes where they shouldn't have been. Leading to a lot of missing the receivers and the couple of interceptions. I don't really blame him for that last one in the end zone though...pretty much had to go for it at that point since they were otherwise out of time. Add to that the fact that their pass defense was crazy. Seemed like every time we were passing there was a UNI guy right there on top of the receiver (not in a "penalty" way...just in a "ready to knock the ball down" way).
The few times we were able to get a rhythm going a bit, quite often was disrupted by stupid penalties...nice reception taken back 15 yards for unsportsmanlike "spiking" the ball.
Attendance was pretty sparse. Previous years would have been listed at ~5k...maybe 6k. Officially was 2,588.
On the plus side...no 2nd half letdown (we did enough of that in the first half). Defense held them to only one score in the second half...so, that's something, I guess.
I thought the band did a really nice job of playing and being loud when appropriate (and being quiet when it was appropriate to do that) as well as playing songs that fit well with what was going on on the field.
Now time to take a weekend off, rest up, evaluate where they're at, and prepare for the last 3 games. We can still go 6-6 this season, but it's not going to be easy, and they're going to have to really work for it.
EDIT - one more thing I thought of...kicking. Punting was really good this game, although they found it pretty hard to stop them when there was a return. Knuffman did most of the punting other than the fake "going for it on 4th" that became a Devin O'Hara 50-yard touchback punt (I didn't even know he could punt). Didn't end up going for any FG's, but what was up with that missed XP. Anyone see if that was tipped or anything or if Knuffman just shanked it?
Didn't seem like we were able to open up any holes for running. Baker did great with what he was given, but when you've got nowhere to run...you can't run anywhere.
No running game forced us to pass more than we usually do. A few times we did well with that, but it seemed like Norvell was really trying to force passes where they shouldn't have been. Leading to a lot of missing the receivers and the couple of interceptions. I don't really blame him for that last one in the end zone though...pretty much had to go for it at that point since they were otherwise out of time. Add to that the fact that their pass defense was crazy. Seemed like every time we were passing there was a UNI guy right there on top of the receiver (not in a "penalty" way...just in a "ready to knock the ball down" way).
The few times we were able to get a rhythm going a bit, quite often was disrupted by stupid penalties...nice reception taken back 15 yards for unsportsmanlike "spiking" the ball.
Attendance was pretty sparse. Previous years would have been listed at ~5k...maybe 6k. Officially was 2,588.
On the plus side...no 2nd half letdown (we did enough of that in the first half). Defense held them to only one score in the second half...so, that's something, I guess.
I thought the band did a really nice job of playing and being loud when appropriate (and being quiet when it was appropriate to do that) as well as playing songs that fit well with what was going on on the field.
Now time to take a weekend off, rest up, evaluate where they're at, and prepare for the last 3 games. We can still go 6-6 this season, but it's not going to be easy, and they're going to have to really work for it.
EDIT - one more thing I thought of...kicking. Punting was really good this game, although they found it pretty hard to stop them when there was a return. Knuffman did most of the punting other than the fake "going for it on 4th" that became a Devin O'Hara 50-yard touchback punt (I didn't even know he could punt). Didn't end up going for any FG's, but what was up with that missed XP. Anyone see if that was tipped or anything or if Knuffman just shanked it?
Scott Lawson - Board AdminWestern Illinois University Alum/Fan/Employee
Member of the Marching Leathernecks - 1996-2000
We did look flat, but UNI's defense was very good. Nowhere to run, Norvell was pressured a lot, and so were our receivers. Defense picked up after giving up way too many points, but the offense never did.
I hope the bye week does us some good - rest up, get the fire back, and heal as much as possible. Speaking of which, has anyone heard how Ricketts is doing? The WIU tv dudes were speculating a heart problem?
I hope the bye week does us some good - rest up, get the fire back, and heal as much as possible. Speaking of which, has anyone heard how Ricketts is doing? The WIU tv dudes were speculating a heart problem?
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leatherface
- Posts: 423
- Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:42 pm
Went to the game today- first in a couple of years.
Great day- weather wise. It was a good game day experience.
Band was excellent
I wanted to see the video board- 75% of the time it played commercials. When they showed plays, it was hard to see.
Defensive secondary looked lost, and yes, poor tackling.
Perhaps the announcer doesn't realize you don't need to yell into the mike for folks to hear, or generate excitement. Sometimes he was hard to understand. Maybe it was where we were sitting.
Attendance was low.
Getting the crowd to yell is tough. We started on the east side around the 30, and the cheerleaders - or, dance team spent the entire first half with their backs to the crowd, and never attempted to lead any cheers. However, the Peach Blossoms did some cheers.
Don't want to sound negative, because we enjoyed the day. As someone mentioned earlier, WESTERN looked flat.
Great day- weather wise. It was a good game day experience.
Band was excellent
I wanted to see the video board- 75% of the time it played commercials. When they showed plays, it was hard to see.
Defensive secondary looked lost, and yes, poor tackling.
Perhaps the announcer doesn't realize you don't need to yell into the mike for folks to hear, or generate excitement. Sometimes he was hard to understand. Maybe it was where we were sitting.
Attendance was low.
Getting the crowd to yell is tough. We started on the east side around the 30, and the cheerleaders - or, dance team spent the entire first half with their backs to the crowd, and never attempted to lead any cheers. However, the Peach Blossoms did some cheers.
Don't want to sound negative, because we enjoyed the day. As someone mentioned earlier, WESTERN looked flat.
We had a clue as to how this game was going to go even before it started.
We did not see the spirit, pep, enthusiasm when the team entered the field before the game---when they run thru the band tunnel. It was a noticeable change from the past home games.
Punting was improved with Nathan Knuffman punting 8 times for a 44.4 yard average. His longest punt was 52 yards.
This was our 5th home game, and we had the best weather so far this season. But an attendance of only 2,588 indicates that there is still a lot of work yet to do.
Attendance at some other games of local interest:
North Dakota State at South Dakota = 9,823.
Youngstown State at South Dakota State = 14,480.
Missouri State at Illinois State = 10,164.
Indiana State at Southern Illinois = 10,255.
Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois = 8,289.
We did not see the spirit, pep, enthusiasm when the team entered the field before the game---when they run thru the band tunnel. It was a noticeable change from the past home games.
Punting was improved with Nathan Knuffman punting 8 times for a 44.4 yard average. His longest punt was 52 yards.
This was our 5th home game, and we had the best weather so far this season. But an attendance of only 2,588 indicates that there is still a lot of work yet to do.
Attendance at some other games of local interest:
North Dakota State at South Dakota = 9,823.
Youngstown State at South Dakota State = 14,480.
Missouri State at Illinois State = 10,164.
Indiana State at Southern Illinois = 10,255.
Tennessee State at Eastern Illinois = 8,289.
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sealhall74
- Posts: 5983
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:18 pm
- Location: Wherever, Windblows
I guess we are officially at that point in the season where a coach has a very difficult decision to make. How much does winning games matter vs how much does giving some playing time to the guys who will be manning the ship next year? Coach N has a couple of weeks to think about it. Our next opponent is USD on the road and they are struggling right now. Joe Glenn gets my vote for MVFC Nice Guy Coach of the Year award based on this post-game presser. The bit about their punt is classic stuff. I need to see a highlight of that one somewhere.
[youtube][/youtube]
[youtube][/youtube]
Embrace the pace of the race.
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letsgonecks
- Posts: 994
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:19 am
They did look flat, but like Scott said their D was on. I don't know how they've lost. Constant pressure, stuffed the run, hard consistent tackling and swarming pass coverage.
Not surprising about JJ. You could tell for a few weeks he was having issues with his elbow. Guess since we're officially out, so is he. Wonder how many times you can have elbow surgery and come back. Wonder what his future holds as a leatherneck, but wish him well.
Not surprising about JJ. You could tell for a few weeks he was having issues with his elbow. Guess since we're officially out, so is he. Wonder how many times you can have elbow surgery and come back. Wonder what his future holds as a leatherneck, but wish him well.