I can't blame the defense.

[Czar]

It's not their fault that without Dungey the offense was horrible and kept them on the field the entire half. In fact I would commend them for containing Central Michigan for that long and not breaking. The offense and defensive coaching staff let them down. Being super aggressive with the front seven means nothing if the secondary is going to play 3 yards off every receiver.

 

[Scooch]

I don't know why people are surprised about the secondary. It's thin and not good and we knew this months ago. If the front 7 can't get to the QB we're simply going to give up completions.

 

[Oswego93]

With the hobbits we have at safety, I would throw jump balls down the middle of the field all day too.

 

[orangefan13]

Atleast the 2ndary was playing them tighter against wake they were giving 5-10 yard windows. This was some good experience time for them as well.
If our offense got one first down the 2nd half, one, They run out of time on that last drive. Our interception return probably would have ended the game.

They only gave up 3 touchdowns and a field goal. If the offense got 1-2 first downs the 2nd half they would have only gave up 17 all game. and only 7 in the second half.

 

[OrangeDW]

They made some huge plays. The sack and fumble recovery on our side of the field. The back to back stops in the 4th quarter while holding the 24-17 lead, including the INT that should've sealed the game if we could've gotten a 1st down. And then stop in OT to hold them to a FG.

But they were shredded or much of the game, gave up the tying TD on a 3rd and 17 on a 90 yard drive, and allowed another 90 yard TD drive. Uneven performance. Thankfully it was good enough today.

 

[Czar]

They made some huge plays. The sack and fumble recovery on our side of the field. The back to back stops in the 4th quarter while holding the 24-17 lead, including the INT that should've sealed the game if we could've gotten a 1st down. And then stop in OT to hold them to a FG.

But they were shredded or much of the game, gave up the tying TD on a 3rd and 17 on a 90 yard drive, and allowed another 90 yard TD drive. Uneven performance. Thankfully it was good enough today.

I'm chalking up that last TD to being absolutely exhausted at that point. Seriously, I felt bad for the defensive line at the end of the 4th.

Secondary has no excuse on that TD though.

 

[samspann1]

It's not their fault that without Dungey the offense was horrible and kept them on the field the entire half. In fact I would commend them for containing Central Michigan for that long and not breaking. The offense and defensive coaching staff let them down. Being super aggressive with the front seven means nothing if the secondary is going to play 3 yards off every receiver.

Clearly, the offense did the defense no favors in the 2nd half. That said, our coverage and tackling were poor all game long, and CMU rammed the ball down our throats on their first possession of the 2nd half.

It's a bad thing, IMO, when Internet posters can predict the opponent's plays, and your defense still can't stop the opponent

 

[tbonezone]

hey , just making a stop gets you off the field. the D couldn't as the middle was open all day and the tackling piddling at best.

 

[domestu]

Central Michigan had over 500 offensive yards today. You can't blame SU's offense for this.

 

[Briancuse]

Central Michigan had over 500 offensive yards today. You can't blame SU's offense for this.

Well considering we had zero first downs in the 2nd half, I think that you can.

 

[Faegan]

Central Michigan had over 500 offensive yards today. You can't blame SU's offense for this.

Well, you can. If our offense could stay on the field their offense wouldn't get the opportunity to rack up 500.

 

[omniorange]

Central Michigan had over 500 offensive yards today. You can't blame SU's offense for this.

Well considering we had zero first downs in the 2nd half, I think that you can.

I see it more as a "share the blame" situation. But a win is a win is a win.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[SoBristol]

Defense did enough to win, barely. The concern is our D got pushed around, couldn't stop the CM's running backs, and allowed easy completions. Our small safeties struggled -- no surprise, they are tiny. So, is Cent Mich that good?

 

[Chris02M]

our offense became too prediuctable in the 2nd half with no Dungey. if mahoney was in we were running the option if wilson is in we are running normal plays

 

[Stern]

Defense was totally gassed. Secondary was bad even when they weren't. Offensive coaches did the defense no favors today with there playcalling. Need to understand the defense is on the field the entire game and you must call some plays to kill clock and give them a breather. The Wilson INT throw, yes it was underthrown, but you can't call that play and risk sending your defense back on the field

 

[tep624]

Defense did enough to win, barely. The concern is our D got pushed around, couldn't stop the CM's running backs, and allowed easy completions. Our small safeties struggled -- no surprise, they are tiny. So, is Cent Mich that good?

I'm sure this had nothing to do with our D's ability to stop yardage in the second half. Our offense had ZERO First downs until OT.

 

[money3189]

Keep in mind of 7 new defensive starters. Would have been ugly if this was last years D. We gave them 3 points at their place last year. Would have been alot worse in the Dome.

 

[domestu]

Keep in mind of 7 new defensive starters. Would have been ugly if this was last years D. We gave them 3 points at their place last year. Would have been alot worse in the Dome.

Central Michigan only gained 217 yards on us last year. The way our defense performed this afternoon is what concerns me.

 

[TheCusian]

I love when the board goes nutso about a young and inexperienced defense being inconsistent - when that's exactly what young and inexperienced players are.

We knew this 6 months ago. I trust this D staff. They will get better over the course of the season. And the offense is still scoring over 30pts a game .

 

[Chris02M]

the most disappointing part of the game(besides dungey being cheapshoted) was our DL not getting much pressure on there qb

 

[money3189]

Central Michigan only gained 217 yards on us last year. The way our defense performed this afternoon is what concerns me.

That's my point. This is not last years defense. Its bunch of 18 and 19 year olds. lol we already knew this going into the season. We a bunch a new players. They are not going to be consistently good. Im not suprised at all.

 

[SoBristol]

View attachment 50911

I'm sure this had nothing to do with our D's ability to stop yardage in the second half. Our offense had ZERO First downs until OT.

D got pushed around from the beginning of Q3. Yes, the offense was pushed around as well.

 

[retro44]

At 6'2" Devon Clark will be needed at safety. I like the kids film and who knows what Blair will be doing in 2 years,but we need some real size back there.

 

[gocraz4dasu]

With the hobbits we have at safety, I would throw jump balls down the middle of the field all day too.

They didn't even really throw jump balls down the middle over our safety's head. They gashed us primarily by finding the pocket between the safeties and linebackers and throwing touch passes over our linebackers' heads. Our linebackers are not very strong in coverage (the Zaire pick was awesome but Rush misinterpreted where his receiver was going on a broken play) like they, typically, are in run support and the pass rush. Our linebackers were getting baited by play action too so they had a bit of a rough day.

The offense definitely did not do any favors to the defense by consistently going three and out or throwing an interception so the defense got a one play break. I was frustrated with the defense because of the long drive out of half more-so than later in the game. I can't fault them for being exhausted at the end.

I can give the defense credit though for closing down and coming up big when it mattered (for the most part, the broken play touchdown was unfortunate). Ron Thompson had an incredible game and Arciniega also played very well. I liked what I saw from Clarke in the middle and he was fired up at the end, I loved it. Linebackers struggled but Paris Bennett had a much needed pass batted down in the red zone and Zaire capitalized when it presented itself. The defense did alright considering they had to be on the field for 39:06.

 

[Millhouse]

With the hobbits we have at safety, I would throw jump balls down the middle of the field all day too.