I don't like losing but I realize...

[Crusty]

... that sometimes you lose to a better team or you just match up poorly against a weaker foe but at this stage of the game we have the right to expect that we stop beating ourselves. We have lost 2 out of 4 games where we have clearly beaten ourselves. Good teams just do not do that. I am afraid that at this stage of the program we are a just good FCS level team playing against FBS competition.

We should have beaten NW by a couple of touchdowns but we really gave them the game on a silver platter and last night in MN, we scored only 3 points for the first 59 minutes against a team that gave up 7 to New Hampshire (2-2), 23 to Western Michigan (2-2) and 27 to UNLV (1-3). We had 350 total yards to their 337 and we matched them in both running, passing and ST. But we had FOUR turnovers to their ZERO turnovers. We also had 10 penalties for 79 yards. MN actually ran seven more plays than we did - so much for the hurry up.

1. We drive from our own 17 to MN 14 and on third and 1 Senior Alec Lemon commits a false start and the drive stalls when we run on 3rd and 6.
2. We drive from our own 42 to the MN 31 and Nassib fumbles.
3. In the third quarter we have to call a timeout because we have left their slot receiver uncovered at the 2 yard line.
4. Here is the killer, we drive from our own 13 to the goal line. On 1st and one Smith rushes for no gain (really thought we advanced the ball about a half a yard) and then on the next play we call a sweep with Smith who hasn't turned the corner all year. Now, had that play been called after another straight forward attempt I would feel somewhat better but it wasn't. Play calling deja vu - when it started I just screamed at the tube Nooooooooo! It was like the play was in slow motion replay. That play calling was a direct result of our failure to punch it in twice against SB - it is that simple. The staff has so little faith in the OLine that it thinks we can't get a half a yard on two plays (assuming we would have gone for it on 4th)?? We then give up 3 points when Nassib is intercepted.
5. Broyld fumbles after we drive from midfield to their 23.

While the D looked shaky a few times they actually did a pretty good job. They held MN to 337 total yards or almost 100 yards under their first three games average and allowed only 17 points - half the gophers 34 point average. Yes, we got beat deep too many times (and got fortunate on penalties wiping out at least one TD) and that missed assignment at the goal line was scary and embarrassing but overall, they did their job. MN did not beat our D.

Our promising offense was exposed last night and I suspect it was a preview of conference play. Nassib is still Nassib and he needs time to throw the ball or he becomes just another QB. Everybody is going to come after the OLine with the certain knowledge that is the way to beat us. They will take their chances and make us beat them by running the ball and we will be hard pressed to do it.

I don't want anybody's head and I appreciate the improvement in many things. However, I do expect the staff to fix these penalties and use the next two weeks to straighten out the OLine and instill some discipline into our play. They have got to start making teams beat us on their own with no help from ourselves.

The sad reality (to paraphrase Dennis Green) is that we are who we thought we were. The Oline is vulnerable and that shuts down Nassib and the D has coverage breakdowns, size issues at LB and tackling issues. It is going to be tough slogging.

I told myself that this year was going to be a frustrating one and that I would have to grin and bear it and look forward to a better 2013. Even so, the first two games cruelly gave me hope that things were changing faster that I had expected. Silly me.

 

[OttoMets]

... that sometimes you lose to a better team or you just match up poorly against a weaker foe but at this stage of the game we have the right to expect that we stop beating ourselves. We have lost 2 out of 4 games where we have clearly beaten ourselves. Good teams just do not do that. I am afraid that at this stage of the program we are a just good FCS level team playing against FBS competition.

We should have beaten NW by a couple of touchdowns but we really gave them the game on a silver platter and last night in MN, we scored only 3 points for the first 59 minutes against a team that gave up 7 to New Hampshire (2-2), 23 to Western Michigan (2-2) and 27 to UNLV (1-3). We had 350 total yards to their 337 and we matched them in both running, passing and ST. But we had FOUR turnovers to their ZERO turnovers. We also had 10 penalties for 79 yards. MN actually ran seven more plays than we did - so much for the hurry up.

1. We drive from our own 17 to MN 14 and on third and 1 Senior Alec Lemon commits a false start and the drive stalls when we run on 3rd and 6.
2. We drive from our own 42 to the MN 31 and Nassib fumbles.
3. In the third quarter we have to call a timeout because we have left their slot receiver uncovered at the 2 yard line.
4. Here is the killer, we drive from our own 13 to the goal line. On 1st and one Smith rushes for no gain (really thought we advanced the ball about a half a yard) and then on the next play we call a sweep with Smith who hasn't turned the corner all year. Now, had that play been called after another straight forward attempt I would feel somewhat better but it wasn't. Play calling deja vu - when it started I just screamed at the tube Nooooooooo! It was like the play was in slow motion replay. That play calling was a direct result of our failure to punch it in twice against SB - it is that simple. The staff has so little faith in the OLine that it thinks we can't get a half a yard on two plays (assuming we would have gone for it on 4th)?? We then give up 3 points when Nassib is intercepted.
5. Broyld fumbles after we drive from midfield to their 23.

While the D looked shaky a few times they actually did a pretty good job. They held MN to 337 total yards or almost 100 yards under their first three games average and allowed only 17 points - half the gophers 34 point average. Yes, we got beat deep too many times (and got fortunate on penalties wiping out at least one TD) and that missed assignment at the goal line was scary and embarrassing but overall, they did their job. MN did not beat our D.


Our promising offense was exposed last night and I suspect it was a preview of conference play. Nassib is still Nassib and he needs time to throw the ball or he becomes just another QB. Everybody is going to come after the OLine with the certain knowledge that is the way to beat us. They will take their chances and make us beat them by running the ball and we will be hard pressed to do it.

I don't want anybody's head and I appreciate the improvement in many things. However, I do expect the staff to fix these penalties and use the next two weeks to straighten out the OLine and instill some discipline into our play. They have got to start making teams beat us on their own with no help from ourselves.

The sad reality (to paraphrase Dennis Green) is that we are who we thought we were. The Oline is vulnerable and that shuts down Nassib and the D has coverage breakdowns, size issues at LB and tackling issues. It is going to be tough slogging.

I told myself that this year was going to be a frustrating one and that I would have to grin and bear it and look forward to a better 2013. Even so, the first two games cruelly gave me hope that things were changing faster that I had expected. Silly me.

Good post. Should be required reading.

 

[baggerbob]

The other thing you failed to mention, is none of our 3 regular receivers poses any threat to beat teams deep. West,Sales,Lemon all possession receivers, means teams will continue to press them as Minn did last night. Having a Harrison on this team would make Nassib a better QB.

 

[SoBristol]

Good post. Might have been a bad match up (as you wrote) if we believe that Minn has an above-average front 4. They didn't use blitzes -- just straight 4 man rushes that put constant pressure on Nassib. Both teams had penalties -- we had turnovers that killed decent drives.
Pugh coming back for the Big East games will help with the OT issues. We will still be just OK at OG and C -- and won't be an OL that can get a push in a goal line situation. Goal line offense -- just haven't shown much (ability to run to flags, or other standard options).

And that said, we can still beat some Big East rivals. One bad outing doesn't end the season.

 

[mountaincuse]

Having a Harrison on this team would make Nassib a better QB.

That would make you a better QB too.

 

[dollarbill44]

Well said.