My Take

[orangecuse]

"You are going to think I am crazy but I was pretty happy with the offense overall. We moved the ball, were able to get first downs and control things all game long. The turnovers were huge and just killed us. Nassib has to be smarter, especially in the red zone. The play calling was, I think, excellent, except for in the red zone, where we again made some bizarre calls."

Agree with your thoughts on D but I can't agree about the O. We ran 64 plays vs 71 for MN - what happened to hurry up? Also, note that all four trunovers were on the O. Moving the ball means nothing if we can't put points on the scoreboard. Nassib's completion numbers always look good but what does that mean if we don't score and don't win. This loss was not on the D or ST - entirely on the O.

The play calling inside the red zone was really the play calling inside the 2 yard line. Hackett was clearly spooked by the inability of the OLine to move anybody, which is understandable but the play he came up with was just about the worst he could have called.

We are going to find out that both NW and MN are very average teams and we gave away both games. When with this nightmare end?

Hopefully, to quote the lyric, ...when September ends.

 

[OrangePA]

West seems to be coming into his own. West, Funderburk and Thompson are going to be a handful next year. But it's always next year.

West still drops too many catchable passes.

I think he dropped the first pass of the game that ended being an INT, right?

 

[Ozcuse]

Penalties, play calling, turnovers. Fix any of those three and we win.

Haven't we been saying that for the last 4 years and beyond? At what point do you determine that this is just what it's going to be and either accept it or bring someone else in?

 

[OrangePA]

I think you're spot on with three of the most glaring problems, Alexander, Diet Tab and Wilkes but I'll add two more. Anderson is getting routinely abused out there and in Schafers scheme, our CB's play a lot of the game on the island. This does not bode well against remaining teams with big fast receivers (eg. Pitt and the Ville). It may be time to give Morgan or Whigam a shot here. It seemed like the Minny QB went after Rishard all night. Finally, unless and until this team stops the incessant, inane and quite frankly, unbelieveable mistakes, we are doomed to more of what we saw last night. I honestly cannot recall a team that can be counted on 100% to make a jaw dropping turnover, penalty or stuid play in every single critical juncture. Minny handed us this one on a silver platter and we pissed it away as usual. This is coaching plain and simple. The lack of discipline and football smarts on this team is extrememly disturbing. I have come to expect the worse. I predicted 5-7 and I fear we'll be lucky to get there. Pitt suddenly seems like a very bad match up for this team with a strong running game and a QB who seems to have found his comfort zone.

Anderson struggles.

 

[OrangePA]

Haven't we been saying that for the last 4 years and beyond? At what point do you determine that this is just what it's going to be and either accept it or bring someone else in?

No we haven't - we played well two years ago - we hit hard, we tackled well, we created TOs.

We played better defense during Marrone's first year.

 

[SmilinBob]

I'd have to say the 2 true freshmen on those kickoffs looked like 2 true freshmen. Granted, the wedge sucked but wow they just looked like Nassib taking off on those kickoffs.

 

[SmilinBob]

No we haven't - we played well two years ago - we hit hard, we tackled well, we created TOs.

We played better defense during Marrone's first year.

Well that would suggest talent and not coaching then OPA . What drives me loco is the lack of tackling AND turnovers. If I have one I sure as heck want the other to be way better than average.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

Haven't we been saying that for the last 4 years and beyond? At what point do you determine that this is just what it's going to be and either accept it or bring someone else in?

At least 2 of the three relate to inadequate coaching. Not offering an excuse but rather conditions that led to the loss.

 

[Scooch]

No we haven't - we played well two years ago - we hit hard, we tackled well, we created TOs.

We played better defense during Marrone's first year.

For all their mistakes, the D gave up 17 points.

There's just absolutely no excuse for losing a college football game in 2012 when you give up 17 points.

 

[OttoMets]

Diatabe was repeatedly taken out on a counter tray that became Minn's bread and butter.

Alexander and the right side were beaten all night.

But for me it's the stupid mistakes and the inability of our skill guys to step up and make a play.

When will somebody make a tough catch when it matters?

Yeah, this is disappointing. Our receivers are (mostly) playing fine, but they're not going out and making positive plays that other teams' guys make.

Same deal with our defense. We don't have a single guy on our defense who goes after the ball and forces a turnover (like Minnesota's goal line interception). We're playing with a lower margin for error when our defense just doesn't make plays on catchable balls.

I'm just glad to see a post about the football game rather than the "I'm taking my ball and going home/This group of young men ruined my weekend/We're going to lose every game in the next two years" junk that's filled this board. Thanks for the recap/sanctuary, Tom.

 

[OrangePA]

Well that would suggest talent and not coaching then OPA . What drives me loco is the lack of tackling AND turnovers. If I have one I sure as heck want the other to be way better than average.

I don't know the answer at this point.

It is clear that this team does not know how to win - how to take advantage of opportunities and to pounce on an opponent.

It is clear to me that we have truly missed Derrell Smith - he was a rock for us on defense for Marrone's first two years.

We also miss Mike Holmes in the secondary and Doug Hogue at LB.

And though they were not All-Americans by any stretch, it seems obvious that we miss Tiller and Hay on the right side of the OL.

I hope it is youth learning how to win.

And I can deal with growing pains, but I hate stupid mistakes - Bromley's unnecessary call - and I hate poor tackling and lack of hitting.

That has to change now.

 

[OrangePA]

For all their mistakes, the D gave up 17 points.

There's just absolutely no excuse for losing a college football game in 2012 when you give up 17 points.

We were lucky - two missed FGs at point blank range and the holding call on the TD pass.

If you can't stop the run you can't win. And right now we can't stop the run. The Gophers RBs were moving through the line untouched on almost every play.

That must stop.

 

[Scooch]

Your point about hitting is a good one OPA. I thought we were going to be a big, tough northeastern team and smack people.

Last night we looked like the far weaker team, mentally and physically.

 

[Scooch]

We were lucky - two missed FGs at point blank range and the holding call on the TD pass.

If you can't stop the run you can't win. And right now we can't stop the run. The Gophers RBs were moving through the line untouched on almost every play.

That must stop.

True about luck. Sadly it appears our coach thinks we're the unlucky ones.

 

[OttoMets]

I think you're spot on with three of the most glaring problems, Alexander, Diet Tab and Wilkes but I'll add two more. Anderson is getting routinely abused out there and in Schafers scheme, our CB's play a lot of the game on the island. This does not bode well against remaining teams with big fast receivers (eg. Pitt and the Ville). It may be time to give Morgan or Whigam a shot here. It seemed like the Minny QB went after Rishard all night. ..

Yup. Sorry to pile on, but Anderson has not been good out there. After four games, we need to reevaluate the whole "Anderson's getting picked on quite a bit" and consider "Anderson isn't very good at many important aspects of his job."

Really hated to see him woofing at that #82 after a late second-quarter incompletetion, too. Anderson was - as is often the case - about five yards off his man; the kid just dropped the ball; and Anderson was quick to get in his face. Come on, man - you're constantly getting beat and you seem incapable of finding the ball when it's in the air. Just run back to the sideline.

 

[OrangePA]

Your point about hitting is a good one OPA. I thought we were going to be a big, tough northeastern team and smack people.

Last night we looked like the far weaker team, mentally and physically.

True.

When was the last time an RB couldn't get up after a hit?

Buddy Ryan used to say "he can't throw if he's on his ass"

Right now our opponents are not on their ass.

Sometimes football is a pretty simple game - knock him down!!!!!

 

[JeremyCuse]

For all their mistakes, the D gave up 17 points.

There's just absolutely no excuse for losing a college football game in 2012 when you give up 17 points.

You obviously forgot were syracuse, we could give up 3 and still lose.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Anderson too...yikes.

 

[44cuse]

You are going to think I am crazy but I was pretty happy with the offense overall. We moved the ball, were able to get first downs and control things all game long. The turnovers were huge and just killed us. Nassib has to be smarter, especially in the red zone. The play calling was, I think, excellent, except for in the red zone, where we again made some bizarre calls.

Having a hard time reconciling this.

From 12:17 of the 1st QTR to 9:42 of the 4th QTR we went:

Punt (5 plays)
FG (13)
Punt (5)
Punt (3)
Fumble (4)
Interception (15)
Fumble (4)
Punt (3)
Punt (3)

In the 3rd and 4th QTRs when we really needed to make something happen (after the pick) we went: 4 plays, 3 plays, 3 plays (before the prevent 83 yard drive).

We were in 3rd and 8 or longer 8 times. We converted 2 of them with one of those coming from a penalty. We had 21 1st Downs, but 6 of those came on our last drive in the 4th QTR when they were giving us everything.

44cuse

 

[iommi]

The play calling was piss poor most of the game...especially in red zone...but also, what was with the runs on 3rd and long multiple times? So friggin' conservative.

 

[Orangeyes]

Bromley cost us 15 yards when we had Minny pinned back at the one yard line. Not, good, not smart and costly.


Regarding Time Warner:

They along with Dell have the worst customer service that you could imagine.

Both are very sloppy with customer service..

I didn't realize you could just go to the channel and push the button to get the Big10 Network . I could have saved a lot of time & energy.

I called 437-1401 on and off for an hour yesterday morning while doing articles. I got one of those fast busy signals that indicate the line isn't working.

I then went online & found a 1+800# where a TW rep said he enabled the Big10 Network.

Later in the day I went to program the DVR only to find that I didn't have the network.

I made a call to another 1+800 and the rep said oh I see you have two DVR's maybe our guy didn't see that & only programmed one.

He then sent the "hit" to activate it on my main set. Nothing! He tried three more times.

I then said I see a message to hit the select button to purchase. He said that won't work, I pushed the button and the network popped on.

On another issue, I have tried to get a hold of a rep from the YNN newsroom since the end of August. Every email has been ignored. Many phone calls to supervisors have been made. When I get through the person assures me they'll have someone from the news room get back to me. Hold times on those phone calls range from 11 minutes to 27.

The bottom line is Time Warner just doesn't care about it's customers.

I would like to switch but I hear the same crap about all of the other companies.

 

[SmilinBob]

I'm hoping beyond hope that P

I don't know the answer at this point.

It is clear that this team does not know how to win - how to take advantage of opportunities and to pounce on an opponent.

It is clear to me that we have truly missed Derrell Smith - he was a rock for us on defense for Marrone's first two years.

We also miss Mike Holmes in the secondary and Doug Hogue at LB.

And though they were not All-Americans by any stretch, it seems obvious that we miss Tiller and Hay on the right side of the OL.

I hope it is youth learning how to win.

And I can deal with growing pains, but I hate stupid mistakes - Bromley's unnecessary call - and I hate poor tackling and lack of hitting.

That has to change now.

I'm hoping beyond hope that Pugh comes in and solidifies this line and stays for his senior year.

 

[qdawgg]

Just because the D only gave up 17 points doesn't mean they did a good job too. There were 2 missed field goals, Minny's QB overthrew most of the screen or touch passes out wide, he was rarely under pressure, at one point they had a 3rd and long and Keon gives the receiver at least an 8 yard cushion past the 1st down marker, guys still don't know how to tackle the legs of backs that are bigger then them, passing situations we rush 4 and drop everyone else into coverage and the receiver still makes a catch between 3 - 4 guys in zone coverage, we blitz the QB and the blitzer takes the longest possible route to reach the QB, I never have the feeling like our defense is going to force or come up with any type of TO, and the list goes on.

The defense has been just as much an issue the last 2 years as the offense. At least in my opinion. The year we kicked the out of Rutgers at the dome and that game in particular I really thought we were going to have a dominate defense that was going to be really fun to watch dominate other teams. That just hasn't happened.

 

[OrangePA]

The play calling was piss poor most of the game...especially in red zone...but also, what was with the runs on 3rd and long multiple times? So friggin' conservative.

Play calling is always an issue for radio and fans.

It's not about play calling.

It's about toughness, technique and smart, hard, physical play.

Those are the issues - not what call was made on a given play.

 

[mountaincuse]

Good post as usual Tom, but I can't say I agree on the Offense. Didn't understand our "hurry up" yesterday.

I don't really consider it hurry up when you no huddle, but instead of moving quick you simply walk to each player and tell them the play. Either huddle or get to the line and go, pick one.