[NU Sports] Question on Defense

[Chris Patterson]

BTW, I too, have a very favorable opinion of RW, but have a historical
question concerning the  defense on past teams; "With the exception of Ron
Vanderlinden (in his last two years) as defensive coordinator, when has NU
had a really good defense, and let's restrict our answer to those teams
under Barnett and Walker?

Also, what is RW's record when leading or losing going into the second half?
Is that even a meaningful stat? I know RW's record when leading going into
the 4th quarter is nothing short of exceptional. The PSU game being that
rare exception. And we all know the Cardiac Cats' OT record is superb, too.

Chris Patterson
Knoxville, TN

Go CATS!!

PS. I stayed to the end Saturday!! I love this "never quit" attitude Barnett
and Walker have instilled in this program.  Now if those fans that left
would start believing too, :).



-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Michael Vance
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 9:49 PM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: Re: [NU Sports] Michigan comment


This may sound a little negative, but it seems that in talking about how 
awesome our offense is that people have forgotten that while we've been 
pretty consistent in the first half of games, we have been wildly 
inconsistent in the second.  We've had two conference games -- Wisconsin 
and MSU -- where the offense came out and completely kicked butt after 
halftime, and three where the offense has been questionable.  Against PSU, 
we moved the ball but couldn't put it in the end zone and had to settle for 
field goals.  At Purdue, we were held scoreless until that final drive, 
when we needed it to win.  And then the Michigan game, which everyone seems 
to be treating as an anomaly.

I generally like RW as a coach.  Like others, I've been disappointed with 
the defense and the place kicking and coverage units.  But the thing that 
has frustrated me the most about RW and Dunbar has been the second 
half.  It's convenient to blame the O-Line for the penalties on Saturday, 
and they certainly deserved their fair share, but when second half clam-ups 
happen so often, week after week, season after season, especially when we 
have a lead, part of the blame has to go on the coaches.

Is it a failure to adjust?  I don't think so, because when you have a lead 
(like the PSU and Purdue games), or when you've been moving the ball and 
just having some turnover problems (Michigan), there's what's to adjust in 
the basic offensive scheme?  Keep doing what you've been doing (but hang on 
to the ball).  Is it a failure to re-adjust to the oppositions 
adjustments?  That seemed like it may have been at least part of the case 
against Michigan.  Is it over-anticipating our opponents halftime 
adjustments?  Maybe.  It wouldn't be the first time that NU football had 
been accused of thinking too much.  Or is it just fatigue?  We have been 
getting far better talent since 95/96, but we've rarely been deep at every 
position.  Does that set in in the second half?

That's part of why I'm with Eric as far as being worried about a Ferentz 
team that has had two weeks to prepare.  The offense needs to be firing on 
all cylinders because we're at a serious risk of getting outcoached, 
especially after halftime.

-Michael

At 11/3/2005 09:15 PM, WildElk2 at aol.com wrote:
>    Lot's of good stuff this week.  I thought our defense played their
>asses off in the 2nd half; they single-handedly kept us in the game.
>    .02: Was anyone surprised by the lack of designed running plays by 
>Baz; I don't remember a single one in the 2nd half. Also, when it 
>became apparent that Mesh had snuffed out the screens, why did we keep
throwing them?  Hmmm...
>   The concern I have is, did Michigan "find something"?  It was the 
>first time on offense that we were really spinning our wheels.  Hard to 
>tell, as our play selection and execution was lousy.  As it is in these 
>situations, maybe a
>combination of both.
>    However, we have too many leaders on offense to not correct these
flaws.
>As RW says, it's how you respond.  And as Brad Wilson has pointed out, the
>Michigan game doesn't make the season.
>    Iowa.  Truth be told, I'm not 100% sure of their record, but I know
it's
>similar to ours.  I know they can throw, and methinks we better get some
>turnovers, as I bet 40-plus passes will be headed our way.  I'm also 
>worried that a
>team coached by Kirk Ferentz will have 2 weeks to preoare for this game.
>    I usually have a definate opinion of who will win or lose. I can't draw
a
>bead on this game at all.  I hope we have a little, something extra for 
>senior
>day on saturday!
>
>    FWI: game vs. Ohio St. on ABC; 11 AM Cat Standard Time.
>
>              GO CATS!!!    ERIC
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