[NU Sports] OSU game

[Jonathan Hodges]

This team and the coaches definitely deserve some credit for the turnaround
we've seen this year.  Yes it has been a learning year for the players and
the coaches, and they've had to deal with some difficult circumstances, but
they've pulled through and given us a win at Iowa - and a solid one at that.

Regarding the penalties - we are actually the least penalized team in the
COUNTRY (by yards, #2 by number of penalties:

http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2006&div=4&rpt=IA_teamyardspenalized&site=org

While this doesn't exactly translate into wins you can see it in the
discipline of the team.

In any case the next two weeks will be exciting, especially if the 'Cats can
put together another "complete game" like we saw against Iowa with both the
defense and offense contributing to the W.

Hopefully we'll get a lot of 'Cats fans out there on Saturday afternoon to
root on NU, and I expect a good game.

Jonathan


On 11/5/06, Jeff Beamsley <jeffb at hilgraeve.com> wrote:
>
> Anybody else excited about the OSU game?
>
> We not only have a defense.  We have a pass rush and a secondary that can
> cover!
>
> It is amazing what can be accomplished when you stuff the run.
>
> This was the game I was hoping to see this year.  Both the O and the D
> bringing their best game for four quarters.
>
> There were still weak spots.  Kicking was sketchy and I don't think that
> we
> had one trick play work, but it was clearly our best game of the year.
>
> Fitz and Colby have to be given the proper credit for the huge strides
> this
> D has made this year.  This is WAY more than this team was able to show
> last
> year.
>
> BTW, has anyone noticed that we are no longer the most penalized team in
> the
> league?  Think that is an accident?
>
> I love where this team appears to be headed.  No more of this bend but
> don't
> break stuff.  We're going to take the run away, cover your receivers,
> pressure the QB, and make him beat us.  That's how it's done in the
> BT.  On
> offense, we're going to make you defend every part of the field and play
> assignment football.  The more aggressive your defense gets, the more
> we'll
> slash you with cut back runs.  We're also going to force you to defend the
> run because if you don't, we'll run and swing pass you to death.  But if
> you
> sell out against the run, we've got a QB who can pick you apart.
>
> We have become a dangerous team.  We are no longer a one-trick pony or a
> weak sister who can only play offense.  We have learned how to finish a
> game
> with a lead.  The D cranked up the pressure.  The O kept possession and
> ran
> the ball right down their throat.
>
> We can play with anyone.
>
> Jeff
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
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