[NU Sports] Sad

[DPENDERG at aol.com]

I can understand the tendency to pull whatever positive we can from a  loss 
that should have been a W.   Nevada Reno is a respectable  WAC team, but it is 
not Big Ten quality.  The mistakes on both sides of the  ball (as well as 
special teams) were inexcusable.  Once again, the Cats did  not seem to be very 
well prepared or focused enough to win.  The coaching  staff is ultimately 
accountable.  Can you imagine what a Big Ten team would  do to us if we play like 
we did last night?  Next Saturday we will not play  against a WAC, MAC or I-AA 
school.  We'll be in the big leagues with  100,000 screaming Penn State fans 
expecting their Lions to whip us badly.   Unless we show the consistency and 
talent that has been largely absent in the  first four games, it will happen and 
could get very ugly.
 
In a message dated 9/23/2006 11:53:11 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com writes:

Offense  - many mistakes, especially from Kafka who spent the whole
game staring  down his #1 reciever, all the defense needed to do was
watch him and step  in front of the receiver.  Well, there were those
overthrown balls  too.  It was nice to see McGee make some gutsy calls
(a couple of  bombs) but unfortunately Kafka's not the guy at this
point that can make  those passes.  Plus the OL had quite a few false
start penalties on  top of some low snaps - Rees is definitely not at
the same point as when he  left.  At least NU was running the ball
well.  Improved from  previous games - if you take away the turnovers.

Defense - did an  admirable job (only 2 long drives by Nevada - 17
points were "gifts" from  the NU offense), although they let the
running game for Nevada get going in  the 4th allowing the clock to
bleed.  They did have 4 sacks though and  were playing with more
aggressiveness.  That was good to see.  I  think this is the strong
point of this year's team.

Special teams -  welcome back to the bad old days.  Blocked FG, missed
FG (both should  have been easily hit), 2 mediocre punts (none inside
20), muffed kickoff  return, non-existent punt return game.  The only
bright spot was  McManis and his 45 yard kickoff return - this guy is
good (but  unfortunately can't play every spot on special teams).

Team identity -  this is a learning year, whether we like it or not.
Defense has potential,  but still breaks down from time-to-time.  The
offense gets in sync but  then gives up turnovers.  Kafka is a work in
progress who needs to  learn his read progressions and not to stare
down his receiver (and not  cough up the ball).  Special teams had been
a strong point until this  game.  I expect to see a couple more wins -
but unfortunately no bowl  (barring a big turnaround).  In any case,  Go
'Cats!!!

Jonathan


On 9/23/06, Dennis W. Brandt  <tbng at comcast.net> wrote:
>
>
> > I thought our  offense looked MUCH improved over the past three weeks.
>
> Yes,  it did, as long as you ignore five turnovers.  And so far this  season
> we seem incapable of getting to a loose ball.  The  opposition always seems
> to get to it last.  Kafka is a strong  runner on two good legs, but he's no
> Michael Vick, and defenses will  now be laying for him - if he can run at
> all.  We must pass the  ball to win.  In that skill, his inexperience shows.
> I believe,  however, he has the potential to be a good quarterback.
> Hopefully,  painful experience will be a good teacher, and he will be a
> quality  student on the football field as well as in the classroom.
>
> The  defense is improved over last season, but last year's defense was
>  horrible and this year's is still porous.  And, ugh!  The kicking  game.
> Last night's loss was a team effort that required the everyone's  individual
> ineptitude at the proper moments.
>
> Has  anyone noticed that our allegedly weaker opponents all have had better
>  punters and place kickers?  Why can't we get decent kickers?   Howells has
> had plenty of opportunities to take control but has  consistently failed to
> do the job.  Try the younger kid.  We  could hardly lose anything.
>
> Please don't whine about that  out-of-bounds call or the spot.  He was
> clearly out.  As to  the spot. . .  Well, that was questionable.  But what
> was  Nevada doing running the ball down our throats in that series?
>
>  And did anyone notice how many times the snaps from center were low?   Not
> only does Kafka's leg hurt this morning, so too does his lower  back from
> bending over so much.
>
> P.S.  That  "pistol" offense has some good points, especially the one that
> allows  the running back to build up steam before receiving the ball from 
the
>  quarterback.  I see Tyrell flourishing under that  system.
>
>
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--  
Jonathan W. Hodges
829 Foster St Apt 401
Evanston, IL   60201-3259
(847)  736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com
http://jhodges.org

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