[NU Sports] Polls

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> > I still think we tend to go conservative with our game
> plan

> I've been pretty frustrated at times by the
> conservative approach the last few games, particularly on
> 3rd and long situations. But given the QB and RB injuries,
> and a young offensive line facing tougher defenses lately,
> it's understandable. 

It's not 3rd and long I'm frustrated with - I can at least understand that. I can't stand how every time we have 9 or more yards to go on SECOND down, we run two straight draws and crawl into a shell. The message being that aside from 1-2 instances in the last six weeks, if you stuff us on first down, you're going to get no challenge the next two downs and we'll punt.

> Maybe we could have closed both games out with more
> aggressiveness on offense, but we might also have shot

But we've been doing this in all situations - first and second half, leading and trailing. It's just maddening.

> In any case, you have to be impressed by the adjustments
> the coaches have made at halftime this year. Almost without
> fail we've been better on both offense and defense
> coming out of the half. 

Agree wholeheartedly on the defense - not on the offense. We did it for one quarter against Michigan after half, but we've been worse on offense after the half in pretty much every other game.

Thankfully, the D has made their adjustments and been superb aside from OSU (which like we've discussed before was a combo of amazing plays from a couple very talented athletes ... and running up the score).

GO CATS!!!
-SjT