Coaching

[RockTheRed]

So four or five weeks ago - we changed up our defense with a freshman who apparently can't get a read on what the QB/offense is going to do. Fine. So be it. It results in a score for the bad guys every week. From what I hear, the Johnson kid was worried after last season and his "working" relationship in the backfield with Kevin Hatch, about what it would be like with someone new. That "new" guy was Jeff Minnerly, who for all intents and purposes did fine for 10 games and word on the street was that the Johnson kid felt like nothing had changed (with Kevin gone). Now we've got some kid in there that isn't afraid to hit someone, but shows lack of leadership and ability to read the offense - at all. So what happened that we went and threw a wrench into the defense when it was running fine? Or at least, cohesive. Absolutely our defense is STILL whats' winning games for us, but there's been something "off" since the change was made and I can't put my finger on it. Personalities, not knowing each others style, being athletic as all get out, but not really a student of the game?? Heck, I dunno, but somethings' off. Why fix something that wasn't broke, in other words and as we were heading into playoffs. Thank god for Renard and J.C.

Secondly - Beau Baldwin has shown that he is more than willing to lose a game at this stage of the game with his support of BLM. And that alone, at this point is pathetic. Nick Edwards SAVED the game and bailed BLM out for us and Tyler Hart WON the game for us with that last ball that he held onto despite it trying to bounce of his chest. I heard not word ONE, even after the win, about BLM saving the game, winning the game, even really showing up for the game. He is not, nor will he EVER be a QB the caliber of Nichols or Meyer. He can't read the defense, he doesn't know how to throw the ball away, has zero decision making skills on the field. I heard a 7 year old girl yelling to throw the ball out of bounds. GEEEE ZUS! Someone a week ago wanted us all to lay off and admit he's a fine QB and coming along nicely - but the good ones, the ones that are true competitors, that can will the win... don't make mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake like he did today.

Make your lame "it was snowing" excuses, he had the sniffles this week, it was finals week excuses, but most of the fans in the stand, less ohhhh 23 or so, aint' buyin it. He's not all world, he's not what we thought we were getting when they said we were getting a QB with experience. Get past the "still learning the system" crap, because a smart QB would have made the transition quicker than he has. It's beyond ridiculous. I can't stand to watch him behind center and I cringe when the ball isn't a hand off because 9 times out of 10 it's just plain ugly. Even if our guy catches it.

So with Kauffman essentially out/ineffective this game and Taiwans' sprained ankle... well, I hate to even think about it. In fact, antacids and alcohol, here I come.

 

[LDopaPDX]

I was thinking about Mitchell, and we just have to ride with him because it's too late to move in another direction. The kid has million dollar talernt and a 10 cent brain. He can make spectactular plays one week and kill us with his awful decision-making the next. Despite being as bad as any player on the field today (and he was terrible), he nutted up and guided us to two scores when we needed them the most.

Understand that Taiwan has weird limitations too. He makes outrageously brilliant plays and then the defense adjusts and he becomes a non-factor within a drive or two. And he can't handle a games' worth of action without getting hurt... ever.

We just have to understand we have liabilities, and managing those liabilities is what our coaches get paid for. Being 11-2, I'd say they are doing a damn fine job. There is no doubt NDSU was the lesser team and we damn near giftwrapped them one today with the turnovers, but we still won, and winning whilep laying badly at this level is strangely impressive.

 

[catfan92]

Holy hell! you're in the Semi's for fawk's sake, and your stadium was only 1/3 full! This is lame! Seriously, think about what you guys arw writing!

 

[Dozy]

RTR, I'm so F'ing tired of your whiny little bitch diatribes! We're in the SEMIFINALS and you STILL think we can't do anything right. Get over the fact that your family friend got moved from QB to DB. He'll never be the QB. Period! You're so transparent. We all can see your agenda.

Even Dopa can give some credit where it's due. BLM sucked today but he sure ended strong.

Now we have Cat fans wondering how many of us are idiots... Go pound sand, RTR. Come back when you're done menstruating.

 

[RockTheRed]

I'm not talking about Minnerly at QB Dozy - but anybody would have been better today than BLM. Shit, my grandmother would have made better decisions on the field. I didn't say we can't do anything right either. I said BLM can't. It's OBVIOUS that our defense does plenty right. It's OBVIOUS that Taiwan Jones, when healthy, can't be stopped. Bo Levi get's saved by the TEAM all too often. They've got it down pat. This is the time of year he should be at his strongest, but he's apparently nothing if he has no Kauff or Jones. Who's transparent?

Plain and simple, he got saved by Edwards today.

I think you're just pissed he's made a fool out of you and your love affair of the "idea" of some rockstar QB that never came to be.

 

[vetteman]

The facts are that BLM led his team to the NCAA semi-finals and was the trigger man on the last two drives that ended up in TD's. It would have been easy for him to put his tail between his legs and run after the afternoon he had had.

He fought through the adversity and led his team to victory. Anyone with a problem with that is not a true fan. Go Eagles!!!!!

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

The facts are that BLM led his team to the NCAA semi-finals and was the trigger man on the last two drives that ended up in TD's. It would have been easy for him to put his tail between his legs and run after the afternoon he had had.

He fought through the adversity and led his team to victory. Anyone with a problem with that is not a true fan. Go Eagles!!!!!

This. Let it go RTR, we won and we're in the semi's.

 

[EWURanger]

I think I saw this one coming. Yeah, Bo had a bad day today. The weather *did* have something to do with that, but I won't try and make excuses for him. As far as the coaches decisions - hell, what do you do in that situation? Put in one of the backup QB's who haven't really played much this year except in the blow-outs, or do you show confidence in the guy that has lead the team to come from behind wins on more than one occasion? They chose to keep him in, and in the end, it was the right call. We won. Edwards and Hart made great catches, but someone had to throw them the ball, right? They were great calls and plays that put us in a position to win the game.

And you're right that we may not stand a chance against Nova without Kaufman and Jones, but hey, we're in the semi's. We haven't done that since 1997, and I'm pretty sure the coaches have something to do with that. Let it go - we can talk about all the negative stuff in the off-season. Until then, let's support the team.

 

[Dozy]

Go back and read my posts RTR. I've been supportive but not awed. This "rock star" sh!t is your idea, not mine.

I think he did a nice job of settling in, going through the growing pains one should expect. If he sucked as bad as you portray him to, we wouldn't be on a nine game win streak now, would we?!

The only one that looks like a fool is you. Stay off your keyboard for awhile and maybe we'll all forget what an idiot you've been...

 

[kalm]

Mithchell has cajones for sure. But he has also won games in the final minute that should never have been that close to begin with but were...thanks to his mistakes. Both picks he threw last night were atrocious as were the multiple times he put the ball on the ground. And before the final drive he had around 20 yards passing.

This is a very talented team that can win a national championship if it gets solid, not even extraordinary, just solid QB play.

 

[clawman1]

Bo Levi get's saved by the TEAM all too often. They've got it down pat. This is the time of year he should be at his strongest, but he's apparently nothing if he has no Kauff or Jones. Who's transparent?

Plain and simple, he got saved by Edwards today.

I think you're just pissed he's made a fool out of you and your love affair of the "idea" of some rockstar QB that never came to be.

RTR;
FYI, its a TEAM game!

 

[LDopaPDX]

Mithchell has cajones for sure. But he has also won games in the final minute that should never have been that close to begin with but were...thanks to his mistakes. Both picks he threw last night were atrocious as were the multiple times he put the ball on the ground. And before the final drive he had around 20 yards passing.

This is a very talented team that can win a national championship if it gets solid, not even extraordinary, just solid QB play.

I'd agree... we don't need Mitchell to play like Meyer or Nichols, we just need him to play a clean game and hit some passes. Someone noted the other day that he's "only" thrown 10 total INTs.... it's just odd that 6 of those 10 INTs were returned for touchdowns. He never seems to read the squatting corner and that is responsible for for the big TD returns (exception being SEMO's TD return).

Not to get totally on top of Mitchell, because Kaufman was non-existent yesterday. Even when Mitchell stepped up to deliver a great ball, Kaufman let it hit him in the numbers and fall to the turf. He was playing over a 6" shorter corner all game, and couldn't get open (granted, he was getting safety help rotated on him almost every play). Still, a player of his caliber needs to find a way to come down with some balls every game.

But let's not get away from the guys who did play outstanding... JC Sherritt is in his last year and still seems to be improving from game to game. The kid is everywhere he needs to be and hasn't missed on a tackle in what seems like months. And Renard Williams is a beast. He's always been a beast, but his poor conditioning caused him to take plays off... and since the playoffs started he's been in there almost every play and making himself a factor.

Take away the return TD and the INT TD yesterday, and our D held them to only 17.

 

[kalm]

Mithchell has cajones for sure. But he has also won games in the final minute that should never have been that close to begin with but were...thanks to his mistakes. Both picks he threw last night were atrocious as were the multiple times he put the ball on the ground. And before the final drive he had around 20 yards passing.

This is a very talented team that can win a national championship if it gets solid, not even extraordinary, just solid QB play.

I'd agree... we don't need Mitchell to play like Meyer or Nichols, we just need him to play a clean game and hit some passes. Someone noted the other day that he's "only" thrown 10 total INTs.... it's just odd that 6 of those 10 INTs were returned for touchdowns. He never seems to read the squatting corner and that is responsible for for the big TD returns (exception being SEMO's TD return).

Not to get totally on top of Mitchell, because Kaufman was non-existent yesterday. Even when Mitchell stepped up to deliver a great ball, Kaufman let it hit him in the numbers and fall to the turf. He was playing over a 6" shorter corner all game, and couldn't get open (granted, he was getting safety help rotated on him almost every play). Still, a player of his caliber needs to find a way to come down with some balls every game.

But let's not get away from the guys who did play outstanding... JC Sherritt is in his last year and still seems to be improving from game to game. The kid is everywhere he needs to be and hasn't missed on a tackle in what seems like months. And Renard Williams is a beast. He's always been a beast, but his poor conditioning caused him to take plays off... and since the playoffs started he's been in there almost every play and making himself a factor.

Take away the return TD and the INT TD yesterday, and our D held them to only 17.

Yep.

 

[flyingnail]

Game Plan ???? Lets go back to the Weber game!! Blitzes, dump off passes, draws!!! No air balls , no turnovers, short range high % passes and we might end up in Frisco!!! Enough with the BLM bashing, yep he STUNK however, he made it count when it mattered most !!!! WE ARE IN THE SEMI'S, NEXT GAME PLEASE!!!!!! GOEAGS!

 

[FreeBird]

Game Plan ???? Lets go back to the Weber game!! Blitzes, dump off passes, draws!!! No air balls , no turnovers, short range high % passes and we might end up in Frisco!!! Enough with the BLM bashing, yep he STUNK however, he made it count when it mattered most !!!! WE ARE IN THE SEMI'S, NEXT GAME PLEASE!!!!!! GOEAGS!

+1

This might also be a good week to speed up the offensive plays again. I think someone noted last week that BLM seems to very comfortable in the hurry up format. Given NDSU's run oriented, grind you down, offense; I don't think last week was the week to do that, but this week may be.

 

[HannahO]

Speaking of coaches and coaching staffs ... I sincerely hope that ours is getting an extra stipend or bonus for these extra weeks/games. They have got to be one of the lowest paid coaching staffs in D-1 football and they've certainly held up their end of the deal.

 

[kalm]

Speaking of coaches and coaching staffs ... I sincerely hope that ours is getting an extra stipend or bonus for these extra weeks/games. They have got to be one of the lowest paid coaching staffs in D-1 football and they've certainly held up their end of the deal.

+1,000,000

 

[FreeBird]

Speaking of coaches and coaching staffs ... I sincerely hope that ours is getting an extra stipend or bonus for these extra weeks/games. They have got to be one of the lowest paid coaching staffs in D-1 football and they've certainly held up their end of the deal.

+1,000,000

Absolutely!

It's fun to play arm chair coach at home, but these guys are getting it done.

 

[flyingnail]

Game Plan ???? Lets go back to the Weber game!! Blitzes, dump off passes, draws!!! No air balls , no turnovers, short range high % passes and we might end up in Frisco!!! Enough with the BLM bashing, yep he STUNK however, he made it count when it mattered most !!!! WE ARE IN THE SEMI'S, NEXT GAME PLEASE!!!!!! GOEAGS!

+1

This might also be a good week to speed up the offensive plays again. I think someone noted last week that BLM seems to very comfortable in the hurry up format. Given NDSU's run oriented, grind you down, offense; I don't think last week was the week to do that, but this week may be.

SPOT ON!!! GOEAGS!