EWU v No. Iowa Sep 12th -- GAME DAY THREAD & Thoughts

[Obzerver]

But but but we have a new DC. Tough first two games for young Mr.Schmedding.

 

[clawman1]

But but but we have a new DC. Tough first two games for young Mr.Schmedding.

FYI, "young Mr. Schmedding" did not have a single flag thrown on him!

 

[LDopaPDX]

I'd also mention that our special teams are, indeed, "special." Kick coverage, once a great strength, is meager. Can our kicker even put it into the endzone? I mean, the game was in a dome, so it should have been easy. Our punt coverage was fine, largely owing to the fact our punter only punts 33 yards on average. Therefore, we give up a lot of field position just because we aren't punting it deep. Plus, we took two 15 yard penalties for fair catch interference.

But, man oh man, how bad are the kick returns? Simba Webster is a disaster. I'm sure the kid has skills, but he sure doesn't show it. Worse yet, his decision making is awful. Four different returns started from the endzone and came short of the 20 yard line. In other words, his decision to return the kick leads to at least 5 yards less in field position. Twice, he didn't even make the 15 yard line.

I didn't feel like our team played bad in this game... it's just that they didn't play good. Intensity seemed very low. It didn't resemble the team that came out against Oregon at all. And for yet another year, we seem to have a huge number of injuries early in the year. Are we just not a tough football team or what?

We have a LOT to prove next Saturday.

 

[luckyintheorder]

I'd also mention that our special teams are, indeed, "special." Kick coverage, once a great strength, is meager. Can our kicker even put it into the endzone? I mean, the game was in a dome, so it should have been easy. Our punt coverage was fine, largely owing to the fact our punter only punts 33 yards on average. Therefore, we give up a lot of field position just because we aren't punting it deep. Plus, we took two 15 yard penalties for fair catch interference.

But, man oh man, how bad are the kick returns? Simba Webster is a disaster. I'm sure the kid has skills, but he sure doesn't show it. Worse yet, his decision making is awful. Four different returns started from the endzone and came short of the 20 yard line. In other words, his decision to return the kick leads to at least 5 yards less in field position. Twice, he didn't even make the 15 yard line.

I didn't feel like our team played bad in this game... it's just that they didn't play good. Intensity seemed very low. It didn't resemble the team that came out against Oregon at all. And for yet another year, we seem to have a huge number of injuries early in the year. Are we just not a tough football team or what?

We have a LOT to prove next Saturday.

Sadly, based on the schedule and travel we all knew there was a chance to go 0 - 3 to start this season. Despite losing, felt the D was close to being were EWU needs it to effectively help win games. 6 stops, several sacks. The troubling coachable technique stuff was dropping their heads trying to tackle, DL being turned so backs face the play (aborted spin moves?) and pure coaching issues with less than ideal personnel on particular down and distance situations and poor situational awareness/play calling at the end of the game. It was like Graham was still overly involved at points. Upside players didn't look lost as often as recent years and flew around aggressively with mixed results at least from the view TV allowed. Most of us would have been ecstatic with 6 stops pre-game. I still am and hopeful that several of the players take greater leadership on the field, leading to better performances.

Agree, the kicking game was egregious and killed field position making it a long day. G&P talked to the strength of the punter's leg in fall camp, not translating in the games. Kickoff's are horrible. Want to say average starting field position was 35-40 yard line for UNI, doesn't make anyones job easier.

 

[Obzerver]

But but but we have a new DC. Tough first two games for young Mr.Schmedding.

FYI, "young Mr. Schmedding" did not have a single flag thrown on him!

Thanks Clawman for helping to prove one of my two points. Since 2011 it seems as if many have been critical of the defense and critical of Graham as DC. Concerns were did he run the right formation, have the right personel in correct positions were they teaching fundamentals...the list goes on. Well now we have a new DC and it seems a new formation with similiar results. Perhaps not the fault of the DC directly afterall but hold the players respondsible. Let me be clear...the players are putting forth the best effort they can, imo.

Second point was a tough two games for Mr. Schmedding. Just a fact...starting out your new coordinating job against one of the best college offenses ever is crazy!

 

[luckyintheorder]

But but but we have a new DC. Tough first two games for young Mr.Schmedding.

FYI, "young Mr. Schmedding" did not have a single flag thrown on him!

Thanks Clawman for helping to prove one of my two points. Since 2011 it seems as if many have been critical of the defense and critical of Graham as DC. Concerns were did he run the right formation, have the right personel in correct positions were they teaching fundamentals...the list goes on. Well now we have a new DC and it seems a new formation with similiar results. Perhaps not the fault of the DC directly afterall but hold the players respondsible. Let me be clear...the players are putting forth the best effort they can, imo.

Second point was a tough two games for Mr. Schmedding. Just a fact...starting out your new coordinating job against one of the best college offenses ever is crazy!

Absolutely tough two games with many young and fresh faces.. Guessing you are saying stop the grousing? The results aren't that similar. More penetration, better pursuit, no 70 yard home run's at UNI. The differences are measurable and fully expect to see further improvement next week. With Schmedding's purported ability to see the field, he will notice some of the little things that can make a significant difference when he views the film. The Oregon game was hard to use as a coaching moment in my opinion, but the UNI game should bring it into stark relief. Anyway, the defense will get better and there are brighter days ahead as we get into conference play and the team gets to sleep in their own beds on Friday night.

Anyone else think the conference looks eerily balanced? PSU 2-0? Cal-Poly playing tough at ASU. Going to need all hands on deck for the rest of the season.

 

[kalm]

But but but we have a new DC. Tough first two games for young Mr.Schmedding.

FYI, "young Mr. Schmedding" did not have a single flag thrown on him!

Thanks Clawman for helping to prove one of my two points. Since 2011 it seems as if many have been critical of the defense and critical of Graham as DC. Concerns were did he run the right formation, have the right personel in correct positions were they teaching fundamentals...the list goes on. Well now we have a new DC and it seems a new formation with similiar results. Perhaps not the fault of the DC directly afterall but hold the players respondsible. Let me be clear...the players are putting forth the best effort they can, imo.

Second point was a tough two games for Mr. Schmedding. Just a fact...starting out your new coordinating job against one of the best college offenses ever is crazy!

Absolutely tough two games with many young and fresh faces.. Guessing you are saying stop the grousing? The results aren't that similar. More penetration, better pursuit, no 70 yard home run's at UNI. The differences are measurable and fully expect to see further improvement next week. With Schmedding's purported ability to see the field, he will notice some of the little things that can make a significant difference when he views the film. The Oregon game was hard to use as a coaching moment in my opinion, but the UNI game should bring it into stark relief. Anyway, the defense will get better and there are brighter days ahead as we get into conference play and the team gets to sleep in their own beds on Friday night.

Anyone else think the conference looks eerily balanced? PSU 2-0? Cal-Poly playing tough at ASU. Going to need all hands on deck for the rest of the season.

Thank god we finally have a DC who can see the field! :dunce: :lol:

All of these coaches are pros and have been around the game for a long time. Many of them have jumped back and forth from D to O.

I'm guessing our defensive woes are more personnel oriented than anything else. Give Graham, Sawyer, Scmedds and Co. talent and they produce a scrappy D that holds opponents to 22 pts/game, leads the nation in turnover margin, and wins a National Championship and Buchanon Awards.

Recruit and develop offensive heavy for a few years and the D suffers. I'd also bet these discussions have already occurred for some time internally and you'll see our talent level on D start to climb again. But that takes time and as fans we are years behind the process so our expectations are out of sorts.

Regardless, it's a tough time to be a defensive coach...especially out west where you face BSC, MWC, and Pac 12 offenses all the time. But it's even changing in the lunch pale Midwest where a traditional power football team like UNI has brought in a no huddle - spread offense, or Kliemann (former DC) at NDSU who's D gave up a ton to a Montana with a brand new system and QB.

The times they are a changin'!