(09-16-2017 10:28 PM)clcfball11 Wrote:  MD, only you could fear an opposing MAC offense after watching this NIU defense the last 3 weeks

That said I hope these two continue rolling until that late season meetup. Top of the MAC might be decent this year.

Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

(09-16-2017 09:43 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Miami-OH having its way with the Bearcats.

Whoops lol

(09-17-2017 06:52 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 10:28 PM)clcfball11 Wrote:  MD, only you could fear an opposing MAC offense after watching this NIU defense the last 3 weeks

That said I hope these two continue rolling until that late season meetup. Top of the MAC might be decent this year.

Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

Come conference play this won't be an issue. I was super concerned about this yesterday and we got away with it. But The O will loosen up when we face MaC defenses and they start to let Santa make riskier throws. This D will feast on MAC Os. They played a couple of big, grinding offenses and did fine. But I think they're built to play even better against small, fast Os likenin the Mac.

(09-16-2017 10:08 PM)NIU84 Wrote:  I watched some of that Toledo game...I like a game with a combined 10,000 yards of offense, it keeps your interest.

In front a full stadium to made it look great on TV.

(09-17-2017 08:58 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 06:52 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 10:28 PM)clcfball11 Wrote:  MD, only you could fear an opposing MAC offense after watching this NIU defense the last 3 weeks

That said I hope these two continue rolling until that late season meetup. Top of the MAC might be decent this year.

Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

Come conference play this won't be an issue. I was super concerned about this yesterday and we got away with it. But The O will loosen up when we face MaC defenses and they start to let Santa make riskier throws. This D will feast on MAC Os. They played a couple of big, grinding offenses and did fine. But I think they're built to play even better against small, fast Os likenin the Mac.

Toledo is a much better team than Nebraska though, so is SDSU for that matter.

(09-17-2017 06:07 AM)NIUAlum90 Wrote:  Um NIU 55-Purdue 24?

The spousal unit and I were at that game. It is a day I will never forget because it showed how far our program has progressed from when I first began watching the Huskies in 1971.

We soundly beat our Big Ten opponent that day in the same manner that we used to get beat in the 70s. It does not matter that Purdue did not have a good team that year. In the 70s a bad Big Ten team could and did throttle our teams.

(09-17-2017 09:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 08:58 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 06:52 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 10:28 PM)clcfball11 Wrote:  MD, only you could fear an opposing MAC offense after watching this NIU defense the last 3 weeks

That said I hope these two continue rolling until that late season meetup. Top of the MAC might be decent this year.

Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

Come conference play this won't be an issue. I was super concerned about this yesterday and we got away with it. But The O will loosen up when we face MaC defenses and they start to let Santa make riskier throws. This D will feast on MAC Os. They played a couple of big, grinding offenses and did fine. But I think they're built to play even better against small, fast Os likenin the Mac.

Toledo is a much better team than Nebraska though, so is SDSU for that matter.

They are better. Not sure they're much better. SDST through 3 games looks just like us. Can't pass. Good run game. Good D. Scary similar to us. Defense rank for Yds/game sdst is 35th we're 34th. Pts given up/game they're 36th, we're 31st. On offense pts/game they're 75th to our 86th. Yards/game they're 69 to our 98. Toledo is the complete opposite. crap on D, great on O. They will be very interesting games.

If woodside wants to throw it 40 times...he's going to take some huge shots from our ends and Lbs.

(09-17-2017 10:05 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 09:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 08:58 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 06:52 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-16-2017 10:28 PM)clcfball11 Wrote:  MD, only you could fear an opposing MAC offense after watching this NIU defense the last 3 weeks

That said I hope these two continue rolling until that late season meetup. Top of the MAC might be decent this year.

Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

Come conference play this won't be an issue. I was super concerned about this yesterday and we got away with it. But The O will loosen up when we face MaC defenses and they start to let Santa make riskier throws. This D will feast on MAC Os. They played a couple of big, grinding offenses and did fine. But I think they're built to play even better against small, fast Os likenin the Mac.

Toledo is a much better team than Nebraska though, so is SDSU for that matter.

They are better. Not sure they're much better. SDST through 3 games looks just like us. Can't pass. Good run game. Good D. Scary similar to us. Defense rank for Yds/game sdst is 35th we're 34th. Pts given up/game they're 36th, we're 31st. On offense pts/game they're 75th to our 86th. Yards/game they're 69 to our 98. Toledo is the complete opposite. crap on D, great on O. They will be very interesting games.

When I commented on the SDST RB Penny someone asked how I thought we stacked up against them. You are 100% correct in your comments about them. Especially their D' looks like a mirror image to ours - not real big, very fast, and very opportunistic. I forgot how many takeaways it was in the last 3 years but it was way up there. I see this game being a low scoring defensive game.

Toledo has a good O, but their D is porous; especially against the run. This game is so far off, but when it comes the idea should be run, run and run and ball-control O to keep their O off the field.

(09-17-2017 10:13 AM)NILAW Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 10:05 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 09:39 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 08:58 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-17-2017 06:52 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Its the effect the lack of an offense has on the NIU defense which is concerning. Can you imagine how good this defense could be if they didn't have to stay on the field the whole game?

Come conference play this won't be an issue. I was super concerned about this yesterday and we got away with it. But The O will loosen up when we face MaC defenses and they start to let Santa make riskier throws. This D will feast on MAC Os. They played a couple of big, grinding offenses and did fine. But I think they're built to play even better against small, fast Os likenin the Mac.

Toledo is a much better team than Nebraska though, so is SDSU for that matter.

They are better. Not sure they're much better. SDST through 3 games looks just like us. Can't pass. Good run game. Good D. Scary similar to us. Defense rank for Yds/game sdst is 35th we're 34th. Pts given up/game they're 36th, we're 31st. On offense pts/game they're 75th to our 86th. Yards/game they're 69 to our 98. Toledo is the complete opposite. crap on D, great on O. They will be very interesting games.

When I commented on the SDST RB Penny someone asked how I thought we stacked up against them. You are 100% correct in your comments about them. Especially their D' looks like a mirror image to ours - not real big, very fast, and very opportunistic. I forgot how many takeaways it was in the last 3 years but it was way up there. I see this game being a low scoring defensive game.

Toledo has a good O, but their D is porous; especially against the run. This game is so far off, but when it comes the idea should be run, run and run and ball-control O to keep their O off the field.

In theory, Toledo should play right into the strength of our defense. Pass rush and secondary coverage. Also, their weak D should allow our defense a rest by letting our O perform better than usual. Should is the key word. Just hope everyone can stay healthy until then. Will be very intriguing match up.

With the way our defense is playing, we'll be in every game. Carey just needs to grow a pair and give our playmakers chances to make plays. He obviously has recruited great players so why handcuff them? The offense has huge potential with Santa and Huff. Santa battled nerves yesterday but the experience will help him against SDSU. He'll be much more poised. Grow a pair and let him play, coach!

(09-17-2017 10:19 AM)badmoonrising13 Wrote:  With the way our defense is playing, we'll be in every game. Carey just needs to grow a pair and give our playmakers chances to make plays. He obviously has recruited great players so why handcuff them? The offense has huge potential with Santa and Huff. Santa battled nerves yesterday but the experience will help him against SDSU. He'll be much more poised. Grow a pair and let him play, coach!

That SDSU defense sure played fast last night. This could get ugly
Just not sure how many times In one year the defense can bail out coaching and lack of offensive urgency

Nebraska bailed us out with their drops and penalties. If we beat SDSU, we'll have to do it coming from behind. We'll never hold onto a lead against good competition because we just curl up in a ball. Carey really needs to grow a pair.

I feel confident that sdsu is the best team that we face this year. I don't concede this game but it will be tough and we are playing at 9:30 pm our time. That being said, 2-2 going into the MAC is better then most expected.

As far as Toledo goes, they haven't played anyone tough yet. Nevada is winless and just lost to a FCS school. Tulsa has no D as has already been said. Plus a win vs FCS Elon. We will see how they far against Miami. They are probably the best MAC team on paper but I was wouldn't be bragging about them just yet.

(09-17-2017 11:44 PM)Dtownboys Wrote:  I feel confident that sdsu is the best team that we face this year. I don't concede this game but it will be tough and we are playing at 9:30 pm our time. That being said, 2-2 going into the MAC is better then most expected.

As far as Toledo goes, they haven't played anyone tough yet. Nevada is winless and just lost to a FCS school. Tulsa has no D as has already been said. Plus a win vs FCS Elon. We will see how they far against Miami. They are probably the best MAC team on paper but I was wouldn't be bragging about them just yet.

I think I agree with all your statements. The way its shaking out SDSU does appear to be the best team on our schedule, followed by Toledo, followed by Nebraska. I also agree Toledo is the best team in the conference on paper but the gap may not be as daunting as we originally thought. If NIU can develop some semblance of an offense between now and the date at the Glass Bowl, it could be competitive.

If Rod let's our offense off the leash. Our O can ball, but it has been held back. I expect all heck to break loose once we get into conference pay, but in a good way.

(09-18-2017 11:48 AM)NIUAlum90 Wrote:  If Rod let's our offense off the leash. Our O can ball, but it has been held back. I expect all heck to break loose once we get into conference pay, but in a good way.

Totally agree. If the offense was not held back and hidden, you may have had a top 25 team here. I just hope there is an understanding that while not valuing offense worked out against struggling Nebraska . You are going to need to score at least 30 to beat SDSU and probably 40 or more to get by Toledo