(09-26-2023 06:01 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 06:13 PM)Jerry Weaver Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 11:47 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 09:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-24-2023 09:12 AM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  The most baffling thing to me is, if we asked everyone on this board who's EMU'S best player coming back? I believe many would've said Samson Evans, and he hasn't been used/utilized much at all! We're very lucky to be 2-2, UMASS outplayed us, but we won! Also, people keep saying we lost players, but so does every other program, I thought our recruiting was soooooo good? Maybe last season was a fluke, yes we went 9-4, but we only beat ONE team with a winning record, San Jose St in the bowl game........Has CC, peaked? Are we back to being A 6-7, 7-6 team again? I thought with this fairly easy schedule 9-3 was very attainable, but through 4 games, we've scored only 40 points.......The MAC West is down, so 7-5 is very doable! CC, needs to show us this is his 10th season at the helm, Rich Rodriguez took him school last night! This is JAX ST first season as an FBS school......We really look bad so far! Offensively this looks like 2014-2015 all over again......

My theory on Samson is that Jackson hits whatever blocking holes there are faster meaning the OL don't have to hold their block as long. But only a theory.

I've not been able to re-watch the whole game, but I have re-watched the first half. I noticed a few key things. First, for the most part, pass protection was there. Austin had time on several occasions to make a throw. Unfortunately, one of a few things happened too often in those instances: he would overthrow the receivers or the pass would be dropped; he would lock in on the initial target and not read through the progressions, giving the D a chance to flow to and cover the target; or if his initial target was covered, he would drop his eyes from looking downfield, tuck the ball and run too soon (the announcers even commented on that tendency).

The run plays just seemed to take too long to develop, giving the D a better chance to flow to the ball and make a play before much gain. The O-Line was opening holes, the ball was just not getting to them before linebackers or d-backs were able to fill them.

The other thing I noticed is that it almost appeared as if Rich Rod had snagged a copy of the EMU playbook. Stopping the playback and looking at the formations the D lined up in, on several occasions it looked like they knew precisely which play was coming and where to load their defenders. That tells me they probably spent a good deal of time watching video of the Eagles, and found the Eagles' offensive scheme to be predictable. It was uncanny how many times they would cheat up to the line, load up one side or the other of the defense, or drop off into coverage formations and be spot-on with those formations. Our Offensive plays were effectively dead before the ball was even snapped.

RichRod is a truly a great X and O coach. He also had a bye week to prepare for us. You are correct, most of our offensive plays were DOA.

I've counted the seconds Austin has to throw and most of his sacks occur after the four to five second time generally allotted to get the pass off. The "knee jerk" reaction is to blame the OL, but 4-5 seconds is universally acceptable.

Is it his receivers not getting open? Maybe. Is it bad play calling? Perhaps. I just think Smith gets "happy feet" in the pocket, his eyes drop to the rushers, and then everything implodes as a result. The guy has NEVER really thrown the ball well, where we idiotic thinking all of a sudden, he could?

I respect Cids analysis but honestly this O line is not as good as last years with Sow and Johnson. We are seeing that play out on the field.

I've never understood the positive press Dooley gets as a player. He's always seemed like a turnstile to me.

(09-26-2023 05:38 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 11:47 AM)cidbearit Wrote:  

(09-25-2023 09:17 AM)emu79 Wrote:  

(09-24-2023 09:12 AM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  The most baffling thing to me is, if we asked everyone on this board who's EMU'S best player coming back? I believe many would've said Samson Evans, and he hasn't been used/utilized much at all! We're very lucky to be 2-2, UMASS outplayed us, but we won! Also, people keep saying we lost players, but so does every other program, I thought our recruiting was soooooo good? Maybe last season was a fluke, yes we went 9-4, but we only beat ONE team with a winning record, San Jose St in the bowl game........Has CC, peaked? Are we back to being A 6-7, 7-6 team again? I thought with this fairly easy schedule 9-3 was very attainable, but through 4 games, we've scored only 40 points.......The MAC West is down, so 7-5 is very doable! CC, needs to show us this is his 10th season at the helm, Rich Rodriguez took him school last night! This is JAX ST first season as an FBS school......We really look bad so far! Offensively this looks like 2014-2015 all over again......

My theory on Samson is that Jackson hits whatever blocking holes there are faster meaning the OL don't have to hold their block as long. But only a theory.

I've not been able to re-watch the whole game, but I have re-watched the first half. I noticed a few key things. First, for the most part, pass protection was there. Austin had time on several occasions to make a throw. Unfortunately, one of a few things happened too often in those instances: he would overthrow the receivers or the pass would be dropped; he would lock in on the initial target and not read through the progressions, giving the D a chance to flow to and cover the target; or if his initial target was covered, he would drop his eyes from looking downfield, tuck the ball and run too soon (the announcers even commented on that tendency).

The run plays just seemed to take too long to develop, giving the D a better chance to flow to the ball and make a play before much gain. The O-Line was opening holes, the ball was just not getting to them before linebackers or d-backs were able to fill them.

The other thing I noticed is that it almost appeared as if Rich Rod had snagged a copy of the EMU playbook. Stopping the playback and looking at the formations the D lined up in, on several occasions it looked like they knew precisely which play was coming and where to load their defenders. That tells me they probably spent a good deal of time watching video of the Eagles, and found the Eagles' offensive scheme to be predictable. It was uncanny how many times they would cheat up to the line, load up one side or the other of the defense, or drop off into coverage formations and be spot-on with those formations. Our Offensive plays were effectively dead before the ball was even snapped.

Great analysis. Did you see the same things with our other two QBs who played in the game?

Cam'Ron only played one down, so it's impossible to make a call on his play. Ike played a good number of his downs in the second half, and I've not had a chance to watch that yet. He did get in for some snaps in the first half, and appeared to have a tendency to overthrow. That could be first-game nerves, though.

Dear cidbearit,
I too, enjoy your breakdowns of various aspects of the games. With regard to what you thought was happening to our offense by the Jacksonville State defense, do you think we could have run a fake to what was called, and have Austin run with it, or pass it? Of course the coaching staff had to be aware of what you saw as well, for what I suggested.

(09-26-2023 04:16 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear cidbearit,
I too, enjoy your breakdowns of various aspects of the games. With regard to what you thought was happening to our offense by the Jacksonville State defense, do you think we could have run a fake to what was called, and have Austin run with it, or pass it? Of course the coaching staff had to be aware of what you saw as well, for what I suggested.

Ken...that's a tough one to call. Some misdirection/trick plays mixed in might have been enough to put the J'ville defense on their heels and give the O a chance to get some kind of momentum to support a drive. Technically and physically I don't think J'ville is that much better than the Eagles. It just seems to me they were able to read our offense and setup in formations that very much anticipated where the ball was going.

The argument could be made that if the Eagles threw in some trick plays designed to throw the defense off it could have changed the look of the game, at least for a drive or two. That little bit of Eagles' offensive momentum could have completely changed the game. As it was they could not get things started with the relatively conservative play calling in the game...some razzle dazzle may have given them a spark. I hope the Eagles have some of those plays in the book and have just been holding back for conference play.

I can say that in talking with Alex, the team is very much focused on this next game. What happens in Mt. Pleasant this Saturday is going to say a lot about the ability of this team to get up, dust themselves off, and take charge.

Go Eagles!

Dear cidbearit,
Thanks for the reply, and I would agree with the trick play look.