Contrarian optimism

[cattul]

With the healthy caveat that I’m judging by the standards of losses by lopsided scores, I think there was quite a bit of positive progress on display today.

• I think the Cats play better against other big lines than against smaller, pesky fire ants.
• Especially in the first quarter, the Cats were able to control the pace of the game. They put themselves in position to make a challenge, which is a big part of what they needed to do.
• Every unit came to play. This was not the team from the Tulane game.
• Lujan, for the grief he will get, actually called a pretty good game. He can’t go out and catch the football himself.
• Nice “next man up” behavior from the running backs. Really nice effort.
• Everyone expected Oregon to play like a number four team, and they did.
• To win as an underdog in games like this, the other team must fail to execute, and you can’t turn the ball over. That’s the story of the game. Self inflicted wounds and a high quality opponent who took advantage of the few mistakes.

Call me a Pollyanna, but I found the game somewhat encouraging. (But the turnovers…those have got to get fixed.)

 

[prez77]

Not on board with the OC play calling. Our O line was at least managing the line of scrimmage a lot of the time and we go to some silly pass at critical moments.

 

[AtlantaCat]

Not on board with the OC play calling. Our O line was at least managing the line of scrimmage a lot of the time and we go to some silly pass at critical moments.

...which takes us back to Lujan...

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I agree with optimism because: the passing offense is bad and has weaknesses at every position (QB is capable but mistake prone and too aggressive, RT is a seieve in pass pro, receivers who aren’t Wilde are just terrible). So we’ll need to run the ball REALLY well to open anything up there and be effective.

And for the first time today I actually think we may be able to do that! Hog mollies and TEs really showed something in the run game today against a fantastic defense.

I was also impressed by Himon finishing some onside runs with physicality and Reeder is legit. TBH I only knew him from the NCAA video game, in which he’s super fast… and he is indeed super fast.
I think we can take it to UCLA in two weeks and just pound em. The defense was overmatched today against an elite team, but there are good players on our defense, I have confidence in them.

 

[mickbula]

We can still make a bowl! Several games ahead that we can win!! Just tell our receivers to catch the ball when it is thrown to them

 

[CatManTrue]

The Cats covered the spread and would have made it a game if we had a Big Ten QB and reliable WRs.

The OL, RBs, defense, and special teams all looked good enough to make a lower bowl. Beat UCLA and it’s a brand new season.

 

[MCC_Cat]

With the healthy caveat that I’m judging by the standards of losses by lopsided scores, I think there was quite a bit of positive progress on display today.

• I think the Cats play better against other big lines than against smaller, pesky fire ants.
• Especially in the first quarter, the Cats were able to control the pace of the game. They put themselves in position to make a challenge, which is a big part of what they needed to do.
• Every unit came to play. This was not the team from the Tulane game.
• Lujan, for the grief he will get, actually called a pretty good game. He can’t go out and catch the football himself.
• Nice “next man up” behavior from the running backs. Really nice effort.
• Everyone expected Oregon to play like a number four team, and they did.
• To win as an underdog in games like this, the other team must fail to execute, and you can’t turn the ball over. That’s the story of the game. Self inflicted wounds and a high quality opponent who took advantage of the few mistakes.

Call me a Pollyanna, but I found the game somewhat encouraging. (But the turnovers…those have got to get fixed.)

In no way, shape, or form did we get boatraced today. Just too many errors to stay in the game, but we made them work for it.

 

[jensberg]

I agree with optimism because: the passing offense is bad and has weaknesses at every position (QB is capable but mistake prone and too aggressive, RT is a seieve in pass pro, receivers who aren’t Wilde are just terrible). So we’ll need to run the ball REALLY well to open anything up there and be effective.

And for the first time today I actually think we may be able to do that! Hog mollies and TEs really showed something in the run game today against a fantastic defense.

I was also impressed by Himon finishing some onside runs with physicality and Reeder is legit. TBH I only knew him from the NCAA video game, in which he’s super fast… and he is indeed super fast.
I think we can take it to UCLA in two weeks and just pound em. The defense was overmatched today against an elite team, but there are good players on our defense, I have confidence in them.

Hope we get Walter's and Fussell back soon

 

[Fanaticat98]

We are still at the same record that most would have predicted at this point. I too thought we did pretty well in the first half to slow the game and minimize the damage.
However, QB and WR play and overall OC gameplanning/playcalling have not improved as much as we needed them to from last year. That was a necessary jump to be a 6-6 or better team.
We just don't have the talent to overcome an average of 2 INTs per game as well as other drive killing penalties and fumbles (even the ones we fall on).

 

[MCC_Cat]

Hope we get Walter's and Fussell back soon

Adeyi too

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Hope we get Walter's and Fussell back soon

Thank goodness we have a bye, we’re already beat up

 

[jensberg]

Adeyi played last weekend quite a bit this week he's number seven

 

[julescat]

If this program wants to pretend to be a big boy then it better get some new leadership. Braun seems a good guy but honestly, can you see him assembling the level of talent that will allow for NU to be much more than the Washington Generals?

 

[NU'06er]

If this program wants to pretend to be a big boy then it better get some new leadership. Braun seems a good guy but honestly, can you see him assembling the level of talent that will allow for NU to be much more than the Washington Generals?

To be clear: No.

But I also instinctively bristle at the talent level complaints as if Braun was recruiting on an even playing field the last couple years.

It may not come together for him here. He may need more seasoning as a coordinator at this level before another head coaching shot, perhaps outside a power conference. But I’m not ready to say that there’s no way the guy can recruit just because he hasn’t put a B1G title contender out there under impossible circumstances.

 

[julescat]

To be clear: No.

But I also instinctively bristle at the talent level complaints as if Braun was recruiting on an even playing field the last couple years.

It may not come together for him here. He may need more seasoning as a coordinator at this level before another head coaching shot, perhaps outside a power conference. But I’m not ready to say that there’s no way the guy can recruit just because he hasn’t put a B1G title contender out there under impossible circumstances.

It was very easy to see that the talent assembly function of his job would be very suspect when he was given the permanent HC position almost 2 years ago. He did not and does not possess the credentials, skills (apparently) or gravitas (as gross of a concept as that is when talking about ******* college football) for him to be successful. There has been a net drain of talent for the last 2 years and it will continue. But that is the system in which NU has chosen to play.
Having said that, I feel NU played quite well today and I was proud of the effort.

 

[Cool Cat]

From today's observation, if we make no mistakes and the coaches make the right calls, we can win 7-8 more games.

 

[NU'06er]

It was very easy to see that the talent assembly function of his job would be very suspect when he was given the permanent HC position almost 2 years ago. He did not and does not possess the credentials, skills (apparently) or gravitas (as gross of a concept as that is when talking about ******* college football) for him to be successful. There has been a net drain of talent for the last 2 years and it will continue. But that is the system in which NU has chosen to play.
Having said that, I feel NU played quite well today and I was proud of the effort.

I’m sure recruiting as an interim head coach to a temporary stadium in the wake of a hazing scandal had nothing to do with any hemorrhaging of talent.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

With the healthy caveat that I’m judging by the standards of losses by lopsided scores, I think there was quite a bit of positive progress on display today.

• I think the Cats play better against other big lines than against smaller, pesky fire ants.
• Especially in the first quarter, the Cats were able to control the pace of the game. They put themselves in position to make a challenge, which is a big part of what they needed to do.
• Every unit came to play. This was not the team from the Tulane game.
• Lujan, for the grief he will get, actually called a pretty good game. He can’t go out and catch the football himself.
• Nice “next man up” behavior from the running backs. Really nice effort.
• Everyone expected Oregon to play like a number four team, and they did.
• To win as an underdog in games like this, the other team must fail to execute, and you can’t turn the ball over. That’s the story of the game. Self inflicted wounds and a high quality opponent who took advantage of the few mistakes.

Call me a Pollyanna, but I found the game somewhat encouraging. (But the turnovers…those have got to get fixed.)

Seriously, with a different OC and QB, we are a much better team. Stone shows flashes but doesn't protect the football. Egregious errors. Lujan chokes under pressure.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

Seriously, with a different OC and QB, we are a much better team. Stone shows flashes but doesn't protect the football. Egregious errors. Lujan chokes under pressure.

Being Lenoris Sellers in and he’s still got nobody to throw to.

 

[Jaguar 88]

I will say this til I am blue in the face, and that is get the best, most innovative OC out there looking to make the big move to HC, to Evanston, and the recruiting will get better. With the exception of Ramsey, our qb gallery has sucked post Thorson. Even that is thin, as Ramsey seemed to be more of a game manager most of the time. We need to recruit a gunslinger that chose NU out of HS, not someone else's hand me downs that couldn't get the job done elsewhere. I miss Walker ball!!!! It would be awesome to be the Texas Tech of the B1G in the future, or something close to it, but with a good defense.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I will say this til I am blue in the face, and that is get the best, most innovative OC out there looking to make the big move to HC, to Evanston, and the recruiting will get better. With the exception of Ramsey, our qb gallery has sucked post Thorson. Even that is thin, as Ramsey seemed to be more of a game manager most of the time. We need to recruit a gunslinger that chose NU out of HS, not someone else's hand me downs that couldn't get the job done elsewhere. I miss Walker ball!!!! It would be awesome to be the Texas Tech of the B1G in the future, or something close to it, but with a good defense.

Most of the teams in the country, including most of the best, have transfer QBs and you’re forgetting Ben Bryant.

 

[Jaguar 88]

Most of the teams in the country, including most of the best, have transfer QBs and you’re forgetting Ben Bryant.

Yeah, but again, what is the quality of the ones we have landed? I didn't forget about Bryant. I just didn't think he was all that to be honest. Getting a QB friendly system is the most important thing. You want a gunslinger, not a journeyman QB.

 

[hdhntr1]

It was very easy to see that the talent assembly function of his job would be very suspect when he was given the permanent HC position almost 2 years ago. He did not and does not possess the credentials, skills (apparently) or gravitas (as gross of a concept as that is when talking about ******* college football) for him to be successful. There has been a net drain of talent for the last 2 years and it will continue. But that is the system in which NU has chosen to play.
Having said that, I feel NU played quite well today and I was proud of the effort.

I think he is pretty descent as a recruiter. That said, at present, he and his team are not able to land A list recruits that can help us any time soon

 

[stpaulcat]

With the healthy caveat that I’m judging by the standards of losses by lopsided scores, I think there was quite a bit of positive progress on display today.

• I think the Cats play better against other big lines than against smaller, pesky fire ants.
• Especially in the first quarter, the Cats were able to control the pace of the game. They put themselves in position to make a challenge, which is a big part of what they needed to do.
• Every unit came to play. This was not the team from the Tulane game.
• Lujan, for the grief he will get, actually called a pretty good game. He can’t go out and catch the football himself.
• Nice “next man up” behavior from the running backs. Really nice effort.
• Everyone expected Oregon to play like a number four team, and they did.
• To win as an underdog in games like this, the other team must fail to execute, and you can’t turn the ball over. That’s the story of the game. Self inflicted wounds and a high quality opponent who took advantage of the few mistakes.

Call me a Pollyanna, but I found the game somewhat encouraging. (But the turnovers…those have got to get fixed.)

I agree with you.

 

[EagerFan]

The Cats played well enough that Oregon fell two spots in the rankings.

 

[CatManTrue]

The Cats played well enough that Oregon fell two spots in the rankings.

 

[Eurocat]

We were only down 17-0 at halftime and if Stone doesn't toss that first interception of the game on the first plays (we were driving well), it should have been 10-7 Oregon. Different ballgame from then on if the second half starts out with that score. I am chill, I really wonder if UCLA will field a team next week, a forfeit is a win too.

 

[jensberg]

We were only down 17-0 at halftime and if Stone doesn't toss that first interception of the game on the first plays (we were driving well), it should have been 10-7 Oregon. Different ballgame from then on if the second half starts out with that score. I am chill, I really wonder if UCLA will field a team next week, a forfeit is a win too.

We had three drives stopped by either interceptions or fumble by stone. Who knows what have happened if those hadn't transpired. I still doubt we would have won but it might have been a very close and interesting or fun game to watch

 

[hdhntr1]

I will say this til I am blue in the face, and that is get the best, most innovative OC out there looking to make the big move to HC, to Evanston, and the recruiting will get better. With the exception of Ramsey, our qb gallery has sucked post Thorson. Even that is thin, as Ramsey seemed to be more of a game manager most of the time. We need to recruit a gunslinger that chose NU out of HS, not someone else's hand me downs that couldn't get the job done elsewhere. I miss Walker ball!!!! It would be awesome to be the Texas Tech of the B1G in the future, or something close to it, but with a good defense.

People keep forgetting Bryant

 

[hdhntr1]

Yeah, but again, what is the quality of the ones we have landed? I didn't forget about Bryant. I just didn't think he was all that to be honest. Getting a QB friendly system is the most important thing. You want a gunslinger, not a journeyman QB.

His (Bryant's) stats were pretty similar. In fact they were almost identical to those of Ramsey In 9 games, he threw for over 1800 yds 200 yds per game 62+% completion 13 tds to 6 ints And that was after losing HC. Ramsey's stats were almost identical. 9 games 1733 yds,(192 ypg) 61% 12 tds to 8 INTs and it was not during a COVID year. How was Ramsey OK while Bryant was not. Again stats almost identical as were the results on the field, Either would look pretty good by comparison to what we have seen

In reality, both are also very comparable to Thorson's 2018 and even 2017 stats stats 14 games 61.1% completions 3183 yds, 227 ypd 17 TD sto 15 INTs but again this was in 14 games. Even Thorson's 2017 season 13 games 60.4 completion % 2844 yds 216 ypg 15 tds 12 INTs. In fact, bother were better on teh TD to INT ratio amd TDs etc per game

In short, while all 4 years QB play were all pretty close, Byant's overall performance was slightly better than either Ramsey or Thorson, especially on the TD/INT ratio. Just sa'in... So stop bashing Bryant

 

[Zazzy]

I’m saying it again. Let’s see after 5 games how we are. If we beat ucla and Louisiana we are 3-2. We have winnable games after. I was impressed by how we played Oregon who mangled ok state. If not for the lost ball from stone that cost 19 yards and stopped a drive, and gave Oregon the ball in better field position- closer game (3-7 points for us and perhaps fewer for Oregon).

 

[Fanaticat98]

I’m saying it again. Let’s see after 5 games how we are. If we beat ucla and Louisiana we are 3-2. We have winnable games after. I was impressed by how we played Oregon who mangled ok state. If not for the lost ball from stone that cost 19 yards and stopped a drive, and gave Oregon the ball in better field position- closer game (3-7 points for us and perhaps fewer for Oregon).

Not to mention, on rewatch we had 3rd and 1 on their 26, down 17-0. We go in for a TD it’s a definite ballgame. What happens? Stone takes a sack for 4th and long, then Ricky A drops an uncontested first down catch right in his hands, and the next play we give up a home run 66 yd rush and it’s game over 24-0.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

Not to mention, on rewatch we had 3rd and 1 on their 26, down 17-0. We go in for a TD it’s a definite ballgame. What happens? Stone takes a sack for 4th and long, then Ricky A drops an uncontested first down catch right in his hands, and the next play we give up a home run 66 yd rush and it’s game over 24-0.

You guys are starting to sound like Wanny. Errrr, without those 4-5 plays we would have won.

 

[hdhntr1]

You guys are starting to sound like Wanny. Errrr, without those 4-5 plays we would have won.

Unfortunately those 4 or 5 plays always are seeming to go the same way. To the house for the opposition