Game Thread: Northwestern @ Rutgers

TerraCat

Redshirt
Jun 19, 2001
1,255
37
48
We get the ball first in the second half. We really need a good long drive. Bryant can do it. Let’s get Porter in the mix, get creative with play action, score and get some confidence.
 

banhammer1

Redshirt
Aug 21, 2022
13
6
0
I'm at the game. This is bad. Worse than the on field protest. And I thought that was an all time low for my beloved Northwestern Wildcats.
 

Purple Pile Driver

All-Conference
May 14, 2014
28,387
3,562
113
Anyone with a modicum of football knowledge can see our problems are squarely in the trenches. Both sides. The rest of the team isn’t as bad as it seems. Until they work they way up from awful to almost adequate, NU games will be over early.
 

eastbaycat99

Sophomore
Mar 7, 2009
2,528
188
48
Give Schiano some credit. Good 4th down calls, no dumb or 1st game penalties, good execution. Cats were beaten on the both lines, and were a yard short multiple times. I actually thought they might look worse. Braun has done OK with the hand he was dealt.
 

samuirocks

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2012
166
16
17
Completely agree. It is the trenches. It makes everything else look worse and sometimes cascades when players start to press and get out of position to try to make up for the deficiency.
Anyone with a modicum of football knowledge can see our problems are squarely in the trenches. Both sides. The rest of the team isn’t as bad as it seems. Until they work they way up from awful to almost adequate, NU games will be over early.
 

Jaguar 88

Freshman
Oct 1, 2021
1,106
75
48
Games are usually won in the trenches, hopefully those in charge can coach them up more, and soon. If we look like this for an entire season, the program is in deep trouble, especially with expansion coming up next season and no divisions.
 

Rebel II1

Redshirt
Dec 7, 2021
1,771
1
0
Need to cause some turnovers. I have forgotten what they are, it's been so long since I saw one.
 

BFDCat

Freshman
Aug 28, 2013
1,110
57
48
Defense is looking better, offense needs to do something, can't win many games scoring zero points.
 

samuirocks

Redshirt
Jul 3, 2012
166
16
17
Bajakian is horrible. How does he have six step drop back on a 3rd down with a ****** oline and Rutgers most likely blitzing.
 
May 29, 2001
7,258
291
56
1st possession of the 2nd half. Reverse for a loss and qb sack- lost yardage on 2 out of 3 offensive plays. Totally inept offense.
 

jensberg

Sophomore
Jul 28, 2006
3,011
164
63
Maybe we should play with no offensive line and just Aid receivers snap the ball and pass instantly probably better than where we are now
 

NUFan0207

Redshirt
May 17, 2019
278
39
23
Don’t sweat it, he is a dead man walking, just like every other Coach
This. I don’t want to overreact to one game, but the odds are that there will be a complete reset to the program at the end of the year. Short of a storybook season, which does not look likely, everybody will be gone come December from the coaches to the support staff. The only real question is whether Gragg is leading this or someone else. At this point, seems like it will be Gragg, which is not encouraging.
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
0
It would appear that 21-22 NU-style ‘complementary football’ is still alive.

Bad O, Bad D, Go Cats!
 
May 29, 2001
7,258
291
56
You can’t win games if you can’t score. The offense hasn’t demonstrated any ability to sustain a drive. The defense has been on the field all game. Agree a total program reboot will occur but hopefully with a new AD as well.
 

Catslash

Redshirt
Aug 28, 2001
1,062
27
48
With 11 losses last year and 12 coming this year,we possibly could lose 35 in a row by Thanksgiving 2024.
 

corbi2961

Senior
Sep 9, 2005
30,524
786
0
Jim O'Neill, feeling vindicated? Not much you can do without linemen.
No, just no. This defense looks 1000 times better than what we saw the last two seasons. The defense looks organized, they know their assignments, players are flowing quickly in a position to make plays. That was not the case often during the O’Neil era.
 

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
495
0
The freshman Knox was in on the OL, not sure how much he’s played. He had locked up a DT, while Wrather (the high-snappin’ center) doubled on the other DT as the blitzing backer decapitated Bryant.