HOLY SMOKES!

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

Yes, that’s why I said “outside of Air Raid.”

My point is there are any number of teams that put up 35, 45, 55 points on any given week and still would fall under what you call “complementary.” I feel like that phrase had been an excuse for McCall’s offense.

Take NU’s second TD drive of the game. Took just 1:58, thanks to big passing plays of 23 and 19 yards. Is that “complementary”? Should we have instead tried a few 3 or 4 yard passes or more runs into the middle of the line to keep the clock moving?

You talk about all the rushing yards, which is much easier to do once up by 3 TDs.

There may be too much water under the bridge to have a meaningful conversation on this. When some think “complementary offense” they will think run, run, and a crossing route short of the sticks on 3rd and 8. I took evanston09’s post in jest.

Fitz is aware of the value of explosive plays on offense. He got them primarily in the running game last night, but (as you noted) I saw some concepts in passing game that could, over the course of the season, result in some chunk plays/longer TDs...especially with Raine up the seem.

I looked at last night’s offense performance as “flexible”. Using tempo to quickly move down the field as well as being able to chew up the clock is an ideal scenario. Add in excellent 4th down decision making and you get a 43 point outburst.

It won’t always be this pretty, but we saw the foundation of an “effective” Big Ten offense yesterday.

 

[freewillie07]

There may be too much water under the bridge to have a meaningful conversation on this. When some think “complementary offense” they will think run, run, and a crossing route short of the sticks on 3rd and 8. I took evanston09’s post in jest.

Fitz is aware of the value of explosive plays on offense. He got them primarily in the running game last night, but (as you noted) I saw some concepts in passing game that could, over the course of the season, result in some chunk plays/longer TDs...especially with Raine up the seem.

I looked at last night’s offense performance as “flexible”. Using tempo to quickly move down the field as well as being able to chew up the clock is an ideal scenario. Add in excellent 4th down decision making and you get a 43 point outburst.

It won’t always be this pretty, but we saw the foundation of an “effective” Big Ten offense yesterday.

100% agree

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

I gave our offense plenty of compliments last night.

 

[wildcatpn]

Did someone say “complimentary football”?

And all he means is that all 3 phases played well so they complimented each other.

 

[d'son d]

imagine the energy if there ws a stadium full of NU people!

 

[stpaulcat]

Yes, that’s why I said “outside of Air Raid.”

My point is there are any number of teams that put up 35, 45, 55 points on any given week and still would fall under what you call “complementary.” I feel like that phrase had been an excuse for McCall’s offense.

Take NU’s second TD drive of the game. Took just 1:58, thanks to big passing plays of 23 and 19 yards. Is that “complementary”? Should we have instead tried a few 3 or 4 yard passes or more runs into the middle of the line to keep the clock moving?

You talk about all the rushing yards, which is much easier to do once up by 3 TDs.

If you score a lot of TDs you likely don't need to eat up the clock.

 

[stpaulcat]

Maryland by a country mile. Worst Division team I have seen all year. Certainly the worst team in the Big Ten so far.

They've got some players, they just don't have it together. Kind of like Illinois.

 

[corbi2961]

They've got some players, they just don't have it together. Kind of like Illinois.

They have some individual athletic talents, what they don’t have is many good football players and they certainly don’t have a good team.

 

[stpaulcat]

They have some individual athletic talents, what they don’t have is many good football players and they certainly don’t have a good team.

They've got their JUCO''s and grad transfers though. Didn't seem to translate to success. However, I hope you aren't also suggesting we are just picking up where we left off last year against Illinois? A good performance against a bad team. I thought our passing game definitely has improved, Ramsey his some receivers in situations where we have in the past not done consistently well, and by god there was some surprise in the play calling.

 

[corbi2961]

They've got their JUCO''s and grad transfers though. Didn't seem to translate to success. However, I hope you aren't also suggesting we are just picking up where we left off last year against Illinois? A good performance against a bad team. I thought our passing game definitely has improved, Ramsey his some receivers in situations where we have in the past not done consistently well, and by god there was some surprise in the play calling.

No that’s not what I am suggesting, last night was clearly different even in comparison to last year’s illinois finale. We have a legitimate Big Ten QB and an improving OL which was not something that that we could say last year. That being said, I caution not to rely on last night’s results as an indication of what will happen the rest of the way. We have a favorable schedule but starting with next week we will be playing teams capable of exposing areas where we have weakness and inexperience. We will learn a lot more about our team after next week’s trip to Iowa City.

 

[stpaulcat]

No that’s not what I am suggesting, last night was clearly different even in comparison to last year’s illinois finale. We have a legitimate Big Ten QB and an improving OL which was not something that that we could say last year. That being said, I caution not to rely on last night’s results as an indication of what will happen the rest of the way. We have a favorable schedule but starting with next week we will be playing teams capable of exposing areas where we have weakness and inexperience. We will learn a lot more about our team after next week’s trip to Iowa City.

Not disagreeing with you, although it is interesting that for most of Walker and Fitz's tenures, we have been waiting until after the next game to learn how good our team actually is, and usually, that does not occur until near the last game of the season. I'm gonna say it now, I think we have a pretty darn good team this year, much improved over last and maybe the previous when we won the west.

 

[corbi2961]

Not disagreeing with you, although it is interesting that for most of Walker and Fitz's tenures, we have been waiting until after the next game to learn how good our team actually is, and usually, that does not occur until near the last game of the season. I'm gonna say it now, I think we have a pretty darn good team this year, much improved over last and maybe the previous when we won the west.

One of the consistent themes of Fitz coached teams is that they improve significantly over the course of a season. The sign of a very good coaching staff. This team certainly has the potential to improve a lot given how many young players are playing and given the improved familiarity with the offensive system that should take place as the season goes on. The wildcard factor is injuries. We certainly already seem to have our fair share and they always seem to cluster on one or two key positions.

 

[EvanstonCat]

And all he means is that all 3 phases played well so they complimented each other.

All I know is that in 13 years of McCall at the helm of our offense, we’ve never had very complementary football. We’ve had teams that were largely dependent on a dominant defense, that could make up for the many shortcomings of our mediocre at best offense.

Finally, yesterday, we had an offense that was worthy and complemented our perennially outstanding Defense. I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing it had something to do with the change of our Offensive Coordinator.

 

[rogerkim]

All I know is that in 13 years of McCall at the helm of our offense, we’ve never had very complementary football. We’ve had teams that were largely dependent on a dominant defense, that could make up for the many shortcomings of our mediocre at best offense.

Finally, yesterday, we had an offense that was worthy and complemented our perennially outstanding Defense. I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m guessing it had something to do with the change of our Offensive Coordinator.

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and said that's not really "going out on a limb." More like going out on a rebar-reinforced concrete bridge that is held up with suspension cables.

I would estimate that the factors contributing to our success on offense last night breakdown like this: 15% Ramsey, 35% quality of opponent's defense, and 50% offensive coordinator (scheme/play-calling/etc).

 

[stpaulcat]

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and said that's not really "going out on a limb." More like going out on a rebar-reinforced concrete bridge that is held up with suspension cables.

I would estimate that the factors contributing to our success on offense last night breakdown like this: 15% Ramsey, 35% quality of opponent's defense, and 50% offensive coordinator (scheme/play-calling/etc).

That's 100%. Are you willing to stick by that?

 

[Hungry Jack]

Only on a Northwestern board will you find the denizens debating the definition of “complementary football.”

 

[stpaulcat]

Only on a Northwestern board will you find the denizens debating the definition of “complementary football.”

Not only that, it is one of the few places you find people who speak of denizens, instead of guys sitting in their dens eating cheeze nachos.

 

[GOUNUII]

Exactly right. Worked to perfection.

The 50-30 run pass split we had vs the Terps is ideal for us. The challenge will be to sustain it as the level of competition ramps up beginning Saturday.

As for the running game, I see the key as Coach Jake’s play calling. He’s got to keep opposing defenses off balance and thus give the OL a level playing field. And he’s got to make a lot of good player-formation-tempo-play decisions in running the ball. With the variety of situational skills our RB room has, we can give defenses a lot to think about and prepare for. Advantage NU.

GOUNUII

 

[hdhntr1]

I don't think any of us saw that coming. NU has 336 yards and 30 points. AT THE HALF. They couldn't do that against air last season.

Wow!

Air had better Defense

 

[hdhntr1]

I have a feeling that not going three-and-out 10 times a game will help our defense.

Ya think?

 

[hdhntr1]

Should have canned McCall years ago, but at least it was done. Bajakian is the real deal.

Hopefully you are correct (and one game looks very good) but let's see for at least a few more games before giving him the crown.

 

[hdhntr1]

I had no solid expectations coming into this game, especially after the scarring mess that was last season. But I was *certainly* not expecting...that. Basically a perfect game and one of the most dominating wins in memory. I guess a solid QB and competent OC really do make a world of difference. Oh, and the D looked shaky on the first drive, then surrendered zero points for the rest of the game. A complete, amazing performance for Fitz’s 100th. Let’s keep it going!

Better half's nephew was asking whether he should take NU -12 and based on our experience, had to tell him no way. Not with that many points. Glad he could not find the bet to put on MD and glad to be wrong

 

[hdhntr1]

My takeaway from last night: I cannot decide who is the worse team—Illinois or Maryland.

Can I take both?

 

[hdhntr1]

As usual you completely miss the point. It's not about how much you score but how you score that determines whether you are playing complementary football. The offensive factors that are relevant to optimize your defensive unit's performance are time of possession and field position. When one of your goals offensively is to chew up the clock and minimize the amount of time the other team's offense has the ball and your team has to defend, then yes it is less likely that your offensive unit is going to put up 40 points a game. That of course isn't always the case, particularly when you are playing one of the worst teams in Division 1 football like NU did last night.

It helps when your D gives your O the ball on TOs as well

 

[hdhntr1]

What offensive system doesn’t have the goal of chewing up the clock and minimizing the amount of time the other team's offense has the ball, though? Outside of Air Raid, isn’t that just about every offense?

Mike Leach's offense? Usually Os that are designed to score a lot do so quickly

 

[hdhntr1]

Yes, that’s why I said “outside of Air Raid.”

My point is there are any number of teams that put up 35, 45, 55 points on any given week and still would fall under what you call “complementary.” I feel like that phrase had been an excuse for McCall’s offense.

Take NU’s second TD drive of the game. Took just 1:58, thanks to big passing plays of 23 and 19 yards. Is that “complementary”? Should we have instead tried a few 3 or 4 yard passes or more runs into the middle of the line to keep the clock moving?

You talk about all the rushing yards, which is much easier to do once up by 3 TDs.

Wasn't that off a TO? You take what D gives you. The tone had been set and there were more than the one long drive.

 

[NJCat]

So, we have a season and new stars will emerge. Any chance slater stock drops to where he comes back?

I mean it would require a couple round change - but could it happen? Will there be a combine? Might nfl execs worry about the condition of non players?

Slater has signed with an agent. His college days are over.

 

[hdhntr1]

Yes, that’s why I said “outside of Air Raid.”

My point is there are any number of teams that put up 35, 45, 55 points on any given week and still would fall under what you call “complementary.” I feel like that phrase had been an excuse for McCall’s offense.

Take NU’s second TD drive of the game. Took just 1:58, thanks to big passing plays of 23 and 19 yards. Is that “complementary”? Should we have instead tried a few 3 or 4 yard passes or more runs into the middle of the line to keep the clock moving?

You talk about all the rushing yards, which is much easier to do once up by 3 TDs.

Do you think OSU has an air raid O? We were running all game long. I thought I saw that Bowser had 15 caries in first half with Anderson getting a few as well.

 

[hdhntr1]

They have some individual athletic talents, what they don’t have is many good football players and they certainly don’t have a good team.

They be better as FB players. Just as of yet do not play as a team.

 

[hdhntr1]

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and said that's not really "going out on a limb." More like going out on a rebar-reinforced concrete bridge that is held up with suspension cables.

I would estimate that the factors contributing to our success on offense last night breakdown like this: 15% Ramsey, 35% quality of opponent's defense, and 50% offensive coordinator (scheme/play-calling/etc).

Don't forget actually having a TE

 

[Hungry Jack]

I gave our offense plenty of compliments last night.

I gave my dates some too. Uber looks good in purple.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

Not disagreeing with you, although it is interesting that for most of Walker and Fitz's tenures, we have been waiting until after the next game to learn how good our team actually is, and usually, that does not occur until near the last game of the season. I'm gonna say it now, I think we have a pretty darn good team this year, much improved over last and maybe the previous when we won the west.

This year's team looks impressive. I am most concerned about being able to play a full slate of games this year given the escalating Covid numbers and the B1G's 21 day policy. We may get a lot of No Contest outcomes.

 

[CaliforniaCat_rivals209738]

Don't forget actually having a TE

And also finally getting rid of the Super Back position, which virtually no one else uses.

 

[stpaulcat]

I gave my dates some too. Uber looks good in purple.

How about you spring for a new purple tent cover?