Dog Day afternoon - SIU thread

[Total Red]

I'm looking for bounce back Redbird victory.

First, Kolbe is clearly our QB and I agree with Fourth and others that we're too quick to forget the good after a poor game. He's thrown some beautiful passes this season like dropping the ball in perfectly and hitting WR Gibbs in stride for a quick six. He's also had some terrible passes like rushing the throw and missing a wide open TE Petkovich. He'll make more good throws than bad when he gets time but when he's pressured the error margin goes up. We kinda knew that didn't we?

Broadnax could bring a different package and a different look for a series but that's all I would consider. He can be effective if the defense isn't prepared for him but the more he plays the better the defense will respond.

I'm looking for the offense to help the defense a little more this week with good games from Kolbe and Robinson. On defense I like Tyree Horton. It will be warm in Carbondale and that suits the Miami missile just fine.

With the tough road ahead this becomes a must win game for the Redbird playoff hopes - both teams really.

The loser gets a visit from the Playoff Nazi - "No Playoff for YOU!"

 

[Source]

The word of the day on Saturday is Youth. Don't be surprised if some expected redshirts get pulled.

 

[Redbird28]

The word of the day on Saturday is Youth. Don't be surprised if some expected redshirts get pulled.

If this is happening then it must be because the youngsters are showing on a complete level above those have have been playing. Otherwise, doing this hurts the program long term when you would be getting a 5th year out of a more mature player.

Any idea who might be seeing the field that wasn't supposed to this season?

 

[fourthandshort]

Good post TR ... it's like raising kids .. oddly enough people dwell on the negatives as it happens, and then largely remember only the positives years later.

Every year under Spack era ... one could easily chronicle points in season where we thought season was over:

- 2011 .. early loss to 2-9 EIU, finished 7-4 ranked top 10 by Massey/Sagarin; though screwed out of playoff bid
- 2012 .. 2 home losses mid season .. against 6-5 SIU got shut out 17-0 on homecoming; then again to 3-8 MoST 2 weeks later .. all doom & gloom, but somehow went 8-3 and made it final 8
- 2013 .. started 2 and 4 giving up 50+ points in 3 games; finished 5 and 6 and were very competitive 2nd half .. night and day, 1st half to 2nd half of season, paved way to 2014 Natty run, no one in MVFC saw coming
- 2014 .. 3.5 offensive games that were as bad as the one bad NAU game this year .. fans were turning on Roberson who did NOT find his stride until after game 8 debacle at UNI .. anyone remember those ups and downs offensively ???? Far worse than this year, and that team had very strong OL plus Coprich.
- 2015 .. odd year due to Roberson breaking his hand week 4 .. this team knew how to win, but weren't as great as advertised .. very good, but not really a 2 seed.
- 2016 .. been beat to death how inconsistent we were with 5 returning OL starters, but started 2-4, finished 6-5 got deserved bid and lost by just 7 to #12 team on road, and would have won if not for 2 Q4 special teams gaffes (blocked punt TD followed by UCA recovering onside kick that led to FG .. 10 points and we lost by 7)

Sh-it happens .. almost every season .. to virtually every team .. even NDSU. Let's give this a chance. our offense needs to work on things .. if we simply solve run game issues, that opens up playbook considerably to allow for pass game to do some things.

 

[BallwinBird2012]

if we simply solve run game issues, that opens up playbook considerably to allow for pass game to do some things.

I think this is going to be the key, not just for this game, but for the rest of the season, and it's why I wouldn't mind seeing Broadnax and Henderson a little more this week. Find ways to get the ball to your best athletes who can get to the edge and stretch the defense. I'm definitely a bigger fan of running north and south, but defenses are going to keep loading the box on us, and I don't think our O-Line has proven that they have the ability to push people around. REALLY like Smith and Robinson, but they have nowhere to go.

Also wouldn't mind seeing more play action and more throws to Petkovich. If we continue having issues with WRs/TEs getting open, throw it up to the dude who's 6-6 and let him go high point it.

 

[TreRoberson4Heisman]

Hearing Kentre Patterson may be one to get his redshirt pulled Saturday. He is a playmaker.

 

[Source]

The word of the day on Saturday is Youth. Don't be surprised if some expected redshirts get pulled.

If this is happening then it must be because the youngsters are showing on a complete level above those have have been playing. Otherwise, doing this hurts the program long term when you would be getting a 5th year out of a more mature player.

Any idea who might be seeing the field that wasn't supposed to this season?

I would look at the WR room first. The aforementioned Patterson is a candidate for sure.

 

[Total Red]

The Pantagraph mentioned WR's Patterson and also Price as possibilities.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

I would go along with the altitude concerns and the one bad game for Kolbe from the NAU game if it was just one game but look just one game back at the Indiana State game and while the offense made some big plays, they also left points on the field and had an abysmal 3rd quarter. There are some issues with the offense that need to be addressed. O-line, QB consistency, WR ability to get open and stretch the defense and mistakes/turnovers. The coaching staff last year did a solid job of fixing things and eventually got a playoff bid. The coaches need to do the same this week with SIU.
Defense I think was just on the field way too long last week. Maybe the altitude hit them as well with all the time they were playing. Harris gave up tons of plays but he has been a stellar player so maybe a one off. Looking forward to getting back on the winning track this week...I hope.

 

[cpacmel]

Illinois State -4.0
Over / Under 51

Homecoming in Carbondale

Sure hope Gibbs can play. Need him.

 

[StLRedbird]

I just don't think this ones gonna be that close. Lotsa people here think the 'birds got exposed in Flagstaff. Not me. Just one of those things that happens on an occasional Saturday in Oct

Redbirds. 38
If-my-dog-were-this-ugly-I'd-shave-his-ass-and-make-him-walk-backwards-dogs. 7

 

[fourthandshort]

Just listened to Spack interview .. like his general reaction to game .. there's always a game like this, need to address the correctible mistakes and just move on to SIU.

But he also said a couple things that didn't quite add up ... first that NAU played much faster than their tape showed, and that we gave our full effort. Then he said, it had everything to do with lack of execution and nothing to do with altitude .. I'm paraphrasing of course, but that is the essence of what he said.

This would infer they have better athletes than us .. which I do not believe for a second. I hope the coaches knew or at least learned to respect what 7,000 foot altitude does to the body's ability to get enough oxygen when tired and breathing hard. It is a very real factor. I didn't notice whether we were substituting guys more often or not. I hope Spack is not too old school to accept that fact.

p.s. USD will come out very fast .. regardless of altitude, we better game plan for that fact.

Moving on to SIU .. I think our OL settles down. SIU has 2 huge DTs so speed won't be an issue for interior line, just size .. I think we can deal with this just fine. I also think the fact that we worked so hard to overcome the altitude let week could help put a little wind in our sail this week .. meaning, 110% effort might come easier by comparison to a week ago.

2 team stats jump off page in this match up:

- SIU is last in MVFC in giving up 1st downs at 24 per game, we only give up 11 per game and get 21 per game
- ISU is 2nd to at in 3rd down conversions ... we must do better on road to expect to win this game like we should. Otherwise, have to depend on big plays and defense to win.

Clearly our defense is much stronger, and we should contain their offense for most part, but our offense needs to settle down and sustain some drives against this defense .. it won't be up the middle so much because they have 2 300 pounders closing things up .. but got to start converting 3rd downs.

Redbirds should bounce back to win by 17. It feels like SIU is fading a bit, and we should come back with a huge chip plus paying back at sea level !!

 

[Chi-bird]

Just listened to Spack interview .. like his general reaction to game .. there's always a game like this, need to address the correctible mistakes and just move on to SIU.

But he also said a couple things that didn't quite add up ... first that NAU played much faster than their tape showed, and that we gave our full effort. Then he said, it had everything to do with lack of execution and nothing to do with altitude .. I'm paraphrasing of course, but that is the essence of what he said.

This would infer they have better athletes than us .. which I do not believe for a second. I hope the coaches knew or at least learned to respect what 7,000 foot altitude does to the body's ability to get enough oxygen when tired and breathing hard. It is a very real factor. I didn't notice whether we were substituting guys more often or not. I hope Spack is not too old school to accept that fact.

p.s. USD will come out very fast .. regardless of altitude, we better game plan for that fact.

Moving on to SIU .. I think our OL settles down. SIU has 2 huge DTs so speed won't be an issue for interior line, just size .. I think we can deal with this just fine. I also think the fact that we worked so hard to overcome the altitude let week could help put a little wind in our sail this week .. meaning, 110% effort might come easier by comparison to a week ago.

2 team stats jump off page in this match up:

- SIU is last in MVFC in giving up 1st downs at 24 per game, we only give up 11 per game and get 21 per game
- ISU is 2nd to at in 3rd down conversions ... we must do better on road to expect to win this game like we should. Otherwise, have to depend on big plays and defense to win.

Clearly our defense is much stronger, and we should contain their offense for most part, but our offense needs to settle down and sustain some drives against this defense .. it won't be up the middle so much because they have 2 300 pounders closing things up .. but got to start converting 3rd downs.

Redbirds should bounce back to win by 17. It feels like SIU is fading a bit, and we should come back with a huge chip plus paying back at sea level !!

I don't think that if Spack says that a team played faster than expected - that he is inferring that the team is "more athletic than we are". Speed is not the same as athletic ability. It's a component of it, a big one, but there's more to it.

That said, there's a good chance that NAU is faster than us overall...and a chance they are more "athletic" whatever that means. But good teams are also tough, smart, disciplined prepared, technically sound, etc.
I guess it all depends on how one defines "athletic". Who was more athletic, Jerome Bettis or Aveon Cason? Steve McNair or Tre Roberson? Are we only looking at measurables?

As far as this game goes, I really don't know what to expect. If we are as good as many on here believe, we should win this game going away. If we win by 17 points and dominate this game...I'll feel much, much, better about this team going into USD. Truth be told, this is a big game for us to see what we have and to see if NAU was more of a fluke. I'm really, really hoping we bounce back strong - and hope we don't look crappy in victory. This isn't just about getting a win. Barely beating Southern at SIU is still a win, but I'm afraid most top teams in this conference go into Carbondale and win by 2-3 touchdowns.

I don't like predicting this one, but will

Illinois State - 30
SIU - 24

 

[Manchester Matt]

That’s how we respond to start the game after last week?

Pathetic.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

That’s how we respond to start the game after last week?

Pathetic.

pathetic 3 and out followed by the Saluki offensive onslaught. The good news (I believe) is that it is early.

 

[crazzymark]

ugh.....and ugh....was counting on the fb team to be good...bb team is going to look worse...long fall and winter approaching. Well at least the w soccer team is winning this season.