Eastern, 3-0

[Total Red]

Agree.
Serious question…”When was the last time Spack coached a good game?”

If you are one of those that thinks that Coach Spack is more involved with the defense than the offense, then he's had lots of good games. The defense played well yesterday. If you count all phases then the victory at Northern Iowa last year was a good game.

For me the better question is when was the last time we were really proud of our offense? You may have to go all the way back to 2019 and the 40-27 win over Northern Arizona. Brady Davis threw for 419 yards. Unfortunately Davis wasn't always that effective and then he got injured. We limped into the 2019 playoffs with a hand the ball to James offense. We had an OC that worked well with Davis. That OC was very adaptable because he also thrived with a dual-threat QB like Tre, before working well with a pocket passer like Davis. Maybe he was just lucky to have a good QB and a great QB, but we haven't been the same since.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

I was extremely disappointed in the post-game comments with the coaching staff expressing zero ownership for this game.

I like Spack. He will go down as a legend for where he took us from and looking at the overall success he’s had. However, either we have reporters avoiding publishing that or our coaching staff is shirking ownership of a very badly coached game, barring our DL body of work.

 

[Redbird15]

My high school coach was a smart guy. He's also in Illinois FB coaches HOF. After ISU I went back and coached for him. (I know, who gives a shit) He had the offense after a few years I had the defense. He told me he had a year to prepare and I had a week. Keep it simple and play fast.

I watched Georgia a little yesterday. Multiple formations Under center. In the gun. 10,11, 12, 21, 22 personnel. WE ONLY run 10 and 11 personnel out of the gun, That's it. Does the year have more days in Georgia? And then with a small lead, we run our prevent offense. We are a DC's wet dream! We don't set running plays up. It's like we pay no attention to what hash we're on. Outside zone to the short side? Stuff like that.

What did we do for the last year? Are we trying not to show stuff? Are we somehow going to become multiple when we get to conference? That loss to a crap team put us in a terrible position. Bah humbug.

I tell you this. I'm going back to Sunday morning ISU football. I'm not trashing another Saturday afternoon.

It is just my perspective but to me saying the ISU football program was bad prior to Brock and Berry is like playing the prevent defense. You are on your heels desperately attempting to not lose. I thought yesterday was a coaching failure. The offense looked flat to me and unprepared. They did not look confident either. Those are just my own feelings watching the game unfold. Again, just my perspective, but Brock Spack teams have never had the killer instinct. When they get a team on the ropes they don't step on their throat and crush their windpipe, they back off and hope the opponent does not come to consciousness. I posted yesterday that I had watched EIU against Bowling Green and I thought they were going to give the Redbirds a game. Yesterday's game I was not impressed with either team. That was one of the most uninteresting football games I have ever watched. Still, the Birds took a late lead and then looked to me desperate to hang on. All they needed was a couple first downs or one stop on defense. In the end it was obvious both sides of the ball for the Redbirds were on their heels hoping to hang on for a win. That is on the coaches who call the plays, set the tone and let it filter down to their players. If Spack cant do better than this, then maybe it is time to look for a new head coach who can. There is always the risk it will not go well but it may also get Redbird football over the hump. I would rather lose fighting like hell to win than sit back and willingly let the opponent take it from me. The Redbirds and Bears are like Amber Heard right now ... shitting on the bed!

See

It is just my perspective but to me saying the ISU football program was bad prior to Brock and Berry is like playing the prevent defense. You are on your heels desperately attempting to not lose. I thought yesterday was a coaching failure. The offense looked flat to me and unprepared. They did not look confident either. Those are just my own feelings watching the game unfold. Again, just my perspective, but Brock Spack teams have never had the killer instinct. When they get a team on the ropes they don't step on their throat and crush their windpipe, they back off and hope the opponent does not come to consciousness. I posted yesterday that I had watched EIU against Bowling Green and I thought they were going to give the Redbirds a game. Yesterday's game I was not impressed with either team. That was one of the most uninteresting football games I have ever watched. Still, the Birds took a late lead and then looked to me desperate to hang on. All they needed was a couple first downs or one stop on defense. In the end it was obvious both sides of the ball for the Redbirds were on their heels hoping to hang on for a win. That is on the coaches who call the plays, set the tone and let it filter down to their players. If Spack cant do better than this, then maybe it is time to look for a new head coach who can. There is always the risk it will not go well but it may also get Redbird football over the hump. I would rather lose fighting like hell to win than sit back and willingly let the opponent take it from me. The Redbirds and Bears are like Amber Heard right now ... shitting on the bed!

Its a multiples of things we everyone can assume correctly and incorrectly. Did anyone see Colorado State do the same thing the Redbirds do going into prevent last night. As far as ISU we are very slow to adapt to changes fast enough. Timmy spoke about personnel 100% correct. Play calling and schemes you cannot do what you did with past personnel if skill set its not the same. I see people posting xyz kid reminds them of past players or a present kid have 1 good game now they are the Mecca. With that being said comparison is one thing of team personnel from 2017-2019. You got to adapt fast and utilize the skill set of the kids on the present team and quit living in the past glory days of what work or did not work. Yes try it but don't force it. To hear the snell, JR, Brady etc..... they are not here anymore the remind me are just that so don't put remind me in the game plan if they don't produce or play like them. Develop a game plan thats not predictable. Example LOVE WR DAN SOB... But redzone or 3 long .... how many times has the ball went to another receiver. 3rd shorts etc or even maintaining pos. we are going to run up middle hope for a 1st no quick screen pass or smart trickery etc. Like Timmy said utilize more personnel.............

 

[DBird]

My high school coach was a smart guy. He's also in Illinois FB coaches HOF. After ISU I went back and coached for him. (I know, who gives a shit) He had the offense after a few years I had the defense. He told me he had a year to prepare and I had a week. Keep it simple and play fast.

I watched Georgia a little yesterday. Multiple formations Under center. In the gun. 10,11, 12, 21, 22 personnel. WE ONLY run 10 and 11 personnel out of the gun, That's it. Does the year have more days in Georgia? And then with a small lead, we run our prevent offense. We are a DC's wet dream! We don't set running plays up. It's like we pay no attention to what hash we're on. Outside zone to the short side? Stuff like that.

What did we do for the last year? Are we trying not to show stuff? Are we somehow going to become multiple when we get to conference? That loss to a crap team put us in a terrible position. Bah humbug.

I tell you this. I'm going back to Sunday morning ISU football. I'm not trashing another Saturday afternoon.

I give a shit Timmy!

 

[Total Red]

I was extremely disappointed in the post-game comments with the coaching staff expressing zero ownership for this game.

Point taken but isn't Coach Spack rather consistent on this? Doesn't he give the credit to the players when we win and hold them accountable when we lose? And after the players he will mention the asst. coaches but he normally only does that after a win.

 

[crazzymark]

Here we go again, all you have to do is get three yards for a first down and the game would have been over you run backwards for a loss of five and we lose the game conservative playmaking at that point was a disaster I knew it was going to come back and kick us in the ass.

 

[crazzymark]

That game probably cost us a playoffs spot.

 

[StLRedbird]

You are right ISU football was absolutely horrific long ago. Why let that be a feel good reference? We have more football resources now and fcs competition is shell of the past. Reality is that we are basically the same competitive level of EIU and WIU. Those two schools are struggling to survive and have far fewer resources be it fan support, facilities, budget, campus…etc. what EIU/WIU do have over ISU appears to better coaching/strategy/preparation. I get that upsets happen but from what a see I truly do not believe these close wins or loses have anything to do with near upsets or upsets. Given ISU’s athletic and academic status/resources compared to most fcs schools coupled with the level of Fcs competition I believe it is realistic to expect ISU to annually be a top 25 fcs program and routinely (2 out of 3 years?) in the playoffs. Let’s look at what the redbird football program should be vs reflecting long ago on where it has been. I would be interested to hear others perspective as to expectations regarding top 25 ranking and playoff participation on an annual basis.

So here's how my day went Sat. We woke up in Columbia, MO and proceeded to execute our first tailgate in over five years. There were four grandchildren there for the first time. That shit will warm your heart. And that game is an example of why I love college sports.

After driving back to St Louis, my plan was to put butt prints into my easy chair with old buddy Jack Daniels and some Redbird football. <insert rant here> Talk about goin' from cloud 9 to i-hope-the-guns-are-locked... My momma told there'd be days like this.

After a while, it occurs to me that the Fire Spack guys have been triggered. We are just not at that place yet, guys. You act like Spack is some Capt. Dunsel, biding time wait for retirement. That just ain't so. Five years ago, everything we're typing out here was being clicked out on keyboards in So. Dakota. I read some of it.

The pandemic wasn't handle well by Spack - I'd LOVE to hear his candid thoughts about that. One thing I'm sure of is he would've handled it differently. Then came the transfer portal and that shook the model he'd based things on. We've had a remarkable number of NFL-caliber players on the field during his tenure. Spack will learn and adjust. My age gives me more patience. And unless someone whips out their checkbook for FBS, patience is the correct approach here.

With all this said I've been starting to think we might be better off with new blood. We have a pretty attractive situation, thanks largely to Brock Spack and would attract good candidates. But I don't see this as the no-brainer some apparently think it is.

It also occured to me that it's unreasonable to expect us to win 100% of the time if we gonna Eastern every year. They're gonna win some of the games.

I agree 100% with what you said about expectations. If we're going to play FCS football, we should be in the playoffs every year. Hell, we may look back on this game as the one that lit a fire under the teams ass.

 

[GOP_Redbird]

Nothing has changed. Same old mediocre crap. Losing to EIU is unacceptable.

Hire an AD so we can start moving into the future. Spack isn’t the guy. The game has passed him by.

All of this makes me so sad. Pretty
Much every team I call myself a fanatic of always disappoints.

EIU was playing Rap & Dance music while the ISU offensive plays were going on. How did ISU not get any 15 yard penalties in their favor for the stadium malpractice? It was terrible to watch.

 

[MadBird]

Watched quite a bit of the game, then had to leave early in the 4th quarter. So missed the debacle. For the best, I suppose.

Someone mentioned earlier that QB Zach didn't look "himself", and I had that thought throughout the game, he just never looked sharp. Was just off on things. Who knows? Everybody has an off day. I was even thinking, bring in Rittenhouse, change of pace, let Zach get himself together, etc. Not as a "punishment", just shake it up some.

I'm beginning to think our O-line is not what we hoped it would be. 2 seniors, 2 juniors and a soph in the first five, so not really a young or inexperienced group. But Zach seemed always under pressure, the holes never seemed there for the run game. Not sure what the answer is. Not sure if we've got a "scheme" issue or personnel issue or "want to" issue or what.

It bothers me a little (a lot?) that the WR issue didn't get solved off season. It was clear we needed to upgrade, yet our portal adds (Stewart from EMU and Contreras from Valpo) haven't shown much. It's early, maybe more will happen. But I sure thought they'd bring in some "real" help. RS FR from Twin Cities, Connors, not playing, had hoped he'd factor in. They talked up this years freshman Donovan, haven't seen anything from him.

The D isn't w/o problems, but the numbers speak for themselves, the run D is top notch. And a pretty young group overall. #3 in scoring defense, top 10 red zone D, #2 rush D, #1 sacks, #1 tackles for loss, #3 total D

My schedule's a mess for the next few weeks, even for TV watching. We'll see how things go.

 

[Total Red]

It bothers me a little (a lot?) that the WR issue didn't get solved off season. It was clear we needed to upgrade, yet our portal adds (Stewart from EMU and Contreras from Valpo) haven't shown much. It's early, maybe more will happen. But I sure thought they'd bring in some "real" help. RS FR from Twin Cities, Connors, not playing, had hoped he'd factor in. They talked up this years freshman Donovan, haven't seen anything from him.

+1, I thought we had some good young receivers coming up. TreShawn Watson, Jabari Khepra and J'Kalon Carter were all on the '22 roster but did not return in '23. I believe all 3 were scholarship players. Now our leading receivers are Sobkowicz, Grandy and Kasper. Both Sobkowicz and Kasper began their careers as walk-ons. Grandy is a D-II transfer. What does it tell you when the players given scholarships don't pan out as well as the ones you get for free? Not sure, but I don't think we've recruited the position as well as we used to. Tyrone Walker, Anthony Warrum, Andrew Edgar (when healthy) - were all off the chain. We have recruited WRs under Spack but not as much lately.

 

[Dmills]

I thought the call on Saturday was ridiculous. Good to see the appeal was successful.

 

[Bird Friend]

I thought the call on Saturday was ridiculous. Good to see the appeal was successful.

Agree on the targeting call. But it wouldn't have made a difference in the end result as the interference call would've placed the ball in the exact same spot. But I'm glad they challenged and won, as really don't need guys missing PT.