Indiana State

[topiarydan]

Big road win and some nice wins by teams we've beaten (SD and UNI) - beat YSU and WIU and we'll be in

 

[fourthandshort]

We have no complaints re the stripes today!!!

Yeah, this can't be right .. like the kicking game, I think this forum was also way off their game !!!!!

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Oh as other poster pointed out .. when you go up 26-14 and it is getting later in game .. you have to know 1 pt is pretty much useless at that point. Even if they score twice to go up 28-26 (failed 2 pt conversion) .. we can still win with a FG ... well .... you get the point. Either way, 1 pt does us no good at all .. go for 2. I missed it .. but coaches shouldn't.

Yep, one point was meaningless there. With the kicking game in shambles going for two was an easier decision. Also shows confidence in your offense. Spack rarely shows confidence in the offense, he reserves that for D.

 

[fourthandshort]

I do not like how we went away from our regular defense on that last drive. Our defense had been playing very good - why make it easier for the offense and give them confidence??? On the one long TD pass and catch we gave up - on the replay, #21 came in trying to take the ball away from the receiver, instead of either trying to tackle or the easiest thing for him, because of the angle - knock him out of bounds. Similar to the last TD we gave up to Indy State - players trying to take the ball out, instead of tackling. We were ahead in both instances - tackle, tackle, tackle.

Tough call defensively on last drive .. I think the biggest issue on the last drive was noone staying home for the QB scrambles right up the middle. He wasn't exactly fast but on last series he rushed 4 times for 9, 4, 12, and 7 yards to keep their drive alive before we picked him at very end.

 

[Manchester Matt]

I agree with everything, except the going to two points. Kick, kick, kick unless it is like under 3 minutes in the 4th quarter to tie the game. Otherwise, always kick the extra point. I have seen waaaay to many games where teams try to go for two in the third and early fourth quarters - only for it to come and bite them - plus, when it fails, which it does often - it puts a damper on the TD. Kick the extra point and keep moving.

huh? If the Sycamores score in the final minute we lost 28-27. What the hell did that PAT get us? It was in the fourth quarter and you go for two. It’s simple math.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Tough call defensively on last drive .. I think the biggest issue on the last drive was noone staying home for the QB scrambles right up the middle. He wasn't exactly fast but on last series he rushed 4 times for 9, 4, 12, and 7 yards to keep their drive alive before we picked him at very end.

I thought what the former coach, and announcer, said was interesting. The defense should never call a time-out, it just lets the offense have time to make better plans/decisions. Actually, I think he was talking about a different coach's philosophy. In any event, I can see his point on that but it can work both ways. I remember Buddy Ryan when he was the Bear's D-Coordinator talking about prevent defenses. Paraphrasing him he replied something to the effect the only thing prevent defenses prevent is winning. Buddy definitely did not go into prevent mode. He attacked from beginning to end. He also had the perfect personnel to do it with. One thing I did not see commented about much in this string was the Sycamores O-Line. The Birds were blitzing a lot yesterday. They hurried the QB but overall the Sycamore's O-line I thought did a pretty good job in pass protection. It looked to me that on that last drive the Birds were rushing and dropping back to keep everything in front of them. They did not account for the QB escaping as Fourth pointed out. Every defense gives up something. The Sycamore QB found the opening several times. If they don't fix it then exploit it! Words of wisdom from a former coach of mine.

 

[Total Red]

It was great to see some offensive sparks as the Redbirds flew out to a 20-0 lead. Annexstad got the ball to Carr moving vertical towards the endzone. In that situation Carr has a fair chance to make the first wave of defenders miss. He did and then he took off and no one caught him. Six points. Otherwise Wright was the workhorse (36 carries!) and Annexstad was able to use that to his advantage on some QB keepers.
The blocking held up. Gudaitis did fine at left tackle. Buckner had a key block on Carr's TD. It's surprising how often TE Taula has the pivotal block. When he gets his man the play works. When he doesn't it doesn't.
Defensively I felt like West was our leader with Vandenburgh out. Opponents tend to avoid West and go after the other corner but Bowens did a pretty good job.

It's not a coincidence that we are playing close games. When you go conservative the game will tighten up. Having said that and unlike last week, I was fine with 3 runs and a punt on the Redbirds possession that started with about 2:30 to go. We wanted to burn some time off of the clock and there is a major difference between an opponent needing to drive the field for a TD vs. driving to get into FG range. Coach Spack bet that INSU couldn't go the distance on his defense and he was right.

Pet peeve of the day. Knock it off already with the "this team has learned how to win." It's funny how teams with bigger, faster and more highly skilled players seem to know how to win. We've matched up with the last 3 teams. More importantly we're better at QB and we have a more balanced offense than last year. That's the difference. If we lose to NDSU are the announcers going to say that we suddenly forgot how to win? That would be nonsense. We're going up against a more talented team and the windows of opportunity will be smaller, but this team will have a chance.

Meanwhile enjoy 5-2.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

huh? If the Sycamores score in the final minute we lost 28-27. What the hell did that PAT get us? It was in the fourth quarter and you go for two. It’s simple math.

Playing devil’s advocate: We’ve blocked some PATs this year. I can see the argument for making Trees convert their own kick to win.

How many two-point conversions have we attempted this year? Did they work?

 

[cubird]

Thought we gave up the QB run up the middle to burn more time. Used time out because defense was gassed and the play clock had already stopped to move the chains.

 

[Manchester Matt]

Playing devil’s advocate: We’ve blocked some PATs this year. I can see the argument for making Trees convert their own kick to win.

How many two-point conversions have we attempted this year? Did they work?

So we are relying on a blocked XP? Come on. The PAT served no purpose in that situation. I can’t believe people are defending it. I think I’ll step away from this thread to avoid feeling dumber.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Congrats to all on the W

 

[Redbirdfan76]

Flat out embarrassing kicking game. Agree with Redbird Fanatic…. There has to be one person on campus who can kick. Let’s advertise an open tryout!!

Quit Crying ! The Snap/Holder also applies. Hate seeing post like this although 1 was on the kicker... No one complain when he made the long kick last week !

Redbird15 you are correct. My apologies. Any extra point/field goal attempt is a confluence between the long snapper, holder, kicker and the rest of the line. All have to be in sync and communicate well. The breakdown involves all.
No more emotional posts!!
I am sure the coaching staff will be working with the special teams this week.

 

[crazzymark]

8-3 will be needed but NDSU looks verry beatable.

 

[MadBird]

Finally got around to watching the replay last night, first look at the game, and I thought it was a pretty solid performance overall. Wenkers sure looks good at times, lots of promise there. Mueller will have to work to claim his time back.

Annexstad is tough. Got burned there with the pick, but he can sure get it where it needs to be most of the time.

I know there has been some grousing about the Spack backing off in the second half, but geez, you're plowing down the field with Wright, why do anything different? Run till they stop you! I tallied up the 4th Q and we passed 7 times and ran 11. That doesn't seem that "slow" to me.

Gotta believe Wagner stubbed his toe or hit his head or something, he just had a bad day all the way around, had a KO go out of bounds too.

Lots of PT for Jalen Gaines subbing for Zeke and the Monrrow kid on the DL. Am I the only one who thinks some of our DB's are up and down - at times they just get burned, and yet, they make decent plays at other times. Inconsistent. Frustrating.