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[redbirds2000]

Kicking game has got to improve... I think it will with the return of Jasek, at least marginally. Otherwise, a solid game punting for Takerian. The muffed punt can't happen again. Nice kickoff return for Carr.

On defense, the pass rush was decent, became pretty good at the end in particular. Zeke ended up with a huge game with some second half sacks. QB was under pressure on every throw at the end. Tackling has got to improve, too many times we are trying to kill the guy and fail to get him on the ground. Pass coverage could improve too.

On offense, I think Zack needs a better feel in the pocket. We should not have had 3 sacks given up against these guys and I don't think that was entirely the fault of the o-line. As someone mentioned, we cannot fail to convert a qb sneak against these guys. I didn't think our run blocking was that good.

Also, I like Wenkers a lot, but it makes me nervous how he's always looking to put the boom on someone instead of making guys miss and going for a big gain. It is good to have a guy like that and he does have talent, but having him as a RB1 scares me a little at times. I hope he can stay healthy. Congrats to him on his first 100 yard rushing game!

Special Teams has been awful under Spack. One could easily argue Special Teams cost them a National Championship.

 

[TIMMY]

The officiating needs some work too.I thought they screwed up the spot on the late 4th and 1. Regardless, should have been able to handle them up front.

And what good is replay when they're watching it in super 8?

 

[redbirds2000]

The Equalizer showed up at Hancock yesterday. We got a good pass rush against Valpo, but Kaplan, the Valpo QB, demonstrated exceptional scrambling ability. He was able to extend plays and then run or pass for good gains. Kaplan neutralized the pass rush and our only real solution was to sneak up on him with blindside safety blitzes. Annexstad does well on designed runs, but he lacks escapability. Those are different skill sets. He doesn't appear to anticipate the pressure very well and he isn't agile enough to escape. We've had a string of these type of QB's - Davis, Jefferson and now Annexstad. They all can run but they aren't/weren't scramblers. You can't really assess that in the preseason when the QB isn't live, but it showed up Game 1.
Btw, we did win the game so I shouldn't forget that, and they were great plays by the 'Birds. Carr provided a huge spark with his effort and speed. Deming made an acrobatic TD catch and he was tough enough to hang on to it. I thought Gearhart had the most impressive INT because he had to cover a lot of ground to get there.
Coach Spack made the right comment after the game. Good teams win when they don't play well. You don't want your team or your fanbase to get too low after a victory. That's the psychology of the situation. Looking at it realistically there are some concerns like missed tackles, failure to break RB's free for long gains and failure to sneak the ball for a yard. The botched punt return should be an easy fix. He won't do that again. I think we'll raise our game from here, but QB mobility could dog our offense for much of the season. The Valley has a lot of unforgiving defenses. We have a QB with scrambling ability in Rittenhouse, but I don't think he has the arm that Annexstad has. We may need to rely on a lot of quick strike passes and be choosy about going deep.

We are going to find out a lot against EIU.

 

[redbirds2000]

Haven't totally made up my mind about last night's "performance" - it wasn't all that good - but will say those of us somewhat optimistic after our showing vs. Badgers may have to re-evaluate after UW's egg laying last night vs. Washington St. Haven't read up on that yet but have to believe the natives are none too happy.

Wisconsin is not very good in terms of top FBS teams. That being said, they could definitely win the Big Ten West with 3 losses.That division is a hot mess.

 

[Hamdonger]

Other than Coach Berry, Coach Spack has done more for ISU Football than imaginable. It's a basketball school and he took an under-budgeted team to multiple playoffs and a title game. Troll away and give me a better answer for a replacement.

Nothing personal Birgs, but he is NO troll. He's a long-time skin-in-the-game dollars & attendance supporter and very much in the know with friends from up north. We need guys like ChiRedbirdFan to stay interested.

I like Brock and I imagine your target does as well. But the program is without question...stale...and has been, for the most part, for 5-6 years. Is what it is.

I appreciate YOUR support for our Redbirds on the turf and I like how you stand up for those who are in the arena. I realize you were in the know for quite a while.

 

[topiarydan]

Nothing personal Birgs, but he is NO troll. He's a long-time skin-in-the-game dollars & attendance supporter and very much in the know with friends from up north. We need guys like ChiRedbirdFan to stay interested.

I like Brock and I imagine your target does as well. But the program is without question...stale...and has been, for the most part, for 5-6 years. Is what it is.

I appreciate YOUR support for our Redbirds on the turf and I like how you stand up for those who are in the arena. I realize you were in the know for quite a while.

ok so we're still coming off of the lag of covid seasons and with the poaching of some of our better players from other programs (but remember we're losing our better ones and not always getting the best of the cast offs).

As for game, yes special teams is a killer - we get kicker back next week which will be big (or at least stable) - we gave up a TD on a muffed punt.
Our DL didn't have much penetration and our dbs looked exposed - however remember this is just 2nd game - its a tough game to get up for and we can learn alot in prep for EIU game. I see us still doing a 7-4 surprise

 

[Manchester Matt]

Past success should not give you a free pass for the remainder of your career. This Is a results based business and last night was unacceptable to me.

Not giving up on the season or Spack yet, but progress needs to be made quickly or I’ll be ready to see if Brennan can make another strong hire like he did in Matters and Pedon.

 

[Birgs]

It amazes me how all the same Pedon pom-pom tuttlers were the same Muller torch-and-ropers and now the sudden Spack-ism.

Hmm...

 

[ISUBU]

Past success should not give you a free pass for the remainder of your career. This Is a results based business and last night was unacceptable to me.

Not giving up on the season or Spack yet, but progress needs to be made quickly or I’ll be ready to see if Brennan can make another strong hire like he did in Matters and Pedon.

Strong hires = good resume. Too early to tell if they're up to the job here at this time.

 

[Manchester Matt]

It amazes me how all the same Pedon pom-pom tuttlers were the same Muller torch-and-ropers and now the sudden Spack-ism.

Hmm...

Why do you have against Pedon?

Muller didn’t win enough. Period. Get your personal feelings outta here.

Some of us don’t like mediocre results. You must be OK with it.

 

[crazzymark]

I give the team performance a c minus, I give season ticket holders showing up a D- maybe in a

 

[redbirds2000]

It amazes me how all the same Pedon pom-pom tuttlers were the same Muller torch-and-ropers and now the sudden Spack-ism.

Hmm...

Just win. No "rebuild" excuses. No Covid excuses. No QB excuses. No injury excuses. Just win. Spack said it himself, he's got the depth. This isn't 2010, 2000, 1995, where you get time anymore. Get in the top 3 or 4 and stay there or find someone who can.

 

[Birgs]

Why do you have against Pedon?

Muller didn’t win enough. Period. Get your personal feelings outta here.

Some of us don’t like mediocre results. You must be OK with it.

I like answers and solutions rather than complaints. If you have a solution, provide one rather than blather.

 

[Brick]

Spack is a really good coach. He’s not going anywhere. Annistad hasn’t played for a couple of years. Will take time to readjust but he’s already better than anyone in the last two years

 

[Birdfriend72]

It amazes me how all the same Pedon pom-pom tuttlers were the same Muller torch-and-ropers and now the sudden Spack-ism.

Hmm...

Maybe coaches should get a lifetime appointment like the Supreme Court and we will call that the BIRG EFFECT.

 

[Total Red]

This doesn't need to become divisive or ugly the way the Muller situation did. This is the football board. We have higher standards of conduct around here .

Manchester Matt thinks that the day may come when AD Brennan will need to go out and make a strong hire to bring the football program back to greatness. That's a legitimate view and a possible solution.

Birgs sees that as totally unnecessary. Coach Spack has won here before and he believes he will do it again. That's a legitimate view and possible pathway back to the top of the FCS.

You can subscribe to either proposition and still be a great Redbird Fan that bleeds Redbird Red. I think both sides will come off better if you focus on fortifying your position rather than attacking the other.

I follow this team as closely as anyone and I can't tell you what is going to happen next. Over time results will add fuel to one side or the other but even Matt agrees that we aren't at a decision point yet. Right now we need to focus on BEATING EASTERN and getting to the playoffs.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

This doesn't need to become divisive or ugly the way the Muller situation did. This is the football board. We have higher standards of conduct around here .

Manchester Matt thinks that the day may come when AD Brennan will need to go out and make a strong hire to bring the football program back to greatness. That's a legitimate view and a possible solution.

Birgs sees that as totally unnecessary. Coach Spack has won here before and he believes he will do it again. That's a legitimate view and possible pathway back to the top of the FCS.

You can subscribe to either proposition and still be a great Redbird Fan that bleeds Redbird Red. I think both sides will come off better if you focus on fortifying your position rather than attacking the other.

I follow this team as closely as anyone and I can't tell you what is going to happen next. Over time results will add fuel to one side or the other but even Matt agrees that we aren't at a decision point yet. Right now we need to focus on getting to the playoffs.

Playoffs???? Right now I am focused on Eastern!

 

[fourthandshort]

Mrs Fourth was doing a triathlon in Madison on Saturday, so I didn't see the game ... just followed the stats when the Internet worked .. which was slow or down most of evening.

In any case, reading some of these comments and seeing the box score ... damn, it does not look nearly as good as it did a week ago after loss to Wiscy. There is no excuse for a 28-21 game against a team like Valpo ... zero.

If they came out flat and then got tight, and Valpo got some mojo going as a result .. shame on players and coaches. Sh-t like that should last a quarter or half at most .. not an entire game.

EIU will be much tougher than Valpo ... our Redbirds better be ready to play.

 

[MadBird]

Well, not speaking directly to the "coach" question, and offering some of the excuses some people said they don't wanna hear (understandably), one could say it's not out of line to think there could have been a "let down" facing Valpo after 70K+ in Madison Vs. #19 - "trap game" sort of. Maybe holding back some of the new offense so as not to give the Black Cats and Skinny Dogs an idea of what they might see in the next few weeks.

I watched quite a bit of the game live on TV, and will finish up, and it looked like an underwhelming performance by the red team. Altho 100 yards rushing by #2 in the first week of being #1. Nice TD pass to RB White, a feature our offense hasn't shown that much of lately I'd say. But get back the "giveaway" TD with the muffed punt and we're maybe at a 28-14 win, which doesn't sound quite as bad.

Anyway, let's talk later in the year and see how it goes and how the future looks.

 

[MadBird]

Mrs Fourth was doing a triathlon in Madison on Saturday, so I didn't see the game ... just followed the stats when the Internet worked .. which was slow or down most of evening.

In any case, reading some of these comments and seeing the box score ... damn, it does not look nearly as good as it did a week ago after loss to Wiscy. There is no excuse for a 28-21 game against a team like Valpo ... zero.

If they came out flat and then got tight, and Valpo got some mojo going as a result .. shame on players and coaches. Sh-t like that should last a quarter or half at most .. not an entire game.

EIU will be much tougher than Valpo ... our Redbirds better be ready to play.

We were not in Madison this weekend, but cripes sake the paper today had a picture of the Tri-athletes starting the swim at 56 degrees at 7am! Geez.