Western showdown Saturday

[Total Red]

Thanks for writing.

 

[cubird]

Think on their 75 yard drive the defense was gsssed and we were playing some weird defense with a lot of young guys.

 

[TIMMY]

I didn't get to see the game. At the daughters hanging gutters. It's comical. Old guy afraid of heights hanging gutters.

How did Jefferson look? I'm seeing a little about his stats, which seem pretty good. Was he stepping into his throws? Following through and not short arming? Zip on the ball? Dummies on ladders want to know!

 

[ISUBU]

Isbell's Unsportsmanlike penalty had a big impact. Looked to me like he put the ball on top of the downed WIU player, and that triggered it. Of course no idea if he said anything.

Point it out in practice, so everyone gets the message. Then move on.

 

[ISUBU]

I thought Jefferson threw into double coverage when he wasn't pressured at all... interception. Bad decision, unforced.

Otherwise I didn't notice much. So neither outstanding nor terrible. My opinion, anyway.

I'm no coach, but he seems to sling it sidearm a lot.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

I’m almost looking at the spring as exhibition games. More concerned with the traditional Fall schedule. Still not sold on Jefferson as QB but know that its early in his ISU career.

 

[MadBird]

Thanks for writing.

 

[DBird]

I didn't get to see the game. At the daughters hanging gutters. It's comical. Old guy afraid of heights hanging gutters.

How did Jefferson look? I'm seeing a little about his stats, which seem pretty good. Was he stepping into his throws? Following through and not short arming? Zip on the ball? Dummies on ladders want to know!

 

[Virginia Redbird]

I had a few thoughts Virginia, and I need some distraction right now from the Illini-Rambler game. Can't stand that effin' Moser prowling the sidelines.

First, let me say, it was great to sit outside at a ball game. Sunny and 50 degrees (got warmer but the game was over).

The running game was sharp, for the most part. Spack said in the paper today they planned to do more on the perimeter and they did. Nice to see the boys get outside some. I have a hard time believing White is only 165 pounds, he brings it and runs with strength. Jefferson looked much much better. For the most part. The front seven on D are tough as nails. I'm worried still that our DB's haven't quite got it figgered out.

You mention garbage time points - let me run down a few things that happened down the stretch that left me with a bad taste in my mouth after the game. First, you know, we weren't pounding them in the first half, had a 14-3 lead at the break, but I said to Mrs. MadBird at the time, well, you know, if we left here with a 28-6 win, I'd feel pretty good.

So, we get the second half KO, put together a 5 minute drive, but only come away with a FG. We had the ball 1st and 10 at their 20, ran for 5 yards, then two incomplete passes set up the FG. Missed opportunity for 4 more points. First problem I have.

We hold them to a three and out, minute and a half off the clock, get the ball back, but can't get much going and punt it away from their 48 yard line after 5 minutes or so. We stop them after a 5 play, 56 second drive, get the ball back on a punt. 2:44 left in the 3rd Q. We mount a 2 minute drive and score a TD, which should be close to putting it away - but, we missed the XP. So, 23-3 instead of 24-3. Second problem, tho not a major one really, missed XP.

They take over on their own 25, drive 75 yards in just under 3 minutes for a TD. Making it 23-10. Not sure if you'd say we were in "prevent" at that point, more like they were finally getting their act together. Third problem, can't stop them when we could have gone a long ways to sealing the game.

We take over with 12:44 left in the game, 13 point lead. White has gone out of the game due to a leg injury. We need to drive down and put it away. And so ISU looks like they're getting it done. Drive down to the WIU 29 yard line. Kevin Brown runs for 6 yards. Then - to me inexplicably - we send in 4th string true freshman (who I'm glad is on our team) for 2 rushes totaling 1 yard. 4th down, we kick the FG, making it 26-10, after a nearly 8 minute drive. So, worked the clock just fine, but only came away with 3. Fourth problem, sending out a freshman to try to pound it for a TD and settling for a FG.

With 5:29 left, we kick off, and when you'd hope to keep them deep in their territory, we kick the ball out bounds. So they get a 10 yard gift. They drive 65 yards in just under 3 minutes, score the TD and the 2 point conversion. Bringing the deficit to 8 points. What happened during the drive was another sticking point to me - after stopping them on 2nd and 9 at our 32, so they would have been facing 3rd and 9, Clayton Isbell is called for a personal foul (he mouthed off either to an official or a WIU player or both) giving WIU the ball at our 17 with fresh down. Next play, WIU TD. and 2 point conversion.

We then did a good job running out the clock (aided by a dumb face mask call against them).

In the end, none of those bitch points mattered and we won. But that series of bad events down the stretch - settling for a FG (IMHO due to bad play calling when driving down), missed XP, failure to stop them in opening 4th Q drive, settling for a FG again in the 4th Q (after sending in a freshman instead of using Pha'Leak or Kevin Brown to keep the drive going), out of bounds kick off at an inopportune moment in 4th Q, key personal foul call on their final TD drive - just left me thinking we've got some problems beyond the usual "young guys" and so forth. I think there are better things ahead, hopefully better yet this year.

So now the Illini have lost and I can turn my attention to the Badgers facing Baylor, which I fear will be ugly in the end.

Have a nice day! And thanks for listening!

Hey Madbird! Always willing to listen! I got back home today and just finished watching the replay. I had the feeling that ISU should have won this game by a greater score. WIU was essentially dominated in the first half at least by the Redbird defense. The running game looked good and I hope White is not hurt badly. Jefferson was okay but anybody that says he had a great game is being very generous. One fumble and the interception was a bad decision. Nice long pass but the defense dropped coverage and the ISU receiver was wide open. Very similar to the long passes against South Dakota. The good thing about this spring is he is getting some good experience that hopefully will blossom in the fall. That fourth quarter ... wow. Spack playing some young guys and I understand that but what was a game that appeared in total control by ISU for three quarters suddenly turns into a one-score game. I guess Spack has had enough since he flushed the rest of the season. Flushed is the correct descriptor for this Redbird season.