My thoughts on the Youngstown State game...

[Jason Svoboda]

Offense - Bell's running looked effortless in that first half. It was really something great to watch... he'd hit the line and then all the sudden pop up around the edge and just fly down the field. When the Penguins seemed to have him stopped, his vision allowed him to make some nice cut backs, too. Thanks to his 256 yards rushing, the passing game didn't have to do much although you'd think it would have been wide open once the Penguins were burnt so badly on the ground.

It's hard to complain after a win, but we were definitely a different team in the second half. I don't know if you credit the Youngstown defensive staff, whether you think we just took our foot off the gas or what have you, but there is cause for concern to me. We only managed to rack up 129 yards and 4 first downs in the 2nd half. We didn't have a single drive longer than 5 plays and save for the Mardis crossing route that netted us the field goal, we could have been looking at a 35-34 loss today.

Fouch was efficient today, but I really wished he would have went at Hilton and Spencer some. We've got these big, physical receivers with great hands and height -- we need to throw them the ball and let them make plays. I also don't understand not using Lough on short down and distance situations. Running Bell inside the tackles on 3rd and 1 hasn't worked out too great for us and he was stonewalled a couple times on Saturday including the drive in the third when we were inside the Penguin five yard line.

Defense - This one is still a head scratcher to me. Yes, Youngstown State is a good offensive team. However, like in the Butler game, there seemed to be two different defenses out there on Saturday. That defense that showed up in the first quarter was solid -- did well on containment, picked up the receivers and got some pressure on Hess. After that first quarter, they were really spotty. Every time Youngstown State hit the redzone, they scored a touchdown. They were 8 of 18 (44%) on third-down conversions and 3 for 3 on fourth-down conversions.

Archie had a helluva day. Hell, all of our linebackers played well. My MVPs are Archie, Sewall and Roberts. They always seemed to be right at the ball which was indicated in the 45 tackles (4 for loss) and 2 pass break ups between the 3. It also seemed we're starting to use more players on the defensive side of the ball as I saw lots of rotations that I don't remember seeing in the past. Definitely a good thing to get some of those guys a breather from time to time.

Special Teams - We missed Fritschle's leg on kickoffs as most of ours hit around the 10 yard line. On the plus side, we covered them well all day long. Missing the XP on the TD also almost got us but Little redeemed himself and calmly nailed the field goal. Punting was a bit back and forth today and we missed a time or two at really pinning the Penguins deep.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Should also make mention that the crowd did seem larger than the 6,500 reported. I don't know if that is paid attendance or what, but there were people in the area I sit (around 40 rows up on the 40 by the students/band) which was absolutely barren last year. Definitely weren't as many students this week, but there was still a good contingent. They need to keep hammering the students with advertising and get them out there -- no reason they shouldn't have a ton every week as there isn't squat going on in Terre Haute on Saturday afternoons.

Lastly, the tailgating gets better by the week. Got there bright and early Saturday and got set up right next to Tom. Got to hang out with quite a few Sycamore Pride members and good times were had by all!

 

[IndyTreeFan]

I thought that one reason that the defense changed was because they were on the field so much. During the first half, our offense was scoring in a matter of seconds, not minutes. The defense had to be getting gassed. Overall time of possession was +15:00 for YSU. That's an entire quarter...

Also, don't forget, the second and third quarters were basically even, score-wise. I think the defense is fine. The O needs to sustain some drives! And no, I don't think Shakir should have stopped, but we aren't going to score that easily every game four or five times. We're gonna be fine...

 

[Jason Svoboda]

I thought that one reason that the defense changed was because they were on the field so much. During the first half, our offense was scoring in a matter of seconds, not minutes. The defense had to be getting gassed. Overall time of possession was +15:00 for YSU. That's an entire quarter...

Also, don't forget, the second and third quarters were basically even, score-wise. I think the defense is fine. The O needs to sustain some drives! And no, I don't think Shakir should have stopped, but we aren't going to score that easily every game four or five times. We're gonna be fine...

Yep, the TOP was definitely a major reason why they were on the field, but there were a few mental mistakes that caused the Penguins to keep drives going as well. It seemed like the little check down pass to the back was always open for them and there were several times where Hess was able to scramble and the defender opted to stick with the potential pitch instead of the ball.

As for your last comment, I could live with those quick scores. ray:

 

[IndianaState45]

Isn't the defender supposed to play the option that way? Protect the outside and force it back in? I was taught that anyway back in my playing days. It seems rather counter intuitive sometimes, but I think it's right. If anything it's on the other backers to get there and make the inside play. Not sure if that's right but that's at least what I recall.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Isn't the defender supposed to play the option that way? Protect the outside and force it back in? I was taught that anyway back in my playing days. It seems rather counter intuitive sometimes, but I think it's right. If anything it's on the other backers to get there and make the inside play. Not sure if that's right but that's at least what I recall.

That is how I was taught as well but for some reason this one really stood out. I think there was another defender on the outside and he was right on Hess where he wouldn't have been able to pitch. Wish I could see it again, but I think that is right.

 

[Callmedoc]

Isn't the defender supposed to play the option that way? Protect the outside and force it back in? I was taught that anyway back in my playing days. It seems rather counter intuitive sometimes, but I think it's right. If anything it's on the other backers to get there and make the inside play. Not sure if that's right but that's at least what I recall.

depends on your responsibility. Backer has the QB Corner/safety has the back in most cases.

 

[BigBlue79]

Roberts played it right....ask yourself...if there is only one man to guard the option...would you rather have the QB keep it and run or him pitch it and the RB off to the races ....we would rather have hess running the football....

 

[BigBlue79]

Also...on o...I would have liked to see riston get a coupls looks...he has the speed to be a big threat WR like hilton...But we shut down in the second half...both sides of the ball did...

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Roberts played it right....ask yourself...if there is only one man to guard the option...would you rather have the QB keep it and run or him pitch it and the RB off to the races ....we would rather have hess running the football....

Definitely Hess, but I thought the corner was still out on the edge. That said, I saw enough of Cook to not want to see him again anytime soon. Kid is a damn fine back.

 

[bent20]

I'm not convinced that we're going to be fine. The D needs to do a much better job. We shouldn't have to win shootouts. That defense has to do a better job of preventing third down conversions and reacting to a hurry up style and misdirection plays. Not trying to be negative at all. I know we have the potential to have a great defense, but they're not showing it on a consistent basis.

 

[new sycamore fan]

Our defense clearly needs to play better and get everyone on the same page as far as their responsibilities. We blitz so much to put pressure on the QB, but this also puts pressure on the corners. Very rarely do teams take shots down the field, but our one corner plays every play not to get beat deep, and gives up a ton of first downs. When we aren't coming with the LBs, some of them need to learn how to drop into coverage (which some of them clearly don't know how to or just don't do). This was hammered home a couple of times on the sideline after one of the LBs was pulled apparently for this reason. The underneath passes and the passes to the backs out of the backfield were gimmie plays for YSU. As far as defending the option, it depends on what defensive front you're playing, but the DE or LB should ALWAYS put the QB on the ground and the CBs and safety has the pitch man. For some reason, our safety was the one having to tackle the QB on most of those plays. Hess played pretty well, and has come a long way since last year when he looked pretty indecisive and wasn't very accurate. Cook is a very good back, and the MVFC is loaded with good backs; we need to figure out how to defend the run better. Our front 7 get handled too much; I don't know if that's from lack of gap responsibility or if they are just getting handled physically, but 200+ yards rushing is way too much to give up.

 

[SycamoreFan317]

During the game Saturday, I expressed a lot of the same thoughts that a lot of you have and was basically told to shut up that I don't know what I am talking about. I have no idea what I did to deserve that treatment and do not believe that I deserved to be treated in such a matter. We must have more sustained drives a team can not repeatedly use less than a minute of the clock and send the defense back out on the field after they just came off of a 12 play drive, we do that against a team like UNI and they will make us pay.

 

[new sycamore fan]

You always take the points how they come. In the first half it was by quick strikes as the OLine and Bell were having their way. In the second half, I think the coaches tried to play more of a ball control game, but YSU adjusted well, and the offense didn't play a very good 2nd half. That, combined with the defenses inability to get YSUs offense off the field, led to the game being much too close for comfort at the end,

 

[isu4life2000]

Cook had 3 carries that gave him 90 of his 177 yards!!! That means his other 30 carries netted about 80 yards. Need to not allow the big runs!! The 52 yarder was a missed tackle that should have been a 2 yard gain.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Oh well, the imporant thing is that we won. I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty, so I'll take it.

Now on to SDSU!!!

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Our defense clearly needs to play better and get everyone on the same page as far as their responsibilities. We blitz so much to put pressure on the QB, but this also puts pressure on the corners. Very rarely do teams take shots down the field, but our one corner plays every play not to get beat deep, and gives up a ton of first downs. When we aren't coming with the LBs, some of them need to learn how to drop into coverage (which some of them clearly don't know how to or just don't do). This was hammered home a couple of times on the sideline after one of the LBs was pulled apparently for this reason. The underneath passes and the passes to the backs out of the backfield were gimmie plays for YSU. As far as defending the option, it depends on what defensive front you're playing, but the DE or LB should ALWAYS put the QB on the ground and the CBs and safety has the pitch man. For some reason, our safety was the one having to tackle the QB on most of those plays. Hess played pretty well, and has come a long way since last year when he looked pretty indecisive and wasn't very accurate. Cook is a very good back, and the MVFC is loaded with good backs; we need to figure out how to defend the run better. Our front 7 get handled too much; I don't know if that's from lack of gap responsibility or if they are just getting handled physically, but 200+ yards rushing is way too much to give up.

Thanks for jarring my memory. There was one other play that really had me (and folks around me) frustrated and that was playing 6 off and soft when Youngstown State had the ball on the 3-4 yard line. The receiver slanted and had an easy score -- I just don't understand that. I understand playing softer with a long field, but once you're inside the red zone, you've got to tighten that up and make them make the difficult play, not score on the easy one.

 

[SycamoreFan317]

You always take the points how they come. In the first half it was by quick strikes as the OLine and Bell were having their way. In the second half, I think the coaches tried to play more of a ball control game, but YSU adjusted well, and the offense didn't play a very good 2nd half. That, combined with the defenses inability to get YSUs offense off the field, led to the game being much too close for comfort at the end,

You don't have any choice but to take the points as the come. Long runs are different from long passes. My point is the offense has the capability to give the defense a few minutes to not only catch it's breath and re-hydrate but to make adjustments. Our defense is on the field so much that we don't get to make adjustments until half time. We had one offensive series in the first quarter where we threw a long pass down the right side line to Hilton-incomplete, ran for 1 yard gain and threw a long pass down the left sideline to Spencer- incomplete. Total of about 45 seconds went off of the clock and the defense is headed back on the field. Time management is a huge part of the game.

 

[bent20]

You don't have any choice but to take the points as the come. Long runs are different from long passes. My point is the offense has the capability to give the defense a few minutes to not only catch it's breath and re-hydrate but to make adjustments. Our defense is on the field so much that we don't get to make adjustments until half time. We had one offensive series in the first quarter where we threw a long pass down the right side line to Hilton-incomplete, ran for 1 yard gain and threw a long pass down the left sideline to Spencer- incomplete. Total of about 45 seconds went off of the clock and the defense is headed back on the field. Time management is a huge part of the game.

I agree with you on managing plays better, not going to the long ball as much as we seemed to in that game, but I think we were trying to exploit their D and attempts to stop the run. You can't blame it all on the offense though. The D has to execute on third downs and get the opponent off the field. I've yet to see you acknowledge that and it's a very basic principle of the game. As for how you were treated in the game thread, some of us simply disagreed with you. We're allowed to do that.

 

[Cap'n Cat]

:sycamores::sycamores::sycamores::sycamores: :sycamores: