Illinois State Game Day Thread

[JackFan96]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Why would O'Brien throw a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 8?!

Had the same thought. Then had the thought, "Why, in God's name, do you call a play in which that is an option."

Lots of suspect...well, I was going to say play-calling, but...EVERYTHING was suspect tonight.

[JackFan96]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Flat, tenative, mistake filled, uninspired ball for three quarters. Then they play well. Move the ball. Stop the other team. But, too late to win.

And why is the defense playing so soft on receivers? They played 10-15 yds off the line and basically gave away the short slant. Does the coaching staff think DBs are too slow to keep up with the wide outs?

The soft coverage at the line is a recurring theme...we're in season three or so of that.

[JackFan96]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Random thoughts, and they won't be pretty:

1. Not inspired at all. Flat, flat, flat...and that's just sad. Not ready again this week.
2. Hylland...cripes. Not sure he played after his second drop...thank heaven. His failures turned the game.
3. Lines, O and D, are a major concern. But there are plenty of other concerns, too.
4. Played a team that has been giving up tons of yards and points via the air, but the game plan was run, run, run...even after it was clear we couldn't. Run up the middle, no blocking, stuffed, try again, fail again. Some rushing success from the Wildcat, but that's all.
5. Even the field goal kicking was pathetic tonight.
6. What was up with the pre-game? What a cluster that was. The entrance of the mascot, the team standing around, etc. Not good or well-executed.
7. Speaking of the band, even it was quite off tonight. And the flag girls were...wow...awful.
8. Had new seats this year and...our new row was MUCH more crowded than the last. Have they tired to put in more seats per row with the new seat backs? Because it was crazy tight...very bad.
9. Being closer to the field, you can see more on the sidelines. Wow...Stig just totally does his own thing the entire game, eh?
10. Crowd was really quiet...but if everybody was as crammed in as we were in our row, I understand why. Uncomfy.
11. Defense, at times, was solid tonight. But that drive before half was a killer.
12. Highlights? Well, the burger at the alumni tent was good, but beyond that...nothing to note.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Exactly. Why? We have speed on the field. It is like we are in a constant prevent defense.

Other teams can hit us for 5 yds almost at will. Quick slant 5 yds. I'm not a football expert so I don't get it.

Not saying it lost us the game. I wish it had been that close.

[AirForceJack]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

WTF &/or FML

really describes how i felt watching ( or actually more listening to the game since the jackrabbit insider video feed was... lagging behind.... and 3, count them THREE missed field goals... the 50 plus yarder i can understand but the 2 field goals in the 30ish yard range? Not sure how much im feeling TOB as well, he has been trying to push too hard and as a result he is making some bad mistakes/calls.... 4th qtr gave me some hope for next week, but were definatly going to need to be on out A game (vs the current D game we've been playin) if we stand a chance

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Terry posted post game interviews.

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...Id=personaDest

[joeboo22]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

I haven't been able to watch or listen to all of the first to games but have caught parts of both so bear in mind.

I feel the #1 problem on offense is that the coaching staff thinks that last years "don't screw up and let the defense win games" will work this year.... open things up... It seems like they'll do that for bits then they go very conservative and end up with 3rd and longs...

The defense just needs to step up, get some intensity. I don't know if they have to go blow something up in there off time, I don't recommend drugs but come on guys, your playing football, you shouldn't need anything to get you excited..

Overall though I think its execution..... The offense ends too many drives in no mans land, long field goal/short punt... They miss too many field goals.... The Defense allows too many 3rd down conversions.....

I'm not as convinced this is a lost season as others are, I think overall the talent is as good as last year if not better. The thing is last years team new that talent alone wasn't going to win them games and played 110%, this years team seems to think talent alone will win them games and that just doesn't happen with D-I football....

(If I am way off base I am sorry)

[JimmyJack]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

I'm having a tough time drawing any conclusions other than the entire evening was awful. I concur with the complaints about the event management. It was awkward and uninspiring to say the least.

The game? Wow. We were beaten soundly on both the offensive and defensive fronts. We couldn't tackle. Every other pass O'Brien threw was brilliant, followed by a total dud. After the unbelievably bad Hylland drop and one decent set of downs by the defense, just about everything else was terrible.

Other observations that come to mind:

1. There were a lot of new players on the field. We all understand we lost some guys, but it really hits home when you look at a defense and only a handful of numbers are familiar.

2. General Parnell is a long way from being well. He was thrown in among a platoon of players who were tried opposite Cole Brodie (who was solid). General just can't run. In the first series he played, ISU tried to go deep on him once (almost) and ran wide to his side for a long gain. General just couldn't keep up. It was really bumming me out to see him out there trying to fire everybody up, but just unable to perform like we're used to seeing him perform.

3. Trivial, I know, but I hate the new team entrance video. The song sucks. It's way too long. I didn't love "Welcome to the Show" but it was much, much better. The crowd didn't know what to do last night. There was a long silence, then the video started. The band's standing there doing nothing. The team is standing outside the Dykhouse Center waiting for something to happen. I used to get chills when the video played and the fight song played. Last night it was just awkward.

4. What's with that weird, abbreviated version of the fight song the band played before the team video? The crowd had no idea what to do with that.

5. Kyle Harris is a great kid with a good leg. But he has proven to be inaccurate as a FG kicker. Meanwhile, a former second-team all-conference FG kicker is standing on the sideline. Pete Reifenrath was pretty accurate inside of 40 yards. Yes, he missed one at Youngstown and one at Minnesota last year. But I'm thinking he's a better bet on those 30-some yard tries. I like both of those guys a lot. And Kyle Harris made a tremendous tackle on a kickoff last night. But Pete is a senior and has played well for this team in the past.

Not a fun night. Not a lot to be excited about, particularly with Nebraska next week.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Big cheer when the final score of the SDSU/ISU came on the board.

What happened down in Brookings yesterday?

[JackFan96]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Big cheer when the final score of the SDSU/ISU came on the board.

What happened down in Brookings yesterday?

Answer: An ill-prepared, uninspired team that just isn't very good. We will be 0-4 and, based on the first two weeks, will be fortunate to win three games. This is not an off-the-cuff overreaction. Things could change, but based on the performance in the first two games, it's reality.

[Nidaros]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Answer: An ill-prepared, uninspired team that just isn't very good. We will be 0-4 and, based on the first two weeks, will be fortunate to win three games. This is not an off-the-cuff overreaction. Things could change, but based on the performance in the first two games, it's reality.

I am certain in the players minds this morning they are all very disappointed and are re-living all the bad things that happened in the game. I am certain Matt Hyland did not drop that pass in the opening series on purpose. Also Kyle Harris did not miss the FG on purpose either. The other guy Pete Riefhrather propably could have made 2 out 3, but I would suspect in practice all week, Harris was the guy who was putting them through the posts.

I felt sorry for Minnett on the TV after-game video when he asked about the booing. I think Kyle said, I did not hear it, and neither did I but if we are booing our team, then maybe we should not be in the stands. Could those doing the booing do a better job? Probably not, I know I sure couldn't.

I suppose the highlight of the week for me personally was meeting Kyle Sheehan at the endowment banquet. What a great person. I suspect most if not all of our squad are great people. We need to move on.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Answer: An ill-prepared, uninspired team that just isn't very good. We will be 0-4 and, based on the first two weeks, will be fortunate to win three games. This is not an off-the-cuff overreaction. Things could change, but based on the performance in the first two games, it's reality.

A few yrs back Wis LaCrosse beat you then the Jacks came back to be 7-4. We were 10-0 and you guys beat us in 07 down in Brookings....season is early but with Nebraska and UNI next, it could be a huge hole to come out of after the 4th week.

We have USD coming in this week and they will be tough to beat. They'll spread it out like at MN and stack the box to make us pass. Maybe we have found a QB in a RFR.....we'll see.

Bison/Jacks game in Fargo should be a good one.

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Why would O'Brien throw a 4 yard pass on 3rd and 8?!

Same reasons why our defensive backs are 8 yards off the Wr when they are 3rd and 5 STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

Thank God for Hubert, Hylland is the worst reciever in America! Bench Hylland, play Hubert.

Don't tell Coach Meadows that- on a earlier video he stated "I would sing Matt Hylands praises anyday of the week" Seniors shouldn't play just because they are seniors. Please play the best players!!!!

[SpeedRabbit]

Re: Illinois State Game Day Thread

really describes how i felt watching ( or actually more listening to the game since the jackrabbit insider video feed was... lagging behind.... and 3, count them THREE missed field goals... the 50 plus yarder i can understand but the 2 field goals in the 30ish yard range? Not sure how much im feeling TOB as well, he has been trying to push too hard and as a result he is making some bad mistakes/calls.... 4th qtr gave me some hope for next week, but were definatly going to need to be on out A game (vs the current D game we've been playin) if we stand a chance

Not trying to be negative but watching this team is scary. Lets get realistic here.. Nebraska could beat us 70-0 if they want to. UNI will be tough to beat.. Western Illinois lost to Purdue by 10, So. Illinois at will be very tough to beat at their place and Youngstown St. for Hobo Day- yes they lost to Penn State a couple of weeks back but were leading in the 2nd quarter... Is 0-7 a possibility?? Wow- the thought is mind boggling...