Playoffs 2016: Nova

[CappinHard]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Rant: Coaching in general. Offensive play calling looked lost and just grasping for straws. Defensive play calling was way too conservative, gave them all kinds of time to run their slow developing pass plays on 3rd and long plays. Then there's the timeout at the end of the half debacle.

Rant: TC was absolutely confused and disturbed by Nova's 3-3-5. It's hard to adjust to a look like that in such a short time, but man he was absolutely lost out there. Bad/slow reads, bad throws, not able to evade pressure even when there wasn't much, especially with a 3 man front. I'm glad we're playing a team he's completely familiar with next weekend.

Rave: Goedert. You could argue that he won that game for us.

Rave: Viniateri coming in and making a 41 yard kick, into the wind, was awesome.

[UWMandSDSU]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

I actually disagree with this.

Coach Stig actually admits to mistakes all the time, sometimes even unwarranted.

It was a terrible mistake in my opinion, but I actually believe that that was Coach Stig's train-of-thought when calling the timeout.

The problem was, the pressure of trying to get the play off before a delay of game would have had way more of an effect than giving him extra time to think about the chippy he was going to kick.

What I am concerned with is if Stig didn't think it was indeed a mistake.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Survive and advance, right? This was all just a set up for next weekend by lulling the Bison to sleep, right?

I'm just glad we didn't put up a game like that against NDSU, because they would have flat out embarrassed us. I kind of think there were a lot of players that were looking ahead to another matchup in Fargo and overlooked Villanova a bit. They clearly didn't have the focus they needed for this game.

We should have lost this game, there's no question about that. From the timely penalties against them to dropped passes and interceptions, time and time again we got lucky. Hell, the play that likely prevented this game from going to overtime was lucky, with Goedert stepping in front of a ball that wasn't even intended for him. Oh, then a field goal bouncing off the upright and going in.

It was almost like we were meant to win today, but we did everything in our power to prevent it from happening.

[Nidaros]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

What I am concerned with is if Stig didn't think it was indeed a mistake.

What difference would it make? I like coach Talley's comments in the press conference. He said it is a rough tournament and he had done these press conferences 22 times and really liked only one of them and that was one after winning the National
championship. The reason he did not like these conferences was because "You have explain why your team came up short."
I just think this Stig mistake has got some of us overly concerned. We need to work on our game plan for next week.
Coach Talley is very classy guy and said he felt we were a better team than Villanova and needed to play perfect to stay with us.

[jakejc795]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Rant: Coaching in general. Offensive play calling looked lost and just grasping for straws. Defensive play calling was way too conservative, gave them all kinds of time to run their slow developing pass plays on 3rd and long plays. Then there's the timeout at the end of the half debacle.

Rant: TC was absolutely confused and disturbed by Nova's 3-3-5. It's hard to adjust to a look like that in such a short time, but man he was absolutely lost out there. Bad/slow reads, bad throws, not able to evade pressure even when there wasn't much, especially with a 3 man front. I'm glad we're playing a team he's completely familiar with next weekend.

Rave: Goedert. You could argue that he won that game for us.

Rave: Viniateri coming in and making a 41 yard kick, into the wind, was awesome.

Landberg's blocking on Goedert's reception also bears mention, as he allowed Goedert to gain additional yardage and made it a shorter FG attempt.

[CappinHard]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

What I am concerned with is if Stig didn't think it was indeed a mistake.

I completely agree. He panicked and tried to make a move that he thought was a good idea. He should at least be able to look at it and say "looking back at it, I shouldn't have called a timeout there, I tried to make a good decision, but it backfired". I can see why he panicked, because he was probably as surprised as I was that they weren't going to run a quick pass play with 7 seconds left, but at that point you let them make the bad decision and not give them time to draw up a play by calling a time out. I know most of this is obvious, but I hadn't been able to post about it, and it was bothering me.

While on the topic of coaching, I already ranted about the coaching, but I wanted to point out how dumb it was to continue to call the QB draw plays, when Nova clearly had them figured out. Eidsness was clearly out coached today. Lucky to get away with such poor play calling. Yes, TC was off today, but imo the play calling didn't put us in a good position to succeed.

[JacksBacker]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Saw this and I agree 100%. Also saw 2 other huge down field blocks by Jake and Marquise in the 3rd Quarter I believe, blocks that paved way for a 1st down on a screen pass to mingerelli. We have tremendous receivers, but doing the little things like that make them great.
All in all, very proud of this team, they found a way to win a game that they very well could have easily lost. Both teams played their hearts out and both teams should be proud.

[jakejc795]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Christion looks bad. Yikes

Christion has worn gloves during other games, so do you think the combination of the cold and snow and no gloves might have impacted his accuracy?

[mango4]

Playoffs 2016: Nova

Christion has worn gloves during other games, so do you think the combination of the cold and snow and no gloves might have impacted his accuracy?

He wore gloves for at least part of the game. I saw him rip one off running off the field. I think it was on his non-throwing hand but not positive.


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[jakejc795]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

He wore gloves for at least part of the game. I saw him rip one off running off the field. I think it was on his non-throwing hand but not positive.


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Actually, he wore one for much of it. I guess my perception was influenced by the late action when he was not wearing them. It also looked like he had his fingers taped late in the game.

A couple of guys in my section were screaming for them to put Lujan in, but there were times when Christion's mobility kept plays alive -- one of the most important being Goedert's reception prior to the FG. I am glad they stuck with him.

[CappinHard]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Actually, he wore one for much of it. I guess my perception was influenced by the late action when he was not wearing them. It also looked like he had his fingers taped late in the game.

A couple of guys in my section were screaming for them to put Lujan in, but there were times when Christion's mobility kept plays alive -- one of the most important being Goedert's reception prior to the FG. I am glad they stuck with him.

That's the problem with a good backup QB. Some fans get restless quickly and call for the backup. I am also glad they stuck with TC. Even if Lujan would have come in and played well, it would have crushed Christion's confidence, which already seemed to be low in that game. I think if we had gotten down by a score or 2, and the game was clearly in jeopardy, a change would have been warranted to try to save the season. Winning that game should give him a confidence boost going into next weekend.

[Kemo]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

While on the topic of coaching, I already ranted about the coaching, but I wanted to point out how dumb it was to continue to call the QB draw plays, when Nova clearly had them figured out. Eidsness was clearly out coached today. Lucky to get away with such poor play calling. Yes, TC was off today, but imo the play calling didn't put us in a good position to succeed.

I think Eidsness has been very good at playcalling for most of the season, but yesterday just wasn't his day.

I can't say for certain, but it seems like our game plan revolved around running the football (particularly between the tackles) since that is usually the best way to attack a 3-3-5 defense. The thing is, teams that usually run a 3-3-5 do so because they are trying to compensate for a lack of size, but Villinova doesn't have that problem. Matter-of-fact, they had some dudes up front, and couple that with the exotic looks the 3-3-5 can give, we really struggled figuring it out.

This was likely the first time TC has ever seen a 3-3-5, and it showed. Add in the field conditions and we have the offensive ineptitude that reared its head yesterday.

I think we'll see better play calling and execution in Fargo since we'll be playing indoors against a familiar 4-3 defense.

[mango4]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

I think Eidsness has been very good at playcalling for most of the season, but yesterday just wasn't his day.

I can't say for certain, but it seems like our game plan revolved around running the football (particularly between the tackles) since that is usually the best way to attack a 3-3-5 defense. The thing is, teams that usually run a 3-3-5 do so because they are trying to compensate for a lack of size, but Villinova doesn't have that problem. Matter-of-fact, they had some dudes up front, and couple that with the exotic looks the 3-3-5 can give, and we really struggled figuring it out.

This was likely the first time TC has ever seen a 3-3-5, and it showed. Couple that with the field conditions and we have the offensive ineptitude that reared its head yesterday.

I think we'll see better play calling and execution in Fargo since we'll be playing indoors against a familiar 4-3 defense.

I'm curious to see what the game plan for NDSU will be. We focused so much on the run the first game, wonder if they stick with that or completely switch it up and air it out.


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[WestSideRabbit]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

I was pretty disappointed in the playing surface yesterday. I hope our equipment managers took note and next time we have a wet game we have some different cleats in. I can't remember seeing so many guys slip and fall down. I didn't notice the Nova players falling as much as we did.

[mitchellrabbit]

Re: Playoffs 2016: Nova

Actually, he wore one for much of it. I guess my perception was influenced by the late action when he was not wearing them. It also looked like he had his fingers taped late in the game.

A couple of guys in my section were screaming for them to put Lujan in, but there were times when Christion's mobility kept plays alive -- one of the most important being Goedert's reception prior to the FG. I am glad they stuck with him.

You must have been close to me. I heard them too. I just shook my head. Didnt he start out 9 for 9? Finished 20 of 33. The impatience of some people kills me. Just like the mens basketball team.