GDT: Youngstown

[bigticket1]

A win is a win is a win. Gronowski was not good today, but there were plenty of drops too. Just everything in a funk. To be honest, I haven't been impressed with Ecks playcalling in two years. I've heard people say before that he likes to spend the first half running through the playbook before returning to things in the second half. It sure seems like that strategy isn't working. We come out one drive on fire, and look like ceap the next. And when we don't size the initiative in the first half, we place ourselves in these situations.

Hope PSJ is okay. I will say though,we aren't running the ball to our full potential. There were flashes today, but we haven't been able to take over a game on the ground since last year at least, and probably since 2018. It has to be the scheme, because the talent is there. That, or this line can't run block downhill. We do so much zone and side to side stuff, it never feels like we can establish our will on the ground.

Mark had a bad game, but he has all the potential in the world. I just don't know if this offense is going to put it together though.

Strong's injury reminded me of when Gibbs got tripped up from behind and you wonder how someone could get hurt from that kind of play.. Hopefully not as bad as Gibbs' was.

[Southeast]

Definitely, but let's just admit that, with the exception of UND, there's not a Valley team that pundits can't be harboring doubts about being "as good as they thought they were"

Truth. I have no idea if the highly rated teams from other conferences are really good but there are several highly rated valley teams that are not particularly impressive.

[jakejc795]

Truth. I have no idea if the highly rated teams from other conferences are really good but there are several highly rated valley teams that are not particularly impressive.

Villanova lost to Rhode Island, so Villanova (who seemed to be ranked just so CAA would have non-JMU representation in top 10) should drop, as should UNI. The Salukis could leapfrog Jacks for a week, but Jacks can take care of that next Sat.

[jakejc795]

Strong's injury reminded me of when Gibbs got tripped up from behind and you wonder how someone could get hurt from that kind of play.. Hopefully not as bad as Gibbs' was.

Seeing him needing help off the field made me cringe. No need to rush him back and risk exacerbating any injury. Definitely glad Meachum transferred for increased depth

[bigticket1]

Seems like multiple QBs in conference had relatively lackluster performances. Heck, NDSU might bench Noland and gamble on Miller against UND.

Like I said, next week should be a great metric. Jacks face Salukis on road, and UND and NDSU will either have first or second loss, respectively

And it's not just the new QB's. McElvain was supposed the be the best in the Valley, and the UNI fans want him benched.

[Mr_Tibbs]

I think if this team can figure out a way to play to their potential, which they have shown every game, for a full 60 minutes, they can win the whole thing. But thats a big "if". The same was probably true last year too before injuries and inconsistent play the last 6 weeks. We could be 1-3 right now, or 4-0. We have a big test on Saturday in a place where we have had challenges historically. SIU isn't the gunslinging team of the past, and another poor performance against a ball control team isn't going to go well for us. Today's performance can't carry over to next week.

[LetsGoRabbits]

i think it might be fair to say gronowski had his poorest game today, but he still had some very good moments. the throw to heins on 3rd and long was big time. he has difinitely missed some throws today and on the year, but for all the good they have done i cannot remember even ONE impressive catch like we have been used to from our receiving corps in past. sometimes if taryn or others were struggling the receiver helped them to get the mojo turned around by making a play for them

dont get me wrong. i know some of y'all get frustrated with the jankes and i hope they definitely continue to grow but i do think they are studs. if you disagree ask yourself how pissed you would be if the jacks had let them get away to usd or ndsu. anyway we do need more people to step up and make plays

and i think going into season we all thought this offense would be leaning HEAVILY on PSJ and run game. we have had a couple plays in run game each week but we are DEFINITELY leaning on the freshman QB to carry this offense. obviously really really hope PSJ is good to go!!! but whether play calling or blocking or whatever the heck it is we NEED to get more plays out of the rungame

seems like the team is close. next week will be BIG. i still feel like there is a good chance they get if figured out. definitely hope so)!! this is a bad year to not be able to at least rely on winning the special teams part of game. that has been pretty much a given for well over a decade.

[jakejc795]

And it's not just the new QB's. McElvain was supposed the be the best in the Valley, and the UNI fans want him benched.

He's struggled with intermediate and long passes every year. I thought he was doing fairly well while I was watching game today, but if they're losing by a TD or more, UNI will likely have difficulty coming back with him at QB

[AZjack]

i think it might be fair to say gronowski had his poorest game today, but he still had some very good moments. the throw to heins on 3rd and long was big time. he has difinitely missed some throws today and on the year, but for all the good they have done i cannot remember even ONE impressive catch like we have been used to from our receiving corps in past. sometimes if taryn or others were struggling the receiver helped them to get the mojo turned around by making a play for them

dont get me wrong. i know some of y'all get frustrated with the jankes and i hope they definitely continue to grow but i do think they are studs. if you disagree ask yourself how pissed you would be if the jacks had let them get away to usd or ndsu. anyway we do need more people to step up and make plays

and i think going into season we all thought this offense would be leaning HEAVILY on PSJ and run game. we have had a couple plays in run game each week but we are DEFINITELY leaning on the freshman QB to carry this offense. obviously really really hope PSJ is good to go!!! but whether play calling or blocking or whatever the heck it is we NEED to get more plays out of the rungame

seems like the team is close. next week will be BIG. i still feel like there is a good chance they get if figured out. definitely hope so)!! this is a bad year to not be able to at least rely on winning the special teams part of game. that has been pretty much a given for well over a decade.

The Jankes make some plays, but definitely not studs yet. The fumble issues are a HUGE deal.

Going to need that OK St receiver in the fall.

[WestSideRabbit]

I have to keep reminding myself that Grownoski isn't even a full year out of high school. I get overly excited because he's made throws I've never seen a Jackrabbit QB make before, but then he'll remind me of his youth a few plays later when he misses a throw that any former Jackrabbit QB could have made.

It's odd to have a QB who is consistently accurate with his deep throws, but is inconsistent with the short and intermediate passes. The good news is I think it's a lot easier to improve on the latter rather than the former.

To me, it seems that Mark does better when he's asked to go out there and win rather than not lose, as he seems to lose his timing and rhythm when he's mostly handing off to protect a lead. He still has the "it" factor in my book, so I like his long term outlook. Just going to have to accept that the growing pains are going to be there as defenses throw more and more at him.

Spot on!

[jakejc795]

Spot on!

Shadows didn't seem to be an issue on TV, but with both QBs struggling, the punt being muffed, and none of us being accustomed to games this time of year, did anyone viewing live think that shadows/the sun could have been an issue during game?

[jakejc795]

The Jankes make some plays, but definitely not studs yet. The fumble issues are a HUGE deal.

Going to need that OK St receiver in the fall.

I'm excited to see how "The Wolf" does among 'Yotes and Bison, as wolves tend to fare well against them in the wild.

I'd love to see him used as returner

[Jackedforlife]

Shadows didn't seem to be an issue on TV, but with both QBs struggling, the punt being muffed, and none of us being accustomed to games this time of year, did anyone viewing live think that shadows/the sun could have been an issue during game?

I’m thinking the sun is in a similar position now as it is in the fall so I can’t imagine that should be an issue.

[UWMandSDSU]

Shadows didn't seem to be an issue on TV, but with both QBs struggling, the punt being muffed, and none of us being accustomed to games this time of year, did anyone viewing live think that shadows/the sun could have been an issue during game?

Zero issue.

[jakejc795]

I’m thinking the sun is in a similar position now as it is in the fall so I can’t imagine that should be an issue.

Yeah, it didn't seem like a plausible explanation, but I know the glare on the east side bleachers is noticeable at times during fall games.