GDT: Southern Illinois

[LetsGoRabbits]

wow!! just got caught up on everything. you all were very kind. i thought i would and should have caught more heat. anyway. i do apologize.

that said, i 100% still believe in this team and i will not be even mildly surprised if they do not lose another game this year. i truly think injuries will be the biggest obstacle. i said 3 all americans out today. actually, Grono, Gardner, Backaus are All Americans. i think Davis was a freshman AA, and easily could have been again this year. maybe he still will?? and Wolf is also a huge loss, or at least based on the expectations. SO in some form or another, actually 4 All Americans on the sideline today

as much too often the officiating was FAR BEYOND terrible. whoever said the blindside block rule is crap, i could not agree more!!! if the blocker gets his head on the correct side and you are so focused on some other point and you do not see the blocker coming. IT IS YOUR OWN FREAKING FAULT!! this is football not varsity freaking tiddly winks. IF you are worried about getting knocked on your tail on occasion, this MIGHT not be the sport for you

that said HOW can you block someone in the blindside when they are facing you and you hit them in the chest???? I think maybe the REF thinks that there was a block on HIS blindside. he had to throw a flag because he had his head up his ass and did not see what happened. therefore whatever happened was blindside to him, hence the flag

and the whole game the tv fellas kept talking about nobody getting sacked. well it is very tough to rack up sacks when you are getting held on at 60 to 75% of the plays.

finallly are we going to have a rash of unsportsmanlike calls on the jacks again here?? i mean none of us can hear what Griffin said. maybe he said the magic word and of course we did not end up giving up a score on that possession, but HOW is him saying a couple words from several yards away unsportsmanlike, but every time Lenoir made a catch on the sideline he stands over the top of the defender and has a few words??

again they did NOT score there. BUT it caused the D to have to stay on the field for more plays. then we get the long return for a score and have to go immediately back on D. little later pierre scores on one play and the D goes back out immediately. i VERY MUCH think those two very fast turn around and get back on the field possessions had an impact on the D in the fourth Q

if anyone remembers, i am NEVER one who makes much of an issue of fatigue. i VERY OFTEN think it is made into a FAR bigger issue that it really is. BUT if somebody would look, from the time they picked that ball off at their 7 yard line to begin that drive, which ended in our 99 yard defensive score, i think OUR D was on the field almost the rest of the game. we had two scores on ONE long play that gave them absolutely ZERO rest

couple that with being without our best DB and best LB. it is TOUGH!! actually, i think maybe, the D did a pretty good job, when you take all that into account.

[LetsGoRabbits]

that all said, i DEFINITELY hope the jacks will focus on the things they CAN DO to improve!! they cannot control the injuries and definitely not the crappy officiating!! BUT the coaches can make some improvements. and the players definitely had some opportunities to execute better

i wont go back and watch again, but i would say the jacks had at least a handful of opportunities to more or less put the game away and executed poorly

i will not try to list them all

but two really stand out

the 4th down play on the game tying drive when we blitzed two up the middle. the guy who came free absolutely MUST be under control enough that they QB cannot run straight forward past him. he has to be under control enough to slow him down. if he makes him move even a little laterally instead of being able to run directly past him that play likely gets made and it is game over

also on the final play for 2 pts. i absolutely can NOT and do NOT believe that play was executed correctly. WHY would you plan for Heins to run directly past the LB or safety and let the guy have a position between you and the ball, thereby forcing a much harder throw. also the throw not being directed OVER the defender in ANY WAY points to QB not expecting to make that type of throw

you go across the defenders face. if he does not stop you then it is a simple throw to the open area in front of the receiver. if defender stops you from crossing his face then he is posted up and it is again a simple throw on the opposite side of the defender

i am surprised there has not been more discussion/ debate about decision to go for 2. but i believe when that was called, coaches believed they had a very VERY high percentage play. the play that was executed is NOT a high percentage play. and i absolutely do not believe the coaches would decide to put the entire game on the line to try and make a throw past or over a defender into a VERY small window, pushed up against the back of the endzone

anyway i think this is still an awesome team, i believe they will learn from the things done poorly today and play great football the rest of the way

[LetsGoRabbits]

i went and looked at the play by play. NOT saying i have it EXACTLY correct, but from 10:10 on the clock in the 3rd Q down to 9:31 in the 4th Q. i believe our offense was on the field and defense off the field for one minute and 32 seconds. i believe that is the biggest reason they got the long TD run following Pierre's long run.

in each of our last two losses, we have been hurt by being TOO explosive and scoring too fast and easy. SOOOO.... i think the problem is that our coaches keep recruiting RB who are just TOO fast. if we start recruiting RB who are slower and the O line keeps doing a great job of run blocking, then the RB's will get caught within 5 to 12 or 15 yards or so. we will still be able to get first downs. but we will not score so fast. the defense will get to be FAR MORE rested. and we will keep explosive opposing offenses like SIU and SHSU off the field

so there you go. we just keep doing everything the way we are doing it now but get slower RB and all or our problems are solved)))))

that all said and ALL KIDDING aside, it is a great blessing and benefit to have two incredible RB, which we definitely do!!! but i am not sure i see how this is any different today if Davis is playing. other than saving touches and wear and tear on Pierre. the one clear short yardage failure was on the last drive before they drive to tie it. but i do not think anyone can assume Davis has any more success there. at least one of those plays was a total whiff on a block and blown up before it ever got started.

Davis is amazing and he is so so fun to watch!! i cant wait to have him back!! but i think Pierre is as healthy and as good as he has ever been at the moment. he looks fantastic and he is making every type of play. we just need him to start taking a knee a few yards after reaching the first down marker, at least once in a while)))) OKAY i know i said all kidding aside, but i really hope you are able to tell when the kidding started again))

[jakejc795]

that said, i 100% still believe in this team and i will not be even mildly surprised if they do not lose another game this year. i truly think injuries will be the biggest obstacle. i said 3 all americans out today. actually, Grono, Gardner, Backaus are All Americans. i think Davis was a freshman AA, and easily could have been again this year. maybe he still will?? and Wolf is also a huge loss, or at least based on the expectations. SO in some form or another, actually 4 All Americans on the sideline today

Fortunately, the Bears have a conference loss and still have Bison, Panthers, and Salukis on schedule. Think I'll lean toward hoping Panthers win their contest against Bears with Bears defeating Bison and Salukis. Regardless, the Jacks control destiny regarding playoff consideration (with homefield still option, particularly if dang Salukis falter).

If DJD isn't packed and raucous for Hobo Day, in what could be a playoff (or at least playoff homefield) elimination game, it'll be a travesty

[Cowbell]

Okay, I'm going to go there. Artificial surfaces lend themselves to more injuries.

[Prairiehaas]

First SIU is a good team. They have an offense that can make plays, a defense that can disrupt and a coaching staff more than willing to take chances. I think SDSU can beat them 6-7 out of 10 games though.

This loss, in my mind is on the coaching. The blocked FG was due to a rushed crew. Call a TO coach! The 2 pt conversion attempt in OT was dumb, yes dumb. The strategy in college OT is let the team playing first make a mistake. Thats why college OT sucks for the fans, it is boring and slow. SIU had the ball first and did not make a mistake. State gets the ball and the coaches make the mistake by not taking the highest percentage play to score. Kick the extra point and give the opponent another chance to make the mistake.

[Mr_Tibbs]

After an evening away to cool off, I’ve got a few thoughts about the game.

1. We needed Davis bad. We do not have a true power running game without him and without turning to QB run. When SIU started taking momentum in the second and third quarter, his running style and play calls to match would have helped slow things down and get our D off the field.

2. Our D got burned a couple times in the first half. Disappointing, but not unexpected given SIU’s style. I thought they played lights out in the third with essentially 3 goal line stops and having to weather long periods on the field.

3. You could feel that the D was not going to be able to stop anything in the fourth. They burned out in the third and we were officially in a shootout at that point.

4. We look lost on O without being able to lean on the run. Even though Chris is a good passer and we have talent at TE and WR, we made our identity this spring being a power run team that broke teams down late in the game. Davis being out cannot be a crutch for not running the ball.

5. I like the call to go for two. We were gassed and we’re not going to be able to stop SIU from scoring.

6. I hated the play call on the 2 pt. conversion. You need to call some type of roll out pass that gives Chris a run or pass option. Or run the ball with your goal line package. I’m not sure they held us to negative yards in the backfield more than once that day, and it probably had a higher chance of success than that call.


7. Finally, it’s a long season and this is honestly pretty normal for most Jackrabbit teams, including last spring (UND). And if it weren’t for Zach Heinz’ amazing catch in that YSU game to set up a field goal, we might not have even made the playoffs. Think about that. Margins for error are slim and our best team ever almost laid an egg and wouldn’t have even been in the post season. But at the end of the season, we got the top seed and home field the whole way. I still think (at full strength at least) we are one of the best teams in the country. The margin for error for a top four seed is very thin now. And a top 2 might be gone. But JMU and Davis lost yesterday too, and it’s very hard to go through a season unbeaten. Most of NDSU’s title teams dropped a game or two along the way. The Jacks have lost a game in October pretty much every year the past decade. It’s just what we do. On the flip side, we usually play pretty damn good after those losses. In 2013, we lost to MSU and then won out to make the playoffs, winning our final four games. 2014, we lost at home to YSU and went on to win all but one (to NDSU) to make the playoffs. This team is very capable of going 10-1. And that will definitely get us a top 4 seed. It’s how this team and this leadership responds to yesterday’s loss. After the narrow YSU win this spring, that Jacks team played amazing and didn’t look back. Let’s see what happens with this team. They’ve got a sneaky tough road game and then a monster Hobo Day game to right the ship.

[Jacked_Up]

Injuries continue to haunt the Jacks. Backhaus and Ogunrinde got hurt during the game, couldn't return, and were sorely missed during crucial defensive stands. Hopefully they'll be able to return to action soon. Griffin apparently was dinged up for a while, too. The banged-up and worn-down defense probably was a factor in the Jacks going for 2 in OT. The kicker had struggled, too, and there was a bothersome, on and off drizzle in the air. I can't blame Stig & Co. for going for 2 at the end rather than kicking the extra point. Tough, tough loss but great game.

[Jacked_Up]

Backhaus appeared to hurt his foot during the middle of the game. He spent some time in the sideline medical tent. He tried to run on the sideline but struggled and didn't return to the game, except to serve as captain for the OT coin flip.

[Southeast]

Injuries are an equalizer/dream killer every year at every level. You were nuts if you thought losing players like Gardner and Davis wasn’t going to knock the team down a peg from last year.

[Mr_Tibbs]

Injuries are an equalizer/dream killer every year at every level. You were nuts if you thought losing players like Gardner and Davis wasn’t going to knock the team down a peg from last year.

Yup, absolutely. The big question now is can we hold on and win out until they return and how many of theses latest injuries will be season ending.

[JackBBFan]

I don't think I have saw it mentioned so far on injuries but Chase Norblade was in a boot yesterday. So one more on the defensive side.

[jakejc795]

Injuries continue to haunt the Jacks. Backhaus and Ogunrinde got hurt during the game, couldn't return, and were sorely missed during crucial defensive stands. Hopefully they'll be able to return to action soon. Griffin apparently was dinged up for a while, too. The banged-up and worn-down defense probably was a factor in the Jacks going for 2 in OT. The kicker had struggled, too, and there was a bothersome, on and off drizzle in the air. I can't blame Stig & Co. for going for 2 at the end rather than kicking the extra point. Tough, tough loss but great game.

Tolu returned after initial injury earlier in game. Was he re-injured later?

[JackJD]

...
anyway i think this is still an awesome team, i believe they will learn from the things done poorly today and play great football the rest of the way

That was a tough loss to take. Tough to walk out of the stadium. This morning: still pretty tough to take. But, I agree with the above comment from LetsGoRabbit's.

I don't like to complain about the refs (but there were some awful calls and a few obviously missed calls*). A team simply has to play in a manner that the refs don's determine the game. -- I don't claim they determined the game but they did not do a good job in the game.. The Jacks usually play in such a way that they don't give the refs many opportunities to interfere with the flow of our game. [*SIU's quarterback got called for passing past the line of scrimmage one time. I think he did it three times...one was close, two were obvious...only one call. But SIU is a good team and did some unusual stufff with the QB and his sidekick, #15. I wonder what was happening to permit so many runs through the middle of our line.]

I just have to remind myself that's it's very difficult to get through the MVFC wihtout a loss.

Other than the game outcome:
great tailgating;
great weather for football -- predictions of some rain may have scared a few off;
crowd, while not as big as we'd like, was loud and invovled.
Three-day weekend causes the student crowd to be small but those who were there were loud.

[Jacked_Up]

Tolu returned after initial injury earlier in game. Was he re-injured later?

I guess I don't know. I didn't notice that he had returned.