Southern Illinois Game Thread

[Chains]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

T's time to end the Fargo drought. Lets dump the Bison, retain the marker and finish an excellent season strong.

GBGBGJ

[jackmd]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

I'm with Stig. No pats on the back, no excuses, we need to win games like this one. I'm extremely disappointed. We have to and should win games like this. No other attitude is acceptable. We were the better team all-around and now our season is essentially over. There isn't any other way to describe it. Damn, damn, damn. The pick, the 2nd quarter, the damn past. I've been here before and I don't want to be here again. We should win these games and we have to win these games. We deserve it as fans and our program deserves it, we have to make it happen. I'm just so dang disappointed.

[SturgisJeff]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

I understand your anger JackMD. This was a winable game for us. I know its to late in the season to say this but, Berry appears to want to make something happen on every play. He should have been coached that when the play aint there eat it or throw it away. He seems to want to make a completion no matter what. Good quality, but not smart. But his play has made this season. We dominated on O this game. God what a bummer we lost. I don't fault Berry or any one else it's a team game. Sh-t happens.

[jackmd]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

I understand your anger JackMD. This was a winable game for us. I know its to late in the season to say this but, Berry appears to want to make something happen on every play. He should have been coached that when the play aint there eat it or throw it away. He seems to want to make a completion no matter what. Good quality, but not smart. But his play has made this season. We dominated on O this game. God what a bummer we lost. I don't fault Berry or any one else it's a team game. Sh-t happens.

Don't mistake disappointment for anger. I'm not angry just disappointed. Big difference. I'll never stop being a fan and I'll never get angry. Its close to sadness but life is to good to be sad. Disappointed is the best way to describe it.

[jackmd]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Its 6 pm, done with call. I'm going to make some mushroom burgers, have a beer and play with the kids.

Wife rented Borat, haven't seen it yet, should lighten the mood after the kids are in bed.

Time to focus on NDSU. We are having a party hosted by the Yankton Jackrabbit Club (YJC) at Ben's Brewing Company in Yankton on Saturday. I'm bringing my pheasant and wild rice soup, its awesome. If you are in the area stop at Ben's Saturday, 5:30 start, 6:00 kickoff. Hope to see some of you there.

[valleyrabbit]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

That was a heartbreaker, no doubt about it. I hope the players can bounce back. Next week will be a huge chararcter test. We need to end the streak and continue to close the gap between the programs. If we can win in Fargo we will finish our 3rd consecutive 7 win season and our second consecutive season with 7 wins against Division 1 teams. That is the minimum to get into the play-offs and we could do it 2 years in a row. With a win we could also come in in 3rd in the league after being picked to finish 6th. Respect will be earned. We can look at next season's schedule and see the three toughest teams in the Valley coming to CAS; NDSU, UNI, and SIU. We have had two heartbreaking losses this season. It has been dissapointing. We need to keep our heads up and move forward. Go Big! Go Blue! Go Jacks!

[JackFlash]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

I've been hemming and hawing about posting, and as you can tell decided to type something out here in a cathartic attempt to be able to sleep tonight.

I also agreed with Stig and was relieved to hear him speak like he did during the postgame interview. Straight talk like that is the first step in getting over that hump. Top teams don't make excuses or look for moral victories and pats on the back for getting close. They find ways to win. Although we have had some tough losses this year, I am still encouraged because we are moving to the point of embedding that ethos in our football culture and I expect it to pay dividends in winning these tough, close games sooner rather than later. More often I find myself expecting us to come down and win the game on that final drive (even though the opposite happened today).

Most importantly, I still want this football team to know how proud I am of them and how they represent SDSU. And this isn't me trying to tussle anyones hair and say nice try Johnny. Us die hards think this was a crusher - the players are feeling it a 100 times worse. You could feel it echoing in Stig's words and tone talking to Jerry and Steve. But even from afar, you just know these guys have their heads on straight and are winners. I love the way they play (except when someone pulls a real boneheader). That's why I remain optimistic and really have a sense of confidence that we are going to go into the Fargo Dome next week and be victorious.

Homerism aside, I feel we should have won today. The team believes that to their cores. This game has to serve as jet fuel to the necessary intensity and focus required in practice this week, culminating with 60 minutes of continuous afterburners next Saturday. The results of this game sucked, but I for one will be able to get over it a whole lot better with a victory over those stinking Bison. We win next week by no less than 10.

[bub94]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Boy, listening to the game on the radio road hunting was stressful. But you have to give the second half defense credit for holding them to 3 points. What a change from the first half. Both sides of the ball had their chances to make a play (some dropped interceptions and dropped ball). Really thought the second to last drive was going to end with a touchdown and a win. Damnabit (hope that is clean enough).

I agree about the special teams. Kick return for a touchdown was a killer.

Posted then I read your post JackFlash. I really enjoy listening to Stig's interviews too. He doesn't sugar coat anything and he gives players and opposing team credit when it is due.

[SDbybirthJACKbychoice]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Still depressed after that loss...hurts much worse than the McNeese St. game. The Jacks gave a hell of an effort but this one is going to hurt for a long time. The coaching staff has a real test ahead of them this week getting the boys ready for Fargo. I'll be in Fargo Saturday cheering them on as loud and proud as ever but this game will definitely be in the back of my mind thinking that the season could have continued. Lets just cheer for our Jacks to pull through and keep the Dakota Marker in our hands. Go Big Go Blue Go Jacks!

[JackFan96]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Yeah, a brutal loss. Some of the close-game/comeback games we've won in recent years are starting to even out a bit, and I suppose that was bound to happen. You can't play like that week after week (or should I say season after season).

McNeese State might have sucked more because many of us were there, and there were two plays that should have ended the game. This one, though...so many missed opportunities and misplays. The list is simply so long it's painful to look at. Turn your head if you must, but here goes:

1) Two second-half turnovers grabbed by the D and both resulting in good to great field position: 0 points

2) The pick at the end. Just can't have it there. When I post about "critical" turnovers...well, that was textbook, obviously (hate to say). There are just some instances when turnovers are unacceptable.

3) The drive given up right before halftime. I don't think anything yesterday drove me more insane. Aided by the kickoff offside and the personal foul.

4) Speaking of which...the STUPID penalties. E'gads!

5) The kick return for a touchdown.

6) The interception return for a touchdown.

7) The kickoffs in general...which continue to be a disaster with too many going out of bounds.

8) Last, but not least, our old friend Mr. Inconsistent. We need to find him a new home.

OK, enough. Like others (the players more than anybody, I'm sure), I am very disappointed. It's a game that should have been won. Not to get bogged down with the moral victory stuff as it's clear nobody (myself included) is interested in that, but it is a credit to the program that we went in there and gave them more then they wanted. Aside from that, though...it sucks. And there's no time for a hangover. If we go to Fargo unprepared, the Bison will be happy to blow us out of the joint. Time to regroup and end on a up note.

[bub94]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Hearing all the personal fouls being called (esp. the late hits) were frustrating. And JF96, I agree with the series right before halftime. They got a touchdown way to easy.

[sfjacksfan99]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

Nearly a day later and I'm still bummed out.

Grade the Jacks, albeit only listening to the radio.

QB: D+, it's like one of those tests in college where there's an essay question that is worth 75% of the test grade. The last drive was the essay question and he got an F, the rest of the game was a B.

RB: B+, against the best run D in the conference, Kyle was very good.

WR: B-, Steffen & Fox good, hopefully in the warm Fargodome #1 can get his stinking hands back.

O-line: B-, decent all around

Front 7: C+, got a little pressure, plugged the run up the gut, no so much outside

Secondary: C, these were the guys with the dumb personal foul penalties I believe. Gave up too many passing yards to a run first team.

Special teams: D+, Pritty was alright, the rest was...we'll say not so good.

Coaching: D+, the boneheadedness to continue to kick the ball deep was just unacceptable. Where did the running game go in the 4th quarter when the game was tied? Should have run at least one draw play on the last drive with three timeouts. Should have went for the 4th and 4 after the int from the 35.

I so badly hope this team rebounds after a crushing loss like this because the futility in Fargo needs to end this year.

[BitsTD]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

http://www.argusleader.com/article/2...DATES/81115008

Here is the article from the Argus. I was not at the game and didn't see it, but Berry said he was trying to throw the ball away at the end.

[propar80]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

http://www.argusleader.com/article/2...DATES/81115008

Here is the article from the Argus. I was not at the game and didn't see it, but Berry said he was trying to throw the ball away at the end.

I was not at the game also, and I'm going to take Ryan's word for it...he's more than earned it this year.

He really played a great game other than the pick 6 in the first half...especially considering that last pick, he was just trying to throw it away. That pick goes to the O-Line/Pass Blockers....who also had a great game, IMO.

Go Jacks!!

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Southern Illinois Game Thread

I was not at the game also, and I'm going to take Ryan's word for it...he's more than earned it this year.

He really played a great game other than the pick 6 in the first half...especially considering that last pick, he was just trying to throw it away. That pick goes to the O-Line/Pass Blockers....who also had a great game, IMO.

Go Jacks!!

I thought it may have been one of Berry's better games. He took a lot of shots in the game and kept making the throws. The pick six was just a bad throw, but otherwise, he was on the money and made a lot of 3rd and long conversions with his arm. We were only in the position to lose the game on the INT because he made some big throws to get us down there. I don't know if anyone listened to the SIU announcers on the video feed, but one of them was an ex-SIU QB. He couldn't compliment Berry enough throughout the game. Many of the comments were along the lines of "SIU is having their hands full with the best QB in the league, right now." I agree. His only fault was timing. His two INT's were just at horrible times.

The penalties were huge. The drive at the end of the first half by SIU was just unacceptable. There is no way a team should be able to drive 70+ yards on 3 plays if memory serves. They had that huge screen pass for about 40 yards that just killed us - tacked on by a late hit.

Our kickoff coverage - uggh. There are a lot of fast players in the league and Warner was one of the fastest/quickest. But he still needs the defenders to fail to get off blocks and stay in their lanes for him to have any room to run. See the Bears this season with Hester. We historically have a really good coverage unit. This season's KO coverage is full of starting and reserve linebackers and safeties. They shouldn't have let him have the room to return any of them. For those saying we shouldn't have kicked it to Warner, I agree. However, the KO TD was the second KO of the game. You can't give up on the KO after one bad return. Plus, what is alternative? We tried the squib kick - they still had the ball at the 40. We tried kicking it to the other upback and that worked once...until we kicked it out of bounds and they got the ball on the 40 again. Our punt coverage showed we could contain Warner if we just got off blocks and filled the lanes.

Our D. They played a poor first half, but that had a lot to do with poor field position than their play. As I said before, the drive at the end of the half was totally unacceptable, but otherwise they held Warner to less than 80 yards rushing. The drive that is equally as frustrating to me is the last scoring drive of SIU. We pinned them back to their 1 yard line and allowed them to march down the field for a field goal when they had no offensive rythm the entire half before that drive. Granted, the O should have taken the INT in for points before then, but I'm a defensive guy and expect more from the D. Our D-line played really well, though. We didn't blitze much and still had 3-4 sacks in the second half. Danny Batten is a stud - FYI.

I was replaying parts of that game in my head while unsuccessfully trying to sleep that night. Two stomach punch games this year as Jacks fans/players. Man that sucked.