GDT: SDSU v SIU

[zooropa]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

It made them even more difficult to defend.

Maybe. Put him up against a defense that will take away those scrambling opportunities and he looks decidedly like a second stringer.

His ability played right into the Jacks' weakness. Hopefully they can bring in someone, somehow, or study some film, or read some books, or do something to keep broken plays from turning into first downs.

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That was the most frustrating thing to watch: SDSU's defenders lock down the SIU receivers, SDSU gets pressure in the backfield from a linebacker on 3rd down............. and BAM, SIU first down (plus another 10 yards or so). Just about guaranteed. Sooooo hard to watch.

[JimmyJack]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

I am thinking that SIU might be the best team I have seen at CAS. That Cal Poly team last year was good. But SIU was so workmanlike. They just lined up and did what they were going to do. And their defense put a ton of pressure on our offense. How many times have we seen Kyle Minett break into the second level, break a tackle or two and get 20 or 30 yards. Today, SIU's defensive backs made the tackle on Minett every time. Six sacks in the first half. Seriously, what QB could have succeeded against that kind of onslaught?

SIU can play both speed and smash-mouth football. You don't see that much at this level. I think maybe the QB change for them was a good thing. It made them even more difficult to defend. I can see them going deep into the playoffs.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

No one is saying the game is Crawford's fault, I think most people are saying that TOB gives us a better chance to win.

And to the post above mine, "cheer for the good plays or go home"? Really? Fan's aren't allowed to complain? I do agree that fans should cheer loud for the good plays, and generally have a good attitude. But there is nothing wrong with complaining...

Fans are most definitely allowed to complain. That's not what I'm saying at all.

These people did not "generally have a good attitude." I guess I was kind of thinking to myself, if you don't enjoy the games, why do you show up. These were the types of fans who would complain loudly if we were up 27-3. And there seemed to be a lot of them in my general vicinity.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

A few early errors just put us in a tough spot early against a very good team. This was certainly not a QB or coaching issue. SIU got a ton of pressure on RC. And when TOB came in SIU had taken foot off the gas a bit.

When TOB is a senior he may well be better than RC. But right now, no. He just has a bigger arm.

[zooropa]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

We definitely played uncharacteristically off kilter today at times

-That- I would put on Stig's doorstep.

That and a failure to do something to address the difficulty the defense has with mobile quarterbacks.

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I do not believe that SIU is -that- much better than UNI. SDSU hit UNI in the nose right off the bat, but against SIU they looked like, honestly, the JV team playing against the varsity squad.

And that's on the coaches----got to figure out what happened---- Complacency? Jitters? Lack of confidence?

[Jack4Life]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

Absolutley the best team State has played this season. SIU should go far in the playoffs.

I agree, SIU is a very good team and we just aren't as bad as we were today.

[zooropa]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

No, because TOB is a better quarterback.

Prove it.

This kind of 'I have come to a conclusion to which I'm going to bend all the facts within my grasp' logic is ridiculous.

If Crawford cost SDSU the game against SIU (which is far, far, far from the truth), TOB even more directly cost SDSU the game against Cal-Poly (14 pts. off turnovers).

You can't "prove" TOB is a better quarterback, save by selective cherry-picking of facts, generalities, and the much beloved "because I say so" argument.

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The defense allowed 27 points. Crawford did not lose the game.

And if you're going to blame Stig, blame him for the fact that nobody on the team was ready to play today. Don't blame him because SDSU plays 60 minute, both sides of the ball. ball control-style football that you either don't understand or don't appreciate.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

Jacks got vertigo.

The whole team played bad. You can't hang this one on Crawford. Crawford doesn't play defense (260+ yards rushing). Crawford doesn't play center. Crawford doesn't play receiver (how many dropped passes in the first half).

Jacks played like they had no business playing for the conference title.

But I was most disgusted by the cheers for TOB when he came in----and I don't want to hear anything about how TOB played. Most of TOB's yards came against the Salukis' second unit.

Regardless of what you think about Crawford, you don't cheer when a player's benched. Period. End of paragraph. End of chapter. End of story.

Someone give zooropa some rep for me. I gotta spread it around.

[Prairiehaas]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

Bottom line, though. SIU is really good.

Absolutley the best team State has played this season. SIU should go far in the playoffs.

[JackFlash]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

Fair question. Let me expand on my choice of the word torn. Do I think we need a coaching change after this game...unquestionably no. I will say that the staff (the buck stops with Stig...I would bet that he tells you the same) didn't measure up today. We did not make adjustments as quickly as needed. Saying that, I am not sure adjustments were enough to win today. We flat out got dominated at critical times. A lot of that had to do with schemes and never getting comfortable in executing/controlling the game....At least from my arm chair quarterback position and watching the replays. I have not seen either of our two units look as out of sorts as they did today (this season). Undoubtedly a lot of that has to do with SIU's play. It is up to you to decide if SIU's players are that much better than ours on an individual basis, or if they were better prepared/experienced in this type atmosphere. I would have to say both after watching todays performance. We definitely played uncharacteristically off kilter today at times - instances that led to a relatively easy 14 points for the bad guys. I still think this team has tremendous potential....today just showed the margin for error free play required to win at the top 3 level.

[JimmyJack]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

SIU is really good, no doubt. We made a lot of dumb mistakes, more than I have seen all year in total. But you have to give credit to SIU. They put a lot of pressure on us. That's a tremendous group of athletes. Very fast defense, outstanding offensive line. Their only "weakness" is their QB, who isn't much of a passer but is a tremendous runner. We can look at a team like that and measure where we need to go.

I was also disappointed when the crowd cheered so loudly for TOB replacing Crawford. Here's a guy who fought back from a couple of very serious injuries and played his best for us. His parents are sitting in the crowd and we show our appreciation in that way? I want to think the cheers were FOR O'Brien, but it came off as a rejection of Craw. I feel bad for him.

Honestly? I wish the coaches had pulled Crawford at halftime. I also wish our best offensive player, Kyle Minett, had been in on the drive when we couldn't punch it in from the 1 yard line. Nothing against Tyler Duffy. He's a terrific player, but in a conference title game I'd say your best player, the one who has scored 13 TDs, needs to be in there on that goal line offense.

Bottom line, though. SIU is really good.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

Sure. Because TOB is so much better at stopping mobile quarterbacks, right?

TOB or Crawford, this is -not- an offense built for comebacks. And being absolutely incapable of stopping the Salukis on the ground put SDSU squarely into that position.

Crawford looks like a hero if the defense lives up to its reputation.

No, because TOB is a better quarterback. I'm not saying the game is Crawford's fault or if we start TOB we win. Obviously the D didn't play good. That doesn't change the fact at all that I think that TOB is a better player than Crawford or that our play calling sucks. Maybe you disagree with me, that is fine, but that is my opinion.

[zooropa]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

I don't think we'll lose to WIU, but that's why they play the game as well. The chance is always there.

This is a supremely embarrassed group of guys that would probably volunteer for harsher practice routines than the coaches are going to impose on them. I would not want to be WIU.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

But I was most disgusted by the cheers for TOB when he came in----and I don't want to hear anything about how TOB played. Most of TOB's yards came against the Salukis' second unit.

Regardless of what you think about Crawford, you don't cheer when a player's benched. Period. End of paragraph. End of chapter. End of story.

No kidding. I was appalled and ashamed of the fans for that.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: GDT: SDSU v SIU

you have us losing to western illinois? we wont win next win but i cant see us losing to western ill. i guess im still positive we win our last game and go to the playoffs. i just hope obrien is leading us next week.

I don't think we'll lose to WIU, but that's why they play the game as well. The chance is always there.