Some thoughts about the game in K.C.....

[Cash68847]

I think Holgs could have figured out a way to take some deep shots if he really wanted to do so. This was all just a strategic choice IMO.

It would have been with Raiola forcing it. Their game plan was to keep everything in front of them.

 

[herbsinator]

It would have been with Raiola forcing it. Their game plan was to keep everything in front of them.

I agree. I think some people are reading yesterday’s performance as if we’re incapable/unwilling of stretching the field.

 

[Cash68847]

I agree. I think some people are reading yesterday’s performance if we’re incapable/unwilling of stretching the field.

That game showed me why Holgerson is a good O coordinator. He was just taking what the defense was willing to give him.

 

[MaxHuskers34]

That game showed me why Holgerson is a good O coordinator. He was just taking what the defense was willing to give him.

This sensible way of thinking is going to trigger the charmin soft sandy vaginas in here

 

[Baron Winnebago]

That game showed me why Holgerson is a good O coordinator. He was just taking what the defense was willing to give him.

I agree, but we need more dudes to take what they get and turn it into more. Thought Lindenmeyer was probably the best at getting past the first tackler last night

 

[TheXHerb]

I think Holgs could have figured out a way to take some deep shots if he really wanted to do so. This was all just a strategic choice IMO.

He could have, yes, but that's taking an uncessary risk in a tight game. If we score on that 1st drive of the 3rd quarter, and it's a 17 point ball game, he very may well have tried that later in the game. He said all off season "Make the routine plays". That tells me he's not going to go crazy in close games unless the defense allows him the opportunity to do so.

 

[Red Finger]

It would have been with Raiola forcing it. Their game plan was to keep everything in front of them.

Yeah, and that's why I was disappointed we didn't run it better. I'd think that'd mean there would of been more opportunities on the ground.

 

[Cash68847]

I agree, but we need more dudes to take what they get and turn it into more. Thought Lindenmeyer was probably the best at getting past the first tackler last night

I agree. I don’t see this team having any more talent than Minnesota or Cockeye. We might have some better receivers and a qb with more upside but overall this roster is nothing special.

 

[TheXHerb]

Yeah, and that's why I was disappointed we didn't run it better. I'd think that'd mean there would of been more opportunities on the ground.

I mean, it's only the 2nd 100 yard rusher in a game since 2023...I think we did pretty good, unless you are talking about explosive running plays. However I don't think Emmitt gives us that ability against a speedy defense.

 

[V-Doub]

Send EJ on vacation for 2 weeks. We need young RB to grow up a ton in the next 2 weeks and EJ ready for 25-30 carries a game through Big10 play.

I think on D were just going to have to be reliant on some tricky shit to try and get teams behind the sticks on 2nd down, from there I’d like where we’re at.

Wouldn’t hate it at all if we played EJ for 1-2 series over the next couple games and then let the other backs get some experience and reps. Our offense looks like it COULD be pretty good once they find their stride. But if we lose Dylan or EJ (god forbid both) it could get really ugly.

 

[Blakejc]

The complaints about lack of deep ball IMO aren’t recognizing what we were up against. Maybe I'll change my opinion if I rewatch but I saw UC sending an edge rush and playing off to make sure they didn’t get beat deep. So, for a deep ball to work against soft coverage we needed time, but we didn’t have that. What we had was the shallow routes.

For the most part we had our way taking what they gave us. Penalties and sacks took us off the field. Maybe more of a screen game could have gotten them to back off pressure, which could have set up the deep ball. But whatever, we won and pretty regularly moved the ball all game.

P.S. I wasn’t a fan of our empty set, btw. Need to reimagine our action out of empty.

that offense is what Rhule and Holgo told us it’d be: take what’s there and make the routine play. The part that was missing was routine plays turning into big plays. Need all these great athletes we have to break one open then. Didn’t see one person break a play yesterday. That’s the part that sucks and needs to change if we want to win 9+.

 

[biscuitgaze01]

We can’t make a living off 5.8 yards/pass. Still looking for someone to make a big play. Only one play over 20 yards. That’s just brutal. I don’t care what style D they were playing. Once again Jacory had a couple that were close but he didn’t pop them. Story of his career so far.

This is a delusional comment. How a defense defends you obviously impacts the way the offense plays and how they elect to move the ball. The offense can’t spontaneously do whatever they want. Would you have rathered Dylan forcing the ball into tight zone coverage windows on vertical routes risking interceptions?

Cincy was allowing free access throws on basically every down, including 3rd down. They were extremely reluctant to challenge our receivers. Any coach in the country would have done the same.

 

[Drue629]

that offense is what Rhule and Holgo told us it’d be: take what’s there and make the routine play. The part that was missing was routine plays turning into big plays. Need all these great athletes we have to break one open then. Didn’t see one person break a play yesterday. That’s the part that sucks and needs to change if we want to win 9+.

Barney almost broke one. Unfortunately he’s 130 pounds and couldn’t break the finger tackle but this plays will come.

 

[Blakejc]

Barney almost broke one. Unfortunately he’s 130 pounds and couldn’t break the finger tackle but this plays will come.

Kinda worried that’s just who Barney is.

 

[Blakejc]

This is a delusional comment. How a defense defends you obviously impacts the way the offense plays and how they elect to move the ball. The offense can’t spontaneously do whatever they want. Would you have rathered Dylan forcing the ball into tight zone coverage windows on vertical routes risking interceptions?

Cincy was allowing free access throws on basically every down, including 3rd down. They were extremely reluctant to challenge our receivers. Any coach in the country would have done the same.

I’m not saying the plays needed to be different. I’m saying our players need to bust a few of them.

 

[djw004]

I think it's very important to remember something in context.

Our Defense forced a turnover late in both halves. Those are game changing plays that we likely lose this game without. And I am not saying we were "lucky to win". We had guys rise to the occasion for what felt like the first time in forever.

V9 saying "fuck that first down spot - give us the fucking ball" got me erect. Malcolm - who can be picked on and worries the fuck out of me sometimes - showed that we have a team of guys that can play confidently in the face of things not going perfectly. Frankly I think that D Holding was a bit bullshit - but he responded with a game changing play.

This was huge. For a long time we've been saying "let's see us really close out a game" and we did it. Don't let that deter us when it can be what propels us.

 

[Dawgsauce]

Send EJ on vacation for 2 weeks. We need young RB to grow up a ton in the next 2 weeks and EJ ready for 25-30 carries a game through Big10 play.

I think on D were just going to have to be reliant on some tricky shit to try and get teams behind the sticks on 2nd down, from there I’d like where we’re at.

As long as a season can be now, you didn't want him to have more than 20 a game. So yeah, get some other guys ready and get O line to open up holes

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

Based on my impression as I was watching, it looked like they used Johnson for between the tackles runs, doing zone blocking with one cut and go.

When it was Nelson & Mozee, they had plays for them sweeping or stretching to the outside to try & get them in space (which makes sense as that's more in line with those backs' skill sets), and it didn't look like we were doing nearly as good of a job in blocking those schemes.

Probably didn't help that Cinci was in a soft zone, so their whole secondary could immediately see those slower developing runs & rally to the ball.

So while EJ looked like a very solid back & the guys behind him did not impress, I'm thinking at least part of that apparent dropoff is the opportunities & schemes.

 

[Red Finger]

I mean, it's only the 2nd 100 yard rusher in a game since 2023...I think we did pretty good, unless you are talking about explosive running plays. However I don't think Emmitt gives us that ability against a speedy defense.

I didn't think it was baaaad. Just thought it was pretty inconsistent. Didn't feel like a given on a 3rd and 2, 3rd and 3 you'd be picking up the yardage needed. It's early though...I'm not gonna go all doom and gloom yet. In the Big Ten I think you need a banger that gets tough yards and I didn't see that last night...but maybe we do have that and we just didn't see it, idk.

 

[BradWesley]

Kinda worried that’s just who Barney is.

I was happy that his leg is ok. He took a shot like the 1st offensive play, and then another later on, that were nasty.