catdaddyp

Norton catches that one and it’s his 2nd TD of the night. Instead, turnover on downs…

I don’t think he’s participated in a game all season. Not sure what’s going on there.

Yeah, David has been hurt for a while and Anderson eventually won the spot. This is a particularly bad game to be missing pieces up the middle of the defense (Anderson & Lavea).

Out: WR - Adams WR - Mason WR - Walker DT - Lavea LB - Cooper S - Anderson S - David

Bump for update.

Week 10 Starters for new team: WR - Jasaiah Gathings (UCONN) = 38 snaps. WR - Oran Singleton (Eastern Michigan) = 76 snaps. 8 receptions for 103 yards. 1 rush for 9 yards. RG - Tony Georges (Kent State) = BYE RT - Jordan Daniels (Western Carolina) = 75 snaps. RT - Xavior Gray (Liberty) = 86 snaps. RT - Nate Williams (San Diego State) = 55 snaps. DE - Curtis Fann (Western Carolina) = 40 snaps. 2 tackles. DE - Ryan Johnson (Southern Miss) = BYE LB - Luke Bauer (Morehead State) = 41 snaps. 1 tackle. CB - Tyson Durant (Washington State) = BYE S - Corey Thomas (Virginia) = BYE S - Jaden Woods (East Tennessee State) = 53 snaps. 6 tackles. Backups for new team: WR - Anthony Williams (Alcorn State) = 34 snaps. 2 receptions for -9 yards. TE - Caleb Anderson (Alcorn State) = 31 snaps. 1 reception for 9 yards. S - KJ Martin (NC State) = N/A DNP: QB - Ryan Jankowski (UMASS) QB - Dijon Jennings (Weber State)* QB - Steele Wasel (Oklahoma) RB - CJ Price (Jackson State) RT - Ronan Chambers (Auburn)* OL - Ka’Marii Landers (Baylor) OL - Alex Robarge (Southern Illinois) LB - Andrew Behm (Southern Illinois) LB - Jaharon Griffin (Alcorn State)* DB - Rishad Hence (Eastern Kentucky)

That was my thought as well. Almost every new AD wants to make their mark on football - or whatever the major program is at the particular school. I went through all the coaching hires for G5 turnarounds from 2021, 2022, and 2023. If the new AD thinks he/she is going to come in and immediately make a splash hire, they are in for a rude awakening with the resources we have. These are (more or less) in order of coaching staff pay: Joe Moorhead - Akron Base Pay = $620k Total Asst. Pay = $920k Previous Coach = 2-10 2022 = 2-10 2023 = 2-10 Current = 2-7 Terry Bowden - Louisiana-Monroe Base Pay = $435k Total Asst. Pay = $1 mil Previous Coach = 0-10 2021 = 4-8 2022 = 4-8 2023 = 2-10 Current = Bowden was fired. Kenni Burns - Kent Base Pay = $527k Total Asst. Pay = $1.1 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 1-11 Current = 0-9 Lance Taylor - Western Michigan Base Pay = $850k Total Asst. Pay = $1.1 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 5-4 Jerry Kill - New Mexico State Base Pay = $550k Total Asst. Pay = $1.45 mil Previous Coach = 2-10 2022 = 7-6 2023 = 10-5 Current = Kill stepped down. Mike MacIntyre - FIU Base Pay = $750k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 4-8 2023 = 4-8 Current = 3-6 Clay Helton - Georgia Southern Base Pay = $805k Total Asst. Pay = $1.45 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 6-7 Current = 6-3 Don Brown - UMASS Base Pay = $882k Total Asst. Pay = $1.35 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 1-11 2023 = 3-9 Current = 2-7 Blake Anderson - Utah State Base Pay = $766k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 1-5 2021 = 11-3 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 6-7 Current = 2-6 Kane Wommack - South Alabama Base Pay = $810k Total Asst. Pay = $1.5 mil Previous Coach = 4-7 2021 = 5-7 2022 = 10-3 2023 = 7-6 Current = Wommack is now the DC at Alabama Butch Jones - Arkansas State Base Pay = $825k Total Asst. Pay = $1.5 mil Previous Coach = 4-7 2021 = 2-10 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 6-7 Current = 5-3 Will Hall - Southern Miss Base Pay = $824k Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 3-7 2021 = 3-9 2022 = 7-6 2023 = 3-9 Current = 1-7 Jon Sumrall - Troy Base Pay = $825k Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2022 = 12-2 2023 = 11-3 Current = Sumrall is now the HC at Tulane Sonny Cumbie - Louisiana Tech Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.3 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 3-5 GJ Kinne - Texas State Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.6 mil Previous Coach = 4-8 2023 = 8-5 Current = 4-4 Tom Herman - FAU Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 2-7 Biff Poggi - Charlotte Base Pay = $1 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.7 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 3-6 Jim Mora - UCONN Base Pay = $1.7 mil Total Asst. Pay = $1.9 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2022 = 6-7 2023 = 3-9 Current = 6-3 Jay Norvell - Colorado State Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.1 mil Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 5-7 Current = 6-3 Stan Drayton - Temple Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 3-9 2022 = 3-9 2023 = 3-9 Current = 2-6 Brian Newberry - Navy Base Pay = $1.8 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 4-8 2023 = 5-7 Current = 6-2 Kevin Wilson - Tulsa Base Pay = $1.9 mil Total Asst. Pay = ? Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 4-8 Current = 3-6 Barry Odom - UNLV Base Pay = $1.75 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.3 mil Previous Coach = 5-7 2023 = 9-5 Current = 6-2 Alex Golesh - South Florida Base Pay = $2.5 mil Total Asst. Pay = $2.4 mil Previous Coach = 1-11 2023 = 7-6 Current = 4-4

Game thread and preview: QB: QB is one of the positions coach Hammock has struggled to aptly identify talent, as NIU would likely be undefeated with better QB play. Junior Ethan Hampton has been the main starter with former walk-on Josh Holst also collecting snaps. Hampton has completed 60% of his passes and thrown for 1, 256 yards. His current TD to INT ratio is 11 to 5. When kept clean, Hampton completes 65% of his passes and has thrown for 8 TDs vs 3 INTs. When pressured, Hampton competes 38% of his passes and has thrown for 3 TDs vs 2 INTs. RB: NIU has a deep stable of RBs. Leading rusher Antario Brown is 5th in the MAC in rushing and may miss the game due to injury. Former Iowa transfer Gavin Williams is 10th in the MAC in rushing. True freshman Telly Johnson is a downhill runner who gashed WMU for 141 yards and 2 TDs. NIU will likely give us a heavy dose of both Williams and Johnson. WR: WR is another position where coach Hammock has struggled to consistently identify talent. However, there are a few players who can make plays. Former Eastern Illinois transfer Cam Thompson is 17th in receiving yards with 372 and 3 TDs. Senior (and former walk-on) Trayvon Randolph has 275 yards. TE: Former JUCO Grayson Barnes is a weapon in the passing game. He is often moved around and the majority of his receiving damage comes between the numbers. Barnes can be a difficult matchup for linebackers and safeties. Brock Lampe and Tristan Tewes are typically blockers that sometimes will be used in short yardage passing game. OL: NIU is built similarly to a traditional Big10 type team. The Huskies have the 2nd best OL (only behind WMU) and the best DL in the MAC. The OL is a big reason why NIU’s run game is so effective and that an average QB talent can be successful. The NIU OL has given up only 5 sacks in conference play. LT - Evan Malcore (R.So.) LG - JJ Lippe (R.Sr.) C - Logan Zschernitz (R. Sr.) RG - John Champe (Sr.) RT - Thomas Paasch (R. Fr.) (I thought Paasch was one of the best offensive linemen in the 2023 MAC recruiting class) DL: NIU sports the best defensive line in the MAC. Senior DeVontae O’Malley and junior Skyler Gill-Howard may be the best two defensive tackles in the conference. The duo has combined for 68 tackles and 9.5 sacks. Juniors Roy and Jalonnie Williams are the defensive ends. They have combined for 55 tackles and 5.5 sacks. LB: Senior Jaden Dolphin may be an All-MAC candidate. He has 46 tackles, 2 PDs, and an interception. Flanking Dolphin is SEMO transfer Christian Fuhrman. Fuhrman is tied for second on the team in tackles with 43 and has also collected an interception. DB: Senior Javaughn Byrd and redshirt sophomore Jacob Finley are the cornerbacks. Byrd has 20 tackles and 2 PDs, while Finley has 25 tackles and 7 PDs. Redshirt freshman Santana Banner and senior Nate Valcarcel are the safeties. Banner is tied for second on the team in tackles with 43. He has also collected 3 PDs and an interception. Valcarcel has 36 tackles, 5 PDs, and 2 interceptions. Senior Jashon Prophete is the nickel (or “Huskie” if that term is still used). Prophete has 33 tackles. K: Senior Kanon Woodall is 23 of 26 on extra points and 12 of 18 on field goals. P: Senior Tom Foley is last in the MAC in average per punt at 37.6 yards. Offense - Coach Hammock may do a better job at covering up inadequacies than any other coach in the MAC. NIU is built to run the football and will do that no matter what. Most of the passes are shorter and have easier route concepts for the quarterbacks. About 65% of pass attempts will be thrown under 10 yards by the NIU offense. Defense - As mentioned above, the defensive line is better than any DL in the MAC. The rest of the defense is good enough. NIU consistently applies pressure with 4 rushers and leads the MAC in sacks. The DL is a major reason why NIU is ranked first against the pass, as their DBs typically don’t have to cover for long. Summary: NIU has not lost a game by more than 7 points this season. The Huskies utilize a ball control offense with timely passing. Points will be at a premium this week for Zips. If there is a weakness in the NIU defense it’s on the perimeter and getting the Huskies defense running side to side as opposed to letting the defensive front get up field so quickly. If Akron defense can hold up, we’ll have a chance. A lot of pressure will be on the middle of the defense as NIU does a tremendous amount of pulling with their OL and TEs. Any loose gap assignments or missed tackles will likely lead to big plays for NIU’s backs.

Kent is an absolute mess. I’ve listened to many of Burns’ pressers and find it fascinating how he continues to change course of action. Now it’s play the young players and focus on 80/20 HS to portal recruiting. That won’t work in any turnaround situation due to the portal and NIL. The better players will jet and it’ll be a cycle of incoming freshmen to fill the void.

Kent rolled out a walk-on freshman QB and lost 41-0. Managed 114 yards of offense.

I think it’s an accountability and attention to detail problem. Or that could be summed up as discipline. Here are a few examples: - No matter the name on the back of the jersey from 2022-2024, we still consistently see pre and post snap penalties - and usually at crucial times. It will seemingly get cleaned up for a game and then pop right back up shortly thereafter. - Off the top of my head, we’ve had at least 6 players (current staff recruits) transfer out due to grade issues. At least 3 of them would have been starters this year. - We see the young players and/or backups come in and flash their potential just to be followed by major gaffs. That means they either aren’t getting enough reps at practice, aren’t paying attention, or are not being held accountable. - Turnovers and ball protection have been an issue more often than not. We’ve lost the turnover battle in MAC play 11 to 4. All of the above is correctable. Will it be? I don’t know. If it is, we’ll see some victories to close out the year. I didn’t see a Buffalo team any more talented than us. I saw a Buffalo team much more disciplined than us.

I thought this one was a particularly good episode.

Bump for update.

Bump for update. McCoy ranks 3rd in the MAC and 6th nationally in total tackles. Kapongo is 2nd in the MAC and 10th nationally for tackles amongst DTs. Moore is 3rd in the MAC and 26th nationally for tackles amongst DTs. Finley is 2nd in the MAC and 41st nationally in passing yards. Norton is 4th in the MAC and 31st nationally in receiving yards.

That actually made me laugh. Ive given stats about the game which were shot down. And now facts about recruiting that’s been shot down. I could debunk the “smaller players” statement with size stats that I’m sure would also get shot down. So not going to bother. When facts are ignored, it’s not worth my time to continue the conversation.

The 2022 recruiting class has already produced 6 All-MAC players. More than any other school in the conference from that class. The 2023 class has so far produced Nunnally and soon to be Norton, barring something drastic. That’ll already be 8 All-MAC players from his first two classes that he brought in. Might want to find a different spin on why the team isn’t winning.

Buffalo went after D. Lewis 7 times, Golden-Nelson 3, and Reed 3. Lewis played both NB and S, so he had a variety of matchups. DeWalt rotated in for both Golden-Nelson and Reed and pretty much shut his man down. No one else was thrown at more than twice. EMU went after Lewis and Reed a lot last week too. Odd there was no wind. Both teams seemed to have their worst punts in the same direction.

Attention to detail and accountability. Turnovers, busted plays, and pre-snap/post snap penalties are usually a direct result.

The team played well enough to actually be in the game after a dismal 3ish quarters. 4 turnovers will doom any team and we are better than most at finding ways to lose, despite having enough talent to be competitive in conference play. I take the time after every game to talk briefly about each position because it’s never all good or all bad. In the end, winning and losing is what matters and we’ve yet to do enough to consistently win.

452 yards of offense and 4 turnovers…. QB: Finley caught fire in the 4th quarter and absolutely torched the Buffalo defense. Unfortunately, outside of the 4th quarter and the first drive of the game, it wasn’t a great showing. The interception was another instance where he under threw the ball and allowed the safety to make a play. Bullock was stuffed twice on 4th down conversions, but had his moments at other points in the game. RB: Outside of the fumble by Kellom, the backs ran the ball fine. True to form, they didn’t have that many opportunities - collecting 80 yards on 16 carries. WR: Norton came alive in the 4th quarter. He’s one of those receivers where many times he may be covered, but he’s really not covered. Meaning give him a chance to make a play against single coverage and he usually will. Golden and Granger had their moments too. On the downside, we still had a few drops. Freshman Kyan Mason flashed his ability to make a difficult touchdown snag. He’s going to be a good one down the road. TE: Newell hasn’t been used as much in passing situations with the emergence of Cravaack, but I’ve seen him bark at guys over the past two weeks who were unsure of the play. He’s clearly had enough of people not knowing their assignments. Newell and Cravaack combined for 5 catches for 55 yards. OL: The amount of pressures that were allowed on either side of the RG was unacceptable. At times, K. Davis and Burrell looked like they were playing their first game of collegiate football. The stunts and blitzes caused all kinds of confusion for the right side of the OL. At this point in the season, these guys have played enough football to know what to expect. It was downright bad for portions of the game. The left side had a few mistakes too, but nothing like the right side. We also failed to get push on key downs when we needed to convert. It’s frustrating that the OL can get it together in the 4th quarter and struggle so much throughout much of the rest of the game. DL: The starting defensive line was decent against the run. The 45 yard TD run by the RB was due to a DB (I didn’t catch the number) taking a terrible angle to fill the gap. The backup DTs and DEs didn’t give us much production. For the second straight week, Moore played over 60 snaps and Kapongo played over 50 snaps. That’s too much. We were without Lavea and Brockington and that played a role. The defense as a whole continues to struggle to create pressure. In fact, I can’t recall a single time we created pressure without a blitz. Teams have figured out they can slide protect against Nunnally and then double one of the DTs and we will struggle to rush the passer. LB: McCoy was lights out good. He probably had his best game of the season. Fish also played well. Benenge, Spriggs, and Summers saw a good amount of action again. Summers made a few plays in the 2nd half. DB: Golden-Nelson and Reed started at CB again. Reed struggled some after playing well last week. Hunter, DeWalt, and Jarmon saw action. DeWalt played about 50 snaps, which is his career high. If DeWalt ever figures it all out, he could be a really good player due to his length and natural ability. Our lack of depth at safety reared its ugly head. When Anderson went down, we proceeded to have multiple mistakes from the DBs. D. Lewis and P. Lewis finished out the game as the two safeties. Greenwood and Thomas rotated at nickelback. ST: The wind seemed to play a factor on a few of the punts. Overall, special teams were good again outside of the fumble. There’s really no excuse for the fumbling issue to still be happening. Coaching: More of the same. Offense and defense looked well prepared on the opening drives and then the turnovers started. We had a handful of penalties and personal fouls were limited, so that’s at least progress in that area. We’re not going to win any games when we lose the turnover margin 4-0. Our “sudden defense” was bad. They held up at times during the flow of the game and in the 4th quarter, but were woeful after turnovers. It’s been that way all season. The fact that we only lost by 11 with 4 turnovers says something. One would think Buffalo would have won by a lot more. We were only down by 8 before the final turnover happened and sealed our fate. Yet, it’s another way this program has found a way to lose. Edit: I noticed Hunter and Bullock walking on senior day. They still have a year of eligibility left if they want it for football, but I would not be surprised to see them move on. Hunter has dealt with injuries and fallen behind on the depth chart. Bullock supposedly reached out to Rutgers this past offseason and they said “no thanks.” Someone may take a chance on him this offseason though after seeing his versatility. QB: Finley Bullock (played multiple positions) RB: Simmons Kellom WR: Norton Davis WR: Golden Rush WR: Granger Mason TE: Cravaack Newell LT: Blanchard Shor LG: Morris Seymore C T. Williams RG: K. Davis Burrell RT: James Thomas DE: Adler Dall DT: Kapongo Madden Murphy DT: Moore Proffitt Hull DE: Nunnally Richards Cheatom LB: Fish Benenge Summers LB: McCoy Spriggs NB: D. Lewis Greenwood T. Thomas CB: Golden-Nelson Hunter DeWalt CB: Reed Jarmon S: P. Lewis D. Lewis S: Anderson D. Lewis Top Players on Offense: QB - Finley WR - Granger TE - Cravaack RB - Simmons WR - Norton (I imagine Norton will be #1 by end of the week) Top Players on Defense: LB - Fish LB - McCoy CB - DeWalt S - P. Lewis DT - Moore

4 turnovers was the difference in the game. Not “faster or slower players.” Or maybe the “fast” players from Buffalo just left the stadium in the 4th quarter and it was a whole new group? I asked for specific players from the “talent” statement. I’d disagree about the QB, but we don’t share the same opinion. That said, if it is just the QB and RB, then the talent issue isn’t really the issue.

I’ll bite on the talent piece. Which specific players on the Buffalo team we just outgained 452 to 390 yards would start for us? Dolac at MIKE for sure, but who else?

I’m not sure. Could be a blessing in disguise if they do receive medical redshirts.

Injury Report is growing. Scholarship players listed below. OUT: WR - Polk WR - Walker OL - Fox OL - Lyons DE - Graham DT - Brockington DT - Lavea LB - Cooper CB - Proby S - David S - K. Johnson QUESTIONABLE: WR - Adams