Notes on Northern Illinois Game

[Dr Z]

Defense:I'm not sure I have seen a Zips team that has had a bigger disparity in running yards in a season. It's like we don't understand football. Stop the effin run on D, and run the ball on O, if you don't, you continue to give the other team opportunity after opportunity to score. Yesterday we got out rushed 31 to TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE!!! Everybody on ZN knew they were going to run the ball, did we do anything different to stop it??? Nope, same BS scheme. That QB couldn't have hit water falling out of a boat, yet we defensed him like he was Drew Brees. Can our staff adjust to anything?Offense:I hope as Zip fans we look back at this year and say that it was a blessing in disguise that PN16 got the experience that he did. IMO he is getting the best training he can to be a good QB. I have never bought into you learn things on the sideline. You learn things from game time experience. I do have fun watching him learn each week. Now, can our receivers help him out a little by catching the ball??? Whatever time in practice we are using practicing the stupid wildcat, stop. Use that time for PN16 and his receivers to get used to each other. I can't figure out our offensive line. They play well 4 out of 5 plays, but the one time they don't, usually results in a terrible play. It's usually on third down too. Do you realize we were O for 10 yesterday on third down? My gawd, that's embarrassing.Like most fans, I HATE that shotgun hand off to the running back. It's obvious we aren't getting rid of it any time soon, but can we run a reverse out of that set a few times to help it out just a little? Do you ever remember rooting for a Zips team that has used so many running backs in a season? Was it really necessary to burn BA's red shirt? Kid might be good when he adds 10 more pounds of muscle and can break that first tackler. Kudos to Alex Allen for a perfect pass to AJ. Please get AJ involved in offense more."Special Teams"I hate the rugby style punt. I just don't get it. Seems like it might be a good idea on the OLD old rubber bowl cement style turf, but on the new style it just sticks to it and doesn't roll. Big field goal miss early. I would love to have a solid FG kicker.Memo to JD: Beat Ken+

[GP1]

Now, can our receivers help him out a little by catching the ball???

This is why the Zips can't run. Football isn't rocket science. Why would a defense worry about us passing if our receivers can't catch? Force the other team to respect our passing and we will be able to run the ball because there will be fewer defenders near the line. There, I just split the atom.....As far as the wildcat, ditch it. Most teams don't run it well. Those teams that don't run it well and continue to run it are wasting downs. I think the wildcat is a fad like the run & shoot was a fad years ago.

[zip37]

I watched them on TV for the first time, the Zips were not beaten so much by talent as shooting themselves in the foot with penalties.Our QB has excellent footwork and sholder action and a better than average arm-- lots of promise there with good coaching, something like a >.500 coach!

[skip-zip]

Should we start Alex Allen to QB next week? Really, not much is working well at all, and I am tired of harping on the same things all over again. Bottom Line: We had one offensive TD against Syracuse, and that was on a 12 yard drive after a fumble. And this week, our only TD came on a trick play. I do want to give some credit to our defense. I think they said during the game that we were 5th in the MAC. In most years, we would have taken that, and it certainly is an accomplishment considering how much they are on the field. But with all of the things that have been happening this year on offense (too many to mention), it's unfortunately not good enough to carry us to victories. And I still believe there is a tremendous amount of room for improvement in the tackling department.

[GP1]

And I still believe there is a tremendous amount of room for improvement in the tackling department.

Deploy larger players and they will be strong enough to bring down the other team's players when they run the ball. The players we have on the field are too small. Use a defense that places larger players on the field and all will work out.

[UA Fan]

How many punts did we fair catch on our 5 yard line this game?

[Dr Z]

And I still believe there is a tremendous amount of room for improvement in the tackling department.

Deploy larger players and they will be strong enough to bring down the other team's players when they run the ball. The players we have on the field are too small. Use a defense that places larger players on the field and all will work out.

Such an easy answer, yet our staff refuses to do it. I'll never understand it. Sometimes I think we are playing 10 on 11 out there, how can the kids even stand a chance?

[GP1]

Sometimes I think we are playing 10 on 11 out there, how can the kids even stand a chance?

That's the real shame of it all and why there needs to be a change. It's more about mismanagement and not really about coaches who really don't know anything about football.A good manager puts a person in a place where they can be successful. Bad managers don't. Our coach is a bad manager of talent.I'd be really upset if I thought there wasn't any talent becuae I would worry about the near future. I am actually very bullish about this program if there is a change.

[Dave in Green]

I never realized coaching was so easy. Just look down the bench, pick the 11 biggest guys and send 'em out on the field. Forget about speed. Forget about skills. Size rules. Recruiting should focus on the local obesity clinics.

[UADavid]

Sometimes I think we are playing 10 on 11 out there, how can the kids even stand a chance?

That's the real shame of it all and why there needs to be a change. It's more about mismanagement and not really about coaches who really don't know anything about football.A good manager puts a person in a place where they can be successful. Bad managers don't. Our coach is a bad manager of talent.I'd be really upset if I thought there wasn't any talent becuae I would worry about the near future. I am actually very bullish about this program if there is a change.

What happened to the coaches don't play, the players play? The inability of this coaching staff to teach is the weakness of the team. The team can't tackle, block, run or catch the ball. It's as simple as that. No fundamentals. Throw in a little lousy offensive and defensive schemes and you have the 2009 zips football team.

[GP1]

Sometimes I think we are playing 10 on 11 out there, how can the kids even stand a chance?

That's the real shame of it all and why there needs to be a change. It's more about mismanagement and not really about coaches who really don't know anything about football.A good manager puts a person in a place where they can be successful. Bad managers don't. Our coach is a bad manager of talent.I'd be really upset if I thought there wasn't any talent becuae I would worry about the near future. I am actually very bullish about this program if there is a change.

What happened to the coaches don't play, the players play? The inability of this coaching staff to teach is the weakness of the team. The team can't tackle, block, run or catch the ball. It's as simple as that. No fundamentals. Throw in a little lousy offensive and defensive schemes and you have the 2009 zips football team.

It is about players. We have the players....we are not using them right.