Hans8891

At times, today, we looked like we can play with anyone. First half was best ball movement of the season with good looks as a result. Second half, for some reason, we had long periods where we had no shooters on the floor. Norman didn’t play at all and Trey was part time. Nero and Seuker barely played. We had no outside risk and they could overplay knowing they weren’t worried about weak side open 3. Trent can’t shoot them and Elijah doesn’t want to take them even when they are open. Someone has to learn to take a wide open 10 to 12 footer rather than wait for 5 seconds left on the shot clock and drive into 4 guys without getting movement. Gave up the lead with too many turnovers and bad shot selection. Absolutely have to have an outside shooting threat on the floor. If the idea was we need a defensive unit, not sure how that thought worked since we gave up over 50 in the second half…. We did show we can play against a good team today, but now have to take a step forward to show that we can actually finish a game and not fall to pieces when we have the game in hand. The freshman are going to be fun to watch, though.

I don’t disagree but you will never get what you don’t look for. If we are content because we have experience coming back, that would be a mistake in my mind. Always some gems out there. Can’t get enough Hoosman grabs…. need to focus looking in areas that need real help…

Watch the coverage in the southern Illinois game - or lack thereof. Then watch the bison and Weber games tackling after their backs breached the line of scrimmage. I am very hopeful we can improve in those areas, but I am not confident a fifth year senior can be expected to show tons of improvement after his 4th year. The younger guys I hope will take real steps forward. Anyone that honestly watched those games would have to say we need real help - or significant improvement - in that phase of the game. No question qb pressure would help on the coverage issue as well. The reality is the portal is here and here to stay. You either fill gaps or get left behind…

Maybe but our tackling was very poor. Grab by the pads and ride seemed to be our method far too often all year…

Some of it may be coaching strategy. Entire secondary looked to strip this year instead of hit and tackle - which resulted in getting carried 5 to 8 yards more than should have been allowed way too many times….

Absolutely cannot be starting safety again. My concern with olb is his inability to tackle in space. That may answer the coverage problem, but waving at running backs blowing by isn’t any better at olb…

Certainly don’t want 22 new players but can’t imagine anyone thinking status quo on defense is acceptable…. Definitely need to go after at least a corner and safety that could step in. Those are a must or we are destined for mediocrity - at best - again. We need to again develop a winning culture and we won’t do that with abysmal coverage and no skills tackling in space. We have to improve in those areas period.

Yes we were manhandled up front by bigger more explosive offensive lines but the gawdy rushing numbers came from multiple missed tackles in the secondary for massive runs and/or touchdowns. First priority to me is a new and improved secondary. The reason rushing numbers other than ndsu and Weber were not as big was recognition that we had virtually no pass protection. Giving receivers 10 yard cushions and still getting beat deep is the worst of both worlds from a coverage standpoint. Besides the cover issues, tackling and particularly tackling in space was a huge problem across the secondary and needs significant change for next year.. appreciate KK’s loyalty to the program but we can’t afford him as starting safety another year. Need a Cole Reyes type that can cover but also come up hard on the run. That would be my priority for next year.

Certainly goaltending needs to improve but this has been a team effort in giving up goals. I can’t count the number of defensive mistakes -bad passes, lack of hustle getting back, failure to clear the zone, losing puck battles etc. - that have left our goaltenders out to dry. Goalies have been poor but they are certainly not alone.

I didn’t think it would be possible to see a defense worse than the Mussman years but I am clearly being proven wrong. We have no tackling skills whatsoever.

Anyone else long for the day when our defense actually hit someone and tackled rather than danced with the runners shoulderpads???? We would be wonderful bullfighters though - all we need is the red cape to show the “ole” on the way to the end zone. This is downright embarrassing….

Our ball movement is once again at a snails pace and as a result we get poor looks and a poor percentage. We think we have to hold the damn ball for 4 seconds st the top of the key instead of reversing it and making the defense actually shift…. And when we do get an open look, we have to find someone besides Norman occasionally that we can count on dropping an open 3…

When everybody shoots well against you, may be time to look at your defensive pressure…. Usually a very good corollary…

Getting our inside game will certainly help with the 3 ball, given an inside out potential and more defensive focus down low. However, faster ball movement needs to be a focus if you want open looks outside. When each player stops and holds it, it is way too easy for the defense to reset. The ball stopped at the point against northern and never made the weak side swing. Not a recipe for open looks at 3. Fix that and kick outside off penetration and we will get some of those looks. Whether we can bury them is another open question at this point. Hurst may be able to generate some looks driving as she will draw some help side. She will be tough to stop one on one. She is strong, handles the ball well, and creates her own space to finish. Will be interesting to see how she handles more size but she was impressive in her debut…

Hurst is the real deal. Creates space with good ball and body control. Plays bigger than her height. Orth has played well. Just solid offensively and defensively. Kacie just hasn’t been able to finish. 4-17 right now with good looks. Just can’t get them to fall tonight. Gordon looks ok but will have to be our big at 5’11. Height will be a huge problem in conference season. Davis started at point at a listed 5’6 but that is likely a stretch. Quick but defensive liability that everyone just shoots over. Beal shows real bursts of athleticism but needs to learns the college game. Dani her hit 2 of our 3 threes. We are 3-14 from the arc. Mallory needs to seriously increase the passing tempo. Everyone has to stop and hold it for several seconds.

I am at the game. Sueker and Nero look back to full strength. T looked good but against a much smaller defense. Omot is long and has skills but still learning flow and defense. Matthew’s is still really slow. Eagle staff is still learning college defense but his length makes up for a lot. Sees the court and handles the ball well. With more experience he will be hard to keep out of the lineup. Some of the other freshman are athletic but need to figure out a team game both on offense and defense.

Can our corners try new shoes. They have spent half of their time on the turf losing footing. Granted it is usually when they are already behind the play to begin with.

3rd and 12 and we don’t think it is a good idea to cover the wide open receiver in the end zone. Really???

These officials are very poor. Two game changer bad calls on the phantom pi with an uncatchable ball on CJ that set up a td. Then a blatant non throw fumble read as an incomplete pass. Big misses that change points on the board.

Surprise surprise. They have recognized that 3/4 of our secondary doesn’t play coverage and is a 50/50 shot to tackle after being drug for 8 yards. We will see a steady dose of passing from here on out. Need offense to score. Not a lot of confidence in stopping a passing game…

Tommy with a pump fake and look downfield to Bo. Worked to perfection….

Truthfully we got manhandled by their d line in the second half which made our offense ineffective. Defense went back to what we have done all year. Poor secondary coverage and tackling. They have a very good team and we can’t miss multiple tackles each play and stay with them. Looked good for a while but our d is just not elite level this year. Too vulnerable in the secondary…

D played very well the first half. Not surprised sdsu took to torturing our secondary to start the second half. Need to pressure the qb or it will be a long half…

Not getting any love from the stripes on spots. 2 out of the last 3 have been short from my vantage which is pretty much straight on…

Remember that jump on the screen, run it again with a pump fake and take it downfield for 6…..