An excellent win - HOWEVER . . .

[WaveJumper]

with 4 minutes and change left, and with a 27 point lead, why do you not only leave your starting QB in, but also call a naked roll-out with him carrying the pill?

Replacing Thorson would have the following benefits:

Give your 2nd and/or 3rd QB a chance to experience game conditions against a Big 10 team.

Since you you're basically trying to kill clock at that point, you could have called some Alviti read option runs to gauge his effectiveness on same under game conditions.

Would have protected Thorson from potential injury - this being the most compelling reason to pull him.

The naked roll-out was a senseless call in that situation, especially given that NU plays conservative ball. Being at the game, I can't remember, it might have been a broken play, but still . . .

 

[shakes3858]

Oh god... Not this again

 

[willycat]

Oh god... Not this again

I will only say that your #1 QB should not have been in the game with 5 minutes to play and a 27 point lead.

 

[WaveJumper]

The part about Alviti/Olliver was not the main point of my post.

The part about avoiding a potential for injury to your starting QB was.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

with 4 minutes and change left, and with a 27 point lead, why do you not only leave your starting QB in, but also call a naked roll-out with him carrying the pill?

Replacing Thorson would have the following benefits:

Problem is everything you have said makes FAR TOO MUCH sense...
It would NEVER be done by this coaching staff.

Then we get a 5th-year Sr QB who cannot be trusted even for mop-up duty...how could he? Every chance we have to let our backup QB's operate in game situations is squandered for no good reason...And if by a miracle they actually see the field in a game whose outcome is not longer in doubt all they do is to take the snap and hand the FB to a RB...which means they don't get any real practice doing anything that could be remotely useful to the team, if/when needed.

P.S. I will save the powers-that-be a post: "you are a bad fan because after a win you dare say something negative...in fact you hate NU"....that'll teach you NEVER to question whatever our coaches do (however little sense it may make), especially after a win... learn your lesson!!

 

[Turk]

The part about Alviti/Olliver was not the main point of my post.

The part about avoiding a potential for injury to your starting QB was.

I think the reason is that we are not playing in fear. I believe Fitz realizes we are a potential playoff team and he wanted to keep all the starters in there and keep the pedal to the metal. It wasn't just Thorson who was left in, all 22 starters to help preserve the shutout and to potentially put more points on the board. I agree with Fitz. Further, it is NOT uncommon to football in the NFL or college tor "Top Teams", although it may be relatively new to NU fans since playoffs have never been on the line before. That's my opinion on the answer to your question, otherwise, you are right, it makes no sense.

 

[WaveJumper]

Really don't give a $hit about anybody calling me a "bad fan". They have no idea if, or how much, I support the program.

A few like Waterboy and Heet75 know.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

I will only say that your #1 QB should not have been in the game with 5 minutes to play and a 27 point lead.

Especially when we never want to 'offend' or hurt the feelings of the opponent by doing anything that may be remotely interpreted as attempting to run up the score....Perhaps the Gophers feelings were hurt by CT's presence under such circumstances.

 

[beetlemania74]

I think the reason is that we are not playing in fear. I believe Fitz realizes we are a potential playoff team and he wanted to keep all the starters in there and keep the pedal to the metal. It wasn't just Thorson who was left in, all 22 starters to help preserve the shutout and to potentially put more points on the board. I agree with Fitz. Further, it is NOT uncommon to football in the NFL or college tor "Top Teams", although it may be relatively new to NU fans since playoffs have never been on the line before. That's my opinion on the answer to your question, otherwise, you are right, it makes no sense.

We had a lot of reserves in on defense in the last series or two. Not sure why CT was still in the game on offense, though. He won't admit it, but I think it was important to Fitz and the guys on defense to pitch the shutout. Minnesota wasn't content to just run the ball and end the game (they brought in a new QB who threw on almost every play), so we kept our starters in, at least for the first few series, to stop them. But again, near the end of the game, most of the starters on defense were out of the game.

 

[WaveJumper]

I believe Fitz realizes we are a potential playoff team and he wanted to keep all the starters in there and keep the pedal to the metal.

Turk, i"m not buying your argument. If Fitz wanted to "keep ther pedal to the metal" (run up the score) with Thorson in the game, he would have had Thorson THROW the ball, not run it.

 

[techtim72]

I thought the same thing at the end of game. Whoever they bring in is only going to hand off which means no meaningful experience. Get it. Not worth arguing about from an experience viewpoint one way or the other. I thought about bringing in the No. 2 with about seven to five minutes to play - don't remember the timing - but then I thought stranger things have happened so leave in the first string. But why risk injury to Thorson in the final minutes when the game is decided?

 

[DarthCat]

Feli, are you a medicated OCD sufferer, or is this just you, full-bore?

 

[FeliSilvestris]

Turk, i"m not buying your argument. If Fitz wanted to "keep ther pedal to the metal" (run up the score) with Thorson in the game, he would have had Thorson THROW the ball, not run it.

Also, AA had some touches...he seems to the 4th string RB currently.

 

[NJCat83588]

I thought the same thing at the end of game. Whoever they bring in is only going to hand off which means no meaningful experience. Get it. Not worth arguing about from an experience viewpoint one way or the other. I thought about bringing in the No. 2 with about seven to five minutes to play - don't remember the timing - but then I thought stranger things have happened so leave in the first string. But why risk injury to Thorson in the final minutes when the game is decided?

I agree. Strange that he elected to keep CT in during the clock run-out phase of the game.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

CT needs all the reps he can get...he's the one who will take us to the promised land. Hopefully we'll have a larger lead next week and he can exit before the end of the 4th quarter.

 

[FeliSilvestris]

I thought the same thing at the end of game. Whoever they bring in is only going to hand off which means no meaningful experience.

Yeah, but it need not be like that...for example, if passes are forbidden, Alviti could run a few option plays, which he may be asked to do in an undecided game....should be better practice than against our scout team.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Lots of reserves in there. Clayton was just handing the ball off

 

[FeliSilvestris]

CT needs all the reps he can get...he's the one who will take us to the promised land. Hopefully we'll have a larger lead next week and he can exit before the end of the 4th quarter.

Yeah, and we are 100% sure that he will NEVER EVER miss any playing time at all (much less entire games or a season) because of injury or whatever, right? Or aren't we?

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Yeah, and we are 100% sure that he will NEVER EVER miss any playing time at all (much less entire games or a season) because of injury or whatever, right? Or aren't we?

Hi troll...how's it going? Missed you on Saturday.

 

[SmellyCat]

Regardless of all the "needs game reps!" arguments, I think the OP was saying, "why THAT play call?" I agree. Keep CT in there all game if you want, but with so little time left and the game in hand, don't send him into traffic like that. I really cringed and I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

 

[Turk]

We had a lot of reserves in on defense in the last series or two. Not sure why CT was still in the game on offense, though. He won't admit it, but I think it was important to Fitz and the guys on defense to pitch the shutout. Minnesota wasn't content to just run the ball and end the game (they brought in a new QB who threw on almost every play), so we kept our starters in, at least for the first few series, to stop them. But again, near the end of the game, most of the starters on defense were out of the game.

You are incorrect sir. Kindly review the play by play. All of the starters, even defensive starters were in there until Minny started their last drive with 1:05 on the clock. Clearly, he wanted to protect the shutout...and did.

 

[Turk]

Regardless of all the "needs game reps!" arguments, I think the OP was saying, "why THAT play call?" I agree. Keep CT in there all game if you want, but with so little time left and the game in hand, don't send him into traffic like that. I really cringed and I'm glad he wasn't hurt.

He sent himself into traffic. Little Vitale pulled to block for him and CT had the outside safe area, he chose to cut it up into traffic as opposed to staying on the outside hip of Little Vitale.

 

[BFDCat]

Sorry, keeping Thorson in up by 27 was questionable. Calling his number was ****ing stupid. Those reps were meaningless at that point.

 

[Turk]

Turk, i"m not buying your argument. If Fitz wanted to "keep ther pedal to the metal" (run up the score) with Thorson in the game, he would have had Thorson THROW the ball, not run it.

That's the only explanation I can think of. We know he didn't just want to run out the clock since he ran Thorson on a boot and pulled a blocker [vitale] to be his lead blocker, so it seems to me that they thought it would be open....and it was, Thorson just decided to cut it up into traffic instead of running on Vitale's outside hip. I like us playing hard for the full 60 so I think it was a good call.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

I'd imagine that also plays a bit into our tendencies and gives our future opponents something else to prepare for...isn't awesome to be debating this type of mundane stuff after a 27 point victory? I hope we continue this line of questioning throughout the season.

 

[WaveJumper]

Sorry, keeping Thorson in up by 27 was questionable. Calling his number was ****ing stupid. Those reps were meaningless at that point.

BFD - you basically broke the code.

I guess I should have used your language in my my original message.

 

[MRCat95]

Would have protected Thorson from potential injury - this being the most compelling reason to pull him.

The naked roll-out was a senseless call in that situation, especially given that NU plays conservative ball. Being at the game, I can't remember, it might have been a broken play, but still . . .

I didn't have an issue with him being in the game and allowing him to build on his (by far) best performance of his career leading into scUM week, but I loudly gasped when I saw him run the ball across the line. Nobody named Thorson or Jackson should have been running with the ball at that stage in the game IMO.

I hope the staff has an opportunity to practice the '4 score lead in 4th quarter' scenario much more this year in B1G play. Other than Illinois 2012, this was the biggest thrashing we've put on a B1G team in the Fitz era.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Well said,Mrcat! We needed Anderson with the ball most of the last eight minutes

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Did anyone see the monster hit Amderson took late in the game! The linebacker from Minny hot like Traveon Henry

 

[SmellyCat]

He sent himself into traffic. Little Vitale pulled to block for him and CT had the outside safe area, he chose to cut it up into traffic as opposed to staying on the outside hip of Little Vitale.

Going outside may have been the play, but if he's running out the clock and you risk going out of bounds there. He probably knew that and being young and tough and smart and fearless, moved inside to eat up more of the clock. I would rather he not be put in the position to make that decision right there.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

I agree. Strange that he elected to keep CT in during the clock run-out phase of the game.

Guys: why is it strange to you that a rookie QB that Fitz considers a work in progress would get all the reps he can during mop-up time. People who are calling for Alviti to get some real reps are totally missing the point - CT is our guy and HE needs all the reps he can get, even with big leads.

 

[SmellyCat]

If Fitz thinks he should stay in the game, I'm fine with that. My only question was exactly one play call that was unnecessary in that situation. I'd have felt much better if they called a long bomb there (with the option to throw it away if the heat is coming), for example. Or really any play call that does not involve our QB getting tackled.

I know he's not afraid to be tackled, and he's young and tough, but why risk it when it's 100% unnecessary?

 

[NJCat83588]

Guys: why is it strange to you that a rookie QB that Fitz considers a work in progress would get all the reps he can during mop-up time. People who are calling for Alviti to get some real reps are totally missing the point - CT is our guy and HE needs all the reps he can get, even with big leads.

Why? Because seeing CT run and get hit up 27 points is just plain stupid. Let ZO or MA run out the clock.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

Guys: why is it strange to you that a rookie QB that Fitz considers a work in progress would get all the reps he can during mop-up time. People who are calling for Alviti to get some real reps are totally missing the point - CT is our guy and HE needs all the reps he can get, even with big leads.

I'm in agreement with Mr. Stupor...what is this world coming to? I guess it will be special year for the Cats!

 

[hdhntr1]

Guys: why is it strange to you that a rookie QB that Fitz considers a work in progress would get all the reps he can during mop-up time. People who are calling for Alviti to get some real reps are totally missing the point - CT is our guy and HE needs all the reps he can get, even with big leads.

I think the objection was the naked boot at that point in the game. Some will argue him in the game at all at that point but putting him in harms way beyond that was questionable.

 

[EvanstonCat]

I'm in agreement with Mr. Stupor...what is this world coming to? I guess it will be special year for the Cats!

But, wait... weren't we told that a few reps in a game aren't as good as the hundreds of practice reps that our QB's get in practice each week? God forbid something happens to Thorson and we have to push in a QB that hasn't seen any game time this year.