Do you think this team is better than last years?

[SadCatFan22]

Record wise I doubt we get to 3 wins, but schedule is brutal this year and we obviously shit the bed against SIU, Duke, and Miami of OH.

I think the offense is better. They can’t score, but they seem to move the ball more consistently (less 3 and outs). It would help if they could play with a lead more frequently.

Special teams still stinks. Better punting, but no reliable kicker.

Defense is just as a bad as it was in 2021.

 

[willycat]

Record wise I doubt we get to 3 wins, but schedule is brutal this year and we obviously shit the bed against SIU, Duke, and Miami of OH.

I think the offense is better. They can’t score, but they seem to move the ball more consistently (less 3 and outs). It would help if they could play with a lead more frequently.

Special teams still stinks. Better punting, but no reliable kicker.

Defense is just as a bad as it was in 2021.

An offense that can't score is not better!

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

An offense that can't score is not better!

And unfortunately it feels like we are turning it over more.

The offense desperately needs to open things up, throw deep, target the tight ends down the field, get Hilinski outside the pocket and have guys break deep while he's a threat to run, actually get Hull and Porter on the field together a lot instead of talking about it, etc...

 

[DocCat2]

I think we are every bit as bad as last year. This needs to stop. We look like the 80's teams...

 

[1060Ivy]

Believe there are elements of the 2022 team which are either better or on par with last year’s squad - QB, OL, RB, DL, P - while elements appear worse - LB, DB, WR

Overall, the 2022 squad will have a worse record due to schedule and likely poor coaching.

Have a difficult time admitting that SIU and Miami have better rosters than NU’s so blaming loses to SIU and Miami to coaching. Could just bias to NU roster and players.

 

[SadCatFan22]

An offense that can't score is not better!

I don’t

And unfortunately it feels like we are turning it over more.

The offense desperately needs to open things up, throw deep, target the tight ends down the field, get Hilinski outside the pocket and have guys break deep while he's a threat to run, actually get Hull and Porter on the field together a lot instead of talking about it, etc...

I feel like we have some potential playmakers
Washington, Hull, Porter, Gordon.

It doesn’t seem like Fitz wants to play that way though.

 

[IGNORE2]

Record wise I doubt we get to 3 wins, but schedule is brutal this year and we obviously shit the bed against SIU, Duke, and Miami of OH.

I think the offense is better. They can’t score, but they seem to move the ball more consistently (less 3 and outs). It would help if they could play with a lead more frequently.

Special teams still stinks. Better punting, but no reliable kicker.

Defense is just as a bad as it was in 2021.

Remember, stats are for losers - not just when we squeak out wins from losses, so no. We are what our record says we are.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Overall, this team is, I believe considerably better in most position groups. Loss of Robinson hurt WR group; injuries have hurt DB group. LB were bad last year, this year. I think if Fitz can keep them believing in themselves, they will be competitive in most conference games.
One thing that is really frustrating is that Fitz tends to have good game plans against teams where the Cats are clear underdogs, and terrible game plans against teams where they are clear favorites. As a favorite, his plans narrow and he is slow to adjust, thinking his team can control the game. He is much more flexible as an underdog.

 

[Sheffielder]

One thing that is really frustrating is that Fitz tends to have good game plans against teams where the Cats are clear underdogs, and terrible game plans against teams where they are clear favorites. As a favorite, his plans narrow and he is slow to adjust, thinking his team can control the game. He is much more flexible as an underdog.

I think this comes down to "playing loose" vs. "playing not to lose."

Against SIU, Miami (and when we're up at the half) he plays "not to lose." This is why we never blow anyone out even when the team is functioning well. Fewer plays, run up the middle, squander the clock. I sincerely believe this could be due to the fact that the first several years of Fitzball, he ALWAYS won the opener. It's like going to Vegas for the first time and winning big or losing your shirt.

When we're the dogs or we have a shot late, Fitz and I think the whole team's mojo is different. Playing with house money, nothing to lose (but not playing "recklessly"). The Duke game demonstrated this towards the end, although our ability to close/protect the ball is now in serious, serious question.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I'm not sure about the Cats, but I do think Rick Springfield music has gotten better.

 

[NUCat320]

I don’t

I feel like we have some potential playmakers
Washington, Hull, Porter, Gordon.

It doesn’t seem like Fitz wants to play that way though.

In the six games since Porter’s first start in 2020, he’s had 97 carries for 348 yards, a 3.6 average. He’s playable as a number two, but Hull’s definitely the playmaker.

 

[phatcat]

An offense that can't score is not better!

And yet, with a Budzien quality kicker...

 

[SadCatFan22]

In the six games since Porter’s first start in 2020, he’s had 97 carries for 348 yards, a 3.6 average. He’s playable as a number two, but Hull’s definitely the playmaker.

He is coming off an injury. Most backs take a couple of years to return to form off an ACL.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I do think the Cats are clearly better, yes, especially on offense. The QB play is clearly a lot better, Hull is better, and the line is clearly better. WR play is definitely worse. NU didn’t come close to even sniffing 31 points vs a Big Ten team last year. The defense is better, I think, but only marginally (linemen are clearly less awful, LBs are better but still horrific, DBs might be worse, actually).

It’s possible this will proven wrong over the rest of the year if Nebraska is even worse than I already think they are, but that’s what my eyes tell me right now. The problem is even if they’re better than last year, they were so laughably uncompetitive last year it still just means they lose a competitive game to any competent team instead of losing a blowout.

 

[PurpleWhiteBoy]

In the six games since Porter’s first start in 2020, he’s had 97 carries for 348 yards, a 3.6 average. He’s playable as a number two, but Hull’s definitely the playmaker.

Hull and Porter are both good backs. I hope Porter is still recovering and has upside.
The thing is that the offensive line gives them nowhere to run. Can't go off tackle, can't run sweeps, there's usually nowhere to go between the tackles (other than Nebraska).

The one weapon we had (Hull catching passes in the flat) seems to have disappeared as teams adjusted to us.

If we would throw the ball downfield, regardless of the outcomes, we'd probably run it better because our opponents safeties seem to be focusing on our tailbacks.

Oh, and there is no way Peter Skoronski is "all that" unless the two guys to his right are below average...

 

[FeralFelidae]

I do think the Cats are clearly better, yes, especially on offense. The QB play is clearly a lot better, Hull is better, and the line is clearly better. WR play is definitely worse. NU didn’t come close to even sniffing 31 points vs a Big Ten team last year. The defense is better, I think, but only marginally (linemen are clearly less awful, LBs are better but still horrific, DBs might be worse, actually).

It’s possible this will proven wrong over the rest of the year if Nebraska is even worse than I already think they are, but that’s what my eyes tell me right now. The problem is even if they’re better than last year, they were so laughably uncompetitive last year it still just means they lose a competitive game to any competent team instead of losing a blowout.

While I think this year's team is "better" on both sides of the ball, I think this year's team would lose to last year's team with their typical turnover performance.

 

[phatcat]

Hull and Porter are both good backs. I hope Porter is still recovering and has upside.
The thing is that the offensive line gives them nowhere to run. Can't go off tackle, can't run sweeps, there's usually nowhere to go between the tackles (other than Nebraska).

The one weapon we had (Hull catching passes in the flat) seems to have disappeared as teams adjusted to us.

If we would throw the ball downfield, regardless of the outcomes, we'd probably run it better because our opponents safeties seem to be focusing on our tailbacks.

Oh, and there is no way Peter Skoronski is "all that" unless the two guys to his right are below average...

Skoronski keeps getting accolades, but apparently that's not enough to be able to run effectively behind him. Slater also had people foaming at the mouth about his play on the moribund 2019 offense

 

[FLCat07]

We’ve scored less points this year through four games than we did last year against very similar competition (perhaps worse). 92 this year versus 103 last year. Not clear we are better one year versus the other. All it says is we’ve sucked both years.

Both schedules include
1 big ten game (MSU and Nebraska)
Duke
A D2 school
MAC opponent

 

[SadCatFan22]

We’ve scored less points this year through four games than we did last year against very similar competition (perhaps worse). 92 this year versus 103 last year. Not clear we are better one year versus the other. All it says is we’ve sucked both years.

Both schedules include
1 big ten game (MSU and Nebraska)
Duke
A D2 school
MAC opponent

They can’t score points, but they are definitely moving the ball better. Total yardage per game is much better.

Part of this is not having a field goal kicker and turnovers.

 

[KappaKat]

On the topic of team improvement. Here are stats that might shed some light and, at the least, tell some part of the truth. I tried to compare this season to the first 4 games last year.

QB:
- RH is currently graded the #2 QB in the BIG
- Completions up, 62.7 to 60%
- Interceptions down from 4 to 3
- Passing yds up from 697 to 1219
- Yds/attempt up from 5.9 to 8.6
- Yds/completion only up 10 to 10.5
- Tds down from 6 to 5
- Yds/game up from 179 to 305 (Hull adds 80
yds per game)
* QB play better statistically but does reflect
in scoring

Hull:
- Receiving yds up from 51 to 311
- Rushing yds down from 478 to 370
- Total offense up from 529 to 681
- 213 yds receiving vs Duke, but only 33 vs
SIU and 10 vs Miami
* His receiving adds some explosiveness but
it seems that defenses are scheming to
stop it

OL: Stats don't show improvement in run blocking. Maybe in pass protection

WRs:
- Account for 52% (637 yds) of total passing
offense, slightly down from 697 yds last yr
- Last yr, Robinson had 193 yds thru 4 games
with Malik adding 107 yds
- This year Malik has 305 yds thru 4 games
with Navarro adding 107
- This year WRs are sharing more with RBs
and TEs. TEs thru 4 games have 210 yds
compared to 136 yds for the 21' SEASON!
*ARE WE REALLY MISSING ROBINSON????

Offense:
- Points up from 83 to 92, or 2.2 points/game
- Redzone: 13 for 18 getting 69 points last yr
13 for 16 getting 79 points this yr

Defense:
- Last yr; Gave up 211 passing, 214 rushing
per game
-This yr: Gave up 230 passing, 160 rushing
- 11th in the BIG in preventing 3rd down
conversion, only 40%

I'm exhausted. Need to look more at the defense. Are we better? Where? How much?

 

[IGNORE2]

Skoronski keeps getting accolades, but apparently that's not enough to be able to run effectively behind him. Slater also had people foaming at the mouth about his play on the moribund 2019 offense

Be very telling if his stock dropped and he transferred to bring it back up…I think we had that happen before…but why…

 

[Ryanfield124]

I think this comes down to "playing loose" vs. "playing not to lose."

Against SIU, Miami (and when we're up at the half) he plays "not to lose." This is why we never blow anyone out even when the team is functioning well. Fewer plays, run up the middle, squander the clock. I sincerely believe this could be due to the fact that the first several years of Fitzball, he ALWAYS won the opener. It's like going to Vegas for the first time and winning big or losing your shirt.

When we're the dogs or we have a shot late, Fitz and I think the whole team's mojo is different. Playing with house money, nothing to lose (but not playing "recklessly"). The Duke game demonstrated this towards the end, although our ability to close/protect the ball is now in serious, serious question.

We don't beat the teams we should have and never keep the foot on the pedal. Fitz is too hesitant to embarass teams and as a result he lets lesser teams "hang around" and believe they can compete with us. Teams like SIU should walk in in awe of NU. Its players, talent, and coaches. That is what happens when you visit Ohio State. Most teams don't fear the 'Cats and that is the problem.

He can't lead teams that are expected to win. He thinks having the underdog mentality as a permanent mindset is good for the program. Its not.

 

[Titanium999]

Record wise I doubt we get to 3 wins, but schedule is brutal this year and we obviously shit the bed against SIU, Duke, and Miami of OH.

I think the offense is better. They can’t score, but they seem to move the ball more consistently (less 3 and outs). It would help if they could play with a lead more frequently.

Special teams still stinks. Better punting, but no reliable kicker.

Defense is just as a bad as it was in 2021.

For sure