EIU

[NJCat83588]

Fitz was pretty adamant in the post-game that he wanted to see how the team responded this week. He said, it's easy to respond after a loss, much tougher after a win.

I actually think a let-down would be OK on Saturday. I think it is incredibly hard to be fired up for all 12 games. I'd like to see NU play well enough to win, but a) without any injuries, and b) getting everyone who isn't going to red shirt meaningful playing time. I'd rather see a ho hum effort against EIU and then come out flying against Duke than a balls to the wall effort against EIU and a flat game against the Dookies.

 

[Deeringfish]

Fitz was pretty adamant in the post-game that he wanted to see how the team responded this week. He said, it's easy to respond after a loss, much tougher after a win.

I actually think a let-down would be OK on Saturday. I think it is incredibly hard to be fired up for all 12 games. I'd like to see NU play well enough to win, but a) without any injuries, and b) getting everyone who isn't going to red shirt meaningful playing time. I'd rather see a ho hum effort against EIU and then come out flying against Duke than a balls to the wall effort against EIU and a flat game against the Dookies.

The first string D should be playing for a shut out in the first half and could give young guys the second half. The offense should be giving Thorson most of the snaps with JJ and Jones (other guys who are recovering) getting no snaps after we get a 14 point lead.

 

[willycat]

Fitz was pretty adamant in the post-game that he wanted to see how the team responded this week. He said, it's easy to respond after a loss, much tougher after a win.

I actually think a let-down would be OK on Saturday. I think it is incredibly hard to be fired up for all 12 games. I'd like to see NU play well enough to win, but a) without any injuries, and b) getting everyone who isn't going to red shirt meaningful playing time. I'd rather see a ho hum effort against EIU and then come out flying against Duke than a balls to the wall effort against EIU and a flat game against the Dookies.

NU needs to thump both Eastern and Ball St. by at least 3 or 4 TD's. Wishing for a ho hum performance is absurd.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

NU needs to thump both Eastern and Ball St. by at least 3 or 4 TD's. Wishing for a ho hum performance is absurd.

EIU got thumped by WIU in their opener 33-5. I'm expecting/hoping for a clean, clinical game where Thorson gets a chance to rep some more of the passing game and exiting before halftime.

 

[Sheffielder]

Depends on how Fitz wants to play this...whether anyone likes it or not, human pollsters absolutely react differently to a 52-0 performance than they will a 35-14 finish when Fitz tends to let inferior opponents score a couple of times when it has no impact on the win/loss...especially since we'll probably always (or at least for the foreseeable future) be seen as a questionable team if we post a lower/closer score against a cupcake.

And I would argue Thorson should stay in for at least three full quarters because the kid needs the live game experience.

 

[NJCat83588]

Depends on how Fitz wants to play this...whether anyone likes it or not, human pollsters absolutely react differently to a 52-0 performance than they will a 35-14 finish when Fitz tends to let inferior opponents score a couple of times when it has no impact on the win/loss...especially since we'll probably always (or at least for the foreseeable future) be seen as a questionable team if we post a lower/closer score against a cupcake.

And I would argue Thorson should stay in for at least three full quarters because the kid needs the live game experience.

I seriously doubt Pat give a crap about how pollsters view the outcome of the game. He will not do anything to embarrass EIU. He has been consistently classy in the 9 years before this one and I doubt it will change Saturday evening.

 

[willycat]

I seriously doubt Pat give a crap about how pollsters view the outcome of the game. He will not do anything to embarrass EIU. He has been consistently classy in the 9 years before this one and I doubt it will change Saturday evening.

It's about time that Fitz keeps the foot on the gas and embarrasses the likes of Eastern and Ball St by 50. Do you think Illinois flet embarrassed when they ran up the score on Kent St.?

 

[cat inkansas]

It's about time that Fitz keeps the foot on the gas and embarrasses the likes of Eastern and Ball St by 50. Do you think Illinois flet embarrassed when they ran up the score on Kent St.?

Actually, they were probably embarrassed before the game started.

 

[NJCat83588]

Actually, they were probably embarrassed before the game started.

Precisely! Well done.

 

[Sheffielder]

I seriously doubt Pat give a crap about how pollsters view the outcome of the game. He will not do anything to embarrass EIU. He has been consistently classy in the 9 years before this one and I doubt it will change Saturday evening.

If he doesn't care about how pollsters view the outcome of the game, then he's chosen the wrong line of work. Plenty of jobs in the MAC and the FCS where a coach can earn a good living and be a pure coach/educator without worrying about external pressures like media, Top 25s, and the like. This is a part of P5 football whether anyone likes it or not.

For what it's worth, I don't think Fitz needs to run up the score per se, but I think he should be coaching his defense to consider anything more than field goals by EIU to be a disappointment. Give the team goals against EIU. Thorson throw for 2 TDs and 300 yards, Jackson for 1 TD and 100 yards. Let Mitchell try for an improbably field goal. Fitz himself is the one who talked about wanting to see this team respond to success.

 

[willycat]

If he doesn't care about how pollsters view the outcome of the game, then he's chosen the wrong line of work. Plenty of jobs in the MAC and the FCS where a coach can earn a good living and be a pure coach/educator without worrying about external pressures like media, Top 25s, and the like. This is a part of P5 football whether anyone likes it or not.

For what it's worth, I don't think Fitz needs to run up the score per se, but I think he should be coaching his defense to consider anything more than field goals by EIU to be a disappointment. Give the team goals against EIU. Thorson throw for 2 TDs and 300 yards, Jackson for 1 TD and 100 yards. Let Mitchell try for an improbably field goal. Fitz himself is the one who talked about wanting to see this team respond to success.

Exactly!

 

[NJCat83588]

If he doesn't care about how pollsters view the outcome of the game, then he's chosen the wrong line of work. Plenty of jobs in the MAC and the FCS where a coach can earn a good living and be a pure coach/educator without worrying about external pressures like media, Top 25s, and the like. This is a part of P5 football whether anyone likes it or not.

For what it's worth, I don't think Fitz needs to run up the score per se, but I think he should be coaching his defense to consider anything more than field goals by EIU to be a disappointment. Give the team goals against EIU. Thorson throw for 2 TDs and 300 yards, Jackson for 1 TD and 100 yards. Let Mitchell try for an improbably field goal. Fitz himself is the one who talked about wanting to see this team respond to success.

Please. What he cares about (I believe) is winning games. He worries about what he can control. Polls are beauty contests outside his control. He'd be a fool to worry about what someone who probably hasn't even see his team play but for highlights thinks.

And I agree with your second paragraph completely.

 

[willycat]

Please. What he cares about (I believe) is winning games. He worries about what he can control. Polls are beauty contests outside his control. He'd be a fool to worry about what someone who probably hasn't even see his team play but for highlights thinks.

And I agree with your second paragraph completely.

Polls are one of the top things bowl committees look at when choosing a program and future recruits definitely look at rankings, along with bowl appearances when considering a school choice. Obviously Fitz needs to care about winning games but he also needs to care about how NU wins. better by 3 Td's then a FG.

 

[FanatiCat]

The first string D should be playing for a shut out in the first half and could give young guys the second half. The offense should be giving Thorson most of the snaps with JJ and Jones (other guys who are recovering) getting no snaps after we get a 14 point lead.

Exactly! A "ho hum" effort could mean that our starters are in the whole game, risking injury, because we are unable to break open a big enough lead. They need to approach the game the same as Stanford, and only if we go up 3 TDs by the 3rd Q then they can go into ho hum mode.

 

[SciCat]

Exactly! A "ho hum" effort could mean that our starters are in the whole game, risking injury, because we are unable to break open a big enough lead. They need to approach the game the same as Stanford, and only if we go up 3 TDs by the 3rd Q then they can go into ho hum mode.

Maybe he wants to put his players in position to gain experience with different formations and coverages, and to help Thorson get more comfortable with the playbook?

 

[willycat]

Maybe he wants to put his players in position to gain experience with different formations and coverages, and to help Thorson get more comfortable with the playbook?

Fine but hope he waits until NU is up by at least 21 points. Also hope he allows the back-up QB, whoever that is,to run the normal offense and not just hand off.

 

[Grafcat]

Fine but hope he waits until NU is up by at least 21 points. Also hope he allows the back-up QB, whoever that is,to run the normal offense and not just hand off.

It would also be nice, to build the theoretical aforementioned lead by actually trying some downfield passes. We KNOW JJ could run wild. But lets see what a vertical passing game looks like early.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

It's amazing to listen posters bitch about a game that hasn't taken place as of yet. Bravo. All I care about is avoiding injuries and beating Duke the following.week.

 

[Just Gary]

It's amazing to listen posters bitch about a game that hasn't taken place as of yet. Bravo. All I care about is avoiding injuries and beating Duke the following.week.

It's also interesting to think people took Fitz comment to mean anything but play hard. I am sure he is going to remind them of letdowns after emotional victories. This is a hard game for our guys because they poured so much into Stanford and won. So, they may relax a little. It is also hard for our coaches because Duke is next and I am sure that they are watching more tapes about Duke at this time then they are on Eastern Illinois (and rightfully so). This is where the team captains pitch in and remind the team to stay focused.

 

[thewildcat2011]

Teams that are fired up for 12 games a year end up playing 13 (or more now). I want to see the exact same effort against EIU as we had against Stanford.

 

[d'son d]

I don't care about beating Duke this week...they're not the opponent. EIU is the team to beat, and I think that this team will be schooled in let downs and playing the game to win. The 1995 2nd game should be enough of a memory for it to be the prime example of what a let down looks like. Limiting injuries is the key, and playing hard and not relaxing util the final gun will help prevent that.

 

[NJCat83588]

I don't care about beating Duke this week...they're not the opponent. EIU is the team to beat, and I think that this team will be schooled in let downs and playing the game to win. The 1995 2nd game should be enough of a memory for it to be the prime example of what a let down looks like. Limiting injuries is the key, and playing hard and not relaxing util the final gun will help prevent that.

The odd thing about the 1995 Miami game was, the Cats came out fired up and had a big lead. Usually when there is a let down it is apparent from the opening kick.

 

[Deeringfish]

The odd thing about the 1995 Miami game was, the Cats came out fired up and had a big lead. Usually when there is a let down it is apparent from the opening kick.

That is an interesting point I didn't remember. Perhaps Fits shows the team the one hour version of the game on a break this week.

 

[d'son d]

They built a huge lead and then the starters were removed, and were joking on the sidelines. By the time Gary got their act together we had lost the mo and eventually the game. Stepping on the opponent's neck is important since there is always a chance of big plays and a fired up opponent, no matter what the betting line is ( see NU v TSISB,. 1995). That doesn't mean running up the score, but just not relaxing or celebrating until the final gun (see also NU v Michigan the past few years) and NU v Nebraska 2013). We've only won one game, not the season, so every game remains important.