Let go of the pessimism

[RazzmaChas]

I don't post all that often. But a decent amount of what I read gets under my skin. I just wish people could enjoy and appreciate what is happening this year.

We're now 3-0, including quality wins over Stanford and Duke and a shutout over an overmatched EIU. We have one of the best defensive units we have had in years. The line is getting pressure, AW is playing out of his mind, and the secondary is rock solid. Those things obviously all work together. We have a ton of offensive weapons, a QB with great upside, a schedule that sets up really nicely for the season, etc.

But inevitably, the Debbie downers are all over the place.
- Thorson needs work
- the OL needs help
- our receivers don't get separation
- we need to stay healthy
- we shouldn't be ranked yet or so high
- one game at a time
- blah, blah

I am loving what I'm seeing and feeling good the rest of the way. I think there is a good chance I will be in Indy in early December cheering on the Cats.

 

[shakes3858]

Agree 99% with you. The Debbie downers do suck. I do like to take things one game at a time though. I'm going to put all my effort this week into destroying ball state

 

[villox]

You forgot to list the complaints about the helmets. Unless that counts as "blah blah"

 

[shakes3858]

You forgot to list the complaints about the helmets. Unless that counts as "blah blah"

I think if you look up "blah blah" in the dictionary you'll read "whining about having too many helmet and uniform combinations"

 

[beetlemania74]

Honestly, I prefer taking a more measured, analytical approach, rather than the bipolar one many fans here take after wins or losses. We are 3-0, and that's awesome. It's the best we could have expected at this point. But the question in my mind now is just how good this team can be, and a lot of that hinges on the offense. That's the difference, IMO, between a 8-4 (or worse) or 10-2 (or better) season this year, and I think these are legitimate points for discussion.

We're all happy. The 'Cats defense looks great, and considering that CT is a RS frosh, I'm really optimistic about his development over the upcoming games and years. But how good are we going to be this season? Do we have a shot to win the B1G (or even just the western division)? Is this going to be a surprisingly good season, or an historically amazing one (by NU standards)? These are the questions I'm asking now, and the answers depend in large part on the "pessimistic" points you raised.

Northwestern wins, and everything is perfect. Northwestern loses, and the sky is falling - time to fire the coaches. I don't see things that way, although most fans do, I guess.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Honestly, I prefer taking a more measured, analytical approach, rather than the bipolar one many fans here take after wins or losses. We are 3-0, and that's awesome. It's the best we could have expected at this point. But the question in my mind now is just how good this team can be, and a lot of that hinges on the offense. That's the difference, IMO, between a 8-4 (or worse) or 10-2 (or better) season this year, and I think these are legitimate points for discussion.

We're all happy. The 'Cats defense looks great, and considering that CT is a RS frosh, I'm really optimistic about his development over the upcoming games and years. But how good are we going to be this season? Do we have a shot to win the B1G (or even just the western division)? Is this going to be a surprisingly good season, or an historically amazing one (by NU standards)? These are the questions I'm asking now, and the answers depend in large part on the "pessimistic" points you raised.

Northwestern wins, and everything is perfect. Northwestern loses, and the sky is falling - time to fire the coaches. I don't see things that way, although most fans do, I guess.

+1

People too easily confuse asking insightful questions with being pessimistic.

 

[GlideCat]

+1

People too easily confuse asking insightful questions with being pessimistic.

I am a complete Pollyanna without reservation. But I do enjoy discussions of what the coaches and players could focus on to make the team better. The fact that I have no answer to that question for the defense is a first and speaks to the amazing play of the defense in the first three games.

On the offensive side, the improvements needed are clear and will give me something to focus on as I am watching games from this point forward. Last year, I felt that the O-Line needed much improvement in size and strength. This year I am seeing much improvement in this area resulting in wearing down opposing defenses over time. However, I still see the need for further improvement in the line working together as a unit, getting solid push on runs, and providing a defined pocket on passes in the first half before the opposing D-Line is worn down. The line play has improved greatly compared to last year but this - to me - is the primary area of focus for this team to change from a Top 20 level team to knocking on the door of a Top 10 level team. For a team with our depth of talent to consider swimming in those waters, we have to be technically nearly perfect and injury free. A lot to ask. But how cool would that be?!!!!

 

[mikewebb68]

+1

People too easily confuse asking insightful questions with being pessimistic.

Do you have Feli, Xbob or the other wildly pessimistic posters here on Ignore? People wanted to talk about benching Thorson for crying out loud, after a great win on the road. I believe this is what the OP is referencing, and I didn't care for the talk, either.

 

[rmndcat]

+1

People too easily confuse asking insightful questions with being pessimistic.

Agree. It's actually a form of optimism. We have what may be the best defensive unit in the country and special teams really shone yesterday. We have a strong stable of backs. The passing game needs development to play up to the level of the other units. CT is just getting started and I think we realistically knew he would some time to mature. Yesterday, he made what looked like some bad decisions against a strong defense. But he will get better.The O-line also is continuing to come together, but that will take time to evolve, too. They do seem to be wearing out D-lines, so our offense may have more success 2nd half than 1st, as a rule.

It's not being a Debbie Downer to acknowledge that the offense needs to get better; it's the realization that this team is becoming something special and hoping (perhaps a bit impatiently) that the O-Line and passing game will develop to contribute at or near the same level as the other units.

I started the season thinking 6-6/7-5 were realistic. If we avoid bad injuries, 9 or 10 wins looks realistic...maybe more if the passing game comes together.

[Edited to add o-line commentary].

 

[NJCat83588]

Agree. It's actually a form of optimism. We have what may be the best defensive unit in the country and special teams really shone yesterday. We have a strong stable of backs. The passing game needs development to play up to the level of the other units. CT is just getting started and I think we realistically knew he would some time to mature. Yesterday, he made what looked like some bad decisions against a strong defense, but he will get better. It's not being a Debbie downer to acknowledge that he needs to get better; it's the realization that this team is becoming something special and hoping that the passing game will develop to contribure to that. I started the season thinking 6-6/7-5 were realistic. If we avoid really bad injuries, 9 or 10 wins looks realistic...maybe more if the passing game comes together.

Beautiful summary of the situation after 25% of the season is complete.

 

[villox]

Beautiful summary of the situation after 25% of the season is complete.

20%.

 

[NJCat83588]

20%.

You're right! Regular season then..........

 

[lobstersgopinchpinch]

I blocked those folks earlier today and that cut the number of posters in half for me. I can't decide if these folks are pathologically incapable of enjoying themselves in general or just take this attitude with the Cats. Either way, my reading experience is much improved.

 

[villox]

20%.

You're right! Regular season then..........

Was just letting go of any and all pessimism

 

[Hungry Jack]

Do you have Feli, Xbob or the other wildly pessimistic posters here on Ignore? People wanted to talk about benching Thorson for crying out loud, after a great win on the road. I believe this is what the OP is referencing, and I didn't care for the talk, either.

No, I do not. I don't use ignor. But I take certain poster's opinions with a grain of salt. Or two. But I do enjoy reading opinions unlike my own.

The question about benching CT was legitimate, IMO. My opinion is that he should always play unless he is really confused and making a hash out of things. He needs all the snaps he can get. But the question was not ridiculous.

 

[SmellyCat]

I don't consider questions about our struggles to be "pessimism." I'm fascinated by the Thorson thread and have enjoyed reading all opinions there. That's a good thread and is the reason why I'm here.

The part that bugs me is that when some people get excited and start revealing their dreams and hopes out loud (no matter how delusional), there are always a few people there to remind them that they shouldn't feel that way. Let the happy and optimistic people have their thing.

 

[mikewebb68]

These were NOT "questions about our struggles" to which the OP and some other posters are referring, imo. They are the posts in which our starting QB is simply attacked, (the latest posts I found have called Thorsen clueless and that he is not playing the game of football). Comments like this, which are against the board rules, drive away posters and should not be tolerated, imo.

 

[SmellyCat]

Yeah, there is definitely a difference between posing the question on Thorson and flat out insulting him.

 

[catlitter]

Sorry, but pessimism makes the victories sweeter. Who's fans do you think would be more excited to win the Big 10, NU or OSU? NU's fans-without a doubt. At OSU it's expected. At NU,we would go crazy. Why? Because it's not expected. We're pessimistic. Let us enjoy our pessimism all the way to Pasedena.

 

[Hungry Jack]

These were NOT "questions about our struggles" to which the OP and some other posters are referring, imo. They are the posts in which our starting QB us is simply attacked, (the latest posts I found have called Thorsen clueless and that he is not playing the game of football). Comments like this, which are against the board rules, drive away posters and should not be tolerated, imo.

There was another site that was posting stuff about recruits--negative stuff based on star ratings and other flimsy anecdotes offered as evidence of a declining trend in recruiting. GCG and I raked the editors over the coals on this, and they wised up and changed their tune,

I don't mind fair criticism of a player's performance, provided it is tasteful. I thing criticizing recruits is off limits.

 

[beetlemania74]

They are the posts in which our starting QB us is simply attacked, (the latest posts I found have called Thorsen clueless and that he is not playing the game of football). Comments like this, which are against the board rules, drive away posters and should not be tolerated, imo.

I completely agree, and it looks like that offensive post has been removed. That really was an unnecessary and mean thing our "superfan" said. I'm fine with calling out the coaches for doing dumbheaded things, or the players, in general terms, for poor performance, but personal attacks, including calling out heart or effort, cross the line. Unhelpful and unnecessary. Especially when talking about a RS freshman playing in only his third game. That poster would probably run away and hide if he ever came face to face with the subject of his harsh words. Bigshot of the Interweb, I guess.

 

[stpaulcat]

It's difficult not to be optimistic about NU Football, just as it is difficult not to be pessimistic about NU Football. Reason being just when things look the brightest, the wheels come off and conversely when things are the darkest, suddenly it is bright again. Such is NU football. So we are great optimists and we are terrible pessimists. Depends on the day. Today I'm definitely not a pessimist.

 

[IGNORE2]

Honestly, I prefer taking a more measured, analytical approach, rather than the bipolar one many fans here take after wins or losses. We are 3-0, and that's awesome. It's the best we could have expected at this point. But the question in my mind now is just how good this team can be, and a lot of that hinges on the offense. That's the difference, IMO, between a 8-4 (or worse) or 10-2 (or better) season this year, and I think these are legitimate points for discussion.

We're all happy. The 'Cats defense looks great, and considering that CT is a RS frosh, I'm really optimistic about his development over the upcoming games and years. But how good are we going to be this season? Do we have a shot to win the B1G (or even just the western division)? Is this going to be a surprisingly good season, or an historically amazing one (by NU standards)? These are the questions I'm asking now, and the answers depend in large part on the "pessimistic" points you raised.

Northwestern wins, and everything is perfect. Northwestern loses, and the sky is falling - time to fire the coaches. I don't see things that way, although most fans do, I guess.

I agree here. The point on the board for me is to discuss what this team will be, could be, should be and banter a bit. Coddling and doding over some success rings of the Northside (let em get to the WS and lose this year and makes me cringe. I didn't grow up a Bronx Bomber fan, the Bulls are the closest that I have gotten and it was great knowing they would win and just wondering how much butt they could kick. Loving our D and wanting even better results. Give me 49-0 every week.

If NU FB runs out of room for improvement, then I will retire from this board. There won't be anything left to debate and you guys aren't my first choice for a love fest.

 

[IGNORE2]

Do you have Feli, Xbob or the other wildly pessimistic posters here on Ignore? People wanted to talk about benching Thorson for crying out loud, after a great win on the road. I believe this is what the OP is referencing, and I didn't care for the talk, either.

Living the dream, I guess. I saw an ugly passing game personally. Never said I would have benched CT, said my finger would have been on the trigger. It was getting close in my book. But, hey, who needs O? It's overrated. Let's just punt every first down....

 

[IGNORE2]

These were NOT "questions about our struggles" to which the OP and some other posters are referring, imo. They are the posts in which our starting QB is simply attacked, (the latest posts I found have called Thorsen clueless and that he is not playing the game of football). Comments like this, which are against the board rules, drive away posters and should not be tolerated, imo.

1. You included me in your list wrongly. My comments about CT have been pretty factual. I'm not much of a name caller. That said, I will go on record saying CT looked like a deer in the headlights by the end of the first half. Ban me for being real.
2. Like the poster above, I enjoy reading all the thoughts and am smart enough to skip over what I find boring or uninteresting. I have also been saddened by the number of 'smart' people that want to censor thoughts they don't agree with. Don't read them. And here, we have ignore. Ignore me Mike - won't know, won't care.

 

[IGNORE2]

I completely agree, and it looks like that offensive post has been removed. That really was an unnecessary and mean thing our "superfan" said. I'm fine with calling out the coaches for doing dumbheaded things, or the players, in general terms, for poor performance, but personal attacks, including calling out heart or effort, cross the line. Unhelpful and unnecessary. Especially when talking about a RS freshman playing in only his third game. That poster would probably run away and hide if he ever came face to face with the subject of his harsh words. Bigshot of the Interweb, I guess.

This is ridiculous. This isn't pee wee ball. This is minor league ball. These guys, not kids, plan to play for a career. For many, like in the minors, they don't have the stuff. If they cannot handle reading critiques, then get out of the game. Plenty would give eye teeth for the chance.

For the pollyannas, I'm afraid you are doomed to a life of frustration. Pollyanna crap is boring. No one would post, read or notice ads. And thus, discussion will be allowed to continue within the rules of common decency. Rivals is here to make a buck. Don't like it, start a purple kool aid board and see how long it goes...

Big shot of the web, or board police...pessimist or purple kool aid clan... Wasted bandwidth, let's talk about the team.

 

[StreamCat]

Agree 99% with you. The Debbie downers do suck. I do like to take things one game at a time though. I'm going to put all my effort this week into destroying ball state

What position

1. You included me in your list wrongly. My comments about CT have been pretty factual. I'm not much of a name caller. That said, I will go on record saying CT looked like a deer in the headlights by the end of the first half. Ban me for being real.

You ain't real. You say you aren't much for name-calling, then you call a guy "a deer in the headlights". Get real.

 

[IGNORE2]

What position

You ain't real. You say you aren't much for name-calling, then you call a guy "a deer in the headlights". Get real.

Ok stream. And you epitomize the PC hangover driving the country to the Trump v Sanders election... I know, wrong board.. Just so frustrating around here sometimes...

 

[EvanstonCat]

I don't post all that often. But a decent amount of what I read gets under my skin. I just wish people could enjoy and appreciate what is happening this year.

We're now 3-0, including quality wins over Stanford and Duke and a shutout over an overmatched EIU. We have one of the best defensive units we have had in years. The line is getting pressure, AW is playing out of his mind, and the secondary is rock solid. Those things obviously all work together. We have a ton of offensive weapons, a QB with great upside, a schedule that sets up really nicely for the season, etc.

But inevitably, the Debbie downers are all over the place.
- Thorson needs work
- the OL needs help
- our receivers don't get separation
- we need to stay healthy
- we shouldn't be ranked yet or so high
- one game at a time
- blah, blah

I am loving what I'm seeing and feeling good the rest of the way. I think there is a good chance I will be in Indy in early December cheering on the Cats.

Why can't people enjoy what is happening and still comment on where we have flaws? I am immensely enjoying what I am seeing (especially on the D side of the ball). Pointing out that Thorson had a really rough day (he did) and opining that we could have checked out what Oliver or Alviti is not mutually exclusive to enjoy and appreciating what is happening this year.

I'm looking at the schedule, and even with our flaws, seeing no reason we cannot be in Indy. With an improvement or correction of the flaws though, we could be going to Pasadena or maybe even the CFB. Am I a Debbie Downer for dreaming for more?

 

[StreamCat]

Ok stream. And you epitomize the PC hangover driving the country to the Trump v Sanders election... I know, wrong board.. Just so frustrating around here sometimes...

PC? Moi? My friends would get a kick out of that one.

 

[shakes3858]

What position

You ain't real. You say you aren't much for name-calling, then you call a guy "a deer in the headlights". Get real.

When did I call anyone a deer in the headlights?

 

[theProducer]

Look what "checking out" Barrett and Cardale has gotten OSU. QB swapping breeds confusion and instability. It almost never works out. As has been noted, we rode out the learning curve of Baz and others and reaped the rewards.

 

[pawildcat]

This is ridiculous. This isn't pee wee ball. This is minor league ball. These guys, not kids, plan to play for a career. For many, like in the minors, they don't have the stuff. If they cannot handle reading critiques, then get out of the game. Plenty would give eye teeth for the chance.

For the pollyannas, I'm afraid you are doomed to a life of frustration. Pollyanna crap is boring. No one would post, read or notice ads. And thus, discussion will be allowed to continue within the rules of common decency. Rivals is here to make a buck. Don't like it, start a purple kool aid board and see how long it goes...

Big shot of the web, or board police...pessimist or purple kool aid clan... Wasted bandwidth, let's talk about the team.

I think a few guys on our team probably think they have a shot at the NFL and are planning on that, but I would bet the majority are self-aware enough to know that a pro career is an extreme longshot. One of the most common things we seem to hear when a recruit commits to NU is that it will be great to have a Northwestern degree to fall back on after football.

 

[stpaulcat]

PC? Moi? My friends would get a kick out of that one.

I'll vouch for StreamCat. Not PC.

 

[IGNORE2]

I think a few guys on our team probably think they have a shot at the NFL and are planning on that, but I would bet the majority are self-aware enough to know that a pro career is an extreme longshot. One of the most common things we seem to hear when a recruit commits to NU is that it will be great to have a Northwestern degree to fall back on after football.

Still equates to minor league ball. I got drafted, went to rookie camp and enjoyed a summer of 'pro' ball knowing I had zero chance to get to the pros. Heck, if I could have gotten into a league that started with an 'A,' I would have been excited. I received some money, some invaluable experience and met a few people. Same goes for college players. They are receiving some compensation and are playing in a league driver by revenue. If they do really well, higher levels may avail - NFL, CFL, Euro ball, etc. But for most, they know in is not in the cards.

Still, I know plenty of guys that would have paid to spend a summer roaming the midwest playing baseball - just for the chance. And I would have loved to have roamed the sidelines for NU and chased WRs around the field. This is high profile, professional ball - don't care what the NCAA, NLRB or anyone has to say. There's no crying in baseball and there should be no hard feelings by those that choose to play B1G football about critiques.

 

[IGNORE2]

I'll vouch for StreamCat. Not PC.

Then some explain how using a metaphor (deer in headlights) is comparable to calling someone a name? Really seems to fall into the PC - can't use the name Indians or Redskins, look at my eyes, blah blah blah

 

[stpaulcat]

Then some explain how using a metaphor (deer in headlights) is comparable to calling someone a name? Really seems to fall into the PC - can't use the name Indians or Redskins, look at my eyes, blah blah blah

This is a rant board topic, but "deer in the headlights" is a metaphor and "Redskins" is simply disrespectful of one's ethnic background and thus these are two completely different things. Using the term "Redskins" doesn't fall into the realm of politically correct or incorrect--it is just a disrespectful thing to do. "Deer in the headlights" could be considered politically incorrect, depending on how it is used--for example if it is used to describe a 19 year old's inexperience in a football game, and said 19 year old is well intentioned and trying to the best of his ability, it would be politically incorrect because it was unfair. However, it this 19 year old is a total doofus, then it might be considered politically correct, but still perhaps a thoughtless thing to do. I believe you were referring to the former 19 year old "dear in the headlights" and not the doofus?

 

[SmellyCat]

I thought he looked like a gazelle on the long run against Stanford. Apparently deer have antlers and gazelles have horns, but it's a common mistake to confuse the two.

 

[pawildcat]

Still equates to minor league ball. I got drafted, went to rookie camp and enjoyed a summer of 'pro' ball knowing I had zero chance to get to the pros. Heck, if I could have gotten into a league that started with an 'A,' I would have been excited. I received some money, some invaluable experience and met a few people. Same goes for college players. They are receiving some compensation and are playing in a league driver by revenue. If they do really well, higher levels may avail - NFL, CFL, Euro ball, etc. But for most, they know in is not in the cards.

Still, I know plenty of guys that would have paid to spend a summer roaming the midwest playing baseball - just for the chance. And I would have loved to have roamed the sidelines for NU and chased WRs around the field. This is high profile, professional ball - don't care what the NCAA, NLRB or anyone has to say. There's no crying in baseball and there should be no hard feelings by those that choose to play B1G football about critiques.

Well, using your example, you didn't plan to play as a career, did you? Which was kind of my point about getting the NU degree.

 

[mikewebb68]

When did I call anyone a deer in the headlights?

He was referring to a quote from Xbob