One of the biggest differences I noted in the game was

[WaveJumper]

the speed and aggressiveness of the Duke linebackers. NUs LBs read and react by comparison just looked very slow with very little disruptive effect. Obviously we are playing witth gap responsibility but not doing it very well as our react seems very late in the play.

Also very poor lines to the ball.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Shaka Heyward should play on Sunday, though he probably needs to get a bit stronger.

 

[freewillie07]

We used to have the same with AWalk, Paddy and all the rest. It’s a travesty what’s happened since JON arrived.

 

[Rebel II]

the speed and aggressiveness of the Duke linebackers. NUs LBs read and react by comparison just looked very slow with very little disruptive effect. Obviously we are playing witth gap responsibility but not doing it very well as our react seems very late in the play.

Also very poor lines to the ball.

It wasn't pretty early on. Have to get better!

 

[ricko654321]

the speed and aggressiveness of the Duke linebackers. NUs LBs read and react by comparison just looked very slow with very little disruptive effect. Obviously we are playing witth gap responsibility but not doing it very well as our react seems very late in the play.

Also very poor lines to the ball.

Yeah I thought our LBs were bad all game. Multiple totally blown run fits. Slow to get there. And poor tackling throughout the team (LBs and secondary) once they did get to the RBs. The DL outside of Adebawore largely got outplayed too I thought.

Frankly, it reminded me of our defense last year, which is not a good thing. I had thought these things looked better against Nebraska, but maybe Nebby is just a very bad team...

 

[EvanstonCat]

the speed and aggressiveness of the Duke linebackers. NUs LBs read

react by comparison just looked very slow with very little disruptive effect. Obviously we are playing witth gap responsibility but not doing it very well as our react seems very late in the play.

Also very poor lines to the ball.

JON vs. Mike Elko.

Unfortunately, I'll take Mike Elko every day of the week, and it showed this past Saturday.

 

[hoosboot]

JON vs. Mike Elko.

Unfortunately, I'll take Mike Elko every day of the week, and it showed this past Saturday.

I'd love to have the Duke head coach on our staff. I'm sure he would have left Texas A&M to come be our DC.

While we're at it, can we get Saban, too? Maybe he'll be our linebackers coach.

 

[Rebel II]

JON vs. Mike Elko.

Unfortunately, I'll take Mike Elko every day of the week, and it showed this past Saturday.

It did to a certainly big extent. We are shy alot of talent to play our current scheme, gotta hope his recruits will fill the voids. In the meantime, as Nick Saban learned, turn the O loose. Throw it all the time like we did down 21. We have a special QB!

 

[EvanstonCat]

One thing that gives me hope is that unlike last year when we got far behind, we actually started going through the air and our QB started to deliver. We didn't keep running it up the gut like last year. We know we can pass the ball when we have to. I don't mind running it down the other side's throats, especially when we are up a couple scores, but let's mix it up if we can. It opens it up across the offense when you have some balance.

 

[CatManTrue]

JON vs. Mike Elko.

Unfortunately, I'll take Mike Elko every day of the week, and it showed this past Saturday.

Actually, it was more JON vs JOHNS. As in, Kevin Johns.

It seems our OC from long ago exposed our current DC.

 

[Rebel II]

Actually, it was more JON vs JOHNS. As in, Kevin Johns.

It seems our OC from long ago exposed our current DC.

No. Kevin and Elko are good coaches but let's not forget they had to hold on to win. Cats showed great grit.

 

[CatManTrue]

No. Kevin and Elko are good coaches but let's not forget they had to hold on to win. Cats showed great grit.

They blew their last possession on our goalline to give us one final shot. Bajakian called a nice game, but it’s hard to argue that your DC wasn’t outcoached when we gave up a school record 234 yards in one quarter. And were down 21 points before we could blink… again.

 

[Rebel II]

They blew their last possession on our goalline to give us one final shot. Bajakian called a nice game, but it’s hard to argue that your DC wasn’t outcoached when we gave up a school record 234 yards in one quarter. And were down 21 points before we could blink… again.

So did we blow any opportunities? Of course. We had every chance in the world to be down only 21-13 at half. That's why they play. We got better and competed. I'm not happy but I see some real progress. Go 1 and 0 this week and get better.