Where are we at after 3 games

[BCfanatic2020]

Nothing will change the Syracuse debacle. But we have one game before Minnesota. I had a few weaknesses going into the season:

1) lack of burst by DEs
2) lack of chemistry at WR
3) lack of run blocking by the OL

I said these would cost us games while we waited for someone like a nic caraway to get up to speed.

I’d argue that despite the notoriety of other moments, if we were better in these regards we’d have cruised to victory.

So, am I missing anything and are we any closer to being better at these weaknesses?

 

[ossim]

1a) Lack of discipline
1b) Lack of execution

 

[nat100]

4) Lack of solid ST play.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

#1 … Caraway has shown signs in his time so far … i think that is getting better.

#2 … AOC is #4 in nation in passing yards. If he played even a little bit in the 2nd half against ISU he’d be #2. We are just fine at WR.

#3 .. same as it ever was

 

[Boilersbt4]

4) Lack of solid ST play.

It’s been an issue since hope left. We really had to go to Australia to find an average punter.. This kicker is usually solid, last game was an aberration. But zero return game, always losing the field position battle. Returner of the year completely bottled up thus far. Kickoff specialist is not up to par either. This is coaching

 

[Pittboiler]

Nothing will change the Syracuse debacle. But we have one game before Minnesota. I had a few weaknesses going into the season:

1) lack of burst by DEs
2) lack of chemistry at WR
3) lack of run blocking by the OL

I said these would cost us games while we waited for someone like a nic caraway to get up to speed.

I’d argue that despite the notoriety of other moments, if we were better in these regards we’d have cruised to victory.

So, am I missing anything and are we any closer to being better at these weaknesses?

I think Dale needs another few years to really develop his guys. In year 9 we should start to see progress.

 

[fentonboiler]

I think Dale needs another few years to really develop his guys. In year 9 we should start to see progress.

I hope you’re joking

 

[Toast.]

He has made some dumb plays over the past year or so, but I think we need to get Sheffield more involved offensively. From what I've seen, he appears to be the closest thing we have to being a reliable 2nd option at WR.

I was excited to see Burks make a play, but need to see more of him. Thompson is banged up and I don't think he has the best physical gifts to begin with, so I think it's gonna be tough to rely on him this year.

With Rice, it really looked like he and AOC just don't have chemistry down. I'm not sure if that was poor routes, early throws, or what, but it didn't look right. Hopefully he just needs more snaps, as I certainly like the talent.

Tracy seems to be talked up as a guy that has to get touches, but those touches don't really follow. I like him more as a hybrid RB than a slot guy.

 

[nat100]

It’s been an issue since hope left. We really had to go to Australia to find an average punter.. This kicker is usually solid, last game was an aberration. But zero return game, always losing the field position battle. Returner of the year completely bottled up thus far. Kickoff specialist is not up to par either. This is coaching

Dont even care about most of that. Two kickoffs out of bounds and a complete breakdown on PAT blocking.

 

[Toast.]

3) lack of run blocking by the OL

This is an issue obviously, as is the RB room, but Brohm also seems a little erratic in his play calling WRT to the running game imo.

Obviously a great offensive mind and coach, just does some weird stuff with the running game. The sequence out of half where we ran it on like 5 out of 6 plays or something was just strange, as was the abandoning of the run game against PSU.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

This is an issue obviously, as is the RB room, but Brohm also seems a little erratic in his play calling WRT to the running game imo.

Obviously a great offensive mind and coach, just does some weird stuff with the running game. The sequence out of half where we ran it on like 5 out of 6 plays or something was just strange, as was the abandoning of the run game against PSU.

I think king Doerue got hurt right when he stopped running vs PSU and that’s why. Oh and none of the other three saviors that everyone jocks so hard was able to provide a better option when the bad man king Doerue got hurt.

 

[Toast.]

I think king Doerue got hurt right when he stopped running vs PSU and that’s why. Oh and none of the other three saviors that everyone jocks so hard was able to provide a better option when the bad man king Doerue got hurt.

Would be interesting to go back and see if KD played the last 10ish min against PSU. I was at a bar w/o audio and can't say I was paying enough attention to notice.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

1a) Lack of discipline
1b) Lack of execution

This is a sportscenter outlook.

take the burst of George karlaftis. Take the lack of burst of Jack Sullivan. Give me a player in the middle.. as in, I’m hardly asking for Akin Ayodele. When the lack of discipline occurs, we are already up too much for it to matter.

 

[Toast.]

Would be interesting to go back and see if KD played the last 10ish min against PSU. I was at a bar w/o audio and can't say I was paying enough attention to notice.

Just looked at the play by play and KD had a carry with 2:56 to go and had the flag on the block at the 5:33 mark. So he got hurt but definitely still played late. Could still have something to do wtih the lack of carries.

 

[Pittboiler]

This is an issue obviously, as is the RB room, but Brohm also seems a little erratic in his play calling WRT to the running game imo.

Obviously a great offensive mind and coach, just does some weird stuff with the running game. The sequence out of half where we ran it on like 5 out of 6 plays or something was just strange, as was the abandoning of the run game against PSU.

While we’ve seen some creative stuff during his time…. Great offensive mind is a stretch based on what he’s actually accomplished at Purdue.

When WKU was at talent parity relative to their conference brethren, maybe he’s a great offensive mind.

Solving Big Ten Defenses is another level. He’s yet to consistently do that. If you can’t run, you aren’t going to be successful long term.

 

[BishopBoiler]

Nothing will change the Syracuse debacle. But we have one game before Minnesota. I had a few weaknesses going into the season:

1) lack of burst by DEs
2) lack of chemistry at WR
3) lack of run blocking by the OL

I said these would cost us games while we waited for someone like a nic caraway to get up to speed.

I’d argue that despite the notoriety of other moments, if we were better in these regards we’d have cruised to victory.

So, am I missing anything and are we any closer to being better at these weaknesses?

Defensively the only unit I have been impressed with are DTs. Offensively the only two players I think are playing at a high level are AOC and Charlie.

Unless the above changes, that isn't enough to win the Big Ten West.

 

[Boilersbt4]

Dont even care about most of that. Two kickoffs out of bounds and a complete breakdown on PAT blocking.

Other than it sucking really bad that it happened, I don’t care about the xp block. I don’t see that being an issue for us going forward. Kickoff has been a problem all year and will probably continue. I think one of the guys is hurt, hopefully he’s the better one.

Weird that you don’t care about field position. We’re seemingly fighting an uphill battle every game.

 

[ossim]

This is a sportscenter outlook.

take the burst of George karlaftis. Take the lack of burst of Jack Sullivan. Give me a player in the middle.. as in, I’m hardly asking for Akin Ayodele. When the lack of discipline occurs, we are already up too much for it to matter.

You say that but if Purdue plays fairly mistake free football in our 2 losses we're 3-0. We're not going to magically change our talent level in the course of the season.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

#1 … Caraway has shown signs in his time so far … i think that is getting better.

#2 … AOC is #4 in nation in passing yards. If he played even a little bit in the 2nd half against ISU he’d be #2. We are just fine at WR.

#3 .. same as it ever was

1) we will be where we need to be when he’s playing key snaps over Sullivan and making plays Sullivan can’t makes

Conclusion - still a weakness

2) Oconnell is playing well. Jones and Durham are high impact. Oconnell does not appear able to turn to his left and pick up quick passes to the short left side. He proved he could do this with Milton Wright, so this is not an Oconnell problem, the lack of impact from another outside receiver not named Jones is exactly what I said it was, WR chemistry. If you like it cool, if you don’t that’s cool too, but that’s what it is.

conclusion - still a slight weakness, but Jones has been spectacular, so somewhat mitigated

3) thanks for granting that. It’s still going to lose us ball games if we don’t get it fixed. Whether it was true last year, the last 4 years or since 1979

 

[BCfanatic2020]

I think Dale needs another few years to really develop his guys. In year 9 we should start to see progress.

How dare you … I think snoop will be here shortly with his Dale sales pitch:

Dale isn’t the worst offensive line coach who ever lived, so you’re a terrible fan for even bringing him up. I love it when Dale defenders criticize Oconnell .. I’ve seen at least a couple. Patently hilarious

 

[BCfanatic2020]

He has made some dumb plays over the past year or so, but I think we need to get Sheffield more involved offensively. From what I've seen, he appears to be the closest thing we have to being a reliable 2nd option at WR.

I was excited to see Burks make a play, but need to see more of him. Thompson is banged up and I don't think he has the best physical gifts to begin with, so I think it's gonna be tough to rely on him this year.

With Rice, it really looked like he and AOC just don't have chemistry down. I'm not sure if that was poor routes, early throws, or what, but it didn't look right. Hopefully he just needs more snaps, as I certainly like the talent.

Tracy seems to be talked up as a guy that has to get touches, but those touches don't really follow. I like him more as a hybrid RB than a slot guy.

I agree on sheffield. WR chemistry… last year Anthrop could be relied on. This year it’s all on Sheffield. I haven’t seen him look comfortable as a safety valve/high percentage outlet.

on rice, Oconnell has proven he could hit every route in the book to MILTON WRIGHT. so, rice’s lack of impact is a rice thing and a McGee thing, not an Oconnell thing.

in my estimation, Milton Wright, all other things equal, has already lost us two games

 

[BCfanatic2020]

Defensively the only unit I have been impressed with are DTs. Offensively the only two players I think are playing at a high level are AOC and Charlie.

Unless the above changes, that isn't enough to win the Big Ten West.

8-4 is probably a good result at this point, instead of “what I’d bet on” like it was to start the year.

 

[Trifida80]

Nothing will change the Syracuse debacle. But we have one game before Minnesota. I had a few weaknesses going into the season:

1) lack of burst by DEs
2) lack of chemistry at WR
3) lack of run blocking by the OL

I said these would cost us games while we waited for someone like a nic caraway to get up to speed.

I’d argue that despite the notoriety of other moments, if we were better in these regards we’d have cruised to victory.

So, am I missing anything and are we any closer to being better at these weaknesses?

Since AOC passed for over 400 yards, I don’t think receiver chemistry is an issue. Lost two games due to defensive back issues, that might be a problem. Oline, yeah. Pass rush, yeah. Lack of discipline, check that box.

 

[Columbus-Boiler]

It’s been an issue since hope left. We really had to go to Australia to find an average punter.. This kicker is usually solid, last game was an aberration. But zero return game, always losing the field position battle. Returner of the year completely bottled up thus far. Kickoff specialist is not up to par either. This is coaching

Been thinking about punters recently. I usually go to quite a few HS games each year, different teams/fields......Not that long ago, a few teams a year would have really excellent punters, kicking high with legit hangtime. I don't think I have seen one in the last few years. Soccer growth keeping them out of football? Idk.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

Since AOC passed for over 400 yards, I don’t think receiver chemistry is an issue. Lost two games due to defensive back issues, that might be a problem. Oline, yeah. Pass rush, yeah. Lack of discipline, check that box.

Because you’re taking a very simplistic view. This offense would be able to do things like get an easy score on the first
Drive vs Syracuse if our left outside receiver had teams fearing that a play could be made at any point along the left side. We had that last year. This year mershawn rice is barely visible.

being able to take two steps in from the left side all the way over is a huge deal.

 

[Toast.]

I agree on sheffield. WR chemistry… last year Anthrop could be relied on. This year it’s all on Sheffield. I haven’t seen him look comfortable as a safety valve/high percentage outlet.

on rice, Oconnell has proven he could hit every route in the book to MILTON WRIGHT. so, rice’s lack of impact is a rice thing and a McGee thing, not an Oconnell thing.

in my estimation, Milton Wright, all other things equal, has already lost us two games

In what little I've seen, Rice doesn't look very quick/fast out of his breaks to me. I wondered if he was late getting to that sideline throw both times.

Could've been AOC being early, but you don't see him make that same exact mistake twice too often.

 

[daveK-RELOADED]

Nothing will change the Syracuse debacle. But we have one game before Minnesota. I had a few weaknesses going into the season:

1) lack of burst by DEs
2) lack of chemistry at WR
3) lack of run blocking by the OL

I said these would cost us games while we waited for someone like a nic caraway to get up to speed.

I’d argue that despite the notoriety of other moments, if we were better in these regards we’d have cruised to victory.

So, am I missing anything and are we any closer to being better at these weaknesses?

This team has a lot of talent that is severely underachieving. I don't believe effort is an issue across the board but it does exist in a few areas. Special Teams is absolutely horrible. The worst since 2003. Right now there is no on-field discipline with this team. Unless this gets fixed NOW, this season will tank once FIU is over. Minnesota is a bad match-up for Purdue. Their OLs and DLs are tougher, stronger and more disciplined than Purdue. Purdue has the edge over Minny in skill positions, but that doesn't mean squat when your trenches are get exploited play after play. Maryland has a QB that can single-handed beat Purdue. Nebraska is a dumpster fire but with Frost gone who knows. Forget Wisky. That's a no brainer. This team can be 4-5 or even 3-6 heading into November. Right now this team is the mirror image of the 2005 team led by Brandon Kirsch. They are finding ways how to lose. In 2005, it started with a Brandon Kirsch pass to Charles Davis in the flat for a 10 yard loss as time expired and sent Goldy on his bike racing up and down the field. That was the first of 4 gut-wrenching losses. Even a 3 game winning streak at the end of the season couldn't muster a Pizza Bowl.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

In what little I've seen, Wright doesn't look very quick/fast out of his breaks to me. I wondered if he was late getting to that sideline throw both times.

Could've been AOC being early, but you don't see him make that same exact mistake twice too often.

Do you mean Rice?

 

[Toast.]

Do you mean Rice?

lol yep, edited accordingly.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

lol yep, edited accordingly.

Yeah, i read your comment and assumed that’s who you meant and i agree … or he’s just not running the route correctly (or AOC is not throwing the right spot). I’m guessing it’s Rice, but also seems like something that can be corrected.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

This team has a lot of talent that is severely underachieving. I don't believe effort is an issue across the board but it does exist in a few areas. Special Teams is absolutely horrible. The worst since 2003. Right now there is no on-field discipline with this team. Unless this gets fixed NOW, this season will tank once FIU is over. Minnesota is a bad match-up for Purdue. Their OLs and DLs are tougher, stronger and more disciplined than Purdue. Purdue has the edge over Minny in skill positions, but that doesn't mean squat when your trenches are get exploited play after play. Maryland has a QB that can single-handed beat Purdue. Nebraska is a dumpster fire but with Frost gone who knows. Forget Wisky. That's a no brainer. This team can be 4-5 or even 3-6 heading into November. Right now this team is the mirror image of the 2005 team led by Brandon Kirsch. They are finding ways how to lose. In 2005, it started with a Brandon Kirsch pass to Charles Davis in the flat for a 10 yard loss as time expired and sent Goldy on his bike racing up and down the field. That was the first of 4 gut-wrenching losses. Even a 3 game winning streak at the end of the season couldn't muster a Pizza Bowl.

This team would absolutely annihilate kirsch’s team. Maryland looks like shit.

if Clifford and Shrader weren’t standing there patting the ball, discipline be damned, both games are 10 point wins

 

[Toast.]

Yeah, i read your comment and assumed that’s who you meant and i agree … or he’s just not running the route correctly (or AOC is not throwing the right spot). I’m guessing it’s Rice, but also seems like something that can be corrected.

Yeah I'd think it's just getting him more reps.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

Yeah, i read your comment and assumed that’s who you meant and i agree … or he’s just not running the route correctly (or AOC is not throwing the right spot). I’m guessing it’s Rice, but also seems like something that can be corrected.

So.. WR chemistry, as Milton Wright, who came here raw as a freshman, was actually a safety valve for O’Connell last year. And he would have toyed with penn state and Syracuse. Man how nice it would have been to see porter arrive early all day and Wright not give a flying F.

 

[BCfanatic2020]

Yeah I'd think it's just getting him more reps.

Until he or someone else steps up and makes that spot a threat, we will lose because of it.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

Until he or someone else steps up and makes that spot a threat, we will lose because of it.

Every team in football has to work through this. Rodgers struggled mightily against the Vikings and even quite a bit last night against the Bears with his new guys.

We didn’t lose Saturday because of it. We lost due to dumb penalties (some not really deserved) and the defense falling asleep at the end.

Of course it can and will get better, but our ability to effectively pass the ball is not close to the top of the list of problems.

 

[Toast.]

So.. WR chemistry, as Milton Wright, who came here raw as a freshman, was actually a safety valve for O’Connell last year. And he would have toyed with penn state and Syracuse. Man how nice it would have been to see porter arrive early all day and Wright not give a flying F.

Our offense would look very good with Wright right now imo.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

Our offense would look very good with Wright right now imo.

Good lord yes they would. Him and Jones would be destroying people.

 

[Trifida80]

Because you’re taking a very simplistic view. This offense would be able to do things like get an easy score on the first
Drive vs Syracuse if our left outside receiver had teams fearing that a play could be made at any point along the left side. We had that last year. This year mershawn rice is barely visible.

being able to take two steps in from the left side all the way over is a huge deal.

Yes, simplistic. Maybe there is a score on the first drive if the coach had down and distance correct (a better call or kick the FG). Anyway, there are other huge problems costing us games, discipline and inability to cover receivers (in addition, incorrect coverage called by English) as well as PI penalties. Many things could be pointed at as issues that must be fixed.

 

[Toast.]

Of course it can and will get better, but our ability to effectively pass the ball is not close to the top of the list of problems.

While this is true, I think it's the most realistic option to materially improve the offense. The running game may improve, but it's ceiling is extremely low, so that improvement is gonna be minimal.

If a second receiver steps up - even if it's by committee, though I think it needs to be a steady presence - the passing game can go to another level.

 

[bear_down_chicago_89]

While this is true, I think it's the most realistic option to materially improve the offense. The running game may improve, but it's ceiling is extremely low, so that improvement is gonna be minimal.

If a second receiver steps up - even if it's by committee, though I think it needs to be a steady presence - the passing game can go to another level.

Hopefully Durham has more games like Saturday (other than the penalty). Him and Jones and then some of Sheffield and Rice should be pretty darn hard to stop …. especially if we can even have a semblance of a running attack.