I believe the more we call for it the more Fitz we rebuke to validate how correct he was in the first place.
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Fire O’Neil
- Thread starter rwesley264
- Start date
So, the middle linebacker who became a defensive assistant before becoming head coach is responsible for the offense, but not the defense. That's just silly.
IMHO, the difference in the games yesterday was told on third down on both sides of the ball. Minnesota executed at twice the rate that NU did. That's a coaching and culture problem on BOTH sides of the ball.
I don't think the transfer portal is any different for QB than it is for any other position other than the focus fans put on it. There are reasons players are transferring and reasons players pick a program and Cats fans would be wise to try to recognize those as they set their expectations.
Of course he's responsible for both. I think it was a bit of good luck on Fitz's part that Hank arrived at NU between Colby and O'Neil. Had he not, we'd have been having the conversations we're now having 12 years ago.
Also literally nobody is calling it a panacea. It’s the best option we have when recruitment at the position has been so bad.
And how much consideration did NU get from either of them? Develop our own or perish.
wrong, plenty of posters on this very board have made the argument our struggles recruiting HS QBs is not a big deal because of the transfer portal. That’s flawed logic.
Posters you made up in your head. Keep knocking down imaginary strawmen from your high horse
We were Justin Fields’s second choice when he transferred to OSU, big fella.
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Does anyone not realize that over the past 5-7 years we had an entrenched starter at least one high level qb recruit decommit and an even higher recruit be arrested and obviously didn’t come?
when you’re only taking one qb per class this is what happens.
when you’re only taking one qb per class this is what happens.
The OL came to play too. There was more push and more openings for Hull and Clair than we've seen yet this season. I have been way down on them this season, but give them credit. As has been pointed out often here, they usually improve as the season goes on - I definitely saw better run blocking yesterday. Not terrific, but definitely better. And Hull was exceptional... again.
And I'll also say I was wrong about Hull... in an earlier thread we had a little argument about Hull is better than the other RBs we offered but didn't land in the 2019 class - Nathan Peat, Young at Rutgers, Brock at Iowa State, and of course Wandale Robinson. I said he doesn't compare to Robinson and Peat (they did have better first two years than Hull did). Well, I'm wrong. I have no idea what those guys are doing this year, but I'll take Hull all day. He's a big time Big Ten starting RB. Not to mention the best player on NU this year.
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Thought I was responding to curdog when he was saying a couple of successful transfers wanted a word. I just added another
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No one was happy with out difficulties in recruiting HS QBs. They just indicated that it was a viable (not most desirable but viable) backup plan
I wanted to believe the best in HJ but in 2019 he was the worst QB I’ve ever seen in CFB. Hard to know what the coaches were thinking. He showed nothing in games.
Marty himself in 2019 said he didn’t prepare because he was so far down the depth chart (after Johnson, Green, and Smith).
Coming into the season, I knew these things...
Marty was our best QB, Hull was our best tailback (since Porter was out), Skowronski was supposed to be our best offensive lineman and the transfer Robinson was our best receiver (possibly by a lot).
What I didn't know was whether we had anybody else.
Sadly, the talent rose to the top, has faced a couple injuries and there isn't much to support it.
Marty was our best QB, Hull was our best tailback (since Porter was out), Skowronski was supposed to be our best offensive lineman and the transfer Robinson was our best receiver (possibly by a lot).
What I didn't know was whether we had anybody else.
Sadly, the talent rose to the top, has faced a couple injuries and there isn't much to support it.
So, then we do have the personnel to play at a higher level now as long as Marry plays?
One of my rules.... Don't run trick plays when you are moving the ball.
On our opening drive of the 2nd half, we'd picked up three first downs and reached the Minnesota 35.
We were only trailing 20-7.
Marty threw an incomplete pass on first down, then we ran a "tricky" reverse to Jefferson, who fumbled and lost 6 yards, putting us in 3rd and 16. We gained 13 yards on 3rd down, but on 4th down Marty bought about 7 seconds for anybody to get open and no one did, so we turned it over on downs.
That ended the game.
On our opening drive of the 2nd half, we'd picked up three first downs and reached the Minnesota 35.
We were only trailing 20-7.
Marty threw an incomplete pass on first down, then we ran a "tricky" reverse to Jefferson, who fumbled and lost 6 yards, putting us in 3rd and 16. We gained 13 yards on 3rd down, but on 4th down Marty bought about 7 seconds for anybody to get open and no one did, so we turned it over on downs.
That ended the game.
I know you didn't ask me, but its Halloween. What the heck:
Against Rutgers, yes. And maybe Illinois. But if the same Illini OL that showed up against State Penn shows up against us... forget about it. Repeat of yesterday, except Marty and Hull probably keep us in the game longer.
Everyone else? I don't see it, not without Robinson and Kirtz. Who among our healthy receivers right now, other than Malik Washington, showed they can consistently make plays in the Big Ten? Hopefully Jefferson... he's only had a few passes thrown his way since coming back. Marty and he could make a difference.
We might scratch out one other win if we catch Purdue or Iowa, or possibly the Cheeseheads, on the right day. But that's what I thought would happen yesterday. Doh.
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This is pretty much what I was going to write.
Other than Marty and Hull maybe willing us to 2 or 3 TDs in a game against maybe an Iowa or Illinois, we don't have all that much production if Robinson/Kirtz are out.
I understand the frustration of our fans but we're thin and can't afford to be missing the guys we were counting on this year.
Just a tough break and need to hit a bit better on recruiting/development.
That's why we have to hit more often.
We get 25% less players than everyone else. Have to hit 33% more to make up for it.
It was evident Johnson couldn’t play from the beginning. If he could play he’d be at Clemson. He’s got the size and arm but can’t play. There’s a million guys who look good in practice and fold up when the lights come on.
That's not how I read it and even if you interpret it the way you did, I disagree with that premise. Pickings are slim and for every Ramsey, you'll get 2-3 others that won't work out. For NU, I don't think it is a viable alternative unless you are willing to live with years like 2019 and 2021 on a semi regular basis. I am not.
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He's just being realistic. If I had a dollar for every time poor performance forced a coaching change...I wouldn't have very many dollars. Fitz just doesn't do it.Well aren't you the songbird of Spring?
That's right, Colby took years, as did Cushing, and McCall (easier to understand since McCall's descent was kind of slow motion).
And just look at Clemson's terrible QB play this year, which would've been his first year starting.
Of course some programs are overloaded with talent at the QB position so those that use the portal to their advantage (Burrows, Fields) find the right fit. And the right scheme to use their talents.
Nothing personal against CatManTrue, here, but this kind of comment is ridiculous and too common. That's like being best friend's with a guy that marries a supermodel, and you have a crush on her, and say "if only..."
Justin Fields was going to go to a program where he was going to a) play immediately and b) win enough to be in playoffs and in Heisman consideration. He wasn't ever going to come to play under our offense. Second choice to OSU. Ok, sure.
Stop making it out to be all luck. Fitz had already decided to get rid of COLBY and was looking for the guy to replace him. He logically asked for opinions from his network of mentors that included Barnett. (I believe at the time WIS had co DCs and Fitz wanted to go after Doeren but WIS had plans to elevate him leaving HANK as the odd guy out
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