Iowa Too Much for Falcons

Things were better in Carver Arena last night than they were against Xavier, but they weren't good.  BG is struggling to score, and that was especially apparent last night, and then tack 15 turnovers on top of it, and you just are not getting enough quality possessions to compete.

Perimeter defense was a struggle for the second straight game, as Iowa shot 48% from beyond the arc.  I think it is safe to say that our defensive game plan is to hold teams well below that for ALL their shots.

NCAA Basketball Stats

The scoring troubles are not terribly surprising.  Miller was the go to guy for points last year, and Moten was key from time to time, so I think the Falcons are struggling to get into the right rhythm so far.  If you look at the playing time, it is clear that Coach Orr is experimenting with different approaches trying to see what he has, especially from the young players.  Danny McElroy, for example, had some strong minutes last night.  I remain optimistic that as our players (especially on the frontline) continue to develop  and learn their roles, we could be competitive during the MAC season.

The backcourt is a little worrisome.  We just seem really thin.  Darion Goins is not getting much time or production.

Perimeter defense is an issue too.  Last year, we played a lot of zone because we didn't have the horses to go man for the time and intensity we need.  I'm guessing these bombs are coming against the zone again, but if we are going to compete we need to be able to defend the trey.

Finally, we don't get to the line and haven't been shooting well when we get there.  We went most of last night's game without even one free throw.  BG was called for only 11 fouls, which is pretty good.

Anyway, this one was never in doubt.  I will be very interested in seeing this team and UWM in a week.

NCAA Basketball Stats

MAC Blogger Roundtable

Our host this week is Temple Football Forever, as they prepare to play Kent and lock down a division title

Subdue the Roo

Ok, with a night to reflect, I'm still feeling pretty good about the win last night.

Here's the perspective.  I know that Miami and Akron are among the worst teams in FBS football.  I know that Buffalo is struggling.

Even so, we beat all three....we beat the teams we are supposed to beat.

And that's better than last year's team.

Also, we can be trusted to hold a lead in the fourth quarter.  We seem to have the ability to close games out.  Note, if you will, the onside kick vs. Buffalo last year....and vs. Akron last night.

Some other thoughts:

BG's running game continues to be pretty poor.  The stats were bolstered by a 72 yard run on our last real play from scrimmage, we were 32 for 70-something, and just over 2 yards a carry.  Obviously, this is a struggle that is not going to go away this season.

Sheehan had an excellent game, maybe his best of the season.  72% completion, 10.6 yards per attempt and 14.7% per completion with no interceptions, that's a pretty good day on anybody's sheet.  He managed the offense very well, especially the first drive in the second half.

I think our offense is much better managed overall than it was last year.  Our OC is doing a great job finding ways to move the ball.  I often felt in the past like we had one idea how to move the ball, and we just kept doing it over and over again.  This offense is far more creative in how we find open space for our good players.  Our screen game, in particular, has really improved, and that throwback screen yesterday was a back breaker.

The red zone stuff also continues to be vexing, although we mitigate it by getting down there so often.  I don't really care about whether the calls were good or bad, we should have punched it home there in the second quarter.  To not be able to make six inches on a QB sneak is really disappointing.

For as much as I think the run game is not getting consistent productive blocking, our pass protection was excellent, albeit against a team that doesn't get many sacks.

On defense, you know, the story isn't changing that much.  The best thing that ever happens for our defense is that the offense puts us in the lead.  Akron's offensive struggles coming in were pretty well documented, but Nicely had almost as good a numbers as Sheehan had, and they ran the ball like crazy in the first half.  We still tackle poorly in the run game.  With the lead, we did collapse the pocket on Nicely a little bit, even if we didn't get home with sacks.

The safety was a big play.   It looked to me like the RB had the opportunity to duck out of the end zone on the inside but went parallel to the goal line and Brown swooped in on him.  We did a nice job on the tackle, because he was kind of leaning downhill and BG stood him up and kept him in the end zone.  So, even if it was an Akron mistake, they made a mistake and BG made them pay for it, which is what good teams can do.

On special teams, we had a TD on that onside kick, and beyond that, it seemed like a pretty even game.  That missed XP was an absolute killer.  With a 17 point lead, the last six minutes are a sleep walk.  With a 16 point lead, Akron still had a shot.

I think our coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for us being 6-5.  They have doggedly pursued ways for these guys to win, not ways for some guys who are going to be here three years from now to win.  I haven't seen anyone write recently that Coach Clawson always loses in his first year, etc.  This team hemorrhaged defensive players since last season (plus Mahone), and despite that the team is still 6-5.

We can't run the ball or stop the run, and this team is still 6-5.  That's an accomplishment.

Falcon Victory...ahhhhhh

So, the Falcons picked up the victory AT HOME tonight at the Doyt.  It was actually a pretty fun night.  First of all, it was a perfect night for football....a  great night to see our team.  Even though we struggled a little in the first half, we came out in the second half and lit them up and ended up winning by two scores.  Even though they had a shot to get it a little closer at the end, they were still two scores and two 2-xp from TYING the game.

I don't know what it is, but half the time under the current regime, even when we won I'd leave frustrated.  I don't feel that way now.  A very satisfying way to leave the Doyt.

Freddie had a great game.  There has been some nonsense from UT fans on AZZ.com that Freddie is some kind of system player.  He was dominant tonight.  He made huge plays, big catches, and even one complete and total circus catch.  He's a great player.  If it wasn't for LeFevour, he'd be a shoo-in for player of the year.

His 12 catches leave him 13 short of the NCAA record.

Akron moved the ball effectively against BG, and Nicely made some really nice throws.  He is going to be a very good QB in this conference.  BG was able to get stops when needed, and 20 points is a pretty good result.  The tackling in the first half was really spotty, and we were fortunate to have the lead in the second half so they had to throw.

I thought there were a couple of key points.

The first was the drive that opened the second half.  BG took the kickoff, marched down the field with a 14 play, 7:28 drive that not only gave BG the lead but kept the defense off the field for what was 1/4 of the remaining time in the game.  BG converted 3 3rd downs, including Freddie from the gun, a brilliantly called QB draw and a pass to Barnes on 3rd and 9.  BG also finished in the red zone on a nicely drawn up shovel pass to Barnes.

The other key point was the Keith Morgan kickoff return for a TD.  Coach Clawson said in the presser that Morgan is supposed to fair catch that ball, but he picked it off and ran the other way for what had to be a very demoralizing TD to give up for Akron.  And, it kept it a two-score game, which defines the dynamic the whole way home.

Overall, another relatively comfortable win for our team.  BG started 1-4, and now is 6-5.  Technically bowl eligible, our "Super Bowl" as Coach Clawson called it is next Friday.  A win gets us (most likely) into a bowl game, plus gives us our third straight victory over our most hated rival.  It will be a great day for college football.

More tomorrow.  In the meantime, enjoy the win.

Crowd at Doyt roughly the size of a large family thanksgiving

Game Day With Akron

Go Falcons.  Beat the Zips.

Iowa Men's Basketball Preview

I went to do a little research on Iowa for tomorrow night's basketball game, and I have to admit that I was a little surprised.

Things are not as good there as I thought.

Their program is in a deep hole right now, and it is looking to be a long year over there.  They are a very young team, with 9 of their 12 players being freshmen or sophomores.  Beyond that, 1 of their three upperclassmen is injured, and in total, two of them were Junior College transfers, which I do not believe is the preferred way to build a senior class in the Big 10.

They are not especially big.  I am sure that Xavier had a better inside game then Iowa does.

Further, they started off with two home games and lost them both.  They lost to Texas-San Antonio (by 12, and I know that isn't a bad program, but come on) and then to Duquesne on a last second shot.

So, on one hand, beating them in Carver Arena is clearly not impossible.  I'd like to think that having had our pride wounded a little the other night in Cincy, we'll be ready to go on Friday night.  And I'd like to think we have a shot at these guys.

On the other hand, Iowa will have in "teeth gritting" mode for this game.  They have a tough pre-season schedule ahead (including Texas and Pitt) and really can't afford to fall to 0-3.  I expect them to doing whatever they need to to win.

They have played strong defense, even holding high powered Duquesne in the low 50s, so it is clearly the offense that is holding them back.  That pretty much compliments our style, so, you know, a 12-8 game is not outside the realm of possibility.

For Falcon fans, the game will be on the Big 10 Network. I hope to back from the Akron game in time to see all or most of it.  This is actually a nice test for our team and if we play our game, is a winnable game.