The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly

[UNT90]

THE GOOD:

Big crowd, Darius Carey, Will Atteberry, Royce Hill's return.... uh... that's about it.

THE BAD:

Huge student crowd, and we again play non-competetive football for the 1st half. Just the same soul stomping, motivation draining, heart shrinking, gut turning crap that seems to have been happening the last 5 years. The game? Well, terrible performance by the defense against a QB that couldn't throw the ball through a tire from 3 feet. Was there ever any question that the run was ALWAYS Dasher's 1st option? Knowing the run was coming, UNT was never able to control it (except for a short time at the start of the 2nd half).

The Offenseive line was not good, causing Riley to get a bad case of happy feet early in the game. The MTSU defense played a scheme that Riley will see the rest of the season: Run blitz, press the receivers, and make UNT beat you deep. Riley hasn't proven he can do it, and I'm beginning to wonder if he can. Riley had a really bad game and looked liked the redshirt freshman that he is. He has got to eliminate the turnovers in the red zone, hell, turnovers in general. He did throw for over 300 yards, but that is a really empty stat.

Coaching. I just don't understand not going for the 2 point conversion with the score 30-20 and 1 minute left in the 3rd. There is no feasible senerio I can come up with as to why you don't go for 2 at that point. If I've missed anything, please let me know, but I can't really find the disadvantage as to being down 10 (if you dont make it) as opposed to being down 9 (as UNT was after the standard PAT). Yes, I know that a touchdown and field goal would win it if you held MTSU scoreless for 2 consecutive possessions while you scored on 2 consecutive possessions, but really? Not to mention the emotional lift your team would get if you made the conversion and were only down one score after pissing away a full half of football.

THE UGLY:

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers...

Another blocked field goal to start the game. a la last year. Just a momentum killer. I respectfully disagree with Coach Dodge, who said in the postgame interview with George that this was the best special teams performance since Dodge has been here. A blocked field goal should be unacceptable at the major college level.

In summary, a major regression which has me thinking that 3 more wins this year is highly optimistic.

[Guest JohnDenver]

Coaching. I just don't understand not going for the 2 point conversion with the score 30-20 and 1 minute left in the 3rd. There is no feasible senerio I can come up with as to why you don't go for 2 at that point. If I've missed anything, please let me know, but I can't really find the disadvantage as to being down 10 (if you dont make it) as opposed to being down 9 (as UNT was after the standard PAT). Yes, I know that a touchdown and field goal would win it if you held MTSU scoreless for 2 consecutive possessions while you scored on 2 consecutive possessions, but really? Not to mention the emotional lift your team would get if you made the conversion and were only down one score after pissing away a full half of football.

I wouldn't have gone for 2. The way we were moving the ball, with the way our D was stopping their offense, I wouldn't want to risk *not* making the 2pts and swinging the momentum pendulum back towards MTSU. I would take my 7pts, celebrate, let the D continue to do their job. As opposed to taking my 6pts, potentially hanging their heads about the failure to get 2.

[CMJ]

I usually think it's best not to chase points till the 4th quarter. Granted, we were almost in the last stanza at that pont, but I probably still would have just kicked the extra point.

[Guest JohnDenver]

The questionable coaching from my perspective, was going 3 and out with 9 minutes left in the game, while down two touchdowns -- this would have been a 4 down territory for me. I wouldn't have been playing to punt.

[eulessismore]

THE GOOD:

Big crowd, Darius Carey, Will Atteberry, Royce Hill's return.... uh... that's about it.

THE BAD:

Huge student crowd, and we again play non-competetive football for the 1st half. Just the same soul stomping, motivation draining, heart shrinking, gut turning crap that seems to have been happening the last 5 years. The game? Well, terrible performance by the defense against a QB that couldn't throw the ball through a tire from 3 feet. Was there ever any question that the run was ALWAYS Dasher's 1st option? Knowing the run was coming, UNT was never able to control it (except for a short time at the start of the 2nd half).

The Offenseive line was not good, causing Riley to get a bad case of happy feet early in the game. The MTSU defense played a scheme that Riley will see the rest of the season: Run blitz, press the receivers, and make UNT beat you deep. Riley hasn't proven he can do it, and I'm beginning to wonder if he can. Riley had a really bad game and looked liked the redshirt freshman that he is. He has got to eliminate the turnovers in the red zone, hell, turnovers in general. He did throw for over 300 yards, but that is a really empty stat.

Coaching. I just don't understand not going for the 2 point conversion with the score 30-20 and 1 minute left in the 3rd. There is no feasible senerio I can come up with as to why you don't go for 2 at that point. If I've missed anything, please let me know, but I can't really find the disadvantage as to being down 10 (if you dont make it) as opposed to being down 9 (as UNT was after the standard PAT). Yes, I know that a touchdown and field goal would win it if you held MTSU scoreless for 2 consecutive possessions while you scored on 2 consecutive possessions, but really? Not to mention the emotional lift your team would get if you made the conversion and were only down one score after pissing away a full half of football.

THE UGLY:

Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers...

Another blocked field goal to start the game. a la last year. Just a momentum killer. I respectfully disagree with Coach Dodge, who said in the postgame interview with George that this was the best special teams performance since Dodge has been here. A blocked field goal should be unacceptable at the major college level.

In summary, a major regression which has me thinking that 3 more wins this year is highly optimistic.

Nothing about Dunbar?

[Guest JohnDenver]

Nothing about Dunbar?

...and BJ Lewis stepping in and having some valuable clutch receptions.

[UNT90]

This team hasn't scored more than 20 before MTSU all season; you are expecting things to go perfectly for you in 4 straight possessions; even if you fail on the conversion, the 4 perfect possessions allows you to tie the game; you are trying to instill confidence and a winning culture on this team, and going for 2 shows such confidence in the team by the coaches.

All the above are the reasons I would have gone for it.

I also agree on the 3 and out with 9 left in the game.

Dunbar did have a nice run for a TD and over a c note on only, what, 5 carries? Shoulda included that.

[UNT90]

...and BJ Lewis stepping in and having some valuable clutch receptions.

With a final of 37-21, and being down 30-7 at half, there is nothing I would call "clutch" in any performance in this game.

[Guest JohnDenver]

With a final of 37-21, and being down 30-7 at half, there is nothing I would call "clutch" in any performance in this game.

Well, then scratch the whole GOOD section. It was a loss.

[UNT90]

Well, then scratch the whole GOOD section. It was a loss.

"Good" and "Clutch" are not synonyms, that's all Im saying.

[TheTastyGreek]

This isn't a cheap shot at the football team, which, despite all the frustration and disappointment, did make some good halftime adjustments and show some things we didn't see last year.

But the thing I saw yesterday that made me the happiest was the announcement that basketball season tips off in 45 days. Very, very excited about that.

[VideoEagle]

I think the fact we made effective adjustments at halftime was good.

This team is significantly better than last year on both offense and defense. It still is making far too many mistakes, but the talent level is much improved. Mistakes can be corrected.

[MeanGreenEagle]

Coaching. I just don't understand not going for the 2 point conversion with the score 30-20 and 1 minute left in the 3rd. There is no feasible senerio I can come up with as to why you don't go for 2 at that point.

The scenario that played out is why you don't go for two at that point. We weren't going to shut out the best passing passing attack in the conference for the entire 4th quarter. We had a fighting chance untill the end being down by 16 (37-21). The score being 37-20 would have ended the game after MTSU's last score.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

I usually think it's best not to chase points till the 4th quarter. Granted, we were almost in the last stanza at that pont, but I probably still would have just kicked the extra point.

I agree. I guess you could have gone for two at that point, but it would not really have mattered either way - that team, last night, was not coming back to win that game.

[THOR]

what's happened to cam???

10 carries for minus 1 yard

and he wasn't good at alabama either.

[football fan]

what's happened to cam???

10 carries for minus 1 yard

and he wasn't good at alabama either.

Bama Def Line (1st & 2nd string) = IMMOVABLE OBJECT. We ran the ball 19 times right at the IO. Our O Lineman must have had serious helmet rash on their backs from that playcalling strategy. No "thank you" notes to TD from O Line after Bame game.

[Daddy Dumpsalot]

I'm afraid that with as many picks as Riley has been throwing that our offense is going to become super conservative. I have already noticed that we take VERY few shots down field and instead try the WR screen over and over. Our offense has gotten less vertical and more horizontal. I know this is a result of Riley not having enough time in the pocket for the play to develop but we can't keep going out there doing the same thing that doesn't work over and over and expect it to eventually start to work.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

I'm afraid that with as many picks as Riley has been throwing that our offense is going to become super conservative. I have already noticed that we take VERY few shots down field and instead try the WR screen over and over. Our offense has gotten less vertical and more horizontal. I know this is a result of Riley not having enough time in the pocket for the play to develop but we can't keep going out there doing the same thing that doesn't work over and over and expect it to eventually start to work.

One thing that struck me about our offense this year is that we take so much time by getting the play called, then all looking over to the sidelines for a new call, that we give the defense plenty of time to rest and adjust as needed as so many times the play clock is under 5 seconds to snap. The offense never gets rolling per say like Middle's did last night - can't count on two hands how many times they were running their offense with our defense not set.

[Travis]

Bama Def Line (1st & 2nd string) = IMMOVABLE OBJECT. We ran the ball 19 times right at the IO. Our O Lineman must have had serious helmet rash on their backs from that playcalling strategy. No "thank you" notes to TD from O Line after Bame game.

So what is the excuse for MTSU then?

[TIgreen01]

I'm with UNT90 on the 2pt try. You HAVE to go for it at that point in the game as there is very little benefit in being down 9 vs. 10 at that point. You make the game a 1 possession game with a successful conversion.

The 3 and out with 9 minutes to go was a kick to the nuts---which was made worse b/c we didn't go for 2 after scoring the previous possession. Problem was that we needed 8-9 yards and were at our own 30ish. You don't make that 4th down and the game is certainly over...but what was really terrible was the 1st down call on that series. We come out in a freaking power-I formation?! WTF? Then when that gets stuffed we run a draw play? Really?! These were 2 of the worst calls of the game.

[Guest JohnDenver]

So what is the excuse for MTSU then?

MTSU has size, talent and experience in the middle of their line. One of the guys looks like a Booger clone, but obviously not as good.

[UNT90]

But the thing I saw yesterday that made me the happiest was the announcement that basketball season tips off in 45 days. Very, very excited about that.

Apparently you haven't seen the home non-conference schedule.

Must be a Sunday after a home loss.

[JayDub]

• The Good - I was neither at the stadium, nor able to listen to this game.
• The Bad - We got our asses handed to us by another mediocre team.
• The Ugly - Todd Dodge is still our coach and will continue to bury this program once and for all.

Proud graduate of the Glenn Beck School of Hyperbole.

[MeanGreenEagle]

The Bad - We got our asses handed to us by another mediocre team.

That mediocre team may be the best team in our conference.

[KingDL1]

That mediocre team may be the best team in our conference.

That was my understanding, great team.

I still expect 5-6 wins this year, I guess we will see.