Hajj isn’t going to do that sad, pathetic superstar thing. He will play in a bowl game. He’s not sitting out to protect his stock.
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- Thread starter j. spilotro
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If Hajj was just a little accurate tonight we might've had a chance.
I know we scored a lot of points this year. But the offense has shown some real weaknesses. They ran up a ton of offense against UTAH Tech. Blocked punts, so many turnovers … that all helped the offensive numbers alot. We were a much more dynamic offense last year with a quarterback that couldn’t run, but had a pretty good arm.
Hajj has been happy feet in many games this year, scared to go beyond the first read. Scared to throw the ball. It didn’t just pop up here. It’s happened in several games. I’m surprised more didn’t notice it. I thought it was pretty obvious. He had a sheep in the headlights look too many times.
I really do not care if Marion goes. I’m really sick of such bad play calling and ineffectiveness in the red zone. It’s like he gets deer in the headlights too.
UNLV isn’t that far off. They made up so much in just two years.
Hajj has been happy feet in many games this year, scared to go beyond the first read. Scared to throw the ball. It didn’t just pop up here. It’s happened in several games. I’m surprised more didn’t notice it. I thought it was pretty obvious. He had a sheep in the headlights look too many times.
I really do not care if Marion goes. I’m really sick of such bad play calling and ineffectiveness in the red zone. It’s like he gets deer in the headlights too.
UNLV isn’t that far off. They made up so much in just two years.
I noticed it before the season started saw a few of his games online and vs good teams he was horrible and I use good loosely. He was terrible vs UNC missed open guys, never went past first read before running, took sacks. I appreciate what he did this season but he is just a so so QB. He can run with the ball and he doesn’t quit but his passing is ugh.
Yeah, I don’t think people are going to look back and remember, hey, remember that 10 win season when we had a chance to get into the CFP thanks to the play of Hajj? In fact, just the act of Sluka bolting will be more memorable to most. Not trying to be mean because he was pretty good for us this year over all, but an extremely, extremely flawed QB who showed flashes with his leg, not his arm.
I'm not going to be too mad about this loss. Yeah, it stings, But it was also our best year since 1984 or so. People thought they would never see something like this again.
🍻 love to be frustrated in a game that had huge meaning due to losing. Then to be disjointed wishing we wasn't one of the worst teams in the country. Looking forward to watching another bowl game
Not too upset really, just a missed opportunity for a great group of players. Tip your cap to Boise as they learned from our first game and put all the pressure on Hajj to beat them with his arm. Wish we could have made a better game of it for the cameras (and recruits). We still have a bowl game ahead of us and an opportunity to make a better showing. A bowl win and 11-3 season would be a great year and positive step forward. I’ll be rooting for Boise in the CFP (but the way to beat them is with a pass rush so Madsen cannot hurt you; Jeanty will get his regardless).
No doubt QB is one place UNLV will need to upgrade along with the offensive play calls!
I feel like Hajj’s completion percentage is fools gold. Guy hardly knows how to throw the ball away and will take whatever his legs give him after the first read, too often resulting in a negative play (sack). Throwing beyond the sticks has been an exercise in futility all year. Just not a strong arm or accurate combined with lack of ability to move away from pressure while keeping eyes down the field. Put Maiava’s vision and arm on Hajj’s legs and you have a world class QB.
I hate to say it, but Sluka probably would have given us a better chance to compete in this game with these conditions.
If BM goes, I’m ok with that too. I think it’s weird when an OC wants to be on the sideline and is obviously concerned with camera time. The way Koetter (OC Boise) operates in a press box (where you can actually see how the entire unit plays) is what I envision a really good OC doing. In both games it was abundantly clear who had the OC advantage.
I hate to say it, but Sluka probably would have given us a better chance to compete in this game with these conditions.
If BM goes, I’m ok with that too. I think it’s weird when an OC wants to be on the sideline and is obviously concerned with camera time. The way Koetter (OC Boise) operates in a press box (where you can actually see how the entire unit plays) is what I envision a really good OC doing. In both games it was abundantly clear who had the OC advantage.
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I don’t know. Sluka wasn’t a team guy, Hajj was. Hajj gave us all he got, he just doesn’t have much with his arm. We need a complete quarterback, seems like we’ve been stuck with half of one.
Even with Maiava I’m not sure he could have done much, especially in the first half. Our OL was not able to protect the QB against BSU in both games. Our offense will need to take some steps forward in these positions for sure. The rest of the offense has been decent but hampered by these issues. Feel for RW, he was such a more effective weapon with Maiava.
When you think of him being our QB2 he had a good season. We definitely wouldn’t be here with three losses if Friel was our QB. He was physically and mentally tough, and we’ll give him lots of credit for that but unfortunately, ultimately he was a flawed QB.
Can’t disagree. And I don’t Sluka doing any better than Hajj, especially against Boise. Whether or not Sluka was a better passer is debatable (I don’t think that’s the case) but regardless the difference is negligible and not going to result in a different outcome. The rush Boise had on Hajj all night would have wreaked havoc with Sluka as well. Perhaps Sluka could have made a few more runs to escape the rush but it wouldn’t have made a difference in the outcome.
Yeah I agree it wouldn’t have changed much and Sluka was a flawed passer as well. Saw the same thing with him last year vs BC and it wasn’t just a bad game he is inconsistent with accuracy he can go past the first read but also lacks field vision.
He was 2 … but it was 1a and 1b really. They were neck and neck. They opted Sluka, but there wasn’t strong consensus either. I know the receivers preferred Hajj.
I get the dissatisfaction with the offense in the red zone.
I 100% agree it needed to be better.
But overall the play calling has been good this year.
I guess the way I look at it is, if you are going to blame playcalling for your failures all the time (not you people in general) realize that in games we win; the fans of the other teams are doing the exact same thing? Are they right? Are we right?
Preparation/Coaching/Talent/execution ultimately decide games.
Will I be worried if Marion leaves? Nope Odom has good track record with OCs. But I think Marion is a great play designer, I think he is an above average play caller. Numbers don't tell whole story always but they give you an idea.
We could run the ball as well as anybody. We created a lot of explosive plays 20+ yards. Where we definitely struggled was in the red zone and it remained an issue all year. I think you can definitely pin that on Marion not figuring it out.
But I would absolutely take the overall body of work/production.
I had this debate with people last year about play calling.
The easiest out for fans is to cry about play calling, but execution matters as much if not more.
Last night Boise had a 3rd and 5. A first down basically sats the game away. They called some play action pass TE sneaks into the flat wide open...Dropped it. Gave Rebs life.
That's 100% failure to execute vs a bad play call.
Rebs had 2? 3? Deep pass attempts last night. 2x we lost 50/50 balls, The other Hajj missed a dude that had a step on defender. Play call was right, Hajj didn't execute on one. Boise DBs out fought our guys on the 50/50.
