Stay patient folks

[j. spilotro]

As good of a first half the team played, they actually had a pretty rough final 36 minutes with the score being 35-13 over that period after NIU actually adjusted to the game plan. The team came in on a high in the first half with physical defensive play but they regressed over the course of the game. Giving up 545 yards over the course of a game is rough but 424-yards came in the final 36 minutes is really questionable.
Glancing at the NIU schedule last season, they actually aren't a blowout team and they only beat one FBS team by more that two touchdowns. The UNLV game was the only other time they beat any other FBS team by 14.
I'm concerned that the running backs were generally ineffective this game and the blocking schemes really struggled down the stretch. Palendech was the only player on the roster to average more than 3.5 per carry in game one.
Decker did a good job on the night managing the game but the last 36 minutes you saw a team that still may struggle to get a win this year if they can't recreate that first half energy.
Overall, this staff showed they can put together a good initial game plan but the jury is out on if they where they will be in a few week now that teams actually have game film to study. The UCLA and Michigan games come at a really bad time.

Some things you just can't do anything about. UNLV is extremely vulnerable because of an obvious lack of depth. There's nothing that can change that for this season and UNLV's just going to have to deal with it. But it's going to be an Achilles Heel all season long that stops the Rebels more times than not.

When NIU went no huddle and just quickened the pace, the defense was basically defenseless. That's when the very shoddy tackling came into play.

I really don't know much that can be done about it this year.

 

[willlevi]

Some things you just can't do anything about. UNLV is extremely vulnerable because of an obvious lack of depth. There's nothing that can change that for this season and UNLV's just going to have to deal with it. But it's going to be an Achilles Heel all season long that stops the Rebels more times than not.

When NIU went no huddle and just quickened the pace, the defense was basically defenseless. That's when the very shoddy tackling came into play.

I really don't know much that can be done about it this year.

That's a part of college football and doesn't change next season, 19 seniors will be gone next season with Decker included.
Vea, Keys Richmond will be gone at safety.
Eric Noone, Sonny Sanitoa, Logan Yunker, Fred Wilson, Anthony Williams, Aaron Criswell, Jake Phillips, Nick Gstrein, Ron Scoggins and Tuli Fakauho are among those graduating as well.
You also have the unknown underclass losses that are experienced each off-season as well.
This team has to learn to compete for four quarters with the rotation at hand.
Next year the quarterback position becomes really questionable.

This isn't a program that can expect to win due to loaded depth, it's just no in that position. This team will need to win with schemes and developing a capable defense.

 

[j. spilotro]

That's a part of college football and doesn't change next season, 19 seniors will be gone next season with Decker included.
Vea, Keys Richmond will be gone at safety.
Eric Noone, Sonny Sanitoa, Logan Yunker, Fred Wilson, Anthony Williams, Aaron Criswell, Jake Phillips, Nick Gstrein, Ron Scoggins and Tuli Fakauho are among those graduating as well.
You also have the unknown underclass losses that are experienced each off-season as well.
This team has to learn to compete for four quarters with the rotation at hand.
Next year the quarterback position becomes really questionable.

This isn't a program that can expect to win due to loaded depth, it's just no in that position. This team will need to win with schemes and developing a capable defense.

Of course there is always going to be fallout and a program like UNLV isn't strong two deep. But it's going to take a couple recruiting cycles to fortify things better than currently.

But I can't be disappointed with what I saw the other night. There are some severe limitations.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Of course there is always going to be fallout and a program like UNLV isn't strong two deep. But it's going to take a couple recruiting cycles to fortify things better than currently.

But I can't be disappointed with what I saw the other night. There are some severe limitations.

Exactly.

To use the most overused cliche in sports these days...It is what it is..There is nothing that can be done about depth issues at this point. I think some serious effort was made to bring in the 2 late signings to help the defensive line. Think of the situation we would be in without that. There is only so much that can be done in the course of one recruiting period.

I do think sometimes that people over use the term 'adjustments' when concerning sports. I honestly believe that in a lot of cases it isn't that a team makes these great adjustments, but that they actually start to execute better. Northern Illinois outside of going up tempo didn't really change what they typically do on offense.. UNLV handled their zone read pretty well early on and contained their QB in the run game. They forced Northern Illinois out of there comfort zone of 3rd and shorts with run pass options. As the game wore on and UNLVs defense wore down N. Illinois started to execute better. I don't think Coach Baer in any way was slow to counter what N. Illinois was doing, I simply think as a program right now we only have so many bullets in the gun. I really don't think there was much more we could have done to slow them down late. This isn't to say that adjustments weren't made by both sides and that they didn't effect the game. I just personally felt the bigger difference in the game was lack of depth for us and the fact they are a really solid football team. If they were in the Mountain West they would most likely be considered just a step below Boise State.

 

[1Tripoda]

Regardless of some of our flaws and deficiencies, that was really a good football game. That was exciting and innovative game from the team. Yes, UNLV could have demoralize them in the second quarter....I thought that was the key window. Still, that was a good game.

 

[willlevi]

Exactly.

To use the most overused cliche in sports these days...It is what it is..There is nothing that can be done about depth issues at this point. I think some serious effort was made to bring in the 2 late signings to help the defensive line. Think of the situation we would be in without that. There is only so much that can be done in the course of one recruiting period.

I do think sometimes that people over use the term 'adjustments' when concerning sports. I honestly believe that in a lot of cases it isn't that a team makes these great adjustments, but that they actually start to execute better. Northern Illinois outside of going up tempo didn't really change what they typically do on offense.. UNLV handled their zone read pretty well early on and contained their QB in the run game. They forced Northern Illinois out of there comfort zone of 3rd and shorts with run pass options. As the game wore on and UNLVs defense wore down N. Illinois started to execute better. I don't think Coach Baer in any way was slow to counter what N. Illinois was doing, I simply think as a program right now we only have so many bullets in the gun. I really don't think there was much more we could have done to slow them down late. This isn't to say that adjustments weren't made by both sides and that they didn't effect the game. I just personally felt the bigger difference in the game was lack of depth for us and the fact they are a really solid football team. If they were in the Mountain West they would most likely be considered the just a step below Boise State.

In this case, adjustments is the term that definitely fits. NIU didn't know the formations, blocking schemes and tendencies to expect offensively. Is this a run heavy team, option or spread? I honestly expected to see the I-formation mixed in.
They also didn't know the defensive philosophy such as blitz tendency, stunt usage, coverage or personnel.
Those thing make a huge difference in game planning/play calling for the opposing team. Once they figured it out, they scored 35 points to 13 the rest of the way.
Now the film is available for opposing coaches, the performance the rest of the way will provide a better idea of how well this staff will be ready to compete now and into the future.

 

[LasVegasReb]

In this case, adjustments is the term that definitely fits. NIU didn't know the formations, blocking schemes and tendencies to expect offensively. Is this a run heavy team, option or spread? I honestly expected to see the I-formation mixed in.
They also didn't know the defensive philosophy such as blitz tendency, stunt usage, coverage or personnel.
Those thing make a huge difference in game planning/play calling for the opposing team. Once they figured it out, they scored 35 points to 13 the rest of the way.
Now the film is available for opposing coaches, the performance the rest of the way will provide a better idea of how well this staff will be ready to compete now and into the future.

Or maybe it was just a depth and personnel skill issue?

 

[willlevi]

I will say this, the defense was only on the field for just 68 plays over 24 minutes through the course of the game. That's really not a long period of time on the field for a team to wear through the depth.
Over the course of the game we won TOP every quarter.
For as good as the team played early, the last 36 minutes were just as bad. Too many big plays, broken tackles and an ineffective run game.

 

[bcvegaspt]

They say that football is 22 minutes of action wrapped up in 3 hours so if they were on the field for 24 minutes they played more than usual. Therefore, fatigue due to lack of depth would certainly be the reason for the late demise.

 

[reb4life777]

This game was a breath of fresh air. There were some mistakes (blown assignment across middle, fall for double move,dropped balls and a few times RB failed to follow blocks.) but the overall player vibe . game plan, play calling and improved technique before breaking down mentally was nice to see. Im looking forward to seeing how things progress this year. The other thing i liked was Sanchez was coaching for the future and didnt get caught up in I have to win this game . He stuck to the game plan intentionally so those underclassmen could get on the field. Perhaps as the team grows more adjustments will be made but he sees the whole picture.

 

[willlevi]

They say that football is 22 minutes of action wrapped up in 3 hours so if they were on the field for 24 minutes they played more than usual. Therefore, fatigue due to lack of depth would certainly be the reason for the late demise.

Actually, the quarters are 15 minutes long so 60 minutes wrapped up in 3 hours.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

In this case, adjustments is the term that definitely fits. NIU didn't know the formations, blocking schemes and tendencies to expect offensively. Is this a run heavy team, option or spread? I honestly expected to see the I-formation mixed in.
They also didn't know the defensive philosophy such as blitz tendency, stunt usage, coverage or personnel.
Those thing make a huge difference in game planning/play calling for the opposing team. Once they figured it out, they scored 35 points to 13 the rest of the way.
Now the film is available for opposing coaches, the performance the rest of the way will provide a better idea of how well this staff will be ready to compete now and into the future.

Will-
While they didnt have tape on Coach Sanchez they did have plenty of tape on Cotton and Baer from their previous spots. All coordinators including the great ones have tendencies. Dick Lebeau the former Steeler DC has run the 3-4 zone blitz scheme for years. He has added a few wrinkles here and there but when facing one of his defenses you know what you are going to see. He isnt all of a sudden going to become a 4-3 cover 2 guy. There will be some disguise and deception but it will boil down to a base 3-4 zone blitz scheme. How well the defense works relies heavily on the players you have and their ability to execute. Cotton is a proponent of a strong run game, but while at Nebraska they ran primarily out of a spread look. The Huskers haven't run the option I since Scott Frost and Tommy Frazier days. Nearly everybody in college football is running some form of a spread offense or out of a pistol or shotgun look. The fact UNLV didnt line up in the I formation shouldnt come as any surprise. I would have been more surprised if they had.

Again this isnt to say no adjustments were made, just that I feel the team with the better depth began to execute better as the game wore on.

Schemes and adjustments did not influence two drops in the endzone or a drop that would have kept a drive alive. That was a failure to execute, & we came up a little short.

 

[bcvegaspt]

Actually, the quarters are 15 minutes long so 60 minutes wrapped up in 3 hours.

I apologize for not making the word "action" bold and typed in capital letters. Thank you, however, for giving me that valuable information.