YSU @ Saluki Stadium: Homecoming 10/19

Posted by: @1987saluki

...and not a single post. Here's the first.

All kidding aside, the lack of buzz surrounding SIU football right now is not a good sign for the future of the (local boy) head coach. I'll be checking the attendance.

The Penguins are 0-2 in the conference, with close losses @ UNI and home v SDSU.

The game is a must-win for Hill and his program. Senior RB DJ Davis is expected to return (dislocated elbow); in his absence, the backfield's lack of D1 game experience has been glaring.

SIU's first two conference opponents each featured very high-quality All Conference-level tailbacks, something that YSU lacks.

If SIU's defense can shut down YSU's running game, the Salukis have a fighting chance.

I don't know what to make of SIU's QB situation, other than the fact that the current starter (and his backup, and the backup's backup...as well as the Opening Day starter [still not game-ready because of injury]) has very little Division 1 experience--and it shows.

As Captain Obvious (or John Madden) might say: QB play is so important, in so many ways.

For one reason or another, Nick Hill's QBs have not measured up.

So far.

Homecoming affords Hill and his QBs another opportunity.

 

Last week was the first game I'd been to in a long time . Allegedly 5500 fans, but one of the smallest crowds I can remember at an SIU football game. Even in Lennon's last, miserable year, more people were showing up.

I'll have to admit our play was very disappointing. Was going to go to this YSU game, but last week's performance killed that cold.

YSU is ranked 19. That's deceiving since they beat four wimps to start the season and have lost both MVC games. Still, I think they will be tough to beat. Having Davis back might help, but Romeir Elliot played a good game last week. The running game wasn't our problem. Hopefully Lyles will improve over last week, and the offense won't be so predictable.

...you make good points, all.

I would say, though, that the running game's stats were distorted by one play.

And Eliot's run did NOT supercharge the offense for the rest of the game.

In fact, as you referenced, the predictability (and results) were pedestrian at best.

Hill is more-or-less wedded to his version of the shotgun/spread offense (with the exception of wildcat-related formations and plays).

If I were him, I'd go two running backs (both split and I-formation)...and give opposing defenses heavy doses of #s 9, 15 and 1...and keep doing it until defenses proved they could stop that sort of thing.

Anybody know what happened to Jaquan Burton? He is supposedly the fastest guy on the team, but has barely played since UMASS.

uh....SIU is up 28-3

SIU 28

YSU 10 

Halftime

35-10 toward the end of the 3rd quarter

35-10 SIU with the victory. Nice job Coach Hill and team. Much needed win. Let's go to South Dakota and come back with 2 in a row.  

Definitely a step in the right direction, to win a game you're not quite expected to win, in convincing fashion to boot.

Was this the same team I saw smell up the field last week?  Wow! They took it out of reverse! Even added a little razzle dazzle to the offense. No doubt YSU was not as good as the Redturds, in fact not very good at all, but we played way, way better.  The D played like they were all out of bubble gum - their best game of the year. 

https://soundcloud.com/user962790896/outofbubblegum

One of the big improvements today was the play calling.

Posted by: @freshman63

One of the big improvements today was the play calling.

I agree 100%.  And what did Nick do the most?  Nick deserves bumps for this and a game ball.  He took the ball out of Lyles' hands.  He ran the ball.  It has to be tough for Nick to abandon the pass.  Lyles has proven to be a poor qb at this level.  Below average and inaccurate arm, no escapability, and way, way, WAY too slow in his decision making that results in holding the ball and taking sacks.  I think I counted 8 sacks he took from the SDSU game.  Almost all were his responsibility.  Nick simply made him a game manager.  He proved up to the task many times.   I'm not completely sold on Labanowitz yet.  But I've seen enough of Lyles.  

Other random thoughts.  I think I'm developing a man crush on Petrino.  I like the game he calls.  I especially like the in game adjustments he makes. Make no mistake, there is not a lot of talent on the D side.  He seems to get the most out of every player.  The whole team seems to be playing hard.  That's a compliment on the entire coaching staff.  Maybe Petrino runs 'man' a little too much for me.  I'd like to see a few more blitzes.  I like his line stunts.  I also like how his uses his rotations.  And he recognizes who needs to be on the field.  For example, that #92 Berner.  I've turned into a big fan of his.  Started the season in the third rotation.  Now he's in the first.  Had a couple of sacks.  The kid is a real blunt instrument.  Nothing fancy.  A bull rusher that simply out muscles everybody that shows up in his area.  Always plays on the other team's side of the line of scrimmage.  They could use a few more like him.  Chinn showed how much he was missed the last few games.  Stud. Best open field tackler we've had in years.  DJ Davis too.  We missed his speed out of the backfield.  Nick has to have Javon Williams throw the ball out of the wildcat at least once a game.  I was surprised by the overall lack of team speed by YSU.  They also clearly did not have the talent we have on both sides of the ball.  I thought their game plans were sound.  Simply didn't have the horses.  Next few weeks will be interesting to see how we stack up against lower level programs.  

A win over a good football program is always good. This one just so happens to keep the season alive. 

If you look at the upcoming schedule - South Dakota, InSU, MSU, and WIU are all bottom-half teams. But what is bottom-half in the Valley? Still come pretty salty football. We're going to have to lock in here and take it one game at a time. If we win those four, we can save one loss for NDSU and that'd be a 7-5 record and most likely in the playoffs with our schedule. EDIT: And I know that's a huge IF but it's just fun to talk about hte playoffs for the first time in 10 years. 

Winning is fun. 

YSU was a bad team. I too was shocked at their lack of talent, other than Joe Alessi. I'm more shocked that they gave UNI a good game the previous week.

Next week will be  tougher. USD is a young team, but they can really pass and have an very good senior QB, Austin Simmons, who also has good wheels. (although he threw 3 ints against UNI).

They were up at UNI at half, but gave up a couple of long passing TDs in the 2nd half. They had 300 yards passing, 27 1st downs, and were 9 - 18 on 3rd down. Our pass D will get a workout. On the other hand, we can score on them, and we'll need to.