Topic: Cato MUST STOP with the deep balls!

[STEPHENS24]

Yes he will get 1 out of 15 but it us killing us........we have too much talent at receiver to waste it on 9 routes........need to get these receivers get the ball in space with crossing routes and screens and let them do their thing.

[muherd]

3rd down play calling has been really suspect at best, when it's short downs give the damn ball to Johnson!!!!  My God he is a full grown man!

[marshallz13]

Can we get a petition.

[herdadreh]

"when it's short downs give the damn ball to Johnson" uh, I have to disagree. When they expected us to run between the tackles on 3rd/4th and short, and we did, the results were, in my opinion, embarrassing. I feel like this has been a nemesis for Marshall Football for a long time - except when we are way physically superior to our opponent.

I hate to say it, but I believe WVU would dominate us this year. Maybe I am missing something...

We did at least not break on defense. A better offense might have had correspondingly better red zone success against us. Red zone defense was the key to this game. That, and 3 carries for 200 yards and three TDs.

Hats off to Heater and the defense, especially left corner #7, whoever he is - he's a ball player.

[elginherd]

"when it's short downs give the damn ball to Johnson" uh, I have to disagree. When they expected us to run between the tackles on 3rd/4th and short, and we did, the results were, in my opinion, embarrassing. I feel like this has been a nemesis for Marshall Football for a long time - except when we are way physically superior to our opponent.

I hate to say it, but I believe WVU would dominate us this year. Maybe I am missing something...

We did at least not break on defense. A better offense might have had correspondingly better red zone success against us. Red zone defense was the key to this game. That, and 3 carries for 200 yards and three TDs.

Hats off to Heater and the defense, especially left corner #7, whoever he is - he's a ball player.

Disagree about the eerdiots dominating the Herd. I do agree about Cato going way down field too often of 3rd & short, 3rd and medium & 3rd and ten. You have to give the FAU corners some credit though. This season the Herd has hit 2 or 3 bombs for TDs or long gains each game on 3rd downs.

[field pass]

I dont know. ...but the deep ball may have helped johnsons yards....

[kellygreen]

Cato actually keeping on the read option when the end crashes would have given Johnson at least 100 more yards

[elginherd]

I dont know. ...but the deep ball may have helped johnsons yards....

THAT IS TRUE!!!!!
Good observation. The Owls' tape study (along with their 2 really good corners) told them to stop the bombs, plus they kind of 'one-gapped' the LOS with their D-line/LBs meaning that any crack & the LOS would result in a big play.

[pdunn]

I wasn't there so I couldn't tell, but was the deep ball all that what Cato had available down the field?

vs. MT that wasn't the case, Fro looked open all day against the middle but Cato only threw it once or twice, IIRC.

[herdadreh]

All I know is the WVU resume includes 6-2 overall, with 2-2 in games against current 4, 13, 18, and 26, and being in all those games. Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ok State. Admittedly, Ok State will drop from 26 and may drop out of vote getters.

Is a 3 point win against Kansas a bad win? Sure...Maryland (another 3 point win) got hammered today @ Wisconsin, but their power ranking is OK.

How would we do so far against their schedule? 6-2?

I don't like em a bit, but they can play. Not trying to make this a WVU thread. Sorry. Dominate was probably too strong a word. I retract and insert "handle".

Can we play against top 25? I dunno. I "think" that I hope we get to find out in a bowl game. I also have to believe we can get better and be better than what I saw today.

[exanimate]

Why do Herd fans constantly feel the need to include wvu, when nothing that Marshall Football does includes wvu?

[herdadreh]

I don't constantly do the WVU. I do occasionally. Apologies.

[OLDHerd1]

They beat Kansas bad... Beat Texas tech by 3... I guess that's what you are referring to. 

[muherd]

3and1, I'm handing the ball to Johnson......Seriously he can fall and get it.

[Greg H]

I don't constantly do the WVU. I do occasionally. Apologies.

You should go blow WVU on their board.

[BuyNtelos4]

3and1, I'm handing the ball to Johnson......Seriously he can fall and get it.

4th and a short 2 and he got stopped, because they knew it was coming.  Their defenders were crowding the line, so that does take awake the quick slants and screens that was our bread and butter last year, but we haven't had much of a short passing game all season.  The deep throws did help Johnson, but what helped him more than anything was the one play that Cato kept it and got 15 yards.  Kept the end from crashing down, and on the very next play Johnson went for around 60 for the 3rd time.

What I don't understand, is the past 2 years we have had the near the top offense in the country, so why did we give it a complete overhaul this year.  I realize our rushing game is better, but our rushing game had this potiential last year, it just wasn't power running.  I really don't understand why we completely abondoned the hurry up.  It could have helped some today when we were having trouble, and it could help tremendously if we make an access bowl.  i feel the same way about our short passing game.  If you completely quit doing something, you aren't going to be as proficient at it when you need it.  I feel like if we make an access bowl, we could really use our short passing game, and the hurry up.  We have not used the signs with the pictures all season long. 

[goherd24]

THAT IS TRUE!!!!!
Good observation. The Owls' tape study (along with their 2 really good corners) told them to stop the bombs, plus they kind of 'one-gapped' the LOS with their D-line/LBs meaning that any crack & the LOS would result in a big play.

They had 1 on 1 coverage most od the time on outside wr. They rolled the dice to make johnson have a tougher time running (obviously didnt wor consistently). Cato has regressed on his deep ball to 2013 levels. About 15-20% accurate and a lot of overthrows.

Hope we get some intermediate routes in the middle of the field back in the fold. He really throws better in between the hashes.

[muherd]

Guess what I'm still running homie..... :-*

[2xBison]

Cato actually keeping on the read option when the end crashes would have given Johnson at least 100 more yards

thats Catos biggest mistake.  There are more bad decisions