Topic: Observations from the Game

[mu1995]

In a hostile environment against an average team with their back to the wall, the coaching mistakes worked against us in this game.  They were starting a new inexperienced QB and we pooch kick after the first touchdown and give him a short field to build his confidence back.  Dumb move, make them earn every yard.

The defense play calling continues to be mass confusion on player substitutions and getting plays called. The worst instances of confusion and personnel substututions aligned with the big play busts.  Defense gave up big plays, but they also gave us 7 points.

Offensive play calling is marginally better, but clearly not clean with understanding across the offense.

Reality is that we have a turnover problem with Fancher leading the way.  Defense bailed him out on the fumble.  Overthrown interception sealed the outcome.  Offensive play calling is partially hamstrung because they are guarding against turnovers and picking what is perceived as safe throws. Teams don' t win with their QB turning the ball over two to three times a game and then we have other contributing turnovers also.  The safe throws will continue to limit YAC and teams will not have to defend the entire field.

We see the worst officiating of any game against NC State.  Ali was not down and should have been ESPN top 10 touchdown.  Sure looked like an NC State fumble in the first half too.  Bad calls aside, a well coached team without turnovers wins this one.

Chad Pennington was at the game.  Watched Chad stop and take photos with any Marshall fan that asked.  We are fortunate he is a Son of Marshall. 

[herdfifteen]

I have been watching football forever and I can never recall a pitch being called a forward pass. Please never come back to this place again.

[banker]

Ali?s thigh touched the ground. It was the proper call.

[mu1995]

Didn't see the thigh down on the jumbo screen replay.  May have shown more on tv.

[herd1990]

In a hostile environment against an average team with their back to the wall, the coaching mistakes worked against us in this game.  They were starting a new inexperienced QB and we pooch kick after the first touchdown and give him a short field to build his confidence back.  Dumb move, make them earn every yard.

The defense play calling continues to be mass confusion on player substitutions and getting plays called. The worst instances of confusion and personnel substututions aligned with the big play busts.  Defense gave up big plays, but they also gave us 7 points.

Offensive play calling is marginally better, but clearly not clean with understanding across the offense.

Reality is that we have a turnover problem with Fancher leading the way.  Defense bailed him out on the fumble.  Overthrown interception sealed the outcome.  Offensive play calling is partially hamstrung because they are guarding against turnovers and picking what is perceived as safe throws. Teams don' t win with their QB turning the ball over two to three times a game and then we have other contributing turnovers also.  The safe throws will continue to limit YAC and teams will not have to defend the entire field.

We see the worst officiating of any game against NC State.  Ali was not down and should have been ESPN top 10 touchdown.  Sure looked like an NC State fumble in the first half too.  Bad calls aside, a well coached team without turnovers wins this one.

Chad Pennington was at the game.  Watched Chad stop and take photos with any Marshall fan that asked.  We are fortunate he is a Son of Marshall.

Did Cam's fumble really matter?  We didn't get the first down anyway so it's NC State's ball at the same spot.  Let's not act like that fumble was a difference maker.  Now if you wanna argue play calling on that play, I think that is a legitimate discussion.

[mu1995]

Also, we really underutilized tight ends in this game.

[banker]

Didn't see the thigh down on the jumbo screen replay.  May have shown more on tv.

There was only one angle that showed it out of about 4-5 different shots.

[luvherd]

My major observation was we lost the battle of the line of scrimmage.

[mu1995]

Every turnover is negative and matters.  Go find me some quarterbacks with as many interceptions as touchdown throws plus some fumbles thrown in and let's see that teams record.  The exception we were in the first four games will not hold up over the long haul. 

Good coaches deal with poor play.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_dTZzHfC7Ik&pp=ygUZYm9iYnkga25pZ2h0IGJlbmNoIHNwZWVjaA%3D%3D

[herdfan429]

My major observation was we lost the battle of the line of scrimmage.

agreed both lines got absolutely man handled today

[sleeinwv]

NC ST only losses were to Notre Dame and Louisville.   Both ranked teams.   We played toe to toe with them but we made the mistakes at the end of the game.  It happens.  Now let?s go win the Sun Belt.

[MicDrass1]

Loserville beat the always overrated Irish.  Another HC in over his head in Freeman.  Nc State holds Loserville to 13.  We put up 41 and should have scored 61.  Our defense and Ol are our main weakness at the moment.  Nobody throws on Abraham or tries.  So DT, LB, S, LCB.  Hill was not bad besides big play.  I don?t think it?s our talent at this spots but more so scheme and coaching calls.   Easy to run on Herd up middle bc Neil goes straight forward first about every time and he?s the only lb in the middle most times.  Rb through the DL look out.  Our S are not fast.  Why is 13 not seeing Field much anymore.  He?s a good player.

[MicDrass1]

agreed both lines got absolutely man handled today

OL = 8 letters

[DC01HERD]

Our o-line struggled in pass blocking. We should have run the ball more. Too many passes.

[elginherd]

Was Ali hurt?

He didn't play much, if at all, in the 4th Q.

[svherd]

OL was pitiful. NC state was bigger and quicker. Sacked Fancher 6 times. Defense didn't get off the bus. Let their guy have a career day. Wasn't on Fancher as some would love it to be.

[MUonium]

4 TOs on downs.  if we get a 1st on a couple of those it might have made the difference.  even if Verehoff could hit 50+ it might not have made any difference.

i agree, the O & D lines were ever-so-slightly outmatched, maybe same on overall strength and team speed.

their mid LB is a great player and he knows it!  their FR all-purpose WR is really good for a FR.  we lack a couple of big-time playmakers but we're overall fairly solid and play for 60 minutes.

i'm not sure where NCST would fall out in the top 1/3 of the SBC, but this can't have hurt the Herd any in the big scheme, unless there were any injuries i'm not aware of.  however, that probably kills any chance of NY6.

i/m still 100% looking forward to SBC games.

[coalherd]

Some of Coach Huff's postgame comments seemed to touch on the line issue(s).  He stated that a difference in playing a power opponent is (often) in terms of size and in the area of depth.  If this generally holds true, then we should be encouraged in that it is doubtful that we will see those factors/differences in our remaining games versus all SBC foes!

GO HERD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!