One of the nicer moments during an SJU home game is the "where they are now" segment on the video board. It always reminds me that, in the end, college is about getting ready in life. I love my "J" but I am most grateful for my SJU friends and the education I received. These kids will have the same experience, playoffs or not.

My first post this season but I thought I would give my perspective of this game from my seat in section 105. All of my comments are offered knowing full well that CSS was an over-matched opponent.

The offense in the first seven series in the first half was amazing. We know the passing game is strong but it was exceptional today. I thought there were two keys: spreading the ball around to multiple receivers and employing an effective running game (at last). I think the rushing yardage was >200 yards and I counted 5 rushing plays of =/- 15 yards.

The defense in the first half also was good. We had multiple sacks or hurried passes early on in the game, and that set a tone. CSS didn't help themselves with several significant penalties. On the other hand, our pass defense is vulnerable and when CSS had some time or chose to throw quick short distance out patterns we struggled. We also had occasional problems with open field tackling on these plays. An exceptional opponent who plays an up-tempo game with rapid passes would be difficult to contain (as we have seen)

Special teams, for the most part, were very good. They certainly had a lot of time on the field with kick-offs and punt returns. We had some great tackling on kick-off tackles, with two exceptions (including our kicker making a tackle). Punt returns were almost nonexistent because due to the decision to fair catch almost every one of them.

We were better about penalties, with 4 significant penalties including 4 holding penalties (2 of which stopped drives). There were no "self-discipline" penalties, which was good to see. CSS seemed chippy early-on, or at least one receiver did. SJU had an interception on the first CSS drive and the receiver was very frustrated and swung at an SJU player, hitting him in the helmet with an open hand resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He was also frustrated at a number of points in the game, talking to refs on a number of occasions. However, SJU kept its composure, and later in the game when the outcome was more than obvious there were multiple examples of good sportsmanship on both sides.

A few random things to close:

1. How the refs spot the ball is a mystery sometimes. I'm thinking of an 8.5 yard firts down pass by CSS that was marked as a 10 yard gain and another first down.
2. The SJU blue uniforms were nice to see. Why not? I know they are controversial but it was a good day to wear them.
3. Nice to see the reserves early. Four quaterbacks played and I think every senior must have gotten a moment of n the field.
4. FWIW, I really don't like the loud music between plays with somebody somewhere deciding when to stop it. It's annoying. Music during stoppages is fine.
5. Crowd was small but made some noise. I would say 105 was at 50% capacity.

Probably more than you needed but fun writing it!

I was there for the first half and +/- 2000 in attendance sounds right. Lots of empty seats in section 105. Glad I wasn't on the other side of the field where the wind had to be tough. Those folks pretty much cleared out in the third quarter. I thought NW came to play and had a nice offensive scheme, especially passing. They did not give up playing the game and should be commended for their effort. They were just outmatched, particularly on the line of scrimmage.

Sorry about the incomplete post. Still sorting out how to do this. Bear with me.

I was completely wrong in my predictions for the offense for the Bethel game: establish the run and then throw. Instead we saw a commitment to passing with short passes replacing the run game. I don't think we should expect a change in strategy this weekend.

On a different note, does anyone else find the music between plays annoying? Do we need this to set an atmosphere for the game? It's loud, some of it's obnoxious, and sometimes it seems that it goes too long, almost into the start of the play.

Just asking ....

Quote from: DuffMan on November 14, 2022, 02:37:54 PM

Quote from: faunch on November 14, 2022, 01:49:58 PM
This why I worry about our offense. It gets really difficult to have an effective passing game when the ball is hard as a rock and if the wind kicks up it can ground an offense.

They're not going to switch schemes at this point.  Heckendorf has made it clear that we're going to throw, throw, throw.

As someone new to the board and completely incompetent in music I have read with awe the posts regarding musical instruments. Wish I had that skill!

Regarding Saturday it seems to me that the Johnnies just need to step forward, win the game, and put an end to the uncertainty. I can instant the regional rankings: we lost the first time around to Bethel. Now is the time to correct that lapse.

I will go out there and identify what I think are keys to the game: defensive line pressure that bothers the Bethel quarterback (whomever that might be), establish a running game, and then turn the passing game loose.

Given Friday's weather and the forecast for Saturday I think establishing the running game could be important.

Good afternoon! I am new to the board after years of following the posts. Thought it was time to be a little more involved. As background, my moniker reflects being both a prep and university grad. Now retired (as a physician), I live a couple miles away from campus. Longtime season ticket holder with a number of family members in section 105. Perhaps my best credential is being a friend of JohnnieRed. We ran together and he was best man at my wedding. So, JohnnieTwice is a little nod to JohnnieRed.

As a first post I thought I would just offer a few thoughts about this year's team. Will try to be succinct.

1. A very good team, fun to watch, not yet a great team
2. Offensive line is coming together but still working on it. The running game has lagged as a result and that puts pressure on passing. Today there were some nice runs (especially the Trost TD) so there are reasons to be optimistic.
3. We seem to be dropping a few more passes than usual this year and sometimes it really hurts (like today's deflection that turned into a Carleton pick six). At times, however, the passing game can rapidly move us down the fired. We will need both the run and the pass against Bethel.
4. The defense relies on the line rush. Without it our defensive backs are vulnerable to good passing quarterbacks (not today, with the Carleton starter not playing but an issue against other teams). We are also giving up some runs (running quarterbacks have really been troublesome) and I've noticed that a common adjustment is to go to a 3-4 defense.
5. Penalties have really hurt us at times. The fans in 105 were unhappy about the late hit on the side lines but the replay suggests it really was an unnecessary hit.
6. Occasionally we seem to have some mental lapses, such as trying to run out of the end zone with the interception in the first quarter today, and then going back into the end zone before ending up on the 1 years line. If tackled in the end zone after leaving, would that have been a safety?

Lastly, it seems one strategy being used by opposing teams is to go with no huddle and no substitutions. That makes it tough to communicate defensive plays and make the substitutions needed to adapt to the opponent's offensive strategy.

Love the team, as always. These are just observations and I am open to comments and corrections. I would also appreciate an explanation of the official over the ball until the referee signals him away. This relates to allowing the defensive to substitute in response to the substitutions made by the offense, right?