SIU my thoughts

[bigcat75]

1st off the stinking Salukivision definitely does not work like the feeds i get from the all-access site. It may just be my computer but it's very choppy and not running smooth, maybe thats better considering the way the game is going. I have a one play delay between Rima audio and Salukivision TV also. Now the game and my thoughts. I was one who said that we need to make them throw and our chances would be better. I have to give credit to the SIU coaching staff for coming out throwing. What they did was throw on THEIR terms early and it definitely got us off balance. If I was coaching the Panthers I would have had to scramble to change my plan too. What I didn't understand was why their leading receiver the TE #47 was open so much. The passes put us on our heels a bit and then of course Mr. Whitlock came into play. He is a real talent and I would not be surpised to see him playing on Sundays. He will definietly get a chance I feel. The blocked field goal was huge instead of 7-7 and momentum being even or swinging to us we are down 9-7 then the ensuing free kick they have a huge return which made us defend a short field. They score and it is 16-7. We score,then they score again with their passing game again keeping drives alive. We throw an interception and they have good field position again another td and we are now in serious trouble. We did have a good series and after a fake punt have a chance to go in halftime with a little momentum on our side . Those 2 sacks of Sanders before halftime stopping our drive were citical. Defensively we definitely played better in 2nd half but the damage was done long ago. I do not feel we came out flat not at all. I feel those passes threw us a curve when were looking fastball anyone who has played baseball knows how bad that can make you look. We tried and were hustling they had us off balance and in essence the passes opened up their run game, a run game that does not need too much help to begin with. This is the drawback of "eight" in the box. We never recovered. I for one hope that the fans come out and send our seniors off in style. I say again we were not flat did not quit, we simply got caught by a gameplan that we were not expecting, who knew their QB would play that well I mr. backseat coach extrodanaire surely didn't.
I am with you panthers and lets try and end the season with a win. Win lose or draw this is my favorite college footbal team ti year and beyond.
GO PANTHERS!!!

[TravelingPanther]

What a long game that was. It was hard to listen to the end. I kept hoping for the best, but that last INT finally sealed it for me. Hope they are ready for Saturday and remember what it's like sitting at home for the playoffs.

[arealcat]

Hard to listen to doesn't describe that game. That was simply pathetic.

[unigriff]

anyone who went....was it as bad watching as it sounded on the radio?

[mamacat]

Was There

I really thought we were going to come up with some big plays in the second half and come back. I don't think the game was pathetic, but I was disappointed in the defense with the pass protection. We need to work on this and also can we ever get pressure on the quarterbacks? I also thought that we need to have some quick short passes that work. We need to get rid of the ball quicker. We better work on these things for next week or we could be worse off.

[bigcat75]

What upsets me most

Was the comment that we came out flat I watched the game and I simply will not buy that. That is simply not true the players were playing with emotion and you could see the urgency was there the effort was there. While we couldn't get a stop on defense this is true, the defense was on their heels. Point blank we were not ready for the passing game they started the game with. Who could have imagined on a windy cold day they would be able to throw like that. Remember in the 1st quarter they were going against the wind too. We were loaded up to stop the run when their passing game got going the running game was even more effective and lets face it we had a tall order stopping Whitlock in any case now with him running and us on our heels, well not good. It is hard to explain unless you watched the game but blocked XP safety. Then they return the "free kick" to our 30 yd line. Interception and good field position. Defense definitely had their hands full but they were on the field alot and off balance and those damn passes. One achilles heel is our inability to get good pressure on the opposing QB even our blitzes when we do blitz just don't seem to get there. That will hurt even more this week Ill. St has a very good passing game. All in all i'd say we just never put it together this year for whatever reason one game O is going real well D is struggling next game it is the opposite. Losing to SIU is not embarrassment by any means. We lost two games we should have one which put us in a very tough position this year the D2 game and WIU definitely were winnable games, we win those and we are still playing for GFC championship this week. Lets go out there and win this last game. lets support the panthers and next year we'll be right back in the thick of things.
GO PANTHERS!!

[FerociousCat]

Good stuff BigCat! I hibernated and watched the game on CSTV Saturday night. We didn't come out flat, and going into halftime I felt good about our performance. Some bad breaks, and the play action pass was killing us. But Arkee only had like 75 yrds on 25 carries. They were in several 3rd down situations and they made plays. Our offense looked good in the first half, it was too bad Corey was benched after his fumble but Williams did well. I just think Corey makes better cuts.
The second half I thought each of the pass interfence calls were terrible. So twice a very key drive was maintained. That was a shame. Of course Arkee had his way in the second half, and the pass defense was slightly better but still not good enough.
Chris Rix is one of the worst color commentators ever and I wished I had taped Rima's play by play and tried to sync it with the CSTV coverage.
I will love it if we come out Saturday and beat up Ill St. but after 10 games this team still confuses me.

[Pantherpower]

The thing that stands out most to me is that the D line has put no pressure on the opposing teams QB all year long. I've seen posts about missing the LBs, WRs, etc., but more than anything, we miss a speed rusher like John Hermann coming off the edge. That kid got better as the season went along and really disrupted the timing for the opposing O. Of course, this is just my opinion.

[arealcat]

You have to remember that the defensive line is probably the youngest unit on the field or close to it. It is not as if the opposing team's quarterbacks just sit back and pick us apart because our d-line gets no pressure. There are just open guys all over the field. For example... I don't remember if North Dakota threw a pass over 15 yards all night... The pass rush can't get to the quarterback if he takes a quick drop and releases the ball on time for the most part. I do agree that we need a speed pass rush guy. Bottom line is we can't stop the run and we can't stop the pass so unless the offense can put up 50 a game, we probably won't do that great.

[Chitown Panther]

I have to say I respect Pantherpower's posts on here probably more than anyone else's....

I can't agree more about John Hermann.....but I actually think our D-line is the most talented spot on the field.....its just too young. Some of those guys shouldn't have to be playing yet......Its 2 years away....but the DL should be great.....

I don't know where to put this....so I'll just throw it in here....

What do people think about Victor Williams and Whitney Lewis playing Defense next year.....do they see the field enough at TB and WR for their physical statures????

Another question is.....I wonder if Whitney is come back to CF next year as the 3rd string TB....

[arealcat]

Victor's physical stature doesn't really have a place on defense. It is a perfect physical stature of a big time WR. He should get on the field a lot next year. And if not the coaches are wasting a great athlete.

[unigriff]

i just talked to some of the O-linemen last nite and they were pretty upset at the defense. "We did our job and scored 24 points.." they just ended up scoring a lot. And they said Farley has been a pissed off possessed man this week. I'd be scared to be out there!

[bigcat75]

Thats dangerous "team" talk

just talked to some of the O-linemen last nite and they were pretty upset at the defense. "We did our job and scored 24 points.." they just ended up scoring a lot.

That type of talk is not good for any team i understand they were upset and all after this last game but definitely not healthy for teams to get into "us and them" talk. Not at all. The first rule of any war is divide and conquer. the task is much easier if we divide ourselves. We have one more game left this year lets hope we can get on the same page and win this game.

[Matt Trump]

Its not right to point fingers, BUT it happens when a team loses. Especially a collge football team where guys only go 1 way. Offense and Defense are always going at it year round. Its always O vs D in everything. When things are good, this talked is minimal. When things go south, it follows quickly.

[Matt Trump]

I hope people in this state can catch the replay of the SIU game over the weekend that I just saw.