I was so pissed after the game, I could not post without a huge tirade. I am still hurting from this,and there will be a few hard to post things here.
As bad as this game was, for me, it was not as bad as the loss to Sac State last season. This game will be the turning point game, when all is said and done this year. I think there are a few painfully obvious things we are seeing, and good reasons for concern.
(1) This team has to learn to take care of the ball! I expect growing pains and inconsistent play from any young quarterback. Even at that, McKinney's turnovers are beyond acceptable. Yes, JJ forced a few too many things too, but JJ was smarter more often. Trent needs to learn how to throw the damn ball away, now and then. As bad as the outcome was, I was encouraged seeing TM progress through his reads in the 1st quarter. That showed me, he is making progress.
As for turnovers, I am much more understanding of an inexperienced qb struggle, than I am of a SR team captain, lose the ball 3 times in 2 weeks. As much as I enjoy Dan Moore play, come on Dan, you know those fumbles are not acceptable. With that said, I believe this game, will motivate Moore even more (pun intended). He is not going to let this stick with him, and he will be the leader of one very hungry offense, rest this season.
(2) I was not there, but it is discouraging and disappointing, to see some reputable egrizzers post that the team gave up. I hope that was not the case
(3) WTH, happened to our OL and DL. They were soft, and let NAU not only throw them around, but NAU knocked them out!!! Where in the hell is in the pride and heart of the GRIZ? The line performance was absolutely pathetic.
(4) I really did not think about much, until reading other posts, and watching the game again. Since when does a coaching staff take 3 quarters off? This staff let down their team, on both sides of the ball. We were kicking ass with very aggressive play calling on both sides of the ball. Come the 2nd quarter, we went conservative on both sides of the ball. This is very discouraging, especially on defense. Ty Gregorak, you are the last coach anywhere, I would associate the word "conservative" with . Ty, you are not coaching to your strengths, and have become conservative. If you have players out there you are trying to protect, stop it!!! The conservative schemes is killing the unit!!! Quit the love affair with our safeties. Tully and Hermanson are not playing nowhere near their capabilities, get some new blood in there. Seriously, these guys need to watch and find their games, and heads. Bring in Lebsock, Gamboa (who is everywhere on special teams), and Romminger (he will make WR's think 2x's about catching a ball.) The only positives on defense were Kidder, Holmes,Wags, and improved CB play.
Offensively, where in the hell is utilization between the hash marks in the passing game? We used it in the 1st half, and it made a huge difference. I will give NAU credit for adjustments. Honestly to God, there is no reason to not adjust to what they did. They took it away from us, then we gave up on it.
Special teams, actually pretty damn good.
Overall, the coaches and leaders of this team, need to be chewing asses, no matter how minor or major any one mistake is. Not one player, or coach, can accept anything less than 100%, in every aspect of the game. Mick, you have have been coaching long enough and know when an ass kicking is in order. Major ass kicking are in order, no mercy!!!!
This team is talented. Now is the time to see what kind of heart the staff and players have. EWU is already a do or die game. Kudos to NAU, but the GRIZ performance for 3 quarters was pathetic, and not acceptable. This team should be very hard on itself, to the man.