No doubt, BDB. My cousin's husband was all-conference running back at Hamline and was on the last Pipers team to beat the Johnnies...30 years ago. He's a great guy and listens to me lament losses like yesterday and I fully realize he could instead say, "Would you shut the F up? Try cheering for my alma mater instead! Appreciate what you get to cheer for every year."

Also grateful for this season as I got to attend three Johnnie home games, after seeing one game in the 25 years before that.

Odd looking box score with the Johnnies only rushing 9 times. That's about a third of what they did against other matchup opponents in Bethel, La Crosse, Concordia and Wartburg. It can be tough to play D in that situation. Was Susquehanna loading up the box or something? I didn't see that game.

Quote from: sfury on December 07, 2024, 11:12:03 PMDefense: I too long for those Johnnie D's of the 1990s and early 2000s but I also think we have to acknowledge...offenses are harder to stop now. More sophisticated offenses now, so many good QBs, great receivers, backs, schemes. Look at some of the Mount teams and the ridiculous defensive numbers they used to post but over the years they started to win (or lose) a lot more shootouts in big games. Or even Alabama. Early Saban they'd win like 9-6. That wasn't happening anymore his later years. With the way the game has evolved, I just don't think you're going to totally shut down folks like some of those memorable SJU defenses of the past did.

That said, it is frustrating and has seemed to be a theme in some of the big losses over the years that we can never get that big stop in a close game after we score. Even today: Go up 10-0, give up a TD. Up 17-10 late, give up a TD to end half. Go up 24-17, give up TD. We get the stop after cutting it to 38-31 but then after we tie it they drain clock to win it. So in the big moments we are going to have to be better to get and win another Stagg but I also think the days of us holding a team like Mount Union to 10 and 6 points isn't likely to happen in the postseason. 

In the eight games yesterday there were two where the losing team gave up 41 points. That was still under  Susquehanna's season average but you can't give up 41 points and expect to win many playoff games. Teams are going to score but you can't let them convert 3rd and 25 in the fourth quarter....you just can't do that.

Quote from: TheChucker on December 08, 2024, 10:07:14 AMOdd looking box score with the Johnnies only rushing 9 times. That's about a third of what they did against other matchup opponents in Bethel, La Crosse, Concordia and Wartburg. It can be tough to play D in that situation. Was Susquehanna loading up the box or something? I didn't see that game.

I don't really know what Susquehanna was doing up front. Another oddity was that on the four rushing attempts by actual running backs the Johnnies gained 18 yards for an average of 4.5.

One of the attempts was credited to TEAM (anybody know what that means)? Syverson had the other 4 attempts.
https://gojohnnies.com/football/2024/boxscore/vs-susquehanna-ncaa-third-round-/9087/pdf

I know the offensive approach to the game has shifted away from the run game. The days of a consistent 100 yd per game back are all but over. I just checked NFL stats and there are only two backs averaging more that 100 per game.

The Johnnies actually increased their rushing avg per game this season from 113 to 123.
I guess the question is why did they abandoned the run after a quarter of the game?
Does anyone know of Bohmert or Blakey got injured because I i don't recall them being on the field much after the first quarter?
And how do you recruit running backs when they see that there were 4 rushing attempts by running backs in the third round playoff game?

To Aaron Syverson's and (his receivers) credit..he/they carried us this and last season. Dude must have ice in his veins.

Quote from: faunch on December 08, 2024, 10:39:39 AM

Quote from: TheChucker on December 08, 2024, 10:07:14 AMOdd looking box score with the Johnnies only rushing 9 times. That's about a third of what they did against other matchup opponents in Bethel, La Crosse, Concordia and Wartburg. It can be tough to play D in that situation. Was Susquehanna loading up the box or something? I didn't see that game.

I don't really know what Susquehanna was doing up front. Another oddity was that on the four rushing attempts by actual running backs the Johnnies gained 18 yards for an average of 4.5.

One of the attempts was credited to TEAM (anybody know what that means)? Syverson had the other 4 attempts.
https://gojohnnies.com/football/2024/boxscore/vs-susquehanna-ncaa-third-round-/9087/pdf

I know the offensive approach to the game has shifted away from the run game. The days of a consistent 100 yd per game back are all but over. I just checked NFL stats and there are only two backs averaging more that 100 per game.

The Johnnies actually increased their rushing avg per game this season from 113 to 123.
I guess the question is why did they abandoned the run after a quarter of the game?

To Aaron Syverson's and (his receivers) credit..he/they carried us this and last season. Dude must have ice in his veins.

Not having many rushing attempts/yards wasn't a factor in this game since SJU put up 475 total yards. There is no doubt that the passing game was SJU's strength and that is what they relied on, how they got those yards is pretty much irrelevant. Now if it would have been a bad weather game where it is hard to throw the ball, then not having a running game would not be good, but that wasn't the case here.

As for the NFL only having 2 backs averaging over 100 yards a game, that is because most teams use more than 1 back. A better comparison would be to look at the total rushing yards for a team, not just one player. 26 NFL teams average over 100 yards rushing a game.

Quote from: RoyalsFan on December 08, 2024, 11:03:54 AM

Quote from: faunch on December 08, 2024, 10:39:39 AM

Quote from: TheChucker on December 08, 2024, 10:07:14 AMOdd looking box score with the Johnnies only rushing 9 times. That's about a third of what they did against other matchup opponents in Bethel, La Crosse, Concordia and Wartburg. It can be tough to play D in that situation. Was Susquehanna loading up the box or something? I didn't see that game.

I don't really know what Susquehanna was doing up front. Another oddity was that on the four rushing attempts by actual running backs the Johnnies gained 18 yards for an average of 4.5.

One of the attempts was credited to TEAM (anybody know what that means)? Syverson had the other 4 attempts.
https://gojohnnies.com/football/2024/boxscore/vs-susquehanna-ncaa-third-round-/9087/pdf

I know the offensive approach to the game has shifted away from the run game. The days of a consistent 100 yd per game back are all but over. I just checked NFL stats and there are only two backs averaging more that 100 per game.

The Johnnies actually increased their rushing avg per game this season from 113 to 123.
I guess the question is why did they abandoned the run after a quarter of the game?

To Aaron Syverson's and (his receivers) credit..he/they carried us this and last season. Dude must have ice in his veins.

Not having many rushing attempts/yards wasn't a factor in this game since SJU put up 475 total yards. There is no doubt that the passing game was SJU's strength and that is what they relied on, how they got those yards is pretty much irrelevant. Now if it would have been a bad weather game where it is hard to throw the ball, then not having a running game would not be good, but that wasn't the case here.

As for the NFL only having 2 backs averaging over 100 yards a game, that is because most teams use more than 1 back. A better comparison would be to look at the total rushing yards for a team, not just one player. 26 NFL teams average over 100 yards rushing a game.

I don't think the lack of rushing attempts/yards is irrelevant when your time of possession is only 20 minutes. This means the team is leaving their defense hung out to dry. It probably means a bit less in cooler weather, but still. Playing complementary football can be a factor in my humble opinion.

Well one TD was a first play bomb for a TD-I'm fine with that.
SJU was behind or tied, so they threw-when you get 5 yards a throw underneath, why not throw.
Bottom line the D needed to make a few third down stops, like 3rd and 25!

Quote from: sju56321 on December 08, 2024, 11:48:46 AMWell one TD was a first play bomb for a TD-I'm fine with that.
SJU was behind or tied, so they threw-when you get 5 yards a throw underneath, why not throw.
Bottom line the D needed to make a few third down stops, like 3rd and 25!

Yep...a stop there would have made for a fine present. Well at least the Tommie boyfriend  (and my daughter)  picked up the dinner check last night!

Dylan Wheeler's TD catch made ESPN Top 10 #3.

https://x.com/sjujohnnies/status/1865782033567326233?s=46&t=6oioRYoVO1fAtYidixHaCg

Duling did a nice job sticking with the run vs a very stout Wartburg front 7. They weren't easy yds, but it mattered late when Ellingson and Geebli were able to eat clock and put it on ice the final drive. I've been impressed with the in game adjustments on both sides for Bethel. We've been more committed to the run over the last 4 weeks. Still don't love our short yardage shotgun stuff, but I liked bringing in the extra OLineman. Coe and Wartburg were the best 2 D's we faced this year and we matched their physicality.

Re: SJU not running it. It's about forcing them to be honest on D as well. If you abandon the run altogether the Dline gets to just pin its ears back, the second level doesn't have to pause before dropping into coverage, and safeties know they don't need to provide any run support. It's not like Syverson struggled, but a little run game makes every short and medium throw over the middle a little easier. And it just eats a little clock, which mattered at the very end of the game.

Looking forward for SJU- Trey Feeney, former MN High School player of the year is in the transfer portal from North Dakota. He threw for a gazillion yards and TDs in high school playing under his dad at Moorhead HS. Could we do it again??? Oh how one can dream.

Quote from: gobigred425 on December 08, 2024, 03:37:55 PMLooking forward for SJU- Trey Feeney, former MN High School player of the year is in the transfer portal from North Dakota. He threw for a gazillion yards and TDs in high school playing under his dad at Moorhead HS. Could we do it again??? Oh how one can dream.

Looks like he made that decision back in August. My guess is that he goes to another FCS or D2 programs.
I would like to see Zander get a shot...he's a little bit more mobile...maybe adjust to more of an RPO/multi-threat offense?
Johnnies could use some solid transfers...I would love to see a solid d-lineman, linebacker and shut down corner. We've had a good defense but not great.

Team can mean a handful of different things but in this case it refers to a kneeldown at the end of the half. Sometimes it can also be the result of a bad snap on a punt or field goal attempt.

Quote from: SJU13 on December 08, 2024, 01:51:41 PMDylan Wheeler's TD catch made ESPN Top 10 #3.

https://x.com/sjujohnnies/status/1865782033567326233?s=46&t=6oioRYoVO1fAtYidixHaCg

Gnarly.

Quote from: TheChucker on December 08, 2024, 11:09:42 AMI don't think the lack of rushing attempts/yards is irrelevant when your time of possession is only 20 minutes. This means the team is leaving their defense hung out to dry. It probably means a bit less in cooler weather, but still. Playing complementary football can be a factor in my humble opinion.

had

Personally I don't think time of possession means a whole lot all by itself. I think number of plays is a better indicator of which team's defense is on the field more. Example: team A runs the ball and goes 3 and out and takes a minute and a half off the clock. Team B goes 3 and out but throws 3 incomplete passes and only takes 20 seconds off the clock. Both teams run 3 plays but one has a big TOP advantage. I know that isn't typical, but just shows how TOP can be a little misleading.

So looking at the SJU/SUS game, SUS ran 84 plays to SJU's 55 even though SJU had only 10 fewer yards. So I agree, the SJU defense probably wore down since they were on the field for a lot more plays.