FB: Northwest Conference

[MonroviaCat]

BTW, anybody want to comment on our lack of a good passing game this year?  My observations are that the line are giving the QB a lot time but that there is frequently no throw made or the throw is off-line or dropped.  Are we lacking good WR's this year or is our QB still "maturing" and just not making the reads correctly?  I've been happy with the running game this year but our lack of a strong passing attack has made us too vulnerable on O.

[OregonCityCat99]

I think it has a lot to do with the lack of WRs that can stretch the field and the QBs with the confidence to throw it deep. With that said, the play calling has been suspect AT BEST. We have to at least attempt to throw the ball down the field every now and then.

A lot of work to do in the off season.........

[D O.C.]

anybody want to comment on our lack of a good passing game this year?

Sure. Aaron Boehme was injured during the first game of the season.
Cole Franklin likes to run.

[cawcdad]

There are PLU-Menlo game pics posted for anyone who wants to take a gander.

[bluenote]

I'd like to put in a post for Taylor Summers...Linfield Defensive End. I mean that guy is a total monster. He was literally ALL OVER the field today. Fantastic Job!!! He should be an ALL-AMERICAN!

[wildcat82]

I agree with the comment about moral victories.  Sure there were times when the team played well, but what about putting a complete game together and winning a close, big game?  This seems like a hard thing for the Cats to get done over the last three years or so??  Several concerning observations included - special teams killed the cats starting with giant kick off returns by the WOU return man, blocked extra point and field goal and a block below the waist on a kick off return that sent the cats back to start inside their ten.  The first drive of the second half was great (and needs to be replicated throughout the entire game) with a series of screens, short pass plays, draws and qb runs.  But then we get into the red zon and have to burn time outs  because we couldn't get a play in?  This has plagued this team all year and is still going on in the second to the last game of the season???  Fix the problem!  I agree with the earlier comment that the cats seem to move the ball pretty good in the 2 minute offense.  Actually a lot of teams run the spread option like this full time (without a huddle) to keep the defense off balance and from subing?   I agree that clock management was very concerning late in the fourth quarter and question why we didn't jump into the 2 min offense sooner?  I really think this game was Linfield's for the taking.  Very frustrating and concerning to get beat by Willamette two years in a row and WOU three and almost loose to UPS on the road!  What the hell is going on???  Lets hope the cats can take it to the Lutes and end on a winning note!

[wildcat82]

Agreed - Summers is a stud with a good motor that never quits.  Plus he gets held and tackled more than any D-lineman I have seen and is still making the big plays!  He needs major recognition!!

[Tuxguy]

82
     
Always good to hear your input as a former player, Whats the answer?

GO WILDCATS

[criswyly]

Fundamentals Fundamentals Fundamentals

[George Thompson]

Criswyly,
wildcat82,
Tuxguy,
MonroviaCat,

All of you made accurate observations.     We could have beaten WOU yesterday, HSU earlier this year, Whitworth last 2 years, and Willamette last year.    But we didn't.

Yesterday was our best game this year.  Only two big offensive TDs by WOU cost us the game.    WOU had HUGE WRs and defensive backs.    Yet our "little" guys held their own all day long against those giants.    Good job CATS!

Our blocked extra point, blocked field goal, and plain weird play calling and time management all caused the loss.    This is the fault of the coaches, NOT the players.  We have seen these fundamental errors too many times the last three years.     Linfield's fundamentals have fallen down.   

Beat PLU and start correcting these basic football errors for the future.

Next year, let's win the NWC and go to the playoffs.    An 8-1 or 9-0 year sounds nice!

[MonroviaCat]

Criswyly,
wildcat82,
Tuxguy,
MonroviaCat,

All of you made accurate observations.     We could have beaten WOU yesterday, HSU earlier this year, Whitworth last 2 years, and Willamette last year.    But we didn't.

Yesterday was our best game this year.  Only two big offensive TDs by WOU cost us the game.    WOU had HUGE WRs and defensive backs.    Yet our "little" guys held their own all day long against those giants.    Good job CATS!

Our blocked extra point, blocked field goal, and plain weird play calling and time management all caused the loss.    This is the fault of the coaches, NOT the players.  We have seen these fundamental errors too many times the last three years.     Linfield's fundamentals have fallen down.   

Beat PLU and start correcting these basic football errors for the future.

Next year, let's win the NWC and go to the playoffs.    An 8-1 or 9-0 year sounds nice!

On play calling:  Is it me or did the playcalling in the first half seem pretty good, creative, etc only to see the same, boring, predictable, and ineffective play calling later in the game?  While I know this is a coaching thing I can't help but think personel has a lot to do with it since we have the same offensive play caller that we've had for several years (including the "good" years if I'm not mistaken?)

[wyd]

good photos cawcdad.  Thanks for sharing.

[bluenote]

I had a couple questions about the game. I'm not a football expert so here goes:

Is it good for our punt returner to fair catch the punt on the 2 yard line or should he let it go? Some dude sitting next to me said you should let it go if it's inside the 10 and take your chances. He was a little grumpy after that one.

When you are playing defensive back and the receiver you are covering turns back to catch the pass, should you turn and look to see if you can bat the ball away or get the pick? or just keep your back to the ball and not know what is going on and let them catch it for a TD? I've seen this happen about 3-4 times this year so I wonder if that is how they are instructing them to do?

Is it wise to use up 2 timeouts within about a minute to start a half because you don't have your play in? And then not have any timeouts left at the end of the game when you could really use them?

Could somebody explain what happened on that blocked field goal and why it is different than what happened in the Miracle in the Mud? Is a blocked field goal a dead ball or a live ball? I thought the ball was blocked back behind the line, then rolled forward where we recovered it?

Can someone convince me that our punting scheme is the best way to go after all the problems and short/rushed punts we've had? I think yesterday there were a couple almost blocked and 2-3 rushed that went about 7 yards because he was rushed.

Could someone tell me why we are having so many problems on extra points and FG attempts...are people getting through and not being blocked up the middle?

Do we have a set of plays that we use when we are in a hurry up mode so it doesn't take so long? Is that something that you practice during the week so it's not a train wreck and takes so long when you do it in the game? I've seen some teams on TV that use the spead and they don't even huddle for the whole game....they just line up and the QB yells something out, I think it's a code word and then everybody knows what to do? That's a good idea.

One time after one of our PAT's got blocked the ball was bouncing in the end zone...our kicker went over to where the ball was and a Western player pushed/blocked him in the back right in front of a ref....isn't that illegal to "block" in the back? Or can you just go up to somebody and push him down from the back if you want to?

Thanks!

[wildcat82]

Bluenote - All very good questions and observations!  A top notch program like Linfield should not be having all of these types of problems at the end of the season?

Tuxguy - Not sure what the answer is?  There seems to be a polish or crispness missing with the Cats.  Way to many mistakes and, as criswyly pointed out, perhaps a lack of fundementals (i.e., tackling and defensive back play?)  I would think this all starts at practice.  Perhaps setting new expectations with the kids (and coaches) of a zero or lower tolerance for mistakes at practice and in the games.  I will never forget one practice during my freshman year in which the scout defense was scrimaging the starting offense and offense made like 3 mistakes in a row.  Ad went nuts and started chewing out all of the coaches and said, "Anyone can come out here and stand around and chew sunflower seeds all day, you coaches need to get of your butts and coach someone every play as it is obvious that no player is doing things right every play!"  That sent a powerful message to all.  Perhaps the team needs to script plays and just run them quick and by the script if possible keeping the D off balance?  Not sure. 

I also have to questions whether or not Linfield is really winning the recruiting wars?  I have heard from several parents of kids that I know from all over the state in which their son's ended up going to PLU, Whitworth or Willamette because those schools were able to put together a better financial package than Linfield could offer?  In several games this year it looked like we just got man handled and our team speed looked suspect?  Not sure?

I know we have a brand new offense and I am willing to give it one year for the coaches to perfect it, but not sure if it was the right move or not?  Seems like our passing game, which use to be one of the most sophisticated passing games in the nation, is non-existant.  I am all for a balance offense, but geesh.  I think their are lots of questions and lots of room for improvement and just hope the cats can get it done.  It almost seems they have gotten into a mind set or funk in which we just can't win the big games, usually because of shooting ourselves in the foot several times during the game.  We need to put together a game against a top notch team in which we win the offensive, defensive and specialty team battles.

[(509)Rat]

Here's a go at some of your questions Blue...

Is it good for our punt returner to fair catch the punt on the 2 yard line or should he let it go? Some dude sitting next to me said you should let it go if it's inside the 10 and take your chances. He was a little grumpy after that one.

The 10 yard line is generally the rule of thumb.  In the case of a high punt around the 7-9 yard line where the punt coverage is down there a fair catch (inside the 10) would be fine IMO...But a fair catch on the 2 means your returner either doesn't understand football or doesn't have much spacial awareness.  The guy next to you was rightfully grumpy.

When you are playing defensive back and the receiver you are covering turns back to catch the pass, should you turn and look to see if you can bat the ball away or get the pick? or just keep your back to the ball and not know what is going on and let them catch it for a TD? I've seen this happen about 3-4 times this year so I wonder if that is how they are instructing them to do?

In college face-guarding is perfectly legal, meaning as a DB you can throw your hands up in front of the receiver without attempting to make a play on the ball (in high school its a penalty).  As a DB you NEVER want to turn to make a play on the ball until you are on the receiver's hip (running side-by-side).  You don't want to turn and look for the ball only to have the receiver break off his route, leaving you to look stupid.  So if your DB is on the WR's hip and is confident the ball has been thrown then YES, i think he should turn to make a play on the ball.  If there is separation and he has a feeling the route might not be complete (i.e. A linfield receiver is 15 yards down field will still break towards the sidelines even though your instincts say this is too deep for an out route) then I say stay with the WR and try and blindly defend the pass or break it up after the WR has it in his hands.

Is it wise to use up 2 timeouts within about a minute to start a half because you don't have your play in? And then not have any timeouts left at the end of the game when you could really use them?

i wouldn't unless you are using them because one of the plays has a serious chance of putting points on the board...even then i don't think I'd burn two.  Or maybe if I was trying to convert on 4th down because I saw this as my best opportunity to put some points on the board and/or change the momentum of the game.

That's all I can try and answer, the rest requires more knowledge of the WOU game or Linfield's program in general.

Wildcat82:

I also have to questions whether or not Linfield is really winning the recruiting wars?  I have heard from several parents of kids that I know from all over the state in which their son's ended up going to PLU, Whitworth or Willamette because those schools were able to put together a better financial package than Linfield could offer?  In several games this year it looked like we just got man handled and our team speed looked suspect?  Not sure?

I wouldn't put too much stock into financial aid packages.  I've heard of plenty of Whitworth recruits choosing Linfield, Willamette, PLU, etc. because of better financial aid packages.  Some of them were good players, others were not.  I think the rise of Whitworth (who has taken a few Oregon kids who were looking at Linfield the last few years) has hurt linfield as well as the loss of a few (once in a decade or two) type skill position players.  Linfield's O and D-line continue to be tops in the conference but the lack of a deep threat at WR and RB's who can't seem to hold on to the football has been the biggest reason IMO for Linfield's struggles the last couple of years.  Linfield still has the numbers, just not the talent from as early as three seasons ago.