THE IUP Football Thread

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Some good news from the end of The Tort Show:


(note: the Clarion game is Senior Day so the topic came up)


OL Collin Pietropola -- it sounds like -- will be back next year.

OL McLean Djouha will also return next year (on his second grad degree).

Long story short both will have a semester of eligibility remaining for 2023. I guess both will miss the Spring to preserve the semester but they've been here so long that shouldn't matter much.

Derek Lockhart will medical redshirt and return in the Fall for his final season. Him pairing up with Ridley will certainly make the post-Duane era a bit easier and should once again give Sexton a terrific WR duo.

Four DL will be honored for senior day on Saturday. That's probably the position group getting hit the hardest this off-season. The starting secondary this year is (1) junior (Taylor) and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. Of the LBs who play this year, only one is a senior (Kelly).

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

I don’t eat Trumpanzee food. I’d rather starve.

The thing you don’t realize is 80% of this board is conservative. It’s just common sense nowadays you clown.

[iuphawks]

Looking at team stats ... 3 of the past 4 games IUP has rushed for 98 yards or less (past two games under 60 yards).

Kicking in doors obviously didn't help last week.

But, my question is why can't IUP run the ball when it has what is thought to be a very strong OL and a lethal aerial attack (which should soften the run defense).

Take away the Mercyhurst game (when they 100% sold out on the pass) and Edinboro (not good defense) and IUP's season rushing numbers pretty much stink.

So:

* Are the RBs overrated?
* Is the 'run up the middle' for 2 yards all day the problem? Don't get me started on the jet sweeps that haven't worked all year.
* Is the OL the issue?
* Combination of the three?

They will luck out and (very oddly) have 70 degrees and sunny this weekend.

But, the inability to run seems to be a major concern heading in to November. This sun isn't going to last forever.

It's just very odd to me why a team with a rocket-arm QB and two elite WRs can't run the ball.

Gannon's RBs had swagger and ceveonfidence. I don't see that with IUP's RBs.

Since the mercyhurst game, everyone has loaded the box against IUP. Seton hill is prime example of stupid stubborn. Gave up 31 yards rushing, while leaving their corners on islands and gave up 44 pts. At the end of the day, running the ball doesnt put points on the board. Teams just want to be able to say we didnt let IUP run the ball

[SRU 88]

Let's beat Clarion first. Sounds crazy, sure, but, well, Edinboro was 1-6 when that happened a year ago.

Clarion can block 6 punts and they still will not win. And I doubt IUP will even attempt 6 punts.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I an planning on having a monster tailgate for the PSAC Championship game. Everyone on the board is welcomed other than iup nation and the fighting scott clown. Food and beer on me. More details coming soon.

Let's beat Clarion first. Sounds crazy, sure, but, well, Edinboro was 1-6 when that happened a year ago.

[IUPNation]

I am planning on having a monster tailgate for the PSAC Championship game. Everyone on the board is welcomed other than iup nation and the fighting scott clown. Food and beer on me. More details coming soon.

I don’t eat Trumpanzee food. I’d rather starve.

[IUP Crimson Hawk]

I an planning on having a monster tailgate for the PSAC Championship game. Everyone on the board is welcomed other than iup nation and the fighting scott clown. Food and beer on me. More details coming soon.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

IUPbigINDIANS - would be interested to hear your take. Who would you like to see on the field for the DB’s? I think the linebackers are good, and the front is okay (although a little injured at the moment). As you’ve got some good insight into the players/program - any particular folks you’d be interested in seeing give it a go?

I have no idea. I think the (5) best DBs they have ... play. Individually, they are all very talented. They have size, speed, high athleticism, etc. But, against good QBs, something sure seems off.

Are they being put in position to succeed? Are they being coached well? Are they communicating well on the field? Are they failing to read keys, etc.? I don't know those answers.

I know that if you put no heat on a really good QB (who has really good WRs) ... your secondary is in big trouble -- no matter who you have back there. I mean, they are on the backend -- and who you see when the other team is crossing the goal line. But, there's usually a cause and effect.

Nazhir Taylor has been the posterchild of the message board this season. He's certainly earned some of it. But, I've probably been way more in his camp than most. He's a CB and CBs will get burned occasionally. It happens on all levels. It's been his after-the-whistle incidents and the roughing the punter that has driven us all the most crazy. You can't get an unsportsmanlike taunting the other teams bench. You can't smack a punter after the ball is long gone. Those things are maddening -- not to mention extremely costly. But, he's also done a lot well this year. He had the huge end zone interception against SRU, and many other tough plays.

IUP does seem to blow a lot of coverages back there. They let some guys get wide open on them -- I mean nobody within 15 yards wide open. They were getting beat deep earlier in the year and then morphed in to the 'nobody gets behind us' phase. Of course, good teams spot that immediately and dink/dunk you to death until you have to adjust. Gannon did that and then went bombs away. They had a perfect attack planned. The instances IUP held firm in the secondary ... he'd just take off (and can move for a big guy).

And, let's face it. This IUP defense isn't pitching shutouts against good opponents. But, to beat a really good offensive team, they are going to need to hold them to 21-28 points or so. As we just saw, you aren't going to win many when you give up 44 points. Could they beat Shepherd, 35-28? Yes (in theory). Can they actually hold them to 28 ... that's the big question. Feazell and Wallace are essential. I sure wouldn't rush them back this week. They'll be heavily needed in two weeks.

And, as Joe Lombardi says every year when the sh!t hits the fan, ... there's no trades in D2. There's no waiver wire. Who they have is who they have.

[iupgroundhog]

On the injury front:

DE Vaughn Wallace left the Gannon game early with an ankle injury and is currently in a boot. Status for this weekend unknown but I'd guess doubtful.

DE Maurice Feazell was in concussion protocol and missed the Gannon game. They sound hopeful he will return this weekend.

The DE injury situation clearly hurt them against Gannon. Probably won't matter this week. Hope they can reassemble it by the next weekend.

On the same front, Fowler, was injured in week 4 with a broken bone. Broken bones usually heal in 6 weeks. Is it possible ...?

[IUsuallyPonder]

IUPbigINDIANS - would be interested to hear your take. Who would you like to see on the field for the DB’s? I think the linebackers are good, and the front is okay (although a little injured at the moment). As you’ve got some good insight into the players/program - any particular folks you’d be interested in seeing give it a go?

[IUPalum]

They are getting beat up, too, with injuries -- in particular up front. Losing Fowler for the season was a massive blow. Feazell out last week clearly hurt. And, now, Vaughn Wallace is banged up. That's their three best pass rushers. Once Wallace left the Gannon game, IUP's pass rush vanished.

They can likely live without Wallace this week. Let him get rested up.

Tort did mention last night that we may see some new faces in the secondary. He didn't say anybody was being benched but he said they are pretty much playing every snap back there. He thinks giving them some plays off here and there will help. Same with the LBs.

I didn't notice Wallace leave that game saturday. Yikes! I think Jaheim Howard is the only safe job in that secondary. We all know who I'd boot first!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Well they held Cal to 21 the next game. Its true, early on they played terrible against ESU, Not impressive against Hurst and Ship, even though they were not great offenses. But the last 4 games they did well. sure Boro and Seton Hill were really bad, so it hides some things. Obviously, they are not a dominating D, especially with the injuries. Will they be able to play good enough to give the Offense a chance ? They can I think. We'll see this week if they show up after a horrible game the D lost.

As far as Coaching, good OCs seem to thrive against the IUP defense. Its been that way for some time.

They are getting beat up, too, with injuries -- in particular up front. Losing Fowler for the season was a massive blow. Feazell out last week clearly hurt. And, now, Vaughn Wallace is banged up. That's their three best pass rushers. Once Wallace left the Gannon game, IUP's pass rush vanished.

They can likely live without Wallace this week. Let him get rested up.

Tort did mention last night that we may see some new faces in the secondary. He didn't say anybody was being benched but he said they are pretty much playing every snap back there. He thinks giving them some plays off here and there will help. Same with the LBs.

[ironmaniup]

People are saying the offense is predictable. OCs have to be licking their chops looking at the defense. It gets masked much of the season due to so many easy games against undermanned opponents. Could anybody on here -- honestly -- say they'd want to see IUP play Shepherd or SRU on a dry field? The thought of it is giving me nightmares.

There's a ton of talented players on the defensive side. But, collectively, that unit looked lost up in Erie. I mean, 2 a.m. on a dark, stormy highway lost. I think we have two defensive coordinators now. You know what they say about having two QBs.

Well they held Cal to 21 the next game. Its true, early on they played terrible against ESU, Not impressive against Hurst and Ship, even though they were not great offenses. But the last 4 games they did well. sure Boro and Seton Hill were really bad, so it hides some things. Obviously, they are not a dominating D, especially with the injuries. Will they be able to play good enough to give the Offense a chance ? They can I think. We'll see this week if they show up after a horrible game the D lost.

As far as Coaching, good OCs seem to thrive against the IUP defense. Its been that way for some time.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

On the injury front:

DE Vaughn Wallace left the Gannon game early with an ankle injury and is currently in a boot. Status for this weekend unknown but I'd guess doubtful.

DE Maurice Feazell was in concussion protocol and missed the Gannon game. They sound hopeful he will return this weekend.

[IUPNation]

Glass houses...

I didn’t know The Denny was so state of the art.

At least the Cig has visitor rest rooms and has good trucks over there. The Denny has nothing.