This week's top game.

[KleShreen]

Yeah, the offense was moving it decently in the first quarter but they were also helped by some
big penalties from Ferris (facemask early on). Glad to see the running came back to life after last week. But that passing game… yikes. It’s clear that Avery is never going to be a great (or even average) passer, especially for a guy who is constantly banged up with the way he runs. He also always only looks for the first read (unless he’s scrambling), and many times misses other guys who are wide open. It’s a travesty how little Kyle Nott is utilized or even looked for this year. I’d much rather Avery Moore back in his back-up/change of pace role and either go with Thole or see what Ike can do with consistent reps, although he hasn’t looked impressive at all either. This team isn’t going anywhere meaningful without a passing attack, so I’d rather roll the dice with a guy like Thole and let him air it out over the last few games to see if they can find something. Right now the offense is only getting worse. The defense is too good to waste and to constantly put in bad position, like what happened this afternoon.

Thole is horrendous. I think Udengwu has promise if he gets more reps, but Thole and Meschi are not starting-caliber D2 QB's, IMO.

I agree about Kyle Nott. He's arguably your most dynamic receiver. To go this entire game with him only getting one ball thrown towards him, which he drew a PI on, and that's it? That feels like a huge missed opportunity in a game like this.

I don't know what the solution is. But I'm willing to bet that every team we face from here on out is just going to put 8/9 in the box and sell out on the run to make the QB's throw, and thus far, none of the QB's have been good enough to make teams think twice about doing it. We'll probably get away with it from a talent standpoint against Wayne and Roosevelt, but Tech is going to be another tough test.

I do think back to what one of the Pueblo posters posted in here after that game. He said that the OL was giving away whether it was a pass or run before the snap. Maybe that's still happening.

[BillyGV]

We have been discussing this all season in certain circles if our lack of a quality passing game would eventually catch up with us and this is the game we were concerned about - obviously, it showed - going to have to incorporate some quick passes to both WR and TE and occasionally over the top to open up the run some - that’s about all we can do because if the primary receiver isn’t open no one else is getting a look - get the ball to some playmakers - in other words kinda like what Xerris does (I really hate to say that) but that would be better than what we are doing today - it’s a thought anyway - because watching the O has been frustrating with the lack of a real passing attack

[IH8SVSU]

HUH? - you playing?

Good one Billy 🙄

The #1 team in the country just got EMBARRASSED at home and that’s what you have to say? Keep riding that Matt Mitchell coaching carousel that continues to linger in Allendale.

[BillyGV]

Good one Billy 🙄

Here to help, always 😆

[Predatory Primates]

GV had a freaking superhero at QB last year. There was bound to be some drop-off, but I didn't think it would be this big.

[DawgUp]

Maybe we should think about switching out GV for Roosevelt for the Anchor part of the AnchorBone Trophy. Roosevelt did throw for over 100 yds against us and had better TOP than GV. The fact our tailback (Katzer), forget Chambliss, went 9-71 yds with all his rushes coming directly into the teeth of that vaunted run D, and Eichelberger (league leading rusher) only getting 28yds on 8 rushes...hmmm IDK.

Even with the lack of a stellar passing game, I'd expect better rushing numbers than that. I'm still waiting for the so-called "physicality" of the GV oline to show up. We screwed ourselves out of 2 sacks with face mask penalties and rescued you on 2 drives. This game could have and should have been worse. TA started milking clock with 2 mins left in the 3rd to keep the score in check and keep our guys healthy for a real battle against Northern Mich next week.

Hopefully the GV coaches figure out if you're going to be running your starting QB, better make sure you backup is getting equal reps in practice because he ain't lasting a full season. I'll reiterate what Billy said, a couple of bubble screens and some RPOs off that running game wouldn't hurt either.

Anyway, I venture to think we'll be meeting again in the playoffs, probably 1st round if the NCAA has it's way. I'm sure Wooster and the boys will come up with something to offset what happened this past Saturday. I'm sure GV will be the favorite in their last 3 games, you know, with them playing the tougher schedule and all. 😁

[LakerDad]

Maybe we should think about switching out GV for Roosevelt for the Anchor part of the AnchorBone Trophy. Roosevelt did throw for over 100 yds against us and had better TOP than GV. The fact our tailback (Katzer), forget Chambliss, went 9-71 yds with all his rushes coming directly into the teeth of that vaunted run D, and Eichelberger (league leading rusher) only getting 28yds on 8 rushes...hmmm IDK.

Even with the lack of a stellar passing game, I'd expect better rushing numbers than that. I'm still waiting for the so-called "physicality" of the GV oline to show up. We screwed ourselves out of 2 sacks with face mask penalties and rescued you on 2 drives. This game could have and should have been worse. TA started milking clock with 2 mins left in the 3rd to keep the score in check and keep our guys healthy for a real battle against Northern Mich next week.

Hopefully the GV coaches figure out if you're going to be running your starting QB, better make sure you backup is getting equal reps in practice because he ain't lasting a full season. I'll reiterate what Billy said, a couple of bubble screens and some RPOs off that running game wouldn't hurt either.

Anyway, I venture to think we'll be meeting again in the playoffs, probably 1st round if the NCAA has it's way. I'm sure Wooster and the boys will come up with something to offset what happened this past Saturday. I'm sure GV will be the favorite in their last 3 games, you know, with them playing the tougher schedule and all. 😁

You should add that Roosevelt also would likely be more courageous and not take a knee with 48 seconds left in the 1st half and with time outs remaining, with only 40 yards or so to go for a FG attempt..

[KleShreen]

You should add that Roosevelt also would likely be more courageous and not take a knee with 48 seconds left in the 1st half and with time outs remaining, with only 40 yards or so to go for a FG attempt..

Yea that felt weird to me. Felt like giving up when that happened. 50 seconds and 3 timeouts is an eternity in football.

[GVLakerFan24]

Yeah that kneel down at the end of the first half was a complete shocker and sign of weakness… you could tell the GV coaching staff had zero faith in their own offense. I’ll agree with DawgUp that what’s been most surprising the last two weeks is the complete lack of rushing attack. What the heck has happened? Our O-Line has been getting bullied, which I never thought I’d say about a GV team.

Now back to the QB play.. you might say that Thole is horrendous but my gosh, Avery is even worse as a passer. It’s so obvious now that the only reason he ever hit deep throws the last few years was because the defense was completely geared up for him to run.

So at what point so we start blaming the offensive coaches? There’s NO excuse, with the weapons we have, to not be able to find ways to get them the ball in space and let them go to work. Like a few posters have already said—copy the Ferris blueprint and throw a bunch of screens, bubbles, reverses, short slants, etc, and let our guys go to work. All Ferris does is throw the ball sideways to guys with speed. Covering against that opens up the run game and consistently creates shorter distances to gain on second and third down. And yet our coaches came up with the most mind boggling game plan imaginable—repeatedly chuck it deep along the sidelines , a pass that Avery simply cannot make. It’s like we went back to the fades for days Bart Williams offense and thought that would catch Ferris off guard, and had no backup plan once that didn’t work. I’m not even gonna waste the gas money driving up to Big Rapids for a playoff rematch if they don’t make some serious changes to the offensive scheme. Right now it’s a waste of a great defense. I can’t even be mad at the defense for wearing down after the way the offense and special teams let them down again and again two weeks in a row.

[KleShreen]

Yeah that kneel down at the end of the first half was a complete shocker and sign of weakness… you could tell the GV coaching staff had zero faith in their own offense. I’ll agree with DawgUp that what’s been most surprising the last two weeks is the complete lack of rushing attack. What the heck has happened? Our O-Line has been getting bullied, which I never thought I’d say about a GV team.

Now back to the QB play.. you might say that Thole is horrendous but my gosh, Avery is even worse as a passer. It’s so obvious now that the only reason he ever hit deep throws the last few years was because the defense was completely geared up for him to run.

So at what point so we start blaming the offensive coaches? There’s NO excuse, with the weapons we have, to not be able to find ways to get them the ball in space and let them go to work. Like a few posters have already said—copy the Ferris blueprint and throw a bunch of screens, bubbles, reverses, short slants, etc, and let our guys go to work. All Ferris does is throw the ball sideways to guys with speed. Covering against that opens up the run game and consistently creates shorter distances to gain on second and third down. And yet our coaches came up with the most mind boggling game plan imaginable—repeatedly chuck it deep along the sidelines , a pass that Avery simply cannot make. It’s like we went back to the fades for days Bart Williams offense and thought that would catch Ferris off guard, and had no backup plan once that didn’t work. I’m not even gonna waste the gas money driving up to Big Rapids for a playoff rematch if they don’t make some serious changes to the offensive scheme. Right now it’s a waste of a great defense. I can’t even be mad at the defense for wearing down after the way the offense and special teams let them down again and again two weeks in a row.

I don't know if I'd say it's for sure a lack of offensive game planning or scheme. To me, it feels like the OL has regressed since the beginning of the season. And that's kinda the crutch of all the problems.

I'm also curious if it's growing pains with a new OC. The current OC is the first time in a long time that GV has had an OC who wasn't really brought up in the GV program. He had tons of success at St. Cloud State and EWU on offense, but I dunno what's going on right now. His one interview he did said that he left Hawaii due to "philosophy differences"....but......I dunno. I just think it's strange that the one position group that has always been a reliable, high-performing stalwart at GV for 20+ years now all of a sudden looks average at best.

[DawgUp]

For all the OCs you guys have had over they years, it seems they're handed a playbook and told.."make it work".

[GVSU-2019]

What?? - FloSports is easy to watch every GLIAC game - and its not expensive - great productions - interviews and conf reviews - well done

It used to be free. That's literally it. Everyone I know that wasn't a true sicko diehard stopped watching when they had to start paying

[boyblue]

It used to be free. That's literally it. Everyone I know that wasn't a true sicko diehard stopped watching when they had to start paying

Ah ha! I was wondering why or forum feels abandoned. Having to pay to watch games has not helped things. If the MIAA would join the GLIAC, LSC, NE10 and GSC on FLO Sports it would be an even better value.

[BillyGV]

It used to be free. That's literally it. Everyone I know that wasn't a true sicko diehard stopped watching when they had to start paying

they obviously weren't "true sicko diehard" fans - my gosh you have to pay if you go to the game - and you aren't either - pay to play buddy, pay to play

[BillyGV]

Ah ha! I was wondering why or forum feels abandoned. Having to pay to watch games has not helped things. If the MIAA would join the GLIAC, LSC, NE10 and GSC on FLO Sports it would be an even better value.

exactly - FloSports would be even better - I watch GSC games a lot along with other GLIAC games - if you are a D2 football fan its a good deal