Bearcats at Lopers

[Guest]

This is getting largely overlooked as far as the game. Bearcat defense that could not set an edge and was pushed around upfront. We had Kearney stopped for a FG attempt, but our very talented DE through a temper tantrum got a penalty that gave them new life and ultimately 6 points. The why he got a penalty is irrelevant. Just that he did.

Kearney rushed for 228 yards (vs. a Bearcat D) and converted 45% of their 3rd downs.

Not saying the game is "on the defense", just saying lots of contributing factors.

[Brandon]

This is getting largely overlooked as far as the game. Bearcat defense that could not set an edge and was pushed around upfront. We had Kearney stopped for a FG attempt, but our very talented DE through a temper tantrum got a penalty that gave them new life and ultimately 6 points. The why he got a penalty is irrelevant. Just that he did.

Kearney rushed for 228 yards (vs. a Bearcat D) and converted 45% of their 3rd downs.

Not saying the game is "on the defense", just saying lots of contributing factors.

Agree on Roberts.

About the entire Northwest defense. Looking at the box and judging the defensive performance versus the UNK averages.

x

UNK Offense	Before Game	Game	Difference
Yards Per Play	6.8	4.5	-2.3
Yards Per Carry	6.4	3.8	-2.6
Rushing Yards Per Game	337	228	-109
Passing Yards Per Game	138	125	-13
Total Offense	475	353	122
Scoring	32.7	24	-8.7

x

The Northwest defense held them below their season averages in all those categories. The Northwest offense was held to 29.7 points lower than the season total and 17 points below its previous lowest scoring total.
x
x

NW Offense	Before Game	Game	Difference
Yards Per Play	6.5	4.9	-1.6
Yards Per Carry	5.3	4.6	-0.7
Rushing Yards Per Game	227.8	143	84.8
Passing Yards Per Game	229.3	116	113.3
Total Offense	457.2	259	-198.2
Scoring	46.7	17	29.7

x
I think the game comes down to the +3 turnover margin that UNK had and a few missed opportunities in the passing game by the NW offense. Hit those passing plays and the score is different. Possess the ball and UNK runs at least 10 fewer plays, etc.

After I typed that, I thought it would be interesting to look at the number of plays each team ran per game prior and compare it to the game.
x

	Plays Per Game Prior	Game	Difference
UNK	69	79	+10
NW	70	53	-17

[Predatory Primates]

Stats make it look like UNK just played out of their minds more than anything else, tbh.

[Brandon]

Stats make it look like UNK just played out of their minds more than anything else, tbh.

I think they did play well. It reminded me of UCO in 2018 making play after play.

I always say stats are for losers so they may not tell the real story of the game, but I simply evaluate the outcome of the game being determined by Northwest not taking care of the football.

[Predatory Primates]

Every team in the conference has some type of major flaw or flaws this season, imo. I think that has a lot to do with all the up and down results for teams. If a team exploits the flaws, they can win, or at least stay in a game they shouldn't. If they don't, they might get blown out.

[Predatory Primates]

As a general observation, I love how NW threads get almost no action pre game, and 86 pages of ranting post game, win or lose.

[Guest]

Agree on Roberts.

About the entire Northwest defense. Looking at the box and judging the defensive performance versus the UNK averages.

x

UNK Offense	Before Game	Game	Difference
Yards Per Play	6.8	4.5	-2.3
Yards Per Carry	6.4	3.8	-2.6
Rushing Yards Per Game	337	228	-109
Passing Yards Per Game	138	125	-13
Total Offense	475	353	122
Scoring	32.7	24	-8.7

x

The Northwest defense held them below their season averages in all those categories. The Northwest offense was held to 29.7 points lower than the season total and 17 points below its previous lowest scoring total.
x
x

NW Offense	Before Game	Game	Difference
Yards Per Play	6.5	4.9	-1.6
Yards Per Carry	5.3	4.6	-0.7
Rushing Yards Per Game	227.8	143	84.8
Passing Yards Per Game	229.3	116	113.3
Total Offense	457.2	259	-198.2
Scoring	46.7	17	29.7

x
I think the game comes down to the +3 turnover margin that UNK had and a few missed opportunities in the passing game by the NW offense. Hit those passing plays and the score is different. Possess the ball and UNK runs at least 10 fewer plays, etc.

After I typed that, I thought it would be interesting to look at the number of plays each team ran per game prior and compare it to the game.
x

	Plays Per Game Prior	Game	Difference
UNK	69	79	+10
NW	70	53	-17

Some stats are different than others. Offense had two big turnovers early. Neither were returned for a TD, but 30 and 40 yards drives resulted in TDs. Defense was unable to keep them out of the endzone on quick-change opportunities. Prior NW D's would shut teams down, even in quick change. UNK only had 2 "3 and outs" all game and I believe 1 involved a penalty.

The defense also allowed 47% third down conversion. Which isn't horrible, but far below standard NW D output.

Again, I think more of the blame is on the offense, my point is the D didn't just lock them down and the offense screwed them.

[IowaBearcat]

Agree on Roberts.

About the entire Northwest defense. Looking at the box and judging the defensive performance versus the UNK averages.

x
I think the game comes down to the +3 turnover margin that UNK had and a few missed opportunities in the passing game by the NW offense. Hit those passing plays and the score is different. Possess the ball and UNK runs at least 10 fewer plays, etc.

It's no secret the quality of our line play on both sides had dropped dramatically too. Obviously replaced a lot of defense, but this team is getting pushed around, and getting no push on offense.

[IowaBearcat]

Some stats are different than others. Offense had two big turnovers early. Neither were returned for a TD, but 30 and 40 yards drives resulted in TDs. Defense was unable to keep them out of the endzone on quick-change opportunities. Prior NW D's would shut teams down, even in quick change. UNK only had 2 "3 and outs" all game and I believe 1 involved a penalty.

The defense also allowed 47% third down conversion. Which isn't horrible, but far below standard NW D output.

Again, I think more of the blame is on the offense, my point is the D didn't just lock them down and the offense screwed them.

47% is pretty bad. Perspective would be that the NW offensive juggernauts of 2015 and 2016 averaged 47% and 49% for the year while steamrolling people.

[GreenwoodBearcat]

As a general observation, I love how NW threads get almost no action pre game, and 86 pages of ranting post game, win or lose.

We just choose carefully when to biitch...unlike the monkeys who never shut the hell up...

[Predatory Primates]

We just choose carefully when to biitch...unlike the monkeys who never shut the hell up...

To be fair, our team sucks.

[Brandon]

Some stats are different than others. Offense had two big turnovers early. Neither were returned for a TD, but 30 and 40 yards drives resulted in TDs. Defense was unable to keep them out of the endzone on quick-change opportunities. Prior NW D's would shut teams down, even in quick change. UNK only had 2 "3 and outs" all game and I believe 1 involved a penalty.

The defense also allowed 47% third down conversion. Which isn't horrible, but far below standard NW D output.

Again, I think more of the blame is on the offense, my point is the D didn't just lock them down and the offense screwed them.

Your first statement is what I was implying without articulating. The short fields were huge.

There is no doubt the 2019 defense isn't as strong as previous versions. Having said that, those were two of the best defenses of all time and shouldn't be expected to be the norm.

I agree about third down percentage.

Good post catz54.

[Brandon]

47% is pretty bad. Perspective would be that the NW offensive juggernauts of 2015 and 2016 averaged 47% and 49% for the year while steamrolling people.

The 2016 season was a great one for Northwest, but the offensive "juggernauts" owed a lot of their success to the defense. PSR used to say it all the time but no one would listen. He was correct.

	2015		Northwest	Opponent
	Yards Per Play		5.8	3.6
	Passing Yards		286.9	164.7
	Rushing Yards		152.8	59.3
	3rd Down Conv.		47%	24%
	Play %		54%	-
	2016		Northwest	Opponent
	Yards Per Play		6.5	3.8.
	Passing Yards		282.6	173.2
	Rushing Yards		188.5	67.7
	3rd Down Conv.		49%	27%
	Play %		53%	-
	2019		Northwest	Opponent
	Yards Per Play		6.3	4.6
	Passing Yards		213.1	250.7
	Rushing Yards		215.7	97.3
	3rd Down Conv.		34%	37%
	Play %		47%	-

x
Those offenses got to run more plays because, at Catz54 said, the defense got the ball back to the offense in short order. This year the offense is running fewer plays than either of those years because the defense does not get it back as quickly.

[IowaBearcat]

The 2016 season was a great one for Northwest, but the offensive "juggernauts" owed a lot of their success to the defense. PSR used to say it all the time but no one would listen. He was correct. [TABLE="align: center, border: 0, cellpadding: 1, width: 500"]
[
Those offenses got to run more plays because, at Catz54 said, the defense got the ball back to the offense in short order. This year the offense is running fewer plays than either of those years because the defense does not get it back as quickly.

I agree, but putting the 2019 offensive stat up there, based on who we have played versus the grind of a full 15 game season, is a disservice to the NC teams and their level of play. Also, think of how good those statistics could have been if the defense wasn't so good and they could have kept their foot on the gas.

The offense and defense are keeping the defense on the field this year. Allowing 47% of 3rd downs is bad. Highest since Pitt homecoming debacle in 2014 I believe.

[Brandon]

I agree, but putting the 2019 offensive stat up there, based on who we have played versus the grind of a full 15 game season, is a disservice to the NC teams and their level of play. Also, think of how good those statistics could have been if the defense wasn't so good and they could have kept their foot on the gas.

The offense and defense are keeping the defense on the field this year. Allowing 47% of 3rd downs is bad. Highest since Pitt homecoming debacle in 2014 I believe.

I recognize the weakness of comparing seven games to 15 games but it's all we have, especially because it allowed me an opening to explain just how much those all-time great type of defenses were helping the offense.