The Eye Test

[Grizaddict]

Physicality is improved all over the field. We're a top-10, top-5 type roster save for 1 position, and that position isn't fullback. I think rovig can continue to improve, but his ceiling is competent, i think. If he can get to competent by November, we're capable of a deep, semifinal type run. If not, maybe 1 and out.

Rovig and Bauman both remind me of Rob Compson. Compson started the final three games if his redshirt season and was a scant 31-67 (46%) 304 yards and one touchdown. He started sophomore season and didn’t improve much. 113 of 212 (53 percent) for 1,385 yards and nine touchdowns.

His junior and senior years were good. He was 372-622 (60%) and threw for 5,139 yards. 44 TDs.

Compson was a big, drop back quarterback like Rovig and Bauman. I think Rovig will have a faster learning curve due to line and run game.

If compson were the QB of this team, we would have a way higher ceiling.

Agree

[superbobcat]

I'll bite.

So far this team has exceeded my expectations. I thought we would be better this year but 5-1 is a very pleasant surprise. I think SEMO and NAU are borderline good teams and CP is a solid team(especially at home at night). Although we are lighting it up in the air, we have improved over last year in almost every category on offense and our D is GETTING OFF THE FIELD ON 3RD DOWN!!!

Defense:
Our front 7 is very good against the run and generating pressure as you mentioned but those underneath passes are usually because the LBs are not in the correct spots. The CBs have been better than I thought given their youth and not only Filer but Cole being out and Thomas being below 100%. They do get beat at corner but its usually the other teams best receiver with no help. Our safeties have been borderline great and we have 3 very good ones.

Offense:
Lets just go to the QB cause we probably all agree on the line and run game. Anyone calling for us to run Andersen or Jonsen over and over are just asking for them to be lost for the season. We got away with it with Murray because he never took a solid hit. Neither of them can carry it more than 10 times a game max. Rovig is learning on the job and I think will have a good day against a weakish SSU secondary if the weather is conducive for it. No he hasn't WON us any games but anyone expecting him or Bauman to do that this year is deluding themselves.

I agree very much with all of this and will throw in a few other thoughts.

I'll bite 2.

I am not shocked at 5-1 and felt it would get tougher after Cal Poly. I don't see where in any of our games we will be an offensive machine. We are not built that way. We are built to physically punish you and win down the stretch.

Defense: I think we are more physical in all positions, but I feel our secondary, especially corner play has not been up to par. However, I like that we are playing several and building depth. I've enjoyed the middle LB rotation, it seems like we start whoever will match up with the opposing team and so far it has worked. Defensive front gets a WOW from me, they are solid as has been stated.

Offense: I believe what we don't get in QB play, we make up for in sheer will and desire. It would be nice to have a difference maker back there, but we don't. We have a game manager and really neither has hurt us to bad. They are doing what they have to. I actually think that since Rovig has taken over, the offense has opened up because he can manage the short passing game better which in turn opens the run game. Line play is fabulous. I like that we are developing the young QB, I loved TA back there last year, but his body paid a huge price and I personally want to see what he can do healthy and hopefully we get him back at full strength for the stretch run.

It is a fun season, continue to enjoy it and GO CATS!!

[grizzh8r]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

And that "opinion" is wrong. TA and TJ are very talented with the ball in their hands and hugged close to their chests. While stylistically they are a bit different in how they get their yards, their production is incredible, two of the best in the FCS in the open field when healthy.

Once the hands start moving forward with the ball in a passing motion, that's where things get dicey, no disrespect to either man. Just the facts. Neither have displayed or possess the accuracy and touch necessary to move the chains on 3rd and long. Rovig does and has proven it multiple times in multiple games this season, despite what all of the haters, naysayers, and Debbie Downers say or think.

The comparison to Compson is a good one, it's just that now more than at any time in history, we live in a society of instant gratification, "I want it NOW" mindset. As has been discussed multiple times on BN, MSU fans were spoiled rotten by Lulay and McGhee (and yes, even Prukop - shove it haters). If a guy doesn't immediately come in at QB and tear it up like these three did, many "fans" are ready to send him out on a rail. It's really sad that people can't just enjoy this team for what it is.

[iaafan]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

No. Did you forget what you said right before that and miss the part where I said “in that situation...”?

There’s a difference between seeing a strength vs weakness in a particular situation and making a long term, permanent change.

A common theme in every case you try to make is constantly taking things out of context and setting up straw man arguments. If someone disagrees with you, You either leave out pertinent pieces of their discussion or re-frame it to make your case.

[cats2506]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #10 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

EDIT: had #19 ment #10

[iaafan]

Physicality is improved all over the field. We're a top-10, top-5 type roster save for 1 position, and that position isn't fullback. I think rovig can continue to improve, but his ceiling is competent, i think. If he can get to competent by November, we're capable of a deep, semifinal type run. If not, maybe 1 and out.

Rovig and Bauman both remind me of Rob Compson. Compson started the final three games if his redshirt season and was a scant 31-67 (46%) 304 yards and one touchdown. He started sophomore season and didn’t improve much. 113 of 212 (53 percent) for 1,385 yards and nine touchdowns.

His junior and senior years were good. He was 372-622 (60%) and threw for 5,139 yards. 44 TDs.

Compson was a big, drop back quarterback like Rovig and Bauman. I think Rovig will have a faster learning curve due to line and run game.

If compson were the QB of this team, we would have a way higher ceiling.

It took Compson around 14 starts to become the player you want. Rovig has five, Bauman has three. Compson was worse than both in his first five/three starts.

[iaafan]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #19 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

Not to mention this offense vs FCS is close to 100 yards per game over last year.

[CelticCat]

Guess who's stat line this is (not MSU, but Big Sky and a little while ago now)


Year 1:
GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------
11 109.00 143-259-17 55.2 1749 8 70 159.0

Year 2:
GP Effic Cmp-Att-Int Pct Yds TD Lng Avg/G
---------------------------------------------------------------
13 156.52 280-440-9 63.6 3744 34 85 288.0

[iaafan]

Vernon Adams

[CelticCat]

Vernon Adams

Right team - that would be Matt Nichols freshman to his sophomore year.

[ilovethecats]

Vernon Adams

Right team - that would be Matt Nichols freshman to his sophomore year.

This is not possible. If a redshirt freshman or even a sophomore is not an absolute stud at the position they never will be. For some reason it is the one position on the field that doesn't improve. I know, I thought it sounded crazy too! But I read enough message boards to know this is in FACT the case...

[WalkOn79]

Physicality is improved all over the field. We're a top-10, top-5 type roster save for 1 position, and that position isn't fullback. I think rovig can continue to improve, but his ceiling is competent, i think. If he can get to competent by November, we're capable of a deep, semifinal type run. If not, maybe 1 and out.

Rovig and Bauman both remind me of Rob Compson. Compson started the final three games if his redshirt season and was a scant 31-67 (46%) 304 yards and one touchdown. He started sophomore season and didn’t improve much. 113 of 212 (53 percent) for 1,385 yards and nine touchdowns.

His junior and senior years were good. He was 372-622 (60%) and threw for 5,139 yards. 44 TDs.

Compson was a big, drop back quarterback like Rovig and Bauman. I think Rovig will have a faster learning curve due to line and run game.

If compson were the QB of this team, we would have a way higher ceiling.

Agree

the junior or Senior Rob Compson

[onceacat]

Vernon Adams

Right team - that would be Matt Nichols freshman to his sophomore year.

What was the Eagles' record his freshman year?

[catatac]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #10 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

EDIT: had #19 ment #10

Ya, this. And another thing regarding something I read where they said the coaches didn't trust TR at the end there so they benched him and put in TJ. That's not really accurate. The way I look at that is percentages. We're a team that pounds the rock all game and wears defenses down, and you can literally see the rushes, yards per carry getting higher and higher as the game wears on. Couple that with how much of a best TJ is and that you can do a direct snap to him and eliminate a handoff... that's a no brainer. Was probably a 95% chance we win with that approach at the end versus about 90% if we left TR in there and ran our traditional offense to finish them off, either with a TD or FG.

[CelticCat]

Vernon Adams

Right team - that would be Matt Nichols freshman to his sophomore year.

What was the Eagles' record his freshman year?

3-8. 2006, beat MSU in what would be our 3rd loss in a row after beating Colorado.

In 2007 they lost to App State in the quarterfinals (16 teams at this point) and finished 9-4.

[TomCat88]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #10 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

EDIT: had #19 ment #10

Ya, this. And another thing regarding something I read where they said the coaches didn't trust TR at the end there so they benched him and put in TJ. That's not really accurate. The way I look at that is percentages. We're a team that pounds the rock all game and wears defenses down, and you can literally see the rushes, yards per carry getting higher and higher as the game wears on. Couple that with how much of a best TJ is and that you can do a direct snap to him and eliminate a handoff... that's a no brainer. Was probably a 95% chance we win with that approach at the end versus about 90% if we left TR in there and ran our traditional offense to finish them off, either with a TD or FG.

MSU only needed a FG, so was going to run it every down until Poly stopped them. The only way MSU would pass is if there was a penalty (or MSU lost yardage) that pushed them out of FG range. Having two capable runners (Jonsen and Jones/Perry) on the field probably didn’t involve much thought. I’m fairly sure Choate/Miller would’ve done this even if Rovig had been 20-25 for 200 yards and three TDs. It was a high percentage move.

[wbtfg]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #10 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

EDIT: had #19 ment #10

Ya, this. And another thing regarding something I read where they said the coaches didn't trust TR at the end there so they benched him and put in TJ. That's not really accurate. The way I look at that is percentages. We're a team that pounds the rock all game and wears defenses down, and you can literally see the rushes, yards per carry getting higher and higher as the game wears on. Couple that with how much of a best TJ is and that you can do a direct snap to him and eliminate a handoff... that's a no brainer. Was probably a 95% chance we win with that approach at the end versus about 90% if we left TR in there and ran our traditional offense to finish them off, either with a TD or FG.

MSU only needed a FG, so was going to run it every down until Poly stopped them. The only way MSU would pass is if there was a penalty (or MSU lost yardage) that pushed them out of FG range. Having two capable runners (Jonsen and Jones/Perry) on the field probably didn’t involve much thought. I’m fairly sure Choate/Miller would’ve done this even if Rovig had been 20-25 for 200 yards and three TDs. It was a high percentage move.

Yes...context is everything.

[CelticCat]

Agree with everything you said except parts of the QB part. Rovig managed the game really well before his INT. Jonsen took over in OT, because he was killing it prior to that and Miller (using his own eye test) exploited Poly with him. His previous four carries that half went for 39 yards. 13, 10, 7, 9. In that situation (ball on poly 25) Miller was going to call that until it got stopped. Wouldn’t you have done the same?

Did you miss the part where I said it was the smartest thing they did. I think they would be extremely smart to go with just him or Andersen moving forward. It is my opinion your current “passing” QBs are holding the offense back.

We ran the same play 3 times in OT, do you think it would be smart to just strip the playbook down to the one play and run it with #10 all game? That is the same logic that you are using.

I think running either #10 or #15 at QB full or most of the time would be extremely stupid, it limits the playbook a lot and doesn't make good use of other play makers on the field. The reason that #10 is taking over the wildcat plays is because he is running it very well and we don't have to substitute since #12 stays on the field, we can run tempo switching back and forth from QB to wildcat. #12 is improving whether you see it or not, but it is happening, those improvements do nothing but make the Cats better with a more diverse offense. not only that but the plays we run with #10 & #15 would open ourselves to injury were we to run that all game. I think MM and Choate are doing an excellent job of utilizing our roster to give us the most advantage and wins.

EDIT: had #19 ment #10

Ya, this. And another thing regarding something I read where they said the coaches didn't trust TR at the end there so they benched him and put in TJ. That's not really accurate. The way I look at that is percentages. We're a team that pounds the rock all game and wears defenses down, and you can literally see the rushes, yards per carry getting higher and higher as the game wears on. Couple that with how much of a best TJ is and that you can do a direct snap to him and eliminate a handoff... that's a no brainer. Was probably a 95% chance we win with that approach at the end versus about 90% if we left TR in there and ran our traditional offense to finish them off, either with a TD or FG.

MSU only needed a FG, so was going to run it every down until Poly stopped them. The only way MSU would pass is if there was a penalty (or MSU lost yardage) that pushed them out of FG range. Having two capable runners (Jonsen and Jones/Perry) on the field probably didn’t involve much thought. I’m fairly sure Choate/Miller would’ve done this even if Rovig had been 20-25 for 200 yards and three TDs. It was a high percentage move.

3 things can happen when you pass the ball, and 2 of them are bad.

[technoCat]

Vernon Adams

Right team - that would be Matt Nichols freshman to his sophomore year.

What was the Eagles' record his freshman year?

3-8. 2006, beat MSU in what would be our 3rd loss in a row after beating Colorado.

In 2007 they lost to App State in the quarterfinals (16 teams at this point) and finished 9-4.

I was convinced this couldn't be right because I thought Nichols was the one that beat Lulay in 2004 with that big come back. I had completely forgot about Meyers... Will they EVER be bad at QB?

[Catsrgrood]

The glaring weakness is again at QB (which in my opinion is the most important offensive position on the field, only the center and QB touch the ball every play). I have said and will continue to say that neither Bauman nor Rovig are helping this offense much. I felt they wouldn’t early on and I haven’t seen a thing that tells me otherwise. They are still very one dimensional. I still think your offense works night and day better with Jonsen or TA running it from the QB position. I think Choate is starting to see that too as he let Jonsen run that final series in OT as opposed to running Rovig back out there. That was a smart move in my opinion. Without TA there I feel your QB play has taken a step back. That guy could spring a TD at any given moment. With Rovig there, that’s been lost. And I don’t think the passing improvements that he supposedly brings to the table outweigh what TA/Jonsen can do.

I agree with most of it, small disagreement with the above.

Cornerback play could be better at times this year and QB play has obviously been mediocre thus far.

D Line is dominant, there was a lot of hype coming into the year that they were going to be great, but after losing 3 very good seniors I was skeptical they’d be as good. Well... they’re better...

LB’s are substantially better than last year, they’ve exceeded my expectations so far.

Safeties are very good, they’re what I expected.

O line is arguably the best in the Big Sky. They’re at or slightly above what I expected.

RB’s are talented and deep. The Cats are leading the Big Sky in rushing yards per game and Ifanse has played a combined 8 quarters out of a possible 24. And Andersen has barely touched the ball this year compared to last year. Who would have predicted this productive of a run game with Andersen and Ifanse really being a pretty small part of it this year? RB’s are exceeding expectations.

WR’s are as good or better than anticipated in my mind. They’ve made some great catches when given the opportunity but would also love some of the 50/50 balls to actually be caught, but their blocking has been huge.

Cornerback? Slightly below expectations, but the #1 guy has yet to play this year and they’re getting some young guys in there, that will pay dividends down the stretch, so this really doesn’t concern me much at this point.

QB is the 800lb gorilla in the room. I’m not near as down on them as some people are, but they both have a ton of room to grow. I’d say they’re about what I was expecting so far. To be honest the expectation was not sky high for me to begin with, either way we were going to be starting a 2nd or 3rd year kid that was going to have some growing pains and hopefully improve as the season goes on. And I think that’s exactly what we’re seeing.

To the stuff I highlighted in the quote, I think Choate is fully aware that Jonsen is playing at a high level and that the offense is producing at a high level when he’s in there. But they literally run one option play with him back there, he’s going to pitch it to the guy in motion, or keep it himself and wait for the hole to open up. It’s been great, but the offense isn’t going to run that one play 50 times a game. 5-10 times and it’s great.

I think the staff is trying to walk the fine line of working those plays in to get some production, scores and keep the defense on its heels, but at the same time, letting Rovig stay in there and work on the pass game and help him develop throughout the season. If he’s not perfect right now, oh well, it hasn’t cost them a game yet and he’s learning. The goal is for him to have improved all season and playing at a higher level by the end of the season and in the playoffs.
You couldn’t ask for a better setup to let a QB learn and develop while getting live game reps. Great D, dominant run game, and a couple guys that are more than capable of coming in and taking snaps here and there to a) keep the defense guessing and create some explosive plays and b) take some pressure off a young qb so they’re not taking 100% of the snaps and having the game totally on their shoulders.