mat1992

I wouldn’t have done this, but I assume he will have a very short leash. I don’t think it matters who the QB is.

https://towsontigers.com/news/2021/9/11/towson-football-fourth-quarter-comeback-attempt-falls-short-at-unh.aspx Was waiting on a Zoom press conference, but Towson never showed up. Interesting since they never really showed up for the game. Give UNH credit. They read all the play-action plays and played sound football as they always do. Can't blame rust since they only played one game during the spring. Bottom line is you can't just run the football (yes they should have run more tonight), if you can't throw it. The opponent is going to load the box. Jeff Miller and Chris Ferguson combined for 18 of 43 for four picks. One of the picks bounced off Darian Street, so that wasn't on Jeff Miller. Ferguson looked like a deer in the headlights at times. Look, the team that was here last winter did not want to play in the spring. They practice and RA had mentioned how the quarterback position performed poorly. They added CF after the spring and he did ok in the preseason. But while I though the main weakness was the kicking game. It's now the QB position. As everyone knows, you can't win without a solid QB1. Defensively, we had some good moments, but overall we were awful. Yes, we lost Mark Collins Jr. (not sure what the issue was) after the first possession. Brandon Shuman came in and his shoes blew up on the bomb to Coyle. No Elorm Lumor again and our pass rush was M.I.A. for most of the game. When we blitzed, Edwards picked it up. It's amazing how McConnell can find these quarterbacks. They all can run some and are accurate. Maybe not big arms or great size, but they know how to play the game. Instead of getting a spread-option type of QB, we go back to the 2011-13 season, running the power with T-West or Jerry Howard. That's fine. Howard, despite being nicked up, had some sensational runs. He had 97 yards on 18 carries. But for some reason, maybe due to the injury, he came out a bunch of times for either Devin Matthews, who runs extremely hard but is basically north-south. Sabias Folley had five carries for 21 yards. Seems like he missed a block late in the first half and was not seen again. Once again, it starts with the QB but other than Howard, we lack that dynamic runner. Even UNH has a few guys who can run outside and since we didn't set the edge all night, they can run past our linebackers and secondary. So without a solid QB like a Peter Athens or a strong runner like a Grant Enders, there's a four-letter word I can use but won't. Let's just say we're screwed unless an Amendola or a freshman QB comes out of the woodwork. My guess is there will be competition next week. Because if you throw four picks again, the scored will be 60-0 next week.

They only need to add one team. I haven’t heard any rumors about who would replace JMU. Heard a lot of stuff pre-Covid but not worth repeating here since it probably won’t happen.

https://static.caasports.com/custompages/2021 CAAFB Press Box/Teleconferences/Week 3/Ambrose_Wk3.mp3

Those last few questions were from a North Dakota State reporter. Mostly fluff. Nobody asked about the QB situation. It was all for featurish stories.

It makes sense financially to be aligned with schools nearby instead of having to send the tennis team or soccer to Texas State or Arkansas State annually.

I thought Caleb showed as much energy as anybody considering he dragged people about 15 yards downfield and Howard and Matthews gave it all they had, running over and dragging tacklers in a stacked box. You can only do your job and can't worry if the QB is throwing at at WRs feet or throwing five yards behind them.

Yes, freshmen can play four games or less. They burn their redshirt if they play five games or more. If he thinks they can help him win games, he will and should play any true freshman and burn their redshirt.

I think Maryland has a QB now and he may turn their program around. Coaches have lost jobs because they can find the right QB. Ultimately, that may happen here and it goes back to that position. UNH doesn't seem to have issues finding QBs, usually mobile ones, to suit their system. The problem is we keep changing our system every few years to adjust to the QB.

I wasn't sure what happened to the Collins. I don't think it was an injury, but I don't want to speculate. We didn't lose because of the D, but they played poorly. I also think the four interceptions, especially the first two knocked them for a loop. Those turnovers really deflated the team. The scheme was not good. Individually, even without Collins and Lumor (and Oly Okombi), I don't think the defense is that bad. As a unit, we looked dysfunctional. So we start Gyeni, Gibbs and Shaffer up front. Not one is a new player. Gyeni is a nose guard playing defensive tackle. I don't get it. Why not start Cholewa with Gyeni or Shaffer up front. Or Reece or Lauer. More height. They started the same front against Morgan State. So, the only transfer was Gibbs and he was here in 2019. Reece was moved to OLB, Okombi was out, so the only transfer from this season was Cholewa. I'll stick with what I said in the offseason, I do like most of the transfers. Love Collins, Bruton, Okombii, Lumor and Cholewa. Didn't think the LBs played well. Was disappointed with Reynolds. We were out of position a lot. Thought Bruton really struggled at safety/OLB. Couldn't cover the TE. They didn't blitz him very often. Thought we were outschemed on both sides of the ball. Very disappointing in all phases yet again, you have a good performance from the QB and you win the game. Both of them had time to throw so pass pro was decent.

Those referring to the "soft defense". You're right. Mark Collins Jr. is our best corner, but he shouldn't be the only one who can cover. When he went out after the first possession, we couldn't cover. Elorm Lumor was arguably the best transfer we picked up and he was out due to an injury. So the pass rush wasn't great. A strange move as they wound up using DT/E Tramar Reece to OLB. Seemed like we never set the edge. Maybe because he wasn't used to playing that spot. Don't think Lumorl play next week. Agree that Shuman and Peoples should be good enough to play closer to the WRs. That's not really why we lost. It's all about the QB.

Enders was a juco who went to Holy Cross for a second. I believe it was Lackawanna. Yes, the QB track record is poor. Despite all the miscues on defense, you have Tom Flacco last night and you probably win the game.

Well considering the OC is the head coach, he's not going to fire himself. But it was one of the worst calls I've seen in years. I saw a few blitzes and a little bit of interior penetration. That's disappointing, but it doesn't matter. We're not shutting them out. But guess what? When you have a mobile quarterback, even if he runs a 4.7 40, he can outun a 300 pound linemen and he did that several times tonight. Not making excuses, but we certainly missed Elorm Lumor, who just can't seem to stay healthy. Not sure what our OLBs were doing all night. Nobody seemed to set the edge. IF UNH decided to run on the perimeter a few more times, they would have put the game away earlier. But as I said earlier, even with questionable coaching on both sides of the ball, if you turn it over four times, it takes all the air out of the balloon. The energy seemed deflated after every turnover. I'm surprised they didn't put up 40 points. if you do that against NDST, they will put up a lot more than 40 points. They can do that without the turnovers.

It's fine. I know some people won't post because if you have nothing better to say don't say it. Others will call for his job tomorrow. I know we had about 3 months to prepare for this with all the new players. I just don't get the whole thing. I should have seen it against Morgan. Tulane put up 69 points on them tonight. I know Tulane looked great against Oklahoma in the first game. But we should have put 50 on them. You hate to say the season is over in Game 2, but unfortunately it is.

Also, that 4th and goal call at the 7 or 8 or whatever it was. That screen pass to Howard with four guys blocking for him was fine for a 2nd-down play. To not throw the ball into the end zone or near it on 4th down boggles the mind. The fact that we were giving the ball to our short-yardage back Devin Matthews on third-and-goal at the 7 also was incredible. If you don't have confidence in either QB, find someone this week who can complete passes. Not everyone is going to be wide open. The O-line can't protect for 6 or 7 seconds. The QB has to get rid of the ball or run from the pocket. Even the less mobile guys can dance out of the pocket. Shit, what do I know. I certainly don't know how to play the QB position. But I see the results. The completion %. I'm sure it's not all on the QB or the line. The receivers also have to step up. Other than Caleb Smith, you need more from Jabari Allen, Darian Street and Rutkowski. That Smith run after the catch was fantastic late in the game.

At this level, you need a dual-threat QB. It's a must. Sure, Ferguson did a great job of managing the game in 2018 and that Maine team was special. Not sure what happened to him since then.

I'd like to see Amendola or that kid Nathan Kent. They are dual-threat QBs. I mean you play them against ND State, it will be ugly. But it's going to ugly anyhow. I hate the Wildcat but maybe you get one of those kids on the field in certain situations just to have that ability to run.

I honestly don't think I've ever been more disappointed or depressed after a Towson loss and I've seen virtually hundreds of them. The lack of fire and passion in the first half. The poor discipline I'm not so sure of. What did Caleb Smith really do after the touchdown reception? Throw the ball too hard at the official? Jesus Gibbs I guess grabbed the jersey of the RB too hard and the RB shoved him. The guys that busted their ass all night were Howard and Matthews. There weren't a ton of holes (there were some early), but didn't see that effort from the LBs or safeties. Very little pass rush up front. I heard somebody mention in the Zoom press conference that turnovers can really get a team going, but they can also deflate you. Whether we were ready to play is another issue. But if we were, those two picks in the first half deflated us. Coaching on both ends, play-calling all issues. McConnell, who maybe didn't coach his best game since he should have waxed us, still seemed to know exactly what we were doing on both sides for the ball. I know everyone will question all the transfers that played or why maybe we didn't play in the spring. We didn't lose to a bunch of scrubs. But we were sorely outplayed. Even without the picks, we weren't moving the ball consistently. They knew exactly what we were going to run. Pocket passers to me are nearly irreilevant unless you have somebody that has a quick release, is very accurate and has a strong arm.