Game #8 vs Stetson @Brown Field Noon

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 03:13:07 PM

....and the big blocked FG from Psota!

Great day for he.

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 03:16:32 PM

2nd holding call on Brewer today. WRs have to get better.

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 03:28:26 PM

Congrats to the Crusaders particularly the defense which was truly outstanding. Let's get another next week!

VULB#62 · October 26, 2019, 04:09:30 PM

Clang, clang goes the Victory Bell.

valpofb16 · October 26, 2019, 04:48:02 PM

Fox can still go 5-7 this season. Looks like we lost Russell for season (stream showed ambulance there)

vu84v2 · October 26, 2019, 04:51:54 PM

Two, uhhh, eye raising stats from this game.

-The quarterbacks combined were 11-50 with three interceptions.
-The listed attendance was 878.

VALPO LI · October 26, 2019, 06:56:41 PM

878 in attendance?

justducky · October 26, 2019, 07:21:02 PM

Quote from: VULB#62 on October 26, 2019, 04:09:30 PM
Clang, clang goes the Victory Bell.

OK! I thought maybe 62 was pulling my leg but no! We have a real win!

dcannon12 · October 26, 2019, 07:32:50 PM

Just a thought:

JD24 do you know how to read stats? Check yourself before you comment on a QB's ability before you post.
Here's a stat Duncan has been the only one to score a TD in the past 3 games. Great team effort today congratulations Valpo football!

vusupporter · October 26, 2019, 07:33:31 PM

Quote from: vu84v2 on October 26, 2019, 04:51:54 PM
Two, uhhh, eye raising stats from this game.

-The quarterbacks combined were 11-50 with three interceptions.
-The listed attendance was 878.

Driving rain, temps in the mid 40's, and 15-20 MPH wind - probably responsible for both.

dcannon12 · October 26, 2019, 07:47:36 PM

The most important stat is the Win.

vu72 · October 26, 2019, 08:27:56 PM

Am watching Michigan v. that team from South Bend, in similar weather conditions. Apparently Michigan fans are more hardy than Valpo fans. Pretty sure there are more than 878 at the Big House!

A very solid game plan today and we passed the ball many more times than ND.

No complaints but a question for those players a little younger than me: It has to do with tackling and ball position when running. Tackling: it looks like the current technique is to meet a player running at you with a bear hug versus lowing the shoulder and hitting him around the waist and locking arms around him. Didn't see that today. As for ball position, I was taught to always switch the ball to the side opposite of the tackler--I'm running left, switch the ball to the left arm when pursuit is coming from the right. didn't see that today either. Just wondering...

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 09:14:09 PM

Quote from: dcannon12 on October 26, 2019, 07:32:50 PMJust a thought: JD24 do you know how to read stats? Check yourself before you comment on a QB's ability before you post. Here's a stat Duncan has been the only one to score a TD in the past 3 games. Great team effort today congratulations Valpo football!

I have no problem reading stat sheets nor do I have a problem analyzing the play of a QB even in tough conditions. In fact, in the 2nd half I made mention of the fact that it wasn't a QB issue with some of the offenses problems. Since this is a game thread, it's not odd that players go through good patches and bad patches and 3 consecutive poor throws even in tough conditions might get a mention.

If a parent is going to post here, he needs to recognize all of this before getting all butt hurt about said criticism.

usc4valpo · October 26, 2019, 09:20:01 PM

Nice win for the Crusaders, the dude clanging the annoying cowbell during the game, and the rough and tough 878 fans who attended.

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 09:20:27 PM

Quote from: vu72 on October 26, 2019, 08:27:56 PMAm watching Michigan v. that team from South Bend, in similar weather conditions. Apparently Michigan fans are more hardy than Valpo fans. Pretty sure there are more than 878 at the Big House!

Some perspective please.

dcannon12 · October 26, 2019, 09:53:50 PM

"Can't throw a 10 yard pass with any sense of accuracy " your words don't spin it JD24. Another stat you got wrong not a parent my nephew is a freshman on the team. I mentioned that before.

JD24 · October 26, 2019, 10:40:34 PM

Quote from: dcannon12 on October 26, 2019, 09:53:50 PM"Can't throw a 10 yard pass with any sense of accuracy " your words don't spin it JD24. Another stat you got wrong not a parent my nephew is a freshman on the team. I mentioned that before.

Right. At the time of the game that statement was accurate. It's also not a stat, it is an opinion.

As to the rest of your comment.

Ok. Your nephew which always leads to comments about the QB. The only QB you comment on. The only player you comment on. With one exception. Another QB.

VULB#62 · October 27, 2019, 12:59:05 AM

I did not SEE a single play. I just followed on GameTracker. I am extatic over the win. But,,,,,,

1 - the plays selection was questionable and I believe it might have cost us two TDs that were at least mitigated by FGs.

2 - Chris is a hander-offer first, a runner second and a passer third. When our ground game is eating up yardage and Chris is a part of it, we do good stuff.

3 - When we suddenly deviate from a successful running attack to throw the ball incomplete 75% of the time it kills the attack.

4 - Therefore, if we really have to throw it should be off the threat of another run by the QB. Not seeing the game live but seeing sacks and losses of 10 yards a clip on game tracker tells me we are not leveraging our greatest threat and, more importantly, not giving Chris a situation in which to be successful.

But the defense really showed its mettle all afternoon. Aside from that early 67 yard scamper on Stetson's first play from scrimmage, our kids MADE PLAYS through 4 quarters. To be truthful, I was waiting for a trademark Valpo Q4 collapse that we are more used to, but not this time

Very happy for the players and coaches.

JD24 · October 27, 2019, 10:34:16 AM

Quote from: VULB#62 on October 27, 2019, 12:59:05 AMI did not SEE a single play. I just followed on GameTracker. I am extatic over the win. But,,,,,, 1 - the plays selection was questionable and I believe it might have cost us two TDs that were at least mitigated by FGs. 2 - Chris is a hander-offer first, a runner second and a passer third. When our ground game is eating up yardage and Chris is a part of it, we do good stuff. 3 - When we suddenly deviate from a successful running attack to throw the ball incomplete 75% of the time it kills the attack. 4 - Therefore, if we really have to throw it should be off the threat of another run by the QB. Not seeing the game live but seeing sacks and losses of 10 yards a clip on game tracker tells me we are not leveraging our greatest threat and, more importantly, not giving Chris a situation in which to be successful. But the defense really showed its mettle all afternoon. Aside from that early 67 yard scamper on Stetson's first play from scrimmage, our kids MADE PLAYS through 4 quarters. To be truthful, I was waiting for a trademark Valpo Q4 collapse that we are more used to, but not this time Very happy for the players and coaches.

The defense was great and it was a great plan with conditions tough for Stetson to use their passing game in conditions they were even less prepared for than Valpo.

It wasn't only that I thought Valpo threw the ball too much it was throwing the ball up to Ollie Reese 6 or 7 times (not an exaggeration) on 50/50 balls which turned into 0/100 balls. It's not a criticism of the player to say that is not his game as a WR. It's a better play to Larose who was out injured. They are just wasting plays. At the 2 yard line with Boxrucker in the game and two shots to get it in, I don't know why you run a play which has been unsuccessful all game with the exception of one PI called.

With that said, Duncan threw a nice ball to Lopez in the endzone which should have been a TD if the receiver tracks the ball better. The game should have been put away earlier than it was.

FWalum · October 27, 2019, 11:20:23 AM

I am very excited with what I am seeing from Coach Fox. Dave Cecchini was certainly an upgrade from where the program had fallen and if Jimmy Seewald had been healthy last year the team would have potentially met last years high expectations. I just find Landon Fox just much more relatable than Cecchini and I think that the players are responding to him on a much more personal level. Cecchini seemed more "corporate" while Fox appears to be down in the trenches fighting with his team. I loved this weeks post game press conference, I suppose the demeanor and exchanges of respect between the players and coach could be "put on" for the press, but I don't think that they are from what I have seen. From my perspective this program appears to be in good hands and now that the ice has been broken and the team has tasted victory more good things should be on the horizon.

football1960 · October 27, 2019, 01:06:14 PM

Watched the game on ESPN plus, it was a great team win and the the weather was a plus for the team. At halftime Todd had a piece on Duncan about why he wears number 14, His late grandfather played at University of Michigan and wore number 14 as well.

usc4valpo · October 27, 2019, 02:48:30 PM

FW - agree with comments but I thought Cecchini did a decent job talking over Osteen's mess.

JD24 · October 27, 2019, 05:04:18 PM

https://twitter.com/valpoathletics/status/1188560636168392704

FWalum · October 27, 2019, 08:02:48 PM

Quote from: usc4valpo on October 27, 2019, 02:48:30 PM
FW - agree with comments but I thought Cecchini did a decent job talking over Osteen's mess.

Completely agree. Two different coaches, two different approaches. The team responded positively to both. I just like the way that Fox seems to lead by shouldering responsibility and in turn the players seem to understand their 1/11 of the team requirements.

VULB#62 · October 28, 2019, 07:56:24 AM

Quote from: FWalum on October 27, 2019, 08:02:48 PM
Two different coaches, two different approaches. The team responded positively to both. I just like the way that Fox seems to lead by shouldering responsibility and in turn the players seem to understand their 1/11 of the team requirements.

Spot on FW. Dave was a good manager and pretty personable, but there was always a kind of aloofness in at least his public persona. Emotions were always controlled and measured. There was also a bit of deflection of responsibility. Fox, OTOH, wears his emotions on his sleeve. You can literally see in his eyes his belief in what he is doing and his belief in the kids he is coaching. That builds solid two-way bonds. Whether we win one, two or more games the rest of the season, this bodes well in recruiting the 2020 class. And Fox needs to have a really good class coming in to continue the upward direction we are seeing on a week to week basis. If his kids believe in him (and from the looks of the guys who participated in the post-game presser they do), they will be the most effective recruiting vehicle he has.

Glad to see Latsonas settle down to the guy he was last season, and Booker is making heads turn. Because of his quickness, I always thought that Early had the potential to break out as a runner, but our blocking schemes didn't appear to favor his style. Seems like some adjustments and tweaks have been made to not only leverage his abilities but also free up Duncan to be more of a running threat. In that respect, it took longer than I had hoped, but it is refreshing to see the staff evaluating what they were doing well and what they were not doing well and making some changes rather than stubbornly sticking to "the system" that wasn't working effectively