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Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:20 am
by weberwildcat
My questions about NAU have been answered for this season. They are for real.
NAU had a respectable game against a Pac 10 team. Shootout win against SUU who I found out has a pretty dang good offense and almost pulled off an FBS upset over Utah State. And now a Montana game that they could have or should have won.
I could see them winnning the next 5 games, the biggest challenge of course will be @ Montana State during this stretch.
The Lumberjacks are in the top 40 according to the TSN top 25.
Last yr they went 4-0 and then 0-4 to end the year. Should be interesting to see how they finish the season. They sure have a lot of road games left.
9/12 @ Arizona 0-1 (0-0) L 34-17
9/19 Southern Utah 1-1 (0-0) W 42-39
9/26 Montana 1-2 (0-1) L 41-34 OT
10/03 Northern Colorado
10/10 @ Montana State
10/17 @ Portland State
10/24 Idaho State
10/31 @ Sacramento State
11/07 @ No. 21 Mississippi
11/14 @ Weber State
11/21 Eastern Washington
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:26 am
by pantherrob82
I'm not sold on Montana State. At this point I would pick NAU as a 10 point favorite over MSU.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:59 am
by Ursus A. Horribilis
pantherrob82 wrote:I'm not sold on Montana State. At this point I would pick NAU as a 10 point favorite over MSU.
Could happen but in Bozeman that is less likely than it is likely. I'm glad they have a home game again this week against UNC as they may be able to work out some frustration and really dominate UNC and then I will be glad that we caught them as early in the season as we did. They are gonna be a real danger down the road if they keep their shit together they are a team that could vie for a first round upset in the playoffs. Harrick could be the guy to really shine in the second half of the season and if they get rolling then that game @ Weber will be a huge one for them and the conference if we beat Weber in Missoula. That will be a tough stretch of games for Wever to add to the drama a little bit.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:10 am
by Willie
NAU needs to get their guys healthy. Too many injuries at the moment.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:17 am
by Ursus A. Horribilis
Willie wrote:NAU needs to get their guys healthy. Too many injuries at the moment.
It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise in a couple of situations though. I hadn't even heard of a couple of the receivers that were tearing us up on Saturday night. If they get healthy then they are gonna have a wealth of weapons to choose from.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:41 am
by AZGrizFan
Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:Willie wrote:NAU needs to get their guys healthy. Too many injuries at the moment.
It may turn out to be a blessing in disguise in a couple of situations though. I hadn't even heard of a couple of the receivers that were tearing us up on Saturday night. If they get healthy then they are gonna have a wealth of weapons to choose from.
EVERY team has receivers that tear us up. We'd better do something about our pass defense or 10/31 is going to be a VERY long day.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:02 pm
by Ursus A. Horribilis
Yes AZ we are still real young in the secondary, we probably avg. about midway through a Sophmore yr. in the secondary. We have played 3 real good passing teams so far with UCDavis putting it in the air 67 times and coming away with 10 points. We've been thrown on almost 200 times in that young secondary in 4 games now and have given up a total of 61 points in those 4 games. They are young and are having their feet held to the fire and we have won all four games. They will be much better by the time Weber comes to town with all of the reps they are getting. You just don't seem to have the ability to watch something mature AZ. I'm gonna let things come together until that time.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:13 pm
by AZGrizFan
Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
Yes AZ we are still real young in the secondary, we probably avg. about midway through a Sophmore yr. in the secondary. We have played 3 real good passing teams so far with UCDavis putting it in the air 67 times and coming away with 10 points. We've been thrown on almost 200 times in that young secondary in 4 games now and have given up a total of 61 points in those 4 games. They are young and are having their feet held to the fire and we have won all four games. They will be much better by the time Weber comes to town with all of the reps they are getting. You just don't seem to have the ability to watch something mature AZ. I'm gonna let things come together until that time.
How many games can we count on winning by intercepting the ball in the end zone as time expires?

Me thinks we've gone to that well once too often already.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:18 pm
by Ursus A. Horribilis
AZGrizFan wrote:Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
Yes AZ we are still real young in the secondary, we probably avg. about midway through a Sophmore yr. in the secondary. We have played 3 real good passing teams so far with UCDavis putting it in the air 67 times and coming away with 10 points. We've been thrown on almost 200 times in that young secondary in 4 games now and have given up a total of 61 points in those 4 games. They are young and are having their feet held to the fire and we have won all four games. They will be much better by the time Weber comes to town with all of the reps they are getting. You just don't seem to have the ability to watch something mature AZ. I'm gonna let things come together until that time.
How many games can we count on winning by intercepting the ball in the end zone as time expires?

Me thinks we've gone to that well once too often already.

With Trumaine Johnson back there? I'd say about 1/2 of them if we had to do it that way. I get it Chicken Little, the sky is falling.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:20 pm
by AZGrizFan
Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
With Trumaine Johnson back there? I'd say about 1/2 of them if we had to do it that way. I get it Chicken Little, the sky is falling.

We beat that team by THIRTY FIVE last year. Did we get way worse? Did they get way better? Or both?

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:31 pm
by Screamin_Eagle174
At the end of the season they're either going to get a pissed off Eastern Washington team that want's to ruin it for everyone else, or they're going to get a hungry Eastern Washington Team that needs that last win to advance to the playoffs, pending a decision by the NCAA Appeals Committee. Either way, NAU gets a loss at the end of the season, which should, in all likelihood, end theirs.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:37 pm
by AZGrizFan
Screamin_Eagle174 wrote:At the end of the season they're either going to get a pissed off Eastern Washington team that want's to ruin it for everyone else, or they're going to get a hungry Eastern Washington Team that needs that last win to advance to the playoffs, pending a decision by the NCAA Appeals Committee. Either way, NAU gets a loss at the end of the season, which should, in all likelihood, end theirs.

I think their season will have ended the week before.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 12:49 pm
by Ursus A. Horribilis
AZGrizFan wrote:Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
With Trumaine Johnson back there? I'd say about 1/2 of them if we had to do it that way. I get it Chicken Little, the sky is falling.

We beat that team by THIRTY FIVE last year. Did we get way worse? Did they get way better? Or both?

I don't understand how people try to compare games to one another like that? They are better or at least played better this time. It's not like they didn't have a ton of talent last year as well. Harrick is a better QB for what they are trying to do than Kriesen who was a RB that threw the ball once in a while. We were also home last year which makes a difference.
The inverse of your question if that is how you compare things would be that last year we beat PSU by 17 and this year we beat them by 32, so are we almost twice as good as last year?
I guess I will never understand how you can put so much stock into the last game every time we play and think that it is a predictor of what the season is gonna be. I have never been through a single season of Griz football when we didn't have a few real close calls and it made us a better and more well tested team because of it. 2001 was a pretty good year as I remember it. We barely beat EWU by 3 in double overtime. That same year we were down to Idaho State 28-18 going into the fourth quarter and we ended up winning it 32-28. Not exactly overwhelming but they were both wins on the way to a NC season.
I don't see how Griz fans can act like this shit is all something new when it happens like this every fucking year and in the next breath proclaiming that the teams get up to play us and it is their Superbowl.
No shit folks, we are gonna be pressed in some games, hell we ARE gonna even lose some games. A little rain once in a while does not mean however that the sky is falling.
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:13 pm
by AZGrizFan
Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
I don't see how Griz fans can act like this shit is all something new when it happens like this every fucking year and in the next breath proclaiming that the teams get up to play us and it is their Superbowl.
No shit folks, we are gonna be pressed in some games, hell we ARE gonna even lose some games. A little rain once in a while does not mean however that the sky is falling.
Last year we gave up 195 ypg through the air. This year we're at 300. And we haven't played the best two passing teams in the conference yet. I don't know how Griz fans can act like there's nothing wrong when this kind of pourous defense has NEVER been seen in Grizland before.
And while we're stating concerns here: Chase Reynolds has looked "pedestrian" at best so far this year. 3.7 ypc ain't exactly Walter Payton Award material...
You're damned right we're gonna lose some games.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:16 pm
by native
Don't worry. Cody Nakamura is out for the season.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:19 pm
by AZGrizFan
native wrote:
Don't worry. Cody Nakamura is out for the season.

won't matter. Some other no-name will step up and get 20 catches for 200 yards.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:33 pm
by native
AZGrizFan wrote:native wrote:
Don't worry. Cody Nakamura is out for the season.

won't matter. Some other no-name will step up and get 20 catches for 200 yards.

...already did, but it will take me to the end of the season to pronounce Kaimikaua's name...
With Cody gone, it really hurts to have Cameron limited to less than a dozen receivers, and with four games played already, only five of them have scored TDs! Imagine that!
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:34 pm
by native
I was impressed by Northern Arizona's performance against the Griz.
Herrick made me a true believer.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:35 pm
by AZGrizFan
native wrote:AZGrizFan wrote:
won't matter. Some other no-name will step up and get 20 catches for 200 yards.

...already did, but it will take me to the end of the season to pronounce Kaimikaua's name...
With Cody gone, it really hurts to have Cameron limited to less than a dozen receivers, and with four games played already, only five of them have scored TDs! Imagine that!
Try and stay focused, Native. I'm lamenting STRICTLY about the Grizzlies and their lack of a pass defense.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:38 pm
by native
AZGrizFan wrote:native wrote:
...already did, but it will take me to the end of the season to pronounce Kaimikaua's name...
With Cody gone, it really hurts to have Cameron limited to less than a dozen receivers, and with four games played already, only five of them have scored TDs! Imagine that!
Try and stay focused, Native. I'm lamenting STRICTLY about the Grizzlies and their lack of a pass defense.

Fortunately you live in an area with no shortage of sand.
Know where I can get a good deal on the bags?

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:38 pm
by AZGrizFan
AZGrizFan wrote:Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
I don't see how Griz fans can act like this shit is all something new when it happens like this every fucking year and in the next breath proclaiming that the teams get up to play us and it is their Superbowl.
No shit folks, we are gonna be pressed in some games, hell we ARE gonna even lose some games. A little rain once in a while does not mean however that the sky is falling.
Last year we gave up 195 ypg through the air. This year we're at 300. And we haven't played the best two passing teams in the conference yet. I don't know how Griz fans can act like there's nothing wrong when this kind of pourous defense has NEVER been seen in Grizland before.
And while we're stating concerns here: Chase Reynolds has looked "pedestrian" at best so far this year. 3.7 ypc ain't exactly Walter Payton Award material...
You're damned right we're gonna lose some games.

By the way, Ursus....these numbers include a BEAT DOWN of D-II Western State, in which the Griz gave up only 57 yards passing. Against REAL (debatable to those with ECB) competition, the average is 345 ypg, with completions at a 62% clip.
Stick THAT in your pipe and smoke it.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:39 pm
by AZGrizFan
Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:41 pm
by native
Maybe so...
...but maybe not if the Griz play like they did against NAU.

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:42 pm
by Screamin_Eagle174
native wrote:
Don't worry. Cody Nakamura is out for the season.

But Aaron Boyce, Tony Davis, and Nick Edwards aren't. I think the Griz defense will get tested plenty a couple weeks prior to Halloween. But go ahead, forget about Matt Nichols. He's a nobody... can't even throw the ball...

Re: Northern Arizona Football
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:44 pm
by Ursus A. Horribilis
AZGrizFan wrote:Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:
I don't see how Griz fans can act like this shit is all something new when it happens like this every fucking year and in the next breath proclaiming that the teams get up to play us and it is their Superbowl.
No shit folks, we are gonna be pressed in some games, hell we ARE gonna even lose some games. A little rain once in a while does not mean however that the sky is falling.
Last year we gave up 195 ypg through the air. This year we're at 300. And we haven't played the best two passing teams in the conference yet. I don't know how Griz fans can act like there's nothing wrong when this kind of pourous defense has NEVER been seen in Grizland before.
You're damned right we're gonna lose some games.

How do you know who the best two are gonna be? We may have played one already. At the end of the year this year I will bet you that we are much closser to the 195 than the 300. I'll put a shirt on the line for that bet also. I get the under on 250.
Nothing wrong is quite a stretch from what I said about letting the season mature and getting a little more info. on the identity of the defense. Part of what is wrong is that teams are not running on us and have to pass at a clip of 50 times a game. Last yr. in the first four games we game up 235/game in the first four games after being thrown on 125 times. This yr. we're giving up 300/game and have been thrown on 192 times.
You don't know jack shit about Griz football if you think we had stellar defenses back in the 90's my friends. We HAVE HAD many porous defenses like this and it was actually the norm in the past 20 yrs. until Mike Bresky came to town our defenses were very rarely ranked in the top 40. I hope this has helped you out.
