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Post by acutrackfan on Sept 4, 2021 20:25:08 GMT -6
It just felt like same ol', same ol' tonight. The Wildcats struggled in all phases of the game. Wildcatter, you said it well. We still hope that we are seeing improvement and it just doesn't come. I still hope that things turn around this year. We won't be able to tell anything from next week's game as ACU will play Louisiana College, a glorified D-3 school. It will be Arizona Christian or the late, great Concordia of AL all over again. At least every able-bodied player should get into the game.
Oh well, I feel a lot better about my decision not to go to the game -- now, I can be in bed by 9:30 and still go to the early service in the morning.
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Post by jaminthebody on Sept 4, 2021 20:27:54 GMT -6
I would be perfectly content if Mansell would only ran the ball when he is in the game. That’s 2 consecutive games he has thrown a pick in the red zone on the last play of the game. I expected this one to be returned for 6 also.
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Post by wildcatter on Sept 4, 2021 20:31:54 GMT -6
This staff either hasn’t figured out this level of football and schemes, this level of budget limitations compared to our peers, this level of recruiting, or all of the above. I only say that because of the very literal lack of progress in the four years of this regime. Our first year under dorrel was encouraging because of our defense and coach tremaine jackson but he unfortunately left after one year. Otherwise, we’ve complained about the same things on offense every year.
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Post by wildcatter on Sept 4, 2021 20:35:13 GMT -6
I would be perfectly content if Mansell would only ran the ball when he is in the game. That’s 2 consecutive games he has thrown a pick in the red zone on the last play of the game. I expected this one to be returned for 6 also. The throw never had a chance but I don’t mind it, what else is supposed to happen?? We ran a play with two receivers and he’s going to throw it with a prayer and just hope we can end on a high note. Definitely not the low point of the game being down 50.
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Post by bucfan on Sept 4, 2021 20:39:45 GMT -6
UMHB beat some school I've never heard of 84-6 and one of their fans tweets that they could compete and possibly beat UTEP or ACU. I don't think so but sad that we seem like such a weak opponent.
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Post by jaminthebody on Sept 4, 2021 20:40:22 GMT -6
I would be perfectly content if Mansell would only ran the ball when he is in the game. That’s 2 consecutive games he has thrown a pick in the red zone on the last play of the game. I expected this one to be returned for 6 also. The throw never had a chance but I don’t mind it, what else is supposed to happen?? We ran a play with two receivers and he’s going to throw it with a prayer and just hope we can end on a high note. Definitely not the low point of the game being down 50. He threw into double coverage. Of course it’s partly on the OC for only having two receivers on the last play of the game.
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Post by jaminthebody on Sept 4, 2021 20:41:23 GMT -6
UMHB beat some school I've never heard of 84-6 and one of their fans tweets that they could compete and possibly beat UTEP or ACU. I don't think so but sad that we seem like such a weak opponent. They still running a car dealership in their program?
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Post by jCat on Sept 4, 2021 20:48:10 GMT -6
When we were on the receiving end of an FCS/FBS drubbing from UNT (or Baylor for that matter), we would walk off the field and say, "well that's the best team that we'll see all season." But things are different now. This isn't the best team we'll face this year.
Sam would give SMU a run for their money. Their skill position players, defensive line, and secondary are all on par or better than the Mustangs. The pair of receivers at UCA are tremendous. Jacksonville State has two All-Americans on defense.
The team is going to have to pull together and improve. Our line play on both sides of the ball simply has to reach another level (or two). Our coaches will have to be resourceful and put players in better chances to win matchups. Our secondary will have to be able to cover more than 1 area of the field. And we have to coach up a return man, giving them the confidence to make an impact on the game.
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Post by Cap'n Cattitude on Sept 4, 2021 21:46:19 GMT -6
Hmmm. I don’t think Sam would beat SMU. The Mustangs are pretty dang good. They are the best team on our schedule for sure.
Some takeaways from my perspective. Neither Earle nor Mansell was sharp. Add to that a bunch of drops. Nerves? Man for man the OL won a lot of battles but didn’t play well as a unit. I think they might be pretty good as the year wears on but they weren’t tonight. Jermiah didn’t play much. I heard he has been nursing a hammie.
Where I was encouraged was the defensive front seven. Not any pressure, though. DBs looked lost. Especially the safeties. CBs did okay but we kept losing receivers over the middle.
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Post by rc on Sept 4, 2021 22:13:37 GMT -6
Pretty sad night actually. This is not the team I hoped we would field. SMU is an improved team and not a weak FBS opponent, but we played as if we were not ready for the modern game. Our schemes did not create advantages and there were times when I felt panic before the ball was even snapped. Of course an uncovered defensive player on the line is going to have a shot at the QB and Earle was hurried or had his passes blocked or altered far too often. That was just some of several cases of us not adjusting to SMU. Defensively, we needed more pressure on their QB and boy do we need coverage over the middle and better defensive backs/safeties. There were some very good individual plays, but we were fortunate SMU turned off the intensity or the score would have been even worse. We either improve or down the road there are going to be more disappointing games. Let's hope basketball season does not falter.
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Post by CrazyPurpleCat on Sept 4, 2021 23:02:23 GMT -6
Unfortunately, I just can't find a reason for excitement around our football program. It sucks because I want all of the ACU teams to have success, but when it comes to football, It's almost like I am surprised by any success whatsoever. When we play an FBS opponent, I go into the game just hoping not to be blown out. It always feels like the coaching staff year in and year out, week in and week out, will say that they have made significant strides. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, four times, and 5 times, when will it end? sigh. I just want to have some sort of glimmer of hope for our football program, but it's just so hard to see that glimmer. My rant is over. On to the next week for our Cats.
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Sept 5, 2021 2:16:04 GMT -6
When we were on the receiving end of an FCS/FBS drubbing from UNT (or Baylor for that matter), we would walk off the field and say, "well that's the best team that we'll see all season." But things are different now. This isn't the best team we'll face this year. Sam would give SMU a run for their money. Their skill position players, defensive line, and secondary are all on par or better than the Mustangs. The pair of receivers at UCA are tremendous. Jacksonville State has two All-Americans on defense. The team is going to have to pull together and improve. Our line play on both sides of the ball simply has to reach another level (or two). Our coaches will have to be resourceful and put players in better chances to win matchups. Our secondary will have to be able to cover more than 1 area of the field. And we have to coach up a return man, giving them the confidence to make an impact on the game. The gap between good FCS and FBS teams has certainly narrowed. Montana beat #10 Washington last night and Northern Iowa took #7 Iowa State to the wire.
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Post by OscarWildeCat, Admin on Sept 5, 2021 6:36:46 GMT -6
I’m looking for some positive take away’s here. Help me out.
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Post by ybp80 on Sept 5, 2021 7:10:57 GMT -6
I was at the Baylor game and even though we got spanked, there was excitement in the air because of the points we scored. There were big plays, longs runs and good stops. I’ve seen very little of that since then in our games against FBS teams. As much as I would have enjoyed taking my wife back to her alma mater last year, that would have been even worse than last night.
I’m ready for next week. My wife and I are driving up to Abilene on Thursday night and will be at the reception for Mel Hailey on Friday and then the game. I hear that the seafood place which now occupies the Towne Crier building is pretty good. Anyone been there?
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Post by houstoncat on Sept 5, 2021 8:51:59 GMT -6
Let me start with I love ACU and love ACU Football.
Last night was new day same story. Same play calls that leave me scratching my head. Same lack of discipline on key plays that leads to costly penalties. Same special teams play that makes me think we might as well kick go for every fourth down play regardless of the spot on the field.
The inaccurate passing, the poor blocking, the lack of separation. Nothing was working on offense and it is bad when one can't even see the offensive philosophy in the play calling cause it doesn't particularly make sense. Defense wasn't as bad, but that isn't saying much. Multiple busted coverages, bad secondary play, lack of pressure on the passer, blitzing three and still leaving multiple players wide open. I have more hope for the defense as I think SMU has a strong offense with several high quality players, but time will tell.
Someone mentioned Coach Jackson, and to be honest I haven't been impressed with our teams play since his departure. I don't know if it was his scheme or his attitude, but something has been missing since he left. It could also be a recruiting or development issue, but regardless, the results aren't there on the field. Now, results on the field aren't the whole picture. I am not advocating anyone get fired because I will never advocate taking food off a families table. I more wonder what can this team change using the talent and coaching staff they already have to improve on the field?
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