Not impressed with the play calling. Very few long passes, no pitchouts to running backs, run up the middle on 1st and 20, no naked bootlegs by QB, didn't make Western Illinois' defensive backs work that hard, etc.. Our defensive line almost seemed outmatched -- poor job of containing WIU's QB on his keepers.
I agree. It all seems very underwhelming to me. Fickell did say postgame that Joseph was dinged up during the ND game so they 'took shots downfield off the table.' If Joseph was indeed banged up, I understand protecting him a bit. But overall, I agree.
Not impressed with the play calling. Very few long passes, no pitchouts to running backs, run up the middle on 1st and 20, no naked bootlegs by QB, didn't make Western Illinois' defensive backs work that hard, etc.. Our defensive line almost seemed outmatched -- poor job of containing WIU's QB on his keepers.
I agree. It all seems very underwhelming to me. Fickell did say postgame that Joseph was dinged up during the ND game so they 'took shots downfield off the table.' If Joseph was indeed banged up, I understand protecting him a bit. But overall, I agree.