@zeke4ahs I didn't leave early so I got home about 10:30. On the way a deer hit the side of my car and I think it will be totaled. I don't think he recognizes these things. Costly game for me.
I was glad to see him defend Hoover from what he described as unfair criticisms. QBs get too much credit/blame for things. And coaches know/see more than most of us are capable of.
BUT, I do believe he's glossing over the bad completions. Like, in the UNT game, he rightfully called out the scramble and throw to Schott that would've been an INT against a better opponent. It was a backyard throw into a crowd that Schott happened to come down with. But he's ignored some of the underthrows and inaccurate balls that have been caught. Charlie had two vs. WKU (the sideline catch & his long touchdown) and Hoover has missed a couple others the WRs had to make adjustments to. Those small things, even on completions, are the difference between first downs & touchdowns. Or catches & interceptions.
probably riding the line between constructive criticism and not destroying his self confidence.
Deer may well be some of the stupidest animals on the planet…
I once passed, “Passed” mind you, a buck grazing in a neighbors yard about 40 feet in (he has a deep front yard). I slowed down a touch to take a look at him and he looks up at me but doesn’t move…, so…, I’m Past him now, a good 15-20 yards ahead of him and I’m refocused totally on the road ahead when I see this gray/brown flash in my peripheral vision on the passenger side and then I see him, in all his glorious stupidity, running full speed parallel to my truck (I was doing just over 30 so he must have been doing 35+) and just as he got about a deer length and a half ahead of me he makes a Hard Right directly across and in Front of my truck..,! 🙉🙈🤬
At that point I’ve gone into Full brake lockup and total Evasive Mode, all while attempting to stay out of another neighbors yard…, and not cross over the center line, but mainly stay as far right as possible…
I was successful in remaining on the road but caught the buck full on his left rear lower leg and hoof with the steel front bumper of my full size truck… That had to have hurt like hell…, and he deserved every limping moment of pain he endured for the next few weeks…. That was absolutely the dumbest move I’ve ever seen any animal make…
I invested in a hard wired Deer Horn plus a couple of the cheap stick on the bumper ones and haven’t had a problem since (but given the type of total stupidity that Buck exhibited I’m guessing I’ve probably just been lucky…).
Watch out… One of those healthy ones makes it partially through your front window they can kill you if you’re up over 40…
He’s trying to shore up his confidence…
That’s quite a load that guys carrying… Taking over an Undefeated TEAM, replacing the Heisman Trophy winning, #1 Pick in the Draft… Even perfection might not be good enough to match up to all that…
I saw Cig shake his hand right after a TD throw… Ever see him do that with Mendoza? Me neither.
Any QB in the country carrying a 100% completion? How many carrying 70+? It's a topic but a shallow one.
But he's ignored some of the underthrows and inaccurate balls that have been caught.
Just because Cig hasn't said something in a press conference, doesn't mean he's "glossing over" or ignoring anything. I think what he may have come to recognize is that some of his professional critique of "imperfect completions" is leading fans and media folk to be overly critical, so I think he's just trying to snuff some of that out. I'm pretty confident what Hoover, and others here in film review is far different and granular than what he says in press conferences.
We need a 3rd inane question.
Few things are more irritating to the subject being interviewed than having three separate questions presented as one 😉… (and maybe if they’re asked simultaneously Sammy might be able to retain his Press credentials by the skin of his teeth 😂)
Maybe something along the lines of the “have you thought about” genre’ that he so seems to greatly enjoy 🤣🙈…
"Coach, can you give us your thoughts on the upcoming Ohio State game?" I'm certain he will love that.
He’s trying to shore up his confidence…
That’s quite a load that guys carrying… Taking over an Undefeated TEAM, replacing the Heisman Trophy winning, #1 Pick in the Draft… Even perfection might not be good enough to match up to all that…
I saw Cig shake his hand right after a TD throw… Ever see him do that with Mendoza? Me neither.
I agree with you.
We all remember the great plays Mendoza made (and there were a lot) but like any 'relationship', you tend to gloss over the bad ones and only seem to focus on the good. Mainly because of how each game and the season eventually played out. Therefore, Hoover isn't just going up against Mendoza but against our inflated versions of who Mendoza was. If Hoover threw a pick late in a game (Iowa) or gosh forbid a pick 6 (Oregon), we would be calling for Grant Wilson. 
Not really but you get the gist.
Either way, if you compare both QB's through the first 3 games, they were an identical 72.5% comp % and 0 INT's. Mendoza had about 50 more passing yards while Hoover has one more passing TD than Fernando had. The one difference is Mendoza actually had 25 more passing attempts than Hoover has through 3 games.....yet identical stats. Clearly, we are being overly critical. Even AI gave the nod to Hoover when comparing both of them through the first 3 games.....
I tend to think they're still trying to figure out how exactly to get the most out of Hoover.
I'm a bit of a broken record on it, but I was certain after watching a handful of throws that he didn't have the cannon like Mendoza did necessary to throw the out route to the wide side of the field (no shame in that, few do). That was such a staple of last year's offense. That's not a criticism of his game, just an observation and how we can't use him the same way we used Mendoza.
Coming out of the Spring Game, I expected more play action and lofty deep shots. More like Rourke than Mendoza. I think that has been more or less the case with what we've seen so far, but I don't think he has as nice of a deep ball as Rourke did. Again, not a criticism, just an observation.
Cignetti/Shanahan/Sunseri have proven themselves to be QB whisperers, so I've got full faith in them figuring out how to maximize his talents. Because I don't think we've seen them do it yet.
When they do figure it out, watch out. I think last Saturday they figured out running Marsh on drags & crossers because that's a fast man with the ball in his hands. Sending Charlie deep, Morris/Chandler up the seam, and Marsh in space, yards will be gained.
@tmft I think our passing game looks ahead of the run game this year, and I think they've kept the governor on, so far. I think we'll have an uptick in pass attempts going forward. I also keep hoping we give Turbo 3-4 passes a game, as he looks great when he gets out in space and is dealing with LBs and DBs instead of having to wade through the big boys to get there. Maybe look at giving him most of the receptions Nowakowski got last year and let the TE's focus on blocking more for now.
I REALLY think Turbo has been an unsung hero so far. He’s had several great chunk runs but always is just a frog’s hair from housing it. I hope to see one of those big runs pay off for him soon.
I think Chip is a great offensive mind. However, I think the difference in Chip vs Haines in this matchup is the fact that Haines has now seen Chiles in back-to-back years, whereas Chip hasn't faced this IU defense before. My prediction is that Bryant has a few extra special things cooked up for this matchup and will see to it that Bones/Hardy keep Chiles scrambling in check. We win like 38-13.
Oh but Chip has faced the Haines defense before and is one of only 2 OC’s to defeat this defense. He was OC for OSU in 2024.I think Chip is a great offensive mind. However, I think the difference in Chip vs Haines in this matchup is the fact that Haines has now seen Chiles in back-to-back years, whereas Chip hasn't faced this IU defense before. My prediction is that Bryant has a few extra special things cooked up for this matchup and will see to it that Bones/Hardy keep Chiles scrambling in check. We win like 38-13.
Oh but Chip has faced the Haines defense before and is one of only 2 OC’s to defeat this defense. He was OC for OSU in 2024.I think Chip is a great offensive mind. However, I think the difference in Chip vs Haines in this matchup is the fact that Haines has now seen Chiles in back-to-back years, whereas Chip hasn't faced this IU defense before. My prediction is that Bryant has a few extra special things cooked up for this matchup and will see to it that Bones/Hardy keep Chiles scrambling in check. We win like 38-13.
In the S. Dakota St. game they had one 2nd half drive that lasted 8 or 9 minutes. I'm sure that will be the plan. They might throw in one bomb attempt each half for the hell of it, especially if we concentrate on containment of Chiles.