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Oh boy. What 2 weeks can make. NAU goes from on top of the Big Sky and ranked in the top 15 to being on the outside looking in on the playoffs. Weber St. chopped down NAU one week and the very next week Montana came calling and took them out to the wood shed.


A couple of questions for NAU

Can they fix the TO problem next week vs Montana St.?
Can they find their rush defense?
What is the QB situation?
Did dbackjon overhype his team?

grizzaholic wrote:Oh boy. What 2 weeks can make. NAU goes from on top of the Big Sky and ranked in the top 15 to being on the outside looking in on the playoffs. Weber St. chopped down NAU one week and the very next week Montana came calling and took them out to the wood shed.


A couple of questions for NAU

Can they fix the TO problem next week vs Montana St.?
Can they find their rush defense?
What is the QB situation?
Did dbackjon overhype his team?

1) They'd better.
2) They'd better
3) I would bet Harrick starts
4) Nope - just ran into two top 5 teams playing lights out.

What is the deal with the QB situation dback? I noticed that your starter was in at WR and didn't play too much in the second half against the Griz. Did he get his throwing hand hurt or was it just the coach thinking the game was out of reach and wanted to get the #2 some live game reps?

Kriesen has been inconsistant, and turnover prone. Herrick, who is a sophomore transfer from Old Miss, is the QB of the future, and a better passer.

dbackjon wrote:Kriesen has been inconsistant, and turnover prone. Herrick, who is a sophomore transfer from Old Miss, is the QB of the future, and a better passer.

Is exactly what myself and the guys sitting behind me were thinking in the first half. Some of his throws were awful. Behind, over thrown, and above all else some really bad decisions. If Herrick is the QB of the future and Kriesen just cannot get things right this week in practice, it would seem necessary to start Herrick. The season is pretty much lost if playoffs are the goal. Some teams will have to start losing while NAU will have to win out and pray if they are going to be making the playoffs this year.

grizzaholic wrote:

dbackjon wrote:Kriesen has been inconsistant, and turnover prone. Herrick, who is a sophomore transfer from Old Miss, is the QB of the future, and a better passer.

Is exactly what myself and the guys sitting behind me were thinking in the first half. Some of his throws were awful. Behind, over thrown, and above all else some really bad decisions. If Herrick is the QB of the future and Kriesen just cannot get things right this week in practice, it would seem necessary to start Herrick. The season is pretty much lost if playoffs are the goal. Some teams will have to start losing while NAU will have to win out and pray if they are going to be making the playoffs this year.

Agreed. I know Sauer wants to go 8-3 (which would leave an outside chance at playoffs), but at this point, Herrick could get us there better than Kriesen.

BTW - Herrick is the ALL-TIME leading passer in California history, with over 11,000 yards...

dbackjon wrote: Agreed. I know Sauer wants to go 8-3 (which would leave an outside chance at playoffs), but at this point, Herrick could get us there better than Kriesen.

I doubt it. From what I saw Saturday: neither one can pass, but at least Kriesien can run. Herrick probably has a better arm, but that pick he threw to Colt was an absolutely god-awful decision.

NAU's best chance to win is to spread option teams to death. Only Kriesien can do that.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

dbackjon wrote: Agreed. I know Sauer wants to go 8-3 (which would leave an outside chance at playoffs), but at this point, Herrick could get us there better than Kriesen.

I doubt it. From what I saw Saturday: neither one can pass, but at least Kriesien can run. Herrick probably has a better arm, but that pick he threw to Colt was an absolutely god-awful decision.

NAU's best chance to win is to spread option teams to death. Only Kriesien can do that.

I thought, of course arm chair coaching 2 days later is easy, NAU got away from the run a little early. They started to air it out a bunch and that seemed to compound their troubles. Was it the handoff exchanges? They looked dreadful on the highlight reel.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

dbackjon wrote: Agreed. I know Sauer wants to go 8-3 (which would leave an outside chance at playoffs), but at this point, Herrick could get us there better than Kriesen.

I doubt it. From what I saw Saturday: neither one can pass, but at least Kriesien can run. Herrick probably has a better arm, but that pick he threw to Colt was an absolutely god-awful decision.

NAU's best chance to win is to spread option teams to death. Only Kriesien can do that.

Don't necessarily condemn him due to an atrocious pick. I've watched ton's of "off the bench" QB's, who can thread the needle all day in practice, get deer fever on the field and occasionally squeeze one off inadvertently. It takes time, confidence and patience to become "bonehead" free.

travelinman67 wrote:

Mvemjsunpx wrote:
I doubt it. From what I saw Saturday: neither one can pass, but at least Kriesien can run. Herrick probably has a better arm, but that pick he threw to Colt was an absolutely god-awful decision.

NAU's best chance to win is to spread option teams to death. Only Kriesien can do that.

Don't necessarily condemn him due to an atrocious pick. I've watched ton's of "off the bench" QB's, who can thread the needle all day in practice, get deer fever on the field and occasionally squeeze one off inadvertently. It takes time, confidence and patience to become "bonehead" free.

This is true. Cole, QB for Montana, usually has a fumble or a really bad pick every game. This week it was a fumble. Just trying to do to much, held the ball too long then was sacked and didn't put the ball away.

travelinman67 wrote:
Don't necessarily condemn him due to an atrocious pick. I've watched ton's of "off the bench" QB's, who can thread the needle all day in practice, get deer fever on the field and occasionally squeeze one off inadvertently. It takes time, confidence and patience to become "bonehead" free.

Yes, I agree, but I still think Kriesien is too dangerous a weapon for NAU to bench him. Kriesien actually has better passing numbers for the season than Herrick and playing Herrick also makes NAU rely more on their receivers, who aren't anything special (particularly with the TE Fitzpatrick hurt).

NAU needs to run to set up the pass & I believe starting Herrick makes that harder, especially against Bobby Daly & Montana State.

Mvemjsunpx wrote:

travelinman67 wrote:
Don't necessarily condemn him due to an atrocious pick. I've watched ton's of "off the bench" QB's, who can thread the needle all day in practice, get deer fever on the field and occasionally squeeze one off inadvertently. It takes time, confidence and patience to become "bonehead" free.

Yes, I agree, but I still think Kriesien is too dangerous a weapon for NAU to bench him. Kriesien actually has better passing numbers for the season than Herrick and playing Herrick also makes NAU rely more on their receivers, who aren't anything special (particularly with the TE Fitzpatrick hurt).

NAU needs to run to set up the pass & I believe starting Herrick makes that harder, especially against Bobby Daly & Montana State.

After seeing Kriessen play, I'll agree he's a solid weapon, but still think dback's read tells the story. Herrick has more long term potential...and if with Kriessen's speed and athleticism, they might as well keep him on the battlefield but develop Herrick. Sometimes there's intangibles only the coaches get to see at practice.