When looking at our current record (6-4) and looking at our OOC opponents’ records (with the exception of army)…I say to myself…WTF . Why is there such a HUGE gap between the teams we beat and teams we lost to? And might I add…we didn’t just lose…we got annihilated and embarrassed . We weren’t competitive at all in those 4 loses. One would say, “well our 4 loses are to teams with a combined record of 35-6”. However, there are two sides to that coin and our 6 wins have come over opponents who have a combined record of 22-40. That’s not very respectable. Are we just that much worse than BCS competition and supreme D-IAA competition? Is there a disparity between the coaches? What's your take?

Kansas 10-0
Purdue 7-4
NDSU 10-0
Clemson 8-2
Combined Record: 35-6

Toledo 5-6
NIU 2-8
Ball State 6-5
Army 3-7
Kent St. 3-7
WMU 3-7
Combined Record: 22-40

Chipfb,
I don't think we are a very physical team and are able to hide that playing MAC teams. The cause is size and youth. Our skill athletes are great in the MAC and average against BCS competition. I really think our youth gets exploited too against BCS teams as we are still not close to being fundumentally sound on defense. IMHO

The reason we lost our OOC games is because those teams were better than us. The reason we lost our OOC games in such a HUGE fashion can be blamed on our unwillingness to get away from the super-spread offense when playing teams that can stop it. You can't keep going 3 and out while taking 30 seconds off the clock against the really good teams and expect to hold them to low scores. Many of the other MACC teams lost their OOC games also, but, in general by closer scores because they run a different type of offense.
If we would have mixed it up earlier in the year like we do now, we would have still lost those games but by much more respectable scores (if thats any consolation). Our coaches are learning and have done a much better job of managing the offense to fit the opponent. Our offense is really very strong, obviously. Think where we would be if our D was even average.

We just can't stop anyone. BCS teams can just over power us, and when we come in the box... they just go right over top.

If you can't rush the passer, your F'd all day.

Every loss suffered this year so far has been to a team with superior talent and coaching experience. The quick three and out theory is one I subscribe to, although I would add to it a quick strike offense will also leave the defense on the field too long as well. Last year CMU was dead last in TOP. I haven't looked this year, but I'm sure we're near the bottom again.

Last years D was a little more equipped to handle it. People talk about Buzz all the time but, at least at the end of the year, Ogle was a huge force on the other side in the pass rush.

Kelly'sBathwater Wrote:Every loss suffered this year so far has been to a team with superior talent and coaching experience. The quick three and out theory is one I subscribe to, although I would add to it a quick strike offense will also leave the defense on the field too long as well. Last year CMU was dead last in TOP. I haven't looked this year, but I'm sure we're near the bottom again.

This is true. Last year our offense pretty much seemed to be able to score at will. This year, in a few games, our offense has been slow to get on track. Thus, the 3 and outs really hurt when you don't take any time off the clock and then the defense (which has problems putting any sustained pressure on the QB) on the field for a longer period of time.

I really like our offense. It makes for a exciting game when you score a lot of points. But, our (poor) defense this year has made a lot of team's offenses look overly good.