http://ncaabbs.com/showthread.php?tid=389632

Or whatever.

Per comments on the NIU site between Vandal faithful and Huskie fans is that Idaho ran up the middle effectively and passed effectively in the 10-15 yard range (per a poster).

Sounds like a perfect recipe for WMU.

The key IMO is WMU defense stepping up. NIU has a very solid runner in Brown(?). But if stopped NIU's effectiveness in the air proved to be less than in the very small snipet I caught. Idaho's D pinned their ears back and sprinted for the NIU QB who was setting all sorts of records for backpeddaling.

But if you can't stop NIU's ground game then as with any team you have to be able to defend both the air and ground. Until WMU's defense can become more consistently stout inside and wrap up better all around NIU will be given a chance to rebound.

There will be no "overlooking" WMU. NIU is not too full of themself after this game as they apparently were after beating P U.

A nice mix of runs and passes should net you some big plays. We are good at giving those up.

That was a great game to watch, it was too bad someone had to lose, really. Idaho is an up and coming program, we both handled them pretty well in the last couple of years due to Erikson's gutting/thugging up of the program there before he reneged on their agreement.

(09-29-2009 10:25 AM)DesertBronco Wrote:  That was a great game to watch, it was too bad someone had to lose, really. Idaho is an up and coming program, we both handled them pretty well in the last couple of years due to Erikson's gutting/thugging up of the program there before he reneged on their agreement.

I thought Idaho caught some bad breaks w/the clock at the end of the 1st half and an obvious interception in the endzone that they got the call against.

Their QB and wideout 6ft 6 looked good. Their OLine was physical as well.

I thought so as well. You should hear their assistant HC talk about that!!

Their OLine is key to that team. Their community is really energized right now with these wins, I'm envious. They won't be a gimmie next year in Waldo.......unless CU brooms Hawkins and reaches out to the RA to come back and rebuild their program with his local ties.

Coach Akey really has turned that program around in a relatively short time. Has some real beef on his lines, a senior QB and a big WR target and a transfer RB that ran all over and around the Husky D. They flat out made NIU look pedestrian.

For some real entertainment, read some threads on the NIU board - the ongoing argument over there is whether the results of one game against Idaho REALLY tell anything about how good each team is. WAS; a) NIU still drinking in their win against Purdue and reading press clippings? b) Idaho just that good? One poster thinks they are the best team NIU has or will play this year (other posters are mocking him and calling him insane). c) The Idaho game a trap? In between a big win at Purdue and their MAC opener against WMU, were the Huskies looking ahead with the memory of a seemingly easy win at the Vandals' dome in 2007?

Their predictions on the WMU game are all over the map.

We're going to need to be able to run the ball for more than 80 yards to win against NIU. I think that more and more spread type offenses are turning the old adage on its' head: "You run the ball to set up the pass." I think BC and some others pass the ball to set up the run. Busting some runs keeps the D honest. It has not been our strength so far this season. Of course, when you get some runs, it is imperative to hold on to the ball and not turn it over. Against anybody other than Hofstra on our schedule, those three TOs could have been fatal.

Early line appears to be NIU (-7). Home team is 7-3 against the spread in the past 10 meetings.

There is another factor that could be an additional motivator for NIU - it's homecoming for them.

(09-29-2009 11:41 AM)DesertBronco Wrote:  I thought so as well. You should hear their assistant HC talk about that!!

Their OLine is key to that team. Their community is really energized right now with these wins, I'm envious. They won't be a gimmie next year in Waldo.......unless CU brooms Hawkins and reaches out to the RA to come back and rebuild their program with his local ties.

Is the QB a jr or sr ? Hes pretty good but had a ton of time. If we could give TH that much time we will be ok.

Idaho QB a junior.

NIU QB redshirt sophomore.

D was flat out our strength LAST season. Thus far we have bouts during games when we resemble swiss cheese packaged in red and black. (Idaho and first Qrt vs WIU ) Other times (Purdue and Wisky) we have made plays and ended opponents drives.

Which young Huskie team shows up is the question mark.

If the one Idaho pass completion into end zone ruled out was questionable - so too was the penalty called on NIU's INT in last posession of Idaho in which Vandals then ran out the clock..

There is both talent and much inexperience on NIU roster.

WMU was pre-season pick #2 in West and NIU #3. Not alot thus far has changed that IMO. On paper game should be relatively even match.....but ya never know with any certainty and being 6.5 favorites scares the hell outta me...

Playing NIU in DeKalb is no picnic for the Broncos. I've been there when we've eked out wins and also when we were on the other end. I find that going into this game it will be a toss up. The Broncos coming off a less than stellar victory over Hofstra and the turnovers does not instill a lot of confidence against a team that underperformed against Idaho. NIU showed against Purdue that they can play and Jerry Kill is a very good coach.

I'll be cheering for the Broncos, hopefully a lot on Saturday.

Always proud to be a Bronco.

Kill is a great coach and NIU is always a tough game for us. It'll take WMU's best game to win up there, no question.

We'll be with you in spirit, Acer. AND online listening to the game!

(09-30-2009 09:10 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Kill is a great coach and NIU is always a tough game for us. It'll take WMU's best game to win up there, no question.

We'll be with you in spirit, Acer. AND online listening to the game!

I don't know if any of you get it but the game will be on Comcast Sports Net Chicago.

the two legged horse freaks me out BroncoPhilly.

LOL, that's my Quarterhorse cyberdawg.

(10-02-2009 12:36 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(09-30-2009 09:10 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Kill is a great coach and NIU is always a tough game for us. It'll take WMU's best game to win up there, no question.

We'll be with you in spirit, Acer. AND online listening to the game!

I don't know if any of you get it but the game will be on Comcast Sports Net Chicago.

I get it which is why I see so many NIU games. I'll also see Idaho again tonight, as Colorado St. visits Moscow. I'll let you know if they are for real. LOL

(10-03-2009 11:41 AM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  

(10-02-2009 12:36 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(09-30-2009 09:10 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  Kill is a great coach and NIU is always a tough game for us. It'll take WMU's best game to win up there, no question.

We'll be with you in spirit, Acer. AND online listening to the game!

I don't know if any of you get it but the game will be on Comcast Sports Net Chicago.

I get it which is why I see so many NIU games. I'll also see Idaho again tonight, as Colorado St. visits Moscow. I'll let you know if they are for real. LOL

Well, are they?

I'd say so, CSU is an up and coming program as well. That was a great college game to watch, Idaho is the real deal, Coach Akey s/b coach of the year.

Well, I'd say they have moved themselves into the top echelon (upper half) of WAC teams. CSU dominated the first half and were up by 10 at half. Idaho came back and beat them with a strong second half and did much the same to them as they did to NIU. They are now 4-1 after winning only 3 games the last two seasons.

OUR game next season against Idaho at Waldo stadium is no longer looking like it will be a relatively easy non conference game.

Quote:OUR game next season against Idaho at Waldo stadium is no longer looking like it will be a relatively easy non conference game.

Not at all, look at their roster. YOUNG and still on the steep curve improving.