1. If it is possible to be bored watching a Toledo Rockets victory this was it. Defense had some moments of excitement however.

2. Offense continues its struggles. I don't know if saying zero sign of life is overdramatic but awfully close.

3. I said this last week before the game and will repeat it now. Ohio is the most overrated team in the conference this season. They peformed awful in week 1 and again in week 2.

4. A win is a win. Feels good to still have hope (albeit guarded hope).

5. Significant improvement is needed to win another game.

Ohio's got some serious problems on offense, but significant improvement isn't needed to beat the likes of Ball State and EMU. That said, we do need to improve a lot on offense to beat teams like WMU (next week), CMU, Temple, etc.

I agree about your first four items. I would also add NIU to #3 as the most overrated team in the conference. Iowa State beat them easily and then they got drilled by Iowa. Then NIU barely beat a not very good I-AA by something like 21-16. They were supposed to finish in either 1st or 2nd in the MAC West according to most polls. I can't see NIU beating Temple (they play them in the next couple of weeks I believe), CMU, WMU, and probably us. We do have to go to NIU, but I like our chances right now.

I remember Liberty being a tough opponent. They had a capable running back when we played them.
Ball St getting defeated is disappointing but doesn't make our game with them a cakewalk.
Too early to start predicting wins...even though i did against Ohio!
But like i said, Ohio was vastly overrated

Was looking forward to hearing some comments from people who were there. I watched on RocketVision and that was pretty much the way it seemed.

Concur on #4 & 5 100%.

I'm an alumni of BC, but I traveled to this game with the actives to save some $$ on the gas. Below are my major thoughts on the game.

Loved the improvement in our defense we had some great run coverage and, aside of one major gain on blown coverage, improved pass coverage from the AZ game.

I did not like how many runs and draws we did in the game. I believe we did 10 or 11 in a row on the plays that led up to the 4th and final missed field goal.

Speaking of which, our special teams are interesting right now. I think we need to spend a scholarship and recruit a big time consistent kicker/punter. We missed out on 12pts on missed field goal attempts. Though I was happy recovering the fumbled pooch punt (which we have to assume was a punter mistake, not a called pooch). I was impressed with our return teams and coverage teams however.

I am starting to wonder if we have any big pass plays in the book. We run a 'spread offence' but have no real pass threats besides slot looks page. We need another receiver to step up and become a threat to pull the secondary back, especially so we can use page as a release valve, like we are trying to.

I want to see more looks under center. I believe we only ran one play under center and that was one of the last 2 or 3 plays for Alex Pettee.

Our play book needs to either (a) expand or (b) finally be opened up, because if I can tell exactly what we are going to do next, so can they. And when I say this, I don't mean run a play like we did when going for the 2pt conversion after our second score... I firmly believe that needs to be on ESPN’s top 10 bad plays come Friday... If you didn't see it, I cant explain it... it was just bad.

I think we can have a good season and have a chance at playing at Ford Field in December but it will involve overcoming adversity. There are definite improvements to be made, but this team definite has shown that they are here to play and willing to work to improve.

...but I'm just an accountant, what do I know.

good comments all the way around!!!!!!!

UT will be OK once the O gets on track and it will around game 5 or 6.

I have to disagree with Owen on #2. The offense did finally put a solid, if non-flashy, drive together in the 4th quarter. Until that point, we were shooting ourselves in the foot with errors. (early snaps, penalties, not accounting for blitzes, missing field goals) Once we started executing the plays correctly, the offense moved the ball and put points on the board.

We really need to make sure we eliminate those mistakes before we try opening the playbook more.

(09-12-2010 06:39 PM)Photodan Wrote:  I have to disagree with Owen on #2. The offense did finally put a solid, if non-flashy, drive together in the 4th quarter. Until that point, we were shooting ourselves in the foot with errors. (early snaps, penalties, not accounting for blitzes, missing field goals) Once we started executing the plays correctly, the offense moved the ball and put points on the board.

We really need to make sure we eliminate those mistakes before we try opening the playbook more.

The TD scoring drive in the 4th quarter included the deep pass TD and 3 consecutive offsides penalties by OU to greatly assist us move the ball across the 50 yard line.
Fairly confident that was the same drive you are referencing. Although not certain.

It was indeed a needed score and best drive of the season but I wasn't willing to call that 1 shining moment "progress".

My thoughts:

Defense-
This defense is much improved over last year's. People are making sure tackles and the secondary is swarming to the ball with really good speed. We let Ohio have everything underneath because our closing speed meant it would be a short gain. Our DBs are operating with a lot of confidence and more importantly, intelligence. They're attacking, not reacting. The result was 3 interceptions. As improbable as it seems, we are better off AFTER the Barry Church days. We are also clogging the running lanes so much better than last year and the defensive ends were harassing the QB without the need for massive blitzes.

Offense-
I'm not sure why things have changed so dramatically on offense but the most obvious problem seems to be a lack of focus. We took 3 blocking penalties in a row! We had interceptions, plays we should have audibled out of, confusion about the actual play call... They seemed to catch a good rhythm in the 4th quarter but I doubt we can win against Western Michigan if the mental mistakes aren't corrected.
It was obvious to me that the leader of this year's offense is and should be Austin Dantin. I'll never understand the mechanics of why the Wildcat is even remotely successful but until it stops working, keep subbing Pasquale when needed.

Special Teams-
Casano's kickoffs are a HUGE HUGE improvement, as is the kick coverage. I'm so pleased with the improvement here.
I don't understand why Vince Penza was pulled after just one shank. Claus' knuckleball punts did prove effective against OU.
Field goal kicking was obviously dismal. The defense will keep us close, but until the offense starts operating with a lot more success, we are going to need every one of those points to win games.

In short, the defense is greatly improved, most of the special teams are greatly improved, the offense, while an early disappointment isn't a cause for panic yet.

(09-12-2010 06:51 PM)owen Wrote:  

(09-12-2010 06:39 PM)Photodan Wrote:  I have to disagree with Owen on #2. The offense did finally put a solid, if non-flashy, drive together in the 4th quarter. Until that point, we were shooting ourselves in the foot with errors. (early snaps, penalties, not accounting for blitzes, missing field goals) Once we started executing the plays correctly, the offense moved the ball and put points on the board.

We really need to make sure we eliminate those mistakes before we try opening the playbook more.

The TD scoring drive in the 4th quarter included the deep pass TD and 3 consecutive offsides penalties by OU to greatly assist us move the ball across the 50 yard line.
Fairly confident that was the same drive you are referencing. Although not certain.

It was indeed a needed score and best drive of the season but I wasn't willing to call that 1 shining moment "progress".

It doesn't change the fact that we executed without shooting ourselves in the foot and scored. If OU wanted to donate a few yards, that doesn't take anything away from our performance. (In my mind, anyway)

Desmond Marrow is a great player.
Physically he is vastly more talented than almost any MAC cornerback I have seen in a long time or maybe ever.

(09-12-2010 03:31 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  Ohio's got some serious problems on offense, but significant improvement isn't needed to beat the likes of Ball State and EMU. That said, we do need to improve a lot on offense to beat teams like WMU (next week), CMU, Temple, etc.

I agree about your first four items. I would also add NIU to #3 as the most overrated team in the conference. Iowa State beat them easily and then they got drilled by Iowa. Then NIU barely beat a not very good I-AA by something like 21-16. They were supposed to finish in either 1st or 2nd in the MAC West according to most polls. I can't see NIU beating Temple (they play them in the next couple of weeks I believe), CMU, WMU, and probably us. We do have to go to NIU, but I like our chances right now.

All that being said, this might be the worst the MAC has been top to bottom since I can remember.

(09-12-2010 07:08 PM)Photodan Wrote:  ... I'll never understand the mechanics of why the Wildcat is even remotely successful but until it stops working, keep subbing Pasquale when needed.

In short, the defense is greatly improved, most of the special teams are greatly improved, the offense, while an early disappointment isn't a cause for panic yet.

Agree the wildcat is a head scratcher for me too.

Also agree with the offense, teams seem to be putting the screws on Page. And without another Steven Williams threat things are getting clogged in the middle. No spread in the Spread Offense.

But... I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. We did what we had to (to win) and I like our chances come Saturday at Western.

(09-12-2010 07:28 PM)owen Wrote:  Desmond Marrow is a great player.
Physically he is vastly more talented than almost any MAC cornerback I have seen in a long time or maybe ever.

There was this guy named Curtis Johnson....

(09-12-2010 07:08 PM)Photodan Wrote:  As improbable as it seems, we are better off AFTER the Barry Church days. We are also clogging the running lanes so much better than last year and the defensive ends were harassing the QB without the need for massive blitzes.

In his interview posted on RocketVision, Archie commented that the front four were getting pressure, thus it freed the LB's up to do other things--like help with coverage. Between them they had the 3 picks, plus they were the leading tacklers.

Rancifer had 4 tackles, Morrow is a factor.

Did Paige start at a corner position? In the stats they list him as a starter but don't show him with any tackles.

I don't think Ohio tested us downfield too much, did they? Hopefully the improvement will show there as well.

I know what you mean about the Barry Church days, but I'm thinking of a different name or two. No team could be better off after having Barry Church move on.

(09-12-2010 08:23 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(09-12-2010 07:28 PM)owen Wrote:  Desmond Marrow is a great player.
Physically he is vastly more talented than almost any MAC cornerback I have seen in a long time or maybe ever.

There was this guy named Curtis Johnson....

I was not born at the time he played for the Rockets and too young to remember him play for the Dolphins.

(09-12-2010 08:23 PM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(09-12-2010 07:28 PM)owen Wrote:  Desmond Marrow is a great player.
Physically he is vastly more talented than almost any MAC cornerback I have seen in a long time or maybe ever.

There was this guy named Curtis Johnson....

I'll toss in Clarence Love and Mark Brandon.

Hmm, reading through these comments I can't help but wonder where I've heard this before...defense vastly improved, very big questions about the offense and qb play, and I saw that Thomas got the most carries and most ypc. Sounds familiar.