Come on Pudge...
It was his first collegiate pass...
At the Big House...
In front of 110,000 people...
Give the young man a break.

From the outside looking in it seems like Gellett is a born leader... Who by the way... Has won more games over two years than any EMU QB dating back to... Charlie Batch?

Let's be realistic... To beat out a JR QB as a RS Freshman or True Freshman you have to be something special... Almost elite. Benz or Ianotti not beating out Gillett only means that they're not there yet. It says nothing about what they could become.

(01-03-2012 09:05 PM)KPJ Wrote:  Come on Pudge...
It was his first collegiate pass...
At the Big House...
In front of 110,000 people...
Give the young man a break.

From the outside looking in it seems like Gellett is a born leader... Who by the way... Has won more games over two years than any EMU QB dating back to... Charlie Batch?

Let's be realistic... To beat out a JR QB as a RS Freshman or True Freshman you have to be something special... Almost elite. Benz or Ianotti not beating out Gillett only means that they're not there yet. It says nothing about what they could become.

Good points and my point is that if they were something special wouldn't they beat Gillett out? I keep hearing about him being a leader why do you say this? A qb that lead can march his team down the field to turn a loss into a win.

Pudge,

Let's keep this in context...
Not many RS Freshman start for FBS teams.
Fewer true freshman start.
So saying "If they're so special..." is a tad unfair.

Now... On the flipside of that...
Alex started as a true freshman. So can you honestly expect Coach English to go away from the guy who got him where he is today???

And as for the question as to why Gillett is a leader...
1) He started as a true freshman, over a pretty good Junior
2) He had EMU in position to win 5 games his sophomore year, although they only picked up 2 of those.
3) He had EMU in position to win 9 games his Junior year, although they only picked up 6 of those.
*I realize there has been a great deal of improvement on the defensive side of the ball, but the bottom line is... Alex is the QB and QB's get the credit for wins and the furry of the fans for the losses.

I'm sure Benz and Ianotti will be alright when their time comes....

Now...
Do I think we need a QB in this recruiting class...?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
I'm just not a fan of the logic that says "Benz and Ianotti must not be good because they couldn't beat out Gillett".
You haven't even seen them play yet (and no, two pass attempts in an entire season doesn't count as having seen them play in my book)

(01-04-2012 12:37 AM)KPJ Wrote:  Now...
Do I think we need a QB in this recruiting class...?
ABSOLUTELY!!!!
I'm just not a fan of the logic that says "Benz and Ianotti must not be good because they couldn't beat out Gillett".
You haven't even seen them play yet (and no, two pass attempts in an entire season doesn't count as having seen them play in my book)

I agree. None of us know what Benz or Ianotti can do, and we won't know until 2013 because Gillett is going to start again this year and he should, because he deserves to (obviously). I am thankful to have a QB like Gillett at EMU. He can beat you with his legs and he can throw much better than he gets credit for. Does he have a Jordan White to pass to? No, but I look for improvement from our receivers in 2012, which will definitely make Gillett look better, just watch.

Brings up a brand new topic. Can we recruit some play making receivers, pleeeeeaaaase?! Let's be honest, if we had some, we wouldn't still be talking about Mike Baker, he probably would have commited by now. Where's the next Kevin Walter?

We still have an offer out to Quincy Jones, and he visited recently, I think. 3-star out of Ohio who has offers from Miami (OH) and West Virginia. I'd be more intimidated by the WVU offer if they didn't have a bunch of WR recruits already. We could still have a shot, plus maybe that would entice Baker to come here, or vice versa.

Not to mention we have some young playmakers on the team already. Demarius Reed was mighty impressive down the stretch...he should only get better. Same goes for Tyreese Russell. He's a mismatch at TE, and looked like one of Gillett's favorite targets after his breakout game against Ball State. The cupboard isn't exactly bare at the skill positions.

Dear Friends,
Let's not leave out of the cupboard Hoskins and Olds, who developed very nicely as outstanding receivers. I, would just like Eastern to throw the ball more often. The players are there, and can make plays.

(01-04-2012 10:53 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
Let's not leave out of the cupboard Hoskins and Olds, who developed very nicely as outstanding receivers. I, would just like Eastern to throw the ball more often. The players are there, and can make plays.

I agree 100%, Ken. Olds isn't very big and he's not the fastest, but he gets open and has great hands, not to mention a knack for some big plays (WMU and NIU games come to mind). He's also a phenomenal blocker. You're right in that if we threw the ball more, his stats would be MUCH better.

Hoskins was good all year, and got some well-deserved All MAC honors. That drop against NIU was heart-breaking, but doesnt take away from the bigger picture that he was a very solid all-around TE.

(01-04-2012 11:06 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 10:53 AM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
Let's not leave out of the cupboard Hoskins and Olds, who developed very nicely as outstanding receivers. I, would just like Eastern to throw the ball more often. The players are there, and can make plays.

I agree 100%, Ken. Olds isn't very big and he's not the fastest, but he gets open and has great hands, not to mention a knack for some big plays (WMU and NIU games come to mind). He's also a phenomenal blocker. You're right in that if we threw the ball more, his stats would be MUCH better.

Hoskins was good all year, and got some well-deserved All MAC honors. That drop against NIU was heart-breaking, but doesnt take away from the bigger picture that he was a very solid all-around TE.

I agree that Hoskins, Reed, and Russell all have potential to be very good. But honestly, there were 2 drops vs the best team in the MAC, on the road that cost us the game against NIU. Great players make big plays at big times. What's happened to Donald Scott? He is not improving.

(01-04-2012 10:23 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Brings up a brand new topic. Can we recruit some play making receivers, pleeeeeaaaase?! Let's be honest, if we had some, we wouldn't still be talking about Mike Baker, he probably would have commited by now. Where's the next Kevin Walter?

Agree. EMU's seems to have enough possesion receivers like Olds, Hoskins, etc. A few playmakers are needed or need to emerge from previous classes (Reed, Scott, etc). Same for the defense. Speed kills.

(01-04-2012 11:17 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 10:23 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Brings up a brand new topic. Can we recruit some play making receivers, pleeeeeaaaase?! Let's be honest, if we had some, we wouldn't still be talking about Mike Baker, he probably would have commited by now. Where's the next Kevin Walter?

Agree. EMU's seems to have enough possesion receivers like Olds, Hoskins, etc. A few playmakers are needed or need to emerge from previous classes (Reed, Scott, etc). Same for the defense. Speed kills.

These are TE's (Olds & Hoskins) and not WR's which is where we need the most help. I am willing to give Reed a pass for this season but I am expecting more for next year outta him.. D. Scott has not panned out.

I disagree with your assessment of our receiving group because they were not thrown to enough to make a fair judgement. Lets face it, we are not a passing team and unless something chances in the not to distance future, we will stay this way and is probably the biggest reason that we cannot land a top notch QB recruit. Put yourself in a HS QB recruit mind, why come to a program where you will be basically handing the ball off to a running back until 3rd down.

I agree with your statement about "Speed kills". This is something Coach English preaches, speed and strength for this team. Speed is the key and is the biggest differences from conferences to conferences.

Olds is a WR. I think you meant Russell.

And I think Karcher would conform his play-calling to the strengths of the personnel (at least I hope he would). If we had a QB like Baker, we'd probably air it out more. Gillett is a fair passer, but his strength is on the ground, as is our OL and stable of RBs. The team may look different if a pocket passer took over in 2013. Hard to know for sure...

(01-04-2012 04:35 PM)NUPudge Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 11:17 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 10:23 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Brings up a brand new topic. Can we recruit some play making receivers, pleeeeeaaaase?! Let's be honest, if we had some, we wouldn't still be talking about Mike Baker, he probably would have commited by now. Where's the next Kevin Walter?

Agree. EMU's seems to have enough possesion receivers like Olds, Hoskins, etc. A few playmakers are needed or need to emerge from previous classes (Reed, Scott, etc). Same for the defense. Speed kills.

These are TE's (Olds & Hoskins) and not WR's which is where we need the most help. I am willing to give Reed a pass for this season but I am expecting more for next year outta him.. D. Scott has not panned out.

I disagree with your assessment of our receiving group because they were not thrown to enough to make a fair judgement. Lets face it, we are not a passing team and unless something chances in the not to distance future, we will stay this way and is probably the biggest reason that we cannot land a top notch QB recruit. Put yourself in a HS QB recruit mind, why come to a program where you will be basically handing the ball off to a running back until 3rd down.

I agree with your statement about "Speed kills". This is something Coach English preaches, speed and strength for this team. Speed is the key and is the biggest differences from conferences to conferences.

Pudge...
How can you say you give D.Reed a pass and D.Scott hasn't panned out, then turn around and say they were not thrown to enough to make a fair judgement?

(01-04-2012 05:03 PM)KPJ Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 04:35 PM)NUPudge Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 11:17 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  

(01-04-2012 10:23 AM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Brings up a brand new topic. Can we recruit some play making receivers, pleeeeeaaaase?! Let's be honest, if we had some, we wouldn't still be talking about Mike Baker, he probably would have commited by now. Where's the next Kevin Walter?

Agree. EMU's seems to have enough possesion receivers like Olds, Hoskins, etc. A few playmakers are needed or need to emerge from previous classes (Reed, Scott, etc). Same for the defense. Speed kills.

These are TE's (Olds & Hoskins) and not WR's which is where we need the most help. I am willing to give Reed a pass for this season but I am expecting more for next year outta him.. D. Scott has not panned out.

I disagree with your assessment of our receiving group because they were not thrown to enough to make a fair judgement. Lets face it, we are not a passing team and unless something chances in the not to distance future, we will stay this way and is probably the biggest reason that we cannot land a top notch QB recruit. Put yourself in a HS QB recruit mind, why come to a program where you will be basically handing the ball off to a running back until 3rd down.

I agree with your statement about "Speed kills". This is something Coach English preaches, speed and strength for this team. Speed is the key and is the biggest differences from conferences to conferences.

Pudge...
How can you say you give D.Reed a pass and D.Scott hasn't panned out, then turn around and say they were not thrown to enough to make a fair judgement?

I know it sound but D. Reed is a freshman and Donald Scott is a 2nd year football player according to the EMU roster. It just seems to me that Reed has more of a upside (in my mind).

I have a idea, why not move TA (Tyler Allen) as a wideout? This kid can fly and probably has better hands then Donald. TA was used sometime on the Jet sweep.

Don't give up on Donald Scott yet. You've got to remember that football shape and almost world class triple jump track shape are two completely different things... Try to imagine your body adjusting from one to the other and then back... He'll get it figured out

(01-03-2012 06:26 PM)EMUAARON Wrote:  

(01-03-2012 06:08 PM)emu79 Wrote:  I'd take two QB in a heartbeat neither Benz or Ianotti appear to be the answer at QB long term.

what makes you say that? has Ianotti played at all? i'm not trying to question you, just curious.

Because English hasn't shown any confidence in either one in a real game situation. There were times when we were behind or our starter struggled to get the offense going. In the past English would bring in Payne to kick start the offense. He didn't do that with either Benz or Ianotti. By the way how much confidence you need in the QB on the field to basically hand it off one or two times every series? That's basic stuff and not rocket science.

Dear Friends,
I just checked Scout.com and Arizona's commits. They have two quarterback commits, and one is NR! I know everyone is tired of talking about Mike, but unless things change dramatically in the next week or so, he is going to be left out in the cold. Even Fresno State is not offering, because they have four quarterbacks on their roster already.
I can totally understand that he wants to play near home, but he really should give Eastern a shot. He may not even get a preferred walk-on status with the two above mentioned schools. Has anyone heard if Eastern's staff is still going after him?

Okay, we were beating a dead horse a couple weeks ago when this topic came back up. Now, we have gone back to this same horse, and started beating it again and again. This. Ship. Has. Sailed. Please, no more Baker talk.... I beg you.

(01-17-2012 04:35 PM)Rip20 Wrote:  Okay, we were beating a dead horse a couple weeks ago when this topic came back up. Now, we have gone back to this same horse, and started beating it again and again. This. Ship. Has. Sailed. Please, no more Baker talk.... I beg you.

No doubt! If he was as good as he thinks he is, trust me, trust me, trust me, Fresno State would find room for him.