Quote:— In a nutshell: Marshall has the offense to score at will, dropping 40 or 50 points on a weekly basis as an equal-opportunity offender, whether the opponent is Ohio, Tulsa, East Carolina or an opponent from Conference USA's weaker half. How good is this offense? Statistically, it may end the year as the nation's best; in total, when considering mitigating factors – that the Herd play an easy schedule – it's probably safer to call this one of the nation's 10 best overall units. Alone, this offense guarantees seven wins during the regular season.

Whether Marshall can move beyond that mark, taking eight or nine games and winning the East Division, centers on whether this defense is ready to take on a larger degree of responsibility. For now, and even if I admit this unit is improved, Marshall's defense is the reason I can't take the Herd seriously as a team with the potential to end the year with a national ranking. But here's the good news: Marshall needs only to sew up its pass rush and find consistency at safety to take that leap. It is absolutely possible, and it's the primary reason why this is a trendy team heading into fall camp.

I think Marshall wins the East, takes eight or nine games during the regular season and challenges Tulsa for top spot in Conference USA. The Golden Hurricane's consistency – and past winning ways – makes them the favorite to take the league, in my mind. But Marshall is an offensively potent squad with the clear ability to simply outscore every opponent on this schedule in a banner season. This is quite easily the program's best team in a decade.

— Dream season: Marshall goes 11-1, losing only to Virginia Tech in September, and enters the Conference USA title game with a shot at a BCS berth.

— Nightmare season: With this team, anything less than six wins would be obscenely disappointing.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...w/2591603/

#?? Tulsa
#40 Marshall
#50 ECU
#63 LT
#79 MTSU
#82 USM
#91 UAB
#94 Rice
#111 FAU
#112 UTEP
#113 UNT
#118 FIU
#119 UTSA

This is a good write-up. Marshall certainly has the potential for a monster season. I was very impressed with Cato and offense last season. As with ECU, how well the defense performs will dictate what this team can accomplish.

I'm looking forward to making my first trip to Huntington come November. It should be another classic.

Go Pirates! Go Herd!

Again no respect for the runners. I guess we'll have to prove everybody wrong again.

(07-28-2013 01:11 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

Quote:— In a nutshell: Marshall has the offense to score at will, dropping 40 or 50 points on a weekly basis as an equal-opportunity offender, whether the opponent is Ohio, Tulsa, East Carolina or an opponent from Conference USA's weaker half. How good is this offense? Statistically, it may end the year as the nation's best; in total, when considering mitigating factors – that the Herd play an easy schedule – it's probably safer to call this one of the nation's 10 best overall units. Alone, this offense guarantees seven wins during the regular season.

Whether Marshall can move beyond that mark, taking eight or nine games and winning the East Division, centers on whether this defense is ready to take on a larger degree of responsibility. For now, and even if I admit this unit is improved, Marshall's defense is the reason I can't take the Herd seriously as a team with the potential to end the year with a national ranking. But here's the good news: Marshall needs only to sew up its pass rush and find consistency at safety to take that leap. It is absolutely possible, and it's the primary reason why this is a trendy team heading into fall camp.

I think Marshall wins the East, takes eight or nine games during the regular season and challenges Tulsa for top spot in Conference USA. The Golden Hurricane's consistency – and past winning ways – makes them the favorite to take the league, in my mind. But Marshall is an offensively potent squad with the clear ability to simply outscore every opponent on this schedule in a banner season. This is quite easily the program's best team in a decade.

— Dream season: Marshall goes 11-1, losing only to Virginia Tech in September, and enters the Conference USA title game with a shot at a BCS berth.

— Nightmare season: With this team, anything less than six wins would be obscenely disappointing.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca...w/2591603/

#?? Tulsa
#40 Marshall
#50 ECU
#63 LT
#79 MTSU
#82 USM
#91 UAB
#94 Rice
#111 FAU
#112 UTEP
#113 UNT
#118 FIU
#119 UTSA

The only thing is that the herd will be allowing 40 to 50 points a games so the offense better bring it.

no they wont.......they will with 16 starters, the entire OL and three watch cadiddates....bank it.

J-U-G-G-E-R-N-A-U-T

I shorted us a watch candidate....the punter, QB, WR and TE makes four

(07-28-2013 04:15 PM)cortezthekiller Wrote:  I shorted us a watch candidate....the punter, QB, WR and TE makes four

Yep they'll be watching alright. Watching the defense getting creamed.

Is this Marshall's highest preseason? Seems like it. good luck to yall! thats great and I'm jealous

Does anyone know somewhere in Vegas or the like to bet over/under on these rankings?

Rice at #94 behind USM, UAB, La Tech, etc...Wow... I view Rice and Marshall as even programs. Two straight bad unlucky 50/50 bounces very late in 4Q in last two games against each other is the only real difference.

big talk outa elrunner whose team hAS TO CO ME TO hUNTINGTON WHERE tEXAS cusa IS 0 FOR 9....OUR d WILL WHIP YOUR SORRY A$$E$

Agree about Rice. Wont surprise me if its us and them. Floyd said it best.

(07-28-2013 03:06 PM)El Runner Wrote:  The only thing is that the herd will be allowing 40 to 50 points a games so the offense better bring it.

Nope that won't be happening this year. Chris Rippon resigned Nov 24, 2012. We no longer have a DC that will play 10 yards off the ball on 3rd and 4.

We also have new players that will be infused into our defense including 4 star players in Kent Turene, Michael Johnson, Taj Letman and AJ Leggett and high 3 star Cory Tindal.

(07-28-2013 07:42 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  We no longer have a DC that will play 10 yards off the ball on 3rd and 4.

Did everyone in the damn conference have one of those? We've had a couple.

(07-28-2013 07:53 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  

(07-28-2013 07:42 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  We no longer have a DC that will play 10 yards off the ball on 3rd and 4.

Did everyone in the damn conference have one of those? We've had a couple.

+1

I think Rice was the most underrated team in that countdown and they are my pick to win the west.

As to the question of this being Marshall's highest preseason rank. While it CUSA, yes. We were preseason top 25 a few years in the MAC.

(07-28-2013 03:03 PM)El Runner Wrote:  Again no respect for the runners. I guess we'll have to prove everybody wrong again.

Respect is EARNED... not demanded.

Read his prediction for last season. He was scary accurate.

As for the UTSA fans complaining about their "lack" of respect. What in the world have you done that makes you think you deserve to be any higher. Ever quality FBS team you faces last year handled you easily. Your record last year was nothing more than a mirage and I predict we put up 50+ when you come to Huntington.

Rice 34-14 (one TD scored against a bad defense)
San Jose State 52-24
Utah State 48-17 (TDs came late in the game)
LaTech 51-27

All of your wins came aginst nobodies. You all keep acting like you faced a quality schedule. I know I know you are only in your second year. Well that is another reason why you are lucky to be where you are. The other reason why you are not getting any respect is because at least 6 of the teams you play this year (OkSt, Arizona, Marshall, Rice, Tulsa, LaTech) are going to blow you out of the stadium. In my opinion your only hope for wins are going to be in the opener against New Mexico and in November against Tulane. I would say UAB but they will be better this year than last year. I can only see you even being competitive in 4 games next year. (NM, UTEP, UAB, Tulane)

Who wants to make a bet. Marshall scores more on UTSA, then Gardner-Webb. Hopefully in a couple of years Rice, UTSA, UTEP, and UNT are winning the West Every Single Year.

To all of you naysayers all I can say is Talk is Cheap. Everybody gives us no chance in hell to win just like last year. Yes we won't win every game unlike some of the posters here thinking their team will be ranked in the top ten. I guess we are going to have to prove everybody wrong, again. FYI our QB was hurt in three of our losses and according to some analysts is the third best QB in CUSA. Also we only had 65 scholarship players so depth was an issue. We now have the allotted number of scholarship numbers so we'll see if all of the pundits are again incorrect in their assessment.