I think we can win close, hard fought battles with BCS teams in the GB. On the road...I don't know anymore. On the road it seems like we have to overpower the opponent, not just hang in there and hope to have the lead when the clock runs out.
(08-24-2013 11:23 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: I think we can win close, hard fought battles with BCS teams in the GB. On the road...I don't know anymore. On the road it seems like we have to overpower the opponent, not just hang in there and hope to have the lead when the clock runs out.
Seems like it. The home field advantage is huge in these types of games, but I think there is a bit more as well. I would also include important conference games in my argument. I think it simply comes down to a coach and players that "know" how to win these games, no matter whether home or away. The team that wants it more and is able to keep a clear head and execute better is going to win, granted conditioning is not a problem. And for us, I think much of our demise has to do with the defense giving up big plays throughout the contest. In addition to allowing points, this gives the offense of the other team a lot of confidence when the game is on the line. After a slug-fest (think Cincy, @AZ, @OSU '11, @NIU, NIU '11, and Ball St), we only came out on top vs Cincy at home. In that win, we showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter running Flu to burn out about 6 minutes of clock. They cracked under pressure on the last chance drive and we took home the W with a Haden INT. At AZ, we showed a lot of heart, but the D gave up an ungodly number of yards on big plays and poor containment/tackling. They also had some lucky 3rd or 4th down conversions late in the game as I recall. At OSU (bad officiating aside), the offense cracked under pressure and couldn't finish when the game was on the line. We lacked the poise and execution to bring back that win on the road. At NIU last year, we played tough in the first half and then fell apart in the third quarter allowing big plays and turning the ball over. The year before at home, same thing...we couldn't rise above at home to get the W. With Ball St at home last year, we simply lacked the effort and desire to win this game in the 4th quarter. We didn't execute when it counted and they did.
Too often, we let emotion get in the way of execution. You can see it and feel it as a fan. It easily could have been us in that BCS bowl last year...if only we could have figured out how to win those two close conference games. This has been our story the last couple years. Hopefully this year will be different...
(This post was last modified: 08-25-2013 10:39 AM by ToledoMike.)
(08-24-2013 11:23 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: I think we can win close, hard fought battles with BCS teams in the GB. On the road...I don't know anymore. On the road it seems like we have to overpower the opponent, not just hang in there and hope to have the lead when the clock runs out.
Seems like it. The home field advantage is huge in these types of games, but I think there is a bit more as well. I would also include important conference games in my argument. I think it simply comes down to a coach and players that "know" how to win these games, no matter whether home or away. The team that wants it more and is able to keep a clear head and execute better is going to win, granted conditioning is not a problem. And for us, I think much of our demise has to do with the defense giving up big plays throughout the contest. In addition to allowing points, this gives the offense of the other team a lot of confidence when the game is on the line. After a slug-fest (think Cincy, @AZ, @OSU '11, @NIU, NIU '11, and Ball St), we only came out on top vs Cincy at home. In that win, we showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter running Flu to burn out about 6 minutes of clock. They cracked under pressure on the last chance drive and we took home the W with a Haden INT. At AZ, we showed a lot of heart, but the D gave up an ungodly number of yards on big plays and poor containment/tackling. They also had some lucky 3rd or 4th down conversions late in the game as I recall. At OSU (bad officiating aside), the offense cracked under pressure and couldn't finish when the game was on the line. We lacked the poise and execution to bring back that win on the road. At NIU last year, we played tough in the first half and then fell apart in the third quarter allowing big plays and turning the ball over. The year before at home, same thing...we couldn't rise above at home to get the W. With Ball St at home last year, we simply lacked the effort and desire to win this game in the 4th quarter. We didn't execute when it counted and they did.
Too often, we let emotion get in the way of execution. You can see it and feel it as a fan. It easily could have been us in that BCS bowl last year...if only we could have figured out how to win those two close conference games. This has been our story the last couple years. Hopefully this year will be different...
Unfortunately we are playing Florida who killed Florida State who beat NIU. This game is tougher on paper then NIU played last year in FSU.
(08-24-2013 11:23 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: I think we can win close, hard fought battles with BCS teams in the GB. On the road...I don't know anymore. On the road it seems like we have to overpower the opponent, not just hang in there and hope to have the lead when the clock runs out.
Seems like it. The home field advantage is huge in these types of games, but I think there is a bit more as well. I would also include important conference games in my argument. I think it simply comes down to a coach and players that "know" how to win these games, no matter whether home or away. The team that wants it more and is able to keep a clear head and execute better is going to win, granted conditioning is not a problem. And for us, I think much of our demise has to do with the defense giving up big plays throughout the contest. In addition to allowing points, this gives the offense of the other team a lot of confidence when the game is on the line. After a slug-fest (think Cincy, @AZ, @OSU '11, @NIU, NIU '11, and Ball St), we only came out on top vs Cincy at home. In that win, we showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter running Flu to burn out about 6 minutes of clock. They cracked under pressure on the last chance drive and we took home the W with a Haden INT. At AZ, we showed a lot of heart, but the D gave up an ungodly number of yards on big plays and poor containment/tackling. They also had some lucky 3rd or 4th down conversions late in the game as I recall. At OSU (bad officiating aside), the offense cracked under pressure and couldn't finish when the game was on the line. We lacked the poise and execution to bring back that win on the road. At NIU last year, we played tough in the first half and then fell apart in the third quarter allowing big plays and turning the ball over. The year before at home, same thing...we couldn't rise above at home to get the W. With Ball St at home last year, we simply lacked the effort and desire to win this game in the 4th quarter. We didn't execute when it counted and they did.
Too often, we let emotion get in the way of execution. You can see it and feel it as a fan. It easily could have been us in that BCS bowl last year...if only we could have figured out how to win those two close conference games. This has been our story the last couple years. Hopefully this year will be different...
Unfortunately we are playing Florida who killed Florida State who beat NIU. This game is tougher on paper then NIU played last year in FSU.
Agreed. This is going to be a good measuring stick for us. Are we able to compete with the big boys, and on their turf? Let's hope we can stay healthy, win or lose, because I like our chances better at Missouri the following week.
(08-24-2013 11:23 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote: I think we can win close, hard fought battles with BCS teams in the GB. On the road...I don't know anymore. On the road it seems like we have to overpower the opponent, not just hang in there and hope to have the lead when the clock runs out.
Seems like it. The home field advantage is huge in these types of games, but I think there is a bit more as well. I would also include important conference games in my argument. I think it simply comes down to a coach and players that "know" how to win these games, no matter whether home or away. The team that wants it more and is able to keep a clear head and execute better is going to win, granted conditioning is not a problem. And for us, I think much of our demise has to do with the defense giving up big plays throughout the contest. In addition to allowing points, this gives the offense of the other team a lot of confidence when the game is on the line. After a slug-fest (think Cincy, @AZ, @OSU '11, @NIU, NIU '11, and Ball St), we only came out on top vs Cincy at home. In that win, we showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter running Flu to burn out about 6 minutes of clock. They cracked under pressure on the last chance drive and we took home the W with a Haden INT. At AZ, we showed a lot of heart, but the D gave up an ungodly number of yards on big plays and poor containment/tackling. They also had some lucky 3rd or 4th down conversions late in the game as I recall. At OSU (bad officiating aside), the offense cracked under pressure and couldn't finish when the game was on the line. We lacked the poise and execution to bring back that win on the road. At NIU last year, we played tough in the first half and then fell apart in the third quarter allowing big plays and turning the ball over. The year before at home, same thing...we couldn't rise above at home to get the W. With Ball St at home last year, we simply lacked the effort and desire to win this game in the 4th quarter. We didn't execute when it counted and they did.
Too often, we let emotion get in the way of execution. You can see it and feel it as a fan. It easily could have been us in that BCS bowl last year...if only we could have figured out how to win those two close conference games. This has been our story the last couple years. Hopefully this year will be different...
Unfortunately we are playing Florida who killed Florida State who beat NIU. This game is tougher on paper then NIU played last year in FSU.
This is also the same Florida team that struggled with a mediocre BG team last year in the first game of the year and was embarrassed by Louisville in the Sugar Bowl. Toledo can win this game, they just have to execute.
Actually I would feel better about our chances if Florida had embarrassed Louisville in their bowl game last year instead of the other way round.
Last year Florida probably did not take BGSU as seriously as they should have and in any event probably didn't open their play book very wide in order to not reveal too much to their future SEC conference opponents.
However, after being humiliated by Louisville, and having the opportunity to think about it for the entire off-season, I suspect they are highly motivated to put that game behind them with an impressive season opening victory. I expect that they will come out on fire against us-----unlike their mediocre performance against BG last year----and even if they don't open up the playbook too wide, I suspect that we will get something a lot closer to their A game than BG saw last year.
Also, they got very, very, very lucky to beat LA-Layafette. LA-Lafayette was up 20-13 with under 2 minutes left. UF won by blocking a punt and running it back for a TD with just seconds left.
And they were only up 10-0 vs. Jacksonville St. at half-time.
Thank goodness for this heat this coming week. The Rockets need this heat to practice in before they head down to The Swamp. Now Florida's heat and humidity won't be as much of a shock compared to the cool August temperatures we've been use to.
