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Man, maybe we should keep a safety over the top, and another safety closer to the box in a zone to make sure the QB doesn't take off.

They are ranked 26th in the country in passing yards, and their QB is 5 rushing yards shy of being their leading rusher too.

This game scares me more than the BSU/BGSU/and Ohio games all wrapped into one. That last drive for Ohio should alone scare the pant's off of us right now... that last drive is what Miami(OH) does on all of their drives... QB sneaks out for first downs on the run, throws quick slants over the middle and takes an occasional deep shot to keep the DB's honest... Ohio's (albeit with the help of some crappy penalties) last drive was exactly what we will see this week...

Hopefully coach Fleck has these kids ready, and the defensive position coaches have them in the film room studying Hendrix... I think our offense needs to get on top of this team early... and I mean first few drives coming away with points... touchdowns... I also don't want us to force points by gambling on long field goals... misses turn into a flipped field for the opposing team...

Hoping for good things this weekend. I wont be able to watch, so its going to be a check the phone as the afternoon progresses... GO BRONCOS!

For those who didn't notice (maybe it's just me, but I think it was originally a later start) the game tomorrow starts at 2:30 pm!

People should realize that Hendrix was a four star QB coming out of high school that was good enough to be recruited by a whole bunch of big time schools. I don't know what happened at ND, but the guy is talented. He is the best QB WMU will face this season, and I don't think it's even close.

(10-31-2014 10:25 AM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  People should realize that Hendrix was a four star QB coming out of high school that was good enough to be recruited by a whole bunch of big time schools. I don't know what happened at ND, but the guy is talented. He is the best QB WMU will face this season, and I don't think it's even close.

I actually think that the Linehan kid at Idaho was a little more dangerous than Hendrix will be to this defense... There is a reason he barely scratched the surface at ND. He just didn't develop behind Reese, and trust me... Reese wasn't lighting the world on fire... Hendrix was more of a runner than a passer... As a passer he's worse than Terrell was last year... he's throwing under 50% completion percentage... and Terrell was over 50% last year... I think we need to worry more about this kid's legs than his arm. Its going to be interesting.

(10-31-2014 10:40 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 10:25 AM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  People should realize that Hendrix was a four star QB coming out of high school that was good enough to be recruited by a whole bunch of big time schools. I don't know what happened at ND, but the guy is talented. He is the best QB WMU will face this season, and I don't think it's even close.

I actually think that the Linehan kid at Idaho was a little more dangerous than Hendrix will be to this defense... There is a reason he barely scratched the surface at ND. He just didn't develop behind Reese, and trust me... Reese wasn't lighting the world on fire... Hendrix was more of a runner than a passer... As a passer he's worse than Terrell was last year... he's throwing under 50% completion percentage... and Terrell was over 50% last year... I think we need to worry more about this kid's legs than his arm. Its going to be interesting.

The completion percentage may not be there, but the big plays are. And given that he is a dual threat WMU is likely going to have to spy him a little bit. I just imagine a scenario of blitzing, and all our guys running by him, and leaving the field wide open for scrambles as our DB's are in man to man down the field.

(10-31-2014 09:38 AM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  Man, maybe we should keep a safety over the top, and another safety closer to the box in a zone to make sure the QB doesn't take off.

They are ranked 26th in the country in passing yards, and their QB is 5 rushing yards shy of being their leading rusher too.

That sounds like he's a great running QB until you realize their top RB rushed for 44 yards last week. He's not a good passer, his targets are Servicable, but not scary, and he racks up yards on the ground for the same reason Hare does, it's the only option left on offense. He's not Tim Tebow.

(10-31-2014 10:25 AM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  People should realize that Hendrix was a four star QB coming out of high school that was good enough to be recruited by a whole bunch of big time schools. I don't know what happened at ND, but the guy is talented. He is the best QB WMU will face this season, and I don't think it's even close.

Best QB we'll face all season? Watch him, and see if you still believe that.

kapland is better. Linihan better. Facing Terrell in practice, better. Milas, better. Pool per Rush, better and better targets.

After watching a couple Miami games I think we are a match up nightmare for them

Throw in 20 mph winds, good luck moving the ball with no ground game.

Miami beat Kent State 10-3 at home last week.

That tells me all I need to know.

Nothing about Miami scares me the way our team has been playing. Not trying to be overconfident... it's just a fact (in my eyes) that a loss at Miami on Saturday would be a HUGE let-down and subsequently, disappointment.

(10-31-2014 11:51 AM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Miami beat Kent State 10-3 at home last week.

That tells me all I need to know.

Nothing about Miami scares me the way our team has been playing. Not trying to be overconfident... it's just a fact (in my eyes) that a loss at Miami on Saturday would be a HUGE let-down and subsequently, disappointment.

I think there's a lot of transitive thinking going on. Miami beat UMass (miracle of stupidity) and UMass almost beat UT. Kent lost by 3 to NIU and by 7 to Miami, and NIU was supposed to be good.......except they're not.

Seriously, go watch a little of Miami on some ESPN3 replays. Chuck Martin has nothing to work with yet, even he's said as much.

MIAMI (points scored review based on opponent, etc):
vs Marshall (27pts) - HIGH
vs E Kentucky (10pts) - VERY LOW
@ Michigan (10pts) - LOW
@ Cincinnati (24pts) - SOLID
@ Buffalo (27pts) - SOLID
vs UMass (41pts) - HIGH
@ Akron (19pts) - A BIT LOW
@ NIU (41 pts) - HIGH
vs Kent (10pts) - LOW

3 HIGH, 2 SOLID, 4 LOW. They're kind of sktizo. A team can stop them, or let them put some good pts on the board. Marshall allowing them to put up 27 pts is High, given Marshall stomps teams and Miami had it basically tied in 4th... But only 10 points on E Kentucky? HUH? Then scoring 41 @NIU, but only 10pts at home VS Kent. Sure, Kent has a bit better D than NIU, but they have no O, so your O has PLENTY of time on the field for re-dos. 41 vs 10 where 41 is away, and 10 at home against a better D -- that isn't just them, that's You, too.

So which Miami O are we going to face on Saturday? I think part of that is up to us. No INTs or fumbles, please.

I have learned that, unless you are one of the rare MAC powerhouse teams that come about every few years, no MAC game can be taken for granted. This year’s WMU team is good, getting even better, and exciting to watch, but not one of those powerhouse teams yet. We have had several periods where we looked real bad against bad teams, and we are certainly capable of stinking it up; particularly on the road. Perhaps as important, MAC officiating is more often than not the great equalizer.

Quote:We have had several periods where we looked real bad against bad teams, and we are certainly capable of stinking it up; particularly on the road

Yes, I agree. Ball State game, a perfect example. Letting Idaho get back into it (granted, it was early in season after our 1-11 year) -- and not being able to score in the 2nd half against Ohio until nearing end of game + our turnovers. We have a lot to solidify. PJ even mentioned that we have work to do on stuff, right after that game.

However, the GOOD thing is, the MAC as a whole is figuring themselves out, too. The only exception I would say would be Toledo, in a way. They have had a lot of injuries and are figuring things out in that way. Thanks to their depth, they're able to fight on and win.

With all that said, we can't expect to win all 4 remaining games. IMO, that would be semi-laughable. Rawls should be pretty much 100% by our game @CMU, that will be our toughest one that we statistically chalk up as the at least 1 Given Loss the remainder of the way. The NIU game will be no picnic, because by that time, they'll be at least a notch better and they know how to win, of course.

I just DON'T want to see us lose to @Miami or EMU. I'm not scared about EMU since it's at home and not in their WEIRD field+jersey combo arena. I'm not scared of Miami, but a bit fearful of ourselves bringing a blah-game that runs for more than 1 quarter -- which Could cost us. I want to see us go 7-5, which we "should" (knock on wood) do.

Remember how everyone feared NIU last year, but by the end of the season everyone knew that Lynch was going to run the jet sweep 50 times a game and they started stacking the line and they suddenly became mortal.

The problem with one dimension offenses in college football is that given enough film, teams figure out how to stop them. So then it's up to the defense to make up for some of that lost edge.

Marshall knew nothing about Miami in that first game and gave up some points. As for the MAC teams they've played, UB, NIU, UMass, and Kent are just bad this year, although Umass is on the upswing. The only good team they've played is Akron who had Pohl at the time (he's been injured since).

A. Miami is one dimensional. They run empty set most of the time. So teams know they're either going to pass or the QB is going to run it.

B. Miami has no defense. Everyone with an offense went buck wild on them.

Miami operates purely on a scheme. Short dump, run after the catch, or the QB runs it. But they have no stars, or weapons that you really have to plan for. You just plan to defeat the scheme.

After watching Miami, particularly last weeks game, I convinced that they simply don't match up well with us.

(10-31-2014 01:19 PM)brovol Wrote:  I have learned that, unless you are one of the rare MAC powerhouse teams that come about every few years, no MAC game can be taken for granted. This year’s WMU team is good, getting even better, and exciting to watch, but not one of those powerhouse teams yet.

The closest I think we've ever come to reaching this point was back in 2000, when we crushed Marshall on the road and it seemed like we were rolling everybody 42-0 after that.

(That was before the debacle at CMU that year, of course...)

Weather's certainly going to be a factor. Let's hope we learned something from the Toledo game on that front.

Quote:Saturday
A chance of snow showers, mainly before 7am. Cloudy, with a high near 41. North wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

As much as I'm tempted to drive out to Oxford, if it's going to be at least as cold and 10+ mph windier tomorrow than it is right now... well, brr. I may elect to watch ESPN3 in front of my fireplace instead!

Quote:I may elect to watch ESPN3 in front of my fireplace instead!

For that reason, I think ESPN3 should have blackouts... for MAC teams though, within a smaller radius... like within a 30 minute drive of the stadium. If not, pay a fee online. Would make people in the greater area go to the games or contribute like $4.95 to watch it.

(10-31-2014 10:25 AM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  People should realize that Hendrix was a four star QB coming out of high school that was good enough to be recruited by a whole bunch of big time schools. I don't know what happened at ND, but the guy is talented. He is the best QB WMU will face this season, and I don't think it's even close.

Hendrix was pretty good against us, but our D was really bad that day. Their D is not good and you should run all over them. Take care of the ball, don't get too fancy, and you should win by 20.

(10-31-2014 04:07 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:I may elect to watch ESPN3 in front of my fireplace instead!

For that reason, I think ESPN3 should have blackouts... for MAC teams though, within a smaller radius... like within a 30 minute drive of the stadium. If not, pay a fee online. Would make people in the greater area go to the games or contribute like $4.95 to watch it.

Yeah, even as a MAC fan who laments watching people not show up at Waldo... I'm torn.

A couple years ago (last year?) on homecoming when it was just disgusting out, our tailgate got rained out and we ended up watching the game on someone's TV in Kalamazoo. Might not be my proudest moment as a fan, but it was at least somewhat better than being miserable all day. To your point, I don't think charging a few bucks is a bad idea.

Anyway, Oxford's 45-60 minutes for me, so I'm safe... right?

Quote:Anyway, Oxford's 45-60 minutes for me, so I'm safe... right?

I dunno about that! Depends how lax or stringent one's desired rules would be.

Personally? If there's no other college or pro games in that area at the time, it'd be borderline! :)