http://www.mac-sports.com/news/2015/7/28...55335.aspx

Interesting that no one picked a team from the East to win the title game. Surprising that CMU got one pick to win the championship and surprising that Miami OH. is ahead of Kent STate.

One person votes for CMU every year

BGSUcks by a big margin for the East.

A pretty tight race for the West. It's gonna be tough.

(07-29-2015 10:17 AM)T4C8 Wrote:  One person votes for CMU every year

Yeah, Nate.

West is wide open between WMU, Toledo, and NIU. The other 3 could be danger as well but the games in the Glass Bowl could potentially be monumental in finally getting Toledo a MAC Championship (WMU/NIU)

Looks about right to me. UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have a championship caliber QB on the roster and Kareem Hunt stays healthy.

BG deserves to be picked in the East. They have a QB that led them to a MAC title, plus some quality receivers that would have torched us last season if not for one of the worst passing performances in UT/BG game history (Knapke, 7 for 24, 71 yards).

(07-29-2015 10:55 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Looks about right to me. UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have a championship caliber QB on the roster and Kareem Hunt stays healthy.

BG deserves to be picked in the East. They have a QB that led them to a MAC title, plus some quality receivers that would have torched us last season if not for one of the worst passing performances in UT/BG game history (Knapke, 7 for 24, 71 yards).

"championship caliber QB"

Krenzel won a NATIONAL championship. Does that make him a championship caliber QB after the fact? Very few of the NCs were won by "championship" caliber QBs. Teams win, IMO with QBs that don't lose games by playing above their responsibilities and with coaches who keep the plays within the QB and team capabilities, who have that better measured than the opponent coaches.

UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have championship caliber COACHes.

(07-29-2015 12:32 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 10:55 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Looks about right to me. UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have a championship caliber QB on the roster and Kareem Hunt stays healthy.

BG deserves to be picked in the East. They have a QB that led them to a MAC title, plus some quality receivers that would have torched us last season if not for one of the worst passing performances in UT/BG game history (Knapke, 7 for 24, 71 yards).

"championship caliber QB"

Krenzel won a NATIONAL championship. Does that make him a championship caliber QB after the fact? Very few of the NCs were won by "championship" caliber QBs. Teams win, IMO with QBs that don't lose games by playing above their responsibilities and with coaches who keep the plays within the QB and team capabilities, who have that better measured than the opponent coaches.

UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have championship caliber COACHes.

That reads harsher in disagreement than I meant it. What IS the definition of "championship caliber" QB? For ME, the plays and game plan the coaches have designed can make a very good QB, look very bad.


For OUR team, I don't see the pressure on the QB to win games. His job is to not lose them and that's best done if the coaches keep that position comfortably able. It's been our D that has kept us from separating. If the line is coordinated and our WRs are willing to block downfield, we will be in the "Hunt" AND everyone will get their touches on the ball.

Fantastic, another good showing in the preseason poll. And this on the heels of another year with high marks in recruiting compared to other MAC teams. That means a MAC Championship is a given, right?

(07-29-2015 12:40 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  Fantastic, another good showing in the preseason poll. And this on the heels of another year with high marks in recruiting compared to other MAC teams. That means a MAC Championship is a given, right?

I feel that....

I think WMU has the best team (besides us). But MSU, OSU, NIU, and UT will make their Sundays suck. They blew big games vs. us and NIU last year. Are they ready for the next step? We're looking for the next step as well.

None of this matters until it's all said and done in December anyhow.

(07-29-2015 12:39 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:32 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 10:55 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Looks about right to me. UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have a championship caliber QB on the roster and Kareem Hunt stays healthy.

BG deserves to be picked in the East. They have a QB that led them to a MAC title, plus some quality receivers that would have torched us last season if not for one of the worst passing performances in UT/BG game history (Knapke, 7 for 24, 71 yards).

"championship caliber QB"

Krenzel won a NATIONAL championship. Does that make him a championship caliber QB after the fact? Very few of the NCs were won by "championship" caliber QBs. Teams win, IMO with QBs that don't lose games by playing above their responsibilities and with coaches who keep the plays within the QB and team capabilities, who have that better measured than the opponent coaches.

UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have championship caliber COACHes.

That reads harsher in disagreement than I meant it. What IS the definition of "championship caliber" QB? For ME, the plays and game plan the coaches have designed can make a very good QB, look very bad.


For OUR team, I don't see the pressure on the QB to win games. His job is to not lose them and that's best done if the coaches keep that position comfortably able. It's been our D that has kept us from separating. If the line is coordinated and our WRs are willing to block downfield, we will be in the "Hunt" AND everyone will get their touches on the ball.

I couldn't agree more. Defense wins championships and we haven't had a championship caliber defense in over a decade. I really hope they have that a bit more under control this season. People are saying this year's defense is improved...but don't people always say that?

(07-29-2015 07:16 PM)inductchuck16 Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:39 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:32 PM)eastisbest Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 10:55 AM)DetroitRocket Wrote:  Looks about right to me. UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have a championship caliber QB on the roster and Kareem Hunt stays healthy.

BG deserves to be picked in the East. They have a QB that led them to a MAC title, plus some quality receivers that would have torched us last season if not for one of the worst passing performances in UT/BG game history (Knapke, 7 for 24, 71 yards).

"championship caliber QB"

Krenzel won a NATIONAL championship. Does that make him a championship caliber QB after the fact? Very few of the NCs were won by "championship" caliber QBs. Teams win, IMO with QBs that don't lose games by playing above their responsibilities and with coaches who keep the plays within the QB and team capabilities, who have that better measured than the opponent coaches.

UT can separate itself from the other West teams if we have championship caliber COACHes.

That reads harsher in disagreement than I meant it. What IS the definition of "championship caliber" QB? For ME, the plays and game plan the coaches have designed can make a very good QB, look very bad.


For OUR team, I don't see the pressure on the QB to win games. His job is to not lose them and that's best done if the coaches keep that position comfortably able. It's been our D that has kept us from separating. If the line is coordinated and our WRs are willing to block downfield, we will be in the "Hunt" AND everyone will get their touches on the ball.

I couldn't agree more. Defense wins championships and we haven't had a championship caliber defense in over a decade. I really hope they have that a bit more under control this season. People are saying this year's defense is improved...but don't people always say that?

Last year they were right but cole and norrils went down by the word Go. Lots of inexperience led to.... What seems to happen every year. We stopped the run just fine.

(07-29-2015 02:10 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:40 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  Fantastic, another good showing in the preseason poll. And this on the heels of another year with high marks in recruiting compared to other MAC teams. That means a MAC Championship is a given, right?

I feel that....

I think WMU has the best team (besides us). But MSU, OSU, NIU, and UT will make their Sundays suck. They blew big games vs. us and NIU last year. Are they ready for the next step? We're looking for the next step as well.

None of this matters until it's all said and done in December anyhow.

I agree that WMU has the best team outside of UT. I really just want to finally beat NIU and get to Detroit in December.

(07-30-2015 08:28 AM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 02:10 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:40 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  Fantastic, another good showing in the preseason poll. And this on the heels of another year with high marks in recruiting compared to other MAC teams. That means a MAC Championship is a given, right?

I feel that....

I think WMU has the best team (besides us). But MSU, OSU, NIU, and UT will make their Sundays suck. They blew big games vs. us and NIU last year. Are they ready for the next step? We're looking for the next step as well.

None of this matters until it's all said and done in December anyhow.

I agree that WMU has the best team outside of UT. I really just want to finally beat NIU and get to Detroit in December.

how can UT be picked first when it has a whole new offensive line. this wile a real test for Hunt

The o-line has been pretty consistent for UT through the Beckman/Campbell years, even when replacements are made. Obviously, this year brings the biggest replacement effort and we'll see how that's handled. I think observers are viewing it as a system strength and are not too worried about it. The rest of the offense is stacked and I think the passing game should give Hunt more opportunities on the ground.

The biggest question mark for me is the defense. Will we finally see a consistent effort against the MAC West foes?

(07-30-2015 10:28 AM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  The o-line has been pretty consistent for UT through the Beckman/Campbell years, even when replacements are made. Obviously, this year brings the biggest replacement effort and we'll see how that's handled. I think observers are viewing it as a system strength and are not too worried about it. The rest of the offense is stacked and I think the passing game should give Hunt more opportunities on the ground.

The biggest question mark for me is the defense. Will we finally see a consistent effort against the MAC West foes?

I really felt the defense got better last year. Overall, they did a good job against the run, but our secondary played "scared" early on. Once they got their feet wet, they were at least in the same area code when the ball was thrown their way. Now with a year under their belt with Coach Heacock and his system, I really look for our defense much improved.
One thing we have to remember, when an offense scores a lot of points the opponents get a lot more opportunities with the ball, which in turn means a lot more plays the defense will be on the field.
Go Rockets!!!!!

Toledo is a mature and talented team. The schedule does not let up, and there are many important MAC games on the road including UMass, BSU, BGSUCKS, and CMU. Several of these road games are late in the season. Focus will be important from beginning to end. The West should be very competitive. A lack luster perfomance against an East team will really hurt when the West is so tough.

NIU still needs to be dethroned!!

Can't wait!

(07-30-2015 10:02 AM)joeo58 Wrote:  

(07-30-2015 08:28 AM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 02:10 PM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  

(07-29-2015 12:40 PM)Rocket Pirate Wrote:  Fantastic, another good showing in the preseason poll. And this on the heels of another year with high marks in recruiting compared to other MAC teams. That means a MAC Championship is a given, right?

I feel that....

I think WMU has the best team (besides us). But MSU, OSU, NIU, and UT will make their Sundays suck. They blew big games vs. us and NIU last year. Are they ready for the next step? We're looking for the next step as well.

None of this matters until it's all said and done in December anyhow.

I agree that WMU has the best team outside of UT. I really just want to finally beat NIU and get to Detroit in December.

how can UT be picked first when it has a whole new offensive line. this wile a real test for Hunt

FWIW, this past year's national champion had to replace four offensive linemen heading into the season. It's just gonna take some time to gel for the Rockets but we always seem to have talented linemen.

(07-30-2015 02:13 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  NIU still needs to be dethroned!!