(09-28-2021 06:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 05:13 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Just a note and I may have missed this much earlier but Darrin Smith the RB is no longer on our roster.

It isn't my job to worry about it but we are really, really deep at certain positions and trying to get PT for them isn't easy.

We are a one-back team and it is tough to get PT for 6 or 8 RBs.

We rotate Boone and Hamilton and Evans is "TD Evans." Where do we get the carries for the rest of the RBs?

And we are really deep at QB. I'm trying to figure what athletic class Bryant is in. He could be a soph. I saw he redshirted a year, played a year (2019), got the freebie at Cincy (2020), and now 2021. He could be a soph...

Hutch has eligibility left. We got good young QBs, Smith and May.

With the 'bonus year' plus liberal usage of walk-ons. A lot of teams are really bloated with talent.

I had the same question about Bryant's status. He graduated HS in 2018 and is now a grad transfer to EMU after 3 years at Cincinnati. He must've entered college with a few credits under his belt in order to graduate that fast. With the info we have, he should be eligible for 2 more years.

(09-27-2021 09:40 PM)RamyEMU Wrote:  

(09-27-2021 03:02 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(09-27-2021 10:19 AM)TheWoodenNickle Wrote:  Just looking at NIUs results and stats and they appear to be a carbon copy of EMU. A balanced offense with a transfer QB and a suspect defense. Saturday's game will come down to execution and avoiding key mistakes. The team that does it best, wins.

That's the nicest description of our defense anyone's said all year.

If you have a competent QB you can carve up the secondary because we get no pressure on the QB at all. As in, QB can finish reading War and Peace while waiting for a WR to get open. Rush defense isn't much better. Oddly enough they tackled well against Georgia Tech - but you can't be 5 yards away if you want to tackle them, and that happens too often. They looked a little better last game but that was against Maine. Our QB is good for a turnover or 2 during most games. He does make some nice throws occasionally and can occasionally fool the defense with a keeper, and has decent speed - but not much of a threat to run otherwise.

Man, you are bit too harsh!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gpztPyZ5TH0

LOL. Still having nightmares of the Michigan game. That was the worst defensive display I've ever seen - and I watched us play against Boise where they looked like they were playing against air.

I will say Lombardi has had at least 2 picks, maybe 3, that weren't his fault, so he's probably a little better than his stats. Waylee is a good RB - he's quick at least. Ritchie and Tucker are the 2 WRs that can get open.

(09-28-2021 06:48 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 06:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-28-2021 05:13 AM)emu79 Wrote:  Just a note and I may have missed this much earlier but Darrin Smith the RB is no longer on our roster.

It isn't my job to worry about it but we are really, really deep at certain positions and trying to get PT for them isn't easy.

We are a one-back team and it is tough to get PT for 6 or 8 RBs.

We rotate Boone and Hamilton and Evans is "TD Evans." Where do we get the carries for the rest of the RBs?

And we are really deep at QB. I'm trying to figure what athletic class Bryant is in. He could be a soph. I saw he redshirted a year, played a year (2019), got the freebie at Cincy (2020), and now 2021. He could be a soph...

Hutch has eligibility left. We got good young QBs, Smith and May.

With the 'bonus year' plus liberal usage of walk-ons. A lot of teams are really bloated with talent.

I was thinking about that during the game last week. He is always listed as a senior on the EMU roster and on TV, which he might be academically, but it doesn't seem like they are listing guys based on their academic year but rather their eligibility. For example, if COVID had never happened Drummond would be a senior this year, but since last year didn't count he is still listed as a junior on the EMU site.

Bryant is listed as a senior, but looking at his career I believe he is a RS sophomore. He graduated from high school in 2018 and then had the following career path:

2018: True freshmen (redshirted)
2019: RS freshmen
2020: RS sophomore (year did not count against eligibility)
2021: RS sophomore part 2

So this is his fourth year of college, so I'm sure he is a senior academic-wise (he may even be in grad school I thought I remember hearing he had graduated already). I believe he has two years left to play after this season.

With the NCAA rules the way they are he'll be Ben Bryant, Ph.D. (Candidate) before he is done with college FB.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/ga.../401309558

Longest 2 days of the week...Tuesday and Wednesday with no football.

I thought Texas State would give us more of a look but I'm not complaining. We looked GREAT in that game. Finally had all cylinders firing. Excited to see us go up against a good opponent and see if we can do that again.

Things to look out for....
1. Can we contain Lombardi who can take off and run. Really need our D.E.'s to keep the edge and dont let him get loose

2. Now that Ben has secured the starting role, will he play even better knowing he doesnt have to look over his shoulder.

3. Can our secondary bounce back from last week. Need Hubbard, Paul, McGill to take a step forward.

4. Continued O-Line dominance. I mentioned before on another thread that I was very impressed with this group seeing them in person last week. Can we keep Ben clean and upright giving him time to get the ball to Drummond, Westmoreland and Beydoun.

Go Eagles. Let's get to 4-1!

(09-29-2021 08:10 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  Longest 2 days of the week...Tuesday and Wednesday with no football.

I thought Texas State would give us more of a look but I'm not complaining. We looked GREAT in that game. Finally had all cylinders firing. Excited to see us go up against a good opponent and see if we can do that again.

Things to look out for....
1. Can we contain Lombardi who can take off and run. Really need our D.E.'s to keep the edge and dont let him get loose

2. Now that Ben has secured the starting role, will he play even better knowing he doesnt have to look over his shoulder.

3. Can our secondary bounce back from last week. Need Hubbard, Paul, McGill to take a step forward.

4. Continued O-Line dominance. I mentioned before on another thread that I was very impressed with this group seeing them in person last week. Can we keep Ben clean and upright giving him time to get the ball to Drummond, Westmoreland and Beydoun.

Go Eagles. Let's get to 4-1!

I believe we're going to see some true MACtion in this game. Bad luck to y'all?

(09-29-2021 08:10 PM)steve4840 Wrote:  Longest 2 days of the week...Tuesday and Wednesday with no football.

I thought Texas State would give us more of a look but I'm not complaining. We looked GREAT in that game. Finally had all cylinders firing. Excited to see us go up against a good opponent and see if we can do that again.

Things to look out for....
1. Can we contain Lombardi who can take off and run. Really need our D.E.'s to keep the edge and dont let him get loose

2. Now that Ben has secured the starting role, will he play even better knowing he doesnt have to look over his shoulder.

3. Can our secondary bounce back from last week. Need Hubbard, Paul, McGill to take a step forward.

4. Continued O-Line dominance. I mentioned before on another thread that I was very impressed with this group seeing them in person last week. Can we keep Ben clean and upright giving him time to get the ball to Drummond, Westmoreland and Beydoun.

Go Eagles. Let's get to 4-1!

McGill? I think you mean McGee

BTW, we discussed Bryant and his decision to come to EMU. It might have been AFTER Desmond Ridder decided to return to Cincy for this season.

Ridder is now being judged to be a possible/likely 1st round NFL pick. This is from The Sporting news.

29. Denver Broncos

Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati (6-4, 215 pounds)
Ridder has a big chance to establish his high place in this class against Notre Dame. He's been a great tough leader for the Bearcats' best team, also showing he's a natural dual threat for the NFL with his strong arm and running skills. The Broncos are getting good play from Teddy Bridgewater but he's only a bridge and Drew Lock already has proved not to be John Elway's answer.

************
I think Bryant has a chance to hear his name called in a few years. I like him.

This is a big game tomorrow. NIU feels it too. It's their Homecoming. Hopefully we'll get some of our defensive guys back from injury.

With a W I'm going to feel optimistic about our chance to be a contender in the division. Let's take care of business on the road.

(10-01-2021 01:07 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  This is a big game tomorrow. NIU feels it too. It's their Homecoming. Hopefully we'll get some of our defensive guys back from injury.

With a W I'm going to feel optimistic about our chance to be a contender in the division. Let's take care of business on the road.

I'm sure the bus ride to Dekalb is loaded with antici...pation. This is a big game...will help set the tone for the conference season.

(10-01-2021 01:11 PM)cidbearit Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 01:07 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  This is a big game tomorrow. NIU feels it too. It's their Homecoming. Hopefully we'll get some of our defensive guys back from injury.

With a W I'm going to feel optimistic about our chance to be a contender in the division. Let's take care of business on the road.

I'm sure the bus ride to Dekalb is loaded with antici...pation. This is a big game...will help set the tone for the conference season.

Soooo happy to see #68 getting PT! Hoping for a nice victory! Tomorrow is in my opinion the biggest game in CC EMU coaching career! We're 3-1, a dominant performance last week, and trying to go 4-1, and 1-0 in the MAC! Let's do it! Safe travels to Dekalb!

(10-01-2021 02:04 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 01:11 PM)cidbearit Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 01:07 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  This is a big game tomorrow. NIU feels it too. It's their Homecoming. Hopefully we'll get some of our defensive guys back from injury.

With a W I'm going to feel optimistic about our chance to be a contender in the division. Let's take care of business on the road.

I'm sure the bus ride to Dekalb is loaded with antici...pation. This is a big game...will help set the tone for the conference season.

Soooo happy to see #68 getting PT! Hoping for a nice victory! Tomorrow is in my opinion the biggest game in CC EMU coaching career! We're 3-1, a dominant performance last week, and trying to go 4-1, and 1-0 in the MAC! Let's do it! Safe travels to Dekalb!

Have only been following the team for a few years but this feels like the biggest game in the last few years. My reasoning is that this is CC's 8th yr, we have talent and this is a good team we are going up against. Getting to 4-1 would start turning heads....

(10-01-2021 02:04 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 01:11 PM)cidbearit Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 01:07 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  This is a big game tomorrow. NIU feels it too. It's their Homecoming. Hopefully we'll get some of our defensive guys back from injury.

With a W I'm going to feel optimistic about our chance to be a contender in the division. Let's take care of business on the road.

I'm sure the bus ride to Dekalb is loaded with antici...pation. This is a big game...will help set the tone for the conference season.

Soooo happy to see #68 getting PT! Hoping for a nice victory! Tomorrow is in my opinion the biggest game in CC EMU coaching career! We're 3-1, a dominant performance last week, and trying to go 4-1, and 1-0 in the MAC! Let's do it! Safe travels to Dekalb!

We knew Alex would be getting a lot more play-time this year...he was listed as #2 at both Right and Left Guard. The strategy was that he would bounce back and forth between both spots spelling Sidy and Jake regularly during the game. keeping all three fresh throughout the game.

Hated to see Jake go down in that first game...he's a great guy and a talented and experienced guard. It opened the door for Alex to be a starter, but that's not how he wanted to see it happen. Alex is still listed as #2 behind Sidy, and last week did spend some time in the left guard slot.

So who for EMU is going to score points against NIU? Will it be an even split of WR and RB? Are they going to stack the box and make NIU throw? How is EMU's pass rush?

(10-01-2021 04:52 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  So who for EMU is going to score points against NIU? Will it be an even split of WR and RB? Are they going to stack the box and make NIU throw? How is EMU's pass rush?

I'll post EMU's offensive stats, but the most obvious is Samson "TD" Evans. Whenever we get deep in the red zone, in comes Samson and more often than not the ball gets into the end zone. Hence, the nickname, "TD Evans."

Both Hamilton and Boone Jr. are very good RBs. We're averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Next passing:

Haven't checked the NCAA stats but Bryant needs to be up there. He has a gaudy 168 passing rating.

Our WR core seems to have developed. Drumnond and Beydoin are fine receivers, holdovers from last year. We have a couple kids, Westmoreland and Foreham, showing promise. We have two P5 transfers also in the mix. We were thin last December now very deep.

BTW, just noticed. EMU and ESPN have different QB ratings for Bryant. Disagree about 5%.

Defense anyone...

(10-01-2021 05:16 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-01-2021 04:52 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  So who for EMU is going to score points against NIU? Will it be an even split of WR and RB? Are they going to stack the box and make NIU throw? How is EMU's pass rush?

I'll post EMU's offensive stats, but the most obvious is Samson "TD" Evans. Whenever we get deep in the red zone, in comes Samson and more often than not the ball gets into the end zone. Hence, the nickname, "TD Evans."

Both Hamilton and Boone Jr. are very good RBs. We're averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Next passing:

Haven't checked the NCAA stats but Bryant needs to be up there. He has a gaudy 168 passing rating.

Our WR core seems to have developed. Drumnond and Beydoin are fine receivers, holdovers from last year. We have a couple kids, Westmoreland and Foreham, showing promise. We have two P5 transfers also in the mix. We were thin last December now very deep.

BTW, just noticed. EMU and ESPN have different QB ratings for Bryant. Disagree about 5%.

Defense anyone...

Spot on Steve,

Defensively we are a bend-don't-break team which drives me to drink. lol. We are actually much improved defensively from last year. We are stout in the middle with Woo Scott and the Merritt and Haney are good/above average on the line. LB's are smaller but decent (Speights and Myrick) and Rush is our sack leader on the end. Secondary rotates a lot but the guy I like the most is TJ Peavy.

Should be a great game tomorrow.

(09-26-2021 10:27 AM)WMU2013 Wrote:  EMU 35

NIU 21

Northern Illinois is overrated, horrible coach. I like EMU to win easily.

Tim Lester is the biggest clown show of a joke coach likely in the history of the MAC.