Missed some of the post game postings so may be redundant here, but I'm not depressed about this loss.
Yeah, we got our butt kicked but I'd love another shot at them. We ran the ball effectively. There were a couple of protection breakdowns, but a seasoned QB probably reads those situations well enough to know where that extra pass rusher is coming from. Meanwhile, Cochran ran out of the pocket into rushers for a couple early sacks. I think Cochran throws a great ball and is very accurate. He's just not smooth running this team and offense at this point of his career. As long as Bruce is healthy we have no problem moving the ball on Fresno. Without him and running a rough draft of the offense we still got plenty of positive plays. The pass defense was fine and tackling was generally good.
The downside, other than losing 44-14 on national TV, was not getting a pass rush and struggling against the run against a big back at a key point of the game. Once Fresno got control of the line, they got momentum and a big lead. Secondly, the kicking game killed us. Kern was lucky not to have 2 other punts blocked and the return coverage gave Fresno a chance to punch in short drives with a power run and play action mix that would have been harder to do for a full field. Penalties killed two of our drives, including the first one, that could have meant a two score lead early and less pressure on Clint (most of these were procedure calls or holds relating to the QB situation). The fumbles hurt to, but give Fresno credit for good hits and strips.
Basically, I think we'll be fine through the next 4 games. We just need Bruce healthy and the defensive front to get a little tougher, smarter, quicker, something...???... for the stretch run. As for the kicking game, let's just kick it out bounds against good return teams and let em start from the 35 and go for it on all fourth downs less than 34 yards to go.
Then again, it's only 2 weeks till hoop season, so it'll all be better soon.
My take:
I think there is still an excellent shot at the MAC Championship in football
I think there is a slim to no chance for a championship in basketball---maybe close, but no cigar
T-Town Wrote:My take:
I think there is still an excellent shot at the MAC Championship in football
I think there is a slim to no chance for a championship in basketball---maybe close, but no cigar
I think our B-Ball team is going to be strong this year. We have a good shot at winning the MAC in both Football and Basketball this year. Both teams need some major work, but the future should be bright especially with the Savage Hall “renaissance
I think BB steps up this year. I'm excited to see the new Rockets: Jerrah Young,Jonathon Amos,Ridley Johnson, and Tyrone Kent(Superman).No one has really said too much about the season opener @ South Carolina Sunday Nov.20 1:30 PM being televised by Fox Sports.When I found out that it totally surprised me.
Of course they haven't even started practice yet, but I can see the BB team pehaps winning the West (at best) but certainly no more. There are always a lot of suprises but Ohio has got to be the overwhelming choice to win it all and Kent should be strong.
I have spent the past 8 year overestimating the Rocket's chances based on their potential. They have had their chances but were just not able to get over the hump with arguably superior talent. They will probably have a good season, maybe another NIT, but I don't think that they will be able to match up with Kent or Ohio this year. I hope I am wrong, but if they couldn't get it done with Stempin or Triplett, I am not optimstic.
T-Town Wrote:Of course they haven't even started practice yet, but I can see the BB team pehaps winning the West (at best) but certainly no more. There are always a lot of suprises but Ohio has got to be the overwhelming choice to win it all and Kent should be strong.
I have spent the past 8 year overestimating the Rocket's chances based on their potential. They have had their chances but were just not able to get over the hump with arguably superior talent. They will probably have a good season, maybe another NIT, but I don't think that they will be able to match up with Kent or Ohio this year. I hope I am wrong, but if they couldn't get it done with Stempin or Triplett, I am not optimstic.
I think the team will be better without Triplett.He did not impress me at all senior year.Maybe he had the physical tools,he was not the go to guy.
T-Town Wrote:I think there is a slim to no chance for a championship in basketball---maybe close, but no cigar
I've talked with someone who Rrrrrrrrreally (
) disagrees with your assessment. He seems to think we'll have a large interior presence this year and will be well in the hunt for the West title.
-Dan
Well hopefully you guys are right, but over the past decade I have invested too much emotion into these teams only to be disappointed too many times, when they have failed to achieve their potential time after time, so this year my expectations are lower--hope no longer springs eternal. As I said, they may win a west "title" , and maybe even get another NIT road game (= loss) and if that is good enough for you, then fine. But I see this as yet one more year without a MAC Championship ---either Tourney or regular season---and that was the original premise to which I responded. There are just too many other good MAC teams out there this year.
BTW, I will be extremely happy to be proved wrong on this come March, but it ain't going to happen.
The BB Rockets made alot of very good moves in the off season.A very good new assistant.The incoming class is very good and grabbing a Top 10 Chicago City Player was excellent.Tyrone Kent has a good shot at MAC freshman of the Year.With Jerrah and Kent we will be much tougher inside.
I sort of agree with what everyone says about hoops. I think we may have a better TEAM than we have had in several years. Very deep, quality, hard working players for the most part. I think we have a great chance at making noise, but another just short year wouldn't surprise me either. I think it comes down to two things. Stan seems to miss a certain ingrediant, sort of pessimistic. I think he's a pretty good coach, but if he seemed to have a bit more fire in him, positive fire, I think he could be great. I only know him in public, so maybe my assessment is totally wrong, but he just seems to be down too much or negative in the wrong ways.
Second, if we want to go dancing, it all comes down to a productive center. Look at the teams that have down well in the MAC the last few years. The rest of our team matches up with many teams, but we have to get a center and prove that we have trust in him. IMO, you have to work inside out. We seem to work the other way many times. I think if our bigs can guarantee 12 pts a game with good D and good team play, we can only stop ourselves.
I'm still learning alot about hoops so what do you guys think?
Yea! A thread about THE sport (well, after track but we all know what happened to men's track). How did we managet to get this young man, Kent this late? Word I hear is he would have been a great find at any point but to grab him this late is a real coup. The key in my mind is Pinson-if he ever gets his head together he could be a major defensive presence and with his athletic ability get a lot of garbage points around the hoop. Got the Bill Russel physique and hops without the intensity but maybe that'll show up this year.
pono Wrote:Then again, it's only 2 weeks till hoop season, so it'll all be better soon.
Not as long as we have Joplin
please Wrote:I only know him in public, so maybe my assessment is totally wrong, but he just seems to be down too much or negative in the wrong ways.
your not wrong on this point, he is very negative and down right nasty to his players - that is why they don't produce for him.
probably going to be a gpa problem.
this if fun. I was thinking starting this post would get football comments, but all the basketball thoughts are great.
To me the biggest differences this year are potentially excellent overall team togetherness and leadership and the ability to handle ourselves on the defensive glass.
We have really recruited some good kids and hard workers over the past several years (of course, once I write this some 19 year old will probably get drunk do something stupid and make me sound like an idiot) and have hard working vets like Tino, Keonte and Justin to set a example. Trip was a good all around player but not a leader and a bit of a lone wolf presence, not to say he's a bad guy, just not really the kind of personality you want from your top performer. In addition, these new players have good reputations. Amos and Johnson are said to be really upbeat, positive kids and also very good athletes and shooters. Young plays his butt off and will battle inside. Meanwhile, Kent is a very aggressive athlete and should help our offense attack more and also work hard on the glass.
Don't expect miracles from Pinson, but he'll have his moments. And maybe as a secondary big guy he'll flourish.
Stan's a good guy. I'll root for him, even if he seems too grumpy at times
utisgr8 Wrote:please Wrote:I only know him in public, so maybe my assessment is totally wrong, but he just seems to be down too much or negative in the wrong ways.
your not wrong on this point, he is very negative and down right nasty to his players - that is why they don't produce for him.
I hear from my bg friends that the same is true of Dakich but look how well he has done keeping players at bg and churning out 20 win seasons. Oh, wait.....
pono Wrote:this if fun. I was thinking starting this post would get football comments, but all the basketball thoughts are great.
To me the biggest differences this year are potentially excellent overall team togetherness and leadership and the ability to handle ourselves on the defensive glass.
We have really recruited some good kids and hard workers over the past several years (of course, once I write this some 19 year old will probably get drunk do something stupid and make me sound like an idiot) and have hard working vets like Tino, Keonte and Justin to set a example. Trip was a good all around player but not a leader and a bit of a lone wolf presence, not to say he's a bad guy, just not really the kind of personality you want from your top performer. In addition, these new players have good reputations. Amos and Johnson are said to be really upbeat, positive kids and also very good athletes and shooters. Young plays his butt off and will battle inside. Meanwhile, Kent is a very aggressive athlete and should help our offense attack more and also work hard on the glass.
Don't expect miracles from Pinson, but he'll have his moments. And maybe as a secondary big guy he'll flourish.
Stan's a good guy. I'll root for him, even if he seems too grumpy at times
I think Kent will be one of the best players to put on a Rocket BB uniform in a long time.I have always known Stan to be a hard working
good guy.Stan played under Nick and Mac,who would work the team
very hard.I don't think most young players are use to that type of work ethic and discipline.If anybody has copies of the Rockets/Iowa game or
UT/Notre Dame when Stan played I would love to get copies.
Iowa in the round of 32 would be special as would that ND tape (a classic Notre Dame team of Tripucka, Woolridge, Dantley?, who else).
I do have a tape of the OSU win with the Justin Hall buzzer beater somewhere in the house and the recording makes it look like a 79 betamax video so it's kinda close to the Iowa tape. All the players heads are sorta on fire and the black players all look like they have the old Big Daddy Kane, Kid n Play gumby cut.
Photodan Wrote:T-Town Wrote:I think there is a slim to no chance for a championship in basketball---maybe close, but no cigar
I've talked with someone who Rrrrrrrrreally ( ) disagrees with your assessment. He seems to think we'll have a large interior presence this year and will be well in the hunt for the West title.
-Dan
It is definitely a 2-horse race in the MAC West with basketball this year with NIU/Toledo. Clear best team in the MAC is Ohio which I predict will be in the top 25 this year.
