This is the year you had better produce at least 6 or 7 wins! We are sick of the excuses, we are sick of your boss! On the other hand, if you don't produce, this might be our chance to get rid of your boss and that stupid logo!
6-7 isn't an unreasonable expectation (been saying 5-7 myself). We have an easier OOC schedule (SHS, Wyoming, Indiana, BC) then the last couple years and some of the road conference games (Akron, EMU, possibly Toledo) are certainly winnable. In a wide-open MAC West race, CMU could contend, or at least play spoiler. A lot depends on our QB play and how much the defense has improved (held its own in the spring, first time in awhile THAT's happened).
Defense will tell us in the first two games, what direction we're headed. Our OL is huge, but will have to show stamina. Vickers (from what I saw at the MSU game) scares the crap out of me, so I hope he's got his head together for this season. He had a nice throw-back touch to Humphrey on the first TD, but didn't show much after that. Mike should run the option more with the Vick, especially with TJ showing all kinds of potential.
Vickers has some wheels, so the occasional option play could produce. He did complete 55% of his passes last season and had 7TDs to 6Ints, so stats were OK. What would also help is the receivers dropping fewer passes. One of the butterfingers brigade is now playing DB, and I'm hoping the others have improved. I've heard a certain 5'9" Flynn recruit from FL with speed (Messam) has actually impressed coaches this spring, so that may help.
<small>[ June 05, 2002, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: CMichFan ]</small>
Receivers dropping passes is absolutely inexcusable! You can't play that position with stone hands or no hands. Sit on the bench until you find them. Moving Dante to db is probably a good thing, since he can't catch 'em, might as well drop it so opposition doesn't grab it. Does he know how to follow/cover a receiver? A lot of this has to do with being relaxed. If you're afraid of making a mistake, for sure you're going to make one. Bob DeMarco was like that. He had to throw an interception at the beginning of the game to get the nerves out. Then, he was fine.
Totally agree about dropped passes. More than, say, one per game (total) is a problem, and I think we were closer to four. Rob Turner had a few, but he's also our best guy. I have to believe experience has helped him improve. McKnight: as you said, go tip those balls away! Don't know if he can cover, but DeBord has stated that some of the DBs really surprised him (pleasantly) this spring. Messam: this problem was part of what cut his PT. If he's really improved, his speed could help us stretch the field a bit.
Glad to see BG back on the schedule and in the West. These games were always head-bangers! Hope to get back for the Wyoming and maybe the BG or Marshall games. It's seven hours from Madison to MP via Chicago, or nine hours via UP (but less nerve-wracking). If I lived/worked in Michigan, I would definitely be there for the pantywasters, but it will be cold, and my son has a dish, so I may just scream from his den.
Yep, BGSU is back, and I hear Brandt is chowing down on lasagna. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> Planning on being at Wyoming and as many others as can be managed.
CE, I will agree with you that if we don't win 6 or 7 games this year MD should pack his bags. That being said, I think Debord will be around for awhile. If you look at how much we have coming back next year we should be a much improved team. The biggest question is our QB play, but at the least we should see slight improvement here.
O-line- as you say they will be huge, we lost our center and a Tackle but have many talented and experienced players coming back, I expect this unit to be very solid. B+
Running Back- We are as deep at this position as any other, Terrence Jackson is a load. A-
Wide Reciever- Rob Turner is the only consistent threat we have coming back, Willie Hill showed flashes but has to become more consistent and Steve Messam has gotten rave reviews from the coaching staff with regards to improvement over last year. C
Tight End- Tory Humphrey played great as a true freshman last year. B+
Defensive line- This unit must improve its run defense from last year. According to vandelay many of these players have gotten bigger in the off-season and nearly everyone returns, we should see at least slight improvement. C+
Linebackers- This might be the strongest unit on the team, Jovan Clarke and James King had big first years last year and we will get Darvin Lewis back from injury. A-
Secondary- this will be the least experienced group on the field, we need some young players to step up here. C-
Special Teams- We lost our place kicker so this is a question mark but our punter is a good one. C+
We have a more favorable schedule this year compared to last and should be improved in almost all areas. I see at least 6 wins.
Nice analysis, Saginaw. You'll be happy to hear that a couple young DBs impressed DeBord in the spring. He mentioned Derek Holoman in particluar. Unsure about the others; could even be some newcomers.
Guys, I suspect "Olde McChippy" is ChipDip. It looks like his style exactly, and I believe he used this same handle on the MLive board. Moderators: please keep an eye on this board.
O.M. if I'm wrong, lighten up. There's bound to be some improvement, and even a little over last year should mean two-three more wins.
I have no problem with you disliking DeBord. Some VERY specific reasons would be nice, considering it takes time to rebuild a program in the sad shape Flynn left it in. The team is in better shape, the games have gotten closer (I know, the Ohio game was a stinker, but in general), and he's been quite candid about what the team is doing wrong and what is needed. I've seen only one coaching decision that appears to have been a bad one: running out the clock in the first half against NIU. Too conservative for my tastes. DeBord can't be held accountable for every missed tackle or dropped pass (and there were too many of both), those are player issues, but I believe there will be less of that this season, mainly due to experience.
My problem is with some folks trashing DeBord and/or the team and giving only vague reasons for it, not to mention being this negative before the season starts. Be upset if you want, but I'd rather enjoy the anticipation.
BTW, SOMEONE posted a very sarcastic "favorite memory" under "Olde McChippy" on the MLive board, as part of a string of such nonsense
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">:My favorite memory
Re: Favorite CMU Sports Memories - Let's Hear 'Em! (Cabo Wabo Chip Fan)
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 22:23:17 GMT
From: OldieMcChippy <unknown>
Was last years UT/CMU game. We were getting blown out and then we scored two quick touchdowns in the last quarter against UT's scrubs. It really made it seem like we were in it.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">. If you're not CD, you may want to consider changing handles, 'cause this hardly looks like the work of a fan.
Re #1: I've mentioned this on MLive, but the coaches were hesitant to start Jackson, because he had his left hand in a heavy cast all season. He missed the first game due to the injury, which occurred in practice. The concern was that he might fumble. Fortunately, that was an unfounded concern, but it was legit, IMO. As for Mixon and Lawhorne: they both averaged 4+ ypc last season and Lawhorne was one of our leading receivers, so there's plenty of talent there. The gelling of the O-line after the first three games or so was a big reason for our rushing success.
#2 The receivers were largely inexperienced last
season, so I expect the dropped passes to decrease significantly. Lewis and Clark in the middle should help shore up the run defense, along with more size and experience on the DL.
Urban Meyer inherited a talented team that had been underachieving. WMU had only one real down season before Darnell came, so you can't really compare that to CMU's situation. The CMU squad DeBord got was out-of-shape and had a poor attitude. Bottom line: DeBord had more work to do.
I'd forgotten about the punt against Western. OK, that might be iffy decision #2, still not an indictment of DeBord, in my book. As for the QBs, how can you say none of them can throw? Have you personally seen Arnoldink and Liddell-Smith? For that matter, did you see Vickers this spring? Word is, he's improved. Moreover, DeBord has said he's not satisfied with the QB play, but he was stuck with a roster with five or six QBs and needs everywhere. If BeatWestern is correct, CMU is pursuing one or two higher-quality QBs now.
I hear you on the "close" games, but when your program has been down, you look for the little things, at first. I expect 5-7 wins this season, which would show steady progress. It's the offseason, try to find a few reasons to hope. To begin with:
1) Strong running game and good pass-blocking.
2) At least slight improvement at QB.
3) At least slight improvement at WR.
4) More experience and size in the defensive front seven.
5) DeBord has said the secondary is coming along faster than expected.
6) Better conditioning. On the CMU site, an article mentions an across-the-board increase in player strength.
7) An easier OOC schedule, including Wyoming (3-19 the last two seasons), a poor B10 team going through a coaching change (Indiana), and a BC team that has lost a little luster to the NFL (and is less talented than, say, MSU). Also, six home games for the first time in over a decade.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CHIPPEWA ENEMA:
This is the year you had better produce at least 6 or 7 wins! We are sick of the excuses, we are sick of your boss! On the other hand, if you don't produce, this might be our chance to get rid of your boss and that stupid logo!</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">well..tell him how you really feel!! <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" />