how they became so good? I look at that team and they are LOADED. I mean more LOADED than a bobcat with BS LOADED. Their last winning season was 2001 and went 6-5 and prior to that 1987.
They have an outstanding RB, an OT who will be a high round pick and probably another who will get a shot in the NFL, a DT who was MAC defensive player of the year as a FR. The QB is more than solid. Looking at them as a team, I guess you could say their Dbs and WRs are "weak" but that may just be relative.
The breakout is huge, not sure even if my Huskie BB won the MAC it would compare. Congrats to all the Kent St people. I really would like to hear some insight on how this happened.
They slowly but surely built the groundwork under Doug Martin, but due to tough luck and other factors they never got over the hump. This is a game of momentum, right now they are riding it in a positive way, while before something would pop up and the wheels would fall off. All of those players you mentioned were brought in by Doug Martin and crew. Are passing game is below average and only WR worth mentioning, Tyshon Goode, is missing this whole season with injury, which makes them lean on the running game more. For as productive as Durham and Archer have been, I think they could have utilized them so much differently. They rarely share the backfield, it's usually one or the other in there, with Durham the D can scheme for the grind while Archer they can adjust for his breakout speed. Having both in there at the same time would be so much more difficult to gameplan play by play.
(11-23-2012 12:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote: [ -> ]how they became so good? I look at that team and they are LOADED. I mean more LOADED than a bobcat with BS LOADED. Their last winning season was 2001 and went 6-5 and prior to that 1987.
They have an outstanding RB, an OT who will be a high round pick and probably another who will get a shot in the NFL, a DT who was MAC defensive player of the year as a FR. The QB is more than solid. Looking at them as a team, I guess you could say their Dbs and WRs are "weak" but that may just be relative.
The breakout is huge, not sure even if my Huskie BB won the MAC it would compare. Congrats to all the Kent St people. I really would like to hear some insight on how this happened.
Talent wise they are not better than the top five or six teams. Good coaches make average players good and good player great.
Lembo at Ball State is another one to look at. He had the same talent level that his predessor. and look what he did..
Kent St has a good team. Can they beat NIU and win the MAC title. MAC title game is a big game for them. They have had one of the best seasons in the MAC in a long time 11-1 and 8-0 against the MAC is a huge accomplishment.
PH is right that Doug Martin is responsible for most of the guys you mentioned. Hazell has also pulled in some good ones (Durham, Melchiori) and some good ones we don't see ( i.e. Durden) because of depth. ( Been a long time since we've had the luxury of depth.
Think the coaching point is spot on. Hazell brought higher expectations, much more discipline, and is just a better game day coach as a head coach. Martin is a good OC (although the fans at BC might disagree), but could never really pull it all together as a HC.
Shutdown Kent's ground game, don't turn the FB over, and NIU wins their second MACC in a row.
Sounds easy enough, not sure why 11 others have failed.
(11-23-2012 01:56 PM)Bull_In_Exile Wrote: [ -> ] (11-23-2012 12:54 PM)NIU05 Wrote: [ -> ]how they became so good? I look at that team and they are LOADED. I mean more LOADED than a bobcat with BS LOADED. Their last winning season was 2001 and went 6-5 and prior to that 1987.
They have an outstanding RB, an OT who will be a high round pick and probably another who will get a shot in the NFL, a DT who was MAC defensive player of the year as a FR. The QB is more than solid. Looking at them as a team, I guess you could say their Dbs and WRs are "weak" but that may just be relative.
The breakout is huge, not sure even if my Huskie BB won the MAC it would compare. Congrats to all the Kent St people. I really would like to hear some insight on how this happened.
Talent wise they are not better than the top five or six teams. Good coaches make average players good and good player great.
Lembo at Ball State is another one to look at. He had the same talent level that his predessor. and look what he did..
Absolutely. Getting a lot of turnovers doesn't hurt either.
(11-23-2012 03:53 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds easy enough, not sure why 11 others have failed.
It's never easy, but NIU has the best chance to do it. They are pretty tough against the run and their offense doesn't turn the ball over very much. Also, they are not the typical offense that Kent State has seen this year. Again, it won't be easy but NIU has the best chance of any MAC school, IMO, at stopping Kent State.
I think it will be an excellent MACC Game. Kent State is 11-1 and 8-0 in the MAC. NIU is 11-1 and 8-0 in the MAC.
Kent State has average talent, for the most part. They are well coached and that makes a big difference, especially in the MAC.
Play mistake free and take advantage of when the other team inevitably makes a mistake, and you'll win most of your games.
(11-23-2012 04:15 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote: [ -> ] (11-23-2012 03:53 PM)Polish Hammer Wrote: [ -> ]Sounds easy enough, not sure why 11 others have failed.
It's never easy, but NIU has the best chance to do it. They are pretty tough against the run and their offense doesn't turn the ball over very much. Also, they are not the typical offense that Kent State has seen this year. Again, it won't be easy but NIU has the best chance of any MAC school, IMO, at stopping Kent State.
I think it will be an excellent MACC Game. Kent State is 11-1 and 8-0 in the MAC. NIU is 11-1 and 8-0 in the MAC.
Rutgers has a crummy Offense. NIU is much more balanced. If NIU doesn't turn the FB over they win by 2-3 TD's. About half of the Kent schedule is in the bottom 10 of the FBS against the run. The other teams lost the turnover battle. QB Keith is like Gillett last season for EMU. He's somewhat limited in what he can do. As long as he's not pressured or put in long yardage situations he'll not turn the FB over.
I don't think that will be the case vs the Huskies.