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WMU at Northern Illinois
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ejd_5277 Offline
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Post: #241
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 10:25 AM)sdsly Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 11:11 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 12:16 AM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-18-2025 10:56 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  At the risk of sounding like a downer... I'm glad we are winning, but this football is hard to watch. We had 59 carries and 5 completions, 1 of which was really a jet sweep. It is mind boggling how we can win games like that. Everyone knows we are going to run. 1st and 10? Run. 3rd and 7? Run. 3 and 10? Maybe a 4 yard pass. Or a Run. It's just hard to watch. It's like watch army or navy play when you know there is just never going to be any downfield plays. It's like rugby or something.

We better hope we win the MAC this year because we.might have to play lineman at WR next year. I can't see a single WRs or TEs staying here and definitely can't see any WRs or TEs coming here through the portal next year.

This is our shot, hope we make the best of it!

To each their own of course but I could not disagree with this more. In fact, in some ways I’m enjoying this season more than 2016.

If you had said “boring,” I would give you that. I get it… “chicks dig the long ball.” Downfield passing attacks and explosive plays are certainly fun to watch…. Call me old school, but for me personally it’s more fun to watch a team come together and gel over the course of a season like ours has.

That 2016 team had a bunch of DUDES. Blue chip talent outside and on the OL, and one of the highest IQ quarterbacks to ever play in the MAC, who also had an above-average arm.

This team has none of that, but what it has are a bunch of guys who know *exactly* what they can do and what they can’t do, and that’s what they do. No one out there is trying to be someone they’re not. Broc Lowry is easily the highest-IQ, most self-aware quarterback we’ve had since Zach Terrell. Sure, there’s an occasional misread on the RPO but that happens to Lamar Jackson once in awhile too. How often has he forced a pass downfield into double coverage or something that he shouldn’t have thrown? Once? All year?

Also, Buckley is finally healthy and that’s helped *immensely.*

The defense is a bit soft in the middle, but again, this coaching staff and these players know that so they run schemes specifically to shore that up. For what our interior linebackers/DL lack in physicality they make up for with great gap integrity and eye discipline.

I distinctly remember two hallmarks of Tim Lester defenses:

A.) poor fundamental tackling skills, and
B.) DB’s hanging with receivers, but then failing to get their heads around to look for the football, many times drawing a flag for interference.

Both those problems look like ancient history now. We tackle REALLY well, we are one of the least-penalized teams in the country, we win the turnover battle, and we play to our strengths and mitigate weaknesses through different schemes.

You’re confusing solid, fundamental football with “watchability,” but I’ll take this over being on the wrong side of the 42-35 shootouts of yesteryear any day of the week.

Yeah, I mean I guess it just depends on what you want. We can be competitive in the MAC for another year or 2 while Lowry is here with this totally 1 dimensional offense possibly, and just continue to get crushed by non-MAC teams. And I guess if thats where we are then we just have to be ok winning really boring football games, as long as our defense can keep playing like they have been.

But also, what happens if Lowry gets hurt, which is more and more likely as he contimues to carry the ball a TON. Or what happens if he thinks he killed it this year and decides to hit the portal? Or what happens when our defense loses guys to the portal or graduation and isn't as dominant as they are. Make no mistake we have been winning games because of our defense, in spite of our offense. So, it's cool now, because everything has fallen into place perfectly, But it's not sustainable. Like I said, you aren't going to get any WRs or TEs to stay and you definitely aren't going to get any to come over in the portal. So, what happens when there is no more Lowry in a year or 2 and whoever takes his spot isn't the runner Lowry is? Who is he going to throw to and how are we going to win games without the running attack we have now, and without developing or bring in any skill position talent?

If Lance Taylor wins the MAC this year does he become a hot property to move on to somewhere else? Given his past movements and his young age, I would think he would be looking to move up to a higher level. I would think that if he can pull off a championship in year 3 it would get him on the radar of Power 4 teams.

It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
11-20-2025 01:13 PM
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BroncoMinor Offline
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Post: #242
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 10:25 AM)sdsly Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 11:11 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 12:16 AM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  To each their own of course but I could not disagree with this more. In fact, in some ways I’m enjoying this season more than 2016.

If you had said “boring,” I would give you that. I get it… “chicks dig the long ball.” Downfield passing attacks and explosive plays are certainly fun to watch…. Call me old school, but for me personally it’s more fun to watch a team come together and gel over the course of a season like ours has.

That 2016 team had a bunch of DUDES. Blue chip talent outside and on the OL, and one of the highest IQ quarterbacks to ever play in the MAC, who also had an above-average arm.

This team has none of that, but what it has are a bunch of guys who know *exactly* what they can do and what they can’t do, and that’s what they do. No one out there is trying to be someone they’re not. Broc Lowry is easily the highest-IQ, most self-aware quarterback we’ve had since Zach Terrell. Sure, there’s an occasional misread on the RPO but that happens to Lamar Jackson once in awhile too. How often has he forced a pass downfield into double coverage or something that he shouldn’t have thrown? Once? All year?

Also, Buckley is finally healthy and that’s helped *immensely.*

The defense is a bit soft in the middle, but again, this coaching staff and these players know that so they run schemes specifically to shore that up. For what our interior linebackers/DL lack in physicality they make up for with great gap integrity and eye discipline.

I distinctly remember two hallmarks of Tim Lester defenses:

A.) poor fundamental tackling skills, and
B.) DB’s hanging with receivers, but then failing to get their heads around to look for the football, many times drawing a flag for interference.

Both those problems look like ancient history now. We tackle REALLY well, we are one of the least-penalized teams in the country, we win the turnover battle, and we play to our strengths and mitigate weaknesses through different schemes.

You’re confusing solid, fundamental football with “watchability,” but I’ll take this over being on the wrong side of the 42-35 shootouts of yesteryear any day of the week.

Yeah, I mean I guess it just depends on what you want. We can be competitive in the MAC for another year or 2 while Lowry is here with this totally 1 dimensional offense possibly, and just continue to get crushed by non-MAC teams. And I guess if thats where we are then we just have to be ok winning really boring football games, as long as our defense can keep playing like they have been.

But also, what happens if Lowry gets hurt, which is more and more likely as he contimues to carry the ball a TON. Or what happens if he thinks he killed it this year and decides to hit the portal? Or what happens when our defense loses guys to the portal or graduation and isn't as dominant as they are. Make no mistake we have been winning games because of our defense, in spite of our offense. So, it's cool now, because everything has fallen into place perfectly, But it's not sustainable. Like I said, you aren't going to get any WRs or TEs to stay and you definitely aren't going to get any to come over in the portal. So, what happens when there is no more Lowry in a year or 2 and whoever takes his spot isn't the runner Lowry is? Who is he going to throw to and how are we going to win games without the running attack we have now, and without developing or bring in any skill position talent?

If Lance Taylor wins the MAC this year does he become a hot property to move on to somewhere else? Given his past movements and his young age, I would think he would be looking to move up to a higher level. I would think that if he can pull off a championship in year 3 it would get him on the radar of Power 4 teams.

It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.
11-20-2025 01:25 PM
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schwebbs84 Offline
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Post: #243
WMU at Northern Illinois
For all of the meltdowns some of us have had during games this season, Coach Taylor is STILL the right guy and there’s nothing reasonably plausible to suggest that should change.


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11-20-2025 02:47 PM
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sdsly Offline
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Post: #244
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 10:25 AM)sdsly Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 11:11 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 12:16 AM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-18-2025 10:56 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  At the risk of sounding like a downer... I'm glad we are winning, but this football is hard to watch. We had 59 carries and 5 completions, 1 of which was really a jet sweep. It is mind boggling how we can win games like that. Everyone knows we are going to run. 1st and 10? Run. 3rd and 7? Run. 3 and 10? Maybe a 4 yard pass. Or a Run. It's just hard to watch. It's like watch army or navy play when you know there is just never going to be any downfield plays. It's like rugby or something.

We better hope we win the MAC this year because we.might have to play lineman at WR next year. I can't see a single WRs or TEs staying here and definitely can't see any WRs or TEs coming here through the portal next year.

This is our shot, hope we make the best of it!

To each their own of course but I could not disagree with this more. In fact, in some ways I’m enjoying this season more than 2016.

If you had said “boring,” I would give you that. I get it… “chicks dig the long ball.” Downfield passing attacks and explosive plays are certainly fun to watch…. Call me old school, but for me personally it’s more fun to watch a team come together and gel over the course of a season like ours has.

That 2016 team had a bunch of DUDES. Blue chip talent outside and on the OL, and one of the highest IQ quarterbacks to ever play in the MAC, who also had an above-average arm.

This team has none of that, but what it has are a bunch of guys who know *exactly* what they can do and what they can’t do, and that’s what they do. No one out there is trying to be someone they’re not. Broc Lowry is easily the highest-IQ, most self-aware quarterback we’ve had since Zach Terrell. Sure, there’s an occasional misread on the RPO but that happens to Lamar Jackson once in awhile too. How often has he forced a pass downfield into double coverage or something that he shouldn’t have thrown? Once? All year?

Also, Buckley is finally healthy and that’s helped *immensely.*

The defense is a bit soft in the middle, but again, this coaching staff and these players know that so they run schemes specifically to shore that up. For what our interior linebackers/DL lack in physicality they make up for with great gap integrity and eye discipline.

I distinctly remember two hallmarks of Tim Lester defenses:

A.) poor fundamental tackling skills, and
B.) DB’s hanging with receivers, but then failing to get their heads around to look for the football, many times drawing a flag for interference.

Both those problems look like ancient history now. We tackle REALLY well, we are one of the least-penalized teams in the country, we win the turnover battle, and we play to our strengths and mitigate weaknesses through different schemes.

You’re confusing solid, fundamental football with “watchability,” but I’ll take this over being on the wrong side of the 42-35 shootouts of yesteryear any day of the week.

Yeah, I mean I guess it just depends on what you want. We can be competitive in the MAC for another year or 2 while Lowry is here with this totally 1 dimensional offense possibly, and just continue to get crushed by non-MAC teams. And I guess if thats where we are then we just have to be ok winning really boring football games, as long as our defense can keep playing like they have been.

But also, what happens if Lowry gets hurt, which is more and more likely as he contimues to carry the ball a TON. Or what happens if he thinks he killed it this year and decides to hit the portal? Or what happens when our defense loses guys to the portal or graduation and isn't as dominant as they are. Make no mistake we have been winning games because of our defense, in spite of our offense. So, it's cool now, because everything has fallen into place perfectly, But it's not sustainable. Like I said, you aren't going to get any WRs or TEs to stay and you definitely aren't going to get any to come over in the portal. So, what happens when there is no more Lowry in a year or 2 and whoever takes his spot isn't the runner Lowry is? Who is he going to throw to and how are we going to win games without the running attack we have now, and without developing or bring in any skill position talent?

If Lance Taylor wins the MAC this year does he become a hot property to move on to somewhere else? Given his past movements and his young age, I would think he would be looking to move up to a higher level. I would think that if he can pull off a championship in year 3 it would get him on the radar of Power 4 teams.

It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

All very good points.
11-20-2025 03:09 PM
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CockyBronc3 Offline
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Post: #245
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 10:25 AM)sdsly Wrote:  
(11-19-2025 11:11 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  Yeah, I mean I guess it just depends on what you want. We can be competitive in the MAC for another year or 2 while Lowry is here with this totally 1 dimensional offense possibly, and just continue to get crushed by non-MAC teams. And I guess if thats where we are then we just have to be ok winning really boring football games, as long as our defense can keep playing like they have been.

But also, what happens if Lowry gets hurt, which is more and more likely as he contimues to carry the ball a TON. Or what happens if he thinks he killed it this year and decides to hit the portal? Or what happens when our defense loses guys to the portal or graduation and isn't as dominant as they are. Make no mistake we have been winning games because of our defense, in spite of our offense. So, it's cool now, because everything has fallen into place perfectly, But it's not sustainable. Like I said, you aren't going to get any WRs or TEs to stay and you definitely aren't going to get any to come over in the portal. So, what happens when there is no more Lowry in a year or 2 and whoever takes his spot isn't the runner Lowry is? Who is he going to throw to and how are we going to win games without the running attack we have now, and without developing or bring in any skill position talent?

If Lance Taylor wins the MAC this year does he become a hot property to move on to somewhere else? Given his past movements and his young age, I would think he would be looking to move up to a higher level. I would think that if he can pull off a championship in year 3 it would get him on the radar of Power 4 teams.

It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
11-20-2025 03:29 PM
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BroncoMinor Offline
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Post: #246
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 10:25 AM)sdsly Wrote:  If Lance Taylor wins the MAC this year does he become a hot property to move on to somewhere else? Given his past movements and his young age, I would think he would be looking to move up to a higher level. I would think that if he can pull off a championship in year 3 it would get him on the radar of Power 4 teams.

It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2025 03:41 PM by BroncoMinor.)
11-20-2025 03:38 PM
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CockyBronc3 Offline
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Post: #247
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 03:38 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 11:04 AM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  It's possible, but I'm not sure P4 schools are going to consider someone whose offense runs the 95% of the time. Realistically, I don't think just winning MAC games does a lot to bolster your resume with P4 schools unless you are doing it in a way they can see translate to their games. If he was putting out draft picks by retaining and developing players, I think they'd look at that as a win in the environment we are in, but that's not happening. If I'm a P4 school I don't know what his identity is, and he hasn't shown he can make the hires he would need to make to get a real shot at P4 - although O'Leary is proving to be the first of those I think. If he can hire a new OC in the office sesson and make another run next year in a more balanced offense (which i personally think is almost impossible, for all the reasons I've already mentioned) then I think he would have a real shot at some P4 looks.

Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.

We are agreeing on the last thing you said. Broc Lowry can pass. We have guys that can catch passes. But we aren't throwing the ball.. at all.. that is a Walt Bell problem. And possibly a LT problem because he is allowing it to happen. But, somehow, we keep winning, so it is what it is right now.

Where we disagree is that getting to the MAC championship, winning the MAC, going to a bowl game will attract players. There is not a single WR out there and very few TEs out there who will say, "Hey, I can go to WMU and get 0 targets and just run block the whole game and we will win? Awesome I'd much rather go there than any of these other great options I have to choose from where I might actually get to catch the ball every now and then." Winning is awesome and players like to win, but there are very few who are looking for transfer opportunities to win games without being involved how they want to. Otherwise, why would anyone ever transfer out of places like Alabama and Texas A&M? If people are transferring it is because they weren't getting the action they wanted to for themselves, not because they want to find somewhere to go have a chance to win even if it means they don't get to touch the ball anymore.

Stability with a QB returning is normally a good thing for recruiting WRs. However, Lowry returning isn't a good thing for WRs if Walt Bell is returning too. People will just think that it will be the same thing next year as it was this year. I don't think it is a guarantee that Lowry returns either. He has already shown he is willing to transfer. If he has a goal to play at the next level, he could want to be able throw more passes to give himself that shot, who knows?
11-20-2025 04:03 PM
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Dirty Ernie Offline
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Post: #248
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 04:03 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:38 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.

We are agreeing on the last thing you said. Broc Lowry can pass. We have guys that can catch passes. But we aren't throwing the ball.. at all.. that is a Walt Bell problem. And possibly a LT problem because he is allowing it to happen. But, somehow, we keep winning, so it is what it is right now.

Where we disagree is that getting to the MAC championship, winning the MAC, going to a bowl game will attract players. There is not a single WR out there and very few TEs out there who will say, "Hey, I can go to WMU and get 0 targets and just run block the whole game and we will win? Awesome I'd much rather go there than any of these other great options I have to choose from where I might actually get to catch the ball every now and then." Winning is awesome and players like to win, but there are very few who are looking for transfer opportunities to win games without being involved how they want to. Otherwise, why would anyone ever transfer out of places like Alabama and Texas A&M? If people are transferring it is because they weren't getting the action they wanted to for themselves, not because they want to find somewhere to go have a chance to win even if it means they don't get to touch the ball anymore.

Stability with a QB returning is normally a good thing for recruiting WRs. However, Lowry returning isn't a good thing for WRs if Walt Bell is returning too. People will just think that it will be the same thing next year as it was this year. I don't think it is a guarantee that Lowry returns either. He has already shown he is willing to transfer. If he has a goal to play at the next level, he could want to be able throw more passes to give himself that shot, who knows?

You do know that Walt Bells background is Air Raid, right? We’ve been featuring 3rd and 4th down passing pretty consistently. Lots of TE touchdowns over the course of the season. In the last couple of games with frosty temps and wind, yeah, there has been less passing.
11-20-2025 04:19 PM
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wmubroncopilot Offline
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Post: #249
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 04:03 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:38 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:13 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  Again, as I’ve said repeatedly, the offense is one-dimensional because that’s the scheme that fits the personnel that we have. It doesn’t mean that LT is not capable of developing a solid passing attack… we just don’t have the tools at quarterback and receiver this year to be that kind of team.

This seems awfully hard for you to understand for some reason.
Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.

We are agreeing on the last thing you said. Broc Lowry can pass. We have guys that can catch passes. But we aren't throwing the ball.. at all.. that is a Walt Bell problem. And possibly a LT problem because he is allowing it to happen. But, somehow, we keep winning, so it is what it is right now.

Where we disagree is that getting to the MAC championship, winning the MAC, going to a bowl game will attract players. There is not a single WR out there and very few TEs out there who will say, "Hey, I can go to WMU and get 0 targets and just run block the whole game and we will win? Awesome I'd much rather go there than any of these other great options I have to choose from where I might actually get to catch the ball every now and then." Winning is awesome and players like to win, but there are very few who are looking for transfer opportunities to win games without being involved how they want to. Otherwise, why would anyone ever transfer out of places like Alabama and Texas A&M? If people are transferring it is because they weren't getting the action they wanted to for themselves, not because they want to find somewhere to go have a chance to win even if it means they don't get to touch the ball anymore.

Stability with a QB returning is normally a good thing for recruiting WRs. However, Lowry returning isn't a good thing for WRs if Walt Bell is returning too. People will just think that it will be the same thing next year as it was this year. I don't think it is a guarantee that Lowry returns either. He has already shown he is willing to transfer. If he has a goal to play at the next level, he could want to be able throw more passes to give himself that shot, who knows?

I’d never rule anything out but I think Lowry would be crazy to transfer right now. He could maybe find a spot on a P4 roster but he’d undoubtedly have to battle for a starting job (and I’m not sure I love his chances). Teams are going to want to see more tape of him actually dropping back and making real reads. He may well have those aspirations but he’d be far better off staying where he has a presumably guaranteed job for another year at least and showing progression.
11-20-2025 04:24 PM
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MajorHoople Offline
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Post: #250
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
Lowry is not a P4 passer. He's not a great MAC passer.
11-20-2025 04:25 PM
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CockyBronc3 Offline
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Post: #251
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 04:24 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 04:03 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:38 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.

We are agreeing on the last thing you said. Broc Lowry can pass. We have guys that can catch passes. But we aren't throwing the ball.. at all.. that is a Walt Bell problem. And possibly a LT problem because he is allowing it to happen. But, somehow, we keep winning, so it is what it is right now.

Where we disagree is that getting to the MAC championship, winning the MAC, going to a bowl game will attract players. There is not a single WR out there and very few TEs out there who will say, "Hey, I can go to WMU and get 0 targets and just run block the whole game and we will win? Awesome I'd much rather go there than any of these other great options I have to choose from where I might actually get to catch the ball every now and then." Winning is awesome and players like to win, but there are very few who are looking for transfer opportunities to win games without being involved how they want to. Otherwise, why would anyone ever transfer out of places like Alabama and Texas A&M? If people are transferring it is because they weren't getting the action they wanted to for themselves, not because they want to find somewhere to go have a chance to win even if it means they don't get to touch the ball anymore.

Stability with a QB returning is normally a good thing for recruiting WRs. However, Lowry returning isn't a good thing for WRs if Walt Bell is returning too. People will just think that it will be the same thing next year as it was this year. I don't think it is a guarantee that Lowry returns either. He has already shown he is willing to transfer. If he has a goal to play at the next level, he could want to be able throw more passes to give himself that shot, who knows?

I’d never rule anything out but I think Lowry would be crazy to transfer right now. He could maybe find a spot on a P4 roster but he’d undoubtedly have to battle for a starting job (and I’m not sure I love his chances). Teams are going to want to see more tape of him actually dropping back and making real reads. He may well have those aspirations but he’d be far better off staying where he has a presumably guaranteed job for another year at least and showing progression.

Oh yeah, I agree with everything you are saying. Just saying, he might think higher of himself and want to test the waters. Transfer portal doesn't work out for a lot of people the way they hoped it would.
11-20-2025 04:33 PM
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CockyBronc3 Offline
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Post: #252
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 04:19 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 04:03 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:38 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 01:25 PM)BroncoMinor Wrote:  Agreed. Looks like somebody is trying really hard to come up with a new angle to piss on Coach Taylor's success.

The best thing you can do to improve recruiting is win. That's what Coach Taylor is doing right now.

Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, its working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.

All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.
Right, all you're saying is we have no chance to compete in the next several years because of the offense we are running this year. You're saying a lot there and I don't agree with it.

The portal & NIL have completely changed how rosters look from one year to the next. There is a good chance every year that guys will leave for better opportunities & a new class of JUCO's and players from P4 schools will replace them.

It's complete chaos right now. It's impossible to predict one year to the next. But, you already have us not being able to compete for several years.

Getting to the MAC Championship, winning the MAC Championship, & going to a Bowl Game are all good things that will help attract players.

Also, having some stability at QB with Broc Lowry coming back is a huge positive. Not a negative. I've seen nothing from Lowry's passing skills that suggest he can't throw the ball more. That's a Walt Bell problem. Not a Broc Lowry problem. That can be fixed in two ways. Either Walt opens up the offense a little bit more or we find someone else who will.

We are agreeing on the last thing you said. Broc Lowry can pass. We have guys that can catch passes. But we aren't throwing the ball.. at all.. that is a Walt Bell problem. And possibly a LT problem because he is allowing it to happen. But, somehow, we keep winning, so it is what it is right now.

Where we disagree is that getting to the MAC championship, winning the MAC, going to a bowl game will attract players. There is not a single WR out there and very few TEs out there who will say, "Hey, I can go to WMU and get 0 targets and just run block the whole game and we will win? Awesome I'd much rather go there than any of these other great options I have to choose from where I might actually get to catch the ball every now and then." Winning is awesome and players like to win, but there are very few who are looking for transfer opportunities to win games without being involved how they want to. Otherwise, why would anyone ever transfer out of places like Alabama and Texas A&M? If people are transferring it is because they weren't getting the action they wanted to for themselves, not because they want to find somewhere to go have a chance to win even if it means they don't get to touch the ball anymore.

Stability with a QB returning is normally a good thing for recruiting WRs. However, Lowry returning isn't a good thing for WRs if Walt Bell is returning too. People will just think that it will be the same thing next year as it was this year. I don't think it is a guarantee that Lowry returns either. He has already shown he is willing to transfer. If he has a goal to play at the next level, he could want to be able throw more passes to give himself that shot, who knows?

You do know that Walt Bells background is Air Raid, right? We’ve been featuring 3rd and 4th down passing pretty consistently. Lots of TE touchdowns over the course of the season. In the last couple of games with frosty temps and wind, yeah, there has been less passing.

Lots of TE Touchdowns throughout the year?? Brescia has 2 (8 yard pass and 5 yard pass), Conley has 1 (From Brady Jones - 1 yard pass) and Bosma has 0. Are we saying 3 TDs in 11 games for a total of 14 yards is "Lots"?

I would argue with the 3rd and 4th down passing regularly. But, even if it was the case, that is not a recipe for long term success. Run it until we are backed into a corner and have to pass. Its predictable and easy to defend. But, also, i prefer it to the the QB draw up the middle on 3rd and 7 that we seem to have been running a lot lately.
11-20-2025 04:43 PM
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westernwilly Offline
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Post: #253
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
I do not know why there are people that are upset about how much we ran against NIU. You play the game that it takes to beat a particular opponent and we have done a very good job at this in conference.

Here is an interesting view of our yardage for each game going from last to first:
VS
NIU - 361 yards rushing and 32 yards passing - BIG WIN!
Ohio - 210 yards rushing and 126 yards passing - Win!
CMU - 177 yards rushing and 150 yards passing - Win!!!!04-rock
MU -144 yards rushing and 172 yards passing - Loss...perhaps we should have ran more
BSU - 219 yards rushing and 242 yards passing - Shut out, big win!
UMass - 217 yards rushing and 163 yards passing - Win!
RI - 216 yards rushing and 172 yards passing - Win
UT - 90 yards rushing and 201 yards passing - Win!
UI - 113 yards rushing and 91 yards passing - Loss
NT -216 yards rushing and 87 yards passing -Loss in OT
MSU - 29 yards rushing and 188 yards passing - Loss, but we should have won this one...perhaps if we ran more

Lastly, here is my argument for having a strong running game: It runs down the clock and wears down the other teams D while giving our D time to rest. We have an incredible defense this year and though most of it is talent, you cannot deny the fact that they play better when our office dominates the possession time that allows them to rest.
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2025 04:59 PM by westernwilly.)
11-20-2025 04:57 PM
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ejd_5277 Offline
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Post: #254
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

There is so much BS here that I don’t even know where to start. Let’s break it down.

For starters, Walt Bell in the past has run pass-heavy schemes everywhere he’s been prior to here. Why do you think that maybe he decided to change it up this year? Remember, we started the season in East Lansing with the “throwing quarterback” (Jones) under center. Our first offensive play of the season was a 35-yard dime to Talique. And you think Walt doesn’t want to throw the ball????

I’ve been as hard on Bell as anyone on this board, and it took him WAY too long to diagnose the issues, but to his and LT’s credit, when it became obvious that Brady Jones wasn’t a good decision-maker, they made the switch, and they changed up the scheme TO FIT BROC LOWRY’S SKILL SET. I’ll ask you one more time: what is hard to understand about this? Broc is fine in the short/intermediate game but he’s is simply NOT a downfield passer, and when you have a guy that can run through people like he does, why on earth would you not utilize that?????

Quote:And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, it’s working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

Pissing on him is exactly what you’re doing, and you know it. As many others have pointed out to you, there is close to ZERO correlation between this year’s offense and future success. For as many receivers as may be “scared off,” (another thing you’re wrong about but that’s a different conversation) we might get that many more players who would be successful in this offense.

Quote:If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

Also false. As I pointed out above we tried to be a “passing offense” in our first 3 OOC games (including against 2 P4’s) and it got us literally nowhere. You’ll have to explain to us this correlation that you’ve invented in your head.

Quote:For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.


No, we DO know. Did you not watch the Michigan State/UNT/Illinois games? Jones was close to an unmitigated disaster. We’ve used everything in our arsenal, and in the end we had to use what works if we wanted to win any football games. Guess what? This is working so we’re sticking with it. It doesn’t matter if opponents know exactly what’s coming and they still can’t stop it.

Quote:All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.

I categorically disagree with this for all the reasons i mentioned above.
11-20-2025 05:17 PM
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wmubroncopilot Offline
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Post: #255
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
I think some people are overrating Lowry’s passing ability (to say nothing of our pass blocking). Don’t get me wrong, he’s made significant strides and I’m optimistic we’ll have better balance next year for that reason. Where he does not excel (yet) though, is in a traditional dropback game scanning the field etc. It doesn’t help that pass blocking is not a seeming strength of this OL. We’ve had success rolling the pocket, and I’m glad to see it utilized more, but you can’t run a whole passing attack by cutting the field in half every play.

I’m not saying Bell has been amazing, and yes even I think we could stand to throw a bit more. But the limitations are legitimate.
11-20-2025 05:57 PM
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Ubish Offline
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Post: #256
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 04:57 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  MSU - 29 yards rushing and 188 yards passing - Loss, but we should have won this one...perhaps if we ran more

Here's the thing, I see those stats but they are one sided. Yes, more rushing yards vs MSU would have increased the likelihood of a win, but the problem was we couldn't run against them. We had 24 attempts for 29 yards.
(This post was last modified: 11-21-2025 08:15 AM by Ubish.)
11-21-2025 08:13 AM
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westernwilly Offline
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Post: #257
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-21-2025 08:13 AM)Ubish Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 04:57 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  MSU - 29 yards rushing and 188 yards passing - Loss, but we should have won this one...perhaps if we ran more

Here's the thing, I see those stats but they are one sided. Yes, more rushing yards vs MSU would have increased the likelihood of a win, but the problem was we couldn't run against them. We had 24 attempts for 29 yards.
Fair enough.
I do think that if we played MSU today, then we would win. But we are a very different team now than we were then. The guys were not used to playing together at that time and had not figured out what their strengths were and then highlight those strengths as a team.
11-21-2025 09:12 AM
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wmubroncopilot Offline
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Post: #258
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-21-2025 09:12 AM)westernwilly Wrote:  
(11-21-2025 08:13 AM)Ubish Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 04:57 PM)westernwilly Wrote:  MSU - 29 yards rushing and 188 yards passing - Loss, but we should have won this one...perhaps if we ran more

Here's the thing, I see those stats but they are one sided. Yes, more rushing yards vs MSU would have increased the likelihood of a win, but the problem was we couldn't run against them. We had 24 attempts for 29 yards.
Fair enough.
I do think that if we played MSU today, then we would win. But we are a very different team now than we were then. The guys were not used to playing together at that time and had not figured out what their strengths were and then highlight those strengths as a team.

Yeah I dunno if we would win but it would be close anyway. Just having a true QB1 and a real offensive gameplan (flawed as it may be) would make a world of difference. Everything was extremely disjointed on that side of the ball at that point.

In hindsight it’s really impressive how well the defense held up with all the 3 and outs and short possessions, not that MSU is some offensive juggernaut.
11-21-2025 10:00 AM
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CockyBronc3 Offline
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Post: #259
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
(11-20-2025 05:17 PM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  
(11-20-2025 03:29 PM)CockyBronc3 Wrote:  Haha, you are crazy if you think this style of winning is going to improve recruiting. It might attract lineman who like to run block and it will definitely attract running backs. But, there isn't a WR or TE who will want to stay here or come here. Why would they?

There is so much BS here that I don’t even know where to start. Let’s break it down.

For starters, Walt Bell in the past has run pass-heavy schemes everywhere he’s been prior to here. Why do you think that maybe he decided to change it up this year? Remember, we started the season in East Lansing with the “throwing quarterback” (Jones) under center. Our first offensive play of the season was a 35-yard dime to Talique. And you think Walt doesn’t want to throw the ball????

I’ve been as hard on Bell as anyone on this board, and it took him WAY too long to diagnose the issues, but to his and LT’s credit, when it became obvious that Brady Jones wasn’t a good decision-maker, they made the switch, and they changed up the scheme TO FIT BROC LOWRY’S SKILL SET. I’ll ask you one more time: what is hard to understand about this? Broc is fine in the short/intermediate game but he’s is simply NOT a downfield passer, and when you have a guy that can run through people like he does, why on earth would you not utilize that?????

Quote:And I am not pissing on Coach Taylor's success. If this is how he has figured out how to win, it’s working. It just isn't good for the next few years of the program.

Pissing on him is exactly what you’re doing, and you know it. As many others have pointed out to you, there is close to ZERO correlation between this year’s offense and future success. For as many receivers as may be “scared off,” (another thing you’re wrong about but that’s a different conversation) we might get that many more players who would be successful in this offense.

Quote:If we stay this one dimensional we will get slaughtered in a bowl game against a low level P4 school. But if our goal is to just get a bowl game, then I guess it is a victory.

Also false. As I pointed out above we tried to be a “passing offense” in our first 3 OOC games (including against 2 P4’s) and it got us literally nowhere. You’ll have to explain to us this correlation that you’ve invented in your head.

Quote:For those saying that we don't have the talent to do anything but what we have been doing... how would we know? What have we used? I would say we don't have enough talent at OC to be able to use what we have, but the talent is there at the skill positions. Lowry set a school record for passing yards in high school. Top rated QB cong out of high school. I am pretty sure he can pass if we actually let him. Tailique Williams, Baylin Brooks and Aveion Chenault are good WRs. They may not be heading to the NFL right now, but they are defnitely good enough to be getting balls thrown to them in the MAC. We have a pre-season 1st team all conference TE who could end the year with more punt receptions than actual receptions. Going into the season he was being talked about as a potential NFL guy.


No, we DO know. Did you not watch the Michigan State/UNT/Illinois games? Jones was close to an unmitigated disaster. We’ve used everything in our arsenal, and in the end we had to use what works if we wanted to win any football games. Guess what? This is working so we’re sticking with it. It doesn’t matter if opponents know exactly what’s coming and they still can’t stop it.

Quote:All I am saying is that we need to win the conference this year cause I don't see us having a chance for the next several years because this years style of football is going to set us back in all the skill positions. If we can win with the style we are playing, I have to imagine if we had an OC that could call a balanced game, we would be winning by higher margins, competing against better teams out of conference and actually drawing recruits here instead of scaring them away.

Hopefully we can get to Detroit and bring it home.

I categorically disagree with this for all the reasons i mentioned above.

I guess time will tell. It will be easy to tell who is correct. I will happily eat crow if this year starts some sort of dynasty of winning. I think the results would have been different in the MSU, UNT, Illinois games if we would have run a similar game plan with Lowry at QB, but I think running the game plan we are currently running would have been the same or worse. But, there's no way to know. We will find out soon enough though if what I am thinking winds up being true.
11-21-2025 11:46 AM
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SilentStryk09 Offline
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Post: #260
RE: WMU at Northern Illinois
I'll never understand how we score a dominant win in a stadium that's been a house of horrors for nearly 30 years and people still find reasons to complain. Enjoy the ride, Beat Eastern, and let's have some more fun
11-21-2025 11:51 AM
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