(10-25-2013 09:55 AM)Ole Blue Wrote: I'd just like to point out that MT has definitely improved since our game against ECU, and plus - that was a 24-17 game compared to a similarly close 51-49 win over Marshall. I wouldn't say there is much separation there: we played our best game of the year in beating Marshall on national TV, something that usually happens once in a blue moon (winning on nat'l TV) but hey, glad it did. I wouldn't say ECU is a lot better than Marshall - I can't even say for sure they ARE better. Just have to see on the field in a few weeks.
MTSU looks about the same to me as they did a few weeks ago against ECU, but the difference is that Marshall's defense is not as good as ECU's. IMO these things take shape and show up against common opponents; after you factor in stuff like home and road venues. That is why some of these games are so easy to predict. You could clearly see that Marshall would struggle with FAU on the road, because of the way that FAU played against ECU. To me it was clear that MTSU was a field goal better than Marshall, because MTSU is a little better than FAU; and Marshall struggled against FAU.
If I had to had to handicap this stuff; I would say that ECU is about 10 points better than Marshall if the game was played at ECU. If the game is played at Marshall I think that ECU is about 7 points better than Marshall. This all assumes tha t everyone is healthy; there are no suspensions, yada, yada, yada.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 10:08 AM by PirateMarv.)
(10-25-2013 09:55 AM)Ole Blue Wrote: I'd just like to point out that MT has definitely improved since our game against ECU, and plus - that was a 24-17 game compared to a similarly close 51-49 win over Marshall. I wouldn't say there is much separation there: we played our best game of the year in beating Marshall on national TV, something that usually happens once in a blue moon (winning on nat'l TV) but hey, glad it did. I wouldn't say ECU is a lot better than Marshall - I can't even say for sure they ARE better. Just have to see on the field in a few weeks.
MTSU looks about the same to me as they did a few weeks ago against ECU, but the difference is that Marshall's defense is not as good as ECU's. IMO these things take shape and show up against common opponents; after you factor in stuff like home and road venues. That is why some of these games are so easy to predict. You could clearly see that Marshall would struggle with FAU on the road, because of the way that FAU played against ECU. To me it was clear that MTSU was a field goal better than Marshall, because MTSU is a little better than FAU; and Marshall struggled against FAU.
If I had to had to handicap this stuff; I would say that ECU is about 10 points better than Marshall if the game was played at ECU. If the game is played at Marshall I think that ECU is about 7 points better than Marshall. This all assumes tha t everyone is healthy; there are no suspensions, yada, yada, yada.
(10-25-2013 09:55 AM)Ole Blue Wrote: I'd just like to point out that MT has definitely improved since our game against ECU, and plus - that was a 24-17 game compared to a similarly close 51-49 win over Marshall. I wouldn't say there is much separation there: we played our best game of the year in beating Marshall on national TV, something that usually happens once in a blue moon (winning on nat'l TV) but hey, glad it did. I wouldn't say ECU is a lot better than Marshall - I can't even say for sure they ARE better. Just have to see on the field in a few weeks.
Maybe you guys have improved but it is hard to tell if that is true....You are basing that on the fact that you think Marshall is a pretty good team. The problem with this approach is it hard to say for sure. Record wise Marshall was a better team than you but if you look at the schedules each team has played coming into the game MTSU's schedule was much harder. This is the time of year in conference play when you can start finding out who is for real and who are the pretenders. OOC schedules tend to make things murky but when the teams start playing common opponents things tend to come about that appear to be "upsets" or "bad games" when in reality the teams are actually much closer in ability then most people think.
I said all along that MTSU would have a hand in deciding who won the east and I actually felt they could be a factor in the race. These next 6 weeks will be very interesting. I have no clue who will win the East or the West, it looks like it should come down to ECU and Marshall in the East but MTSU could make push as they have a chance to win out with their remaining schedule.....The West looks like it is shaping up to be a battle between Rice and Tulane but it would not surprise me to see Tulsa get things going and become a factor.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 10:40 AM by ECU-DMB Fanatic.)
(10-25-2013 08:36 AM)trailherd Wrote: I wasn't one of those, but I find it hilarious that a fan of a team with even cockier fans prior to two weeks ago thinks this.
We got the good to back it up too. The last 2 years since Carden has started. ECU 13-7 (10-2) Marshall in that same period is 9-10 (6-5). We've already beat multiple teams you lost to or struggled with this season and beat a UNC team that ran that MTSU team off the field.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 10:35 AM by StillJonesing.)
(10-25-2013 09:42 AM)ECUGrad07 Wrote: Curb stomping? LMAO. No really, it was going to be a curb stomping.
Marshall gave up 29 points in a loss to VT.
ECU gave up 15 points in a loss to VT.
Marshall gave up 23 points in a LAST SECOND win against FAU.
ECU throttled FAU and gave up 13. (7 of which came in garbage time.)
Marshall gave up 51 points in a loss to MTSU.
ECU gave up 17 points in a win vs MTSU.
...Just sayin.
Also we've beaten a BCS team that beat MTSU out of conference. Meanwhile the Turds lost to a MAC squad. But hey, they beat up Gardner Webb and Miami (OH) pretty good.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 10:58 AM by blunderbuss.)
(10-25-2013 09:55 AM)Ole Blue Wrote: I'd just like to point out that MT has definitely improved since our game against ECU, and plus - that was a 24-17 game compared to a similarly close 51-49 win over Marshall. I wouldn't say there is much separation there: we played our best game of the year in beating Marshall on national TV, something that usually happens once in a blue moon (winning on nat'l TV) but hey, glad it did. I wouldn't say ECU is a lot better than Marshall - I can't even say for sure they ARE better. Just have to see on the field in a few weeks.
MTSU looks about the same to me as they did a few weeks ago against ECU, but the difference is that Marshall's defense is not as good as ECU's. IMO these things take shape and show up against common opponents; after you factor in stuff like home and road venues. That is why some of these games are so easy to predict. You could clearly see that Marshall would struggle with FAU on the road, because of the way that FAU played against ECU. To me it was clear that MTSU was a field goal better than Marshall, because MTSU is a little better than FAU; and Marshall struggled against FAU.
If I had to had to handicap this stuff; I would say that ECU is about 10 points better than Marshall if the game was played at ECU. If the game is played at Marshall I think that ECU is about 7 points better than Marshall. This all assumes tha t everyone is healthy; there are no suspensions, yada, yada, yada.
MT was very much improved last night! Our entire starting O-line had not played together since our first home game against Western Carolina. Having time off got us healthy and fortunately, the official starting O-line was back in business. Not something we had for ECU. Also, Kilgore has not played that well ALL season...period. He looked like a completely new QB last night. He was making passes and plays that we didn't even know were in his QB vocabulary. Believe me, MT fans were shocked. So to say they looked the same...ehh... I have to disagree with you there. MT had 100+ plays last night with almost 600 yards. That, my friend, is a massive improvement in our team.
(10-25-2013 09:55 AM)Ole Blue Wrote: I'd just like to point out that MT has definitely improved since our game against ECU, and plus - that was a 24-17 game compared to a similarly close 51-49 win over Marshall. I wouldn't say there is much separation there: we played our best game of the year in beating Marshall on national TV, something that usually happens once in a blue moon (winning on nat'l TV) but hey, glad it did. I wouldn't say ECU is a lot better than Marshall - I can't even say for sure they ARE better. Just have to see on the field in a few weeks.
MTSU looks about the same to me as they did a few weeks ago against ECU, but the difference is that Marshall's defense is not as good as ECU's. IMO these things take shape and show up against common opponents; after you factor in stuff like home and road venues. That is why some of these games are so easy to predict. You could clearly see that Marshall would struggle with FAU on the road, because of the way that FAU played against ECU. To me it was clear that MTSU was a field goal better than Marshall, because MTSU is a little better than FAU; and Marshall struggled against FAU.
If I had to had to handicap this stuff; I would say that ECU is about 10 points better than Marshall if the game was played at ECU. If the game is played at Marshall I think that ECU is about 7 points better than Marshall. This all assumes tha t everyone is healthy; there are no suspensions, yada, yada, yada.
MT was very much improved last night! Our entire starting O-line had not played together since our first home game against Western Carolina. Having time off got us healthy and fortunately, the official starting O-line was back in business. Not something we had for ECU. Also, Kilgore has not played that well ALL season...period. He looked like a completely new QB last night. He was making passes and plays that we didn't even know were in his QB vocabulary. Believe me, MT fans were shocked. So to say they looked the same...ehh... I have to disagree with you there. MT had 100+ plays last night with almost 600 yards. That, my friend, is a massive improvement in our team.
IMO the improvement that you think that you see is not due to MTSU's offense, but it is due to Marshall's defense not being very good. Playing against bad defenses will have a tendency to inflate a team's offensive output; I am not saying that MTSU's offense is not comptent, but it is not as prolific as it showed last night; IMO that was more a result of Marshall's defense stinking out loud like it did last year. Hell, the Marshall defense also stunk out loud this year against Ohio, when they let the Ohio quarterback throw something like 8 or 9 slant passes in a row without making any adjustsments; so they suck for real.
In fact I don't know which stinks worse: Marshall's defense or Doc Holliday's coaching. I am surprised that no one is talking about the fact that Doc Holliday took a timeout with 3 seconds left, which actually gave MTSU a chance to set up last second scoring play. What good coach would do something like that, realizing that MTSU had no more timeouts and no way to set up anything?
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 11:37 AM by PirateMarv.)
I think our O-Line being a little healthier coming off the bye week helped. But really, it's all about the black uniforms. As FAU can attest from the Hail Mary game a several years ago, MT just seems to do better in black.
The healthy MT offensive line was a game changer for our offense. Marshall's defense sucks, no doubt. Not sure why they're still in the conversation with ECU for best team in the East.
Also, our black unis rule.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 11:56 AM by MTowho.)
(10-25-2013 11:03 AM)MTalum09 Wrote: MT was very much improved last night!
Really? You had lost 34-7 to UNT the previous game. You guys weren't exactly rolling from when we played you. I think it had more to do with getting an over hyped bad D.
Quote:Our entire starting O-line had not played together since our first home game against Western Carolina. Having time off got us healthy and fortunately, the official starting O-line was back in business. Not something we had for ECU.
Dude you want me to name all the players we had out or lost early in that game. Cooper was the CUSA new comer of the year and 1000+ yard runner last year and Grove was the preseason defensive POY just to name a couple.
Quote:Also, Kilgore has not played that well ALL season...period. He looked like a completely new QB last night. He was making passes and plays that we didn't even know were in his QB vocabulary.
It might have had something to do with Marshall had no run Defense which opened up a lot of opportunities passing over compensating.
Quote:Believe me, MT fans were shocked. So to say they looked the same...ehh... I have to disagree with you there.
You shouldn't have been. There were several ECU fans including myself that said on this thread they thought you could win. You had the better team last season and had beat as good of teams if not better so far this season.
Quote:MT had 100+ plays last night with almost 600 yards. That, my friend, is a massive improvement in our team.
Or playing an overhyped defense that gave that up to every decent team last year and that had yet to play a decent offense.
(This post was last modified: 10-25-2013 04:32 PM by StillJonesing.)
(10-25-2013 11:03 AM)MTalum09 Wrote: MT was very much improved last night!
Really? You had lost 34-7 to UNT the previous game. You guys weren't exactly rolling from when we played you. I think it had more to do with getting an over hyped bad D.
Quote:Our entire starting O-line had not played together since our first home game against Western Carolina. Having time off got us healthy and fortunately, the official starting O-line was back in business. Not something we had for ECU.
Dude you want me to name all the players we had out or lost early in that game. Cooper was the CUSA new comer of the year and 1000+ yard runner last year and Grove was the preseason defensive POY just to name a couple.
Quote:Also, Kilgore has not played that well ALL season...period. He looked like a completely new QB last night. He was making passes and plays that we didn't even know were in his QB vocabulary.
It might have had something to do with Marshall had no run Defense which opened up a lot of opportunities passing over compensating.
Quote:Believe me, MT fans were shocked. So to say they looked the same...ehh... I have to disagree with you there.
You shouldn't have been. There were several ECU fans including myself that said on this thread they thought you could win. You had the better team last season and had beat as good of teams if not better so far this season.
Quote:MT had 100+ plays last night with almost 600 yards. That, my friend, is a massive improvement in our team.
Or playing an overhyped defense that gave that up to every decent team last year and that had yet to play a decent offense.
You're right. I guess an ECU fan that watched 2 games from our entire year would know everything about MT. Sorry. Not like I attend every home game and almost every away game for MT. I guess I have no idea what my alma mater looks like from week to week. My bad.... Jesus...
When MT came to North Texas last week, I thought they had a talented team, but UNT beat MT fairly easily. For us Mean Green fans at the game, it was a great day. Last night, neither Marshall nor Middle Tennessee played good defense.
Whoever wins C-USA this season is going to have to play strong defense.
(10-25-2013 04:42 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: When MT came to North Texas last week, I thought they had a talented team, but UNT beat MT fairly easily. For us Mean Green fans at the game, it was a great day. Last night, neither Marshall nor Middle Tennessee played good defense.
Whoever wins C-USA this season is going to have to play strong defense.
Skip Holtz said the best defense usually wins CUSA. (probably why UNT and Tulane are doing so well).
(10-25-2013 04:42 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote: When MT came to North Texas last week, I thought they had a talented team, but UNT beat MT fairly easily. For us Mean Green fans at the game, it was a great day. Last night, neither Marshall nor Middle Tennessee played good defense.
Whoever wins C-USA this season is going to have to play strong defense.
Skip Holtz said the best defense usually wins CUSA. (probably why UNT and Tulane are doing so well).
Skip offense has always depended on a good defense........his record speaks to that belief.
(10-25-2013 11:03 AM)MTalum09 Wrote: MT was very much improved last night!
Really? You had lost 34-7 to UNT the previous game. You guys weren't exactly rolling from when we played you. I think it had more to do with getting an over hyped bad D.
Well, to MT's credit, they were pretty evenly matched in two of those three games.
/
Marshall @ Middle Tennesse, Thursday, 6:30 (Central), Fox Sports 1
Also we've beaten a BCS team that beat MTSU out of conference. Meanwhile the Turds lost to a MAC squad. But hey, they beat up Gardner Webb and Miami (OH) pretty good. 
