(09-12-2021 07:45 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 07:29 AM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  That went about how I thought it would. No way were we going to match up with the size, talent, and physicality of a team like Wisconsin.

While I'm not surprised at the outcome something just seems.....off with this team. Going back the past five seasons, even in the two seasons we didn't make a bowl game, I always had a good feeling about our teams. Sure we had our flaws, but the offense was always able to move the ball and put up some points, the D was pesky, bend but don't break, would make some plays. Through two games this teams just doesn't feel right. That probably doesn't make sense to anyone else, and I can't really describe what it is, but I'm now not as optimistic as I was before the season.

Hopefully its just a case of being so much more talented than our first opponent and so much less talented than our second. The next two weeks with @UMass and Texas State should be telling. I saw UMass has struggled with some P5 teams the first two weeks, and Texas State just beat FIU in OT. Hopefully playing teams more our caliber from here on out we'll get back to the team we've seen the last few years.

Agree. One point I'd like to pick up on: I don't think St. Francis was a proper tune up for WI. WI played PSU and looks to be in mid-season form. We're not their yet.

So scheduling, IF possible, is that Game #1 should be winnable, BUT be a suitable tune up for the 2nd game.

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa-2022/team/eastern-michigan

2022 schedule is appropriate, I think. E. KY is a better team than St. Francis.

I don't think teams like St. Francis, Wagner, etc. are strong enough competition as a first game tune up before a B1G game. (UB played Wagner the 1st week).

https://sagarin.usatoday.com/2021-2/coll...ings-2021/

Good points. Not that the outcome would have chanced but a better schedule for this year might have been:

St. Francis
Texas State
Wisconsin
UMass

Unrelated, but I'm not sure if anyone mentioned that on the radio they said Donnellon is most likely out for the year. Still no word on Knue. Also Lafleur, Watson, Vaden, and Bogan were all out last night. No word on how long they will be out, but it'll be important to get those guys back in the secondary when we start playing more competitive games.