(01-08-2019 02:12 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  

(01-04-2019 02:05 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Gee, can't pass, can't run ... it's no wonder the team only scored 40.4 points per game - 2nd best in school history.

The problem this season was the defense ... or that there was none to speak of.

Yes, I wish Peters had been a bit more accurate, but he was essentially a red-shirt freshman this year, so considering that, he did pretty well. Bradley may well be the QB of the future, but that remains to be seen. Will have 5 QB options next year and I imagine several could come out of top. The big issue next year will be who will catch the passes. Because of the WR situation, I would guess a QB that can run will have an advantage to get the starting job as it will give them another option if the receivers aren't immediately up to the challenge.

Yeah but that average is due to lopsided run ups against bad teams. Consider the 24 against Miami, 27 against Fresno, 26 against Eastern, 17 against Buffalo, 15 against Northern. That's 21.8/game in the losses. If our OL was worth a crap, all of those games would have been winnable--although Fresno was pretty good going 12-2 on the season. Except for Guadagni's scrambling, those teams were able to shut down our run which, in turn, hampered the passing game which itself tended to be inconsistent all season. Maybe it isn't fair to compare Guad and Peters to Woodside, but it was what it was. If we could establish the run maybe those guys complete a few more passes...and a few fewer picks.

In the rest of their games, Miami gave up 19, Fresno 13 and EMU 22. So, the Rocket offense still was better than the rest of their competition for all 3 of those games. The NIU and UB games were the only ones where the Rockets O underperformed compared to the points the teams usually allowed.

On the other hand, the Rockets D allowed Miami to score 22 points more than their average, NIU 20 more and Fresno 16 more. Again, D was the problem.

A lot can happen over a year or two. I trust the cream will rise to the top and Candle will pick the right guy. Bradley could definitely be that guy, but you never know. I think many of us knew Logan Woodside was a pretty good and scrappy QB, but nobody thought he would be "45 TD's in one season" good, LOL. He changed from a gritty, more than likely take off and run QB into a pocket passer. I know some that didn't want to give him a chance and wanted to move on to younger players.

But, like Brian said, any QB won't have a chance without a good O-line giving them the time to throw, as well as providing a ground game to loosen things up. I think our QB's will be fine, I'm more worried about our Linebackers, O-Line and D-Line. We need to make improvements in these areas if we want to win the MAC again.

(01-04-2019 02:05 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Gee, can't pass, can't run ... it's no wonder the team only scored 40.4 points per game - 2nd best in school history.

THANK YOU VMI!!!

Let's bring those stats into a reality check. What puts the offensice capability into proper perspective is the meager 15, 17 and 26 points scored against NIU, Buff and EMI, all conference members that have time to game plan, am I not correct? Our Offense was fairly easy to contain by those that knew us.

(01-08-2019 12:06 PM)Babes boy Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 09:16 AM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(01-04-2019 03:10 PM)BDV27 Wrote:  

(01-04-2019 02:53 PM)BrianNowicki Wrote:  The offense did great against mediocre teams. Big-time point totals against bad teams like VMI and Bowling Green. But, they struggled to put up meaningful points against good teams.....Fresno State, Buffalo, NIU. As others have said, that had more to do with the O-Line and a lack of a running game at times throughout the season. Fix the O-Line and we have a dominating offense that will also do well against good teams.

Defense needs fixed......period. I think the DL could be okay next year as there was some good young talent, but I really worry about LB. And I really, really worry about our LB Coach and DC positions as those guys just aren't cutting it. Either their scheme is flawed or their ability to get the players to run the right scheme is flawed. Either way it falls on those two positions. LB's were constantly out of position and got sucked up against the run.

I don't know who will be the starting QB at the beginning of the 2019 season, but I really like Carter Bradley. I don't believe he was ready for meaningful playing time this year, but I hope he is in 2019.

Spot on Brian!

Hopefully Candle learned a lesson from Dabo last night, that its OK to play True Freshman. If Clemson can do it at the highest level of College Football, than Toledo can in the MAC. I hope Bradley and Finn are competing for the spot the starting gig next year. The two best players on the field last night were two true freshmen. Amazing.

Plus one here. The best should play.

While I agree that true freshmen can and should play if they are the best players.........those two true freshmen at Clemson aren't you're typical true freshmen. There are only so many 18 or 18 year old true freshmen QB's that are ready to play right away. That said, a position like WR or RB is a lot easier for a true freshman to come in and play. If I'm not mistaken, Candle does play true freshmen. Jamal Hines is a perfect example. For whatever reason, Candle did not feel that Carter was prepared to play a significant role this year. He knows the situation better than any of us here on this message board that are asking why Carter didn't play more.

Speaking of quarterbacks, it should be noted that Alabama QB Jalen Hurts looks to transfer. Toledo was certainly a good spot for another Alabama QB transfer. Could lightening strike twice in the same spot?

(01-08-2019 03:31 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 02:12 PM)Toledo Football 1st Wrote:  

(01-04-2019 02:05 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Gee, can't pass, can't run ... it's no wonder the team only scored 40.4 points per game - 2nd best in school history.

The problem this season was the defense ... or that there was none to speak of.

Yes, I wish Peters had been a bit more accurate, but he was essentially a red-shirt freshman this year, so considering that, he did pretty well. Bradley may well be the QB of the future, but that remains to be seen. Will have 5 QB options next year and I imagine several could come out of top. The big issue next year will be who will catch the passes. Because of the WR situation, I would guess a QB that can run will have an advantage to get the starting job as it will give them another option if the receivers aren't immediately up to the challenge.

Yeah but that average is due to lopsided run ups against bad teams. Consider the 24 against Miami, 27 against Fresno, 26 against Eastern, 17 against Buffalo, 15 against Northern. That's 21.8/game in the losses. If our OL was worth a crap, all of those games would have been winnable--although Fresno was pretty good going 12-2 on the season. Except for Guadagni's scrambling, those teams were able to shut down our run which, in turn, hampered the passing game which itself tended to be inconsistent all season. Maybe it isn't fair to compare Guad and Peters to Woodside, but it was what it was. If we could establish the run maybe those guys complete a few more passes...and a few fewer picks.

In the rest of their games, Miami gave up 19, Fresno 13 and EMU 22. So, the Rocket offense still was better than the rest of their competition for all 3 of those games. The NIU and UB games were the only ones where the Rockets O underperformed compared to the points the teams usually allowed.

On the other hand, the Rockets D allowed Miami to score 22 points more than their average, NIU 20 more and Fresno 16 more. Again, D was the problem.

I agree regarding the defense. Just saying that, in the games I watched (which was pretty much all of them), any time we played anybody that was any good (not even great) we couldn't establish the run...and, other than #18 Fresno, it's not like we were playing anybody that was that good.

Jalen Hurts is a great QB, but, we don't need him. We already have Mitch who 's game is similar to Hurts. Maybe we can convert Hurts to a WR like Cody Thompson?

you guys are dreaming about Hurts ever thinking about coming to Toledo even it could start without any competition.

Toledo is not in a position where they have a dearth of talent at QB, where all are too young, not ready... To bring in an outsider because he's percieved "better?" You lose the one advantage a mid-major has. a place a 3 or 4star can have a reasonable chance to start or get significant playing time without the red-shirt. Get a rep of bringing in the next big thing and that very promising player out of high school, goes elsewhere. Toledo is not in a position to reasonably say they need Hurts.

(01-09-2019 10:55 PM)Michigan Rocket Wrote:  Jalen Hurts is a great QB, but, we don't need him. We already have Mitch who 's game is similar to Hurts. Maybe we can convert Hurts to a WR like Cody Thompson?

Don't kid yourself, Hurts would tear up the MAC. Yes, he and Mitch have similar games, but Hurts plays at a completely different level. All that being said, there is zero chance of him coming here.

(01-09-2019 10:55 PM)Michigan Rocket Wrote:  Jalen Hurts is a great QB, but, we don't need him. We already have Mitch who 's game is similar to Hurts. Maybe we can convert Hurts to a WR like Cody Thompson?

lol

(01-10-2019 05:44 AM)Springboromark Wrote:  you guys are dreaming about Hurts ever thinking about coming to Toledo even it could start without any competition.

Yeah, J. Hurts won’t end up at Toledo, but hey I could see him at Wright State...
Oh wait, WSU does not have a football program...

(01-08-2019 02:01 PM)rockytop Wrote:  Do you guys really think Candle doesn’t play the QB who gives us the best chance to win? I assume because he spends everyday with his players, he knows better than we do who should start.

I certainly hope so. I want to see the players on the field who give us the best chance to win in 2019, not 2021 because we don't know who will still be here then. Generally, players seem to show the greatest improvement in skills from their first playing year to second and by their Senior year are as skilled as they will be but play with instinct and heart and soul. If Peters dramatically improves, he should start. If Bradley is even better than that and wins the starting spot, we're in very good shape at the qb position. As I recall, Pinkel stayed with Dan Cole a bit longer than he should've but I don't know what was going on at practice. I do know that once he did start, Tavares Bolden was clearly the better qb even though he was a Sophomore and Cole was a Senior. I don't care who the starters are, I just hope Candle recognizes the best players and that's who plays.

(01-10-2019 09:55 AM)RocketJeff Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 02:01 PM)rockytop Wrote:  Do you guys really think Candle doesn’t play the QB who gives us the best chance to win? I assume because he spends everyday with his players, he knows better than we do who should start.

I certainly hope so. I want to see the players on the field who give us the best chance to win in 2019, not 2021 because we don't know who will still be here then. Generally, players seem to show the greatest improvement in skills from their first playing year to second and by their Senior year are as skilled as they will be but play with instinct and heart and soul. If Peters dramatically improves, he should start. If Bradley is even better than that and wins the starting spot, we're in very good shape at the qb position. As I recall, Pinkel stayed with Dan Cole a bit longer than he should've but I don't know what was going on at practice. I do know that once he did start, Tavares Bolden was clearly the better qb even though he was a Sophomore and Cole was a Senior. I don't care who the starters are, I just hope Candle recognizes the best players and that's who plays.

I think that Candle could be so set in his thinking that he would play certain players who may not be the best, but fit his (wrong) idea of a good offense/defense. I'm sure it worked at Mount Union.

(01-10-2019 09:01 AM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 05:44 AM)Springboromark Wrote:  you guys are dreaming about Hurts ever thinking about coming to Toledo even it could start without any competition.

Yeah, J. Hurts won’t end up at Toledo, but hey I could see him at Wright State...
Oh wait, WSU does not have a football program...

But if they did....

(01-10-2019 11:48 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 09:01 AM)FMRocket Wrote:  

(01-10-2019 05:44 AM)Springboromark Wrote:  you guys are dreaming about Hurts ever thinking about coming to Toledo even it could start without any competition.

Yeah, J. Hurts won’t end up at Toledo, but hey I could see him at Wright State...
Oh wait, WSU does not have a football program...

But if they did....

Springboro Mark would be cheering him on ...

Tate Martell requests transfer too. Bring him on

(01-10-2019 03:19 PM)Babes boy Wrote:  Tate Martell requests transfer too. Bring him on

(01-04-2019 11:05 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Peters gave UT the best shot at winning the Bowl game.

Kindly disagree with this. Missed two guys in the redzone WIDE open with good throws that are easy touchdowns. Did that often last year. The occasional deep ball was his only strength passing. Telegraphed and didn't seem to read defenses well. Not saying the D or O-line didn't have their issues, but the QB wasn't exactly above average, either.

my concern with peters and guadagni is winning play. both have some (different) skills but every good qb we've had you knew it almost right away. woodside was a winner from freshman year. his passing skills and ability to make all the throws gradually evolved but right away you could tell he gave you a chance to win. bruce was immediately the most competitive guy on the field even if it took a couple years for him to fully develop his pocket awareness. bolden could always make plays. even guys like opelt and ely clearly had winning traits. guagdagni is athletic but hasn't proven much and peters has some passing skills but struggled a lot.