(09-10-2019 10:57 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  So I like this Illinois team more than anyone outside of Champagne. I think they're a bowl team and that Lovie is doing a bang up job recruiting. They can run and we seem to not be able to stop the run.

Neathery will overload and run blitz if necessary to try to take away their strength first. Can the players execute?

If we've any chance to upset Illinois then we need to play Mackey at RB!!!!! Vann just doesn't have it anymore, and hasn't for the past 3 seasons! And somehow our DL has to get some pressure on Peters! Ra'von Bonner is one heck of a RB...…..

(09-10-2019 12:17 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  If we've any chance to upset Illinois then we need to play Mackey at RB!!!!! Vann just doesn't have it anymore, and hasn't for the past 3 seasons! And somehow our DL has to g
et some pressure on Peters! Ra'von Bonner is one heck of a RB...…..

He has 16 carries for 57 yards thus far. Peters is the greater concern. Reggie Corbin is their starter when healthy. He is a good back.

(09-10-2019 11:21 AM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(09-10-2019 10:57 AM)dansplaining Wrote:  So I like this Illinois team more than anyone outside of Champagne. I think they're a bowl team and that Lovie is doing a bang up job recruiting. They can run and we seem to not be able to stop the run.

Neathery will overload and run blitz if necessary to try to take away their strength first. Can the players execute?

Neathery to his credit has always filled the defensive line holes but his JUCO DE recruits this year are far from filling the huge holes from Maxx and Harris and it probably is unfair to expect them to do so. Maybe it will take time for them to jell. I think the LBs are doing a better job of stepping in after losing Rachwal and Pickett.The performance drop off doesn't seem as great.

I thought our OL would be better with the experience and returnees.

Not sure about the vibe of this team so far attitude wise. Against Kentucky I think they were playing scared I saw more missed tackles than I've seen the past 3 years, the swagger I've seen the past three years was missing although I am not questioning the effort. Still trying to put my finger on it.

(09-10-2019 12:17 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  If we've any chance to upset Illinois then we need to play Mackey at RB!!!!! Vann just doesn't have it anymore, and hasn't for the past 3 seasons! And somehow our DL has to get some pressure on Peters! Ra'von Bonner is one heck of a RB...…..

Agree that Mackey is the best RB on roster, and Parker a nice change of pace guy. Sure hope Mackey doesn't get the 'Turner' treatment!

Vann was in the 1st group to start turning the program around, great kid, fought through a lot of injuries.......but sometimes you just have to let the best players play if you truly want to win a Championship.

(09-10-2019 05:32 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(09-10-2019 12:17 PM)EMUGLORYDAYSthe90s Wrote:  If we've any chance to upset Illinois then we need to play Mackey at RB!!!!! Vann just doesn't have it anymore, and hasn't for the past 3 seasons! And somehow our DL has to get some pressure on Peters! Ra'von Bonner is one heck of a RB...…..

Agree that Mackey is the best RB on roster, and Parker a nice change of pace guy. Sure hope Mackey doesn't get the 'Turner' treatment!

Vann was in the 1st group to start turning the program around, great kid, fought through a lot of injuries.......but sometimes you just have to let the best players play if you truly want to win a Championship.

Creighton said "I don't know EMU football without Shaq Vann", as he has been here the entire time the coach has been as well. Shaq seems to block well in passing situations and does not put the ball on the turf, unlike Turner has at times. Yet I am still with you guys after seeing Turner and Parker break some really big runs, something that Shaq and Ericksen never seemed able to do. Three yards and a cloud of dust does not work in todays game. I understand Coach's loyalty to him but his role would probably best be reduced as he has zero chance of being a running back beyond EMU.

I didn't realize Corbin is back! So they've 2 really good backs, and yes Peters has played very well so far. I agree with the Breck Turner treatment, If Mackey doesn't get the playing time he deserves, I worry about A Florida kid transferring as well! He started the bowl game, and played well!

(09-09-2019 06:35 PM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  

(09-09-2019 04:52 PM)emu steve Wrote:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...264969001/

Nice article by Goricki.

Indeed.

Looks like an aerial circus Saturday. Both teams like to air it out.

The game is noon (EDT) which is 11:00 a.m. CDT. Hope the Illini don't stay up too late Friday night or Saturday morning...

Conversely I wonder if the Il students, alums, etc. will tail gate AFTER the game?

What college students, besides folks like me, are in full operating mode at 9:00 a.m.????

We have been discussing issues with the defensive line based on the depth chart it appears Eddington may be injured

Dear emu79,
If Eddington is injured, it might be serious. He did not participate in the open scrimmage back in August. I think it has been just over a month since that scrimmage, and of course he has not played in the first two games of the season.

(09-11-2019 01:22 PM)emu79 Wrote:  We have been discussing issues with the defensive line based on the depth chart it appears Eddington may be injured

When a starting player is listed #3 on the depth chart, is is usually injury.

(09-11-2019 01:47 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79,
If Eddington is injured, it might be serious. He did not participate in the open scrimmage back in August. I think it has been just over a month since that scrimmage, and of course he has not played in the first two games of the season.

Thanks Ken Hopefully he can play soon

(09-11-2019 01:47 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79,
If Eddington is injured, it might be serious. He did not participate in the open scrimmage back in August. I think it has been just over a month since that scrimmage, and of course he has not played in the first two games of the season.

Probably our best interior DLineman when healthy, big loss. Unfortunately he's probably missed more games because of injury than he's actually played at EMU.

Who are the starting interior DLinemen right now? Based on stats it looks like Woo, and who else?

Desmond Kelly next to Woo. They’ve done pretty well. Not as much depth this year though, especially with eddington down.

(09-11-2019 08:52 PM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(09-11-2019 01:47 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79,
If Eddington is injured, it might be serious. He did not participate in the open scrimmage back in August. I think it has been just over a month since that scrimmage, and of course he has not played in the first two games of the season.

Probably our best interior DLineman when healthy, big loss. Unfortunately he's probably missed more games because of injury than he's actually played at EMU.

Who are the starting interior DLinemen right now? Based on stats it looks like Woo, and who else?

Mike Haney

Another thing to keep an eye on is if Kevin McGill is 100% healthy this week. Remember, he left the field with what looked like an ankle injury against Kentucky (then UK got the big completion and last TD against McGee in replacement).

He's such a difference maker in the secondary. Hope he's ready to go and help the D on Saturday.

(09-12-2019 08:37 AM)FrankAnderson Wrote:  Another thing to keep an eye on is if Kevin McGill is 100% healthy this week. Remember, he left the field with what looked like an ankle injury against Kentucky (then UK got the big completion and last TD against McGee in replacement).

He's such a difference maker in the secondary. Hope he's ready to go and help the D on Saturday.

Very good point. Didn't Van Hoeven also leave the game?

OT from this game, but very cool: On Sunday, the EMU Marching Band will be playing at halftime of the Lions game.

Last week Coastal Carolina went to Kansas and won. Tonight, Kansas just beat Boston College 48-24 on the road.

I know, not the most meaningful result. But just saying that team we beat in Week 1 might be better than we thought.

C'mon Hurons, er, Eagles, you got this!

Go MAC!