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Topic: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Topic: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

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Ted Thompson
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Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 9:33:00 AM

Use this thread to talk about anything game-related. For away games, we'll have a separate travel thread.

Date: September 23rd, 2017 2:00 PM

Opponent: Eastern Michigan (2-0, 0-0 MAC)

Site: Rynearson Stadium

TV: None

Radio: Ohio Radio

Webcast: ESPN3.com

Ohio Game Notes

EMU Game Notes

EMU statistics, roster and media guide.

EMU Fan Site: Eagle's Nest

Last Edited: 9/20/2017 9:52:13 AM by Ted Thompson

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Bobcat1998
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 10:12:34 AM

I am worried only a bit about this one. I think Roback is outstanding but he's not all-world. We need to have a huge game from our DBs. I think we can run on their defense and I like Rourke's progression. This is our true litmus test for the season. If we lose this, I feel like we could drop Central, Toledo and Miami as well. Win this and I think we are contenders.

allen
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 10:13:38 AM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

I agree

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 11:33:43 AM

Would shut me up in a hurry, especially considering we draw the MAC West favorites (Toledo) and what I consider the darkhorse to win the MAC (EMU).

Definitely a team with confidence flying high after knocking off Rutgers. Will be intrigued to see what our offense does against their defense. I acknowledge that EMU is going to get points, but to how many we score will be the test for me on Saturday.

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 12:32:24 PM

Roback worries me, no doubt, but we should be getting pressure on them as they replaced much of their O-line starters this year didn't they?

Also, if they hold us to 20 points again, I'll be very surprised. I expect we'll score 30 plus. Can we hold them under?

Alan Swank
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 12:59:46 PM

We're getting 2.5.

L.C.
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 1:12:15 PM

Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:

I totally agree. This game is the best test so far to let of know what sort of team we have, and how our offense does against their defense is critical. Here's a link to the MAC stats (I can't find a link to it on the new MAC website, but I guessed the URL:
http://static.getsomemaction.com/custompages/stats/2017FB...

OHIO OFFENSE versus EMU DEFENSE
Ohio is #2 in Offense, but they will be facing the MAC's best defense. Ohio's rushing attack is #2 in the MAC, and EMU's rush defense is #4. Ohio's pass offense is very effective, averaging 9.3 yards/attempt, and the #2 pass efficiency in the league, but they haven't thrown as many passes as most other MAC teams. EMU leads the league by a wide margin in Pass Efficiency defense.

To win, I think Ohio is going to have to establish the run, with at least some degree of effectiveness. If they can do that, and selectively pass efficiently, they can get some points on the board. If they keep ending up in 3rd and long, it's going to be difficult to put up a lot of points.

EMU OFFENSE versus OHIO DEFENSE
Meanwhile, EMU has a middle-of-the MAC offense, and will be facing Ohio's middle-of-the-MAC defense. Breaking it down further, EMU has a near bottom-of-the MAC rushing attack, and Ohio's run defense is pretty good. Meanwhile, EMU has a fairly prolific passing offense. They are #3 in the conference in yards, at 263.5 and #6 in efficiency. That will be pitted against Ohio's pass defense, which is #8 in yards given up, and #9 in efficiency.

It seems obvious that Ohio will do it's usual strategy: try to shut down the EMU rushing attack and make them one dimensional. We've all seen that before. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. If they can't stop the EMU runs, it's going to be trouble. If they can, the defense will still give up some passing yards, and the question is, can they bend but not break.

Summary
In the end, I'm right back to what Buckyeye to bobcat said so succinctly. EMU will score some points, and the critical test will be Ohio's offense against their outstanding defense. I'll call it Ohio 27, EMU 24.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

FlashGary
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 1:50:01 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

I believe it's way, way too early in the season to make projections for future "big" conference games off of an early conference game being that we have so many young players and first-time starters who are still finding their way. I'm excited about the growth possibilities of Nathan Rourke, Cameron Odom, Evan Crouch and Julian Ross, just to name a few. This team has the potential to continue to get better and better as the season progresses if it can remain relatively healthy. Also, Papi White, who won't play for a few weeks, hopefully will be back. He's a BIG part of the equation.

OhioStunter
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 3:52:23 PM

Useless Stat of the Day: This is the 9th straight season that Ohio has entered MAC play without a losing record (6 winning records, 2 .500 records, and 1 season opener vs. Kent St.)

bobcatsandbuckeyes
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 5:13:37 PM

Anything said about Moore and Grilliot status for EMU? They didn't play last week. With their injuries, Poling not fully healthy, and Papi out, it seems like the injuries are stacking up. Hopefully they can play this week. EMU is coming off the bye, so would like to match their healthiness.

Ted Thompson
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 9:12:40 PM

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Ted Thompson
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/18/2017 9:14:26 PM

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OUcats82
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/19/2017 9:07:37 AM

Sad thing is if Eastern keeps winning and has an 8-4 or better season I think their coach will likely get some calls about moving up the ladder.

Ohio-The State University

L.C.
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/19/2017 10:43:16 AM

OUcats82 wrote:

Sad thing is if Eastern keeps winning and has an 8-4 or better season I think their coach will likely get some calls about moving up the ladder.

I don't think so. I think EMU will get to keep him a few years. He's clearly an excellent coach, but he's the anti-Fleck. Schools at the P5 level are looking for someone exciting and dynamic, a salesman-recruiter, not a solid coach who builds a program based on toughness, fundamentals, and playing smart. Coaches like Fleck, or Babers, or Hoke, or Kelly move up quickly because they attract attention. Creighton attracted virtually no attention when he was hired, and he's quietly been doing a fantastic job. In time, I think a P5 program will come for him, but it will probably take several of those 8-4 years, or a MACC.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

C Money
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/19/2017 11:10:45 AM

Looking at EMU vs. Rutgers, Rutgers had only five drives of more than 17 yards. Rutgers scored on only 3 of those drives. They had 8 non-scoring drives last three plays or fewer, which makes me think Rourke's play-making ability might give us an edge. If we can sustain drives and convert in the red zone (and so far, we have this year with Rourke at QB), we should be able to score. But if we revert to bad conservative UTM #Albinball we're probably going to lose.

Get Rourke outside the pocket and let him make plays. Pass to set up the run, not the other way around....

GoCats105
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/19/2017 12:24:53 PM

According to SBNation's preview, from 2015 to 2016 EMU improved their adjusted points per game on defense by 8 and offense by 5.5. So they basically improved their scoring margin/deficit by two touchdowns, which is a huge number. Nine defensive starters return to a team that gave Ohio fits last year and just held a Big Ten team (as paltry as Rutgers is) to 13 points. This is gonna be a dogfight.

RSBobcat
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/20/2017 1:43:24 AM

Ted Thompson wrote:

The EMU presser - I wanna see a reverse video of the apparently only one press dude in the room....just to be certain the questions were not from a tape machine....

Last Edited: 9/20/2017 2:04:27 AM by RSBobcat

RS Bobcat

Valley Cat
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/20/2017 7:34:03 AM

You have to win games like this. I felt last season EMU handled us physically. Huge test for the Cats, this one goes a long way in predicting the rest of the season. Down Papi they have to find a few chunk plays from other guys, EMU's defense appears to be pretty good. Rutgers played with Washington for a half.

Joe McKinley
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/20/2017 11:29:59 AM

Valley Cat wrote:

Agree with your assessment on the physicality -- EMU is one of the few teams I recall seeing last year that matched our play in that regard. Week after week the thing that almost all opposing coaches say about our team is that we play hard and that a physical brand of football is our identity. The Eagles play the same way. So it may, in fact, come down to who makes just a few more chunk plays.

OUcats82
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/20/2017 1:03:47 PM

I certainly hope the Eagles have the team's attention. I don't know if you could have said that going into the game last year? Even in the leanest of Ohio Football years EMU was usually good for a victory. Doesn't seem to be that way currently.

Their players are riding high right now, especially after winning at a Big 10 stadium. This is a good gauge for how MAC play may go and is a winnable game if our players give 110%.

Ohio-The State University

The Optimist
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/20/2017 10:56:46 PM

Personally, I'm overlooking the MAC East which makes this game all the more important.

I've seen crazier things happen.

C Money
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/21/2017 12:07:22 PM

Ohio 35
EMU 34
Attendance: 2,332

.
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/21/2017 1:04:11 PM

This is going to be a good game. A really good game.

.
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/21/2017 1:05:27 PM

RSBobcat wrote:

Ted Thompson wrote:

The EMU presser - I wanna see a reverse video of the apparently only one press dude in the room....just to be certain the questions were not from a tape machine....

And it turns out to be just this guy:

https://usatftw.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/screen-shot-2...

Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: Official Game 4 Thread: Eastern Michigan

Posted: 9/21/2017 1:18:46 PM

I've seen Rynearson with 26 k in it. It can happen. At the time, they were doing well and people were wondering how the hell Ohio was going to get to the 15k number they needed to stay D1A.

Coming off a bowl season, first win in generations over a p5 school, I think EMU can get 8-10k in there Saturday.

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