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Topic: Why we will win the MAC East

Topic: Why we will win the MAC East

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Bobcat1998
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Member Since: 11/7/2012
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Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/18/2016 1:08:55 PM

1. We have the best defensive line in the league in either division. Jalen Hurd and Josh Hobbs are top 2 round draft picks and we held them down and sacked Hobbs several times.
2. Our three linebackers are in the top 3 of the league in either division. Poling, Brown and Moore were all over the place yesterday.
3. We have a clutch kicking game with Zervos and Farkas who both have 3 more years after this which is exciting to think about.
4. Greg Windham has come into his own. He isn't quite Cooper Rush or Zach Terrell or even Drew Hare but I would take him over Thomas Woodson or Logan Woodside right now (BOLD STATEMENT I KNOW).
5. When healthy, our receivers can ball. Smith showed an SEC defensive backfield who he was. Reid and Cope are just solid and I am turning into a huge Belack fan. Throw in Papi's play and teams will have to contend with our passing game..of course that is contingent on Irons and Brown or (prayers here) AJ coming back healthy.

I never thought I would be this excited after a 1-2 start but I am. Texas State was an anomaly. I can't imagine any MAC team outside of Western being better than Tennessee and if not for Vinny Emanuele being our only back in the second half, we may have shocked them. GO CATS!

Cats-22
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/18/2016 1:33:01 PM

I like the team a lot but I have a handful of worries.

1. RB health. AJ is out for the season after getting surgery. Brown's injury was described as "pretty tough, pretty painful." Irons didn't make the trip to Tennessee. Either Irons or Brown really needs to get back to 100% before the major East match-ups.

2. Schedule. The other two contenders seem like Akron and BG. Ohio really has to beat both. And, even if Ohio wins the head-to-head with BG, if we drop another East game we could lose a tiebreaker because BG has easier cross-overs. Of the three strong West teams (CMU, Toledo, WMU) BG only faces one. Ohio and Akron face two.

So, there are still some open questions. But if I had to bet on a team to win the East, it would be Ohio.

ou1982
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/18/2016 4:49:40 PM

After seeing the sky falling after the first week. i have some hope for the East Division. Everyone in the east looks beatable - including us. if we continue to improve, i like OUr chances.

We appear to have a superior kicking game this year. Windham should continue to improve as long as his support players stay healthy.

He missed on several throws yesterday, but his misses weren't high or interceptions. I want to think he erred on the side of caution with his throws. Turnovers kill teams.

really thought Smith looked like the best receiver on either team yesterday. TENN couldn't stop him.

defensive front 7 looked like all the preseason hype was warranted yesterday. They play like that and teams are going to have trouble. Our secondary should benefit from that as well.

That said, I'll withhold judgement until after playing BG and Akron.

Can we win the East? Yes. Will we? IDK

TWT
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/18/2016 11:24:23 PM

The schedule gives Ohio time to improve on its deficiencies for a couple of weeks going into the Bowling Green game. Win the next 3 then Ohio is 3-2 and in a good position for the MAC East. How are injuries going to look after a couple more games? Miami has 3 WR's on the injury list. BG is out 2 RBs, 2LBs and 2DBs they may not have much left by the time they play Ohio.

Last Edited: 9/18/2016 11:50:38 PM by TWT

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

L.C.
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 9:28:19 AM

I like the team attitude and work ethic. They had their wake up call the first week, and it's ancient history now. I think they will just continue to improve.

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

100%Cat
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 9:58:52 AM

It's sure looking like the BG game will set the tone for the rest of the conference slate. Win that one, after hopefully beating Miami, we are 2-0 and have a leg up on BG. Lose that one, and we're trying to play catch-up with some difficult games remaining.

OhioBobcat
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 10:20:14 AM

Ohio will win the East for one simply reason. Because it's the best team in the division this year.

Lande71
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 11:37:27 AM

Let's fricking just beat Miami first! All this talk is bs and worthless. That's why they play the games. Have we laid a broken egg at Miami before? Undefeated going in, no less. I can't see how we can talk about any of this. It must be the way in this day and age?

OU_Country
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 11:48:46 AM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

I never thought I would be this excited after a 1-2 start but I am. Texas State was an anomaly.

I have to agree with you here. Still, I have concerns, and most of it relates to offensive play calling and approach, but Windham has my confidence for the most part. The real question to me is, how are they going to approach a game when it's against equal or lesser teams on the schedule? It's easy to get up for KU and UT given the national stage and the profile of the opponent. How will they show up when they have to get ready for Miami or Kent? How will they look when they play Central or Toledo? We'll see in a few weeks!

ou79
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/19/2016 11:58:28 AM

So, it's either MAC East or the staff must go???

.
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 10:09:34 AM

If this team ends up being good, imagine 10 years down the road looking at a game-by-game accounting of the seasons in the program and seeing a loss to Texas State.

I mean, it's not as big of a WTF moment as losing 31-0 to Northeastern a week after playing to within two touchdowns of Pitt in 2002, but it'll be pretty startling.

Last Edited: 9/22/2016 10:09:51 AM by .

Bobcat1998
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 11:30:24 AM

ou79 wrote:

So, it's either MAC East or the staff must go???

In this day and age of changes it seems that we are the only one that has given carte blanche to this staff for so long. When that infographic comes up (and it always does when we play on TV) of Burrow, Frank and Albin being the longest-tenured coordinator-coaching trio in the nation I don't smile with pride. I kind of think to myself, "How many colleges would allow three men to be together this long without a league title?" The answer is pretty much none. Look at Auburn. I would love to have Tubs or Malzahn but they won NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS and then only went .500 the other years and Tubs was canned and Malzahn is on the hot seat. I think Frank has an eternally ice cold seat which makes a coach do just enough to get by.

I think firing Albin and/or Burrow and bringing in someone like a Leopold or a young fiery guy should have happened at least 5 years ago.

Last Edited: 9/22/2016 11:30:44 AM by Bobcat1998

OU_Country
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 11:48:04 AM

ou79 wrote:

So, it's either MAC East or the staff must go???

It's too early for me to say yes or no definitively. But last year I said it was time for some kind of change to the offensive side of the ball, specifically, something related to how they recruit and coach QBs.

If the results of this season effectively mirror the prior two seasons, then something needs to change to get better results, right? If the results improve, then maybe the plan the staff was working is on an upward trend. I think we'll all agree that the expectation should be to be playing in the MACC in Detroit.

L.C.
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 1:58:16 PM

OU_Country wrote:

They did just change the QB Coach a couple years ago. Isphoding's first recruit was Quinton Maxwell (2015 class), and he has a couple recruits who have given a verbal for 2017 that look very good, but there was no QB in the 2016 class since he chose to only offer QBs that he really wanted, rather than continuing to make offers until he finally got someone. I personally didn't have a problem with that approach, but I know some were uncomfortable with it.

With Maxwell having yet to play, it's definitely too early to see how well his recruits will turn out. It's also difficult for me to comment on how QB improvement under Isphording, since Vick and Sprauge had so many problems with injuries that I don't think either had a fair chance to show their true potential.

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

OU_Country
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 4:14:58 PM

L.C. wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

Fair points. I admit I'm not nearly as knowledgeable as you on these things, so I appreciate the input. Also fair to give the new coach with the new approach at least 3-4 years to see if it bears fruit, since it's rare that a QB is ready as a frosh.

EDIT - an additional thought -- I do think it was a mistake to not have a QB as part of the 2016 class. Seems to me having at least one per year may make a lot of sense.

Last Edited: 9/22/2016 4:17:39 PM by OU_Country

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 9:03:27 PM

L.C. wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

I do like the job that Isphording has done with Windham. He's not making mistakes with the ball. Development is so important at the QB position but there is talent and that is why they haven't brought a quality prospect every year if one couldn't be signed.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 9:13:47 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

L.C. wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

He has made no mistakes is true because he hasn't thrown the ball over the middle. Four of us, two former high school coaches and an Ohio high school coach of the year, went to Tennessee and came away with this. He throws a very good long out ball and a well above average long in ball. Short slants are often thrown behind the receiver and out patterns are thrown to the guys sitting on the bench. If the latter two throws are tightened up, 8 and 4 for the season is a very real possibility.

TWT
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Location: Alexandria, VA
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RE: Why we will win the MAC East

Posted: 9/22/2016 10:01:41 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

L.C. wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

8-4 is achievable because that's running the table sans Toledo and CMU on the road. The bottom line is there is enough talent that if this team could get into the MACC it has a real shot of winning like the 2011 and 2009 Ohio teams. The 2006 Ohio team was pure over achievement to win the division and was slaughtered by CMU in the MACC.

Last Edited: 9/22/2016 10:02:06 PM by TWT

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

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