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Topic: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Topic: Is it irrational to feel confident?

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Kevin Finnegan
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Member Since: 2/4/2005
Location: Rockton, IL
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Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 9:39:14 PM

I know the record isn't as great as we hoped at 5-3, but the way this team has played the last two weeks, they look untouchable. Could this be the year? I'm feeling that Detroit is in play. I also feel that this team could beat anybody in the west, especially in a neutral setting.

Those first few weeks feel like preseason compared to how we are performing now. Congrats to the defense for truly stepping it up two (almost three) straight weeks.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,102

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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 9:44:16 PM

After what we did tonight and what WMU didn't do it looks at least there is a viable path to play for a title. Meaning that we have a real chance of taking out WMU, Miami and Akron to set up a title match with Buffalo. Next week if they win Ohio is bowl eligible for the 10th straight year. Then its Miami which is always important and we are back in Peden for the final two games.

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

Mark Lembright '85
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Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Highland Heights, OH
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 9:48:48 PM

finnOhio wrote:

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT WIN TONIGHT!!!!

Let�s see how the team does on the road next week against a pissed off WMU team that�s currently getting spanked by Toledo. And then Ohio has to play a resurgent Fiami and one loss Buffalo.

Ohio typically sets us up for disappointment; see end of last year. Ohio was 8-2 only to lay eggs against Akron and Buffalo. So we�ve been here before. Can Ohio do this year what it couldn�t do last year? Dunno.

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,102

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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 9:59:19 PM

Ohio can't afford even one loss for the remainder of the season. Buffalo could drop a game and still take the east by defeating Ohio. This is a problem Ohio hasn't faced in previous years without a serious competitor in the east.

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

TWT
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,102

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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 10:12:45 PM

Correction from my first post. Ohio just has to get through WMU and Miami to set up a showdown with Buffalo. Two road games but a good chance in both.

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

bshot44
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Member Since: 2/12/2012
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 10:31:55 PM

Mark Lembright '85 wrote:

finnOhio wrote:

Exactly! That was a dominating performance tonight. That is what I expected for most of season. Well done!

But yes .... these next two road games are winnable .... but Ohio is 1-3 away from Peden already.

We'll see what they're made of next two weeks. Challenging opponents ... but both that Ohio "should" beat

Casper71
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 10:36:40 PM

Two big home blowouts should give this team a lot of confidence. But, they have two difficult road games coming up to show if they are Championship caliber or not. I think this team MUST come in second in the East to get to a Bowl game. Not sure 6-6 and 3rd will get it done. 7-5 and second might. Best senoario is win the three East games and end at least 8-4 which won't be easy!!

LuckySparrow
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Member Since: 10/15/2012
Location: Illinois
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/25/2018 10:46:39 PM

Seeing the defensive improvements make me feel some confidence. This was truly a dominant performance all around, so it's easy to feel this way.

Still, you can stop our offense completely if you're able to stop the run on first and second down. We saw this against NIU. Rourke is an efficient passing QB but I don't feel confident with him dropping back on 3rd and long. Luckily with Rourke's running and scrambling ability, our rushing potential is always solid.

I don't think we'll go 4-0, sadly. And it's quite likely 2-2 is how it turns out. Hope I am wrong though.

What a day at the Convo.....Wow!

catfan28
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 10:00:39 AM

Hard to gauge where we are at right now. BGSU and BSU are clearly BAD - and endured some extenuating circumstances (BGSU coaching change, BSU quarterback injury). Nevertheless, the last 2 games have been encouraging.

If we can survive @WMU and @Miami (big IF), I like our chances against Buffalo. Drop one of those games, and I think we're looking at 2-2 or even 1-3 to close out the year.

At this point, I'd say a bowl game is a virtual lock (given the sheer number of bowls). MAC Championship Game is certainly still a "long shot", but in play.

Pataskala
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 11:00:58 AM

catfan28 wrote:

The D has actually played well in four straight games, but except for NIU the competition hasn't been great. And NIU doesn't have the offensive weapons they've had in the past, so it's hard to gauge. The performance has been encouraging, but next week will be a real test. Toledo had something to prove last night after losing to EMU the week before, and I expect WMU will have a chip on its shoulder next week. I hope we don't have to get into a shootout with WMU because we haven't played well offensively on the road this year. We're averaging only 27 ppg on the road (vs 49 at home) and only 24 ppg in MAC road games (vs 50 at home). That's a huge dropoff. The D will really have to come up big next week.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Scott Woods
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Location: On the banks of the Ohio, OH
Post Count: 237

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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 11:11:36 AM

catfan28 wrote:

Since LC doesn't appear to be posting anymore, I'll step in with his usual TeamRankings (https://www.teamrankings.com/college-football/team/ohio-b... ) post, albeit not with all the detail he usually provides:

Date Opponent Loc Win Odds
11/1 W Michigan Away 44.5%
11/7 Miami (OH) Away 49.4%
11/14 Buffalo Home 53.6%
11/23 Akron Home 81.0%

Looks like they think our games go from hardest to easiest the rest of the way out.

Last Edited: 10/26/2018 11:13:22 AM by Scott Woods

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spongeBOB CATpants
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 11:18:33 AM

Exciting few weeks of football left. I like our chances against WMU after what Toledo did to them in 'Zoo. Lot of points to be scored there.

It'll be nice to play Miami in a meaningful and competitive game again.

Akron game scares me. Especially if we can pull off the Buffalo upset.

Maddog13
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Location: Albuquerque, NM
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 11:19:19 AM

I see continued improvement instead of a mid-season plateau that is followed by a massive decline during the latter part of the season. Still, this is the MAC where any team can fall on any given weekend, including Buffalo. Let us hope that all those weight related Reps and aerobic conditioning during the off-season begin to pay big dividends, and that the injury related Gods and Goddesses decide to pick on somebody else in the MAC this year.

Bcat2
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Member Since: 7/6/2010
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 12:01:23 PM

spongeBOB CATpants wrote:

Western's coach said they hoped to contain and get pressure with four. They could not and were required to devote additional bodies to the line of scrimmage. He said Toledo's tackles were size of hotels and they hoped to pressure through the guards, did not work. With the WRs Toledo has he knew bringing up LBs would open things up downfield. His big disappointment was that they never did get pressure, 0 sacks and allowed 7.7 per rush. Western was only able to muster 3.7 per rush which they needed to abandon as they fell behind early in the second half. Western's QB Wassink was injured in the first quarter. New QB, Eleby, was 23-28, 293 yards, but, held the ball under pressure taking five sacks. Expect they will get that worked out should Wassink not be available against Ohio.

Last Edited: 10/26/2018 12:21:40 PM by Bcat2

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Deciduous Forest Cat
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Ohio
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 12:15:40 PM

We keep the turnovers to 1 or fewer (see: zero) we win every game.

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 12:32:09 PM

Ball State actually has a better offense than Buffalo in terms of yards per game, but they have had trouble scoring (59th in total offensive yards, 106th in avg ppg). So take that for whatever it's worth.

The defense has definitely improved over the last three games, but playing against competition that isn't as skilled offensively has lent a hand in that. Here are the remaining opponents offensive rankings:

WMU: 33rd ppg, 24th in ypg

Miami: 85th ppg, 97th ypg

Buffalo: 41st ppg, 64th ypg

Akron: 108th ppg, 123rd ypg

It will be interesting to see what the defense can come up with in the last quarter of the season.

Pataskala
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 3:23:43 PM

Buffalo has an interesting QB in Tyree Jackson. 6'7", 245. It's like having a lineman in the backfield. He's really a load to bring down; only six sacks on the year, all in MAC play. His numbers are good: 56% completions for about 240 yds a game with 20 TDs and only 8 INTs. He doesn't do as well on the road as he does at home, and in the MAC he's thrown only 7 TDs with 5 INTs. In Buffalo's only loss, Army held him to 10/24 for 152 yds and a TD. He's not a real threat to run: 23 carries for 65 yds, and 57 of those came against Akron.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

Buckeye to Bobcat
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/26/2018 8:48:22 PM

I don't think it's irrational at all. As to me, I am conflicted, as I feel like I'm watching the Coyote about to catch Roadrunner for some reason.....

AlumDadDad
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/27/2018 8:41:34 AM

Buckeye to Bobcat wrote:

I don't think it's irrational at all. As to me, I am conflicted, as I feel like I'm watching the Coyote about to catch Roadrunner for some reason.....

This is CLASSIC!!! Definitely had me laughing (and agreeing)

AlumDadDad
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/27/2018 10:37:20 AM

Why I think we're seeing what we're seeing:

Injuries - Mid-season plateau/late season drop-off: The coaches have recognized this issue and the fall camp injuries, hence the reduced contact/scrimmages during fall camp. This likely contributed to our slow start, but will hopefully continue to show benefits through the remainder of the season. This is a very dynamic issue, though, as all it takes is one game for some key injuries to occur. Things that concern me now - Kittrel's injury and the nasty targeting hit on Rourke vs. Ball State.

Offensive line performance: The key to our slow start offensively. The new OL coach and the changes he brought have takes some time for the OL to assimilate. We are now seeing the type of performance we (and MAC coaches) expected pre-season.

Defensive performance: We knew that there would be a drop-off in the front 7 due to loss of key players and lack of game experience in the replacements. They are really beginning to get their legs under them now. Will they be as good as last year's? Probably not. Do they need to be? No. If the running game continues to perform at (or near) this level, the defense will be protected by the offense.

The last two teams we have played are pretty bad...it's hard to argue otherwise. However, if we continue to play at this level, I think we'll be fine. Even with the improved competition, there's plenty of wiggle room between running a team completely out of the stadium (as we did) and just winning, baby.

The media may be ready to anoint Buffalo as the conference champs, but I guarantee that the Buffalo coaching staff is enduring their share of heartburn watching our running game grinding up defenses as we expected them to...let''s hope they get to experience that too.

Last Edited: 10/27/2018 10:39:10 AM by AlumDadDad

spongeBOB CATpants
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/31/2018 11:43:39 AM

How we feeling after the Miami/Buffalo game last night?

BryanHall
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/31/2018 1:27:15 PM

Like the Cats can easily lose to Fiami as well?

Kevin Finnegan
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Location: Rockton, IL
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/31/2018 1:30:02 PM

I actually feel like both teams can be had after last night's game. Their offenses are strong, but their defenses appeared porous. I feel our offense is better than either of theirs. We knew our D would give up points, the question was whether our O could score. We could score at will, then need to get some stops, maybe be extra-aggressive.

bshot44
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/31/2018 1:34:03 PM

finnOhio wrote:

Road Games in the MAC ... not exactly scoring at will.

Ohio 27 pts at Kent
Ohio 21 pts at NIU

They need to get that turned around to win at WMU tomorrow and at Miami next week

Last Edited: 10/31/2018 1:34:41 PM by bshot44

spongeBOB CATpants
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RE: Is it irrational to feel confident?

Posted: 10/31/2018 2:51:20 PM

BryanHall wrote:

Like the Cats can easily lose to Fiami as well?

LOL that's one way to look at it!

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