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Topic: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Topic: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

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Rufusbobcat94
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Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 11:22:45 AM

2018 Ohio Bobcats preseason football highlights as reported in Phil Steele's 2018 College Football Preview Magazine. Contains SPOILERS if you are still waiting for the magazine:

1. Ranked 33rd in preseason top 40 FBS teams;
2. Ranked 5th on list of 'top non-power 5 teams for 2018;'
3. 8 Selections on preseason ALL MAC 1st/2nd team: Lowery, Rourke, Ouellette, Hagan first team;
4. Preseason MAC east number one team
5. Ranked 9th best Special Teams Unit in FBS;
6. Ranked 39th best Offensive Line Unit in FBS;
7. Ranked 53rd best Running Backs Unit in FBS;
8. Phil's 2018 Forecast: '...all 9 of my power rankings call for a double digit win season with one even calling for 12-0. They are a group of 5 NY day contender.'

Last Edited: 6/13/2018 11:46:55 AM by Rufusbobcat94

Bcat2
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 11:58:16 AM

More cats out of the bag.

Steele's OL/DL 65, 63, 61, 57, 60/95, 97, 48, 88

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Recovering Journalist
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 12:10:24 PM

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

Did he watch a single down of this team attempting to play defense last year?

mf279801
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 12:27:55 PM

Wait, is AJ Ouelette back this year? I didn't realize that we still had him: for some reason I'd assumed that he'd used up his eligibility and graduated last year.

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 1:21:13 PM

Yeah, old # 45 is back for one more year

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 1:24:13 PM

based on what he wrote about the team, he sees some issues. On the plus side he sees the starting safety duo as the best in the MAC and the DLine as inexperienced but very promising. He also liste Bradd Ellis had 19 pbu's last year, tied for 3rd nationally.

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 1:30:47 PM

Also, he was looking at the team as a whole. With the number 9 fbs special teams unit and an offense he expects to meet or exceed last year's ppg (39), we can win in those phases-we can outscore folks

L.C.
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 2:51:17 PM

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

In my analysis, the offense should be the best yet, with an outstanding line, outstanding receivers, and outstanding skill position players. I predict that they easily get more yards of offense than last year. Last year averaged 433 a game, which was less than 2011 or 2012. This year I'm looking for more like 485 a game.

The mystery is, can they produce more points? Last year's offense was extraordinarily efficient inside the redzone. The result was that they averaged a point for every 11 yards of offense, far exceeding the point per 15 yards that Ohio has historically had. Can this offense be as productive in the redzone? If so, they will exceed last year's totals. If they revert towards the mean, the points may drop a little. Say they get 485 yards a game, and a point per 13 yards, that will net them 37.3 points a game, down slightly from last year's 39.1.

One way or the other, this offense is going to be a lot of fun to watch. They are going to put up a lot of yards, and a lot of points. I hope that we get to see a lot of Maxwell, and Rourke can sit in most games by mid-way through the third quarter. I like the sound of 12-0, and it's not impossible. I think Ohio will be favored in all 12 games, but it's awfully tough to go twelve games in a row without being upset somewhere along the line.

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

Bcat2
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 3:24:28 PM

Steele sees Ohio vs NIU in MACC. Steele in his unit ratings gives NIU the #1 OL & DL.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

C Money
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 3:53:21 PM

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

I'd buy that reasoning, so long as two assumptions remain true: 1, the secondary is A LOT better this year and effective in those shootouts, and 2, our QB stays healthy.

Mike Johnson
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 5:42:04 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

Did he watch a single down of this team attempting to play defense last year?

Perhaps he watched the Toledo and UAB games.

http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 6:36:52 PM

great points particularly about the red zone efficiency-tough to top that for sure. No doubt they will be fun to watch again this year particularly on offense. I'd love to see what Papi can do in a full season.

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/13/2018 6:41:42 PM

Agreed. The whole dynamic on offense changes without Rourke at QB but we can win many of the games on our schedule with Maxwell. Definitely agree that pass defense needs to be better, fewer big plays. I'm excited to see what true sophomore Jamal Hudson can do in his second year: i think we got a really nice corner there.

OhioCatFan
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/14/2018 9:59:03 PM

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

Very interesting, and encouraging. I suspect that our RBs are going to be significantly better than Steele is projecting. If so, our chances of a NYD Bowl might be somewhat better than fifth out of the top five contenders.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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Doc Bobcat
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 9:42:01 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

I wonder if Steele mentions Maleek Irons.

As LC pointed out....red zone production will be important for points success.

I look at Maleek as OUr secret weapon...teams will need to account for him which should open up OUr passing game.

Last Edited: 6/15/2018 9:43:04 AM by Doc Bobcat

Bcat2
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 10:25:01 AM

Doc Bobcat wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

OU RBs rated #4 in MAC by Steele.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 11:09:58 AM

Bcat2 wrote:

Doc Bobcat wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

OU RBs rated #4 in MAC by Steele.

If they all stay healthy no way they should be ranked that low.

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 11:56:47 AM

Last Edited: 6/15/2018 11:57:38 AM by Doc Bobcat

L.C.
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 12:37:05 PM

Bcat2 wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

Doc Bobcat wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

.... ALL MAC 1st team:... Ouellette .....

...I suspect that our RBs are going to be significantly better than Steele is projecting.

... I wonder if Steele mentions Maleek Irons. ...

I look at Maleek as OUr secret weapon......

OU RBs rated #4 in MAC by Steele.

With the RB that Steele considers the best in the MAC, and yet only the fourth best RB group, that strongly indicates that he isn't super impressed with the backups. Remember that Irons didn't play in 2017, so if someone doesn't follow the program closely, they won't know who he is, other than his stats. From the outside, here is how it looks:
Irons 637 yards on 128 carries, 4.98/carry, 9 TDs
Ross 211 yards on 54 carries, 3.9/carry, 3 TDs
Irons has decent stats, but nothing to make you think that he has the potential to have a really awesome season, which I think he does. He sees the field very well, and he's fast, so he's very dangerous after he gets by the line of scrimmage. Dorian Brown had those same traits, and racked up over 600 yards and a 6.1 yard/carry average. Last year the offensive line was very good, so Brown ran wild in a few games.

This year I think the offensive line will be even better, and I think that plays really well into Irons' strengths, and he's going to surprise some people, including Steele. I have always been a believer that Irons has major potential, and I think this year he's going to unleash it. He's got nothing to lose, and no reason to hold back. I expect him to run low into first contact, and if he breaks through, and he often will, he'll use his speed and ability to see the field to make big plays happen.

In my opinion, the tandem of Ouellette and Irons is going to be a load for other teams to stop, and both are going to get some serious yards this year. After those two pound on opposing defense, the smaller, fast Ross will also get some yards.

Last Edited: 6/15/2018 12:39:15 PM by L.C.

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

OhioCatFan
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 12:50:53 PM

L.C. wrote:

. . .In my opinion, the tandem of Ouellette and Irons is going to be a load for other teams to stop, and both are going to get some serious yards this year. After those two pound on opposing defense, the smaller, fast Ross will also get some yards.

You're not suggesting the possibility of two-back sets are you?

Doc Bobcat
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 1:34:04 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

L.C. wrote:

You're not suggesting the possibility of two-back sets are you?

LC must be channeling Monroe.

shabamon
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 1:48:23 PM

Ouellette will get the bulk of the carries, but we might use Irons the same way we used Ryan Boykin as a fourth quarter back. Take a pounding from Ouellette all game and now try to tackle a 225 pound fresh battering ram at the end.

Last Edited: 6/15/2018 4:30:24 PM by shabamon

L.C.
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 2:20:16 PM

shabamon wrote:

Ouellette will get the bulk of the carries, but we might use Irons the same way we used Ryan Boykin as a fourth quarter back. Take a pounding from Irons all game and now try to tackle a 225 pound fresh battering ram at the end.

In 2013, it was 204 carries for Blankenship, 103 from Boykin. Last year it was 184 for Ouellette and 99 for Brown. In both cases it was about 2/3 and 1/3. It seems likely that we'll see the same this year.

Doc Bobcat wrote:

LC must be channeling Monroe.

Haha, I've always believed in Irons. I just didn't think he was ready as a Freshman, and needed to adjust to college, and improve in terms of running lower, especially in short yardage situations. Now it's time for him to show what he can do, and I'm looking for a pleasant surprise.

Last Edited: 6/15/2018 2:22:51 PM by L.C.

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

Bcat2
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 4:53:18 PM

shabamon wrote:

Oullette 1st Qtr, Irons 2nd Qtr. Hot hand 3rd Qtr, Ross mops up in the fourth. Some teams will load the box and hopefully Rourke will find White, Ball & Meyer to take advantage. Thing is the other team will have there own ideas about things. Of course any success they have will be kindling for the fire the coordinator movement.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Rufusbobcat94
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RE: Phil Steele 2018 Preseason Prediction Highlights- SPOILERS

Posted: 6/15/2018 6:27:02 PM

Doc Bobcat wrote:

OhioCatFan wrote:

Rufusbobcat94 wrote:

Steele mentions Irons briefly but not too much detail. He has him second behind AJ on the depth chart. Either if AJ gets hurt or even as a second teamer, Irons will have a chance to make a difference.

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