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So after the game on Saturday, yes we all made it to the end. Well, some of us in the tailgating lot in the cozy warm bus watching it on the big screen....My fellow Broncos and I started talking about possibly being BOWL Eligible. "What?" That was my first thought after ordering another micro-brewski at one of my favorite fine establishments in K-zoo. But the more I started thinking about it, the more I think that it really could be possible. Say what you want sober or not, it could actually be possible if everything falls in line.
We are 2-3 right now...

@Ball State W
@BGSU L
Ohio at Waldo toss up W
@Miami W
Eastern at Waldo W
@CMU W without Rawls
NIU at Waldo L

takes us to 7-5...thoughts

I believe we can, on a given day, beat anyone in the MAC; but that is what our league has been for a long time. We could lose to anyone too. Having said that, I would agree with your entire assessment. I would be very disappointed, moreover, if we lost to either CMU or Ohio. NIU will be a tough one, but frankly none of our opponents can be taken for granted. We may lose one we shouldn’t, and win one we should have lost.

I will tell you this; my eyes are glued to every play this year. That wasn’t always the case the past few years. It is exciting to watch this group grow.

No MAC team was really impressed me yet and Ball State, Ohio, Miami and EMU are all ripe for the picking. CMU game is always a toss-up as well. Even BGSU and NIU have looked less than impressive. Not a game on our schedule that we can't win. I think we can get to bowl eligibility.

We should beat Ball State this week. If we can beat BGSU, we could have a nice atmosphere at Waldo for Ohio...if the weather cooperates...

I would not be surprised to see WMU go 8-4 this year !!
Good luck the rest of the way !!

I'm feeling good about 6-6, for sure. But only if we take care of business in Muncie.

Stop it.

I just LOL'd.

I don't feel sure about anything. We beat the teams we're supposed to beat so far, and held one of our "sure losses" to an OT Loss. These next 3 weeks are HUGE.

(10-06-2014 12:21 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  I don't feel sure about anything. We beat the teams we're supposed to beat so far, and held one of our "sure losses" to an OT Loss. These next 3 weeks are HUGE.

Exactly!

(10-06-2014 12:12 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  I'm feeling good about 6-6, for sure. But only if we take care of business in Muncie.

Whos coaching Special Teams Saturday?

(10-06-2014 12:26 PM)WMU83 Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 12:12 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  I'm feeling good about 6-6, for sure. But only if we take care of business in Muncie.

Whos coaching Special Teams Saturday?

You guys can beat BGSU, their defense is a lot worse than Toledo's. With Franklin, you guys should beat them.

With our kicking game, I would have to say 6-6 is more realistic, as an improved Goal. Unless along with the FG kicking, our special teams gets shored up Real Quick, Terrell continues the way he is, the Toledo game didn't bring our team down, and our D keeps stepping up -- it's likely going to be a "tough" 5-7 team. BUT, with some of that improved? Yeah, 6-6 is, IMO, a good goal. I think our POTENTIAL is great -- to either beat a team we "shouldn't" -- or to lose to a team that's fired up (see @CMU) that we should go toe-to-toe with. We're still in getting-grounded phase.

Eastern, @Miami, @BSU, Ohio:
0 Wins: 5% Chance
1 Wins: 10% Chance
2 Wins: 40% Chance
3 Wins: 35% Chance
4 Wins: 10% Chance
= 2.35 Wins

@BGSU, @CMU, NIU:
0 Wins: 50% Chance
1 Wins: 30% Chance
2 Wins: 15% Chance
3 Wins: 5% Chance
= 0.75 Wins

= 3.10 Wins (5-7)

I don't think there are any guaranteed wins or losses remaining on our schedule. EMU has beaten us three times in a row, so we can't assume anything. NIU didn't exactly look like a powerhouse against Kent State. You could make a strong argument that Toledo is better than anyone remaining on our schedule.

Needless to say, a victory in Muncie on Saturday would go a long way toward continuing this conversation...

Quote:I don't think there are any guaranteed wins or losses remaining on our schedule. EMU has beaten us three times in a row, so we can't assume anything.

I would say EMU would be the only "guaranSheed" win -- assuming our team doesn't break down mentally or physically due to tough losses. EMU has a new coach who has somehow been sub-par -- which is hard to say for a 1st year EMU coach, as they would have about as low expectations as anyone. They have a D that can step up on some series -- I'll give 'em that. But that's about it. Since they HAVE beaten us 3x in a row -- and this is at home -- look out. We're going to treat them like a b!tch. Only guaranSheed win. If we had CUBIT as coach? OK, I'd agree with you.

Quote:NIU didn't exactly look like a powerhouse against Kent State. You could make a strong argument that Toledo is better than anyone remaining on our schedule.

You could. Kent can step up on D and play tough. But they have no O. NIU is still figuring out their QB situation, and not doing a very good job of it. Unfortunately, it's the last game of the year -- by that time, I think they'll have their ducks in a row somewhat better. But guaranSheed loss? NO. I look at it like playing Toledo at home, except not bringing their C game like Toledo did. NIU's win looked bad, but so did Toledo's. With the two -- who's better? Just depends on how better your team matches up, is all.

Quote:Needless to say, a victory in Muncie on Saturday would go a long way toward continuing this conversation...

I agree. The MAC is having a down year, and we need to punch BSU in the face during their adjustment year. BSU started at -1, now it's up to -2.5. I put our chances at just coming down to:
- How well we execute
- Kicking game

If our kicking game isn't like the Toledo game, and we play mentally fired up & sound, we should win, IMO. But at this stage of this still-rebuilding-year for us -- can't bank on that. I think ANY game on our schedule is winnable. But also losable, with the exception of EMU (from a realistic basis).

I agree. The MAC is having a down year, and we need to punch BSU in the face during their adjustment year. BSU started at -1, now it's up to -2.5. I put our chances at just coming down to:
- How well we execute
- Kicking game

This spread kind of surprises me - not so much that we are underdogs, but that the Vegas money is swinging Ball State's way...

(10-06-2014 03:23 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  I agree. The MAC is having a down year, and we need to punch BSU in the face during their adjustment year. BSU started at -1, now it's up to -2.5. I put our chances at just coming down to:
- How well we execute
- Kicking game

This spread kind of surprises me - not so much that we are underdogs, but that the Vegas money is swinging Ball State's way...

Basically means they don't really know, so they're going with the home field.

Toledo had a slightly better D than BSU
Toledo had a way better offense than BSU

Toledo ran wild on BSU, but they had Kareem Hunt.
Mann was respectable against UT, but had nothing compared to Terrell's numbers.

The key I believe is to keep Edwards under a 125 yards and make Mann beat you through the air. Bend but don't break. Stack the box and make them pass it, particularly in the redzone.

Indiana State stacked the line and held Edwards to 75 yards. Perish threw for over 300 on them. Mann threw for the most yards he's had all year, but they lost.

Now if we could just install the triple option that Army runs, we'd have all the bases covered to exploit their weaknesses, but of course, that's not happening.

While I believe we have the players to win this, I'm not sure we have the mindset. My belief is that teams have to learn how to close out games and win. We're not there yet. The UT game could have been that confidence builder.

We need a game like the WMU vs. BG game that Cubit had in his first year. That type of game instilled a confidence that they could beat anyone. That game was on the road against a very good BG team. Ameer Ishmail had a bust out performance in that game. I hope the BSU game is that game. We need a bust out performance from someone. As we've seen this year we have plenty of players who are capable of having a huge day. Franklin, Davis, Terrell, Braverman, the DB's (Toler opened with a pick six against BSU a few years back on the games first play).

If Edwards has a big day BSU wins easily. If Franklin has a big day, and Terrell has a good day (200 yards passing), we win easily. UT's game plan was to take away the run. I think that's everyones game plan from here on in.

Quote:Now if we could just install the triple option that Army runs, we'd have all the bases covered to exploit their weaknesses, but of course, that's not happening.

I am available for the rest of the week but it comes at a heavy cost.

Seriously, would Franklin, Braverman/Phillips, and Terrell make a good triple option unit? I sort of think it could work with little read flip passes folded in as well. I'd worry about Terrell's durability.