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I watched their games against UMASS and Cinci, the QB looked like a more than decent who isn't afraid to try and make a play.

I don't know what slappo was talking about regarding their receivers, they have two good possession types on that team that have good hands and make plays. Their defense is very slow, but they play their positions well and their LB's play the run well. The slant routes were there all day for UMASS.

I agree, we can't let their QB get settled or he'll make some plays. I think it'll go down like the Idaho game, us flat out outscoring them.

(10-26-2014 05:03 PM)WMU83 Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 02:28 PM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I watched some of the Miami game last night. They have ONE player. Hendrix, an ND transfer. They're as good as he makes them. No real threat to run, and a bunch of pedestrian receivers.

Defensively, they are pretty bad.

That said, if you go into this game thinking "easy win" the opposite will likely happen. I think Fleck is very good at bringing these guys down to earth and getting them to focus on how to improve, and why they need to respect their opponent.

Personally, I think we have a combination that could give them fits. Lock down DB's allow for a lot of pressure on the QB. That will be the game plan once again, but in Miami's case I think they're more ill-prepared to handle this D than any team we've faced this year.

I am worried about their receivers, Frazier and Williams are big weapons. Our secondary has been average, at best. Hendrix has made plays all year long, so its going to be crucial that we get a pass rush going.

I completely disagree with people saying our secondary has been average. Statistically it has been. However, because of the style we play, in effect a lot of man to man and leaving guys on an island, I think WMU's secondary is having a better than average season. Especially considering how heavily pass oriented the MAC is. Besides Milas, who has really lit them up? And coverage wasn't so much a concern as the quality of the Ball St. receivers. Many of their catches were made with a DB hanging right on them. Everything has been geared towards stopping the run this year, and that's because WMU has to play that way with the lack of physicality and experience of the front seven. If people have been paying attention, Pinkham has been loading up blitzes regularly to help create pressure, so Zamort, Celiscar, Currie, and even Atkins are covering man.

They've been in man a LOT. I worry that a team with a qb is going to exploit that.

(10-27-2014 04:54 AM)DesertBronco Wrote:  They've been in man a LOT. I worry that a team with a qb is going to exploit that.

I'm sure they will. But WMU can't just go with a base defense and expect to get pressure consistently, so this is what we get. It's WMU choosing their poison. And given how the roster is constructed, it's smart.

(10-27-2014 04:54 AM)DesertBronco Wrote:  They've been in man a LOT. I worry that a team with a qb is going to exploit that.

It's a double edged sword. If he can get the ball off quick he can have success, but even that's not easy because the corners are playing man but they don't give any cushion at the line of scrimmage.

The linebackers sit on pass coverage but the weak side LBer almost always comes with a delayed blitz. Basically we stack the line and bring pressure. Doesn't leave much time for routes to develop.

Quick slants are there, a TE leaking out is there.

I think we keep them in check early and put up 38 slow methodical points, I'm thinking 24-7 early. Then we spend the second half setting on a lead keeping the ball in front of us. Giving up ground while burning clock.

Final score- 38-27

What I'd like to see is two halves of stepping on the gas on both sides of the ball.
Then you get something like 56-21.

These guys are young and seem to get better with every outting. We're going to have one game this year where we fire on all cylinders. I'd rather that be CMU or NIU, but Miami and NIU are more susceptible to a blowout because of porous defenses.