http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/t...l-rankings

I approve of these rankings

(01-26-2015 12:03 PM)zfred12 Wrote:  I approve of these rankings

Directionally, I agree with those ratings also. I'm not sure that the Tiger defense will be at the level to finish atop (tied) the conference.

However, I think that's a good general or directional rating to start from. If I had to pick potential movement from that rating; perhaps Houston and Navy could rise and Memphis could slip.

2. Memphis (10-3, 7-1): The Tigers would have supplanted UCF at No. 1 had they not suffered such huge losses on defense....

"Huge losses" is right --- filling this gap is going to be one of the keys to Memphis' season.

i don't agree with these rankings at all...

he solely ranked ucf #1 just because without any research on the team...
you can tell he knows memphis and was talking rreturning starters and stuff..but you can tell he doesnt know much about anyone else and just gave generic responses off minimal information....

Generally I agree. As a homer, I beleive ECU will do a little bit better than forecast. I also expect Navy to do better than forecast - they always seem to be a VERY physical team.

(01-26-2015 12:34 PM)pesik Wrote:  i don't agree with these rankings at all...

he solely ranked ucf #1 just because without any research on the team...
you can tell he knows memphis and was talking rreturning starters and stuff..but you can tell he doesnt know much about anyone else and just gave generic responses of minimal information....

Agreed. It was a lazily researched prognostication IMO. Not only did he not mention the players who return, he did not go into any details of who teams play (ie. based on the division set up Memphis does not play UCF or East Carolina).

I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

We take a hit on defense with starters gone but we also bring in seasoned young players from last year that got major reps as well. It is a wait and see approach with Memphis this year.

(01-26-2015 12:42 PM)Knightbengal Wrote:  I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

i disagreee, on paper (on paper which doesnt end up always right)... Cincy should win the east and should be the strongest team overall "on paper" and memphis or houson almost certainly wins the west

(01-26-2015 12:34 PM)pesik Wrote:  i don't agree with these rankings at all...

he solely ranked ucf #1 just because without any research on the team...
you can tell he knows memphis and was talking rreturning starters and stuff..but you can tell he doesnt know much about anyone else and just gave generic responses off minimal information....

So, what would you change about the rankings?

(01-26-2015 12:55 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:42 PM)Knightbengal Wrote:  I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

i disagreee, on paper (on paper which doesnt end up always right)... Cincy should win the west and should be the strongest team overall "on paper" and memphis or houson almost certainly wins the west

Cincinnati is in the east.

I agree the Bearcats are strong on paper. In addition to Gunner Kiel and the eight WR's mentioned the article, we return the top 3 running backs from last year, some depth at OL and DT as well as the entire secondary. There are still some question marks at defensive end and linebacker but those positions are being filled by young talent that are moving up the depth charts.

The big key for Cincinnati, as mentioned in the article, is keeping Gunner Kiel healthy. Hopefully a lot of that will be addressed as he matures as a QB, learning not to take so many hits (remember it was first year playing at this level).

(01-26-2015 12:42 PM)Knightbengal Wrote:  I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

We need a Boise in this conference.

1. Cincinnati (17) 311
2. UCF (7) 296
3. Houston (6) 268
4. East Carolina 262
5. SMU 158
6. USF 157
7. Memphis 133
8. Temple 105
9. UConn 98
10. Tulane 98
11. Tulsa 94

This is the pre-season poll. Pretty solid up top but there will be at least one surprise just like last year (Memphis).

(01-26-2015 01:03 PM)wavefan12 Wrote:  1. Cincinnati (17) 311
2. UCF (7) 296
3. Houston (6) 268
4. East Carolina 262
5. SMU 158
6. USF 157
7. Memphis 133
8. Temple 105
9. UConn 98
10. Tulane 98
11. Tulsa 94

This is the pre-season poll. Pretty solid up top but there will be at least one surprise just like last year (Memphis).

Navy is my surprise

(01-26-2015 01:03 PM)wavefan12 Wrote:  1. Cincinnati (17) 311
2. UCF (7) 296
3. Houston (6) 268
4. East Carolina 262
5. SMU 158
6. USF 157
7. Memphis 133
8. Temple 105
9. UConn 98
10. Tulane 98
11. Tulsa 94

This is the pre-season poll. Pretty solid up top but there will be at least one surprise just like last year (Memphis).

That is last years

Memphis and Houston in the West and UCF and Cincinnati in the East.

(01-26-2015 12:58 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:55 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:42 PM)Knightbengal Wrote:  I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

i disagreee, on paper (on paper which doesnt end up always right)... Cincy should win the west and should be the strongest team overall "on paper" and memphis or houson almost certainly wins the west

Cincinnati is in the east.

I agree the Bearcats are strong on paper. In addition to Gunner Kiel and the eight WR's mentioned the article, we return the top 3 running backs from last year, some depth at OL and DT as well as the entire secondary. There are still some question marks at defensive end and linebacker but those positions are being filled by young talent that are moving up the depth charts.

The big key for Cincinnati, as mentioned in the article, is keeping Gunner Kiel healthy. Hopefully a lot of that will be addressed as he matures as a QB, learning not to take so many hits (remember it was first year playing at this level).

i meant to type East.....gunner's healthy is obviously issue #1, but stepping up on the big stage is another issue..on paper if i had to rank the AAC teams i d put Cincy #1 but but if im picking from my gut, cincy messes it up somehow .....

(01-26-2015 01:08 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:58 PM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:55 PM)pesik Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 12:42 PM)Knightbengal Wrote:  I think Houston Memphis cincy and Ucf will be a toss up next year. Unfortunately I don't think this bodes well for our g5 access bowl aspirations

i disagreee, on paper (on paper which doesnt end up always right)... Cincy should win the west and should be the strongest team overall "on paper" and memphis or houson almost certainly wins the west

Cincinnati is in the east.

I agree the Bearcats are strong on paper. In addition to Gunner Kiel and the eight WR's mentioned the article, we return the top 3 running backs from last year, some depth at OL and DT as well as the entire secondary. There are still some question marks at defensive end and linebacker but those positions are being filled by young talent that are moving up the depth charts.

The big key for Cincinnati, as mentioned in the article, is keeping Gunner Kiel healthy. Hopefully a lot of that will be addressed as he matures as a QB, learning not to take so many hits (remember it was first year playing at this level).

i meant to type East.....gunner's healthy is obviously issue #1, but stepping up on the big stage is another issue..on paper if i had to rank the AAC teams i d put Cincy #1 but but if im picking from my gut, cincy messes it up somehow .....

Hey I don't blame you for feeling that way. UC fans have watched the coaches/team crap the bed more than one occasion the past two years. In 2013 the coaches tried to run a power game when it was obviouis to every one we did not have the players to run that kind of offense. It cost us games against Illinois and USF that we should have won. The coaches switched mid-stream but by then it was too late. In 2014 we hired a new DC and had no clue/made no adjustments through the first five games. Once we started making adjustments the team ran the table and won a share of the conference championship. Don't even get me starteed on the team not showing up for the last two bowl games.

I expect ECU to be better than that, but I also expect every preseason prediction to have us rated around there or lower.