(06-03-2015 08:55 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  I think one of Memphis, Navy, or Houston will get pushed out of the top 3 in the west by Tulsa and what *should* be a really impressive offensive attack.

Truly I kinda consider last year a fluke season for Memphis as the entire west division was just floundering during the conference slate.

Sure. BYU sucks.

(06-03-2015 09:09 PM)msu65 Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 08:55 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  I think one of Memphis, Navy, or Houston will get pushed out of the top 3 in the west by Tulsa and what *should* be a really impressive offensive attack.

Truly I kinda consider last year a fluke season for Memphis as the entire west division was just floundering during the conference slate.

Sure. BYU sucks.

No, you guys did well. I'm just saying Justin Fuente may not look so prodigal when the rest of the teams are their usual selves.

(06-03-2015 07:37 AM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 07:30 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  ECU did not lose that many players. We return are OL, RBs, front 7, and a better secondary. We lost two WRs and our QB. However we still have tons of talented WRs and a starting QB who is on Phil Steels All-AAC fourth team and hasn't even started yet. So he already thinks we have the fourth best QB in the league.

My predictions
EAST
1 East Carolina
2 Cincinnati
3 UCF
4 Temple
5 USF
6 UCONN

WEST
1 Memphis
2 Houston
3 SMU
4 Navy
5 Tulane
6 Tulsa

...and so it begins.

Believe I read somewhere that Memphis lost almost their entire defense (3 starters returning). I have hard time believing Memphis will be any higher than middle of the pack.

(06-03-2015 09:00 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  You ECU guys are a funny lot.

ECU wins it...with a new QB? Well...haha we'll see.

Damnation seize my soul if I give you quarter, or take any from you.

(06-03-2015 04:37 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 01:16 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  I just hope someone other than ECU can start beating P5s. We need bayer from doing all the heavy lifting.

Boston College, Georgia, Penn state, Louisville, baylor.

UCF, ECU, and Houston have all beaten their fair share and lead the way in that category for the AAC.

What about Cincy?

(06-04-2015 03:16 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 04:37 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 01:16 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  I just hope someone other than ECU can start beating P5s. We need bayer from doing all the heavy lifting.

Boston College, Georgia, Penn state, Louisville, baylor.

UCF, ECU, and Houston have all beaten their fair share and lead the way in that category for the AACi

What about Cincy?

Over the last 5-6 years? Everbody that was in the Big East multiple times, Ville, Pitt, Cuse, WVU, UConn, Rutgers, USF, NC State, Oregon State x2, Vandy, Illinois, Purdue, VaTech, Duke etc. Most difficult loss OOC, was probably 31-29 against Oklahoma. We outplayed them.

We get the Hurricanes at home this year on a Thursday night.

(06-04-2015 05:03 AM)St. H. Gink Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 07:37 AM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 07:30 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  ECU did not lose that many players. We return are OL, RBs, front 7, and a better secondary. We lost two WRs and our QB. However we still have tons of talented WRs and a starting QB who is on Phil Steels All-AAC fourth team and hasn't even started yet. So he already thinks we have the fourth best QB in the league.

My predictions
EAST
1 East Carolina
2 Cincinnati
3 UCF
4 Temple
5 USF
6 UCONN

WEST
1 Memphis
2 Houston
3 SMU
4 Navy
5 Tulane
6 Tulsa

...and so it begins.

Honestly our overall roster will be better than it was last year. The question is can the new QB come in and immediately produce. Past air raid teams including ECU have show this isn't that unlikely.

Hardy, Carden, and Worthy are the big losses, everywhere else we are deep.

I watched that Dallas bowl with Houston and PSU, Cougs came out firing and played an inspired game.

(06-04-2015 03:16 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 04:37 PM)Kruciff Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 01:16 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  I just hope someone other than ECU can start beating P5s. We need bayer from doing all the heavy lifting.

Boston College, Georgia, Penn state, Louisville, baylor.

UCF, ECU, and Houston have all beaten their fair share and lead the way in that category for the AAC.

What about Cincy?

Purdue, Pitt, VT, UofL, Syracuse, Duke, Rutgers, Vanderbilt, NC State all in the last 5 years. Granted, we were in a conference with half of them when we beat them + we haven't beaten a P5 since Purdue in 2013. So there's definitely work to be done for the Bearcats. It would be a good start this year by taking down the U at Nippert.

I meant out of conference, but impressive list by Cincy, as well.

(06-03-2015 04:15 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 04:09 PM)zfred12 Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 04:03 PM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 10:09 AM)zfred12 Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 09:23 AM)DowdyPirate Wrote:  

You're probably just still salty about last year lol

I have no clue what you mean by salty, but no I just find it funny that it's acceptable for UCF to be predicted first when a team that returns more starters and had 3 times as many phil steele all conferencers (ECU) is ridiculed for being predicted first.

Well, phil steele's picks for all conference players is an air tight argument lol. Phil Steele has a much more proven track record predicting season outcomes and not so much on individual awards. UCF has won the AAC the past two years in a row as I am sure you and everyone else here knows. You are all reminded constantly of that fact. So thats why its acceptable to pick UCF to win the conference. UCF has dealt with turnover in the past with no problems and this year will be no different, in my opinion. We have reached a point under O'Leary that we reload for the next year and don't need to rebuild. Next man up.

This is all speculation until the games are played so lighten up.

What the heck. UCF fans are the ones who need to lighten up. No one dare pick UCF to finish worst than first or omniscient moderator Kruciff will mock you

Ummmm the OP is a UCF fan who picked UC....

(06-03-2015 09:00 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  You ECU guys are a funny lot.

ECU wins it...with a new QB? Well...haha we'll see.

I think it is a long shot also..but...he is not a new QB. He knows the system, has taken thousands of snaps in practice and has had some limited playing time. It is not like he is a true Freshman. Our O line should be better and we should be able to run the football more this year to help him...especially in short yardage. I don't see us having to outscore opponents as much this year. I expect the defense to play more of a role. I see us winning 7 to 8. A lot of it will depend on our O line in both pass protection and run blocking. If they get the job done?...Benkert may surprise some folks.

The 2 concerns I have with this team is the secondary and special teams. In order to break though and have a really good season? Improvement must happen in these areas.

(06-04-2015 08:04 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 09:00 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  You ECU guys are a funny lot.

ECU wins it...with a new QB? Well...haha we'll see.

I think it is a long shot also..but...he is not a new QB. He knows the system, has taken thousands of snaps in practice and has had some limited playing time. It is not like he is a true Freshman. Our O line should be better and we should be able to run the football more this year to help him...especially in short yardage. I don't see us having to outscore opponents as much this year. I expect the defense to play more of a role. I see us winning 7 to 8. A lot of it will depend on our O line in both pass protection and run blocking. If they get the job done?...Benkert may surprise some folks.

The 2 concerns I have with this team is the secondary and special teams. In order to break though and have a really good season? Improvement must happen in these areas.

LOL you lost me right there....

(06-03-2015 12:02 AM)however Wrote:  The spring game is over, the draft is done, so it is time to predict the final standing of AAC football. This is an early prediction, but not an too early one.

1: Cincy-division champion

I think this year we need to count on cincy for that precious access spot, last year, the whole AAC dropped the ball on this one, and let boise steal the spot. This year, Cincy certainly looks like the prettiest girl in the aac locker room, both from paper and on field. And, cincy please take it home, if AAC loses to MWC again, this will not bold well for our conference, especially considering our contract renegotiation is around the corner.

2: Memphis-division champion

I really admired what happened on this team last year, it was such a great turnover in such a short period of time. Though, Memphis lost a tone in seniors, but with a quality coach and determination, I am sure the west division is Memphis' to lose.

3：UCF/Navy -division runner-up

For UCF, it is hard to be optimistic after loosing so many talents, and also holman, who, IMHO, is not a consistent QB by any means, otherwise, we would not lose to our buddy UCONN, and take the access away from Boise. But, I have faith at UCF and GOL as a whole. Yes, UCF will struggle, but it will never fall apart and 3-4th place seems possible at this point.

I didn't follow NAVY that much, but give their performance past couple seasons, I would say NAVY will look really good in the west division. But if NAVY is in the east division, I think it will be punched in the face by CINCY, UCF, and ECU. Anyway, second place in the west division looks very possible for NAVY's freshman season.

5: ECU/Houston--possible division runner up

Sorry, ECU and Houston, both my favorite programs, I enjoyed every game you had with UCF since C-USA days, but I couldn't give your guys more credit simply because you guys lost too many critical players, especially ECU, it will be a rebuild year throughout, and hope you could find a quality QB to replace Carden. Another reason is that both programs kinda have a tendency of loosing critical games, Houston's loss to Marshall, ECU's fugly loss to Temple, maybe nerve problems? or simply didn't tough enough to carry the whole season, or tradition, who knows.

7： Temple/USF--contender

Both programs have promising factors, but I think this year both teams are not able to compete for the division title, but personally I prefer I am wrong at Temple, this team is magic/wildcard, its home field is really something, you have to be king to be able to survive.
I have nothing to say about USF, only, good luck with your coach!

rest: SMU/Tulsa/Tulane/UCONN--looser bottom candidates

SMU could be better with new coach, but this year is no different, I see it struggle and it will be a amazing if it gets a bowl berth at the end.
Tulsa/Tulane: again, it takes time to see something happen, you guys are no Memphis.
UConn: our civil conflict buddy, you should focus on BB, and let grown ups play FB, and you, with-no-doubt, will be the looser bottom in the division, no disrespect!

UConn was better than UCF for several years under Randy Edsall. Your comments about UConn are idiotic. Enjoy your zero points.

(06-04-2015 08:49 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(06-04-2015 08:04 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 09:00 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  You ECU guys are a funny lot.

ECU wins it...with a new QB? Well...haha we'll see.

I think it is a long shot also..but...he is not a new QB. He knows the system, has taken thousands of snaps in practice and has had some limited playing time. It is not like he is a true Freshman. Our O line should be better and we should be able to run the football more this year to help him...especially in short yardage. I don't see us having to outscore opponents as much this year. I expect the defense to play more of a role. I see us winning 7 to 8. A lot of it will depend on our O line in both pass protection and run blocking. If they get the job done?...Benkert may surprise some folks.

The 2 concerns I have with this team is the secondary and special teams. In order to break though and have a really good season? Improvement must happen in these areas.

LOL you lost me right there....

This is the Texas Tech air raid, they replaced QBs without skipping a beat. So far, we have as well. Prior to Shane Carden we had Dominique Davis, that spent 2 years in the NFL. He might have been better than Shane, but with less weapons and defense.

This is a system, it's also a system that attracts quality QBs, and these coaches know what they are looking for.

(06-04-2015 07:30 AM)KittyHawkPirate Wrote:  Believe I read somewhere that Memphis lost almost their entire defense (3 starters returning). I have hard time believing Memphis will be any higher than middle of the pack.

Our defense probably won't fall off very much. The defensive coord believed in playing a lot of people. So we have more than three players returning with starters minutes as well as game experience at each position. Also defensive team speed actually should increase.

Our offense should be even better than the unit that put up 55 on BYU, as long as Paxton stays healthy.

As long as we survive our two early non conference games to Kansas and Bowling Green, we should compete for the division crown again.

(06-05-2015 10:02 AM)SouthernBlue Wrote:  

(06-04-2015 07:30 AM)KittyHawkPirate Wrote:  Believe I read somewhere that Memphis lost almost their entire defense (3 starters returning). I have hard time believing Memphis will be any higher than middle of the pack.

Our defense probably won't fall off very much. The defensive coord believed in playing a lot of people. So we have more than three players returning with starters minutes as well as game experience at each position. Also defensive team speed actually should increase.

Our offense should be even better than the unit that put up 55 on BYU, as long as Paxton stays healthy.

As long as we survive our two early non conference games to Kansas and Bowling Green, we should compete for the division crown again.

Experience is critical. You will have a fall out on defense; however, your offense can compensate. You are in the same boat as Cincinnati.

(06-03-2015 12:02 AM)however Wrote:  The spring game is over, the draft is done, so it is time to predict the final standing of AAC football. This is an early prediction, but not an too early one.

1: Cincy-division champion

I think this year we need to count on cincy for that precious access spot, last year, the whole AAC dropped the ball on this one, and let boise steal the spot. This year, Cincy certainly looks like the prettiest girl in the aac locker room, both from paper and on field. And, cincy please take it home, if AAC loses to MWC again, this will not bold well for our conference, especially considering our contract renegotiation is around the corner.

2: Memphis-division champion

I really admired what happened on this team last year, it was such a great turnover in such a short period of time. Though, Memphis lost a tone in seniors, but with a quality coach and determination, I am sure the west division is Memphis' to lose.

3：UCF/Navy -division runner-up

For UCF, it is hard to be optimistic after loosing so many talents, and also holman, who, IMHO, is not a consistent QB by any means, otherwise, we would not lose to our buddy UCONN, and take the access away from Boise. But, I have faith at UCF and GOL as a whole. Yes, UCF will struggle, but it will never fall apart and 3-4th place seems possible at this point.

I didn't follow NAVY that much, but give their performance past couple seasons, I would say NAVY will look really good in the west division. But if NAVY is in the east division, I think it will be punched in the face by CINCY, UCF, and ECU. Anyway, second place in the west division looks very possible for NAVY's freshman season.

5: ECU/Houston--possible division runner up

Sorry, ECU and Houston, both my favorite programs, I enjoyed every game you had with UCF since C-USA days, but I couldn't give your guys more credit simply because you guys lost too many critical players, especially ECU, it will be a rebuild year throughout, and hope you could find a quality QB to replace Carden. Another reason is that both programs kinda have a tendency of loosing critical games, Houston's loss to Marshall, ECU's fugly loss to Temple, maybe nerve problems? or simply didn't tough enough to carry the whole season, or tradition, who knows.

7： Temple/USF--contender

Both programs have promising factors, but I think this year both teams are not able to compete for the division title, but personally I prefer I am wrong at Temple, this team is magic/wildcard, its home field is really something, you have to be king to be able to survive.
I have nothing to say about USF, only, good luck with your coach!

rest: SMU/Tulsa/Tulane/UCONN--looser bottom candidates

SMU could be better with new coach, but this year is no different, I see it struggle and it will be a amazing if it gets a bowl berth at the end.
Tulsa/Tulane: again, it takes time to see something happen, you guys are no Memphis.
UConn: our civil conflict buddy, you should focus on BB, and let grown ups play FB, and you, with-no-doubt, will be the looser bottom in the division, no disrespect!

Civil conflict. I crack up everytime I see that. Lmao

Sounds like something from a divorce hearing. Lol

Why not call it the courteous tussle or angry pillow fight

Civil conflict. Bwahahaha

Yall gotta stop

(06-04-2015 08:49 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  

(06-04-2015 08:04 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(06-03-2015 09:00 AM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  You ECU guys are a funny lot.

ECU wins it...with a new QB? Well...haha we'll see.

I think it is a long shot also..but...he is not a new QB. He knows the system, has taken thousands of snaps in practice and has had some limited playing time. It is not like he is a true Freshman. Our O line should be better and we should be able to run the football more this year to help him...especially in short yardage. I don't see us having to outscore opponents as much this year. I expect the defense to play more of a role. I see us winning 7 to 8. A lot of it will depend on our O line in both pass protection and run blocking. If they get the job done?...Benkert may surprise some folks.

The 2 concerns I have with this team is the secondary and special teams. In order to break though and have a really good season? Improvement must happen in these areas.

LOL you lost me right there....

The point is that he is not a Freshman with zero experience in this offense. In fact he was an early signee and has and extra spring under his belt. He is not coming in unprepared and lost.