Our next game for discussion pits Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan. This is round two of a home and home series with one of the bottom tier MAC teams...at least in the last decade or so. Last year WITH talented QB (Taylor Heinicke), the Monarchs managed only a 17-3 win in Foreman field.

It remains to be seen if new QB Shuler Bentley can come on strong as a Freshman, but this is the game to test him out. If he can settle into this game and run the offense efficiently, ODU will be well served for the rest of the season. If not, well.... Eastern Michigan doesn't present many challenges, although from what I've read their offense has a few weapons in skills positions.

But this is a dangerous game for the Monarchs, in my opinion, and unless the defense comes up big, this will be another close game, as last year, but with EMU coming out on top. I don't think that will happen, and this is one of those G5 match-ups that a C-USA team must win.

So I'll call for the ODU win, but I think it will be close. ODU 21; EMU 17.

We will win. That's about all I have. Conditions weren't ideal when they came to Norfolk or else I think we would've blown it wide open, maybe. We'll see.

Last years game was weird. Awful rain and wind the entire game. Both teams really struggled to move the ball. I don't expect that to be the case and see us leaving with a 2-3TD win if SB can get settled in. I suspect we will see a minimum a 50/50 run/pass game for at least the first half. I think all of Monarch nation is eagerly awaiting this game to see how the new QB plays. But just as unknown is how much we change up the offense to utilize his strengths. We're loaded with TEs and a good stable of backs now... We may see a totally new Wilder Offense.

Shuler Bentley has big shoes to fill as he follows three-and-a-half-year starter Taylor Heinicke at the reins of the ODU offense, but all indicators point at Bentley being up to the task. Bentley was a three-star (247sports) recruit and the South Carolina Gatorade High School Offensive Player of the Year in both his junior and senior years. He had a redshirt year to mature, observe Heinicke and to learn the ODU offense. Coach Wildet has said that Bentley is ahead of where Heinicke was his freshman year. Now, as they say, the proof is in the pudding, but it seems strongly apparent that quarterback play will not be problematic for the Monarchs this year as long as Bentley stays healthy. Oh, and we have Ray Lawry back at running back, four of five starters back on the O-line and an experienced group of wide receivers led by three starters from last year; Pascal, Washington and (Melvin) Vaughn.

I spent some time last week chatting with ODU defensive coordinator Rich Nagy, and he is very upbeat about the defense and how much improved it will be over last year. He commented recently that the defense is now truly two-deep at every position, and that the defensive line has become the strongest part of the defense. Based on what I observed in the last three games of 2014 and the defensive performances in the spring scrimmages and spring game, the ODU defense will be significantly improved this year.

What does all this mean when looking at the Monarchs first game against Eeastern Michigan? To me it means don't use last year's game (which was played in a steady rain) as a measuring stick. I expect ODU to control the line of scrimmage and time of possession while putting some significant points on the board behind the running of Ray Lawry and the steady hand of Shuler Bentley.

ODU takes this one going away, 35-10.

This is one we need. Eastern Michigan was awlful last season. Provided weather conditions are better than last season I expect the Monarchs to win this with Lowry & Bentley living up to their billings. My only concern is this game is on the road and the new QB.
ODU 37
EMU 21

Eastern Michigan was 2-10 last year. They are awful. ODU's timing is perfect. If ODU doesn't win big, the Monarchs shouldn't bother to come home.

ODU 24
EMU 10

(06-26-2015 05:20 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  Eastern Michigan was 2-10 last year. They are awful. ODU's timing is perfect. If ODU doesn't win big, the Monarchs shouldn't bother to come home.

ODU 24
EMU 10

If the Dogs had come to Old Dominion last year with that same mandate, they would still be in Norfolk.

(06-26-2015 05:20 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  Eastern Michigan was 2-10 last year. They are awful. ODU's timing is perfect. If ODU doesn't win big, the Monarchs shouldn't bother to come home.

ODU 24
EMU 10

It's hard to have "bad timing" against EMU. They are perpetually terrible. They're like the Vandy of the MAC!

This is a must win for the program. We need to be better than the worst MAC team at this point in our development, even on the road with a RS FR QB.

IMO Last years game is not a good scale of measurement to gauge this years game in Ypsilanti. It was rainy and windy and really slippery to move the dang ball. Obviously with Heinecke gone we will have trouble scoring at will but if Bentley can do half of what he is advertised to do we should win this with at least 2 to 3 TD difference with the help of our ground game. That said EMU is one of the worst FBS teams that i have seen and I have more confidence that they will not perform than I have on our offense clicking in every way so we will see. ODU 38 - 17

Run, run, pass, score. Repeat. There will be at least a few offensive hiccups, so sprinkle in a few punts and I think that will end up being somewhat accurate. Look for Lawry to earn 100+ yards. 35-16 ODU wins.

Old Dirty will prevail!

(06-26-2015 08:19 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Our next game for discussion pits Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan. This is round two of a home and home series with one of the bottom tier MAC teams...at least in the last decade or so. Last year WITH talented QB (Taylor Heinicke), the Monarchs managed only a 17-3 win in Foreman field.

It remains to be seen if new QB Shuler Bentley can come on strong as a Freshman, but this is the game to test him out. If he can settle into this game and run the offense efficiently, ODU will be well served for the rest of the season. If not, well.... Eastern Michigan doesn't present many challenges, although from what I've read their offense has a few weapons in skills positions.

But this is a dangerous game for the Monarchs, in my opinion, and unless the defense comes up big, this will be another close game, as last year, but with EMU coming out on top. I don't think that will happen, and this is one of those G5 match-ups that a C-USA team must win.

So I'll call for the ODU win, but I think it will be close. ODU 21; EMU 17.

So you mean to tell me the Monarchs are only going to score 4 more points than they did a year ago in a monsoon on EMU? Well at least you gave us the win....

(06-27-2015 06:35 PM)ODUAlumni2015 Wrote:  

(06-26-2015 08:19 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Our next game for discussion pits Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan. This is round two of a home and home series with one of the bottom tier MAC teams...at least in the last decade or so. Last year WITH talented QB (Taylor Heinicke), the Monarchs managed only a 17-3 win in Foreman field.

It remains to be seen if new QB Shuler Bentley can come on strong as a Freshman, but this is the game to test him out. If he can settle into this game and run the offense efficiently, ODU will be well served for the rest of the season. If not, well.... Eastern Michigan doesn't present many challenges, although from what I've read their offense has a few weapons in skills positions.

But this is a dangerous game for the Monarchs, in my opinion, and unless the defense comes up big, this will be another close game, as last year, but with EMU coming out on top. I don't think that will happen, and this is one of those G5 match-ups that a C-USA team must win.

So I'll call for the ODU win, but I think it will be close. ODU 21; EMU 17.

So you mean to tell me the Monarchs are only going to score 4 more points than they did a year ago in a monsoon on EMU? Well at least you gave us the win....

I was there, it didn't rain that hard. According to Weather Underground, Norfolk received .33 inches of rain for the entire day http://www.wunderground.com/history/airp...reqdb.wmo=

I like ODU as long as Shuler Bentley plays well and moves the chains. ODU struggled with physical teams last season (Vandy and UTEP) and while EMU isn't in that category, they are a ball control offense that had huge opportunities in Norfolk but failed to capitalize on wide open receivers running across the field.

Their 3-4 lineman, Pat O'Connor, really hurt the right side of ODU's offensive line. This was the game Troy Butler was lost for the season and Heinicke went down a few times, including injuring his throwing shoulder on a scramble down the right sideline.

ODU should win something like 28-17 if it plays out as expected.

(06-27-2015 07:55 PM)ODUR8R Wrote:  

(06-27-2015 06:35 PM)ODUAlumni2015 Wrote:  

(06-26-2015 08:19 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Our next game for discussion pits Old Dominion @ Eastern Michigan. This is round two of a home and home series with one of the bottom tier MAC teams...at least in the last decade or so. Last year WITH talented QB (Taylor Heinicke), the Monarchs managed only a 17-3 win in Foreman field.

It remains to be seen if new QB Shuler Bentley can come on strong as a Freshman, but this is the game to test him out. If he can settle into this game and run the offense efficiently, ODU will be well served for the rest of the season. If not, well.... Eastern Michigan doesn't present many challenges, although from what I've read their offense has a few weapons in skills positions.

But this is a dangerous game for the Monarchs, in my opinion, and unless the defense comes up big, this will be another close game, as last year, but with EMU coming out on top. I don't think that will happen, and this is one of those G5 match-ups that a C-USA team must win.

So I'll call for the ODU win, but I think it will be close. ODU 21; EMU 17.

So you mean to tell me the Monarchs are only going to score 4 more points than they did a year ago in a monsoon on EMU? Well at least you gave us the win....

I was there, it didn't rain that hard. According to Weather Underground, Norfolk received .33 inches of rain for the entire day http://www.wunderground.com/history/airp...reqdb.wmo=

Yeah I'm with you...it was pouring at kickoff...tapered off by halftime. Drizzle in 2nd half with some wind.

It kinda reminds me of fishing. The more the tale is told.........

odu should drop half a hunny on them.

monarchs in a cakewalk.

fact.

I like the cut of your jib.

If Ray Lawry can break off some long runs throughout the game, he might make it to 200 yards rushing. Definitely going to lean on him, I think.