Last regular season game of the season, and I think we were all hoping that it would mean a little more than it does. But a win would put us at 7-5...and a bowl win would put us back at 8 wins. So all is not lost...we could still match last year's wins even though the schedule has been much tougher.
But....that will be very hard to do.
Toledo has the best defense in the MAC, and this game is in the Glass Bowl. Toledo allows the fewest points of any team in the MAC, and has arguably the best front 7 in the conference.
Some key stats-
Scoring defense: Toledo - 19.7
WMU - 27.9
Rushing defense: Toledo - 112.3
WMU - 185.3
Rushing offense: Toledo - 214.4
WMU - 201.6
Sacks by: Toledo - 24
WMU - 13
Sacks against: Toledo - 3
WMU - 28
Turnover margin: Toledo - +7
WMU - 0
Red zone offense: Toledo - 86%
WMU - 80.4%
Red zone defense: Toledo - 62.5%
WMU - 85.7%
The only statistic that WMU holds a considerable lead in is TOP - WMU averages about 4 minutes more per game.
My fear is that Toledo is going to dominate the trenches, much like BG and NIU did, and just grind out the game on the ground. This is our last shot to prove that we can beat a team of significance in the MAC, but I don't feel good going into it.
Also, can I say just how miraculous it is that Toledo graduated all 5 starting O-lineman last year. Their line at the start of this season had 4 combined career starts. They have allowed 3 sacks and have one of the best rushing attacks in the conference at this point is the season. That's amazing.
(This post was last modified: 11-24-2015 11:36 AM by ColinApocalypse.)
(11-24-2015 11:31 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote: Last regular season game of the season, and I think we were all hoping that it would mean a little more than it does. But a win would put us at 7-5...and a bowl win would put us back at 8 wins. So all is not lost...we could still match last year's wins even though the schedule has been much tougher.
But....that will be very hard to do.
Toledo has the best defense in the MAC, and this game is in the Glass Bowl. Toledo allows the fewest points of any team in the MAC, and has arguably the best front 7 in the conference.
Some key stats-
Scoring defense: Toledo - 19.7
WMU - 27.9
Rushing defense: Toledo - 112.3
WMU - 185.3
Rushing offense: Toledo - 214.4
WMU - 201.6
Sacks by: Toledo - 24
WMU - 13
Sacks against: Toledo - 3
WMU - 28
Turnover margin: Toledo - +7
WMU - 0
Red zone offense: Toledo - 86%
WMU - 80.4%
Red zone defense: Toledo - 62.5%
WMU - 85.7%
The only statistic that WMU holds a considerable lead in is TOP - WMU averages about 4 minutes more per game.
My fear is that Toledo is going to dominate the trenches, much like BG and NIU did, and just grind out the game on the ground. This is our last shot to prove that we can beat a team of significance in the MAC, but I don't feel good going into it.
Also, can I say just how miraculous it is that Toledo graduated all 5 starting O-lineman last year. Their line at the start of this season had 4 combined career starts. They have allowed 3 sacks and have one of the best rushing attacks in the conference at this point is the season. That's amazing.
Basically, we have to have our A-game, and we have to have Ely, their QB, to play poorly (which he is certainly capable of doing). We'll win then.
However, asking for both at the same time is asking a lot @Toledo.
Like I said before the year started: 6-6. However, coming into the Big 3, I figured there was a Good chance we'd win *1* of them, but we had a poor O performance against the non-stifiling D of BGSU, in Kalamazoo, which was a disappointment. And the NIU game was also disappointing, as we should have played better.
I can see us stepping up and bringing our A game on this one. However, if Ely is rolling well, and it being @Toledo, it'd only be a coin flip as to whether we win or not if that's the case.
(11-24-2015 11:31 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote: Last regular season game of the season, and I think we were all hoping that it would mean a little more than it does. But a win would put us at 7-5...and a bowl win would put us back at 8 wins. So all is not lost...we could still match last year's wins even though the schedule has been much tougher.
But....that will be very hard to do.
Toledo has the best defense in the MAC, and this game is in the Glass Bowl. Toledo allows the fewest points of any team in the MAC, and has arguably the best front 7 in the conference.
Some key stats-
Scoring defense: Toledo - 19.7
WMU - 27.9
Rushing defense: Toledo - 112.3
WMU - 185.3
Rushing offense: Toledo - 214.4
WMU - 201.6
Sacks by: Toledo - 24
WMU - 13
Sacks against: Toledo - 3
WMU - 28
Turnover margin: Toledo - +7
WMU - 0
Red zone offense: Toledo - 86%
WMU - 80.4%
Red zone defense: Toledo - 62.5%
WMU - 85.7%
The only statistic that WMU holds a considerable lead in is TOP - WMU averages about 4 minutes more per game.
My fear is that Toledo is going to dominate the trenches, much like BG and NIU did, and just grind out the game on the ground. This is our last shot to prove that we can beat a team of significance in the MAC, but I don't feel good going into it.
Also, can I say just how miraculous it is that Toledo graduated all 5 starting O-lineman last year. Their line at the start of this season had 4 combined career starts. They have allowed 3 sacks and have one of the best rushing attacks in the conference at this point is the season. That's amazing.
Toledo is one of two G-5 teams(the other is Navy) that are among the
20 semifinalists for the new Joe Moore Award for the nation's outstanding Offensive Line.
(11-24-2015 07:18 PM)Nacho Wrote: Toledo is #24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings... if we beat Toledo it will be the biggest win in PJ's tenure.
I agree, I think PJ is a proven coach.. Regardless of the 15-21 record he has done great things here previous coaches couldn't "dream" of.
(11-24-2015 07:18 PM)Nacho Wrote: Toledo is #24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings... if we beat Toledo it will be the biggest win in PJ's tenure.
I agree, I think PJ is a proven coach.. Regardless of the 15-21 record he has done great things here previous coaches couldn't "dream" of.
If somehow our defense can stand up to Toledo and limit their ground attack, While we generate success in our own ground game... I sense good things...
If we play like we have the last two games... I sense another loss on the road to another winning program.
(11-24-2015 07:18 PM)Nacho Wrote: Toledo is #24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings... if we beat Toledo it will be the biggest win in PJ's tenure.
I agree, I think PJ is a proven coach.. Regardless of the 15-21 record he has done great things here previous coaches couldn't "dream" of.
What are those great things that past coaches could only dream of?
(11-25-2015 12:21 AM)Ubish Wrote: Since Wmu has never beaten a top 25 team your could argue a win would be one of the biggest ever for the program.
Me not watching will ensure that a couple of bounces go our way. Uncharacteristic fumbles by Toledo's backs, and scoop and scores for the good guys. Go Broncos.
Opportunity for kind of win to boost program to the proverbial "next level" rather than more talk of "losing is learning," "the Process," "Wait 'til next year," etc.
(11-24-2015 07:18 PM)Nacho Wrote: Toledo is #24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings... if we beat Toledo it will be the biggest win in PJ's tenure.
I agree, I think PJ is a proven coach.. Regardless of the 15-21 record he has done great things here previous coaches couldn't "dream" of.
What are those great things that past coaches could only dream of?
HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE RECRUITING RANKINGS, THE FUND RAISING NUMBERS, OR THE SCOREBOARDS!! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS MR GLASS HALF EMPTY?!
(This post was last modified: 11-25-2015 10:04 AM by rtletterman.)
(11-24-2015 07:18 PM)Nacho Wrote: Toledo is #24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings... if we beat Toledo it will be the biggest win in PJ's tenure.
I agree, I think PJ is a proven coach.. Regardless of the 15-21 record he has done great things here previous coaches couldn't "dream" of.
What are those great things that past coaches could only dream of?
Making 800 grand per year at a MAC school now thats quite an impressive personal accomplishment especially when you are below 500 in winning percentage. Lot of coaches are dreaming of that gig!
Booster funded or not, I think everyone would admit it's a roll of the dice. You see the +7 year over year win improvement in '14, and gamble on that being a trend up. I suppose it's true of any AD that reacts to a hot/improved year, in any sport. All they're doing is crossing their fingers and hope the trajectory continues.
/
WMU @ Toledo week
HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THE RECRUITING RANKINGS, THE FUND RAISING NUMBERS, OR THE SCOREBOARDS!! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS MR GLASS HALF EMPTY?! 
