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Quote:The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

UNC ran for 5.x yards a carry on Illinois, and they ran for about the same amount over James Madison when scoring 56 on them. I don't think Illinois was supposed to stuff us, but they were (knock on wood) supposed to contain us. NW kept us in check on the run. I wouldn't say we steam-rolled them, although we seemed to start to once their D got tired. They definitely kept us in check, but going for it on 4th down and seemingly always gaining 2-3 yards at least consistently made it happen. No big breakaways at all.

I think GA-Southern, trained against their historic run offense is going to be better than Illinois and more on the scale of NW's. GAS held LA-Monroe to about the same run avg as Oklahoma did to them (2.x), and the same with South Alabama. I think we'll get around low or even mid 4s by the end of the game, but IMO, the key will will be they'll make us lose some yards here and there and we won't have the consistency that we did against NW -- which will make us want to PASS more, which is good anyway against them.

So in the end, it will be a test for Terrell & our receivers outside Davis to see how well we can do. GAS held South Alabama's good passing % to under 50% completion... and held LA-Monroe's pass % to barely over 50% when they threw for 62% against Oklahoma. So we will have to earn it in both categories, but being a threat at both categories, IMO, is going to let one open up more than GAS would like -- which IMO, will be the pass.

GAS had a poor passing performance (5/17) against LA-Monroe, but great selective passing against South Alabama (7/10). In both their games, they ran just short of 5yds/carry.

I think if we aren't outsmarted by GAS's schemes, we'll contain their run to 4.x yards a carry -- but we have to be able to stuff them a good amount , and not allow for much consistency.

IMO, I would say I'm happy it's at home, and I personally would give it a -3 for WMU. I think it's going to be a barn-burner, coming down to special teams, penalties, and mistakes on either side.

In each of GAS's non-D1AA games, they got a pick, and in one of them, a fumble. They never threw a pick (but don't throw much), and lost 1 fumble each of those 2 games.

(09-18-2016 08:50 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

UNC ran for 5.x yards a carry on Illinois, and they ran for about the same amount over James Madison when scoring 56 on them. I don't think Illinois was supposed to stuff us, but they were (knock on wood) supposed to contain us. NW kept us in check on the run. I wouldn't say we steam-rolled them, although we seemed to start to once their D got tired. They definitely kept us in check, but going for it on 4th down and seemingly always gaining 2-3 yards at least consistently made it happen. No big breakaways at all.

I think GA-Southern, trained against their historic run offense is going to be better than Illinois and more on the scale of NW's. GAS held LA-Monroe to about the same run avg as Oklahoma did to them (2.x), and the same with South Alabama. I think we'll get around low or even mid 4s by the end of the game, but IMO, the key will will be they'll make us lose some yards here and there and we won't have the consistency that we did against NW -- which will make us want to PASS more, which is good anyway against them.

So in the end, it will be a test for Terrell & our receivers outside Davis to see how well we can do. GAS held South Alabama's good passing % to under 50% completion... and held LA-Monroe's pass % to barely over 50% when they threw for 62% against Oklahoma. So we will have to earn it in both categories, but being a threat at both categories, IMO, is going to let one open up more than GAS would like -- which IMO, will be the pass.

GAS had a poor passing performance (5/17) against LA-Monroe, but great selective passing against South Alabama (7/10). In both their games, they ran just short of 5yds/carry.

I think if we aren't outsmarted by GAS's schemes, we'll contain their run to 4.x yards a carry -- but we have to be able to stuff them a good amount , and not allow for much consistency.

IMO, I would say I'm happy it's at home, and I personally would give it a -3 for WMU. I think it's going to be a barn-burner, coming down to special teams, penalties, and mistakes on either side.

In each of GAS's non-D1AA games, they got a pick, and in one of them, a fumble. They never threw a pick (but don't throw much), and lost 1 fumble each of those 2 games.

This is the long-form explanation of why our defense can make this a game that I would have written if I thought you wanted to get lectured by a Georgia Southern fan.

Solid work, todd

(09-18-2016 05:33 PM)CC Eagle Wrote:  I don't entirely disagree with your analysis either, but I think GS is a more formidable challenge when all aspects of the game are considered. I'm not saying that GS is a Big Ten team, but even our struggling offense is better than what Northwestern was throwing out there. And I don't think it's a stretch to say that Georgia Southern's defense is a few notches above that of Illinois.

What concerns me most is trying to defend that triple option. It's just not something teams normally see. We haven't faced that type of rushing attack this year, so it will be interesting to see how we handle it on Saturday. Hopefully, from our perspective, much better than last year...

Didn't mean to make it sound like I was dismissing your front 7, either. Our game last year was our worst offensive game in two seasons, and your D had plenty to do with that. Our offensive strategy this year has been mainly on the ground up to this point, mostly because that's what's worked best and teams haven't really been able to stop it. Some have had success early (NW in the first half, ILL in the first couple of series), but as Todd indicated, we've been able to wear teams down over the course of 60 minutes.

Sounds like it should be a case of "best-on-best." We'll find out soon which "best" wins out...

(09-18-2016 11:11 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 05:33 PM)CC Eagle Wrote:  I don't entirely disagree with your analysis either, but I think GS is a more formidable challenge when all aspects of the game are considered. I'm not saying that GS is a Big Ten team, but even our struggling offense is better than what Northwestern was throwing out there. And I don't think it's a stretch to say that Georgia Southern's defense is a few notches above that of Illinois.

What concerns me most is trying to defend that triple option. It's just not something teams normally see. We haven't faced that type of rushing attack this year, so it will be interesting to see how we handle it on Saturday. Hopefully, from our perspective, much better than last year...

Didn't mean to make it sound like I was dismissing your front 7, either. Our game last year was our worst offensive game in two seasons, and your D had plenty to do with that. Our offensive strategy this year has been mainly on the ground up to this point, mostly because that's what's worked best and teams haven't really been able to stop it. Some have had success early (NW in the first half, ILL in the first couple of series), but as Todd indicated, we've been able to wear teams down over the course of 60 minutes.

Sounds like it should be a case of "best-on-best." We'll find out soon which "best" wins out...

So far, our new coaching staffs version of the triple option is not as high powered as the prior staffs version. Our o-line play is incredibly bad. I think prepping for us will be easier as well.

(09-18-2016 08:50 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

UNC ran for 5.x yards a carry on Illinois, and they ran for about the same amount over James Madison when scoring 56 on them. I don't think Illinois was supposed to stuff us, but they were (knock on wood) supposed to contain us. NW kept us in check on the run. I wouldn't say we steam-rolled them, although we seemed to start to once their D got tired. They definitely kept us in check, but going for it on 4th down and seemingly always gaining 2-3 yards at least consistently made it happen. No big breakaways at all.

I think GA-Southern, trained against their historic run offense is going to be better than Illinois and more on the scale of NW's. GAS held LA-Monroe to about the same run avg as Oklahoma did to them (2.x), and the same with South Alabama. I think we'll get around low or even mid 4s by the end of the game, but IMO, the key will will be they'll make us lose some yards here and there and we won't have the consistency that we did against NW -- which will make us want to PASS more, which is good anyway against them.

So in the end, it will be a test for Terrell & our receivers outside Davis to see how well we can do. GAS held South Alabama's good passing % to under 50% completion... and held LA-Monroe's pass % to barely over 50% when they threw for 62% against Oklahoma. So we will have to earn it in both categories, but being a threat at both categories, IMO, is going to let one open up more than GAS would like -- which IMO, will be the pass.

GAS had a poor passing performance (5/17) against LA-Monroe, but great selective passing against South Alabama (7/10). In both their games, they ran just short of 5yds/carry.

I think if we aren't outsmarted by GAS's schemes, we'll contain their run to 4.x yards a carry -- but we have to be able to stuff them a good amount , and not allow for much consistency.

IMO, I would say I'm happy it's at home, and I personally would give it a -3 for WMU. I think it's going to be a barn-burner, coming down to special teams, penalties, and mistakes on either side.

In each of GAS's non-D1AA games, they got a pick, and in one of them, a fumble. They never threw a pick (but don't throw much), and lost 1 fumble each of those 2 games.

Solid writeup. Quite possible this is how it all works out.

The difference maker for us is the fact that we're a penalty factory this year after being so disciplined the last 2 years. We're killing our offensive drives on penalties. We can't do that against a good rush defense or we'll be in big trouble early.

(09-19-2016 12:10 AM)EagleNationRising Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 11:11 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 05:33 PM)CC Eagle Wrote:  I don't entirely disagree with your analysis either, but I think GS is a more formidable challenge when all aspects of the game are considered. I'm not saying that GS is a Big Ten team, but even our struggling offense is better than what Northwestern was throwing out there. And I don't think it's a stretch to say that Georgia Southern's defense is a few notches above that of Illinois.

What concerns me most is trying to defend that triple option. It's just not something teams normally see. We haven't faced that type of rushing attack this year, so it will be interesting to see how we handle it on Saturday. Hopefully, from our perspective, much better than last year...

Didn't mean to make it sound like I was dismissing your front 7, either. Our game last year was our worst offensive game in two seasons, and your D had plenty to do with that. Our offensive strategy this year has been mainly on the ground up to this point, mostly because that's what's worked best and teams haven't really been able to stop it. Some have had success early (NW in the first half, ILL in the first couple of series), but as Todd indicated, we've been able to wear teams down over the course of 60 minutes.

Sounds like it should be a case of "best-on-best." We'll find out soon which "best" wins out...

So far, our new coaching staffs version of the triple option is not as high powered as the prior staffs version. Our o-line play is incredibly bad. I think prepping for us will be easier as well.

We weren't really a triple option team last year either, we just used a lot of formations/misdirection to disguise how we were running. The concepts were very similar to many of the offenses out there. This year we seem to be a bit more straightforward about what we're doing, unless we've been waiting to throw in more misdirection. Also, the OL play is less than stellar compared to our last matchup. I'm afraid that's going to hurt us against a good defensive front.

Never overlook Georgia Siouthern.

BUT -

They seem to be working through the coaching transition slowly, especially on Offense.

We've had a year to figure out how to defend the option and their many iterations of it.

We're at home.

We're better than we were a year ago.

We should be primed to play them after last season's humbling.

Will be tough, competitive game, but we should win.

Why does everyone INSIST that GASO was a pure triple option team last year?!

(09-19-2016 07:44 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Never overlook Georgia Siouthern.

BUT -

They seem to be working through the coaching transition slowly, especially on Offense.

We've had a year to figure out how to defend the option and their many iterations of it.

We're at home.

We're better than we were a year ago.

We should be primed to play them after last season's humbling.

Will be tough, competitive game, but we should win.

Waldo better be ROCKING!!! Should be a great time!!

(09-19-2016 08:27 AM)Moomba Wrote:  Why does everyone INSIST that GASO was a pure triple option team last year?!

I don't blame opposing fans. Even the national writers and analysts get it wrong. Unless we think there is some huge opportunity to exploit WMU with the option, my guess is that only about 50% of our snaps in Saturday show some sort of option look. And of that number, the VAST majority of those plays are QB read options.

The Broncos might see 10 plays that look like the triple option all night... Although again - that comes with the caveat of assuming that our new coaches don't think that the triple option is going to give WMU problems. If they think that will get our speed into open space, WMU defense will have to be much faster than last year.

(09-18-2016 07:50 PM)John52168 Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:39 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 05:43 PM)John52168 Wrote:  I still can't get over the Broncos only allowing 3 rushing yards to Illinois. I would think to put up that kind of pressure and attacking the run game of illinois offense, which was suppose to be able to run roughshod over WMU according to most of the media and all of the Illinois fans who do know research of their MAC opponents, ever, that has to say something about the Broncos defensive line. The confidence is their and growing on a weekly basis. I do not think GSU is going to be able to run against the Broncos like they have so far this season. Also, I don't know if GSU is going to be able to stop Bogan and Franklin. If Bellamy wasn't injured it would be a much bigger task.

Just because Northwestern and Illinois are 1-3 it doesn't mean they are the worst teams in the country and anyone can beat them and just because GSU and WMU are 3-0 it doesn't make them national champions and unbeatable. I am actually more concerned that this game will be a loss for WMU than I was last year. Last year I thought the Broncos would win going away, not the other way like it turned out.

I'm more worried about Corey Davis and Zach Terrell than either of those backs, honestly. Our front 7 really good for a G5 team and we rarely get ran over by opponents running game, but the secondary is pretty inexperienced and mistake-prone. Glad that Daniel Braverman left for the NFL.

Offensively we are faster than WMU and that won't be different this year, but it doesn't matter. We're too mistake-prone and our new system is more reliant on completing passes than last year. We were 1/4 passing against WMU last year but there's no way we can win with that this year.

We have the talent to win the game, but we're less than the sum of parts right now.

As for gambling, take the Broncos. We won't have it this week.

I can understand your optimism and outlook on your front 7. The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

No gambling by me.

Preseason Big 10 unit ranking(Steele's):
NW: DL #7 LB #4
ILL: DL #8 LB #13

(09-19-2016 09:42 AM)CC Eagle Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 08:27 AM)Moomba Wrote:  Why does everyone INSIST that GASO was a pure triple option team last year?!

I don't blame opposing fans. Even the national writers and analysts get it wrong. Unless we think there is some huge opportunity to exploit WMU with the option, my guess is that only about 50% of our snaps in Saturday show some sort of option look. And of that number, the VAST majority of those plays are QB read options.

The Broncos might see 10 plays that look like the triple option all night... Although again - that comes with the caveat of assuming that our new coaches don't think that the triple option is going to give WMU problems. If they think that will get our speed into open space, WMU defense will have to be much faster than last year.

Thank you for that clarification. Hopefully some people READ the nuances this time.

Wouldn't be so frustrating if you guys hadn't previously clued everyone here in so many times.

(09-19-2016 10:07 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:50 PM)John52168 Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:39 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 05:43 PM)John52168 Wrote:  I still can't get over the Broncos only allowing 3 rushing yards to Illinois. I would think to put up that kind of pressure and attacking the run game of illinois offense, which was suppose to be able to run roughshod over WMU according to most of the media and all of the Illinois fans who do know research of their MAC opponents, ever, that has to say something about the Broncos defensive line. The confidence is their and growing on a weekly basis. I do not think GSU is going to be able to run against the Broncos like they have so far this season. Also, I don't know if GSU is going to be able to stop Bogan and Franklin. If Bellamy wasn't injured it would be a much bigger task.

Just because Northwestern and Illinois are 1-3 it doesn't mean they are the worst teams in the country and anyone can beat them and just because GSU and WMU are 3-0 it doesn't make them national champions and unbeatable. I am actually more concerned that this game will be a loss for WMU than I was last year. Last year I thought the Broncos would win going away, not the other way like it turned out.

I'm more worried about Corey Davis and Zach Terrell than either of those backs, honestly. Our front 7 really good for a G5 team and we rarely get ran over by opponents running game, but the secondary is pretty inexperienced and mistake-prone. Glad that Daniel Braverman left for the NFL.

Offensively we are faster than WMU and that won't be different this year, but it doesn't matter. We're too mistake-prone and our new system is more reliant on completing passes than last year. We were 1/4 passing against WMU last year but there's no way we can win with that this year.

We have the talent to win the game, but we're less than the sum of parts right now.

As for gambling, take the Broncos. We won't have it this week.

I can understand your optimism and outlook on your front 7. The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

No gambling by me.

Preseason Big 10 unit ranking(Steele's):
NW: DL #7 LB #4
ILL: DL #8 LB #13

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?! Don't stop him now, he's on a roll...."

(09-19-2016 10:07 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:50 PM)John52168 Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 07:39 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(09-18-2016 05:43 PM)John52168 Wrote:  I still can't get over the Broncos only allowing 3 rushing yards to Illinois. I would think to put up that kind of pressure and attacking the run game of illinois offense, which was suppose to be able to run roughshod over WMU according to most of the media and all of the Illinois fans who do know research of their MAC opponents, ever, that has to say something about the Broncos defensive line. The confidence is their and growing on a weekly basis. I do not think GSU is going to be able to run against the Broncos like they have so far this season. Also, I don't know if GSU is going to be able to stop Bogan and Franklin. If Bellamy wasn't injured it would be a much bigger task.

Just because Northwestern and Illinois are 1-3 it doesn't mean they are the worst teams in the country and anyone can beat them and just because GSU and WMU are 3-0 it doesn't make them national champions and unbeatable. I am actually more concerned that this game will be a loss for WMU than I was last year. Last year I thought the Broncos would win going away, not the other way like it turned out.

I'm more worried about Corey Davis and Zach Terrell than either of those backs, honestly. Our front 7 really good for a G5 team and we rarely get ran over by opponents running game, but the secondary is pretty inexperienced and mistake-prone. Glad that Daniel Braverman left for the NFL.

Offensively we are faster than WMU and that won't be different this year, but it doesn't matter. We're too mistake-prone and our new system is more reliant on completing passes than last year. We were 1/4 passing against WMU last year but there's no way we can win with that this year.

We have the talent to win the game, but we're less than the sum of parts right now.

As for gambling, take the Broncos. We won't have it this week.

I can understand your optimism and outlook on your front 7. The front 7 of Northwestern and Illinois was supposed to be both of their strengths yet they got ran over like a steam roller runs over hot asphalt. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see both teams run game stopped this weekend turning this game into a battle of aerial supremacy and I honestly don't know who would win that battle because our secondary is has more holes in it than Swiss cheese.

No gambling by me.

Preseason Big 10 unit ranking(Steele's):
NW: DL #7 LB #4
ILL: DL #8 LB #13

I thought Illinois Dline caused more problems than NW. NW definitely had better LBs

(09-19-2016 08:27 AM)Moomba Wrote:  Why does everyone INSIST that GASO was a pure triple option team last year?!

Because most fans only know as much about Football as they hear on ESPN.

Play-by-play announcers insist on calling Jet Sweep an "End Around" or "Reverse," for example.

So they don't know difference between Triple Option and Zone Read, Power Read, or Inverted Veer.

Thus anytime QB rides RB and gives or keeps, to some it's a Triple Option.

I think Navy is one of the only pure triple-option/veer offenses currently in div1....

(09-19-2016 10:36 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  I think Navy is one of the only pure triple-option/veer offenses currently in div1....

Navy, Georgia Tech and Air Force all consider themselves "Flexbone".

(09-19-2016 10:24 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 08:27 AM)Moomba Wrote:  Why does everyone INSIST that GASO was a pure triple option team last year?!

Because most fans only know as much about Football as they hear on ESPN.

Play-by-play announcers insist on calling Jet Sweep an "End Around" or "Reverse," for example.

So they don't know difference between Triple Option and Zone Read, Power Read, or Inverted Veer.

Thus anytime QB rides RB and gives or keeps, to some it's a Triple Option.

Or less. Some rely on BroncoStampede.

(09-19-2016 10:36 AM)flushtheherd Wrote:  I think Navy is one of the only pure triple-option/veer offenses currently in div1....

What would we call Army's offense? Its been looking good so far. 3-0, which is a HUGE deal at West Point right now.

(09-19-2016 11:00 AM)brovol Wrote:  What would we call Army's offense? Its been looking good so far. 3-0, which is a HUGE deal at West Point right now.

Haven't seen Army play this year (probably won't until Navy game), but Monken came from Georgia Southern, so I'm guessing they're a multiple formation option team.

Probably more similar to Air Force than Georgia Tech or Navy, who are true Flexbone.