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Now that I have some time to sit down and evaluate what I saw from the stands of Waldo, I figure I might just throw out a few observations. The game/atmosphere/weather... all pretty darn good for some Saturday College Football...

TL:DR - Crowd was good not great... TV Timeouts and officiating made for a near un-watchable product at times. Offense was fine outside of some turnovers... defense couldn't rattle Roback. Did enough to win a game where we weren't playing anywhere near our best. Give EMU props... they are VASTLY improved.


Now...if you want more meat with these potatoes-

First off, the crowd was quite large... not fantastically huge... and for stretches of the game... pretty silent... The constant stoppage of play made the game almost un-watchable... Between TV timeouts and the officiating constantly re-grouping to figure out something... it was quite frustrating. More on officiating later... (no real bad calls... just wtf moments)... Back to the crowd... it was a bit of a let down seeing so many areas of the stadium with gaping holes... The band was twice its size given community HS band involvement... and still there were huge swaths of open seating on the student side... Again... disappointing. Let's however realize... the crowd is still trending up... much improved over last few years... We have to realize also... some of the draw has to do with the opponent. EMU over the years hasn't been a real "draw"... that should change over the next few years as they continue their trajectory upward.

Offense -
Aside from some poor ball security issues and some trouble with the EMU defensive front, the offense moved the ball well. I know at times it seemed stagnant... but thats probably due to the fact that every other play the officials had to figure out what they were doing and whether they could go to replay...

Franklin got stuffed on occasion... and busted a few that were called back on holding calls... but he still ran really hard... I mean... downhill cloud of dust, knock 3 to 4 EMU defenders another 2 to 3 yards hard... He's a beast out there doing beast things...

Terell and the WR's.... incredible what we have there. Terell made a few interesting mistakes... but all in all... we should really take the time to appreciate what we have with this crew... Side note... somebody is going to figure this out and hurt us... but EVERY TIME Eskridge was inserted into the lineup... they gave him the ball... EVERY TIME... Kid is BLAZING fast...

Defense
Not much to add here... they couldn't get Roback rattled at all... 3rd and 16? Yep... EMU converts... 3rd and 10? No problem... crossing route to the TE... easy conversion for EMU... Nearly every time they were able to flush Roback out of the pocket and put some pressure on him... he threw it away... too bad we didn't do that more than a handful of times. That kid can ball... he was throwing dimes out there to WR's that were pretty well covered. TO the EMU fan out there that posted that we were toe to toe with a team full no stars... Should do his homework. We were done in by ONE guy out there... Roback... and for your info... he was a Rivals 4 star out of highschool.

Special Teams
Outside of the near punt return by Phillips... special teams were balanced... not great... gave up a few kick returns for too many yards... but still solid. Good FG end of the first half by Hampton... There was some tricky wind out there...

Coaching
Creighton was out coaching our helmsman PJ for most of the first half... throwing some really interesting looks with the EMU offense. Some great mis-direction throw backs to the FB kind of stuff that was WIDE OPEN... really kept our defense from getting any sort of comfort out there... PJ and Crew made a few adjustments at half... but really it came down to getting a lead... and just going blow for blow till the end hoping to hold that 14pt cushion...

Officiating
Unbelievably bad... and not because of horrendous calls... but because it was like they had to refer to their referee handbooks on almost every play. If it wasn't TV time outs making me pull my hair out... it was the insane number of official huddles and replays... At least at home I can make a run to the fridge for a beer... really took away from any intensity from the crowd.

Overall
Great win against a much improved EMU team on a night where we definitely didn't bring our "A" game... You could see it in the WMU body language early that they thought they were going to coast... never really engaged... sloppy... Got socked in the mouth and luckily recovered soon enough to tighten the chin straps and grab the win... As PJ said... it was an important game lesson to go through that adversity...

Side note - The replay system at Waldo SUCKS. Sure they have some replays... but not when something is under review... I want to SEE whats under review! At least that would keep the crowd interested during those long lulls waiting on the replay booth!

But... as always..
GREAT DAY AT WALDO!
GO BRONCOS!

See next post!

I think you were right on, the time outs for media are terribly long, why do we need 5-6 of those per half. Why can't they use media time outs when teams have called time outs?

On the same subject the fact that the games are all on TV is one of the reason we don't completely sell out and fill those seats.

Lastly, I think the replaying of plays is forbidden by the NCAA while the officials are reviewing. The crowd noise would or could influence the decision by the replay booth. But why so many reviews? It is slowing down the game.

The time outs are long because those TV ads are paying for that MAC check to be sent out Monday morning.

There was that one sequence where the clock ran out (end of 1st quarter maybe?) and went to media timeout. Came back from media time out and the refs huddled up and decided EMU called a time out with :02 left in the quarter. Let them play one more play and then guess what... went to another media time out.

College Football needs to get better at managing the media time outs. I like college basketball's version of how they do it by the clock. Why doesn't college football? Would be nice to have scheduled timeouts at the 10 minute mark, 5 minute mark, and at quarter.

Sorry but one guy even if he is the QB needs time to throw those nr and 2 star linemen for EMU did their jobs well that's why they are ranked for fewest sacks allowed

Likewise kilby was a 2 star and late signed those wrs all signed this past summer

Now go sit in a corner you don't know about emu than I do

(10-24-2016 05:17 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Sorry but one guy even if he is the QB needs time to throw those nr and 2 star linemen for EMU did their jobs well that's why they are ranked for fewest sacks allowed

Likewise kilby was a 2 star and late signed those wrs all signed this past summer

Now go sit in a corner you don't know about emu than I do

Well done. Your home crowds have to be much better from now on out. You traveled pretty well I thought. Has to be exciting around there.

(10-24-2016 05:17 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Sorry but one guy even if he is the QB needs time to throw those nr and 2 star linemen for EMU did their jobs well that's why they are ranked for fewest sacks allowed

Likewise kilby was a 2 star and late signed those wrs all signed this past summer

Now go sit in a corner you don't know about emu than I do

So you agree now that your QB is a 4 star? Come on now... let's just realize again that stars don't mean squat! Cory Davis was a 1 star. You start talking stars and competition makes, well... made you look stupid. EMU is a well coached team... enjoy that for a bit. i mentioned it to bring you back to square. Coaching and execution makes for winning TEAMS!

Btw.... EMU is going to give us fits for the next few years.... not because of stars... but because of coaching and system.

(10-24-2016 05:17 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Sorry but one guy even if he is the QB needs time to throw those nr and 2 star linemen for EMU did their jobs well that's why they are ranked for fewest sacks allowed

Likewise kilby was a 2 star and late signed those wrs all signed this past summer

Now go sit in a corner you don't know about emu than I do

I will say... being there... the EMU OL gave us huge fits... but alike the NIU game and Maddie... Roback was a stud back there and extended plays even when we did get pressure.

(10-24-2016 01:53 PM)wojo-kowski Wrote:  Lastly, I think the replaying of plays is forbidden by the NCAA while the officials are reviewing. The crowd noise would or could influence the decision by the replay booth. But why so many reviews? It is slowing down the game.

That's what I thought too.
I hear people complain they don't show replays during reviews all the time, but I'm pretty sure they don't do that anywhere.

OFFENSIVE LINE SHINES: The EMU offensive line did not yield a sack against No. 20 Western Michigan. Oct. 22. It was the fourth game EMU has kept the QB clean on the day. On the season, EMU is fourth in the nation (1st MAC) in fewest sacks allowed, while they are also second in the FBS (1st MAC) in tackles for loss allowed behind only Missouri.

Yes this O- line of NR, 2 star recruits makes any QB look good including Roback. Of course if you did your "homework" you may have noted that two star (only one other FBS offer) Todd Porter also thrived behind this line when he was starting QB.

ROWback is a good QB, but EMU ran on us well, protected him well, and their WRs were too open too often. It allowed him to get into a flow too much, too easily. Ya can't do that with a good QB with a good line. That's what separates a GOOD D vs NEEDS SOME WORK D.

We will have several games where we can work on things, before Toledo. By then, Toledo could be close to being ranked.

So I didn't record this game, but my memory says several of Robacks passes came out too soon and he missed several open receivers. Telling me that even if not sacked we got in his head.
Then there were a few periods where EMU just ignored the run game, that was noticeable to me, lack of confidence and in a rush to keep up.
Not putting that on their line, they did fairly well.

(10-25-2016 05:37 AM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  So I didn't record this game, but my memory says several of Robacks passes came out too soon and he missed several open receivers. Telling me that even if not sacked we got in his head.
Then there were a few periods where EMU just ignored the run game, that was noticeable to me, lack of confidence and in a rush to keep up.
Not putting that on their line, they did fairly well.

Many things about the run game:

Last year's starter, Darius Jackson, is in the NFL (Cowboys).

Our high potential/future star backup (to Jackson), Shaq Vann, went down in our 2nd game.

Our next man up, Ian Ericksen is banged up.

Breck Turner (or Turner Breck as he was called on TV ) is next man up.

We top a redshirt off Willie Parker who scored a TD.

RB is a problem area because of injuries. With Vann we are pretty good. Without him (and Ericksen) we are very young, green, etc. essentially using our 3rd and 4th RBs.

Lend up Franklin or Bogan and we'd suprise a lot more folks than we have. We just don't have a stud RB with Vann out.

(10-25-2016 06:47 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Many things about the run game:

Last year's starter, Darius Jackson, is in the NFL (Cowboys).

Our high potential/future star backup (to Jackson), Shaq Vann, went down in our 2nd game.

Our next man up, Ian Ericksen is banged up.

Breck Turner (or Turner Breck as he was called on TV ) is next man up.

We top a redshirt off Willie Parker who scored a TD.

RB is a problem area because of injuries. With Vann we are pretty good. Without him (and Ericksen) we are very young, green, etc. essentially using our 3rd and 4th RBs.

Lend up Franklin or Bogan and we'd suprise a lot more folks than we have. We just don't have a stud RB with Vann out.

So, serious question for you having far better insight than the one-game snapshot that we saw...

What do you think has led to the huge turn-around this year? Last year's EMU was a FAR cry from what was on the field Saturday. I know that you've gotten in a few transfers, but it seemed the majority of the playmakers were So/Jr level. Obviously, more time with the system and CC being a proven coach, but why the jump?

(10-25-2016 08:23 AM)AFLAGWA Wrote:  

(10-25-2016 06:47 AM)emu steve Wrote:  Many things about the run game:

Last year's starter, Darius Jackson, is in the NFL (Cowboys).

Our high potential/future star backup (to Jackson), Shaq Vann, went down in our 2nd game.

Our next man up, Ian Ericksen is banged up.

Breck Turner (or Turner Breck as he was called on TV ) is next man up.

We top a redshirt off Willie Parker who scored a TD.

RB is a problem area because of injuries. With Vann we are pretty good. Without him (and Ericksen) we are very young, green, etc. essentially using our 3rd and 4th RBs.

Lend up Franklin or Bogan and we'd suprise a lot more folks than we have. We just don't have a stud RB with Vann out.

So, serious question for you having far better insight than the one-game snapshot that we saw...

What do you think has led to the huge turn-around this year? Last year's EMU was a FAR cry from what was on the field Saturday. I know that you've gotten in a few transfers, but it seemed the majority of the playmakers were So/Jr level. Obviously, more time with the system and CC being a proven coach, but why the jump?

Other posters will have different opinions, but my best explaination is that "IDK" - I don't know.

Best hunches a new DC and DL coach. Having DE Pat O'Connor back.

BUT these seems SMALL compared to the improvement in the team.

Very much under the radar is a VERY favorable OOC schedule: Miss. Valley, Mizzou, Charlotte and Wyoming.

The toughest opponent isn't UofM, LSU, OSU, etc. but WMU...

I thought that an over/under line of 3.5 wins would make sense (given last year was one win.

Quote:So I didn't record this game, but my memory says several of Robacks passes came out too soon

You don't have to. It's FREE to watch. Go to my website (http://www.bro.coach) and click on the damn link! :)

ESPN3 keeps their games for months, on file, for FREE (when recorded).