The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(09-11-2017 09:08 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(09-10-2017 12:03 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  I'm skeptical that a handful of (likely handoffs) against inferior teams' 2s in garbage time last year (running a different offense) would've fixed any issues our passing game has right now, even if it was Wassink and not Flacco getting the snaps. Guess it couldn't have hurt?

When the game has been decided your only obligation is to substitute.

You still run your offense, i.e. pass in passing situations.

Otherwise when your starting QB gets hurt or graduates you wind up playing somebody with no game experience throwing the ball.

Bad plan.

Unless you don't care because you're on your way out of town

You probably won't take it this way, but this is a serious question as I'm not a coach and you obviously are.

What is it about taking some snaps in front of an empty stadium against an opponent that just wants to get out and lick their wounds, that's so valuable compared to, say, practice? Especially when the offense has changed anyway?

This seems like a reach intended to deflect blame to the previous staff. Which is puzzling when the obvious answer is that the previous staff simply didn't recruit an adequate QB (or took the one they did recruit with them to Minnesota).

I hope I'm wrong about that, btw, but Terrell showed significantly more in his first couple appearances (with no previous experience either). And he wasn't exactly lighting it up. There have been a few drops, but Wassink's numbers are BRUTAL right now. He does seem like a mentally tough dude. I hope these next few weeks are what he needs.

Quote:He does seem like a mentally tough dude. I hope these next few weeks are what he needs.

If he averages close to 60% passing these next two games (and wins), there'll be a sigh of relief. Hopefully that'll happen. And I believe it's not some far-out possibility.

With all due respect Todd, completion percentage is the wrong stat to be focused on when measuring Wassink's progress in the upcoming weeks.

ZT wouldn't have thrown for 60% with this receiving corps.

If Wassink can start putting balls on hands in the future, he will have done his job.

Our receiving corps is flat out awful.

I think Watson and Eskridge are decent.

We had good separation at times against a defense that was admittedly selling out vs the run.

Our WRs are clearly not great but "flat out awful".. can't say I've seen enough to agree with that.

Quote:Our WRs are clearly not great but "flat out awful".. can't say I've seen enough to agree with that.

I agree. I will say not good enough to get into a rhythm with a new QB as well, but still, it doesn't fall on his shoulders. Against Idaho (who gives up pts like a drunk sorority girl), and a D1AA, I do think ZT would throw in the "mere" low 60%'s -- which would include small little passes, our TE, Esckridge, and yes, the newbie WRs too. If we had our 3 senior WRs, it'd be more like around 75%.

But ejd -- you're right, % isn't Everything. Take away dropped balls on Truly should-be-caught, throw-aways that SHOULD happen, and a Hail Mary at the end of 1st or 2nd half (if applicable) -- and it gets you a better %. But even ZT's % would step up a bit, too.

But for Wassink, I don't see it going from 50% to 70% off mishandlings by others, going into these next 2 games. If you can throw 50% against USC who's defending the Pass pretty much the whole game, you should be able to be near 60% against Idaho + D1AA at home *after* getting settled into 2 games against P5s.

(09-10-2017 08:06 AM)Chibronco Wrote:  Even with a lack of passing game we should win this game. UNLV only passed 16 times and rushed 50 times for 357 yards.

Good to hear. That passing game makes me nervous vs an Idaho team that was pretty good last year.

Vegas loves us this weekend.

We opened as big fat favorites (-15) and immediately got bet up to even fatter favorites. (-20 to -20.5)

Gameday Forecast:

Sunny, high 82. Low 62.

Must Win.

(09-11-2017 11:42 AM)ejd_5277 Wrote:  With all due respect Todd, completion percentage is the wrong stat to be focused on when measuring Wassink's progress in the upcoming weeks.

ZT wouldn't have thrown for 60% with this receiving corps.

If Wassink can start putting balls on hands in the future, he will have done his job.

Our receiving corps is flat out awful.

ERNS. BERGER.

I hope the coaching staff puts more pressure on/gives opportunity for Wassink to perform, or gives others opportunities. I don't want them to just come out and run all over Idaho. I'd prefer a close game with more experience for Wassink than multiple 100-yard rushers.

I don't think any game is a gimme based on what we saw last week. What a huge disappointment.

(09-12-2017 08:59 AM)JPWMU Wrote:  I hope the coaching staff puts more pressure on/gives opportunity for Wassink to perform, or gives others opportunities. I don't want them to just come out and run all over Idaho. I'd prefer a close game with more experience for Wassink than multiple 100-yard rushers.

I don't think any game is a gimme based on what we saw last week. What a huge disappointment.

I want to see Franklin get the ball out of the backfield and receiving in the flat.

WMU game notes: http://www.govandals.com/documents/2017/..._GN_v2.pdf

Idaho game notes: http://www.govandals.com/documents/2017/..._Notes.pdf

Depth chart changes:

- Giovanni Ricci moves ahead of Anton Curtis to take the starting spot.

- Tyron Arnett behind Keishawn Watson. Ra'sean Davie no longer listed.

- Daniel Jackson behind Antonio Balabani at LE. Kailen Guillory no longer listed.

- Ralph Holley behind Andre Turner at DT. Ken Finley no longer listed.

- Ali Fayad moved up to starting position at RE to replace Eric Assoua. DeShawn Foster is behind him.

- Davontae Ginwright moved up to starting position at SS to replace Justin Tranquill. Malik Rucker takes Ginwright's former spot behind Claiborne at FS.

Also interesting to note that there are only 3 seniors on our offense 2-deep. Franklin, Ernsberger, Okorafor. Is it any wonder they are struggling at times?

Interesting that a true freshmen, Holly, has beat out Findlay and Aguirre

That's a lot of fairly signficant changes.

Foster has been an unheralded hero on special teams. One to keep an eye on.

"I-da-how" vandals lol hopefully that don't damage our locker room ceiling tiles

0-2, will the fans come and support this team at Waldo? Or will we be back to walmart wolverines and spartys and only fairweather fans.

Weather looks spectacular for Saturday night in Kalamazoo 84 and sunny, probably around mid 70s at kickoff.

(09-13-2017 08:29 AM)Broncodan Wrote:  0-2, will the fans come and support this team at Waldo? Or will we be back to walmart wolverines and spartys and only fairweather fans.

Weather looks spectacular for Saturday night in Kalamazoo 84 and sunny, probably around mid 70s at kickoff.

There will be plenty of people there on Saturday because it is CommUniversity night so many people in town will have tickets for the free tailgate and free tickets to the game so they will go to the game and then leave after the halftime fireworks.

(09-12-2017 06:35 PM)wojo-kowski Wrote:  

(09-12-2017 08:59 AM)JPWMU Wrote:  I hope the coaching staff puts more pressure on/gives opportunity for Wassink to perform, or gives others opportunities. I don't want them to just come out and run all over Idaho. I'd prefer a close game with more experience for Wassink than multiple 100-yard rushers.

I don't think any game is a gimme based on what we saw last week. What a huge disappointment.

I want to see Franklin get the ball out of the backfield and receiving in the flat.

Bingo!

Had we done this more last Saturday, the score may have been v-e-r-y different. MSU's LBs did not match-up well with the speed and power of our RBs, particularly Franklin. BTN announcer, Glen Mason, even mentioned it early in the game.

The RBs were open all day, but Wassink locked-in downfield.

Sigh...

WMU will eventually get it right and will be playing meaningful games in November.