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Back to saying next year is our year.

(11-17-2018 09:30 AM)wayne85 Wrote:  I look for 10 wins next year because I don't believe in setting a low bar. To get there Western needs to focus on being the best D in the MAC and to get there they need to cut one more D coach.

Which one? The DB coach?

We have two "DB coaches" - one Corners, one Safeties.

I predicted 3 wins, but got talked up to 4. I have no confidence in this staff to motivate and progress the young men in the program.

We exceeded my expectations this year, but the past couple weeks are what I was fearing when I made my prediction.

I hate it.

As a program we were probably at an all time high after the 2016 season, and even after losing our coaching staff, had a tremendous group of players back, all with hard working, committed, motivated, and very positive attitudes, and with the experience of knowing what it takes for a team to win. We also had a committed group of boosters, and a fan base that was loving football. Pinkham wanted the job, and did very well with our defense. It would have maintained some continuity. Other good head coaches at lower levels may have been available too. It hurts, after the past two years, to think about what a huge impact hiring Lester has made to the future of the entire program, and how long we will now have to wait before good things happen again.just look at what happened at CMU because of Enos.

Watching the UCF game has the feel of a P5 game, awesome atmosphere. UCF probably counting their blessings they ran from the MAC..

A thought provoking read -- things could be worse: https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster

Regardless if you believe in Lester or not, I believe he is doing a great job in recruiting great student athletes. However, I do question his recruitment on defense -- specifically the defensive line. I don't see one defensive line recruit in his current 2019 class -- unless he is planning on moving some offensive lineman to defense. I loved how Ohio continued to rotate their defensive lineman to keep them fresh with constant pressure on the quarterback. I only wish we could get to that point.

(11-18-2018 12:38 AM)BroncoMD Wrote:  A thought provoking read -- things could be worse: https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster

Regardless if you believe in Lester or not, I believe he is doing a great job in recruiting great student athletes. However, I do question his recruitment on defense -- specifically the defensive line. I don't see one defensive line recruit in his current 2019 class -- unless he is planning on moving some offensive lineman to defense. I loved how Ohio continued to rotate their defensive lineman to keep them fresh with constant pressure on the quarterback. I only wish we could get to that point.

Perspective...ahhhhh

(11-17-2018 10:19 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Watching the UCF game has the feel of a P5 game, awesome atmosphere. UCF probably counting their blessings they ran from the MAC..

Of course, UCF never won anything in the MAC.

That said, it has not had MACtion to beat down and erode its fan base.

(11-18-2018 12:38 AM)BroncoMD Wrote:  A thought provoking read -- things could be worse: https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster

Regardless if you believe in Lester or not, I believe he is doing a great job in recruiting great student athletes. However, I do question his recruitment on defense -- specifically the defensive line. I don't see one defensive line recruit in his current 2019 class -- unless he is planning on moving some offensive lineman to defense. I loved how Ohio continued to rotate their defensive lineman to keep them fresh with constant pressure on the quarterback. I only wish we could get to that point.

There are a couple of DE commits in the 2019 class. Devin Baldwin (6'5" 260) from Southfield A&T and Jack Sherwin (6'4" 230) from Traverse City Central.

This staff and previous staffs have struggled to recruit interior defensive linemen though. It is difficult to find good ones at the high school level, and it's even harder to get them to come to a MAC school. But the lack of big body interior D-linemen is concerning. It's one of our weakest positions and we don't seem to be addressing it, unless the staff will be searching for JuCo and 5th year guys.

(11-18-2018 11:52 AM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  

(11-18-2018 12:38 AM)BroncoMD Wrote:  A thought provoking read -- things could be worse: https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster

Regardless if you believe in Lester or not, I believe he is doing a great job in recruiting great student athletes. However, I do question his recruitment on defense -- specifically the defensive line. I don't see one defensive line recruit in his current 2019 class -- unless he is planning on moving some offensive lineman to defense. I loved how Ohio continued to rotate their defensive lineman to keep them fresh with constant pressure on the quarterback. I only wish we could get to that point.

There are a couple of DE commits in the 2019 class. Devin Baldwin (6'5" 260) from Southfield A&T and Jack Sherwin (6'4" 230) from Traverse City Central.

This staff and previous staffs have struggled to recruit interior defensive linemen though. It is difficult to find good ones at the high school level, and it's even harder to get them to come to a MAC school. But the lack of big body interior D-linemen is concerning. It's one of our weakest positions and we don't seem to be addressing it, unless the staff will searching for JuCo and 5th year guys.

Well, at least we’re fielding enough that we don’t have to switch to a 3-3-5 before the season. Cubit was able to get some good interior linemen before the end.

I do believe this staff is high on the two true freshmen DTs. We just need one or two out of the four to command that respect. We need a Jason Babin.

(11-18-2018 11:30 AM)GullLake Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 10:19 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Watching the UCF game has the feel of a P5 game, awesome atmosphere. UCF probably counting their blessings they ran from the MAC..

Of course, UCF never won anything in the MAC.

That said, it has not had MACtion to beat down and erode its fan base.

Wasn't Cincy in the MAC for a short period? UCF left the MAC because South Florida, just down the road, was building a D1 program and ADs had the AAC on paper which has been the best G5 conference since it's formation.

(11-19-2018 11:21 AM)fastbuicks Wrote:  

(11-18-2018 11:30 AM)GullLake Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 10:19 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Watching the UCF game has the feel of a P5 game, awesome atmosphere. UCF probably counting their blessings they ran from the MAC..

Of course, UCF never won anything in the MAC.

That said, it has not had MACtion to beat down and erode its fan base.

Wasn't Cincy in the MAC for a short period? UCF left the MAC because South Florida, just down the road, was building a D1 program and ADs had the AAC on paper which has been the best G5 conference since it's formation.

Cincinnati was in the MAC from 1946-1953.

(11-18-2018 11:30 AM)GullLake Wrote:  

(11-17-2018 10:19 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Watching the UCF game has the feel of a P5 game, awesome atmosphere. UCF probably counting their blessings they ran from the MAC..

Of course, UCF never won anything in the MAC.

That said, it has not had MACtion to beat down and erode its fan base.

UCF plays midweek games all the time lol

Not going to dig, but I was thinking 8-4 seemed reasonable, would've been happy with 7-5, disappointed with 6-6.

(11-22-2018 12:19 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Not going to dig, but I was thinking 8-4 seemed reasonable, would've been happy with 7-5, disappointed with 6-6.

So since team actually is 7-5, you are Happy & not disappointed?

(11-22-2018 12:23 PM)okgc Wrote:  

(11-22-2018 12:19 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  Not going to dig, but I was thinking 8-4 seemed reasonable, would've been happy with 7-5, disappointed with 6-6.

So since team actually is 7-5, you are Happy & not disappointed?

While it's always disappointing to not win the MAC, I don't think any season where the MAC isn't won is a failure.