(10-11-2021 09:33 AM)Saint3333 Wrote: App has one of the better defenses in the conference and looked good last week. It’s still a step behind the 2019 version though. Our offense may be the most balanced however since we joined the SBC.
Eh. I think both defenses are good. Don't we recall how the 2019 defense looked through the first few weeks? Louisiana scored more points on that defense than they ever have. Gave up 36 and 41 to Coastal and Charlotte....
I'm not buying that defense was better overall. Having ADG helped a lot but this defense has more depth, overall speed, experience, and play making ability. Jolly is going to be a draft pick, Jackson is going to be a draft pick, Hampton is going to be a draft pick, Smith will get a look as a FA, Taylor will be drafted, Earle is likely to get there at his size and with his performance...
If I'm being honest, I think Louisiana scores no more than 17 points in this game and that App ends up holding Coastal to a few hundred yards below their season average. People are pointing to the Marshall game as an example of a weak schedule, what about how ECU has come on? They gave the game against UCF away on Saturday and played outstanding defensive football for the most part.
Marshall's problem is turnovers. They got up for the ECU game. They got up for the App State game, and now that they lost both of those they can't get themselves up anymore. I think Huff is a little abrasive as a coach and I'd imagine the entire team hasn't bought into his authoritarian style of coaching. If he wants to build a player led team, it's going to take getting his own recruits in there because those guys in the locker room have already shown that they fall apart when things get tough (see most every year under Doc).
Marshall had SIX FUMBLES against MTSU in the rain and still were in a position to win that game. They beat ODU in another game that I believe was played in the rain, and ODU has improved as the season has gone on. UTEP is 5-1 I believe and ODU had a chance to drive the field and take the lead there two weeks ago.
So this under valuation of that win isn't lining up with reality. I'd challenge anyone to go back and watch that game and tell me that Marshall isn't a team with great potential. Go back and watch their game against Navy, who beat UCF. There are lots of factors to consider that simply don't get accounted for on a message board from people who don't watch much football outside of their program.