Game #9 Bowling Green

[Lee Adams]

Our offense is average, but has 0 playmakers. I truly think if we had a stud WR out there and a running game that people would think Pohl is a better QB than they currently do.

Our defense is average.

A lot of people think our defense is great because we are used to sucking so bad. When you are used to sucking, an average defense looks good.

That being said, I think the defense has kept us in games and gave us chances for wins. You can't really blame a TD caused by a fumbled snap in the EZ against the defense. Momentum is huge in sports. When you are in a tight game and make a boneheaded mistake that results directly in a score, that can screw you up badly.

Agree about the D.So if the offense has '0 playmakers' why does Bowden continue to try to pound the square peg into the round hole on offense?

[johnnyzip84]

The vast majority of Lot 9’ers were fully expecting this outcome. Somehow I convinced myself that the odds-makers must have known something counter to this in making the Zips a solid favorite. Obviously, I was completely wrong. I suspect someone must have leaked the fact that Travis Greene wouldn’t be playing and perhaps that affected the line. As pointed out by several already, it made no difference as the 2 backups has no troubles at all getting their yards.

This highlights the biggest problem UA has faced in this downer of a stretch – we’re getting handled up front on both sides of the ball. If you can’t run the ball (I know some people think it’s because we’ve abandoned it – I disagree) and you can’t stop the run, well we all know the end result. Throw in the turnovers and that enough to pry the wheels off the vehicle. Several key guys are playing with significant injuries, and it’s a shame we apparently don’t have enough quality in reserve to do much about this in 2014. I do commend them for their effort.

I must make it clear that I think TB has chosen a prudent path in adding numerous transfers to the roster to compliment the HS recruits as he tries to turn things around here in these 1^st couple of years. He is playing to his (and the staff’s) strength in taking advantage of all the connections they have throughout the Power 5 ranks. Having established that, others in the past have postulated that transfers, because they have do not have as much time and energy invested in the program, can be the 1^st players to put forth less than 100% effort (I believe Vince Lombardi had a quote along these lines). Although it’s a generalization, I think there is certainly some truth to this. Another pitfall with Power 5 transfers is that sometimes they can convince themselves things like “if we just whipped Pitt, these MAC teams shouldn’t be much of a challenge”. Hopefully a three-game helping of humble pie might help them get ready to go against the Bulls.

Speaking of U@B, I’ve said all year that they don’t impress me in the least. Unless you’re NIU, a MAC team doesn’t lose talent like Mack, Oliver, and Neutz without having a significant drop-off the following year. There was a slight concern that having fired the only D1-A/FBS head coach to EVER lose to a team coached by Robert Stephen Ianello that somehow the Bulls might find a spark down the stretch. OU doused that suspicion in a hurry. After the 4-2 start, losing the last three games was definitely tough. But a loss to this version of the Bulls might rank as the worst loss in the Bowden era. The key to avoiding this from happening is simple IMHO. The prime job of the staff this week is to motivate.

[GP1]

This highlights the biggest problem UA has faced in this downer of a stretch – we’re getting handled up front on both sides of the ball. If you can’t run the ball (I know some people think it’s because we’ve abandoned it – I disagree) and you can’t stop the run, well we all know the end result.

Good post. This is what I would do differently (and why) if I was the offensive staff. I can't believe I'm about to type this, but it makes sense.

CH is a power back. Enough carries into the line and assuming decent blocking, he will get some yards outside once that type of run is set up running inside. The old Bettis saying..."If you try to run outside, you'll never get there. If you run inside, you'll get outside." The problem right now is the defense knows this and they completely load up to stop his inside run and he doesn't have enough speed to break outside if the line is clogged up inside. Our line is not good enough to have success against that kind of pressure. CH had one nice run the other night, but on all other runs, he averaged slightly under 3 yards per carry. The next paragraph is my solution and early in the season I would have never posted it.

JC on the other hand has found it within himself to run both inside and outside AND has become effective at both. His longest run was 17 yards between the left guard and tackle. His TD run was an inside run to the left that turned outside after getting through the line. On all carries less his longest, he averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

JC is now providing equal threat outside and inside. This will make a defense back off of loading up to stop a runner like CH in the middle of the line. It will provide a better running game and in turn will open the door for play action pass and big plays. CH is a good player and can do more than inside running, but not early in a game. Reminds me of when the Giants had Bradshaw and Jacobs running for them. Jacobs could get big chunks running inside and outside, but those carries were usually late in a game.

This week, JC should start because it makes the defense defend sideline to sideline. The mind plays a big part in winning a football game. Mentally stretch them out.

[Balsy]

I had Buffalo circled as a loss at the beginning of the year, and Ohio circled as a win. I think these two will exchange spots. I still believe we will go 7-5.