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Ohio Football Topic
Topic: Don't freak out. We're fine.
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shabamon
9/14/2019 9:46 PM
Marshall is picked to win its division in C-USA. They played Boise very close. So far, I think we are still clearly the best in the MAC East. Yes, our expectation should be higher than playing Marshall close and winning the division. But we're right there. Nothing about the last two weeks is discouraging. Breathe deeply, we're okay.
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allen
9/14/2019 10:15 PM
You can’t win a conference championship tackling like that. The cats better get it together. Any good passer can complete 70-80% of their passes against us.
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Casper71
9/14/2019 10:27 PM
I am with allen on this one...we have a very long way to go if we are to win MACC.
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Buck.Cat
9/14/2019 10:34 PM
::places head into sand::
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Rufusbobcat94
9/14/2019 10:55 PM
shabamon wrote:expand_more
Marshall is picked to win its division in C-USA. They played Boise very close. So far, I think we are still clearly the best in the MAC East. Yes, our expectation should be higher than playing Marshall close and winning the division. But we're right there. Nothing about the last two weeks is discouraging. Breathe deeply, we're okay.
I admire your positivity. I really do. but the same thing happens every year. we play non-conference games we can win but invariably dont.

Marshall's offensive line is THEE best we will face all year-I'm sure of that. But that defensive performance was a total letdown.

Ohio's coaches didnt miss all those tackles or get pushed back repeatedly on the interior, but what is happening on that last drive?

After Marshall runs six plays in a row and is draining the clock on the last drive, cant we do anything different there? bring in a goalline defense, whatever, but can you let them drain the last 7 minutes of the clock on 10 straight runs? The same runs theyve been doing all night?

Ohio is so frustrating...
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cbus cat fan
9/14/2019 11:23 PM
Well we always get better in conference play, which is the frustrating thing. You get recognition in the MAC from your non-conference schedule. We had some bad breaks against Pitt, a team that came down to the last play in their loss against Penn State in Happy Valley. Our sloppiness cost us against a Marshall team that almost beat Boise State. Through the years, the what could have been's is really getting old for a lot of us.

The MAC isn't exactly having a stellar day either. Aside from Eastern Michigan's win against a very suspect Illini squad, there isn't much to hang our hat on. I mean if we have to point to a Toledo victory against Murray State, yikes. Liberty thumping Buffalo and Bowling Green getting steam rolled by Louisiana Tech is a bit humbling.

Yet it has been a an all around strange day in college football. When I saw that Notre Dame put 66 on Mexico State, I thought Clemson was going to put 80 on Syracuse. Yet, it still was a contest into the 3rd quarter. Georgia Tech lost to the FCS Citadel and Iowa- Iowa State might still be playing as far as I know. The strangest thing might have been seeing a half empty Rose Bowl, and half the attendees who were there seemed to be road tripping Oklahoma fans. Chip Kelly might be able to bring in some stellar recruits, but a few years ago many NFL coaches were trying to emulate his every move. Now his UCLA squad gets beat in successive weeks by Cincinnati, San Diego State and Oklahoma. Strange days indeed!
Last Edited: 9/14/2019 11:31:57 PM by cbus cat fan
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OhioBobcat
9/14/2019 11:38 PM
Agreed. These games have zero impact on winning the MACC, which Ohio will do.
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The Optimist
9/14/2019 11:49 PM
Marshall is better than any other MAC team.

Would’ve been a W at home or in Detroit.

Good showing.

MACC or bust
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Sam bobcat
9/15/2019 12:08 AM
Defense did not have their best night. Poor tackling. Missed assignments. I thought Nick Sink did a good job filling in for Hayes at center. Good job Nick! All I care about is getting to Detroit. Keep improving.
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ytownbobcat
9/15/2019 9:00 AM
Run support on the edges is not strong enough or athletic enough to make plays against opponents strong, athletic backs and receivers. Same as versus Pitt.
I think we need to consider moving underclassmen into some of those spots where we are under performing.
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shabamon
9/15/2019 9:41 AM
Arkley suggested on Twitter the lack of forced turnovers in the first two games may have caused the defense to go for strips instead of fundamental tackles. Sure looked like that. That can be fixed.
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Mark Lembright '85
9/15/2019 9:44 AM
As expected, the beginning of this season’s playing out just like last year. Anyone that thought this team, that lost players like AJ, Papi et al. together with their senior leadership, would go 4-0 with this OOC schedule is drinking hellacious amounts of green koolaid. That just wasn’t going to happen. MAC teams in general just don’t replace those kind of players and pick up where they left off. And we were saying THE EXACT SAME THINGS this time last year about the defense, especially after the debacle against Cincinnati.

Shabamon’s right, nothing about winning the MACC has changed at all. Yes, the defense has to improve A LOT and Collins better prove his meddle as defensive coordinator but I’m confident he and the defense will improve. They did last year and they can do so this year. I still think this team goes 11-3 this season.
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giacomo
9/15/2019 10:12 AM
How in the world can I wear my Ohio gear with my head held high now that we’re 1-2?
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colobobcat66
9/15/2019 10:24 AM
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
Marshall is better than any other MAC team.

Would’ve been a W at home or in Detroit.

Good showing.

MACC or bust
And apparently Marshall is better than us. I don’t get the only the MAC counts. That hasn’t happened in 50 years. Every game counts, that’s why they keep score. Moral victories-hanging with Marshall- goes not do it for me. Frank keeps saying we want to take it to the next level and be top 25. Can’t happen with losses like this. We have arguably the best QB in the last 50 years and we’re 15 years in and we’re 1-2. But we’re better than we have been, not really good enough for me. If it is for you, great.
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bobcatsquared
9/15/2019 11:19 AM
colobobcat66 wrote:expand_more
And apparently Marshall is better than us. I don’t get the only the MAC counts. That hasn’t happened in 50 years. Every game counts, that’s why they keep score. Moral victories-hanging with Marshall- goes not do it for me. Frank keeps saying we want to take it to the next level and be top 25. Can’t happen with losses like this. We have arguably the best QB in the last 50 years and we’re 15 years in and we’re 1-2. But we’re better than we have been, not really good enough for me. If it is for you, great.
I was going to post the exact same thing. Winning the MAC is a great goal but won't garner national attention. And Frank has stated in recent months (years?) that he wants this program to reach those heights mentioned above by colobobcat66. It won't happen until we win these close games (Pitt, Marshall, UC last year, etc. . .)

Same train of thought will be very popular on here in a few months regarding the basketball program as it has been for years and I'll cringe again like I have for years.

Every game you play counts. But beating teams like Pitt and Marshall in football will get more recognition than beating Buffalo or NIU.
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El Gato Roberto
9/15/2019 11:24 AM
Apparently this will not be the season that the Bobcats will go undefeated and crack the Top 25. Ima gonna scratch those off my to-do list. It’s all good.
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Maddog13
9/15/2019 11:56 AM
The level of talent that Frank has been able to bring to Ohio continues to increase; however, the level of inconsistency on behalf of most of these kids explains why they aren't playing for any of the Power 5 Conferences. It seems too that some of these kids are just not all that durable when push comes to shove, and that the coaching staff has had to refrain from over training some of these kids, which, of course, means less repetition that could potentially lead to more consistency and a certain degree of excellence. It seems to me that it is better for this program to peak later in the season than earlier in the season, and that we just don't have the durability and consistency year in and year out to play a flawless season. I hope that I am wrong about that, but it seems like when we play extremely well during non-conference games that this program tanks later in the season due to injuries.

I tip my hat toward some of these coaches, because I don't know how they avoid throwing benches out of frustration and anger at some of these players when they blow easy tackles and mess up certain assignments.

Being a Bobcat fan over the years has taught me a lot of humility and caused me to experience some extremely deep groans. I have also experienced exceptional shock and joy when the Bobcats do, in fact, pull off the unthinkable.

Here is to hoping that this team does, indeed, gel into something exceptional. Win or lose, I'll still be standing behind them.
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TWT
9/15/2019 12:21 PM
cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
Yet it has been a an all around strange day in college football. When I saw that Notre Dame put 66 on Mexico State, I thought Clemson was going to put 80 on Syracuse. Yet, it still was a contest into the 3rd quarter. Georgia Tech lost to the FCS Citadel and Iowa- Iowa State might still be playing as far as I know. The strangest thing might have been seeing a half empty Rose Bowl, and half the attendees who were there seemed to be road tripping Oklahoma fans. Chip Kelly might be able to bring in some stellar recruits, but a few years ago many NFL coaches were trying to emulate his every move. Now his UCLA squad gets beat in successive weeks by Cincinnati, San Diego State and Oklahoma. Strange days indeed!
I think its more reflective of the times. The middle class of the P5 is disappearing. Georgia Tech, Syracuse and UCLA were all programs that historically be counted on to put a solid 50,000 in the stands and 8 wins on the season. They are performing like lower tier P5 today. With all the competition in their P5 conferences they don't have a realistic shot at a conference championship anymore. If there is no shot at the conference title forget a chance at the playoff or recruiting a class with a chance to keep pace. Fans realize there is no hope so its like why bother.
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TWT
9/15/2019 12:39 PM
Maddog13 wrote:expand_more
The level of talent that Frank has been able to bring to Ohio continues to increase; however, the level of inconsistency on behalf of most of these kids explains why they aren't playing for any of the Power 5 Conferences. It seems too that some of these kids are just not all that durable when push comes to shove, and that the coaching staff has had to refrain from over training some of these kids, which, of course, means less repetition that could potentially lead to more consistency and a certain degree of excellence. It seems to me that it is better for this program to peak later in the season than earlier in the season, and that we just don't have the durability and consistency year in and year out to play a flawless season. I hope that I am wrong about that, but it seems like when we play extremely well during non-conference games that this program tanks later in the season due to injuries.
What you're saying there is a difference between athletic talent and football IQ and that to get athletes on the field Ohio has sacrificed some of the ballers that play above their heads. UCF and Boise St have both but they represent one program a piece in their respective conferences. The reason why CUSA and SBC don't have a program is because of so many with less than 10 years in FBS. The MAC is usually a two tier conference. The upper half of the MAC which is going to a bowl game and the lower half in the basement. When its a top crust of 5 or 6 its difficult for that one program to stand out.
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TWT
9/15/2019 1:01 PM
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
And apparently Marshall is better than us. I don’t get the only the MAC counts. That hasn’t happened in 50 years. Every game counts, that’s why they keep score. Moral victories-hanging with Marshall- goes not do it for me. Frank keeps saying we want to take it to the next level and be top 25. Can’t happen with losses like this. We have arguably the best QB in the last 50 years and we’re 15 years in and we’re 1-2. But we’re better than we have been, not really good enough for me. If it is for you, great.
I was going to post the exact same thing. Winning the MAC is a great goal but won't garner national attention. And Frank has stated in recent months (years?) that he wants this program to reach those heights mentioned above by colobobcat66. It won't happen until we win these close games (Pitt, Marshall, UC last year, etc. . .)

Same train of thought will be very popular on here in a few months regarding the basketball program as it has been for years and I'll cringe again like I have for years.

Every game you play counts. But beating teams like Pitt and Marshall in football will get more recognition than beating Buffalo or NIU.
Marshall's program isn't well regarded nationally. I can't remember the last big win they've had. They are respected within their conference. Phil Steele had Marshall as the 9th best G5 and Ohio as the 10th best G5 so its a peer matchup. The MACC is increasingly important because if you can't make it out of your own conference how can you talk about a NYD bowl? Also the MACC and bowl game can turn a 8-4 regular season into a 10-4, double digit win season so its key from turning a good season into a great one.
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TWT
9/15/2019 1:20 PM
OhioBobcat wrote:expand_more
Agreed. These games have zero impact on winning the MACC, which Ohio will do.
Aside from Ohio I don't think another program in the East can do better than 5-3 in MAC play. That means 6-2 gives Ohio the East this year. Then with the best QB in the conference the chances are very good in Detroit and very good in a bowl game. I do think Marshall is good bell weather game and the fact is Ohio beat the spread so while it doesn't look great now 10-4 with a MACC is still possible. Allison and Tuggle should get better as the season progresses and close the gap from Papi's and AJ's departures.
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Zaleski
9/15/2019 1:31 PM
I'm not worried about the division. I'm worried about next week. Louisiana put up 77 points on Texas Southern yesterday. With our porous defense we may be in for a 1-3 start.
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TWT
9/15/2019 1:50 PM
Marshall held Boise to 14 points on the road and next week gave up 31 at home to Ohio. Its clear to anyone we aren't as good as Boise. We aren't Texas Southern either and we are playing at home next week and hungry for a win.
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Pataskala
9/15/2019 2:15 PM
Uncle Wes wrote:expand_more
Marshall held Boise to 14 points on the road and next week gave up 31 at home to Ohio. Its clear to anyone we aren't as good as Boise. We aren't Texas Southern either and we are playing at home next week and hungry for a win.
Plus I expect Rourke to get more involved earlier. I think his first carry last night wasn't until the 2nd quarter and even then T'erd pretty much shut him down until the TD run. He may have still been feeling the effects of the flu/strep he had.
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Mike Johnson
9/15/2019 2:40 PM
Maddog13 wrote:expand_more
The level of talent that Frank has been able to bring to Ohio continues to increase; however, the level of inconsistency on behalf of most of these kids explains why they aren't playing for any of the Power 5 Conferences. It seems too that some of these kids are just not all that durable when push comes to shove, and that the coaching staff has had to refrain from over training some of these kids, which, of course, means less repetition that could potentially lead to more consistency and a certain degree of excellence. It seems to me that it is better for this program to peak later in the season than earlier in the season, and that we just don't have the durability and consistency year in and year out to play a flawless season. I hope that I am wrong about that, but it seems like when we play extremely well during non-conference games that this program tanks later in the season due to injuries.

I tip my hat toward some of these coaches, because I don't know how they avoid throwing benches out of frustration and anger at some of these players when they blow easy tackles and mess up certain assignments.

Being a Bobcat fan over the years has taught me a lot of humility and caused me to experience some extremely deep groans. I have also experienced exceptional shock and joy when the Bobcats do, in fact, pull off the unthinkable.

Here is to hoping that this team does, indeed, gel into something exceptional. Win or lose, I'll still be standing behind them.
Re your observation that Frank is bringing in an ever increasing level of talent. I know that we Bobcat fans want to believe that. And some fans will cite facts to support that belief. Me? I'm not so sure.

I've been buying Phil Steele's annual college football preview since 2000. I regard it as my annual autumn toy. Today I pulled back copies from a shelf. I looked at players who have contributed to Frank's seasons of 9 or 10 wins. Doing so led to these questions:
* Are this season's running backs on a par, not just with Oulette and Irons, but with their predecessors during those 9/10-win seasons?
* Is this linebacking corps the equal of several earlier corps?
* And the receivers of recent seasons, do they match up with the ones from those 9/10-win seasons. Brazil, Foster, Terrence McRae, Taylor Price?
* DBs. Heck, I still think the most effective DB corps played during the Grobe years - Dennis Fitzgerald, Tevell Jones, Brandon Cade, Sean Williams.
* OL. This year's crew seems inferior to many previous incarnations.
* DL. See comment on OL.

As I said, I'd love to actually believe that incoming talent has been on a continuing upward arc. To me, it just doesn't seem that way.
Last Edited: 9/15/2019 3:01:14 PM by Mike Johnson
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