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Topic: Don't freak out. We're fine.
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allen
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Posted: 9/15/2019 2:54 PM
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Mike Johnson 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.
There is not one Tevell Jones, Bop white, TJ Wright, Dion Byrum, Dennis Fitzgerald or a Sean Williams on this roster, Hagan is similar to Brandon Cade, all of our wideouts fun 4.6 at the pro day excluding Papi, we coach up players but other MAC schools have 4.4 guys, we fib about our guys, we said Oulette was 4.42 and he was 4.55 at the pro day. Buckner and Tariq Drake look like NFL athletes, speed wise and that is it at this point. Ross has speed but is always injured and Tuggle looks like he is both quick and fast.
colobobcat66
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Posted: 9/15/2019 3:32 PM
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Uncle Wes 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.

Please get over this NYD crap. If you’re not in the top 25 and if you lose 2-3 games you’re not going to make a NYD bowl. We’ve been in the top 25 for maybe 2 weeks in 15 years. We are who we are and we ain’t Boise State,
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Posted: 9/15/2019 4:04 PM
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shabamon wrote:expand_more
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.
I didn't see that many times when we tried to strip the ball. What I mostly saw was trying to knock somebody over with a shoulder above the waist instead of hitting them with the body and wrapping up with the arms.
allen
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Posted: 9/15/2019 5:13 PM
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Pataskala wrote:expand_more
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.
I didn't see that many times when we tried to strip the ball. What I mostly saw was trying to knock somebody over with a shoulder above the waist instead of hitting them with the body and wrapping up with the arms.
I saw physical flag football or the the arm tackling that you see before the pads get put on. I saw people running free in the secondary and horrible db technique, motley should have got a pi in the end zone. The dB coach needs to go, they have talent but we are always ranked 125 or worst against the pass.
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 9/15/2019 5:55 PM
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allen 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.
There is not one Tevell Jones, Bop white, TJ Wright, Dion Byrum, Dennis Fitzgerald or a Sean Williams on this roster, Hagan is similar to Brandon Cade, all of our wideouts fun 4.6 at the pro day excluding Papi, we coach up players but other MAC schools have 4.4 guys, we fib about our guys, we said Oulette was 4.42 and he was 4.55 at the pro day. Buckner and Tariq Drake look like NFL athletes, speed wise and that is it at this point. Ross has speed but is always injured and Tuggle looks like he is both quick and fast.
Just to play devil’s advocate, Ohio never won a bowl game with those guys either.
allen
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Posted: 9/15/2019 6:14 PM
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Mark Lembright '85 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.
There is not one Tevell Jones, Bop white, TJ Wright, Dion Byrum, Dennis Fitzgerald or a Sean Williams on this roster, Hagan is similar to Brandon Cade, all of our wideouts fun 4.6 at the pro day excluding Papi, we coach up players but other MAC schools have 4.4 guys, we fib about our guys, we said Oulette was 4.42 and he was 4.55 at the pro day. Buckner and Tariq Drake look like NFL athletes, speed wise and that is it at this point. Ross has speed but is always injured and Tuggle looks like he is both quick and fast.
Just to play devil’s advocate, Ohio never won a bowl game with those guys either.
There were not as many bowl games and we didn’t have Nathan Rourke or a qb that was nearly as effective in the passing game, good point though.
Last Edited: 9/15/2019 6:34:35 PM by allen
Buck.Cat
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Posted: 9/15/2019 6:33 PM
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Mark Lembright '85 wrote:expand_more
Just to play devil’s advocate, Ohio never won a bowl game with those guys either.
allen wrote:expand_more
We didn’t have Nathan Rourke or a qb that was nearly as effective in the passing game, good point though.
College football was not over saturated with bowl games during the Grobe years.
Last Edited: 9/15/2019 6:36:10 PM by Buck.Cat
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 9/15/2019 7:58 PM
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Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
Just to play devil’s advocate, Ohio never won a bowl game with those guys either.
We didn’t have Nathan Rourke or a qb that was nearly as effective in the passing game, good point though.
College football was not over saturated with bowl games during the Grobe years.
True. There were also fewer FBS-level teams then also.
Doc Bobcat
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Posted: 9/15/2019 8:18 PM
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Sam bobcat wrote:expand_more
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.
Kudos to Nick Sink.

Folks we have 2 quality centers and one returns.

Raging Cajuns did put up 77...but we’re not Texas Southern.

And they’ve never faced a QB like Rourke...Cats in a barnburner.
Buck.Cat
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Posted: 9/15/2019 8:25 PM
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Doc Bobcat wrote:expand_more
And they’ve never faced a QB like Rourke...Cats in a barnburner.
Louisiana lost to Alabama last year. Alabama had Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts.

Really?
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Posted: 9/15/2019 9:09 PM
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Will we see Daxson before his junior year is up? The DT rotation could use a shake up.
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Posted: 9/15/2019 9:41 PM
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By the way, what is the status of Julian Ross and his shoulder? Seems the RB depth is taking an early beating. Allison and Tuggle both took a beating Saturday.
Also, is Cameron Odom hurt? two catches in three games? very surprising. Are teams keying on him?

I expect the O-line to keep improving and I think the D will too. They really played another good second half. RB health concerns me a great deal right now.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 10:31 AM
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Valley Cat wrote:expand_more
Will we see Daxson before his junior year is up? The DT rotation could use a shake up.
He is not eligible. As it stands now, he has to sit out this year and will have two years to play after that.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 11:20 AM
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In the season prediction thread, 13 of 20 pickers predicted Ohio to lose to Pitt. Nine of 20 predicted Ohio to loss to Marshall. Only three of 20 did not pick Ohio to win the MAC Championship despite the feelings that these could be losses. It's not like either game was a blowout. Why suddenly do people feel differently for the end result when things have gone about as expected so far?
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Posted: 9/16/2019 11:40 AM
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UpSan Bobcat wrote:expand_more
In the season prediction thread, 13 of 20 pickers predicted Ohio to lose to Pitt. Nine of 20 predicted Ohio to loss to Marshall. Only three of 20 did not pick Ohio to win the MAC Championship despite the feelings that these could be losses. It's not like either game was a blowout. Why suddenly do people feel differently for the end result when things have gone about as expected so far?
My two cents worth is that Bobcat fans have generally been full of hope for Ohio Football since Frank Solich arrived in Athens, and that we all expect big things as a result, until certain realities kick in. Solich and his staff have put together a competitive program, but one that is inconsistent and injury prone at times. When we are firing on all five cylinders, we can beat a lot of people; however, each week is never a given in terms of that.

My gut feeling is that this non-conference schedule is perfect in terms of preparing us to take a run for the MAC championship. It doesn't sound like we are too banged up at this point to worry about the rest of the season, but humbled enough to know that a lot of hard work remains ahead. With Frank at the helm, I like this team's chances this year in the MAC. Still, the Defense is going to need to play much more aggressive, and the Offensive Line is going to need to keep our touted Canadian quarterback a little safer.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 12:41 PM
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Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
And they’ve never faced a QB like Rourke...Cats in a barnburner.
Louisiana lost to Alabama last year. Alabama had Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts.

Really?
I think I meant this year...but thanks for playing.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 1:35 PM
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Maddog13 wrote:expand_more
When we are firing on all five cylinders, we can beat a lot of people; however, each week is never a given in terms of that.
Agree with your post, but couldn't help but notice this. Five cylinders? What are you driving? LOL
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Posted: 9/16/2019 3:03 PM
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Robert Fox wrote:expand_more
When we are firing on all five cylinders, we can beat a lot of people; however, each week is never a given in terms of that.
Agree with your post, but couldn't help but notice this. Five cylinders? What are you driving? LOL
LOL! One cylinder short of a power 5 conference machine, and that is what happens when you put 350,000 miles on a machine meant to last 100,000.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 3:49 PM
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Robert Fox wrote:expand_more
When we are firing on all five cylinders, we can beat a lot of people; however, each week is never a given in terms of that.
Agree with your post, but couldn't help but notice this. Five cylinders? What are you driving? LOL
Late 80's wife drove an Audi 90, 5 cylinder sedan. Great car, nose heavy
, front wheel drive that wore the front tires right down. Very nice car.
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Posted: 9/16/2019 4:51 PM
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Doc Bobcat wrote:expand_more
I think I meant this year...but thanks for playing.
The word ‘never’ implies in team’s history. I guess Alabama and Oklahoma’s current starting QBs did not test Louisiana like Rourke will.
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Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
I think I meant this year...but thanks for playing.
The word ‘never’ implies in team’s history. I guess Alabama and Oklahoma’s current starting QBs did not test Louisiana like Rourke will.
Implies to you....that’s not what I meant....who pooped in your Wheaties.

And I really don’t give a rats patootie what you think I implied in your mind. If you can’t take my explanation go suck an egg.
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 9/16/2019 7:55 PM
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Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
I think I meant this year...but thanks for playing.
The word ‘never’ implies in team’s history. I guess Alabama and Oklahoma’s current starting QBs did not test Louisiana like Rourke will.
Here’s hoping! HAHAHAHA
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Posted: 9/21/2019 5:43 PM
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Doc Bobcat wrote:expand_more
Implies to you....that’s not what I meant....who pooped in your Wheaties.

And I really don’t give a rats patootie what you think I implied in your mind. If you can’t take my explanation go suck an egg.
Like you were saying...
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Buck.Cat wrote:expand_more
Implies to you....that’s not what I meant....who pooped in your Wheaties.

And I really don’t give a rats patootie what you think I implied in your mind. If you can’t take my explanation go suck an egg.
Like you were saying...
I’m glad you are so happy the Cats lost so you could prove me wrong.

I knew your comment was coming so I was right about something.

An atypical Rourke performance.

If you’ve given up don’t let the door hit you in the arse.
Last Edited: 9/21/2019 7:01:05 PM by Doc Bobcat
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Posted: 9/21/2019 7:22 PM
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Well we know for sure now that this is not a great or even very good team, maybe just a good one. Time will tell about that. We had the offensive losses and some key defensive ones and most people just expected to reload. Unfortunately for most G-5 teams that’s not how it works.
The out of conference season means a lot to me, but it means little to some on here. We have time to regroup and win the MACC so I guess that’s something to shoot for. Even if we did it wouldn’t mean a great season to me with these 3 losses.

I’m not giving up on the guys, but I’m very disappointed that we couldn’t win even 1 of the last 3. No apparent reason to get real jacked up even after 15 years. As I’ve said before, we are who we are.
Last Edited: 9/21/2019 7:23:58 PM by colobobcat66
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