gman - appreciate talking to a MAC person....and I love having these kind of discussions with other MACsters.....
Now that I have a bit more time...I`ll enlighten my reasons on my picks....not that Iam saying yours are bad, because you have excellent reasons on why they are there...and I agree on those points made....
Northern Illinois - Iam sold on this defense. Vince Thompson and Larry Williams are going to the NFL no doubt. Ive said this before, and will say it again..Vince Thompson is the best DB I have ever seen in the MAC....better then Blaine Bishop. They play hard nose defense...and they have GREAT speed. Wisconsin got a taste of that speed when NIU recorded 10 sacks on them
I was even more impressed with the D when they played Wake early in the year and on a crucial 2 point conversion play...they stopped Wake from winning the game...despite giving up all those points. As for the Western Illinois game...Williams nor Thompson was playing due to injuries from chop blocks
from the Wake game
As for the offense...I was worried when Josh Halbi was the new QB. And they didnt have "The Thrill" Hill at WR anymore. But I thought I would be good with Thomas Hammock...and to see him go down killed me. But Micheal Turner...I mean wow this guy is a Corey Dillion type of back...hard nose, strong, hits the holes fast type of player. And the WRs have been overachieving in my eyes.
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Miami(OH) - Terry Hep....well sometimes you stratch your head and wonder...WTF is he doing?!?! I`ll never understand but I got to start with Ben Rothlisberger. Ive said before..I played against Big Ben in high school in JV and Varisty....and he burned us both times. I had to cover Mike Iritii who is also at Miami...but not part of the 3 amigos. Big Ben can do it all....and I think he`s the 2nd best roll out QB in the nation behind Brad Banks of Iowa. Big Ben can throw on the run...downfield...accross the grains...can tuck and run and of course punt. Now of course he`s only a sophomore soooo he`s still learning and by playing teams like Michigan, Iowa, and LSU that just makes him better. And he`s a great guy too!! The 3 amigos is a great combination...last night they kept on talking about Micheal Larkin.....but Jason Branch is the real deal....he`s going to the NFL with Darious. I think the 3 amigos can compete at any level of any conference. Luke Clemens proved me wrong big time.....I thought he couldnt be a quality back....but he`s proved me wrong and has done nothing but put up numbers
The defense I think is pretty good for being in this conference. They stopped Toledo dominate running game and twice on 4th and 1. What they lack is a good pass rush though....I think they get one more pass rusher and a good DB like Vince Thompson...then that D could be very good.
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Marshall - Well the offensive speaks for itself...they pass first run second..no surprise....I saw Leftwich in person a number of times and continue to be impressed with his arm and poise
There defense blows...I mean its terrible!!! Yancy Satterwhite and Orlando Washington are the only people on that D thats prevent any more points being up on the score board. Nothing much I can say on this D except they suck...
As for Marshall - they are cheaters....plain and simple...they dont deserve ANY of those MAC crowns nor the Bowl Births. They got caught once...and they got caught again...when will this shit end. I dont want the MAC to be known like the SEC...The fans are worse then Ohio St fans and they think they rule the world.
Why the fawk did they get to have 4 straight MAC Champ games in Hunington?!?! Fawk that program :thefinger
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Bowling Green - The offense is explosive! Josh Harris is a 3 dimensional QB ...has a good arm...good approach to the game....leadership...and has the ability to roll out and throw. CAn also tuck the ball...which is always good. Joe Alls isnt a bad back either...he hasnt done anything to impress me like Chester Taylor has done...but I think his success is coming from conservative defesive schemes. I like Robert Redd alot. I think he can make it to the NFL if he works on a few things and turns his routes much better...he`s been known to drop a few open ones...more then excpected for a WR.
The defense is the weakness here. No depth what so ever.....they have so many holes...you can run, pass, play action, do whatever you want with this defense....its not as bad as Marshalls buttttt people are finding ways to defeat it...just like people are finding ways to beat Va Techs D. BGs secondary is sick!!! They cant cover a kicker if he went out for a pass.
BGs special teams has improved BIG TIME from last year...kudos for them on that...
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Toledo - Ahhhh yes my home town. Well what we got there is some wierd things...Iam still upset that Miam ruined our home winning streak but nothing we can do about it. We have the biggest O-Line in the nation and I dont think anybody can stop our running game...Pitt couldnt even stop it. Some how Miami found a way and hopefully Stutz found a way to adjust to it. Our program has been known to produce an unreal amount of backs....year after year we come out with all-MAC and every other year or so we have an all-American back...recently with Chester Taylor and Weseasn Tait (best ever). Our receivers are undersized and underrated...Carl Ford has stepped it up big time and our stupidddd bubble screen that we throw on every single down seems to work every single time...which means one thing....our WRs know how to block downfield. IAm very surpised with Brian Jones...Iam impressed on his TD to INT ratio and his completion percentage....he`s a pretty good QB and people (including myself) did not give him a chance. Iam glad that he has proved me wrong...Iam excited to watch Cedric Stevens next year though.
Our D is actually not bad. We lost our entire starting 4 D-Lineman from last year including a good friend of mine, Sameer Hamood. Tom Ward has become the linebacker that we all anticipated. Iam glad he decided to go to Toledo rather then a Big 10 school. Our secondary stinks...nothing we can do about that lol
Our kicking game...dont get me started on that....
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Overlooked...
Kent St for sure...most people havent seen nor do they know who Josh Cribbs is. You being from Cleveland Iam sure youve seen him and isnt he just impressive! If Kent St had any sort of D, that would be a different team
UCF, they blow leads...simple as that. They arent discipline for shit and they run there mouths. Lately they havent said anything becuase schools like Toledo punked them and ran over 300 yards on them. Its a shame too cuz Ryan Shnieder and Doug Gabrial are REALLY good.
Western Michigan...cant look at the record here...they lost so many close games against Purdue (Shit calls), Central Florida, Western Michigan, and Northern....I love Jason Babin...he`s a great D end....as good as they get since Jason Taylor went to Akron...Chad Munson is a good young QB....had he played the whole game against Va Tech they woulda covered
And what can ya say about Mobolaji Afariogun. Western just keeps pumping out NFL TEs.....he`ll be one of the top TEs picked...
