MAC Saturday 11/23
- Thread starter hellah10
- Start date
Just to let ya know...
Toledo is a totally HOMER and BIASED pick I have ever had
:hail GO ROCKETS! :hail
Toledo is a totally HOMER and BIASED pick I have ever had
:hail GO ROCKETS! :hail
uh oh... looks like Hellah lost a bet...
but you are always dead on with your MAC picks..
good luck
but you are always dead on with your MAC picks..
good luck
Toledo write-up
Well despite this being a TOTAL HOMER and BIASED pick...I have my reasons as well.
This is what college ball is all about! The final 2 weeks in the MAC is gonna be exciting as hell if your a MAC fan. In fact....they are calling this MAC Playoff week with Toledo.NIU and Marshall/Ohio. Toledo controls its own destiny here...if they win out...they go back to Hunginton, West Virginia...first time since 1998 (where I got beat up)
Toledo Offense
Year after Year Toledo has produced running backs and good offense. No matter who it is they play....whether its Purdue, Minnesota, Penn St, Marshall, or even Cincinnati, Toledo has always controlled the game by running the ball. Well William Bratton the big 225 punder who tries to run you over....is out due to an ankle injury. Toledo has what they call the "Baby Backs" What I mean by that is our running backs are ALL FRESHMAN...and they all are putting numbers up. They have quickness and will make you miss. Now most of this cant be done without the biggest OLine in the nation....averaging 6'5" 260(I think). Brian Jones has kinda been the un-sung hero of the team. He is very accurate and has a AWESOME TD to INT ratio - 15 TDs and only 4 INTs. Not bad ehh? He`s also completing 71% of his passes. One thing that Toledo is doing this year that they havent dont in years past is the usage of the TE. Toledo has 2 big and pretty fast TEs and have been used alot this year. Toledo's offense completely demolished Central Michigan winning, 44-17 in Toledo. UT racked up 522 yards against the Chippewas, its most in a MAC game this year. The Rockets are averaging 467.7 ypg in total offense and are running for 220.1 ypg on the ground. They are the second highest scoring team in the MAC this year. Quarterback Brian Jones threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing and was intercepted once. Jones has been impressive this year throwing for 2,099 yards with 13 touchdowns to only four interceptions. The quarterback is averaging 233.2 ypg and has completed 70.9% of his passes going 185-of-261. The Rockets are lead in the backfield by William Bratton, who has gained 639 yards this season and has 10 rushing touchdowns. Bratton suffered a fracture to his left ankle in the first half of their game against Miami. Bratton will be out for this game although he may return before these season ends. UT will use a running back by committee approach with Astin Martin, Trinty Dawson, and Quinton Broussard again this week. Its leading receiver, Carl Ford, had seven catches for 80 yards last week. Ford has now caught 48 balls for 619 yards with five touchdowns in nine games played.
Toledo Defense
What was once thought as the backbreaker this year...is anything but. Toledo's young defense has held its own and has gone by the bend but dont break rule. Lead by senior Linebackers Tom Ward and David Gardner the Toledo defense has stepped up. The Toledo front 4 are full of brand new starters from last year and WILL HAVE TO STEP UP to stop Micheal Turner. HAVE TO!!!!!!!!! The Toledo front 4 has gelled much faster then expected though. Stopping the run is starting to become a good thing for the Rockets However, the Toledo secondary sucks balls. Lucky for Toledo NIU isnt a passing team. However, Keon Jackson has 3 TDs and 1 returned for a TD and Brandon Hefflin has 4 INTs this year. The Rocket defense stood strong last week as they held Central Michigan to 284 total yards, including 71 yards passing. Three quarterbacks combined to finish 9-for-31 with two interceptions for CMU. TU's defense ranks a top the standings in the MAC allowing only 22.6 ppg. One week after he rushed for a MAC-record 377 yards, Robbie Mixon was held to just 35 yards on 10 carries for the Eagles. It was Mixon's lowest output rushing for the entire season. This year's opponents have rushed for 166 ypg and 16 touchdowns against UT. The strength of the Toledo team this year has been it's pass defense, which has held teams to just 198.7 ypg and only 10 touchdowns. Tom Ward leads the team with 110 tackles and has eight TFLs. Linebacker David Gardner is second on the team with 101 tackles, but has the team lead in TFLs (11) and sacks (3). UT has picked off its opponents 13 times this season including three each from defensive backs Brandon Hefflin and Keon Jackson. Jackson has returned two of his three interceptions back for touchdowns.
Northern Iliinois Offense
Micheal Turner <~~ Remember that name, because he`ll be drafted. I`ll be honest with ya...I was skeptic when I saw Thomas Hammock go down...but Micheal Turner has stepped up in a BIG WAY. He`s a big back with great feet. He can catch the ball out of the back field and most impressively, he can block!!! Of course Josh Halbi has alot to do with this success as well. Halbi this year has completed 51% of his passes and has thrown for 1885 yards. Has only thrown 6 INTs....not bad for a first year starter. Back to Micheal Turner real quick....his success hasnt come becuase of big holes, his OLine actaully stinks! He has made alot of those big plays himself! He makes people miss and breaks tons of tackles. Iam very impressed with man, and so would you if you saw him.
Northern Illinois Defense
This defense is the best I have seen in a while for being a MAC team. Now DO NOT look at what they did in teh beginning of the year....yea sure they lost to Western Illinois, yea sure they gave up 41 but stopping them on a crucial 2 point conversion. What really impressed me is stopping BG. BG has averaged 41 point per game this year...and only held them to 17! Larry Williams is a great linebacker that has good outside speed and will catch you in the flat. Out of the Top 15 INT leaders....3 of them are from NIU. Randee Drew has 7 Justin Dole has 3 and my favorite player of all Vince Thompson has 4. The NIU secondary is VERY strong and will sometimes play man-to-man. NIU has fast defensive ends and has tons of sacks....hell they had 10 alone on Wisconsin Upfront, the Northern Illinois D-line developed some push and swagger with the maturation of 6-3, 283-pound senior DT Anthony Falbo and 6-4, 290-pound senior NT Eric Didesch?who combined for 90 stops, 26 QB pass-hurries, and 10 tackles for 26 yards in losses last year, plus 6-1, 235-pound soph DE Travis Moore?a walk-on-turned-regular in 2001. The Good News: Rangy 6-foot-6, 246-pound junior Jason Frank steps into the other DE spot while 6-1, 271-pound senior Jason "Sarge" Banks and 6-1, 300-pound soph Brian Peterson offer experience at NT. Look for newcomers such as Curtis Crossley (6-0, 272), Quince Holman (6-3, 234), and ex-LB Vinson Reynolds (6-1, 236) at the DE spots. Inside, the Huskies will be counting on some new faces?junior DT Leonard Cooksey (6-0, 272), plus red-shirt frosh DTs Justin McIntyre (6-0, 302) and Charles Johnson (6-2, 295). The Bad News: Graduation and Arena Football took Novak's best frontline player in four-year letterman Trent Clemen (6-4, 252), the Huskies' No. 1 D-line tackler (80) and sack artist (six for 37 yards), plus reliable back-ups Jon Peters (6-4, 281) at DT and Rashad Walker (6-1, 282) at NT. Indiana transfer Steve Williams, a 6-4, 275-pound junior-to-be, will upgrade things at NT in 2003.
My Overview
I HONESTLY think NIU is the best team in the MAC. But not so fast my friend!!!!! Toledo has the best running game averaging 221 yards per game!!!!!! Getting 35 points per game!!!!! And having Brian Jones with a 150 QB Rating! Another reason why I think Toledo will win is because of experience. Coach Amstutz
was in the Toledo Blade today.....here`s what he said....
READY TO RUMBLE: Rockets coach Tom Amstutz would love to play Marshall again in the MAC championship game.
If Marshall wins the East Division and Toledo beats Northern Illinois and Bowling Green in its final two games to share the West, that would happen.
However, the game would be played in Huntington, W.Va., and not in the Glass Bowl where the Rockets rallied from a 23-0 deficit to beat the Thundering Herd 41-36 last season.
"Yes, I do want to go back to Marshall, and if we do, I?m wearing boxing gloves," Amstutz said, laughing.
Asked if he?d request the same officials that worked the Marshall-Miami slugfest last Tuesday, Amstutz said: "I love all officials. I am buying them all steak dinners. I think they are very nice people and I believe in all of their calls."
We want to go back to Hunginton.....we have the experience...we have been in this situation before. We must win.....
:hail :hail :hail :hail :hail GO FAWKING ROCKETS!
Well despite this being a TOTAL HOMER and BIASED pick...I have my reasons as well.
This is what college ball is all about! The final 2 weeks in the MAC is gonna be exciting as hell if your a MAC fan. In fact....they are calling this MAC Playoff week with Toledo.NIU and Marshall/Ohio. Toledo controls its own destiny here...if they win out...they go back to Hunginton, West Virginia...first time since 1998 (where I got beat up)
Toledo Offense
Year after Year Toledo has produced running backs and good offense. No matter who it is they play....whether its Purdue, Minnesota, Penn St, Marshall, or even Cincinnati, Toledo has always controlled the game by running the ball. Well William Bratton the big 225 punder who tries to run you over....is out due to an ankle injury. Toledo has what they call the "Baby Backs" What I mean by that is our running backs are ALL FRESHMAN...and they all are putting numbers up. They have quickness and will make you miss. Now most of this cant be done without the biggest OLine in the nation....averaging 6'5" 260(I think). Brian Jones has kinda been the un-sung hero of the team. He is very accurate and has a AWESOME TD to INT ratio - 15 TDs and only 4 INTs. Not bad ehh? He`s also completing 71% of his passes. One thing that Toledo is doing this year that they havent dont in years past is the usage of the TE. Toledo has 2 big and pretty fast TEs and have been used alot this year. Toledo's offense completely demolished Central Michigan winning, 44-17 in Toledo. UT racked up 522 yards against the Chippewas, its most in a MAC game this year. The Rockets are averaging 467.7 ypg in total offense and are running for 220.1 ypg on the ground. They are the second highest scoring team in the MAC this year. Quarterback Brian Jones threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing and was intercepted once. Jones has been impressive this year throwing for 2,099 yards with 13 touchdowns to only four interceptions. The quarterback is averaging 233.2 ypg and has completed 70.9% of his passes going 185-of-261. The Rockets are lead in the backfield by William Bratton, who has gained 639 yards this season and has 10 rushing touchdowns. Bratton suffered a fracture to his left ankle in the first half of their game against Miami. Bratton will be out for this game although he may return before these season ends. UT will use a running back by committee approach with Astin Martin, Trinty Dawson, and Quinton Broussard again this week. Its leading receiver, Carl Ford, had seven catches for 80 yards last week. Ford has now caught 48 balls for 619 yards with five touchdowns in nine games played.
Toledo Defense
What was once thought as the backbreaker this year...is anything but. Toledo's young defense has held its own and has gone by the bend but dont break rule. Lead by senior Linebackers Tom Ward and David Gardner the Toledo defense has stepped up. The Toledo front 4 are full of brand new starters from last year and WILL HAVE TO STEP UP to stop Micheal Turner. HAVE TO!!!!!!!!! The Toledo front 4 has gelled much faster then expected though. Stopping the run is starting to become a good thing for the Rockets
However, the Toledo secondary sucks balls. Lucky for Toledo NIU isnt a passing team. However, Keon Jackson has 3 TDs and 1 returned for a TD and Brandon Hefflin has 4 INTs this year. The Rocket defense stood strong last week as they held Central Michigan to 284 total yards, including 71 yards passing. Three quarterbacks combined to finish 9-for-31 with two interceptions for CMU. TU's defense ranks a top the standings in the MAC allowing only 22.6 ppg. One week after he rushed for a MAC-record 377 yards, Robbie Mixon was held to just 35 yards on 10 carries for the Eagles. It was Mixon's lowest output rushing for the entire season. This year's opponents have rushed for 166 ypg and 16 touchdowns against UT. The strength of the Toledo team this year has been it's pass defense, which has held teams to just 198.7 ypg and only 10 touchdowns. Tom Ward leads the team with 110 tackles and has eight TFLs. Linebacker David Gardner is second on the team with 101 tackles, but has the team lead in TFLs (11) and sacks (3). UT has picked off its opponents 13 times this season including three each from defensive backs Brandon Hefflin and Keon Jackson. Jackson has returned two of his three interceptions back for touchdowns. Northern Iliinois Offense
Micheal Turner <~~ Remember that name, because he`ll be drafted. I`ll be honest with ya...I was skeptic when I saw Thomas Hammock go down...but Micheal Turner has stepped up in a BIG WAY. He`s a big back with great feet. He can catch the ball out of the back field and most impressively, he can block!!! Of course Josh Halbi has alot to do with this success as well. Halbi this year has completed 51% of his passes and has thrown for 1885 yards. Has only thrown 6 INTs....not bad for a first year starter. Back to Micheal Turner real quick....his success hasnt come becuase of big holes, his OLine actaully stinks! He has made alot of those big plays himself! He makes people miss and breaks tons of tackles. Iam very impressed with man, and so would you if you saw him.
Northern Illinois Defense
This defense is the best I have seen in a while for being a MAC team. Now DO NOT look at what they did in teh beginning of the year....yea sure they lost to Western Illinois, yea sure they gave up 41 but stopping them on a crucial 2 point conversion. What really impressed me is stopping BG. BG has averaged 41 point per game this year...and only held them to 17!
Larry Williams is a great linebacker that has good outside speed and will catch you in the flat. Out of the Top 15 INT leaders....3 of them are from NIU. Randee Drew has 7 Justin Dole has 3 and my favorite player of all Vince Thompson has 4. The NIU secondary is VERY strong and will sometimes play man-to-man. NIU has fast defensive ends and has tons of sacks....hell they had 10 alone on Wisconsin Upfront, the Northern Illinois D-line developed some push and swagger with the maturation of 6-3, 283-pound senior DT Anthony Falbo and 6-4, 290-pound senior NT Eric Didesch?who combined for 90 stops, 26 QB pass-hurries, and 10 tackles for 26 yards in losses last year, plus 6-1, 235-pound soph DE Travis Moore?a walk-on-turned-regular in 2001. The Good News: Rangy 6-foot-6, 246-pound junior Jason Frank steps into the other DE spot while 6-1, 271-pound senior Jason "Sarge" Banks and 6-1, 300-pound soph Brian Peterson offer experience at NT. Look for newcomers such as Curtis Crossley (6-0, 272), Quince Holman (6-3, 234), and ex-LB Vinson Reynolds (6-1, 236) at the DE spots. Inside, the Huskies will be counting on some new faces?junior DT Leonard Cooksey (6-0, 272), plus red-shirt frosh DTs Justin McIntyre (6-0, 302) and Charles Johnson (6-2, 295). The Bad News: Graduation and Arena Football took Novak's best frontline player in four-year letterman Trent Clemen (6-4, 252), the Huskies' No. 1 D-line tackler (80) and sack artist (six for 37 yards), plus reliable back-ups Jon Peters (6-4, 281) at DT and Rashad Walker (6-1, 282) at NT. Indiana transfer Steve Williams, a 6-4, 275-pound junior-to-be, will upgrade things at NT in 2003.My Overview
I HONESTLY think NIU is the best team in the MAC. But not so fast my friend!!!!! Toledo has the best running game averaging 221 yards per game!!!!!! Getting 35 points per game!!!!! And having Brian Jones with a 150 QB Rating! Another reason why I think Toledo will win is because of experience. Coach Amstutz
was in the Toledo Blade today.....here`s what he said....
READY TO RUMBLE: Rockets coach Tom Amstutz would love to play Marshall again in the MAC championship game.
If Marshall wins the East Division and Toledo beats Northern Illinois and Bowling Green in its final two games to share the West, that would happen.
However, the game would be played in Huntington, W.Va., and not in the Glass Bowl where the Rockets rallied from a 23-0 deficit to beat the Thundering Herd 41-36 last season.
"Yes, I do want to go back to Marshall, and if we do, I?m wearing boxing gloves," Amstutz said, laughing.
Asked if he?d request the same officials that worked the Marshall-Miami slugfest last Tuesday, Amstutz said: "I love all officials. I am buying them all steak dinners. I think they are very nice people and I believe in all of their calls."
We want to go back to Hunginton.....we have the experience...we have been in this situation before. We must win.....
:hail :hail :hail :hail :hail GO FAWKING ROCKETS!
Last edited:
very tough game in dekalb this weekend. toledo played good but not great in kalamazoo.
this line movement is real tricky. i was considering backing toledo at +3 or +3.5, but line dropping quickly to 1/1.5 and thats scary. takes value away from the rockets.
might be one of those great games to watch on fox sports, but might end up passing it.
mac got a TV double header this week eh?
marshall/ohio and toledo/niu
you think bgsu wins without a sweat saturday? many might back off em losin 2 straight and laying 30+, but you and i both know emu shouldnt be in division 1.
game has bgsu 41-0 written all over it
this line movement is real tricky. i was considering backing toledo at +3 or +3.5, but line dropping quickly to 1/1.5 and thats scary. takes value away from the rockets.
might be one of those great games to watch on fox sports, but might end up passing it.
mac got a TV double header this week eh?
marshall/ohio and toledo/niu
you think bgsu wins without a sweat saturday? many might back off em losin 2 straight and laying 30+, but you and i both know emu shouldnt be in division 1.
game has bgsu 41-0 written all over it
TTM$ - Allready there
gman - The BG game is gonna be a wierd one to figure out. They should have a good crowd there considering the Ohio St game is gonna be on at noon....and everybody here is calling this "gauranteed win night" :lol: But I agree with ya, BG should wax EMU to the ground. I remember those days when EMU used to be good/decent....even with Charlie Batch. These days...they have good athletes, but they just turn the ball over and over and over. This team blows! I say...send them down to I-AA and bring up Youngstown St. And get rid of UCF....there in Florida not Middle America
As for the Toledo game....yea the line has dropped big time. Iam considering going to this game, although I should because I turned down the offer to go to Columbus Experience and a good running game will get the Rockets a W here and a W next week when we beat B.U.G.S.
gman - The BG game is gonna be a wierd one to figure out. They should have a good crowd there considering the Ohio St game is gonna be on at noon....and everybody here is calling this "gauranteed win night" :lol: But I agree with ya, BG should wax EMU to the ground. I remember those days when EMU used to be good/decent....even with Charlie Batch. These days...they have good athletes, but they just turn the ball over and over and over. This team blows! I say...send them down to I-AA and bring up Youngstown St. And get rid of UCF....there in Florida not Middle America
As for the Toledo game....yea the line has dropped big time. Iam considering going to this game, although I should because I turned down the offer to go to Columbus
Experience and a good running game will get the Rockets a W here and a W next week when we beat B.U.G.S. of course the best place to get info in the MAC is at the MAC-BEAT
click on link daily to view updated news on MAC sports enjoy
http://mac-sports.ocsn.com/ot/fan-center/macbeat.html
click on link daily to view updated news on MAC sports
enjoyhttp://mac-sports.ocsn.com/ot/fan-center/macbeat.html
Western Michigan write-up
Good old school rivalry between the Chips and Broncos. This game will feature 2 mobile and upcoming QBs...Derrick Vickers and Chad Munson.
Western Michigan Offense
Well this offense....is how can we say it....inconsistent. WMU is ninth in the MAC in total offense (362.5) Individually, Philip Reed is tied for eighth in rushing (90.0) while Chad Munson is eighth in passing (176.3) and 10th in total offense (166.8). Chad Munson is a JUCO transfer that has done, I would say very well. Jon Drach stinks and will always stink for the rest of his stinking life. Munson this year has thrown for 14 TDs...and thats with splitting time with Drach. The reason Iam talking up Munson is because he can run with the ball...and unlike Drach, Munson has pocket
awarness....Drach just stands there and says "I dare you hit me" Its like he loves the pocket...and the OLine sucks in the first place, so there isnt anytime to just stand in the pocket. Munson has alot of plays where he can roll out and can either throw the ball or run with it. Philip Reed is a work horse. Western does pass him the ball alot so I guess he has good hands RB Philip Reed is just six yards shy of 1,000 yards on the season. Should he reach the milestone Saturday at Central Michigan, WMU would have its fifth 1,000-yard rusher in six seasons under Gary Darnell. Robert Sanford accomplished the feat three times (1997, 1999, 2000) and Darnell Fields once (1998). Reed, who didn't turn in his first 100-yard game until week five, has averaged just 18 carries a game and battled through various ailments during his career-best season. The OLine for this team BLOWS! 47 sacks for 249 yards
Western Michigan Defense
The Broncos have had one of the more surprising pass defenses this season, as they currently rank 29th in the nation in allowing just 188.8 ypg. Their coverage has been suffocating, but they have only managed to come up with 13 interceptions. Cornerback Tony Carr leads the team with five intercepted passes. One of the reasons for the low interception total, could be the fact that the Broncos have trouble getting to the quarterback. They have recorded just 28 sacks all season, although Jason Babin has 13 of them, among his 77 total tackles and 23 TFLs. Those numbers would be good if he were just a linebacker, but the junior has recorded all those stats coming off the end of the line, which is even more impressive. Babin is not only a menace on defense, but has also recorded two blocked punts on special teams, including one last weekend. The WMU run defense has not been terrible but it is still allowing 157.5 ypg on the ground which ranks 63rd in the nation. Linebacker Bryan Lape leads the team in tackles with 106 and has recorded 2.5 sacks.
Central Michigan Offense
Who here knows who Robbie Mixon is? Derrick Vickers? Jovan Clarke? Probably not mant people but some have. Robbie Mixon is a very good running they got in Mt. Pleasent and has ran the ball very well this year. Tailback Robbie Mixon has put together a solid season for the Chippewas. Mixon has rushed for 1,355 yards which ranks third in the MAC. His 10 touchdowns and 123.2 ypg average this season are the main reason that CMU has won four games. CMU has rushed the ball 60 percent of time this year and when it has to go through the air, quarterback Derrick Vickers has been decent and found a reliable target in receiver Rob Turner. Vickers has put up impressive numbers, throwing nine touchdowns against just five interceptions, with 1,794 yards. Vickers finished last week's game with 133 yards on 15-of-27 passing while also adding a touchdown run. His performance didn't solidify a starting role for him against WMU, as coach Mike DeBord has not made a decision on who will start at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Kent Smith played in the second half in each of the last two games and may get the nod. Turner, whose 41 receptions and 495 yards easily leads the team, despite being impressive numbers, he has yet to score a touchdown this season. The Chippewas have done an excellent job in protecting their quarterbacks, allowing 11 sacks for minus 63 yards. That's second in the MAC. Conversely, the defense has registered 26 which is sixth. While no CMU football player has led NCAA Division 1A in an individual category, Robbie Mixon has twice led the country this season in all-purpose yards and is currently second to Penn State's Larry Johnson (207.2) with 188.18 per game. All-American Brian Pruitt was second in three NCAA categories in 1994 -- rushing (171.8), all-purpose yards (208.5) and scoring (12.0). The Chippewas have led the nation twice in team stats -- scoring defense (1990) with 8.9 points per game and pass defense (2000) with 149.73. CMU was second in passing efficiency in 1990 (135.4).
Central Michigan Defense
The Chippewas have had major problems this season defending the pass. The opposition is averaging 268.4 ypg and has tallied 22 aerial touchdowns against a porous CMU defensive unit that ranks 109th in the nation. Junior linebacker Jovan Clarke is just nine tackles shy of 100 on the season and is CMU's leading tackler to this point. Clarke has punished opposing offenses behind the line of scrimmage with 18 TFLs, while sophomore safety James King has had a knack for finding the ball as he has amassed 89 tackles and is the team leader in interceptions with three. King, who has blocked a pair of kicks this season, made a real name for himself last year by blocking eight kicks. CMU's run defense has been much better than it was in 2001, as the unit is allowing 139.8 ypg on the ground. The team's improvement has not been enough to stop foes from scoring 31.7 ppg, however. In the last two games, the Chippewas have given up 82 points to Ball State and Toledo. Senior linebacker Jovan Clarke (Miami, Fla./Pace) has 18 tackles-for-loss this season, tied for sixth best ever. The 6-3, 240-pounder has 33 career TFL which is eighth best, and he's done it in just two seasons.Clarke is tied for the team lead in total tackles with cornerback Dante McKnight (Trenton, N.J./Valley Forge) at 92 stops.Free safety James King (Oak Park/Western) has a knack for finding the football. Not only is the sophomore third in tackles with 89 but he's tops in interceptions with three and has one fumble recovery. King made a name for himself in 2001 with eight blocked kicks, seven of them punts. He now has 10 for his career, collecting a blocked punt and extra point this year.
Good old school rivalry between the Chips and Broncos. This game will feature 2 mobile and upcoming QBs...Derrick Vickers and Chad Munson.
Western Michigan Offense
Well this offense....is how can we say it....inconsistent. WMU is ninth in the MAC in total offense (362.5) Individually, Philip Reed is tied for eighth in rushing (90.0) while Chad Munson is eighth in passing (176.3) and 10th in total offense (166.8). Chad Munson is a JUCO transfer that has done, I would say very well. Jon Drach stinks and will always stink for the rest of his stinking life. Munson this year has thrown for 14 TDs...and thats with splitting time with Drach. The reason Iam talking up Munson is because he can run with the ball...and unlike Drach, Munson has pocket
awarness....Drach just stands there and says "I dare you hit me" Its like he loves the pocket...and the OLine sucks in the first place, so there isnt anytime to just stand in the pocket. Munson has alot of plays where he can roll out and can either throw the ball or run with it. Philip Reed is a work horse. Western does pass him the ball alot so I guess he has good hands
RB Philip Reed is just six yards shy of 1,000 yards on the season. Should he reach the milestone Saturday at Central Michigan, WMU would have its fifth 1,000-yard rusher in six seasons under Gary Darnell. Robert Sanford accomplished the feat three times (1997, 1999, 2000) and Darnell Fields once (1998). Reed, who didn't turn in his first 100-yard game until week five, has averaged just 18 carries a game and battled through various ailments during his career-best season. The OLine for this team BLOWS! 47 sacks for 249 yards Western Michigan Defense
The Broncos have had one of the more surprising pass defenses this season, as they currently rank 29th in the nation in allowing just 188.8 ypg. Their coverage has been suffocating, but they have only managed to come up with 13 interceptions. Cornerback Tony Carr leads the team with five intercepted passes. One of the reasons for the low interception total, could be the fact that the Broncos have trouble getting to the quarterback. They have recorded just 28 sacks all season, although Jason Babin has 13 of them, among his 77 total tackles and 23 TFLs. Those numbers would be good if he were just a linebacker, but the junior has recorded all those stats coming off the end of the line, which is even more impressive. Babin is not only a menace on defense, but has also recorded two blocked punts on special teams, including one last weekend. The WMU run defense has not been terrible but it is still allowing 157.5 ypg on the ground which ranks 63rd in the nation. Linebacker Bryan Lape leads the team in tackles with 106 and has recorded 2.5 sacks.
Central Michigan Offense
Who here knows who Robbie Mixon is? Derrick Vickers? Jovan Clarke? Probably not mant people but some have. Robbie Mixon is a very good running they got in Mt. Pleasent and has ran the ball very well this year. Tailback Robbie Mixon has put together a solid season for the Chippewas. Mixon has rushed for 1,355 yards which ranks third in the MAC. His 10 touchdowns and 123.2 ypg average this season are the main reason that CMU has won four games. CMU has rushed the ball 60 percent of time this year and when it has to go through the air, quarterback Derrick Vickers has been decent and found a reliable target in receiver Rob Turner. Vickers has put up impressive numbers, throwing nine touchdowns against just five interceptions, with 1,794 yards. Vickers finished last week's game with 133 yards on 15-of-27 passing while also adding a touchdown run. His performance didn't solidify a starting role for him against WMU, as coach Mike DeBord has not made a decision on who will start at quarterback. Redshirt freshman Kent Smith played in the second half in each of the last two games and may get the nod. Turner, whose 41 receptions and 495 yards easily leads the team, despite being impressive numbers, he has yet to score a touchdown this season. The Chippewas have done an excellent job in protecting their quarterbacks, allowing 11 sacks for minus 63 yards. That's second in the MAC. Conversely, the defense has registered 26 which is sixth. While no CMU football player has led NCAA Division 1A in an individual category, Robbie Mixon has twice led the country this season in all-purpose yards and is currently second to Penn State's Larry Johnson (207.2) with 188.18 per game. All-American Brian Pruitt was second in three NCAA categories in 1994 -- rushing (171.8), all-purpose yards (208.5) and scoring (12.0). The Chippewas have led the nation twice in team stats -- scoring defense (1990) with 8.9 points per game and pass defense (2000) with 149.73. CMU was second in passing efficiency in 1990 (135.4).
Central Michigan Defense
The Chippewas have had major problems this season defending the pass. The opposition is averaging 268.4 ypg and has tallied 22 aerial touchdowns against a porous CMU defensive unit that ranks 109th in the nation. Junior linebacker Jovan Clarke is just nine tackles shy of 100 on the season and is CMU's leading tackler to this point. Clarke has punished opposing offenses behind the line of scrimmage with 18 TFLs, while sophomore safety James King has had a knack for finding the ball as he has amassed 89 tackles and is the team leader in interceptions with three. King, who has blocked a pair of kicks this season, made a real name for himself last year by blocking eight kicks. CMU's run defense has been much better than it was in 2001, as the unit is allowing 139.8 ypg on the ground. The team's improvement has not been enough to stop foes from scoring 31.7 ppg, however. In the last two games, the Chippewas have given up 82 points to Ball State and Toledo. Senior linebacker Jovan Clarke (Miami, Fla./Pace) has 18 tackles-for-loss this season, tied for sixth best ever. The 6-3, 240-pounder has 33 career TFL which is eighth best, and he's done it in just two seasons.Clarke is tied for the team lead in total tackles with cornerback Dante McKnight (Trenton, N.J./Valley Forge) at 92 stops.Free safety James King (Oak Park/Western) has a knack for finding the football. Not only is the sophomore third in tackles with 89 but he's tops in interceptions with three and has one fumble recovery. King made a name for himself in 2001 with eight blocked kicks, seven of them punts. He now has 10 for his career, collecting a blocked punt and extra point this year.
Last edited:
what book has an OU line up? i figured marshall would be (-7) to (-10) at MOST with hill at qb and the game meaning nothing to marshall. wheres that line?
Thanks Anthony...
Its too bad Iam gonna be buying pitcher after pitcher after pitcher later tonight. All my friends (OSU freaks) bet me...soooo of course I got the beer tonight Oh well, at least we`ll be in Bowling Green getting drunk....and I can talk mad shit to the BG fans....just hope I dont get my ass whooped
Its too bad Iam gonna be buying pitcher after pitcher after pitcher later tonight. All my friends (OSU freaks) bet me...soooo of course I got the beer tonight
Oh well, at least we`ll be in Bowling Green getting drunk....and I can talk mad shit to the BG fans....just hope I dont get my ass whooped 