Borrowed from another site. Thought it was some interesting info for tonites players.
i dont usually write analysis but in an effort to help the board i will offer some informed insight regarding this matchup.
first let me say that my bias is toward marshall so take that into account. that said here goes:
1. this game is a bitter rivalry, two years ago some of you may remember one of miami's assistant coaches being arrested and marched off the field in handcuffs following a last second stan hill (current marshall qb) touchdown. this game is almost certainly for the mac east championship and a bowl berth even though it is the first conference game for marshall and the second for miami.
2. marshall was unsettled with its offensive line as late as the day before its season opener with troy. they were trying different combinations among 8-10 offensive linemen at the various o line positions. for example the now starting right guard was scheduled to start at center, guard, and tackle on various days the week before the opener w/ troy. the same is true with all 5 oline positions. as such the line did not have an opportunity to jell and hill was sacked 8 times in the opener with troy. the next week vs ohio state and since they have settled on a starting 5 o line and protection for hill as well as run blocking has been much better.
3 qb stan hill has had tendinidis in his elbow since early august but is finally almost completely healed. little known was the fact that he suffered 3 cracked ribs vs ohio state and so played most of that game and all of ga game in that condition with the 10 days off he is pretty much healthy for the first time this yr.
4.marshall has a fabulous true freshman running back ahmad bradshaw who missed ga and will miss tonight with a high ankle sprain, he is a true gamebreaker and will be missed for depth, however the starter earl charles is healthy after suffering a sprained knee early in the ga game (with bradshaw sidelined he was forced to play almost the entire game) he is a solid back who will play in the nfl.additionally tank tunstall wva hs player of the year 3 yrs ago 6'1 235 is finally available at running back after being sidelined to date with a pulled hamstring, he will be able to help out especially in short yardage, and be able to give charles an occasional breather along with the #tb.
5. marshall's defense is rock solid vs the run and pass as evidenced in the ohio state and ga games.
6. i have seen miami play once (vs mich) i belive marshall's defense will handle them tonight (14-17pts max)
7.. i was in huntington and attended all the august practices and have watched and listened closely to head coach pruett for about 6 yrs now and i think i have a decent read into his coach speak. this week what i have heard from him is that :
1. last week after the ga game he felt hill had missed several opportunities to make plays and has been quoted as having told hill that i"if he wants to be the man he has to play like the man or else they will find a new man" in other words step up or we will begin playing hot shot red shirt frosh bernard morris who pruett has compared to byron leftwich type arm ( a cannon) and speed *(4.5 4 0).
2. pruett has been uncomonly upbeat going into this game and has basically promised an offensive show.
3.hill and his ace w/r and a sure draft pick josh davis have spent the entire week together at hill's house "getting it together" (davis did not catch a pass at ga.- look for that to change big time tonight).
4. marshall will open up the offense tonight after being forced to the short passing game vs o st and ga for protection purposes.
below is a section from the chas. daily mail marshall beat writer. as i said above i attend many marshall preactices and this guy spends about half the practice at head coach pruetts side each day talking to him so although like mine his bias is to marshall he has a very good read into the program here is part of what he had to say in todays paper.
When Marshall hosts the archrival Miami RedHawks at 7 o'clock tonight at Edwards Stadium, I expect the national television audience watching on ESPN2 to see the Herd offense explode.
Not at first, mind you.
Marshall's offense will begin the game running the ball and utilize a short, ball-control passing game. There will be plenty of flare passes to running backs Earl Charles and Ahmad Bradshaw, quick tosses to the tight end and short passes to the wideouts.
Then, as the horizontal attack stretches Miami's defense and forces RedHawk linebackers to stay home, Marshall will start throwing downfield with Hill and star wide receiver Josh Davis taking over the game.
The result will be a lopsided Marshall win and an end to the offensive embarrassment.
dailymail.com/news/Chuck+Landon-20040929
i know this was rather long but i hope that it will offer some insight to those interested.
GOOD LUCK
i dont usually write analysis but in an effort to help the board i will offer some informed insight regarding this matchup.
first let me say that my bias is toward marshall so take that into account. that said here goes:
1. this game is a bitter rivalry, two years ago some of you may remember one of miami's assistant coaches being arrested and marched off the field in handcuffs following a last second stan hill (current marshall qb) touchdown. this game is almost certainly for the mac east championship and a bowl berth even though it is the first conference game for marshall and the second for miami.
2. marshall was unsettled with its offensive line as late as the day before its season opener with troy. they were trying different combinations among 8-10 offensive linemen at the various o line positions. for example the now starting right guard was scheduled to start at center, guard, and tackle on various days the week before the opener w/ troy. the same is true with all 5 oline positions. as such the line did not have an opportunity to jell and hill was sacked 8 times in the opener with troy. the next week vs ohio state and since they have settled on a starting 5 o line and protection for hill as well as run blocking has been much better.
3 qb stan hill has had tendinidis in his elbow since early august but is finally almost completely healed. little known was the fact that he suffered 3 cracked ribs vs ohio state and so played most of that game and all of ga game in that condition with the 10 days off he is pretty much healthy for the first time this yr.
4.marshall has a fabulous true freshman running back ahmad bradshaw who missed ga and will miss tonight with a high ankle sprain, he is a true gamebreaker and will be missed for depth, however the starter earl charles is healthy after suffering a sprained knee early in the ga game (with bradshaw sidelined he was forced to play almost the entire game) he is a solid back who will play in the nfl.additionally tank tunstall wva hs player of the year 3 yrs ago 6'1 235 is finally available at running back after being sidelined to date with a pulled hamstring, he will be able to help out especially in short yardage, and be able to give charles an occasional breather along with the #tb.
5. marshall's defense is rock solid vs the run and pass as evidenced in the ohio state and ga games.
6. i have seen miami play once (vs mich) i belive marshall's defense will handle them tonight (14-17pts max)
7.. i was in huntington and attended all the august practices and have watched and listened closely to head coach pruett for about 6 yrs now and i think i have a decent read into his coach speak. this week what i have heard from him is that :
1. last week after the ga game he felt hill had missed several opportunities to make plays and has been quoted as having told hill that i"if he wants to be the man he has to play like the man or else they will find a new man" in other words step up or we will begin playing hot shot red shirt frosh bernard morris who pruett has compared to byron leftwich type arm ( a cannon) and speed *(4.5 4 0).
2. pruett has been uncomonly upbeat going into this game and has basically promised an offensive show.
3.hill and his ace w/r and a sure draft pick josh davis have spent the entire week together at hill's house "getting it together" (davis did not catch a pass at ga.- look for that to change big time tonight).
4. marshall will open up the offense tonight after being forced to the short passing game vs o st and ga for protection purposes.
below is a section from the chas. daily mail marshall beat writer. as i said above i attend many marshall preactices and this guy spends about half the practice at head coach pruetts side each day talking to him so although like mine his bias is to marshall he has a very good read into the program here is part of what he had to say in todays paper.
When Marshall hosts the archrival Miami RedHawks at 7 o'clock tonight at Edwards Stadium, I expect the national television audience watching on ESPN2 to see the Herd offense explode.
Not at first, mind you.
Marshall's offense will begin the game running the ball and utilize a short, ball-control passing game. There will be plenty of flare passes to running backs Earl Charles and Ahmad Bradshaw, quick tosses to the tight end and short passes to the wideouts.
Then, as the horizontal attack stretches Miami's defense and forces RedHawk linebackers to stay home, Marshall will start throwing downfield with Hill and star wide receiver Josh Davis taking over the game.
The result will be a lopsided Marshall win and an end to the offensive embarrassment.
dailymail.com/news/Chuck+Landon-20040929
i know this was rather long but i hope that it will offer some insight to those interested.
GOOD LUCK
