TigerFan54

As I said last week, we need to think of the JMU game as a playoff game, because if we lose, we have to sweat things out on Sunday the way we did in 2012 -- and we know how that ended. Also, if we win, we might vault into the top 8 and get a bye, which we need. Given how early in the season we had our bye, everyone must be beat-up (or just beat).

I don't think this has been Fenner's best year. Too many times it seems like he's not around the ball, or helping out the corners. Everyone else is highly deserving. In the past few weeks, Carter has really made his presence felt, as has Udinski. And Paye and Malik Tyne have made a lot of nice plays too.

One worrisome stat from today: TF was sacked six times. Given how many OTHER times he escaped pressure, any other QB might have been sacked 10-12 times. I don't think the O-line did a poor job, but Tom tends to wait too long to decidewhich way to go with the ball. (He also needs to know when to put some zip on his passes.) I think JMU is going to have a game plan like Maine's to slow him down, and we know they have great defenders. So he'll have to play his best game of the year -- or on par with his Villanova performance -- for us to keep pace.

Anyone know where we can watch the game? No video (so far) on this link: https://elonphoenix.com/sports/2013/8/19/GEN_0819130920.aspx

never mind. got it.

anybody know if the soccer field will remain grass or be converted to turf?

This is essentially a playoff game for us. If we win, we play a meaningful game the following week, with the chance to move forward. Otherwise, I think we're done.

This seems to underscore that losing late in the year is always far worse than losing early. Stony Brook was idle, we beat them by 24 last month, yet they are ahead of us in both polls despite identical records. I'm rooting for Delaware to beat them on Saturday, because if we win one of these next two and SB and Towson finish 7-4, we OUGHT to get in over them.

Five teams from the west in the Top 10 -- that's unusual, if memory serves. Lower seeded teams (us, if we get our act together these next two weeks) will likely have to travel far for second/third round games.

We did put up 18 pts in the second half, vs. 10 in the first. I'm still steamed about the 3rd down call at the goal line. Our formation all but broadcast we were coming up the middle -- right into Maine's impenetrable wall. Not so long ago, we would fake the handoff to the tailback (West) and toss it to the FB (Holder) who had leaked out into the end zone. Just because West and Holder are gone doesn't mean the play won't work. Just no imagination on the OC's part. Given our difficulty pounding the ball, you have to be inventive.

I just watched the highlights on the Maine website, and Flacco and a wideout had no one near them. Just sickening. https://goblackbears.com/news/2018/11/3/football-no-23-maine-remains-atop-caa-ranks-with-35-28-win-at-no-15-towson.aspx

The problem with run-first teams is that they can put the DBs to sleep, and then burn them deep. Citadel missed a few long passes against us that, if completed, might have made that game look different. And given our DBs' weaknesses, we're already at risk for that. BUT, if we beat Elon and lose to JMU, let's hope Delaware beats Stony Brook next week, which might get us into the playoffs as a fifth CAA team. I'm sure we'd have to go on the road, and of course without a bye. Given the grueling stretch we've been in, it would be tough to go very far, but you never know.

You forgot that Stony Brook has a winning record, but I agree with you otherwise. And I hated the play calls too. Maine's defense is too strong to come straight at them the way we did. Another dumb-ass performance by the little brother.

For at least the last two years, we've been unable to pound the ball into the end zone from inside the 5. Why Jared continues to ignore this fact and tried three straight runs into that wall is maddening. The other problem -- it's been apparent all season long -- is the defense getting gashed for long gainers. We finally started putting pressure on Ferguson in the second half, which allowed us to get back in the game, but stopped coming with blitzes in Maine's game-winning drive. It's as if Hachmann never left. I hate to say it, but Maine was the better team today, and they were better coached.

I don't like two byes in the first month. It ruins any momentum and -- like this year -- results in too few home games early.

Maine has the top two sack leaders in the CAA. Our line needs to protect and TF needs to be ready to scramble (which, as we know, he's good at).

I'm worried about Simpson holding up physically. The rushing yards look pedestrian, but all those kick returns add up. We're essentially in postseason mode, because every game is a playoff game. I'd love to see us get out comfortably ahead of Maine early and not use Shane so much.

I watched the replay last night and there was fairly blatant block in the back on that squibbed kick return. It happened around the 30, so that final UD drive should have started at the 20. Of course, the way our defense looked like a sieve, that probably wouldn't have mattered.

Except for Richardson on the next to last play of the game...

Even Albany took advantage of our secondary; after this game, all of our opponents will try to do the same thing. We can't order up better players, so the DC needs to come up with a game plan to limit the damage.

Tom's quote in that article about wanting to play pro ball has me wondering: Is it possible we'll only have him for one year? I see tweets in which our coaches thank various pro teams' scouts for visiting TU. Are they scouting Tom along with our other prospects? He's 23 and has his degree, so hanging around for another year of college can't interest him much.

All this speculation about the JMU game/ESPN makes me nervous -- we have three tough games ahead of that one. Gotta just focus on Delaware right now.

Forecast of rain/wind is worrisome -- it's the great neutralizer of talent, and the chance of turnovers means the better team (us, I believe) could be undone. I know -- the chance of TOs goes up for both teams, but it's an X-factor you can't control for.

Delaware had just 177 yards of total offense against UNH, but the Hens intercepted three passes, forced a fumble, blocked a punt and ran back a kickoff. So we'll have to contend with what looks like a ball-hawking defense and dangerous special teams. Should be a great game.

Anybody know if Goodrich's injury was serious? Also, the piece made no mention of the goalkeeper. Is anything up with Shane Brennan?