FB: American Southwest Conference

[crufootball]

Thought I would share an quote from Coach Fredenburg about the pistol offense the Cru is running.

"I think we're going to get better (on offense), but my patience isn't very long. We need to quite sputtering around so much."

[yessir]

Thought I would share an quote from Coach Fredenburg about the pistol offense the Cru is running.

"I think we're going to get better (on offense), but my patience isn't very long. We need to quite sputtering around so much."

POWDERIVER FOOTBALL!!!! That's the Cru I wanna see. Should be a very interesting game this weekend in Belton!!!

[Bill McCabe]

Thought I would share an quote from Coach Fredenburg about the pistol offense the Cru is running.

"I think we're going to get better (on offense), but my patience isn't very long. We need to quite sputtering around so much."

I hope they don't wait too long.  I'm really surprised they decided to go to the pistol in the first place.

[CruFrenzy]

We know Bill, we know. Hahahahaha. Just teasing Bill. I'm starting to question the pistol as well. Whatever works the best is what I'm with. If its the pistol then good, if not, then go back to the old stuff.

[Bill McCabe]

The change to the pistol makes no sense to me and the results have been marginal.  Way too may INTs and the times we decide to pass have been puzzling.  We have not been very good throwing downfield out of the pistol.  Most of our completions have been on the bubble screens, play action and bootleg.  Do we really need to be in a spread offense to do that.  With the running game, I think we would be much better in the I.  Also, the Defense is championship caliber.  We should let them put pressure on the opponents, rather than our offense putting pressure on them.  Its worked well in the past. 

[CruFrenzy]

I do know that the pistol has looked great at times, but not good at all about 65 percent of the time, if they could run it to its full potential more like 80 to 90 percent of the time, i wouldnt have a problem with it at all. Our receivers are great this year. But if we cant get the ball to them,(you know, because of all the interceptions and lack of completions) then just run the old stuff. Because like you said Bill, we do have a championship caliber Defense this year, and it would be a huge shame to let it go to waste.

On a side note, really a shame to see Bronson Shaw leave the team, i always enjoyed watching him play. But hopefully we'll have someone step up and fill the spot just fine.

[umhb2001]

Toby,

If we make it will be a whirlwind trip. We will have to leave after Friday's football game (my youngest is a sophomore and on his high school varsity). We will likely drive to Longview or Crockett and then get up early and drive on into Salado to my in-laws on Saturday.We might have to leave right after the game and head back, though staying through Sunday early afternoon might be a possibility. We won't know for certain whether or not we're coming until probably Wednesday.

I have to tell you this LC team is good and getting better. If they play to their potential, and they have been, they are really good. Of course UMHB is UMHB. The CRU will be ready. Saturday should prove to be a very entertaining game.

And UMHB is not? The offense has gotten better. The D has gotten better. The Cru will be ready. All this nay-saying is ridiculous. I don't doubt LC is good, they've proven that. But we are UMHB and we'll be ready...as we have been all year.

[Kelly Boggs]

And UMHB is not?

I did not say UMHB is not good. I said UMHB is UMHB implying, as always, The Cru IS good. I even said The Cru will be ready on Saturday, of that I have no doubt. I have nothing but respect for the Purple Crush and, as an alumnus, I root for The Cru on every Saturday during the season but one. And on Saturday, I won't be as much "against" UMHB as I am rooting "for" LC.

I have not seen UMHB this year. I have seen LC. What the Cats have lacked in years past was defense. This year's defense is the best I've seen in my five years in Pineville. Is it good enough to hang with UMHB? We will see come Saturday in Belton.

[Toby Taff]

For the record, the Cru has completed 70% of its passes this season. There have been too many ints, some of which were poor throws, some that looked like miscommunications, and some that were just good defensive plays. Last week, LB was 16-20 and 200+ yards, bubble screens or not. 1 of the incompletions was LB throwing the ball away to prevent a sack. I know watching a change in offense when the offense wasn't "broken" is frustrating, but the pistol is helping the passing game and hasn't slowed the running game too much either. I keep thinking of the MC game that UMHB lost LBs freshman year when the Cru was horribly one dimensional and paid the price. I want to see an effective passing game (obviously minus the ints), and right now the pistol seems to be giving that.

[CruFrenzy]

maybe youre right.. i just want to see the team succeed. Like i said, if its the pistol that does it, im with it. And i hope the pistol is what works, its pretty exciting when its successful.

[Bill McCabe]

For the record, the Cru has completed 70% of its passes this season. There have been too many ints, some of which were poor throws, some that looked like miscommunications, and some that were just good defensive plays. Last week, LB was 16-20 and 200+ yards, bubble screens or not. 1 of the incompletions was LB throwing the ball away to prevent a sack. I know watching a change in offense when the offense wasn't "broken" is frustrating, but the pistol is helping the passing game and hasn't slowed the running game too much either. I keep thinking of the MC game that UMHB lost LBs freshman year when the Cru was horribly one dimensional and paid the price. I want to see an effective passing game (obviously minus the ints), and right now the pistol seems to be giving that.

Toby, sorry, I can't go along with that with the number of INTs.  Also, we had the ball 1st and goal against HSU and threw 2 of 3 downs.  The number of INTs to attempts is terrible.  7 INTs and 1 fumble trying to pass in 72 attempts will not win many championships.  Our passing game is what got McMurry back in the game.  I'm afraid we will see more of that with the pistol.  I'm not certain that the WRs are better than our running game.  Do we have to be in the pistol to throw bubble screens.  In the I formation, we see a lot more man to man coverage, because teams have to stop the run.

[Bill McCabe]

I remember that MC game in 2009.  The Cru scored no points in the 2nd half, but it wasn't due to the running game.  In 8 possessions, we ran the ball well and got in trouble when we tried to pass.
1st possession:  fumble on a pass
2nd possession:  rush 4 straight times for 49 yds, incomplete pass, missed FG.
3rd possession:  Rush for 16 and then sacked.
4th possession:  rush for 3 and sacked.
5th possession:  All runs for 43 yds.  Lost 7 on 1 play.  Punt.
6th possession:  Rush for 5, Inc, Inc. Turnover on downs.
7th possession:  Rush for 11, 5, 10, sacked.
8th possession:  INT (Noack)

The passing game killed us against MC.  We were running the ball, but then try to pass and get in trouble.  Same thing I'm seeing this year.

[Jerry Bawcom]

It appears to me that the pistol is not necessarily the problem with the passing game as much as poor passes at times and misrun routes.
I ma hoping we have better timing and consistent play Sat against LC.  We will have a fight on our hands!

[Ralph Turner]

The last time that the Cru got to the Stagg Bowl, they had sufficient passing to get past MUC and come from behind in the snow. 

I don't think that running alone can get them back to the Stagg, and this group of players will need to develop more of a passing game, then they have thru the first month of the season.

As an ASC fan, I want a Stagg Bowl Championship!

[crufootball]

For the record, the Cru has completed 70% of its passes this season. There have been too many ints, some of which were poor throws, some that looked like miscommunications, and some that were just good defensive plays. Last week, LB was 16-20 and 200+ yards, bubble screens or not. 1 of the incompletions was LB throwing the ball away to prevent a sack. I know watching a change in offense when the offense wasn't "broken" is frustrating, but the pistol is helping the passing game and hasn't slowed the running game too much either. I keep thinking of the MC game that UMHB lost LBs freshman year when the Cru was horribly one dimensional and paid the price. I want to see an effective passing game (obviously minus the ints), and right now the pistol seems to be giving that.

I agree with Toby on this one, this offense while it is having some problems will allow the Cru to have options if a team can load the box and stop our running backs. Believe me I love to see the Cru running all over a team but that has not and will not work deep in the playoffs, we have to be able to keep defenses honest.

Another stat to look at is the Cru is averaging 472 yards a game against teams that were the #1 (McM) and #2 (HSU) defenses by total defense last year. Give the coaches some more time to work with LiDarral in game situations and it could be great.