FB: American Southwest Conference

[BlazeofGlory]

Belhaven is much improved. Hasn't turned into wins yet, but they are much better than they have been.

[UMHB03]

No disrespect to Belhaven, who obviously had more guts, desire, and pride tonight. However, the defending National Champs shouldn't allow a team like that to stay within 5 scores.

The Crusaders will lose 2-3 games this season with the kind of performances we've seen in the first two. They need to improve dramatically if they want to win the conference, much less another NC.

[DFWCrufan]

What in the world is going on with UMHB?

Maybe we're just spoiled, and I know they lost some key players from last year's team, but this is the slowest, sloppiest, most lethargic Crusader team I've seen in a long time. No explosive play makers on offense, and the defense isn't as dominant as it's been in recent years.

Are they really experiencing that big of a drop off in athleticism since last year, or have they become too content/complacent after winning the National Championship?

It's a long season, and a lot of improvement can be made, but performances like this won't win the ASC, much less the Stagg Bowl.

Thoroughly agree, sloppy tackles that the 2016-18 Cru would have embedded themselves into players, I can see your point, complacent play expecting a team who is 0-2 to simply roll over a give up the points. QB having to rack up the yards rushing, not that it is a too terrible thing if the offense was balanced, but if it the only offense you have...Yikes  Unless this Cru pulls some serious changes out of their hats, it's going to be a mid tier season. I've seen HSU play both their games, side by side, they will roll over this Cru unless there are some major changes. ETBU is much improved from 2018 and against what we saw tonight will win. And then there's TLU, historically a team who can hurt the Cru. I usually try to seek out the positives, I cannot say, except for Anthony Avila, the Cru did anything terribly good tonight. 3 Quarters and no score.

[Etchglow]

Honestly, I left the Cru game at the start of the 3rd quarter feeling a lot like yall about this team (thanks 17 month old who was tired lol). But, now that I've thought on it more, I just see a young team on offense that hasn't really clicked yet. I mean, you don't lose TJ Josey, KJ Miller, Aaron Sims, Markeith Miller, and to an extent Jace Hammack and expect to have enough continuity to just keep on cruising. The tempo of the game was really strange to me. It felt like we were burning clock from the very first snap.

I think a lot of our woes were self inflicted with turnovers and stupid penalties killing a lot of momentum. The defense still only gave up 2 scores. If we had punched that one before the half in or not had a few fumbles by the young guys it would have been a completely different story.

[umhb2001]

The young, inexperienced players of the Cru have shown they are not ready for the meat of the ASC. Heck, even HPU looked sharp against HSU for a bit. The fact is, there is no Hunger in this Cru team right now. Jase better be formulating plans on the sidelines to rev this team up.

The Offensive Line is not blocking 3/4 run plays, and the explosive WR just aren't there. This team has a lot to work on. They are not the #1 team in the nation right now.

[umhb2001]

Honestly, I left the Cru game at the start of the 3rd quarter feeling a lot like yall about this team (thanks 17 month old who was tired lol). But, now that I've thought on it more, I just see a young team on offense that hasn't really clicked yet. I mean, you don't lose TJ Josey, KJ Miller, Aaron Sims, Markeith Miller, and to an extent Jace Hammack and expect to have enough continuity to just keep on cruising. The tempo of the game was really strange to me. It felt like we were burning clock from the very first snap.

I think a lot of our woes were self inflicted with turnovers and stupid penalties killing a lot of momentum. The defense still only gave up 2 scores. If we had punched that one before the half in or not had a few fumbles by the young guys it would have been a completely different story.

I completely agree. We lost a lot of talent, and right now we just aren't jelled. Just about every spot is wide open. Players that step up and do things in practice or are seen on video will win the job.

[QB Jock Itch]

The young, inexperienced players of the Cru have shown they are not ready for the meat of the ASC. Heck, even HPU looked sharp against HSU for a bit. The fact is, there is no Hunger in this Cru team right now. Jase better be formulating plans on the sidelines to rev this team up.

The Offensive Line is not blocking 3/4 run plays, and the explosive WR just aren't there. This team has a lot to work on. They are not the #1 team in the nation right now.

Everyone needs to take a little breather. The sky isn't falling. They still have a solid defense and a lot of talent on offense.  It was obvious that Coach Lee was told to run the ball the 2nd half. The bad thing is the O-Line wasn't getting much of a push.

I believe Jase will be cleared to practice this week, just hope he gets a chance to work back into the #1 QB spot.

This team will be ok and contend for another National Championship.

[UMHB03]

The issues surrounding the youth and inexperience, and hopefully those surrounding the complacency and lack of discipline, can be corrected.

What's troubling to me is the apparent lack of athleticism on the current team. In the past, UMHB has come out flat or sloppy against an inferior opponent, and had a bad quarter or half, but eventually their vast talent advantage kicked in and they'd still end up blowing them away. This year, they just don't seem to have as much speed and athleticism, especially on offense. That's disconcerting, because there's not much that can be done about it.

[CowboyAlum261]

Very encouraging to see the improvement HPU has made this year, they've come a long way very quickly. Probably not enough there to challenge UMHB next week, but they should be capable of beating anyone else in the conference if they get some breaks to go their way.

[Ralph Turner]

3-6 for HPU is almost a given.

Going 6-3 would be an incredible feat.

[DFWCrufan]

The issues surrounding the youth and inexperience, and hopefully those surrounding the complacency and lack of discipline, can be corrected.

What's troubling to me is the apparent lack of athleticism on the current team. In the past, UMHB has come out flat or sloppy against an inferior opponent, and had a bad quarter or half, but eventually their vast talent advantage kicked in and they'd still end up blowing them away. This year, they just don't seem to have as much speed and athleticism, especially on offense. That's disconcerting, because there's not much that can be done about it.

After awhile thinking about this there is one thing I see that is concerning and that is Leadership. Not that the Cru does not have good leaders, but I have to ask, with the "Spike" a move everyone knows is a foul, is carried out, that to me says "I don't care about the team and any consequences, I going to do what I want to do" and by a team captain of all players. How does that flow down to the team? Facing a 0-2 and a 0-1 team and struggling, I wonder if this team Can gel. Coach has said multiple times the QBs have not taken ownership, without that can they gel? Are we looking at a 2017 rehash? Look we all want to see a monkeystomp every time the Cru takes the field, but if that does not happen the guys still have to make adjustments, pick any loose ends and close the deal.

[UMHB03]

The issues surrounding the youth and inexperience, and hopefully those surrounding the complacency and lack of discipline, can be corrected.

What's troubling to me is the apparent lack of athleticism on the current team. In the past, UMHB has come out flat or sloppy against an inferior opponent, and had a bad quarter or half, but eventually their vast talent advantage kicked in and they'd still end up blowing them away. This year, they just don't seem to have as much speed and athleticism, especially on offense. That's disconcerting, because there's not much that can be done about it.

After awhile thinking about this there is one thing I see that is concerning and that is Leadership. Not that the Cru does not have good leaders, but I have to ask, with the "Spike" a move everyone knows is a foul, is carried out, that to me says "I don't care about the team and any consequences, I going to do what I want to do" and by a team captain of all players. How does that flow down to the team? Facing a 0-2 and a 0-1 team and struggling, I wonder if this team Can gel. Coach has said multiple times the QBs have not taken ownership, without that can they gel? Are we looking at a 2017 rehash? Look we all want to see a monkeystomp every time the Cru takes the field, but if that does not happen the guys still have to make adjustments, pick any loose ends and close the deal.

I agree with this.

And the 2017 offense is exactly what I was reminded of yesterday, but unfortunately, this defense is nowhere near as good as that one was. The team I've watched for 6 out of the first 8 quarters of the season will lose handily to HSU, and I don't think they'll beat Southwestern either. Even games against ETBU and TLU could be up for grabs. At the moment, this is a very average team, not just by UMHB standards, but by any standard. That said, hopefully improvements will be made, and this team can get serious and start playing UMHB football again. If not, I feel confident in sayng we will not only miss the Stagg Bowl, but we could very easily miss the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.

[Toby Taff]

The issues surrounding the youth and inexperience, and hopefully those surrounding the complacency and lack of discipline, can be corrected.

What's troubling to me is the apparent lack of athleticism on the current team. In the past, UMHB has come out flat or sloppy against an inferior opponent, and had a bad quarter or half, but eventually their vast talent advantage kicked in and they'd still end up blowing them away. This year, they just don't seem to have as much speed and athleticism, especially on offense. That's disconcerting, because there's not much that can be done about it.

After awhile thinking about this there is one thing I see that is concerning and that is Leadership. Not that the Cru does not have good leaders, but I have to ask, with the "Spike" a move everyone knows is a foul, is carried out, that to me says "I don't care about the team and any consequences, I going to do what I want to do" and by a team captain of all players. How does that flow down to the team? Facing a 0-2 and a 0-1 team and struggling, I wonder if this team Can gel. Coach has said multiple times the QBs have not taken ownership, without that can they gel? Are we looking at a 2017 rehash? Look we all want to see a monkeystomp every time the Cru takes the field, but if that does not happen the guys still have to make adjustments, pick any loose ends and close the deal.

I agree with this.

And the 2017 offense is exactly what I was reminded of yesterday, but unfortunately, this defense is nowhere near as good as that one was. The team I've watched for 6 out of the first 8 quarters of the season will lose handily to HSU, and I don't think they'll beat Southwestern either. Even games against ETBU and TLU could be up for grabs. At the moment, this is a very average team, not just by UMHB standards, but by any standard. That said, hopefully improvements will be made, and this team can get serious and start playing UMHB football again. If not, I feel confident in sayng we will not only miss the Stagg Bowl, but we could very easily miss the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.

i didn't get to watch the game yesterday because the video feed was in and out for me, so i watched the stats. what i did see was in the first half where poor man seemed to have a good hand on the offense, but things weren't as crisp all around on offense. I'm reminded that there are a bunch of young guys getting reps, especially at key skill positions on offense that don't know the ins and outs of the system and as such the big guys up front can't be confident in what's happening behind them. Very 2017. I noticed week 1 that when luke took the reigns they seemed to do a better job, my guess is because they know him, his cadences, the way he runs the offense... seemed the same yesterday. the details in the offense (timing, routes, running lanes) can be coached up and i think that'll work it's way out, and we have 2 more games against the lower part of the league to work it out. The d is the issue for me. there are some new guys, but the whole line was here last year. They shouldn't have to gel. #29 is going to get torched a few times; it's what freshmen do, but he and Fritz can hold down the deep part of the field. I have no doubt Tev will hold down his part of the field, not so sure about the rest though. Guess we'll see. Maybe this will remind the new guys that they aren't champions of anything. They want that monicker, they have to earn it

[zipmac22]

Is Jace Hammack still out with an injury? How long is he supposed to be out?

[Toby Taff]

Is Jace Hammack still out with an injury? How long is he supposed to be out?

QB Jock Itch said he should be cleared to practice this week. I'll take his word for it.