FB: Empire 8

[wesleydad]

bengalsrule, nice post.  do you have any idea what happened to the d after last week?  holding uww to 6 and then giving up 40.  i saw brockport play today and i have no idea how they scored 30+ on buff st a few weeks ago.  the buff st fans must be going crazy trying to figure this out.  good luck next week against salisbury, as you know they have the ability to score some points to, it will take a strong effort by the d to get the win against the gulls.  wesley held them to 7 so they can be contained.  good luck the rest of the year.

Is it possible that Buffalo State's defense isn't that good?

Week 1: 31 points, 422 yards allowed
Week 2: 31 points, 533 yards allowed
Week 3: 6 points, 311 yards allowed
Week 4: 33 points, 553 yards allowed

Averages: 25 points, 455 yards.

Maybe, just maybe, the Whitewater game, while not a "fluke" is simply not indicative of the true talent level of the defense. As I pointed out a couple days ago, the defense is overly-reliant on turnovers, and don't rush the passer. We're four weeks into the year, and the defense has allowed 30+ points three times. Not great

bombers, i was thinking the same thing, but wanted to see brockport.  i know they were playing a tough d yesterday in kean, but i did not see anything special from them that would lead to the 533 yds they put up on buff st.  what cant be explained then is the uww game.  was it a fluke or does uww have some offensive issues that buff st was able to take advantage of?  this week will be a solid indicator when buff st plays salisbury.  wesley held them to 7, will be interesting to see how buff st rebounds from yesterday.  salisbury can put up points in a hurry with the triple option they run.

[HScoach]

Looking more like the UWW game was a fluke.  And a big one.

[dlippiel]

Or it could mean the east region may be pretty darn good and UWW may be a bit down this year. Remember, UWW was beaten in most statistical categories by Buffalo State last week. It's not like U-Dub wore diapers last week.

[AlfredSaxon8]

Looking more like the UWW game was a fluke.  And a big one.

I dont think it was a fluke. And to say "fluke" really takes away from the hard fought win over WW. Kudos to Buff State, its hard to play with such a high level of intensity like the WW game week after week. Anyone remember Oklahoma State vs Kansas State last year? The week after they lost to Iowa State. My point being, it shows that in the East, anyone can beat anyone and the competiton is stacked from top to bottom. To play good teams each and every week is tough. And to say "fluke" means Buff State was lucky. They played tough and executed when needed to, cant ask for much more than that.

[Bombers798891]

You know, every defensive coordinator talks about being aggressive. But under Mark McDonagh, Ithaca has really become an aggressive defense. Their thirteen sacks are already two more than they had all of last season, and they are averaging 12 TFL per game (that number was 7 per game last season)

While they're not forcing turnovers at the same rate, I think that will come with the additional pressure.

And, while there are still things Phil Neumann needs to work on, he's clearly taken a step forward this season.

There are still major issues for the Bombers (Another week, another 1st and Goal at the 1 that Ithaca can't put in the endzone) and I think the team is destined for a 4-6/5-5 season, I feel better about the underlying components of the season

[pumkinattack]

Seems like there's no more talk about Utica after the Hobart game, but I did want to post a couple of thoughts.  They are a better team this year, IMO.  The defense leaves a lot to be desired, but the front four played tough. Dougherty did a lot of his damage on the edge and outside rather then up the middle.  I thought they brought it all (the flea flicker and onside kick attempt and got a blocked punt which is uncharacteristic to happen to Hobart - placekicking is another story).  Looks like their weakness is LB's and secondary, which honsetly was beatable.  They had one good CB, but that's it.  Nonetheless, Benkwitt is an excellent QB and they do have some talent around him.  I'd expect them to win a game or two that they'd be a dog in conference going in.  Still ultimatily probably puts them around 6-4 or so, which is pretty good, expecially if Union can win a bunch of conference games and make that win look better.  Can't blame them for giving up the sacks or inability to run the ball vs. Hobart as the D is Bart's strength.

Separate point I wanted to bring up.  I recall a discussion on Utica running up the score or not approaching the game a certain way.  To a degree I felt like this was FR on the losing side having a little sour grapes along with a Hartwick guy who likes to step on Utica in general (not saying his comments aren't correct, but I do notice a consistent critique there).  One IC poster who's pretty levelheaded also made some good points.  What I thought was stupid in the Hobart game is leaving Benkwitt and the rest of the offensive starters in there for the last possession or two in a 19pt game, especially when our D was having a sack party in the 4th quarter.  It was seriously like:  Sack, QBH, QBH, Punt, Sack, Sack, QBH.  I realize it's Benkwitt's last season, but they still have the entire conference slate in front of them and really risked his health there for no reason other than stat padding.  My only conclusiong were either that the coaches weren't thinking at all or that they were more concerned about his stats at that point.  Either way, it made me think of the running up the score discussion and made me start to believe that perhaps there's a mindset that focuses more on outside perception than doing the right thing on the field all the time. 

[AlfredSaxon8]

Not necessarily a Empire 8 topic but I'm starting to think that RPI could be a sleeper team in the East. The way they played against the Saxons, and seeing how AU has responded, I think the Engineers have a pretty strong team.

[Upstate]

Not necessarily a Empire 8 topic but I'm starting to think that RPI could be a sleeper team in the East. The way they played against the Saxons, and seeing how AU has responded, I think the Engineers have a pretty strong team.

Anytime you have a great QB you've got a chance to do some damage.

RPI's QB is pretty damn good, so they absolutely have a chance to make some noise.

[Saxon73]

Not necessarily a Empire 8 topic but I'm starting to think that RPI could be a sleeper team in the East. The way they played against the Saxons, and seeing how AU has responded, I think the Engineers have a pretty strong team.

At the RPI game AU had more pass plays (including 3 INT'S) vs run plays compared to the Buff St game.  Although the 1st posession score was made up of 7 run/4 pass plays, I couldn't see why AU didn't stay with the run game more vs RPI.  The outcome may have at least been a closer game.

[saxontad]

Couldn't agree more '73.  Even with DeRosa injured we have several capable ball carriers.  Congratulations to Chuck Beckwith for showing his stuff on Saterday.  In two weeks Ithaca and homecoming.  Let our running backs carry the ball!!

On Saxon Warriors.

[AUPepBand]

Looking more like the UWW game was a fluke.  And a big one.

...or Alfred is 22 points better than Wisconsin-Whitewater, (and RPI is 40 points better than Wisconsin-Whitewater). But seriously, any given Saterday... and how teams match up is the reason we always have these Team A clobbers Team B, which clobbers Team C, which turns around and clobbers Team A.
Which one of those games was the fluke?

[fisheralum91]

Fisher jumps a spot in the poll to number 9, Brockport and Buff St. tumble as expected.
IC and AU get some love, and Salis is sitting at no.7.
Could be a classic in 2 weeks!!!

[Bengalsrule]

Couldn't agree more '73.  Even with DeRosa injured we have several capable ball carriers.  Congratulations to Chuck Beckwith for showing his stuff on Saterday.  In two weeks Ithaca and homecoming.  Let our running backs carry the ball!!

On Saxon Warriors.

+2 ...on "Let" the Saxon "running backs carry the ball". From what I saw Saturday, 9.1 yds per carry, I don't see a reason for them to ever throw!!

[sjfcards]

Fisher jumps a spot in the poll to number 9, Brockport and Buff St. tumble as expected.
IC and AU get some love, and Salis is sitting at no.7.
Could be a classic in 2 weeks!!!

Can't wait for Fisher/Salisbury in 2 weeks! Very excited that Fisher has a bye to prepare for that offense, and athleticism.

[Bengalsrule]

Fisher jumps a spot in the poll to number 9, Brockport and Buff St. tumble as expected.
IC and AU get some love, and Salis is sitting at no.7.
Could be a classic in 2 weeks!!!

Can't wait for Fisher/Salisbury in 2 weeks! Very excited that Fisher has a bye to prepare for that offense, and athleticism.

Hopefully my beloved BENGALS can "tenderize Salisbury" for you this coming weekend! (Sounds horrible   but I had to try!)