I want them to win as much as the next guy but through 3 games there's what 2 TD drives?

Zero vs. Miami

That wasn't a TD in the ECU game, he didn't have control.

USF -  two TD drives.

USF sucks and let up 53 against McNeese State and we were only able to put 14 against them. So I don't put too much stock into last weeks win.

I'm guessing the Owls get 2,3 fied goals and possibly a TD. Call it 16 points on the high end. We don't have a QB and they'll shut down the running game.

MTSU had 5 drives of over 50 yards vs. UNC in game that was closer than 40-20. AND Last week vs. an improved and big Memphis team they held the Tiger offense in check and was able to move the ball enough to win.

As good as our defense has been, I still like MTSU putting up 28 points. Its college football, you aren't going to win many games by putting up points in the teens.

so USF sucks, we still won. Offense needs tons of work, but as they say Defense wins games!

They improve with momentum building and defense scores 3x this week to lead us over the raiders
31-28!

GO OWLS!

teambeer said

I too like a 17-13 (but will go 17-14 for the sake of a tiebreaker) score for the Owls, but were still putting a lot of pressure on the D to pull that off.

Does the win really count if we don't have any 4 star recruits playing?  

Posted On: Sep 20th 2013, 7:38 AM #317813

I guess we could ask Boise State, or wait until Saturday. And I agree with the heavy reliance on the defense, but you have to use what you got, and right now that is defense.

EXit39 said

I want them to win as much as the next guy but through 3 games there's what 2 TD drives?

Zero vs. Miami

That wasn't a TD in the ECU game, he didn't have control.

USF -  two TD drives.

USF sucks and let up 53 against McNeese State and we were only able to put 14 against them. So I don't put too much stock into last weeks win.

I'm guessing the Owls get 2,3 fied goals and possibly a TD. Call it 16 points on the high end. We don't have a QB and they'll shut down the running game.

MTSU had 5 drives of over 50 yards vs. UNC in game that was closer than 40-20. AND Last week vs. an improved and big Memphis team they held the Tiger offense in check and was able to move the ball enough to win.

As good as our defense has been, I still like MTSU putting up 28 points. Its college football, you aren't going to win many games by putting up points in the teens.

Posted On: Sep 20th 2013, 8:45 AM #317830

Miami is a ranked program, and with a team as young as ours, that brought back no strong leadership that offense wasn't going to get much done against UM anyway. There comes a point, that has been discussed, eventually the better-bigger, more highly starred/sought after players will beat you.

ECU was rough, but if you did any research about ECU you know they returned a lot of men inside the box. A team of veteran linemen and linebackers and a fairly weak secondary. SO for two young QB's who are splitting time/reps, who have no relationship with the receivers, to have to key in on a weak secondary while they have some experienced line core tearing after them, I can kind of understand the struggle.

Finally the USF game. McNeese State isn't some scrub program. Yes, they may be FCS, but they beat MTSU last year and held their own against FSU. Just because you are an FCS program doesn't mean you couldn't contend with the big boys just means your school doesn't have the money or student population, I bet McNeese State sells out more games than FAU and USF combined. We should all take a win for what it is. It wasn't sloppy, we beat a team that was bigger upfront than we were, and at the end of the day we played better football than an AQ team.

Will a win tomorrow be rough? Yes, the offense has a to play like they did in the second half of the USF game, and defense has to come to play.

Don't count the Owls out just yet.

jakesansom said

EXit39 said

I want them to win as much as the next guy but through 3 games there's what 2 TD drives?

Zero vs. Miami

That wasn't a TD in the ECU game, he didn't have control.

USF -  two TD drives.

USF sucks and let up 53 against McNeese State and we were only able to put 14 against them. So I don't put too much stock into last weeks win.

I'm guessing the Owls get 2,3 fied goals and possibly a TD. Call it 16 points on the high end. We don't have a QB and they'll shut down the running game.

MTSU had 5 drives of over 50 yards vs. UNC in game that was closer than 40-20. AND Last week vs. an improved and big Memphis team they held the Tiger offense in check and was able to move the ball enough to win.

As good as our defense has been, I still like MTSU putting up 28 points. Its college football, you aren't going to win many games by putting up points in the teens.

Posted On: Sep 20th 2013, 8:45 AM #317830

Miami is a ranked program, and with a team as young as ours, that brought back no strong leadership that offense wasn't going to get much done against UM anyway. There comes a point, that has been discussed, eventually the better-bigger, more highly starred/sought after players will beat you.

ECU was rough, but if you did any research about ECU you know they returned a lot of men inside the box. A team of veteran linemen and linebackers and a fairly weak secondary. SO for two young QB's who are splitting time/reps, who have no relationship with the receivers, to have to key in on a weak secondary while they have some experienced line core tearing after them, I can kind of understand the struggle.

Finally the USF game. McNeese State isn't some scrub program. Yes, they may be FCS, but they beat MTSU last year and held their own against FSU. Just because you are an FCS program doesn't mean you couldn't contend with the big boys just means your school doesn't have the money or student population, I bet McNeese State sells out more games than FAU and USF combined. We should all take a win for what it is. It wasn't sloppy, we beat a team that was bigger upfront than we were, and at the end of the day we played better football than an AQ team.

Will a win tomorrow be rough? Yes, the offense has a to play like they did in the second half of the USF game, and defense has to come to play.

Don't count the Owls out just yet.

Posted On: Sep 20th 2013, 10:26 AM #317853

A win is a win…2 years ago their wasn't one aspect other than Alfred Morris you could watch on this team and not cringe, last year you saw progress.  This year through 3 games you actually can enjoy watching the defense play out there, and special teams has NEVER been this good.  The offense is a work in progress…you can say coaching, lack of ability behind center, poor offensive line play and receivers not getting open (and just because you saw a couple of plays where a receiver was open and he didn't get the ball doesn't mean they are doing what they are suppose to).  It probably is a combination of all of those elements.  I am hoping for steady progress each week and by the end of the year we will have a much better team than the beginning.  It's been a long run with a lot of poor football being played over the last several years, but patience is still needed.  To expect to be bowl eligible this year may be a little unreasonable.  Looking at the rest of the schedule I can see them winning 6 games, doesn't mean they will, but I think we will be competitive.  I think we may have the best defense in C-USA and I think they will only be getting better.

Can I play too?  I'm thinking that there is one really big defensive or special teams play for the Owls that makes this a 23-14 win, surprising many people.  The defense proves it is for real, and the offense doesn't lose the game.

Prediction #2:  six wins, maybe seven - a bowl berth, lots of extra practice for the bowl, and some much needed momentum.  And Carl gets the extension before the bowl game is played.

I'll bet a Nebraska steak and micro brew on it with anyone on here willing to take the bet and who shows up in Lincoln next fall for the game…  Limited to two bettors though, because I will only have two nights that weekend to collect on my bets…

I agree with the FCS statement about McNeese but putting up 53 points is pretty freaking impressive no matter the opponent.

And with the ECU game, their defense blows, they gave up over 500 yards the previous week to an FCS team too.

And withe USF game. FAU had 89 yards of passing. I didn't even know that was possible.

I think the defense is incredible. there's some playmakers on offense but the qb, subpar oline is going to kill this team.

There are more negatives than positives.

MSU 31-FAU 9

My confidence is up, but not enough to pick FAU in this one. It will be close though.

MTSU 24 FAU 20

GO OWLS!!!

I had a dream last night brown took back the opening kickoff.......

Owls Win

21-17