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I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

What is your gut feeling about where our program is, heading into next year?

I only see a couple of losses on the schedule....big turnaround ahead...
We are going to shock alot of teams on the schedule and make a bowl game...
If some young guys step up, we could go over .500...
Not a whole lot better, but young with potential and fun to watch...
We're living in fantasyland...the teams on our schedule are going to crush us...

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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

walty12 said

Our offensive coordinator wants to run the running spread, he wants a QB that runs the ball a lot.  Its very similar to Rich Rods offense.

That's why he was brought in from Montana State.  He had to use what he had last year but know he is starting to put together his type of offense.  I believe we are going to see a very different product on the field compared to last year.


GO OWLS!
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

dusky256fc said

walty12 said

Our offensive coordinator wants to run the running spread, he wants a QB that runs the ball a lot.  Its very similar to Rich Rods offense.

That's why he was brought in from Montana State.  He had to use what he had last year but know he is starting to put together his type of offense.  I believe we are going to see a very different product on the field compared to last year.

Better or worse?
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

We used 25% of coach Wright's playbook last year because Graham was incapable of running the ball. You don't want Graham back. He made our offense very 1 dimensional.

The freshmen we have in here may be talented but I'd be shocked if they are capable of running a complex college offense right away, it's a BIG difference just in the playbooks let alone the speed and they'll only have fall camp to really get it ingrained.

We will live and die by the QB this year, dumptruck is right. I don't think we'll be in a position to beat people handily so we may rely on the the way the football bounces for a few wins as well. If we have some luck, we win 6 or 7, but that's just as easily 4-5 wins losing a few squeakers.
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

dusky256fc said

walty12 said

Our offensive coordinator wants to run the running spread, he wants a QB that runs the ball a lot.  Its very similar to Rich Rods offense.

That's why he was brought in from Montana State.  He had to use what he had last year but know he is starting to put together his type of offense.  I believe we are going to see a very different product on the field compared to last year.

Let's hope so! Even with the decent play of Graham at qb, FAU was still near the bottom of the stats in nearly every O category. And not just nationally, but in the Belt as well - not good for a spread O! Go Owls - OPEN THE O UP NOW!
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

Our offense will look NOTHING like it did this year. I think our O is going to be more of a read-option and there will be a heck of a lot more running by the QB next year. We tried to do that bit last year but Graham didn't do much reading, it was more of him just looking at the defense and handing the ball off no matter what the defense did.
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

Between 4 to 6 wins should be considered a good season.  I know that won't be popular or exciting amongst the base, but I think it is a reasonable expectation and it shows growth in the program.  The team is very young and remember after 2 draft classes; 60% of the roster is from Howard (as well discussed, a very different system from what Pelini is implementing).  Additionally, the competition in the conference is going to increase.  Wins will be harder to earn.
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

I'm really not sure what to think here.

On one hand, I think it's vital to show upward progress and going from a 3 win season to a 4 or even 5 win season isn't going to sit well, I would think. That's too much of a slow burn both for fans and for administration. So I'd hope for 6-7 wins to be in "safe" territory there.

On the other hand, we'll be breaking in a new QB who will inevitably struggle early on. Not to mention that we're going into an entirely new conference and it's difficult to know how much of a transition that will be, how much harder games against CUSA foes will be. And that's a huge unknown. Given a transitioning QB against potentially stronger teams than we've played before, yeah, we could very easily only get 3-4 wins again.

So I don't know. If I had to bet, I would go with 4-6. Heart would say closer to 6, head would say closed to 4.
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

Hi guys, I am loving the responses.  All of them point to a positive outcome for the Owls.  Keep up that mindset, and the trend will happen.  I am going to be really optimistic and say we got six wins under our belt.  I could be wrong, but I am going to go in with my heart and prayers asking for a win every game.  And who knows, they might just shock us, their undying faithful fans! Salute the Hoot.
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

I think it's a stretch to assume it was Graham's fault the offense wasn't up to it's capabilities last year. I think the truth is the offense didn't have high capabilities to start with since it was pretty much the same guys from the 1-11 season. You guys, the coaches are not stupid, I am sure they probably didn't even put Graham in a position to read on those run plays and it was probably a called handoff. I think last year we should have aired it out some more because in my opinion we were much more effective when we threw the ball more. But I think the high amount of running plays was Coach Pelini and Wright trying to set and ingrain an ATTITUDE of toughness. we have all seen Coach Pelini's quotes about "setting the foundation" which is a tough defense and a powerful run attack. I think we will see a faster offensive tempo with more run plays which SHOULD be more effective with a QB who is a threat to run. it should be a very balanced attack. I will closely be monitoring the spring competition between Curtis and Johnson
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Re: I know its early, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks...

6 or 7 wins are possible and even though we are going into CUSA.

Our schedule includes teams like S. Miss (0-12 w/new Coach), UAB (3-9), Tulane (2-10) along with Marshall (5-7) and Rice (6-6). East Carolina (8-4) will be tough. Other CUSA games will be vs. FIU (3-9 w/new Coach) and MTSU (8-4). Only East Carolina is a "sure" loss there. We "could" go 6-2 in CUSA play.

OOC include NM St. (1-11 w/new Coach), USF (3-9 w/new Coach), UM (7-5) and Auburn (3-9 w/new Coach). We should go 1-3 there but "could" upset one of the others coming off poor years and two w/new Coaches to boot.
Overall we face only three teams with winning records last year and 5 teams with new Coaching staffs - usually a learning transition year for most teams. In addition we miss out on La. Tech and Tulsa in CUSA play!
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