#1 and #2 reason we improve this year

[Gismo]

1). Bigger offensive line.

2). More confident and experienced QB play.

The improved offensive line and QB play will have exponential returns for us this season. The driving force will be reduction in turnovers and increase duration and length of drives. This will pay off tenfold by helping our defense defend with better feild position.

Recall 2013 in the first 4 games our openers defense's had about as many point as our own offense. Do not expect to see that again.

Recall 2013 when we took possession in our own territory and went 3 and out aoar every other possession. Do not expect to see that again. Getting a single first down will more consistently will nearly double our time of possession vs the same drives last year. Compare this with a team that averaged 3 or 4 fist downs vs a team like us that was lucky to get 2 in back to back possessions. An extra first down will increase our time of possession and presumably field position by 50% vs only 25% for a 4 first down team.

The payoff is huge for our feild position and for resting our defense. We may not expect our defense to improve much this season, but giving our opponents a larger feild to cross may have a large enough effect to reduce points against even if our defense does worse in yards allowed.

For me, the question marks are will the coaches get the plays in sooner and will we see a reduced number of false starts. If we haven't improved in that area then some of the teams developement will be wasted.

We know the O-line has really increased in size and I don't think it is unreasonable to believe the game will be much slower for our retuning QBs.

My prediction is between 5 and 7 wins with good play calling and execution.

[hm101]

Better attitude

 

Accountability

[TBBull717]

Which 7 opponents do you see as possible wins?

Winnable: WCU, NC State, UConn, @Tulsa, @SMU, @Memphis.

Coin Toss: ECU, Houston, UCF

Probable Loss: Maryland, @Cincy, @Wisconsin

I see 7-5 here.

[JupiterBull]

Which 7 opponents do you see as possible wins?

All of 'em except Wisconsin.  NC State & Maryland will be 7-10 pt faves, likely.  Cincy, UCF, Houston & E Carolina will be tough.

 

We should be able to beat WCarolina, UConn (tho; I fear WR Davis will feast on us), Tulsa, SMU & Memphis.  Not gimmies, but if we're even good, those are winnable.  Win these 5, and 1 or more of the above, and we're bowling.  It's not that crazy to suggest 5-7 wins, even for the most ardent pessimist.

[Flowers4Heisman]

It's all on the offense this year.

 

(1) We need to improve on playing as a team -knowing the plays and playing together.

(2) We need people to step up. We were a manatee last year (non-threatening).

 

O-line. QB. WRs. RBs. Execution.

 

We will be better for sure. But to me, it's a coin toss as to getting to six wins.

 

Here's something to consider. Let's say the offense doesn't do the heavy lifting in the big games this year. If the defense plays lights out and we kick field goals, we could pull an upset or two. That might get us into a bowl.

[Flowers4Heisman]

Also, I think the right game-time attitude is going to be BIG this year. Do they have it?

 

How else do you explain last year's team going into UCF and almost winning that game? On paper they should have blown us out.

 

But because it's UCF, our guys came in fired up. And their performance showed.

 

We need the right attitude every game this year, if we are to go bowling.

 

Say what you want about Leavitt, he had the guys fired up at game time.

[Skingraft]

I will always, ridiculous I know, but I will always expect us to go undefeated every year...  No matter what the previous record says....

 

If you do not go into a game with the intention of winning, why play the game....  

[charsibb]

I will always, ridiculous I know, but I will always expect us to go undefeated every year...  No matter what the previous record says....

wut he said!

 

If you do not go into a game with the intention of winning, why play the game....

 

I play a lot of games with no expectations of winning - but that's recreational league softball or ultimate. It's all about the fun of the game.

 

FBS football is a WHOLE diff'rent story.

[MaltLiquorBull]

Cue smazza to post here. Something like:

It does not matter we are minor league now

[smazza]

Cue smazza to post here. Something like:

It does not matter we are minor league now

 

 

thanks for the intro

 

better than ed mc man

 

we cant be worse than last year so there has to be improvement

 

luckily most of the team we play arent that good

 

qb should improve and depending on how much will decide how many games we win

 

wisconsin will simply embarrass us 

 

between the talent and coaching gap i will give the points on this game.