Sio Moore predicts a great season

[Dann]

You know that's not possible.

i have gone missing for 24 hr stints before pj. just ask my gf.

 

[businesslawyer]

No problem, I'm here to help.

LOL. I wish I had a purpose!

 

[pj]

i have gone missing for 24 hr stints before pj. just ask my gf.

That was your gf. This is the boneyard!

 

[metsfan2323]

We had roughly the same overall talent last year that we had when we went to the Fiesta Bowl.

If by roughly you mean not even close on offense then you are right.

We had an NFL caliber running back last year? The conversation should end there but...

Frazer was an average QB at best but he was much better then McEntee. Frazer actually excelled at avoiding sacks, he always got rid of the ball in the face of pressure whereas McEntee swallowed the ball too many times to be counted.

Sherman.

Zach Hurd?

Frey?

Honestly this was a cheap shot. I don't even think you believe it.

 

[businesslawyer]

If by roughly you mean not even close on offense then you are right.

We had an NFL caliber running back last year? The conversation should end there but...

Frazer was an average QB at best but he was much better then McEntee. Frazer actually excelled at avoiding sacks, he always got rid of the ball in the face of pressure whereas McEntee swallowed the ball too many times to be counted.

Sherman.

Zach Hurd?

Frey?

Honestly this was a cheap shot. I don't even think you believe it.

We returned five starters on average. Below average. We returned our placekicker, punter, kickoff specialist, punt returner and one of two kickoff returners on special teams -- above average. We returned nine -- nine -- starters on defense. Way, way, way above average.

So if by cheap shot you mean I failed to focus on the one part of the roster that would make your point and ignore the rest of it, guilty as charged.

 

[metsfan2323]

We returned five starters on average. Below average. We returned our placekicker, punter, kickoff specialist, punt returner and one of two kickoff returners on special teams -- above average. We returned nine -- nine -- starters on defense. Way, way, way above average.

So if by cheap shot you mean I failed to focus on the one part of the roster that would make your point and ignore the rest of it, guilty as charged.

This is a simpleton's analysis. You can't just count returning starters in football you need to use a weighted average. QB and RB are probably the two most important positions on the team. The Cupboard was bare at QB thanks to Endres, and Todman would have rushed for 500 more yards then McCombs did last year. I'm still waiting for McCombs to break a tackle, just one.

Overall the Big East was better last year too but that's another story.

 

[pj]

We returned five starters on average. Below average. We returned our placekicker, punter, kickoff specialist, punt returner and one of two kickoff returners on special teams -- above average. We returned nine -- nine -- starters on defense. Way, way, way above average.

Again, this is misleading. On defense, the problem was lack of depth. Apart from Gratz and Blidi, there were first-year players in the secondary, and Blidi was injured part of the season. At linebacker we had starters but no one behind them -- not even poor players for depth! -- and they got worn down in games. The result was we couldn't stop the pass.

This was my point -- in football it doesn't matter if you have 9 great players on the field, if you have 2 schlubs the other team will exploit those two and go to town. That was the trouble last year, and it was present on both sides of the ball.

 

[businesslawyer]

Again, this is misleading. On defense, the problem was lack of depth. Apart from Gratz and Blidi, there were first-year players in the secondary, and Blidi was injured part of the season. At linebacker we had starters but no one behind them -- not even poor players for depth! -- and they got worn down in games. The result was we couldn't stop the pass.

This was my point -- in football it doesn't matter if you have 9 great players on the field, if you have 2 schlubs the other team will exploit those two and go to town. That was the trouble last year, and it was present on both sides of the ball.

You are literally making things up. We dressed seven or eight LBs for games last year. The second unit, which we saw a few times in blow outs, consisted of Jerome Williams, Kenney and Osiecki. Brandon Steg also dressed and played on specials. There was a huge drop off behind many of the starters. That is a problem we've had compared to our peers from day one. It was hardly new last year.

 

[businesslawyer]

This is a simpleton's analysis. You can't just count returning starters in football you need to use a weighted average. QB and RB are probably the two most important positions on the team. The Cupboard was bare at QB thanks to Endres, and Todman would have rushed for 500 more yards then McCombs did last year. I'm still waiting for McCombs to break a tackle, just one.

Overall the Big East was better last year too but that's another story.

I do not disagree that QB is by far the most important position on the field. I wouldn't disagree if you want to say TB is second, although the difference between that and other positions is not nearly as significant.

Of course what I did was simplistic. That doesn't make it wrong. If you have a position weighted formula that people use to show why our losses were so much greater than average, show it to me. I'm all ears. (Not all 'eers -- that is another topic altogether.)

 

[Doggie Style]

Speaking of which, does any one know if Jimmy Bennett is working out yet? The question marks on the OL are obviously a lot less overwhelming with him lining up at LT.

===============
That's a good question, I haven't heard anything at all. I think it would b a good question for one of Dez's open forums. I would like him to give an update on where the line stands not only on performance at camp but depth as well. I hope we find another stud in the underclassman ranks that were not expecting much from, once camp breaks.

 

[UConnDan97]

Todman would have rushed for 500 more yards then McCombs did last year. I'm still waiting for McCombs to break a tackle, just one.

This is about the seventh post that I have read today on various threads in the Boneyard that essentially knock McCombs for not being Todman. This past year, everybody and their grandmother knew that we could only effectively move the ball on the ground (like most years), and McCombs STILL got 1,244 yards this past year! Are you serious? You're still waiting for him to break a tackle? Perhaps that's because they weren't in position to MAKE the tackle!

Here are the stats:

Jordan Todman 2010: 334 carries, 1,695 yards, 5.2 ypc
Lyle McCombs 2011: 275 carries, 1,244 yards, 4.2 ypc

Was Todman better? Yes, but that was his third year. This was Lyle's first. If you told me that someone in their first year on the field would gain over 1,200 yards....and people would consider it a weakness....then I would have said you are as crazy as those fans are. No offense, but c'mon guys!

 

[metsfan2323]

This is about the seventh post that I have read today on various threads in the Boneyard that essentially knock McCombs for not being Todman. This past year, everybody and their grandmother knew that we could only effectively move the ball on the ground (like most years), and McCombs STILL got 1,244 yards this past year! Are you serious? You're still waiting for him to break a tackle? Perhaps that's because they weren't in position to MAKE the tackle!

Here are the stats:

Jordan Todman 2010: 334 carries, 1,695 yards, 5.2 ypc
Lyle McCombs 2011: 275 carries, 1,244 yards, 4.2 ypc

Was Todman better? Yes, but that was his third year. This was Lyle's first. If you told me that someone in their first year on the field would gain over 1,200 yards....and people would consider it a weakness....then I would have said you are as crazy as those fans are. No offense, but c'mon guys!

Dude, learn the definition of context and read the post by BL I was responding to. I was responding to BL's rediculous assertion that the 2011 team was "roughly as talented" as the 2010 team. It clearly was not and the drop off from Todman to McCombs is the strongest example of that (as your stats show) so I used it in rebuttal to BL. McCombs was a redshirt freshmen last year of course he wasn't as talented as Todman. Somehow BL thinks he "roughly" was.

McCombs was solid last year and better then expected, but he needs to improve alot to ever be held in the same regard as Todman, Brown, Cauley and even Dixon. Thats not a knock just a fact. Not only could he not break a tackle in 2011 but he could not take a long run to the house without getting gassed and falling over himself. I look forward to see him do it in 2012, 2013 and 2014. I'll be rooting for him just like you.

Why is it that everyone gets to take shots at McEntee for his shortcomings but if you point out some facts about McCombs game everyone gets riled up?

 

[UConnDan97]

Dude, learn the definition of context and read the post by BL I was responding to. I was responding to BL's rediculous assertion that the 2011 team was "roughly as talented" as the 2010 team. It clearly was not and the drop off from Todman to McCombs is the strongest example of that (as your stats show) so I used it in rebuttal to BL. McCombs was a redshirt freshmen last year of course he wasn't as talented as Todman. Somehow BL thinks he "roughly" was.

McCombs was solid last year and better then expected, but he needs to improve alot to ever be held in the same regard as Todman, Brown, Cauley and even Dixon. Thats not a knock just a fact. Not only could he not break a tackle in 2011 but he could not take a long run to the house without getting gassed and falling over himself. I look forward to see him do it in 2012, 2013 and 2014. I'll be rooting for him just like you.

Why is it that everyone gets to take shots at McEntee for his shortcomings but if you point out some facts about McCombs game everyone gets riled up?

First of all, if you want to talk about context and facts (either of which, I'm not sure you grasp), please answer the following questions for me:

1) Where in my data or my statement does it say that there was a strong dropoff between Todman and McCombs? If anything, the data supports how close McCombs was. Yes, McCombs was about 450 yards shy of Todman, but he was also shy about 60 carries, too.

2) "Not breaking tackles and falling over himself"; who are you describing? The leading rusher in the Big East, or Corey Haim from the movie "Lucas"?? It's hard to tell which.

3) If you are looking for the people that are taking shots at McEntee, I'm not one of them. I've already posted today that I believe he will be the backup to Whitmer, and not Nebrich.

We agree on one thing; I'll be rooting for him just like you. But keep in mind that we are talking about a guy that had such a good rookie campaign that he is the co-favorite along with Graham of Pitt to be the top running back in the Big East this year. That's the context...

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/201...med-to-doak-walker-award-watch-list#storyjump

 

[metsfan2323]

keep in mind that we are talking about a guy that had such a good rookie campaign that he is the co-favorite along with Graham of Pitt to be the top running back in the Big East this year. That's the context...

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/201...med-to-doak-walker-award-watch-list#storyjump

and yet would we be completely shocked if someone surpasses him as the best running back on our team this year?

You are a good poster so I am going to step out of the ring on this one and concede defeat.

 

[BlueMAB]

and yet would we be completely shocked if someone surpasses him as the best running back on our team this year?

Yes. Most people would.

 

[businesslawyer]

Dude, learn the definition of context and read the post by BL I was responding to. I was responding to BL's rediculous assertion that the 2011 team was "roughly as talented" as the 2010 team. It clearly was not and the drop off from Todman to McCombs is the strongest example of that (as your stats show) so I used it in rebuttal to BL. McCombs was a redshirt freshmen last year of course he wasn't as talented as Todman. Somehow BL thinks he "roughly" was.

McCombs was solid last year and better then expected, but he needs to improve alot to ever be held in the same regard as Todman, Brown, Cauley and even Dixon. Thats not a knock just a fact. Not only could he not break a tackle in 2011 but he could not take a long run to the house without getting gassed and falling over himself. I look forward to see him do it in 2012, 2013 and 2014. I'll be rooting for him just like you.

Why is it that everyone gets to take shots at McEntee for his shortcomings but if you point out some facts about McCombs game everyone gets riled up?

Oh stop it. Having roughly the same amount of talent up and down the roster is not a statement that we are roughly the same at each and every position. We were stronger at every position that a starter came back with more strength and experience. We were weaker at some where we lost very good starters.

Of course, I've made some attempt to look at the entire team and use numbers. You feel free to just point at specific positions and ignore the other 82 or so roster spots.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Dude, learn the definition of context and read the post by BL I was responding to. I was responding to BL's rediculous assertion that the 2011 team was "roughly as talented" as the 2010 team. It clearly was not and the drop off from Todman to McCombs is the strongest example of that (as your stats show) so I used it in rebuttal to BL. McCombs was a redshirt freshmen last year of course he wasn't as talented as Todman. Somehow BL thinks he "roughly" was.

McCombs was solid last year and better then expected, but he needs to improve alot to ever be held in the same regard as Todman, Brown, Cauley and even Dixon. Thats not a knock just a fact. Not only could he not break a tackle in 2011 but he could not take a long run to the house without getting gassed and falling over himself. I look forward to see him do it in 2012, 2013 and 2014. I'll be rooting for him just like you.

Why is it that everyone gets to take shots at McEntee for his shortcomings but if you point out some facts about McCombs game everyone gets riled up?

Because he was suppose to share the reps with Shoemate last year. Because he is 165 lbs without blazing speed. Because his efforts garnered all conference and all-american honors last year and Doak Walker consideration this year. And he did it behind an offensive line that admittedly didn't know who to block. Its tough to criticize yeoman effort and accomplishment like that. If he gets beat out by someone else than we can consider the team fortunate for the quality of depth

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

It's not a knock on McCombs to say he isn't Todman, Cauley, Brown, etc. But it's not fair to compare him to those guys either.

McCombs surpassed expectations by every measurable benchmark. The only thing that concerns me about the RB position this year is the lack of depth behind McCombs.

Here's the keys to this year.....the OL stays healthy and is more accustomed to the DeLeone's blocking schemes......Whitmer is an upgrade at the QB position.....the WR's, as a whole, play better......whoever kicks (Christen or Puyol) does a credible job replacing Teggart......and it could be a very fun year. If none of those things happen we are looking at 4 or 5 wins. If they all happen we could win 10. If a few of these things happen (probably the most likely) we are somewhere in between.

 

[metsfan2323]

And he did it behind an offensive line that admittedly didn't know who to block.

I'm not buying this. McCombs had plenty of open lanes last year, maybe even more then Todman had the previous year because DeLeone's offense was more creative and varied and kept the defense on their heals. Playing with McCummings also helps because the Linebackers have to wait an extra count before attacking the runner. Todman had to run out of the vanilla inside handoff offense which can be effective when the QB can run (Lorenzen), but Frazer was never a running threat.

I rewatched all the games last night. McCombs is better then I thought. He should be getting Heisman consideration. I don't know how I missed it.

and BL is right, we didn't have a talent drop off last year.

I have determined we went 5-6 because of the coaching. Edsall would have had the team in a bowl game running the inside hand off with Michael Box. My apologies to everyone for being so wrong yesterday. I had a bad day.

 

[UConnDan97]

and yet would we be completely shocked if someone surpasses him as the best running back on our team this year?

You are a good poster so I am going to step out of the ring on this one and concede defeat.

I appreciate the compliment, and I enjoy many of your posts as well. The truth is that I would indeed be shocked if someone like Joe Williams or Max DeLorenzo surpasses McCombs this year. Completely and utterly so.

 

[B1GEast]

I appreciate the compliment, and I enjoy many of your posts as well. The truth is that I would indeed be shocked if someone like Joe Williams or Max DeLorenzo surpasses McCombs this year. Completely and utterly so.

I would not be surprised if Williams overtakes McCombs, coach P made it clear he wants one back to be the featured back, I really like McCombs, but he's better suited to a 3rd dowwn back due to his size, at 5'8 166lbs it's hard to last a full season and take thaat kind of punishment. He's a tough kid, he did a great job last season, but I would not be surprised to see Williams take over. Depth is a good is a good problem to have.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

I would not be surprised if Williams overtakes McCombs, coach P made it clear he wants one back to be the featured back, I really like McCombs, but he's better suited to a 3rd dowwn back due to his size, at 5'8 166lbs it's hard to last a full season and take thaat kind of punishment. He's a tough kid, he did a great job last season, but I would not be surprised to see Williams take over. Depth is a good is a good problem to have.

I'm sorry, but I don't know how you can say this. Are you also expecting Jefferson Ashiru to unseat Sio Moore?

 

[UConnDan97]

I would not be surprised if Williams overtakes McCombs, coach P made it clear he wants one back to be the featured back, I really like McCombs, but he's better suited to a 3rd dowwn back due to his size, at 5'8 166lbs it's hard to last a full season and take thaat kind of punishment. He's a tough kid, he did a great job last season, but I would not be surprised to see Williams take over. Depth is a good is a good problem to have.

The man ran for over 1,200 yards last year, and you think he is going to be the third down back?? Also, aren't most third downs (hopefully) short-yardage affairs, where you would want a bruiser and not a lightweight? I don't understand your ideology on this one...

 

[metsfan2323]

The truth is that I would indeed be shocked if someone like Joe Williams or Max DeLorenzo surpasses McCombs this year. Completely and utterly so.

I don't expect it to happen either, but it has happened. Cornell Brockington had one big year and then fell off the map. I don't remember the specifics of what happened to Cornell, he ended up transferring because of lack of playing time I believe.

and the great Donald Brown was unseated by Dixon in 2007. So it has happened twice. If it can happen to Brown arguably the best running back we have had well then......

one can even say Dixon was unseated by Brown in 2008. Competition makes everyone better. Let the 4 man battle for running back begin.

 

[pj]

I think the team is going to more of a pro-style offense focused on passing so the 3rd down back will be the best receiver. I don't know which back that would be. Size is no obstacle in the passing game if you're coming out of the backfield, there's usually open space on the flanks.

Can't wait to see what Joe Williams and Max DeLorenzo have to offer. But I would be shocked if either has as many carries as McCombs.