[SuperJon]

SJ you are going against your own stated philosophy though. You told us to listen to and trust the coach. If he is concerned, shouldn't we be?

Concerned that it should get better? Yes. We all should be concerned. However, you have to look at the other part of the quotes, other than Brock. Coach said some blocks missed their assignment. Coach said some receivers ran bad routes. Coach also said Brock was inconsistent at times. All of the blame is not on the quarterback. So many on here are focusing on Brock and saying it's Brock's fault that they're not grasping that the quarterback can only do so much. He can only throw to where his receivers are supposed to be. A lot of routes are timing routes and he throws to where they're supposed to be. If the receiver was lazy getting off the line, or lazy making a cut, then maybe some of these "overthrown" balls aren't really over thrown. Maybe the receiver gets blocked for a split second than Brock thinks he's going to, which slows up the whole route, and then the ball is slightly overthrown. Everything is not on the quarterback's shoulders. So many on here are focusing on the negatives that they haven't taken into consideration the improvement from game to game.

[SuperJon]

In both games most the offensive scores have come on long strikes. While these are awesome to watch, they can't be counted on regularly.

I found this line funny since most people coming into the season were most critical of Brock's deep ball, and now instead of saying he's improved on it we're saying we can't rely on it.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Dude, you're not making a separation between game one and game two. You keep saying "overthrown receivers and missed communication." That was the first game. There was a significant increase in the play of the quarterback between the first game and the second game. No one has said it was great. However, you guys are acting like he was complete horse crap when he wasn't. Wait til we get all of our weapons. Wait til we can put Rashad in the backfield and split Zach out wide and have the threat of both of them in the game. We couldn't do that the past two games. Do you realize how much of a threat the two of them on the field at the same time is?

Man, believe me, I hope you are right. I hope Brock breaks out and his blind side is protected and our running game opens up options in the passing game. I am not trying to bash him personally. I am just expecting more from that position. The rest of the league is right. I have high expectations. They may seem unrealistic for most of the Big South but they are no different from the goals LU has had for as long as we have been I-AA. Get to the playoffs, win the playoffs. That is why we hired Sam R. back then and it is what Rocco is here for now. We didn't build the FOC so we could recruit kids to win the Big South.

[SuperJon]

Rome wasn't built in a day.


And I'm willing to bet construction slowed down when two of their best builders weren't able to work.

[Knucklehead]

SJ you are going against your own stated philosophy though. You told us to listen to and trust the coach. If he is concerned, shouldn't we be?

Concerned that it should get better? Yes. We all should be concerned. However, you have to look at the other part of the quotes, other than Brock. Coach said some blocks missed their assignment. Coach said some receivers ran bad routes. Coach also said Brock was inconsistent at times. All of the blame is not on the quarterback. So many on here are focusing on Brock and saying it's Brock's fault that they're not grasping that the quarterback can only do so much. He can only throw to where his receivers are supposed to be. A lot of routes are timing routes and he throws to where they're supposed to be. If the receiver was lazy getting off the line, or lazy making a cut, then maybe some of these "overthrown" balls aren't really over thrown. Maybe the receiver gets blocked for a split second than Brock thinks he's going to, which slows up the whole route, and then the ball is slightly overthrown. Everything is not on the quarterback's shoulders. So many on here are focusing on the negatives that they haven't taken into consideration the improvement from game to game.

Maybe they should bring in Summers!

[Cider Jim]

We didn't build the FOC so we could recruit kids to win the Big South.

But that is the first step, right?

[TIMSCAR20]

Rome wasn't built in a day.


And I'm willing to bet construction slowed down when two of their best builders weren't able to work.

Slaves don't get days off SJ... Seriously though, I am with you 100%. I think Eddie and Rashad are going to help the offense a lot. Brock is getting some undue criticism but it goes with the territory of being the QB. I like how Rocco is concerned though. He seems to be very realistic with his team no matter how tough that reality might be. This game will be telling that is for sure. Rashad is really, really, really ready to play though in talking with him on Saturday.

[Stevev]

I hope that your right Scar about Rashaad. It is payback time (Referring to the injury last year following the long run which put him on the sidelines).

[Knucklehead]

In both games most the offensive scores have come on long strikes. While these are awesome to watch, they can't be counted on regularly.

I found this line funny since most people coming into the season were most critical of Brock's deep ball, and now instead of saying he's improved on it we're saying we can't rely on it.

Don't twist my words. Take it in context. I think those long throws are much improved and good, but the long sustaining drives are a must. The timing routes are the ones with the problems. I'm glad he has thrown a few long passes well, but he must get more consistent. I am 100% a Brock suporter and think he will turn it around. No other QB on this roster will be able to meet the stated good to great goals for this team this year. But this is not the Brock any of us expected to see. If you say it was then your fingers must be crossed. (how can you type like that)?

[SuperJon]

I wasn't saying that as a knock on you. I've just heard it from other places as well and find it really ironic.

Do I expect more from Brock? Yes. He does too. I think I underestimated Rashad being out way more than I should've. I didn't realize how much it opened up the passing game.

[ALAFlamesFan]

We didn't build the FOC so we could recruit kids to win the Big South.

But that is the first step, right?

Right. If you mean that winning Big South comes as a part of getting to playoffs. For me winning the BS this year and missing the playoffs will be a disappointment. I expect more given our talent, transfers and the momentum we are creating. We have been I-AA for 20 years now. I have heard "wait til next year" too many times. I think our time has come to reach some of these goals. I AM getting a little impatient and I see more potential in this team that in any year in recent memory. I intend to hold them to their potential. PLAYOFFS. That is my standard for a successful season this year.

(just my opinion. You can have your own standards of success)

[LUconn]

I don't think anybody here would dare to tell you "wait til next year". This is the year. But your growing impatience is a little silly with a 2nd year coach, that is leaps and bounds beyond anybody before him.

[SuperJon]

Growing impatient in the second year of a coaching staff after going 1-10. That's friggin laughable.

[SuperJon]

I see more potential in this team that in any year in recent memory.

Your memory obviously sucks then. The teams under Karcher were so loaded talent wise it wasn't even funny. That man just couldn't coach worth a crap.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I don't think anybody here would dare to tell you "wait til next year". This is the year. But your growing impatience is a little silly with a 2nd year coach, that is leaps and bounds beyond anybody before him.

Touche. Rocco does seem to be on top of things in a way no other coach has been and I think this team has more talent than most LU teams I have seen. Coach Sam had a pretty impressive resume and brought with him expectations of a rise to I-AA prominence that the program never realized. I think Rocco will fulfull that promise. I just think that with our weak schedule this year, a second year quarterback, strong backfield and solid D we should expect to win every game (except Toledo, but that would be nice too). Now if we had a schedule with JMU, Richmond, or other strong I-AA teams sprinked in it might be different.

Someone please tell me if they are expecting us to lose any other game this year besides Toledo. Maybe I am missing something.

[ALAFlamesFan]

I see more potential in this team that in any year in recent memory.

Your memory obviously sucks then. The teams under Karcher were so loaded talent wise it wasn't even funny. That man just couldn't coach worth a crap.

I only actually saw one of his teams play in person twice and several other times on TV. But you are right his play calling was terrible as far as I could tell. Don't know that I have seen more talent than this team though...

On paper we look great.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Growing impatient in the second year of a coaching staff after going 1-10. That's friggin laughable.

Shouldn't have ever been 1-10...now that was a frustrating season. Talk about implosion. I don't think we will see that again anytime soon and hopefully ever! Just to clarify I am not impatient with this coaching staff but rather I expected program overall to be stronger after 20 years. Karcher era was a huge step back.

I think our time frames are different. You are looking at last 5 years or so and seeing progress. From 1-10 there is nowhere to go but up. I am looking at the last 20 and seeing not much progress. (although I do think that is about to change).

I think we all have the same goal in the end and maybe I am expecting too much too soon when looking at the more recent past.

GLTY...

[Rocketfan]

I don't think anybody here would dare to tell you "wait til next year". This is the year. But your growing impatience is a little silly with a 2nd year coach, that is leaps and bounds beyond anybody before him.

Touche. Rocco does seem to be on top of things in a way no other coach has been and I think this team has more talent than most LU teams I have seen. Coach Sam had a pretty impressive resume and brought with him expectations of a rise to I-AA prominence that the program never realized. I think Rocco will fulfull that promise. I just think that with our weak schedule this year, a second year quarterback, strong backfield and solid D we should expect to win every game (except Toledo, but that would be nice too). Now if we had a schedule with JMU, Richmond, or other strong I-AA teams sprinked in it might be different.

Someone please tell me if they are expecting us to lose any other game this year besides Toledo. Maybe I am missing something.

Ok ill ask the question since it must not have sunk in....did you see any of our talent during the Karcher years? And please don't get me wrong i am in no way considering Gus Condon talent, im speaking of other players.

[Rocketfan]

I see more potential in this team that in any year in recent memory.

Your memory obviously sucks then. The teams under Karcher were so loaded talent wise it wasn't even funny. That man just couldn't coach worth a crap.

I only actually saw one of his teams play in person twice and several other times on TV. But you are right his play calling was terrible as far as I could tell. Don't know that I have seen more talent than this team though...

On paper we look great.

Karchers talent should have had 2-3 wins over top 25 1-AA teams( if it wasn't for 4th and 1 fade calls with Dre Barnes having already amassed 200 yards on the ground - yes im still bitter haha). Im not sure we televised many games during the karcher era either so i don't know which games you were watching.

[Sly Fox]

We're getting

I'm glad we faced a couple of teams who like to throw the ball right away (even if it was subpar DII competition). I'm feeling much better about our pass defense now than I did coming out of training camp.

The Tribe tried using both Phillips & Potts last year and it was a disaster. But since their decision to go with Phillips this year the Tribe have really moved the ball against higher calibre competition than we've faced.

[Rocketfan]

Sorry, i have tried to stay out of the back and forth, but people at least have to get facts straight or i guess im prone to respond.

[Sly Fox]

No problem. But we have enough threads with these discussions already. I was hoping we could focus on this Saturday's game since it is so pivotal.

Speaking of which, where are Kaplan Krazies & Magnolia League now that we really have something to discuss?

[Cider Jim]

we should expect to win every game

Somebody's been sippin' the kool-aid again.

[jcmanson]

First of all, someone mentioned that Wynton's numbers are the only good ones for the WRs. That's incorrect. Wynton's not our best wide out. Brandon Turner is. Wynton had a SPECTACULAR game on Saturday, and thus his numbers are a little inflated right now. Give it time, and you will see Turner's, Bolden's, and don't forget Zach's numbers increase dramatically over the season.

Back to W&M, IMO the key is our defense to keep them from scoring 30 points, and our offense to be able to move the ball and eat up some clock. We have to keep their offense off the field and give our D a rest. I think our D is good this year, and can be REAL good. They will definitely get tested this week. I think they are up to the challenge. I am scared though. Going into the season I thought this was a W, but after seeing what their offense has done it's got me a little worried.

I'm excited for the game. I've talked my whole family into going to Williamsburg, rather than seeing UVa against UNC! Which, as Smoothie knows, is big considering my dad's love for UVa.

[KaplanKrazies]

Here I am.

W&M is much more the team that faced VMI than the one who faced UDel(or at least looking past the final score).

After going up 3-0 on UDel, one of the top offenses in I-AA, they took a 21-3 lead to halftime. Tribe ended up losing by 18, 49-31, which means the 2 teams traded 4 touchdowns in the second half. We got off to a terrible start but since that first half have been incredible on offense, pretty much moving the ball at will.

Still having defensive troubles, but IMO the pass defense is good. Stopping the run is the big problem, and the players think they can fix it, but I wasn't too confident after VMI put up a good chunk of yards when we knew they were going to run. Your best bet is if Jennings has a field day and Phillips makes some costly mistakes, similar to last year. He did make one bad decision against UD which should have been an INT but was dropped, but other than that he has been spectacular.

Also, this passing game has been without our #1 WR Joe Nicholas, possibly all I-AA. He should be back next week, we'll know for sure after the QB club meeting tonight. Another one of our star receivers, DJ McAulay, is out for the year(didn't play vs VMI) and we still didn't have a problem.

Honestly, I don't think we'll have trouble scoring on your defense. Maybe there is more than meets the eye, but VMI got a shut out in their d2 game and the fact that you guys gave up 2 TD's in both doesn't show me much. I expect it to be a high-scoring game, and if the Tribe can stop Jennings I don't expect it to be that close.

But I don't expect the Tribe to stop Jennings.