[jcmanson]

I'm assuming Coastal jumps to #4 in the Coaches poll tomorrow with two teams losing in front of them. If so will that be the highest ranked team to ever come into the Bill?

No. 2002 App was ranked #4 and in 1999 App was #3, both played at Williams Stadium. Libertys only win against a top 10 team came last year against #6 Stony Brook - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/libe ... cs-top-10/

[therealbodoyle]

I know you guys WANT to and think you will beat us b/c of your gaudy home record and what you have done to us there in the past, and I know we WANT to beat you and think this is our best chance to get the road W over you guys in a while b/c of our high-powered offense etc, but smack talk aside, what do you guys see happening and why?

Here is what I posted on our site:

Looking at the numbers, we rushed for 222 against GW and they were #2, behind Liberty in rush D, allowing about 143 a game. If we rush for 79 more than Liberty allows (like we did against GW), that would put us at 205 for the game, and I believe Cluck said in the post game show that we are now 50-5 when we rush for 200 yards or more in a game.

I think it will come down to two things: 3rd down conversions/stops. Our conversion rate is ridiculous at 54.7%, (Liberty is 2nd at 40.3%) and Liberty's D allows 36.6% while we allow 40.2%. As well as what Dab stated in his blog: Liberty is #1 in the conference in scoring D and rush D while we are #1 in scoring offense and rush offense. In years past, I think that would pretty much tie our hands and force us to pass. Even as recently as the GW game this year (since they have a good run D), I thought we would try to run, get stuffed, and then start chucking the ball. But time and again (especially the EKU game) we have proven that we will run the ball successfully, and I will not think that a team can stop The Machine known as Taliferro until I see it happen.

Also, Cluck mentioned this was the 4th game in a row that our D has not allowed a touchdown in the 2nd half of a game.

[BJWilliams]

Going back to the last time we had to face a virtually unstoppable Big South RB last year in Miguel Maysonet, it came down to two things when it came to the running game. Strength in the interior and physicality at the second level. Stony Brook had a total of 3 plays that went for 10 yards or more by the running backs in that game, and 2 of them were in the second half. The only other bigtime running plays they had, came from the QB Essington, and God bless the guy, but he didn't exactly strike me as the second coming of Steve Young despite having a 41 yard run early in the ballgame.

If I was game planning, I would probably have Fogg and Aikens matching up on Bennett and Hazel and as far as run support goes, with Bah, one of our biggest bodies in the middle out for the game, Fewell and Freeman will be the big bodies looking to get that push in the middle and keep Taliaferro from getting to the second level and force him into more east-west type of runs as opposed to north-south (which is the type of run you want as a big body running back). Sigmon and Hyland are the leaders in the second level group and have a good ability to make plays in the backfield (they have about 1/5 of the tackles for loss for the Flames on the year). While we did lose one of our biggest punishers in Vinson, Liberty is still plenty capable of lighting up anyone who comes their way. If Liberty can win the battle up front with, as I said, strength in the interior and physicality at the second level, and put the Chants in more minus downs (downs of >6 yards), the ends (like leading sack man Uzowihe) can put pressure on Ross and potentially force him to test the very capable DBs Fogg, Aikens and Scott (which sounds like a law firm and have 7 of Liberty's 9 picks this year.

[therealbodoyle]

Thanks for the breakdown BJW

[flameslinger]

Bodoyle, I am interested to see what we do against Taliaferro. I think he will get his yards, but I just cannot see us giving up 200 team rushing yards in this game. I know we gave up 218 to Richmond, but over 150 of that was in the fluke of a first half. I think our D will keep you guys from running away with this. I am just hoping our O will open things up enough to hang more than 3 TDs against a good opponent.

[BJWilliams]

Its like I said above slinger, its going to come down to the middle of the defense (D-tackles and linebackers) to force Taliaferro into going side to side instead of powering through the middle and then accelerating virtually untouched to the third level

[01LUGrad]

ODU's offense is just wacky good. Some people around here claim that we just got lucky by intercepting 2 passes in the end zone and stopping them in the red zone all night including a giant onions stop on 4th and goal from the 1. I don't see that as being lucky.

If our D shows up like they did last week in Norfolk, I really like our chances in this one.

[jcmanson]

Here's an updated look at Liberty against the FCS top 10 - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/libe ... cs-top-10/

[Purple Haize]

While I have made my prediction I will say I'm very worried about any team that decides to commit to a running attack against us.

[adam42381]

Do you got a problem with me smart guy? Do I somehow amuse you? Do you find my responses somehow funny?

I so wanna drop that scene from Goodfellas!

[adam42381]

Do you got a problem with me smart guy? Do I somehow amuse you? Do you find my responses somehow funny?

Fixed.

[jcmanson]

By the numbers: Coastal's offense vs Liberty's defense - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/by-t ... ibertys-d/

[Purple Haize]

Do you got a problem with me smart guy? Do I somehow amuse you? Do you find my responses somehow funny?

Fixed.

Don't have the courage to put the YouTube clip up? Ha

[Chris Lang]

Tuesday football blog notes:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 0f31a.html

[LUconn]

All of these offensive vs defensive rankings are ignoring that we've had 3 stat padding games of 6 total games. So that seems like a waste of a conversation to be bringing up the actual stats. The only reason I know that the defense is that good is because of what they've done to the other 3 teams. But the numbers aren't going to reflect reality.

I think a different angle to take on this game being at home, is several games over the last few years I've noticed opposing teams being motivated by the hostile crowd. The JMU games come to mind. They seemed to really rise to the occasion of all of 8000 students yelling unspeakable things at them.

[jcmanson]

Player Spotlight Week 8: Josh Woodrum

Posted: Wednesday, October 16, 2013.
BY TROY MOORE

In 2012, Josh Woodrum was not much more than a game manager. Expectations of him were to keep the Flames in the game while other players would make the big plays. He was considered to be doing well if his TD/INT ratio was above 50/50, and was given no opportunity to lead as he was involved in a position battle. In 2013, Josh has pushed himself to a whole new level.

“I was more of a game manager last year, and now I’m more of a focal point of the offense, so everyone looks to me to make plays.”

Click Here for Full Story

[adam42381]

Don't have the courage to put the YouTube clip up? Ha

I assume the language is a little too NSFW (that means Not Safe For Work, Beej) for this crowd.

[Kolzilla41]

CSN Gameplan's Liberty versus Coastal preview

[youtube]

[/youtube]

[SuperJon]

I always love when people use different mics for voiceovers than they do for stand ups and the vocals don't match.

I also love it when people don't use current logos.

Could they not get any video from the schools?

</ProductionRant>

[jcmanson]

By the numbers: Liberty's offense vs Coastal's defense - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/by-t ... oastals-d/

[Chris Lang]

Feature on Brandon Apon:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 0f31a.html

[flamehunter]

Great story Chris. I have a whole new admiration for Brandon. And for this football program.

[mlschubert]

Wow, Chris. Thanks for telling Apon's story, it is remarkable.

[ProudPapa73]

Feature on Brandon Apon:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 0f31a.html

This is a wonderful article on a fine young man. What a breath of fresh air to read a story like this about a D1 football player. Wouldn't it be nice to see a this story featured on ESPN instead of the scandals, the cheating and the expulsions...

Go Flames!!!

[LUnpretty11]

Feature on Brandon Apon:

http://www.newsadvance.com/sports/liber ... 0f31a.html

Didn't see this posted here until after I put up Apon's own thread. Sorry about that! Great work Chris!