Mornin Mates...
Today's Topic = It's Game Time
By this time next Sunday, we will have played our first game against Wyoming and let's hope we don't pull a New Mexico Lobos type loss out of our Sun Devil hats...
Even though the Lobos, at home, were 12.5 underdogs entering the game against the Montana State Bobcats, they were up 24-14 at the half, but only scored 7 pts in the second half, while the Bobcats scored 21 pts, in the 4th quarter, to win the game...
Obviously, the Bobcats of the Big Sky conference, where NAU also resides, knows how to win, given that they made the FCS playoffs last season with an 8-4 record and 6-2 in conference...
While the Lobos were coming off a 4-8 season in the Mtn West and 2-8 in the conference, that interestingly enough, included a late season win against Fresno St on the road...
Yes, that would be the same Fresno St team that beat ASU in SDS 29-0 last year...
So, it would appear that the FCS Bobcats know how to win, just like the Wyoming Cowboys does, too, after finishing the season last year of 9-4 and 5-3 in the Mtn West Conference...
They also beat Fresno St (and Texas Tech) last year and advanced to the Arizona Bowl game in Tucson, that they won on a last second FG over Toledo 16-15...
This season, will we find more ways to win games than last season or will we still not know how to win enough close games to go bowling this year..??
Personally, based on what I've heard about our special teams in the preseason, I'm not sure we can pull it off...
Can we win enough games making about 2/3 of our placekicks (from medium to short range) or punts that only travel 25-35 yards, etc..??
Can we also win enough with a RS FR QB transfer from Michigan St or an OL that seems to be pretty average at best..??
The overall defense seems pretty solid and capable but will that be enough, if our offense can only score around 20 pts or less per game..??
At least, this year, we have enough personnel to put together a decent Scout team, unlike last season, when we didn't have enough to do that...
The overall roster depth has improved but will the accompanying "quality" of the players be enough to win more than 4.5 games..??
At least we'll also have a new OC who will replace Dilly, who replaced Beau Baldwin, calling our offensive plays this season...
But, can we make a 40 yard FG in the closing moments of a game to win it or not..??
And, can we punt for more than 40+ yards on average a game..??
Or, will we be in a position where we have to gamble a lot to overcome holes in our special teams play like last season..??
Fortunately, we are now a week away from finding out the answers to these and other Sun Devil football questions...
For, It's Game Time...
G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!
Today's Topic = It's Game Time
By this time next Sunday, we will have played our first game against Wyoming and let's hope we don't pull a New Mexico Lobos type loss out of our Sun Devil hats...
Even though the Lobos, at home, were 12.5 underdogs entering the game against the Montana State Bobcats, they were up 24-14 at the half, but only scored 7 pts in the second half, while the Bobcats scored 21 pts, in the 4th quarter, to win the game...
Obviously, the Bobcats of the Big Sky conference, where NAU also resides, knows how to win, given that they made the FCS playoffs last season with an 8-4 record and 6-2 in conference...
While the Lobos were coming off a 4-8 season in the Mtn West and 2-8 in the conference, that interestingly enough, included a late season win against Fresno St on the road...
Yes, that would be the same Fresno St team that beat ASU in SDS 29-0 last year...
So, it would appear that the FCS Bobcats know how to win, just like the Wyoming Cowboys does, too, after finishing the season last year of 9-4 and 5-3 in the Mtn West Conference...
They also beat Fresno St (and Texas Tech) last year and advanced to the Arizona Bowl game in Tucson, that they won on a last second FG over Toledo 16-15...
This season, will we find more ways to win games than last season or will we still not know how to win enough close games to go bowling this year..??
Personally, based on what I've heard about our special teams in the preseason, I'm not sure we can pull it off...
Can we win enough games making about 2/3 of our placekicks (from medium to short range) or punts that only travel 25-35 yards, etc..??
Can we also win enough with a RS FR QB transfer from Michigan St or an OL that seems to be pretty average at best..??
The overall defense seems pretty solid and capable but will that be enough, if our offense can only score around 20 pts or less per game..??
At least, this year, we have enough personnel to put together a decent Scout team, unlike last season, when we didn't have enough to do that...
The overall roster depth has improved but will the accompanying "quality" of the players be enough to win more than 4.5 games..??
At least we'll also have a new OC who will replace Dilly, who replaced Beau Baldwin, calling our offensive plays this season...
But, can we make a 40 yard FG in the closing moments of a game to win it or not..??
And, can we punt for more than 40+ yards on average a game..??
Or, will we be in a position where we have to gamble a lot to overcome holes in our special teams play like last season..??
Fortunately, we are now a week away from finding out the answers to these and other Sun Devil football questions...
For, It's Game Time...
G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!
