• Have something to say? Register Now! and be posting in minutes!

Week 3 @ Western Michigan

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
*sigh*

I'll be frank here, I don't know where to start with this one. I'm just too god damn frustrated and baffled by what went on last week that I'm having a hard time putting it together in words. I can't say I'm surprised about Idaho's 44-16 blowout loss to the UNLV Rebels. I knew if the offense couldn't get going it would leave the defense on the field for too long and eventually allow a very potent Rebel offense to wear down Idaho's D-line. What I didn't expect was Idaho having so many opportunities to take hold of the game early on and for them to fail to take advantage of every single one of those opportunities.

Let me explain.

On the opening drive Petrino dialed up a sort of gadget play on third and short where Kaden Ellis started in the backfield and, after a play action fake, was supposed to leak out the back side and receive a pass from Matt Linehan. The play itself worked to perfection, Ellis was wide open. However Matt threw the ball about 3 yards behind Ellis and the pass fell incomplete with nothing but open space in front of the Idaho Linebacker.

So Idaho punts, and on the next drive Aikeem Coleman (I believe it was Coleman) strips the ball from UNLV QB Armani Rogers. The ball bounces around the feet of at least 5 Idaho defenders before UNLV recovers. UNLV then fumbles again later that drive only for Rogers to pick it up and score on the same play. Gross.

Later Matt drops a pass perfectly in Reuben Mwehla's lap with Mwehla 3 yards behind his defender running at full speed. Mwehla drops the ball.

Later Matt under throws Aaron Duckworth on what would have been an easy first down inside the red zone. Idaho settles for 3.

That's most of the offensive fuck-ups, they left around 17 points on the field. Now let's shift to the defense.

At the end of the second quarter UNLV QB Armani Edwards scrambles forward and lowers his head while going to the ground, causing Idaho safety Armond Hawkins to strike him in the head. Hawkins is, of course, ejected for targeting because most of the Sun Belt officials eat paste as their day job and likely have parents that were blood related.

Jordan Grabski comes in as his replacement and ends up being the cause of 2 huge UNLV TDs. The first involved Grabski biting badly on a misdirection run and the other involves him getting burned badly in a one-on-one situation with MWC first-team all conference selection Davonte Boyd. Yes, on that running play the D-line also opened up a huge hole. And yes, on that huge pass play to Boyd there was no reason to call a defense in which Idaho's worst DB was covering UNLV's best WR one-on-one. However, this becomes a different game if Hawkins is not ejected for the most incorrectly called penalty in major US sports. Fuck targeting, and fuck these inbred Sun Belt officials.

Other issues from that game were obviously Matt Linehan not being able to hit the broad side of a barn. Two huge underthrows and a terrible pick highlighted his statistically okay, but realistically awful day. The defense held as long as they could but losing Hawkins and Dorian Clark (to...an injury? Maybe? Idk) really hurt the defense.

UNLV just pounded Idaho's ass and it wasn't a close game at all. Pretty pathetic.

Western Michigan comes into this one with zero wins and an offense that, statistically, looks like dogshit. That tends to happen when you open the season on the road against USC and Michigan State though. This team is battle tested even if they did lose Zach Terrell, Corey Davis, and P.J. Fleck from last year's Cotton Bowl team.

The Broncos are clearly a run-first team with a decent defense. LeVante Bellamy and Jamauri Bogan lead a talented WMU backfield that will probably run it down Idaho's throat tomorrow. And the Broncos better hope they do because their pass game has been awful the first two weeks averaging less than 90 yard per game through the air. Nothing to cure that like playing Idaho though.

WMU seems to really excel in the special teams department. Bronco return man Darius Phillips has returned a kickoff for a TD in each of WMU's first two games. Idaho will need to keep the ball out of his hands.

Keys to the game:

For Idaho it's simple. Stop the WMU run game and make sure your running game is working. You have to, because Matt just seems lost behind center right now. Idaho's inability to generated yards after the catch has also been a big problem. Take away Duckworth's catch in week 1 and Wysocki's catch in week 2 and I think you're looking at a yac average of about 1 yard.

Other notes:

Aaron Duckworth has taken over the lead RB role again after two solid performances. He'll be the lead guy.

No word on Onunwor coming back so I assume he's hurt again which really hurts the big play potential of the offense. Jacob Sannon had a fantastic showing last week so expect him to be the leading WR.

Also have not herd if Armond Hawkins is suspended for the first half of this game or not. He was ejected with about 2 minutes left in the first half last week. Additionally I do not know the status of Dorian Clark. Could be an issue if both guys miss time this week.

Prediction:

WMU pounds the rock and Idaho's offense looks like garbage again. Take WMU to cover.

WMU 44
Idaho 17

Almost the same as last week only Cade Coffey makes his other extra point. This kid can sure punt but his FG kicking needs some work.

Go Vandals.
 
Last edited:

BoiseStateFan27

Sir Member
57,437
3,272
293
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Hoopla Cash
$ 364.36
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
"Hawkins is, of course, ejected for targeting because most of the Sun Belt officials eat paste as their day job and likely have parents that were blood related."

This part had me rolling
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Secondary may be more beat up than I thought. Apparently Denzal Brantley did not travel and Dorian Clark is, in fact, out. Add in Hawkins possibly missing the first half and you're left with Lloyd Hightower as the only starter in the secondary. Could be rough, but WMU really doesn't pass well so maybe it's not a big deal.

Then again, this probably means Grabski plays again and Ty Graham moves back to safety. Sedrick Thomas will likely replace Clark. So one guy who really can't play, another guy who has been a LB all camp, and one guy with very little experience (I guess he got some last week). Guess we'll see.

Good news is Onunwor is likely back so we'll have somebody to really stretch the defense. Just gotta hope Matt can avoid throwing the ball into the dirt.

Eh, whatever. I'm expecting a huge blowout so anything other than that is a pleasant surprise.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
"Hawkins is, of course, ejected for targeting because most of the Sun Belt officials eat paste as their day job and likely have parents that were blood related."

This part had me rolling
I assume you've seen the SBC refs first hand (BSU played ULL last year and Troy this year so probably one of those crews was SBC) so you know what I'm talking about.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Solid first half. Duckworth with two HUGE plays and a real solid defensive performance. Need to keep that shit up, only a one score game.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
LMAO at the refs in this game. These fucking simpletons need to need to be put out to pasture. Jesus. Huge momentum swing. This game is probably over. All WMU from here on out.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
God, how do you go into the fourth with a two score lead and immediately give it up? This god fucking awful. Gotta find a way to lose I guess.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Wow, fuck you Idaho. Learn to score some god damn points in the fourth quarter. This is why I drink. Jesus.

Why can't you just get blown out so I don't give myself an aneurysm watching you lose a game you should have won.
 

BoiseStateFan27

Sir Member
57,437
3,272
293
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Hoopla Cash
$ 364.36
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
Wow, fuck you Idaho. Learn to score some god damn points in the fourth quarter. This is why I drink. Jesus.

Why can't you just get blown out so I don't give myself an aneurysm watching you lose a game you should have won.

LOL! I know how you feel there, exactly how I felt against Washington State last week
 

BoiseStateFan27

Sir Member
57,437
3,272
293
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Hoopla Cash
$ 364.36
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I assume you've seen the SBC refs first hand (BSU played ULL last year and Troy this year so probably one of those crews was SBC) so you know what I'm talking about.

I've seen them in bowl games, we had MWC refs against Troy

I missed most of the Cajun game as a result of day drinking that day and us immediately blowing them out to really take the refs out of the game
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
LOL! I know how you feel there, exactly how I felt against Washington State last week
Which is also ridiculous. Other teams are Cougin' it now. They've somehow managed to get rid of the curse.
 

FaCe-LeE-uS

ΔΣΦ
Moderator
57,823
28,399
1,033
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,513.03
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I'm with you Cave... Have no idea how to feel about this team with how poorly they have been playing. This team has the talent to compete but for lots of different reasons they are leaving a lot of points on the field. Linehan is playing like a freshman, the O-line is very hit or miss, and the defense can't seem to hold up through 2 halves of a game.

Fuck this is frustrating
 

FaCe-LeE-uS

ΔΣΦ
Moderator
57,823
28,399
1,033
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 1,513.03
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I don't know what goes on in the lockerroom at halftime, but this team falls flat on its face in the 2nd half. They looked better against WMU, but still pretty pathetic. Linehan's turnovers in the 2nd half destroyed them.
 

Cave_Johnson

R.I.P. Bob Saget
9,489
3,706
293
Joined
Apr 28, 2013
Hoopla Cash
$ 2,000.00
Fav. Team #1
Fav. Team #2
Fav. Team #3
I don't know what goes on in the lockerroom at halftime, but this team falls flat on its face in the 2nd half. They looked better against WMU, but still pretty pathetic. Linehan's turnovers in the 2nd half destroyed them.

They really did play a solid first half. Couldn't complain much there.

Other than his usual pocket awareness issues I though Linehan played a solid game too. That pick was a killer that turned the entire game around. It was fluky really with Onunwor falling down on the route, but you can't allow something like that to swing the momentum that much. Idaho had taken hold of that game and if they finish that drive and come away with some points I think they win the game. I think. Don't know for sure since the play calling still would have likely been just as bad on offense later in the game regardless of if they score there.

They just really fell apart on D in the second half and I'm not sure why other than they just got exhausted. Depth I think was definitely an issue.

A few awful calls by the officials didn't help, but it's like I say in the NFL you almost have to expect a certain level of ineptitude at this point. I hate the targeting rules but that one they overturned against WMU has been called on Idaho I don't know how many times over the years. If they're going to make shitty calls you'd think they'd need to be consistently shitty instead of picking and choosing when it's okay to hit people hard and when it's not.

Overall they did play a decent game for the first time all season even if they sucked in the fourth quarter. The fact that they SHOULD have won is what really burns my ass hairs.
 
Top