Villanova-EWU National Semifinal

[Fact]

Discuss

[93henfan]

'twill be an arse-kicking of monumental proportions, especially if Taiwanese Jones is out.

Will Nova and Delaware charter the same plane to Frisco?

[Fact]

'twill be an arse-kicking of monumental proportions, especially if Taiwanese Jones is out.

Will Nova and Delaware charter the same plane to Frisco?

he's out for the game with a broken foot.

NC game at the linc?

[93henfan]

he's out for the game with a broken foot

So have you booked your flight to Texas yet?

[SunCoastBlueHen]

This thread is pointless.

[kalm]

With or without Jones, Nova was going to be tough. Statistically they are ranked 35th in total offense and 22nd in scoring offense, even with Szczur missing all those games. On D they are 28th in total, and 7th in scoring D. They are also 7th in turnover margin.

Some rays of hope for Eastern is that when Taiwan went down earlier in the season, Bo Levi Mitchell had back to back solid games against Weber and a really strong defense in NAU. He went 42-62 for over 600 yards and 7 TD's.

Also, this will be Nova's 4th straight road game plus a cross country trip. That's tough a situation for any team.

I think our o line is the key. If they can establish some semblance of a running game and protect Mitchell we have a chance. Mitchell doesn't have to win it, but we can't afford as many mistakes as yesterday. Our defense has been winning games for us all year and just needs to continue what they are doing. Sherritt, Matt Johnson, and Renard Williams are the type of players who can take over a game at their respective positions and keep it close.

What's the status of Nova's health?

[JALMOND]

As I pointed out before on a different thread, but it is more relevant here, Nova may be the better team, but...

1. they lose one day of practice this week with the game on Friday
2. they lose another day of practice flying across the country to Spokane/Cheney

Even without Jones, EWU is still not going to roll over just because it is the defending national champions coming to play. They have played big games on the red turf, having beaten Montana there earlier in the season. I'm not going to come out and say EWU will win, but I will say there is a great chance this game will be closer than most people are thinking. Too close to call right now.

[Col Hogan]

As I pointed out before on a different thread, but it is more relevant here, Nova may be the better team, but...

1. they lose one day of practice this week with the game on Friday
2. they lose another day of practice flying across the country to Spokane/Cheney

Even without Jones, EWU is still not going to roll over just because it is the defending national champions coming to play. They have played big games on the red turf, having beaten Montana there earlier in the season. I'm not going to come out and say EWU will win, but I will say there is a great chance this game will be closer than most people are thinking. Too close to call right now.

In the semis, I always think its too close to call...even with a injury like EWU's Jones has suffered...because, as you point out, an equalizer could be the time/practice lost by "Nova...

[Fact]

you don't think they'll still be watching film? chris whitney didn't practice this week yet we still thumped appy.

[ttgwm02]

Andy Talley to EWU: "You tell em i'm comin...and hell is comin with me!"

Good luck fellas. Best team in the Big East is coming...

[93henfan]

The travel angle is way overrated. Delaware got held up in an ice storm in Northern Iowa after the '07 quarters until Monday, got home, then hard to turn around and head back out to Southern Illinois for the semis and took care of business. The better team will trump the travel situation, and Nova is the better team by a lot.

[BearIt]

you don't think they'll still be watching film? chris whitney didn't practice this week yet we still thumped appy.

Outside of Villanova's system Whitney wouldn't start at QB for very many FCS teams. Fullback, RB or Tight End possibly but not QB. Not impressed with his ability to throw the ball. Villanova's system creates open recievers that anyone could hit.

A monkey could do his job.

[Fact]

are you serious? seriously, are you serious?

[kalm]

Andy Talley to EWU: "You tell em i'm comin...and hell is comin with me!"

Good luck fellas. Best team in the Big East is coming...

All of hell or just part of it? I mean if he brings all of hell with them, Nova might have to get a second charter.

Also, if the NCAA bans artificial noise makers at payoff games, is bringing the forces of the underworld even legal?

Lastly, assuming everything is kosher with the NCAA handbook, are the padre's going to bring an exorcist for post game clean up?

Just askin'.

[jd of de]

you don't think they'll still be watching film? chris whitney didn't practice this week yet we still thumped appy.

Outside of Villanova's system Whitney wouldn't start at QB for very many FCS teams. ****, RB or Tight End possibly but not QB. Not impressed with his ability to throw the ball. Villanova's system creates open recievers that anyone could hit.

A monkey could do his job.

If they system was what you say it is, it would be the system of choice everywhere. Sounds like 2009 NC bitterness to me.

[BearIt]

are you serious? seriously, are you serious?

Seriously. Your team is Szczur. Having to focus on stopping him on the run creates lots of openings down field and creates more openings for Whitney to run. Without Szczur Whitney's stats are fairly pedestrian, especially as a passer. I couldn't find what his stat totals are for the season, but looking at the individual game stats, they aren't that impressive.

Saying a monkey could do his job was a little harsh and my attempt at humor, but I do believe that the Villanova system and Szczur make him look much better than he really is.

[BearIt]

If they system was what you say it is, it would be the system of choice everywhere. Sounds like 2009 NC bitterness to me.

If passing passing 10 times a game for 150 yards is the system everywhere than I guess I'm wrong.

[93henfan]

Tom Brady blows too. It's the system.

Same deal with Mike Vick. Eagles are at pretty much the same record as last year and McNabb leaves the system and sucks in Washington.

Yep, it's the system.

[kalm]

Tom Brady blows too. It's the system.

Same deal with Mike Vick. Eagles are at pretty much the same record as last year and McNabb leaves the system and sucks in Washington.

Yep, it's the system.

Tom Brady would suck in Nova's system.

[Fact]

chris whitney only completes 66 percent of his passes, has run for over 2,000 yards in his career, and gone 33-9 .. yeah he's no good.

[BearIt]

chris whitney only completes 66 percent of his passes, has run for over 2,000 yards in his career, and gone 33-9 .. yeah he's no good.

Wide open recievers=66%

Ran for over 2,000 yards like a running back.

I bet Whitney couldn't win the starting spot in EWU system.

[BearIt]

Call me old fashioned, but I see a quarterback as someone who should throw the ball more than run it.

To the Vick analogy: you notice how they are saying how much better he is now that he is more willing to sit in the pocket and throw the ball rather than just take off and run?

[ttgwm02]

Fellas, let me explain something. Last year i froze in Philadelphia and watched Villanova wear down one of the top five defenses in the last decade in the FCS (and by that, I mean three defensive players on NFL rosters the following year) in the semifinal against WM. This Villanova team is a Big East Champion-caliber team when healthy. Their top 36-44 are as good or better than most of the teams in the Big East, the MAC, the Sun Belt. They did lose to Temple in game 1 this year, but Temple finished 8-4 and nearly ko'd Penn State. Whitney is not a great passing quarterback, but that is not his job. Whitney is a winner. As is Szczur. Szczur is not their team; their team includes a massive, athletic offensive line, two great blocking receivers, a teriffic defense, and two other very solid runners. This team is well coached, disciplined, and they have played through adversity all year after winning a title last year.

[ttgwm02]

Actually, you know i am glad this game is happening. Because after all the Big Sky talk about the overrated CAA, and how the Big Sky stacks up, now you get to prove it. You have Villanova coming to your place in your time zone in your weather, on your red carpet. My own opinion? You put New Hampshire in the bracket with Montana State, EWU and NDSU and UNH is playing Villanova this weekend. And i TOLD you two weeks ago App State got the toughest draw due to villanova.

[CatMom]

Not going to get all into the stats and whatnot but I'm impressed by Villanova. Not overly impressed with UD, but that may be due to the D battle that went on Saturday and the lack of O by Lehigh the week before. Haven't had the op to watch EWU, and I'm kinda wondering if GSU can keep it going.

Right now I'm leaning towards Nova to repeat. That said, I really suck at this.