Big Sky Standings Prediction Thread

[ArmyOfDarkness]

Honestly, it is a toss up between the obvious choices...
UM (homer pick of course)
EWU (I think they will have a let down this year...*crossing fingers )
MSU (solid team on both sides of the ball)

and the not so obvious...
PSU
Sac

Sac, yes. They're not flashy, but solid at pretty much every position.

PSU, no. They had one of the worst defenses in the nation last year and it would take a lot of improvement for them to just be average. They also lack depth at the "skill" positions so they could be in real trouble if McCaffrey or Monahan gets hurt. They only reason I think they'll even approach .500 is because they play 2 non-DIs. That also means they need to go 9-2 to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.

I disagree. Unless PSU's 1st string suffers some player losses, they will be a team to circle on the schedule IMHO. Definitely not a team to overlook by any means.

[Grizalltheway]

You both sound quite a bit like we Griz fans did at this time last year.

But unlike you, we wont step on out dicks

How quickly you forget your most recent game.

[cats2506]

I think that EWU, MSU and SAC have enough pieces, we will just need to and see how attrition and the intangibles of the season work out.

Next UM probably has the talent but still has questions at QB, RB and Coaching that need to be answered before they can be included above. Defense is great but alone it cant win enough games.

Then PSU and WSU, both have enough to probably knock off any of the above teams but probably cant put together a full season enough to contend to the top spots, Both teams are on the rise and both are very well coached.

NAU, ISU & UNC all have big questions marks and reasons for being optimistic but none can be viewed as complete enough to contend for the top half of the league.

[cats2506]

But unlike you, we wont step on out dicks

How quickly you forget your most recent game.

back at ya

[Grizalltheway]

How quickly you forget your most recent game.

back at ya

Fumbles, fumbles...

[Screamin_Eagle174]

back at ya

Fumbles, fumbles...

[youtube][/youtube]

[mtjack]

quote]

Screamin_Eagle174 -

Love seeing a "Robot Chicken" reference on cs.com.

[uofmman1122]

Fumbles, fumbles...

[youtube][/youtube]

God damnit. That's the second time you've posted that in reference to our team.


And the second time I laughed my ass off.

[EWURanger]

Something interesting coming out of fall camp at EWU. Seems one or more of the two highly tauted true Freshman running backs might play this fall.

Among the biggest surprises in Saturday’s scrimmage was the play of freshmen running backs Jordan Talley and Quincy Forte, who both have a chance to play considerable minutes this fall in the wake of All-American Taiwan Jones’ early departure following last year’s run to a national title.

Talley, a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Portland’s Jesuit High School, broke off a 65-yard touchdown run early in the scrimmage, and Forte, a 6-0, 180-pounder out of Vacaville High School in Fairfield, Calif., showed he can run effectively inside the tackles.

“I couldn’t tell if that was Taiwan or not,” Mitchell said, when asked about Talley’s long touchdown run. “But, really, we’ve got some good young running back in Jordan and Quincy.

“They’re smart, they study hard, they’re always in the film room and when they get the ball in their hands they’re going for the score.”

Talley and Forte are competing against sophomores Mario Brown and Demitrius Bronson, a first-year transfer from the University of Washington, to replace Jones, who is trying to earn a spot on the roster of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

“The play of both of those young running backs really jumped out at you today,” Baldwin said, “and they’re both likely to play this fall. They’ve both had a camp.”

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/a ... prefetch=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now, I don't know if this means that Mario Brown and Demitrius Bronson haven't been impressive in fall camp, or if Jordan Talley and Quincy Forte have just looked that good. Reports from camp mostly point to the latter and for Baldwin to mention it I think they must be looking pretty impressive. I'm feeling better and better about life after Taiwan Jones.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

[youtube][/youtube]

God damnit. That's the second time you've posted that in reference to our team.


And the second time I laughed my ass off.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Something interesting coming out of fall camp at EWU. Seems one or more of the two highly tauted true Freshman running backs might play this fall.

Among the biggest surprises in Saturday’s scrimmage was the play of freshmen running backs Jordan Talley and Quincy Forte, who both have a chance to play considerable minutes this fall in the wake of All-American Taiwan Jones’ early departure following last year’s run to a national title.

Talley, a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from Portland’s Jesuit High School, broke off a 65-yard touchdown run early in the scrimmage, and Forte, a 6-0, 180-pounder out of Vacaville High School in Fairfield, Calif., showed he can run effectively inside the tackles.

“I couldn’t tell if that was Taiwan or not,” Mitchell said, when asked about Talley’s long touchdown run. “But, really, we’ve got some good young running back in Jordan and Quincy.

“They’re smart, they study hard, they’re always in the film room and when they get the ball in their hands they’re going for the score.”

Talley and Forte are competing against sophomores Mario Brown and Demitrius Bronson, a first-year transfer from the University of Washington, to replace Jones, who is trying to earn a spot on the roster of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders.

“The play of both of those young running backs really jumped out at you today,” Baldwin said, “and they’re both likely to play this fall. They’ve both had a camp.”

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/a ... prefetch=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now, I don't know if this means that Mario Brown and Demitrius Bronson haven't been impressive in fall camp, or if Jordan Talley and Quincy Forte have just looked that good. Reports from camp mostly point to the latter and for Baldwin to mention it I think they must be looking pretty impressive. I'm feeling better and better about life after Taiwan Jones.

[Wildcat Ryan]

Now it could be one of 3 things.

1. Weber's O-line is really good

2. Weber's RB's are really good

3. Weber's defense really sucks


If anybody is wondering what I'm talking about, Weber has 5 running backs all capable and fighting for the starting position, Each RB has proved that they deserve to be the starter. In the 3 scrimmages combined, Weber's 5 running backs have ran for a total of 759 yards.

I really hope that doesnt mean Weber has a poor defense, and that Weber just has an awesome O-line and a great corps of RB's.

[grizcountry420]

Now it could be one of 3 things.

1. Weber's O-line is really good

2. Weber's RB's are really good

3. Weber's defense really sucks


If anybody is wondering what I'm talking about, Weber has 5 running backs all capable and fighting for the starting position, Each RB has proved that they deserve to be the starter. In the 3 scrimmages combined, Weber's 5 running backs have ran for a total of 759 yards.

I really hope that doesnt mean Weber has a poor defense, and that Weber just has an awesome O-line and a great corp s of RB's.

It means your Defense sucks, which also means it will be a long year for you all!

[Wildcat Ryan]

Now it could be one of 3 things.

1. Weber's O-line is really good

2. Weber's RB's are really good

3. Weber's defense really sucks


If anybody is wondering what I'm talking about, Weber has 5 running backs all capable and fighting for the starting position, Each RB has proved that they deserve to be the starter. In the 3 scrimmages combined, Weber's 5 running backs have ran for a total of 759 yards.

I really hope that doesnt mean Weber has a poor defense, and that Weber just has an awesome O-line and a great corp s of RB's.

It means your Defense sucks, which also means it will be a long year for you all!

[cats2506]

Now it could be one of 3 things.

1. Weber's O-line is really good

2. Weber's RB's are really good

3. Weber's defense really sucks


If anybody is wondering what I'm talking about, Weber has 5 running backs all capable and fighting for the starting position, Each RB has proved that they deserve to be the starter. In the 3 scrimmages combined, Weber's 5 running backs have ran for a total of 759 yards.

I really hope that doesnt mean Weber has a poor defense, and that Weber just has an awesome O-line and a great corp s of RB's.

I obviously have seen them this year, but I expect a very solid OL from WSU this year, A good OL can make an average back look great.

[grizcountry420]

Now it could be one of 3 things.

1. Weber's O-line is really good

2. Weber's RB's are really good

3. Weber's defense really sucks


If anybody is wondering what I'm talking about, Weber has 5 running backs all capable and fighting for the starting position, Each RB has proved that they deserve to be the starter. In the 3 scrimmages combined, Weber's 5 running backs have ran for a total of 759 yards.

I really hope that doesnt mean Weber has a poor defense, and that Weber just has an awesome O-line and a great corp s of RB's.

I obviously have seen them this year, but I expect a very solid OL from WSU this year, A good OL can make an average back look great.

Good point! Look at what Emmitt Smith was able to do with his OL in Dallas..

[EWUeag]

Here they are…

• Best Rushing Offense - Portland St.
  Worst Rushing Offense - Northern Colorado
  
  Best Passing Offense - Montana St.
  Worst Passing Offense - Portland St.
  
  Best Overall Offense - Montana St.
  Worst Overall Offense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Run Defense - Montana
  Worst Run Defense - Portland St.
  
  Best Pass Defense - Montana
  Worst Pass Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Overall Defense - Montana
  Worst Overall Defense - Portland St.
  
  Best Special Teams - Idaho St.
  Worst Special Teams - Eastern Washington
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback - Denarius McGhee (MSU)
  Best Running Back - Cory McCaffrey (PSU)
  Best Wide Receiver - Brandon Kaufman (EWU)
  Best Tight End - Kavario Middleton (UMT) (I'm going with a hunch here)
  Best WR/TE Corps - Eastern Washington
  Best Offensive Lineman - J.C. Oram (WEB)
  Best Offensive Line - Weber St.
  
  Best Defensive Lineman - Zack Nash (SAC)
  Best Defensive Line - Montana
  Best Linebacker - A.J. Storms (ISU)
  Best LB Corps - Montana
  Best Defensive Back - Trumaine Johnson (UMT)
  Best Secondary - Montana
  
  Best Kicker - Jason Cunningham (MSU)
  Best Punter - David Harrington (ISU)
  Best Ret. Specialist - Tavoy Moore (ISU)
  Best Return Team - Idaho St.

Call me biased, but I'd have to put Renard Williams as best defensive lineman. 54 tackles, 16 tfl's, and 6.5 sacks as a DT. Not to mention he runs a 4.8 at 300lbs, and his broad jump was only a few inches shorter than TJ's at this time a year and a half ago.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Call me biased, but I'd have to put Renard Williams as best defensive lineman. 54 tackles, 16 tfl's, and 6.5 sacks as a DT. Not to mention he runs a 4.8 at 300lbs, and his broad jump was only a few inches shorter than TJ's at this time a year and a half ago.

Williams is good, no doubt, but his TFL & sack numbers were down from 2009 despite more games (& he had 13 TFLs in 2010, not 16). Zack Nash led the Big Sky in sacks by a mile last year with 13 (Dan Ogden was next with 7) and had 3.5 more TFLs than Williams in 4 fewer games. Nash also led the conference in forced fumbles with 6.

[EWUeag]

Nash, just by the nature of his position should have more sacks than a DT. As far as Ogden's 7 vs. Williams 6.5...it's a wash to me. And you are correct, the website I used was wrong on his TFLs. I would still go with him. How many tackles did J.C. get last year because the guard and/or center had to worry too much about Williams? My guess is quite a few.

Hopefully I'm right and he tears it up again this season. My prediction for next season based on absolutely nothing...8 sacks, 15 TFLs, 60 TTs, and another touchdown against the Griz!

[dbackjon]

Fumbles, fumbles...

[youtube][/youtube]

[kalm]

[youtube][/youtube]

Why can't I see this? iPad?

[SDHornet]

Nash, just by the nature of his position should have more sacks than a DT. As far as Ogden's 7 vs. Williams 6.5...it's a wash to me. And you are correct, the website I used was wrong on his TFLs. I would still go with him. How many tackles did J.C. get last year because the guard and/or center had to worry too much about Williams? My guess is quite a few.

Hopefully I'm right and he tears it up again this season. My prediction for next season based on absolutely nothing...8 sacks, 15 TFLs, 60 TTs, and another touchdown against the Griz!

Not to take away from what Nash did but opposing OL's had to worry about our DT Clark who lead the BSC in sacks in '09. I'll be shocked to see if Nash is just as effective this season compared to last as I expect him to see a double team on almost every play.

[eaglesfootball]

Renard faces constant double teams and we were hoping that would be alleviated a little with the addition of Pulu who sadly wont be able to play until 2012. i am not even sure who our other starting DT is going to be now.

[cats2506]

Renard faces constant double teams and we were hoping that would be alleviated a little with the addition of Pulu who sadly wont be able to play until 2012. i am not even sure who our other starting DT is going to be now.

Jolly took the lions share of the double teams last year, that is why you want a good big strong NT, it is why I said way last winter that it would be interesting to see what Williams can do without Jolly beside him. Then when you lost your transfer it became a problem again. If you don't have a strong enough NT then it will allow teams to double Williams regularly and shut him down.

the NT is the unsung hero of the 4-3 IMO, they are usually in a knife fight in the middle, good ones require a double team, while the NT doesnt make a lot of tackles, its what they do that allows the 3 tech, ends and LB's to make the plays. A good NT makes a 3 tech better, Jolly was a pretty solid NT

[EWURanger]

Can't argue with too much there....but just out of curiosity, why worst special teams? We've got a new punter, but that's about it as far as changes to last year.

Jarrett isn't very good, EWU's kick coverage was poor last year, and Hoffman (EWU's only good returner from '10) is gone. Miller's a pretty good kickoff guy, but that's about it.

Agreed on the kick coverage, room for improvement there. Jarrett wasn't very good last year at distance, but Miller was decent. We also had Boise State's backup kicker transfer in and he has looked pretty good in fall camp, so lots of options if Jarrett isn't getting it done.

Not worried about kick/punt returns at all.