Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Talk about all other Rhody teams, from Baseball to Indoor Track.
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

This is a good test for URI. Central Michigan is a solid non-P5 FBS school. In a down year last year, they still went to a bowl game and beat Oklahoma State on the road.

Their QB last season was Cooper Rush, the UDFA preseason sensation for the Cowboys this summer. Rush was a four year starter for Central Michigan. Their new QB is Shane Morris, a 5th year senior transfer who went to Michigan as a top-10 QB recruit in the country out of HS. Unfortunately, his career at Michigan is probably most notable for almost getting killed during a game against Minnesota when Michigan coach Fred Flintstone Brady Hoke left him in the game to suffer injuries to his leg and brain. (The game is notable because Ed Cunningham, the ESPN announcer that called it, has cited it in explaining his decision to leave broadcasting over concerns about player safety. The video is available on youtube, but it is pretty tough to watch if you care at all about the well being of the kids playing these sports.)

While Michigan's fortunes have surged after Jim Harbaugh replaced Hoke in Ann Arbor, the opposite was true for Morris. He only threw 5 passes over the last two seasons under Harbaugh. During his first two seasons under Hoke, Morris threw 87 passes - which included 5 INTs and zero TDs. While Morris has serious pedigree, he has not accomplished much at the collegiate level. We may not know how good of a test this is for our defense for another month or two, but suffice it to say he at least has more talent than many of the QBs we will face during the rest of the season.

CMU's leading rusher from last year, Devon Spalding, is back. Spalding ran for nearly 800 yards at a 5.5 YPC clip and scored 6 TDs. Goal line work was dominated last year by the since-departed (graduated, not dead) Jahray Hayes, who ran it in 9 times but only managed to get 3.4 YPC on his team-leading 144 carries. Spalding and Hayes split the carries in 2016. If another back emerges to share the load with Spalding this year, it would likely be Soph Jonathon Ward who got 5.6 YPC on 36 totes as a freshman last year.

Three of CMU's four leading receivers from 2016 return, including leading receiver Corey Willis, who caught 71 balls for almost 1100 yards and 9 scores last season. Mark Chapman and Brandon Childress also played a role in the passing game as receivers in 2016 and should feature prominently again this season. Also expect to see Spalding active in the pass game out of the backfield, as he caught 31 balls last year.

The CMU O-line features four redshirt seniors: LT Joe Austin, C Austin Doan, RG JP Quinn and RT Derek Edwards. The unit is rounded out by LG Steve Eipper, a redshirt Soph. Perhaps this line will be improved because of the experience it features, and certainly it will be a test for URI's interior defense, but last year Central Michigan was one of the worst rushing teams in FBS on a YPG basis, finishing 121st out of 128 teams, although they relied very heavily on Rush through the air: they also finished 122nd in rushing attempts on a per game basis.

On defense, CMU plays in a base 4-3 defense that should start 8 upper classmen and 3 sophs. In 2016, CMU gave up 32.6 points per game, 89th in FBS. They had as much trouble against the run as the pass, finishing 86th in FBS against both methods of attack. There will be opportunities for URI to make some plays against CMU if we can get anything approaching quality QB play, but as we know that is far from a given for this program.

Overall, CMU will feature better athletes than URI at just about every position. That comes with the territory when you are a struggling FCS program and you are going up against a respectable FBS opponent. However, CMU is not Alabama or Ohio State. They have weaknesses and if URI is improved at all you could see flashes of that against a team like this. Over 60 minutes, I expect CMU to wear URI down and win pretty easily, but I'll be watching for any signs of encouragement - would particularly like to see some fight from our linemen on both sides of the ball and something resembling competent QB play.

I am hopeful for a cover of the 31 point spread, although I wouldn't bet my house. If we are going to be any good at all, I would think we would see at least a couple scoring drives on offense and some ability not to make Shane Morris look like the second coming of Andrew Luck. Therefore my prediction for this game is CMU 48 - URI 20.
2 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Giving this a shot one time. We'll see if it is worth it to do them going forward for each game.
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

Nice Work-True Point
0 x
ramster
Frank Keaney
Posts: 23804
Joined: 11 years ago
x 8856

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by ramster »

Well done TP
0 x
ramster
Frank Keaney
Posts: 23804
Joined: 11 years ago
x 8856

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by ramster »

CMU Scout message board predictions on the game. Several think the game is "juicy"

http://scout.com/college/central-michig ... -106478569
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

Love to see this for Football! Nice TP.
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

These screens on offense are taking way too long to develop. The defense has a lot of time to react. I'd like to see them get out quicker.
0 x
Rhodysk
ARD
Posts: 541
Joined: 9 years ago
x 286

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Rhodysk »

First 2 series
Defense looks good. All 11 getting to ball.

Offense
Running game! Cooper is the real deal!
Bubble screens suck
Let him throw down field.
Still 0-0 late in 1st qtr.
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

how about that ref? :o
0 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Go D!!
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

Nice turnover!
0 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

NYGFan_Section208 wrote:how about that ref? :o
Love her
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Nice throw on 3rd down!
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

I'm surprised Lawson didn't get a snap in the 1Q. I figured he would have gotten one series by now.
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

Another nice hold by the defense! Holding them to 3.
0 x
Rhodysk
ARD
Posts: 541
Joined: 9 years ago
x 286

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Rhodysk »

Cooper!!!
0 x
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

real crappy throw by Harris on that pick.
He's been pretty bad.
0 x
Rhodysk
ARD
Posts: 541
Joined: 9 years ago
x 286

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Rhodysk »

Rhodys turnover leads to CM drive for a TD.
Rhody had them stopped on 3rd and 13 but a QB scramble for a 1st down killed any momentum rhody had.
0 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Surprised we kept them out of the end zone for as long as we did. Nothing for defense to be ashamed of so far, but would really like to see a little more from the offense.
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Ugh
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
Stop! Rammer Time
Kenny Green
Posts: 253
Joined: 11 years ago
x 67

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Stop! Rammer Time »

We've had two nice plays on offense: the long run by Cooper at the start, and that last throw and catch down the sideline.

We also had that long kickoff return.

Unfortunately they've all been wasted. Very frustrating.

The defense has looked pretty good though.
0 x
User avatar
Seawrightspostgame
Sly Williams
Posts: 4139
Joined: 11 years ago
x 1563

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Seawrightspostgame »

Rhody looks good.

Poor execution at times. Cant beat yourself.
0 x
I want to change my name to BlockIslandFerry
rambone 78
Frank Keaney
Posts: 16332
Joined: 11 years ago
x 5185

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rambone 78 »

This team might be competitive in a lot of games this season if they can cut down on mistakes.....that's a big if though.
0 x
Bos8
Tom Garrick
Posts: 1275
Joined: 11 years ago
x 609

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Bos8 »

A few mistakes have hurt, but competitive for sure. I thought there was a horrific pass interference call that hurt URI big time. Cost 3 points plus an opportunity at great field position.
0 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Nothing to show for it, but we at least looked somewhat competitive in that half.

I still believe our beleaguered football team has the best uniforms, and definitely the best helmets, in sports.
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

I would give the other QB a chance.
They need a spark.
0 x
eli#10
Cuttino Mobley
Posts: 2038
Joined: 11 years ago
x 1000

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by eli#10 »

D looking real good. Phantom pass interference call gave them 3 points and cost us real good field position.
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

qb is a drag.....
0 x
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

Harris is playing terrible.Give someone else a shot.
0 x
rambone 78
Frank Keaney
Posts: 16332
Joined: 11 years ago
x 5185

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rambone 78 »

Fleming proved last year he was stubborn to change QB's until the starter got hurt.

Need a passing game. If the kid can throw it, why not?
0 x
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

Rambone-which kid?
You mean Lawson or Priore?
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

Clearly there isn't much trust in Lawson. Going into the game he was expected to receive a good amount of playing time.
0 x
rambone 78
Frank Keaney
Posts: 16332
Joined: 11 years ago
x 5185

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rambone 78 »

HK, either one. If Harris sucks, can the others be worse?

They need to find out who can play before they play a winnable game.
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

If the quarterback didn't totally suck...they might have some points...
But, they definitely beat the 'over' in terms of watchable channel flip
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

you're welcome
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

TD RHODY!! WOW! An explosive play on offense! Who would think it?!?
0 x
Bos8
Tom Garrick
Posts: 1275
Joined: 11 years ago
x 609

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Bos8 »

Down 13-7 with the ball going into the 4th quarter.
0 x
ramster
Frank Keaney
Posts: 23804
Joined: 11 years ago
x 8856

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by ramster »

13-7 end of third quarter
Lets win this!
0 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

This is pretty cool
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

That wasn't a good 3rd down play, though
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

True Point-you surprised? Coop up middle on 3rd down for no gain is Flems favorite play!!
1 x
User avatar
TruePoint
Frank Keaney
Posts: 13851
Joined: 11 years ago
x 11427

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by TruePoint »

Uh that was a crappy series of events
0 x
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

Disorganized as always.
0 x
User avatar
rhodyfan3
ARD
Posts: 745
Joined: 11 years ago
x 134

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by rhodyfan3 »

Some really bad decisions by Harris tonight. Really bad.
0 x
Hal Kopp
Art Stephenson
Posts: 990
Joined: 11 years ago
x 61

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by Hal Kopp »

Gonna wait one more series,see if he pulls Harris.
If not,really disappointed in Fleming.
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

maybe he's doing a gut check...to see if it's possible for him to suck any worse...?
0 x
ramster
Frank Keaney
Posts: 23804
Joined: 11 years ago
x 8856

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by ramster »

Yeah baby!!!

Give me another sodie!
Last edited by ramster 6 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

you're welcome, again
0 x
User avatar
NYGFan_Section208
Frank Keaney
Posts: 12013
Joined: 8 years ago
Location: West K
x 6528

Re: Gm. 1: URI @ Central Michigan, 8/31 7PM, ESPN3

Unread post by NYGFan_Section208 »

twice I've dropped a qb suck bomb and twice he's thrown td passes right after
0 x
Post Reply