EWU predictions thread...

Post by **kmax** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:28 pm

As the quote from the Lion King goes(yes I have a four year old so I get to watch many Disney movies): "you got to put your behind in your past."

Everybody knows the Cats are better than what they showed last weekend, so let's stop dwelling on it. Kramer said last week that the NAU game was a 1 in a million deal, and so was the Sac St. debacle. It won't happen again so let's start looking ahead.

As others here have pointed out, the playoffs begin this week, and we have a home game! Let's fill Bobcat Stadium to the hilt and cheer our Cats on to a huge win this weekend. I am not much for actual score predictions, but I know they have it in them and I am going to be there to enjoy every minute of it. What does everybody think how will it go this weekend?

WYCAT · Post by **WYCAT** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:11 pm

I am going to pull a BAC and withhold my prediction until later in the week.

Actually, I just don't know what to expect this week. EWU is good, really good in fact, and we are going to have to play our A game all around and not give up anything easy or dumb to win this one. I think our chances hinge on 3 key areas and who wins or loses depends on how we handle each:

1) Running Game - No turnovers and we have to establish at least the hint of a game here. How we do that or who with I could care less. Right now, I don't know????????

2) Offensive Line - who plays and how they protect Travis is huge. These guys are up against it again and they need to respond in a big way. What is the deal with Joe Hirst??????

3) Defense's Game - who shows up will dictate on whether or not the offense gets a chance to win it. If the same effort and performance is given as we just saw last week it will be a long day. If they respond with a quality performance it will be close.

Those are my initial thoughts. A lot of question marks and a huge challenge. Prediction to follow.

grizhatr · Post by **grizhatr** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:27 pm

I think we are all better off withholding our predictions. I feel that is why we end up getting ourselves in trouble (eg: top 25 ranking). You hit it on the head. Someone, anyone needs to emerge to be a running force at the back position. Travis can't carry all of the weight like he did on Saturday. I think our continued air attack, the no huddle, hit it hard and fast. The one thing I find odd is that we are not used to the defense not being in the game, and for the first time, it happened the complete opposite. If our defense gets back to its "norm", and we hit the cylinders on the offense, well one can only imagine.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:36 pm

It will be a nailbiter -

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:41 pm

1) Stop the TO's/Stupid Penalties.
2) Our defense HAS PRIDE and my hunch is they will have a good showing this week. Show us what you can do boys, this is for all the marbles this weekend.
3) Running game, someone needs to step up there and FAST. We play the Griz in a snowstorm and they have us I think right now if we can't throw the ball.

Plain and simple, both sides need to come to play this week and hit on all cylinders to come out with a W. Can this be done, HECK YES ... SEE NAU. I think our defense comes to play this week. The main thing last week was we got behind and the offense started coming on, but our defense COULD NOT GET ANY STOPS. All I know is that our team has heart and BELIEVE ME, they know they sucked last week. They come out fired up this week with the crowd. We need to get the NOISE pumped up EARLY as our team responds to that it seems like. The student side will be hammering on those metal bleachers and when you hear that thump, get the NOISE going! It was LOUD against PSU and not everyone was in the stands. 12th man this week people!

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 6:10 pm

#1 in my book is that we HAVE TO play a mistake free game; we MUST be no worse than -1 in turnovers and we MUST commit no more than 6 penalties and NO personal fouls.

My biggest concern is the EWU passing game. Our secondary is currently more inexperienced than at any time the last 4 seasons; I'm worried that we may not have what it takes to stop Meyer & Co. Yes, we shut down Murrieta but he no longer has the weapons to throw to that Eastern does.

If we're EVER going to have a running game, this will be the week. Think about it, if you were the defensive coordinator for EWU would you even spend 5 minutes worrying about our ground attack? I know they're not dumb enough to TOTALLY ignore it, but their focus will be on pressuring/containing Travis and doing their best to cover our receivers down the field. I'm guessing they'll play nickel/dime coverages anytime we face more than 2 yards for a first.

That being said, offensively we MUST give Travis time to throw the ball; that is the only chance we have unless Eastern lets JD pull a MOLE on them; but I believe they're too talented & focused to let that happen.

Bottom line: To me, we are the underdog, EWU is the favorite, even in Bozeman. Underdogs win all the time (as we all know) but to do so, they have to get a few breaks and not hurt themselves. If we pull it off, I LOVE our chances of beating the griz & rolling into the playoffs with Sac State a VERY distant memory...

BWahlberg · Post by **BWahlberg** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:13 pm

EWU is 0-2 in "Big Games"

Lost their season opener to Nicholls St.

Lost to the Griz. And after watching that game there were some Griz miscues that could've opened the game up for us. Dropped TD pass and a few underthrown deep passes. But thats the way games go...

Problem for the Cats is that in EWU's three games they lost, it was the running game that beat them.

EWU is also good with clock control, and keeping Lulay off the feild is a good thing for anyone who plays the Cats.

EWU wins, 31 - 21

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:43 pm

Did everyone forget ISU? I don't think anyone realizes how many yards that team racks up every week. They certainly don't have the scoring ability EWU has, nor the running game, but ISU is ranked THIRD in the NATION in passing yards per game. We played a great bend but don't break defense against them, and only gave them 13 points. We can stop a good passing attack, it is possible. I was so pissed at the CSUS game because almost every play we had 3-4 guys in the backfield, but he just launched the ball running backwards to Amey, and our DBs apparently have no awareness whatsoever. We will have to sack Meyer often, or force bad throws. And our run D has to show up today, we can't give up 250 yards and expect to win.

PS - We are #6 in passing yards per game in the country, 4 above EWU.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:56 pm

As much as I'd like MSU to win this game, I just can't give it to them. My heart wants the Cat-Griz game to be for all the marbles but my head says no.

Cats - 21
EWU - 24

I reserve the right to change this prediction.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 12:01 am

I think it is going to be a brawl. Both teams banged up, EWU coming off a convincing win over Cal Poly, and we're coming off a dissapointing loss to CSUS. I like the role we've been given, yet again - underdog. I just see us playing not necessarily our best football, but winning football. I think we got a big fat slice of humble pie (man did I eat my words about the Griz

), and it was just what the doctor ordered. I like our chances vs EWU.

Post by **kmax** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 12:48 am

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:As much as I'd like MSU to win this game, I just can't give it to them. My heart wants the Cat-Griz game to be for all the marbles but my head says no.

Cats - 21
EWU - 24

I reserve the right to change this prediction.

Hey thanks Meat! We all remember what happened the last time you picked the Cats to lose a close one.

What you were only off by 40 points or so I think.

Cat-theotherwhitemeat · Post by **Cat-theotherwhitemeat** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 1:13 am

kmax wrote:
Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:As much as I'd like MSU to win this game, I just can't give it to them. My heart wants the Cat-Griz game to be for all the marbles but my head says no.

Cats - 21
EWU - 24

I reserve the right to change this prediction.
Hey thanks Meat! We all remember what happened the last time you picked the Cats to lose a close one. What you were only off by 40 points or so I think.

Which is exactly why I put in the little addenda at the end. Maybe I'm just trying a little reverse psychology....huh

ooooh, the smack from the moderator is one to savor.

DaGriz · Post by **DaGriz** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 8:59 am

Both teams banged up

Who does EWU have banged up? I saw their RB was hurt. Is he a go for this week?
I would like to see Cat/Griz be for the champ. but I just don't think there is going to be any stopping of EWU. For MSU to win they are going to have to get it going right from the start and play the whole game. I don't see a big 4th quarter come back against this team. That being said, I think if there is any snow or rain, that could give some advantage to MSU. I still have to go with:

EWU 27
MSU17

-but I'll be pulling for the Cats in this one. Good luck.

HelenaCat95 · Post by **HelenaCat95** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 9:07 am

With the Offensive line so banged up (Jensen out with broken leg, Bolton is doubtful, Wolf not practicing this week), we will need to rely on our defense to win this game. The D will probably need to score a TD, or come very close, in addition to peerlees Special Teams play. If this happens, then Cats 14 EWU 10....if not, then i don't want to know.

snake · Post by **snake** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:18 am

CelticCat wrote:Did everyone forget ISU?

Just about. We can create offensive numbers but fail when it comes to the red zone. If we execute in the red zone, we beat PSU, MSU, and UM. But we did not so scrap this season and say it is a rebuiding year for us. Blah, Blah, Blah.

If UM or MSU finished like we are about to, what do you think would happen? Stick with the current coaching staff, look deeper into administrative problems, or toss out football all together?

DaGriz · Post by **DaGriz** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:20 am

If UM or MSU finished like we are about to, what do you think would happen?

I think if we were to lose to the Cats and not make the playoffs in the same year whatever coach we have would be gone. I don't think our record would matter.

velochat · Post by **velochat** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:43 am

I can't speak for um, but Kramer would only be in trouble if the Cats don't compete the next 2 weeks. I already consider the season a success overall, but there have been too many mistakes and generally weak execution in the first half of games. I believe playoffs are a long shot at this point, but that's just like the last 2 years. The Cats play 2 of the toughest teams in the west the next 2 weeks; if they win, they deserve to play another game. They'll have to put together 2 complete games to do that, which they really haven't yet accomplished. I don't think Kramer's record is good enough to get a 1-A job yet, but certainly good enough to be a major asset to MSU. It helps that he's a great ambassador for the University.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:46 am

HelenaCat95 wrote:With the Offensive line so banged up (Jensen out with broken leg, Bolton is doubtful, Wolf not practicing this week), we will need to rely on our defense to win this game. The D will probably need to score a TD, or come very close, in addition to peerlees Special Teams play. If this happens, then Cats 14 EWU 10....if not, then i don't want to know.

Where did you see that Bolton is doubtful?

theblackgecko · Post by **theblackgecko** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 10:48 am

While, I'm going to hold off until the weather gets better. I don't like that 50 degree game time prediction. Here's to cold fronts!

BobcatBlood · Post by **BobcatBlood** » Tue Nov 09, 2004 11:28 am

Roger Cooper will be playing his last game at home (probably - let's hope not). Beau Clark, Ray Sebastian, Jonathon Mollock, Chad Gluhm, Lawrence Figueroa, Brandon Eggart.... these guys are not going to lay down at Bobcat Field on Senior Day, and the young kids on defense are going to come with game just NOT to let down these seniors.

Eddie Sullivan doesn't need senior night to get pumped.

We will be solid on defense. I just know it.

Offense will continue to roll and we will win this thing.

Cats 17, Eagles 13 (two field goals and a touchdown)

EWU predictions thread...

EWU predictions thread...

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