Invitation to USU Fans

#55
#55
GOATeric14berry said:
I'm all Dobbs . U can drink the fergie-Aid if u want but don't be surprised if it turns out to taste like pis.
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I'm going to stick by my original statement. I believe Worley is the starter unless Fergs comes in and is all he's cracked up to be. It's no coincidence that we played our best ball when Worley was healthy (UGA, USC). He had a much better handle on how to run the offense than Dobbs and especially Peterman.
 
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#56
#56
chatt-townVOL said:
I'm all Worley with an excited anticipation to see Fergie.

What makes you want to see Dobbs again? Just curious.
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He played 4 games 3 against great teams. Didn't do well but I don't think any freshman would of. Now u give him another off season to adjust to the sec. Also best read option guy on the team.
 
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#58
#58
Ficklez, wow, that was a really in depth look at USU. Great amount of work u put in there and I think most on VN already had realized USU has a good team. I THINK WE ALL NOW KNOW YOU HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD LOOKING CHEERLEADERS TOO. You have a beautiful campus out there as well. I really appreciated all the work u did because I did not know much of anything about the program at USU. I learned a lot from reading your overview: once I finally got past the pic's of the cheerleaders. Thanks.
 
#59
#59
Word is USU just lost their D-line coach. He accepted a job at Vanderbilt. They are talkin about it on their forum.
 
#60
#60
GOATeric14berry said:
He played 4 games 3 against great teams. Didn't do well but I don't think any freshman would of. Now u give him another off season to adjust to the sec. Also best read option guy on the team.
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If the Dobbs is the best read option guy we have then it's time to abandon the read option
 
#62
#62
ficklez said:
THE UNIVERSITY

Town: Logan, Utah (Population 48k in the city, about 120k including the surrounding small towns in the valley)
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Students: 28,796 students (about 18k on the main campus)

Campus: 500 acres (about 60 less than UT)

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Famous alumni: Harry Reid, Merlin Olsen, Bobby Wagner

THE ATHLETICS

We play in Romney Stadium (not that Romney, but a relative) which seats 25k
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Our school was a basketball school. during my 4 years, we lost 2 home games and broke the top-20 twice. We were the fourth winningest program during those 4 years plus the 6 preceding it (to make a decade), but due to some turnover, injuries, bad luck, and a jump up to the MWC, our mojo is gone.

Our student section is well-known still. In football, we have 5k seats for students. 4k in basketball. There are two chants that we are known for:

I Belive (that we will win): HD I Believe! Utah State Men's Basketball! 1080P - YouTube

Winning team losing team: "Winning Team, Losing Team" Chant Against Nevada - Utah State Basketball - YouTube

And since it was mentioned, cheerleaders:
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2014 TEAM PREVIEW

When I was in college, we sucked so hard at football. We won 1 game my freshman year, 2 my soph, then 3 then 4. Our coach during a press conference bragged that we would have three players, yes three, who weighed more than 300 pounds. And it was a big deal. Due to some good recruiting and a focus on polynesians and a weight training program, we increased our size and speed and became competitive, then good, under Gary Andersen. He left for wisconsin last year, and our HC is our old OC, Matt Wells.

QUARTERBACK

Chuckie Keeton: the only player any of you have ever heard of. He is very good. Not only is he good, he is probably my favorite athlete of all time. He came in as a leader as a freshman, was supposed to split the game @ auburn with Adam Kennedy, but played so well he stayed in all game. We lost in agonizing fashion, and I don't want to think about it. I'm going to need a second now...

OK. So CK. He is known as a runner and opposing fans always assume he can't throw. I dont know if this is because he runs, because he is black and fast and that means he's a run first kid, or what. And he is a dangerous runner. However, he is only a running threat because of what he can do with his arm.

Passing Stats:
56 touchdowns, 13 interceptions (career)
61% completion his freshman year, then 68% then 69% before going down last year.
Owns the school single game passing TD record, which he has tied 4 times (two of those came in a single half before he was benched for the backup)

I posted his stats vs BCS teams in another thread, and I'm too lazy to look them up, but it was something like 8 touchdowns and zero interceptions in 5 games. Of course, he only won one of those (Utah), but we came within a final possession of winning the rest (auburn, wisconsin, utah, usc) and just couldn't get it done. In fact, CK has only lost 1 by more than a touchdown in his career (at fresno, his freshman year, by 10).

His injury is a concern. He tore his ACL making a cut vs BYU. Luckily, ACL injuries aren't what they used to be, even 3 or 4 years ago. He is supposed to be cleared for full participation in June, so he should have 2-3 months to shake off the rust. Maybe he will be worried when he makes a cut or scared to take contact. I don't know. But I doubt it. He's a tough kid and he is fearless on the field.

Garretson: Our backup. He came in when CK went down and went 6-1 as a starter (lost to Fresno, but was sitting on the bench while our 3rd string QB threw a pick on a game winning drive on first-freaking-down). Not a runner, not a super strong arm, but very efficient. We won't win with him. He could be good after CK leaves though.


RB

Our RB spot has been really strong lately. USU is the only program in the country to have 3 running backs drafted in the last 2 years.

Joe Hill: Started for us last year before going down for the season with an injury. He is very fast and has very very good hands, especially for a RB. He is a cut then go kind of guy. He won't lower his shoulder and bowl people over. He doesn't have crazy stats in his career due to his injury last year and backing up the 3 NFL RBs before him. Fine with me. He will surprise some people. He is really dangerous in the wheel route. Not the best pass blocker, but good enough for the kind of RB that he is.

The rest of the RBs are a question mark. We have some good guys who redshirted. We'll see how they are. So overall, RB is a position of strength but not one of depth.

WR

Last year, we lost our top 5 receivers. This year, we return 7 of our top 10.

Swindall (JR): the best in the group. he is tall, has a good vertical, big hands, and makes great fade catches. CK throws the best fade ball I've seen (zero career interceptions in the redzone, and this is a big reason why). He isn't super shifty, but he is fast enough to get open. Mostly relies on his size though.

Natson (JR): the smallest guy you'll ever see on a football field. 5 foot 7, 145 pounds. He is a jitterbug. Fast, stops and goes, returns punts, and never gets hit cleanly. It has to be hard to see him behind blockers. He runs our wildcat and is a very capable runner. He also lines up in the slot, catches a 5-10 yard pass, then dances around for another 15.

Butler (SR): Was supposed to be a go-to guy, but didn't develop into that until late in the season. Seems to be right on track now though. Adds great depth to our team, could become a go-to guy. I'd compare him to chuck jacobs, who is playing for the niners right now. An above average player with athletic potential to become very good.

OVERALL: I'm not worried too much about the receivers. Nobody here will take over the game and confuse you with Patterson (my all time favorite Vol, due to the monster stats he put up for my ncaa fantasy team). However, they'll all catch what comes their way, they'll block well, and they'll be disciplined.

OFFENSIVE LINE

This is a group that I'm not very fit to critique. We lose Larsen to the NFL (#2 center on some sites) and 2-3 others. There is one guy who may be back for a medical redshirt. Basically, this group was supposed to be a strength and underperformed last year. We have 1 or 2 starters back but 4 who played significant time, IIRC. Completely unknown on how we will be here, but I don't see it being any worse than last year.

DEFENSIVE LINE
We lose some good players but maintain some important depth. We run a 3-4 and the 3 upfront rotated a lot to keep them fresh. Connor Williams was probably our best DL and he is gone. BJ Larsen, Jordan Nielsen, and Elvis Kamana-Matgai (great name, right?) catch my eye as great guys we have returning. our strength on defense comes from the LBs and the DL is there for some pressure and to contain the run. so let's get to the strength

LINEBACKERS

Kyle Fackrell (JR): The number 2 OLB in his class according to nfldraftscout. This year's number 2? Anthony Barr from UCLA. the best linebacker we have had since bobby wagner. He has a good shot at moving up to the first round IMO. I would place him at 3rd round at worst right now. That could change, but he is a beast. He is fast and big (6-5 245 lbs). An absolute beast. I don't know how to describe him to get it across how good he is. He is an absolute man. 87 tackles his freshman year, 82 his sophomore year, on a team stacked with good tacklers.

And he is so athletic, we line him up at WR for jump balls in the end zone.

Zach Vigil: another strong LB. lots of tackles, not a lot of missed tackles, ok in zone coverage.

Nick Vigil: Zach's younger brother. Will be an NFL draft pick, but is only going into his sophomore year. 57 tackles his freshman year. He was so good that he pushed for serious PT in a LB corps that went 8 deep.

Those are my favorite LBs.
Overall: I don't feel like this is hyperbole. This group is one of the best in the country. I'd put them in the top half of the SEC and in the top 20 in the country. They're very good. As good as CK is at QB, these guys are the strength of the team. If you took our top 7 guys, put their names in a hat, pulled out 4, you'd have a solid starting lineup. We lose Jake Doughty, a very good player too, but with Nick Vigil and Labradford Harold, I'm not worried about it at all. Want to see Doughty level a kicker? You do. I promise. Utah State's Jake Doughty Levels Colorado State Kicker Jared Roberts - YouTube

CB

We lose lawson to the NFL and Glover-Wright/Byrd to graduation. Huge question mark for us. Rashard Stewart should start on one side, but I'm not sure. Daniel Gray, the former Vol, will be eligible and might push for some PT. If I were to guess, I'd say this will be a rough position for the first 4 games, but I think they can pull it together and be adequate by the middle of the year. Our game plan will likely be to cause pressure on the QB and to play a lot of man D so that guys don't get free in zone. If your QB can step up and play well, this will be the place to win the game. Our run defense is really good (8th in the country last year, 13th the year before), but teams with a good QB can pick us apart next year.

Overall, a question mark position that might turn out to be weak.

SAFETY

We lose one starter, Mo Alexander, who was a good player. He played LB, hit a teammate, got kicked off the team, sat our a year, worked his way back, and played safety. Freak athlete, huge hitter, 81 tackles. However, he was bad in coverage, so whoever comes in will be an improvement there (but a definite and noticeable drop in the run game)

We return Brian Suite, a solid guy at the other safety spot. Good hands for a safety, ok speed, ok in coverage. A glue guy in the back line. No eric berry, but a good player for us.

Replacing Alexander is Sutera. I can't give you a lot about him, though he did start in the bowl game and had 30 tackles on the year. probably would have started if alexander didn't turn out to be such a freak at being able to go from LB to safety like that.

overall defense: our defense is going to be good again. As good as last year? maybe, maybe not. We have big question marks at CB, medium ones at DL and S. We all know how good the SEC defenses are, but USU's starting 11 (and a few backups) could slide into an SEC roster and earn serious PT.


SPECIAL TEAMS

It's fashionable in Logan, like in every college town, to hate kickers. We missed a 35-yard FG vs wisconsin that would have sent us to the orange bowl instead of NIU. We lost 6-3 to byu that same year because we can't kick. However, we were fairly good at kicking last year, especially compared to the last decade. We return our 24 kickers that we keep on the roster (really its 4 and we lose josh thompson, a loss that nobody will cry about but he was a solid player who put it all on the line in high pressure situations. I can't blame him for his misses.).

We return our punter who single-handedly won us 2 games. He went from "great here he comes..." to "PUNTERRRRRRRRR I LOVVEEEE YOUUUU" fairly quickly.

he also had a 75-yard touchdown run when we were up 35 in the 4th that I like to call the biggest accidental dick move in aggie history (he read the play and the coaches never told him to call off the fake even if it was there) Jaron Bentrude fake punt TD - YouTube



TEAM AS A WHOLE

Overall, I'm worried about CK's health a little. I'm worried about depth at RB and the performance of the OL. I don't know how the CBs will be, but the rest of the defense will be good enough. I'd rate the positions as follows (starters as the first number /overall depth as the 2nd)

QB: 9/6
RB: 7/5
OL: 7/5
TE: 7/7
WR: 7/8

DL: 7/7
LB: 9/9
CB: 7/6
S: 6/5

K: 7/7
P: 8/?



I tried to stay as neutral as possible. I think I do a good job of that, I'm not a rah-rah my team is the best type guy. I think UT wins this game, but I would not be surprised if USU wins a close one (though I'd probably shake and cry from all the pent up misery and heartbreak caused by previous money games). I'll take any questions you have.


Commence the "SEC GUYS ARE 5 STAR USU GUYS ARE 2 STAR" comments!
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Great write up. Thanks for sharing. The only thing I'll disagree with you on is the I believe chant. Lots of schools do that and San Diego State has been doing that for a few years now. Think Navy made it up
 
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#64
#64
Chuckie Keeton looks like the real deal from his stats. Not excited about seeing him. We traditionally do really poorly against dual threats
 
#65
#65
chatt-townVOL said:
Anyone who still supports Dobbs by all rights should be supporting Peterman too. Peterman got one half to prove his worth and blew it. Dobbs got 4 and a half games and blew it.

Sorry but it's Worley or Fergs.
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An opinion is an opinion, is an opinion, and another opinion. None of them automatically condemns you to harbor yet another opinion by default. Humans are too unpredictable for that. Either Spock or Quark could have told you that. :loco:
 
#66
#66
WoodsmanVol said:
An opinion is an opinion, is an opinion, and another opinion. None of them automatically condemns you to harbor yet another opinion by default. Humans are too unpredictable for that. Either Spock or Quark could have told you that. :loco:
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With all due respect Woods, you need to lay off the sci-fi man. You are going to end up a scientologist before long if you are not careful.

I happen to agree with this man's opinion and by most inside accounts I have heard Ferguson has been really showing out.
 
#67
#67
Vol logic said:
With all due respect Woods, you need to lay off the sci-fi man. You are going to end up a scientologist before long if you are not careful.

I happen to agree with this man's opinion and by most inside accounts I have heard Ferguson has been really showing out.
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1. I like sci fi. It's a personal preference of mine. I like Shakey's Pizza too. It's a personal preference of mine. I don't tell you or anyone else what to think or what to eat. Would appreciate the same kind of treatment. Further the Spock and Quark stuff is a running joke to me that happens to carry serious grains of truth when applied to human behavior.

2. You can agree with any opinion you want. In no way have I said nor would say you can't. So I'm not sure what your point is here.

3. We have all heard a lot of ballyhoo about Rifleman Riley. Personally, I hope it's true. I'd love to see the UT having either another "Manning" or Bray (without the attitude and antics) at QB. One that meshes with our crop of WRs and who scares the jockstraps off opponents just by suiting up. So yeah, we've heard about Rifleman and in my post answering ficklez, I made mention of him. Problem is, we've only heard stuff, we've seen no physical or otherwise tangible evidence of anything. Injuries or whatever one wants to drag up, the fact is we haven't seen anything. Same thing with Justin Pickett, I've heard what for me is very surprising but pleasing stuff. But none of us have seen it. And that is the crux of the matter. You can think what you want because of or even in spite of what you've heard. I have the same right to think what I want because of or even in spite of what I've heard.

"I thought the purpose of these reports was to provide accurate intelligence."
"Vir, intelligence has got nothing to do with politics."

--Apologies to Londo of Babylon 5--
 
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#69
#69
UT by 20. This will be another (insert first game of the season in the past few years here) IMO. We will make a big deal out of it til the game is actually played. The boys just come out gunning the first game of the season.
 
#71
#71
bUTchLookin4Dimez said:
UT by 20. This will be another (insert first game of the season in the past few years here) IMO. We will make a big deal out of it til the game is actually played. The boys just come out gunning the first game of the season.
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Yeah I think this is how I'm leaning too. NC State was pretty much this exact same situation in 2012, they were borderline top 25, had a QB that everyone knew would play on Sundays, a couple of really good skill position players, and a lock down corner that was going to shut down our passing game. And we didn't even get them at home. I was terrified of that game until about 5 minutes in, then I realized this is just not the SEC. We simply out-muscled them. Our players were just overall bigger and faster and it reflected on the field. That's what I think happens in this game.
 
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#72
#72
I know it sounds crazy with all the new weapons we got, but I'm more excited to see our defense play than our offense.

Really looking forward to spring ball and the O&W game.

However,
This game might just be Jalen's coming out party. Second half, after we have a comfortable lead, Coach Jones says, "Give #1 the rock!" and the rest is history!
 
#73
#73
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#74
#74
chatt-townVOL said:
If the Dobbs is the best read option guy we have then it's time to abandon the read option
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We don't do very much zone read. As I watched the games last year, I noticed the the ends/linebackers that should have been read keys in a zone read offense were being blocked. The OC uses the phrase "zone read", but our line coach calls it the "zone" when he talks about the offense. IMO, the phrase zone read just sounds sexier that zone blocking. The line coach doesn't care about sounding trendy. lol

Basically every play is called as a hand off or a keeper in the huddle, and the zone block scheme is set up to block based on which one we are doing. That's not to say that we don't want to run a read offense, we just weren't doing it last year. Even with that being our scheme, Dobbs or Ferguson will eventually be better at it that Worley. Their skill sets are just better. The question is, will one be ready to take over this year. Pre-game warmups belong to Dobbs. His is full of potential. (Huge arm, great feet, nice release, etc.) Ferguson is the next most impressive and Worley has the least ability of the three. His maturity level is just higher than the other two. I really don't get the feeling that QB will be our question mark this upcoming season. With the additional reps our two young guys have under their belt, Worley will have had to improve a lot over the summer to be the starter. Whoever wins that job will be ready to lead this team.

Our question mark, imo, will be the defensive line. You can't throw Freshman out there against a mature sec offensive line and hope to stop anyone. Unfortunately for us, that's just what might have to happen.

We were also scary slow in the secondary last year. According to Jones, we had no one that could run faster than a 4.9 on the whole defense last year. To be better back there will again mean we have to be young on the back end of the d.


Our linebackers will crush anything ran at us, but we do have trouble with teams that stretch it to the perimeter. This has plagued us for several years now. USU's mobile qb has to be keeping our DC up at night right now.

Last year, our defensive problem was team speed. This year, it will be youth. This will be a tough game for us to win. I think we do win, but it very easily could be a loss due to the coaches just not really knowing what the young guys are capable of yet.
 
#75
#75
volnation2217 said:
We don't do very much zone read. As I watched the games last year, I noticed the the ends/linebackers that should have been read keys in a zone read offense were being blocked. The OC uses the phrase "zone read", but our line coach calls it the "zone" when he talks about the offense. IMO, the phrase zone read just sounds sexier that zone blocking. The line coach doesn't care about sounding trendy. lol

Basically every play is called as a hand off or a keeper in the huddle, and the zone block scheme is set up to block based on which one we are doing. That's not to say that we don't want to run a read offense, we just weren't doing it last year. Even with that being our scheme, Dobbs or Ferguson will eventually be better at it that Worley. Their skill sets are just better. The question is, will one be ready to take over this year. Pre-game warmups belong to Dobbs. His is full of potential. (Huge arm, great feet, nice release, etc.) Ferguson is the next most impressive and Worley has the least ability of the three. His maturity level is just higher than the other two. I really don't get the feeling that QB will be our question mark this upcoming season. With the additional reps our two young guys have under their belt, Worley will have had to improve a lot over the summer to be the starter. Whoever wins that job will be ready to lead this team.

Our question mark, imo, will be the defensive line. You can't throw Freshman out there against a mature sec offensive line and hope to stop anyone. Unfortunately for us, that's just what might have to happen.

We were also scary slow in the secondary last year. According to Jones, we had no one that could run faster than a 4.9 on the whole defense last year. To be better back there will again mean we have to be young on the back end of the d.


Our linebackers will crush anything ran at us, but we do have trouble with teams that stretch it to the perimeter. This has plagued us for several years now. USU's mobile qb has to be keeping our DC up at night right now.

Last year, our defensive problem was team speed. This year, it will be youth. This will be a tough game for us to win. I think we do win, but it very easily could be a loss due to the coaches just not really knowing what the young guys are capable of yet.
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our RB is a perimeter guy too. he can run up the middle, but he's all speed and looks to cut it outside most of the time. we also run the triple option with the speedy midget WR I mentioned.
 
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