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Anyone who watched BG beat Maryland today, after last week's loss to UT, has to believe as I do that this team has the potential to be very, very good.

All they have to do is stop making stupid mistakes and play more disciplined football. If they do that, there isn't a MAC team that can come within 20 points of them this year. The offense is damn near unstoppable, with a wealth of riches at wide receiver that rivals just about any P5 conference member, except for maybe a handful of truly elite programs -- and maybe even some of them.

It is as deep and talented a group as I can ever recall seeing in the MAC, let alone at BG. There is no doubt in my mind that many bigger conference teams would like to have that range of size, speed and talent; and a QB who has the chemistry and rapport to find any one of them at any time.

Add in the thunder and lightning combo running backs of Coppet (who showed strength and quickness we hadn't seen before) and Greene; and an experienced offensive line, and you've got quite a nice formula for scoring points -- lots of points.

What was, perhaps, most promising that came out of this game? The improvement of the defense. Granted, Maryland isn't anywhere near as talented an offense as Tennessee was, but I saw very measured improvements in both the run and pass defenses. There is talent there; and perhaps we have a coordinator this season who can make it blossom.

The only area that continues to be a problem is special teams, and NONE of those issues are such that they cannot be corrected with the right coaching and coaching decisions. For example: Maryland should only have scored 20 points today. BG essentially gave them 7 points by either arrogantly or stupidly kicking to a punt returner and punt return unit that had shown itself to be very explosive. Nothing says you have to kick the ball right to dangerous return men; in fact, I'd say smarter coaches would know not to do that...ever. Make a team beat you with people other than their best weapons.

Along with special teams, this team also needs to find, within itself, the discipline not to keep committing foolish penalties. There's no excuse for penalties that are primarily mental lapses (like unsportsmanlike conduct), as opposed to physical mistakes. BG had something like 75 yards in penalties in the second half alone, or the game might not have been as close as it was for as long as it was.

In summing up: I'm very impressed with the talent on this team, and the potential it has to win another MAC title. No, I'm still not completely sold on Coach Babers yet, but only because the lack of discipline issues and the continued special teams mistakes can be laid directly at his feet. He sets the tone with both the players and the staff, and can make the changes needed to fix these things.

I have no idea how BG will do at home against Memphis, although you would hope they would perform well in front of the home crowd; but I do honestly believe they have a very real shot at beating Purdue the following week (likely in a shootout, if BG doesn't kill itself with too many mistakes). Beyond that, it should be fun to watch this team against the MAC East -- and they SHOULD finally end the drought against TTUN (again if the lack of discipline is corrected).

In closing, I just want to say I'm very proud of how they played today, and hope it is an indication of the depth and character that this team has; to keep battling; even when things aren't going well.

Talons Up!

I'll take our WR unit over just about any teams. Put your star corner on Lewis, so what we'll throw to Dieter and Moore. Put your star on Dieter we'll throw to Moore, Rhodes and Burbrink. You can't cover all these guys.

I wasn't as down on this team last week as others. Tennessee may have beat us 59-30 but the game was not the blowout the score will always make it look like it was. They scored 10 points in garbage time and the refs took 10-14 points away from us with no calls. Add to that the shooting ourselves in the foot and this was a winnable game. I saw a lot of correctable issues and reasons to be optimistic.

A lot of those issues are still there but there was drastic improvement from week one to week two. I didn't expect us to resolve every problem area but I also expect they will continue to be addressed.

I hate the penalties and I hate how poorly we have played on special teams. Hopefully Tate can get his head on straight again because it sucks when you can't count on your kicker to make a 30 yard FG.

Pretty proud of this team for hanging on there after a rough first half where they seemingly couldn't buy points. Props to the D for forcing turnovers and getting three and outs.

Greene and Coppet are a great one two punch. Different styles that have different advantages against different defenses. Coppet is better against power 5 teams but Greene is dynamic against MAC teams.

And last but certainly not least Matt Johnson. To come off a major leg injury and play like this in a system Babers claims takes a year and a half to grasp. Wow. It's not like they have peaked, they still have lots of area for improvement.

Going to be a fun season. BEAT MEMPHIS

My biggest concern about Memphis? Overconfidence. Last year after the big win over Indiana, Wisconsin beat us the next week before the game even started. The guys looked like they were not prepared, probably because they were too enthusiastic about the win to prepare. They'll need to focus and have the mental edge they had today. The coaches have a hell of a challenge this week - keep the guys from getting cocky and keep attitudes and focuses where they need to be.

Great win today! All kinds of potential with this team.

MarkL wrote:My biggest concern about Memphis? Overconfidence. Last year after the big win over Indiana, Wisconsin beat us the next week before the game even started. The guys looked like they were not prepared, probably because they were too enthusiastic about the win to prepare. They'll need to focus and have the mental edge they had today. The coaches have a hell of a challenge this week - keep the guys from getting cocky and keep attitudes and focuses where they need to be.

Great win today! All kinds of potential with this team.

I liked what Matt Campbell said after the Arkansas game, that a big win this early is hard to measure. BG coaches need to have the same attitude. Memphis is a legit program and we'll need to be ready.

Babers is well aware of what beating Memphis and Purdue and then doing well in the MAC would do for the program and he personally. I think they (coaching staff) will have the team ready.

Score every time you have the ball and the punt coverage is a non issue. Although...when Davidson went to the rugby style, good things happened.

Flipper wrote:Score every time you have the ball and the punt coverage is a non issue. Although...when Davidson went to the rugby style, good things happened.

I have always been a fan of the rugby style punt. If executed properly it is difficult to return, and can also avoid the potential blockers. Seems difficult to execute though, and I don't think you can rely on it every single time or the rushers will account for it. If the returner knows it's coming and can come up to make a play on it you're boned.

It seemed like it took Davidson quite a while to get rid of the ball on one of those punts. I liked the results as well, and I think he can still practice this and improve his ability to get rid of the ball. But I am a little nervous that a lot of rugby style punting could increase the risk of blocked punts once teams have time time to scheme against it.

Isn't that the whole point in using rugby style? Take an extra couple seconds to let the coverage get a head start?

able1 wrote:Isn't that the whole point in using rugby style? Take an extra couple seconds to let the coverage get a head start?

Good point. I had not thought of that. I had tended to think of the advantages in terms of getting better placement and a better roll.

It's hard to block a rugby punt because you have to move along with the punter...it's not like you're coming in on a straight line full speed.

There are definitely advantages. I wasn't a fan when we were doing it all the time with a solid punter in Nate Fry. It seemed like a desperation move at the time as we were having alot of issues covering punts. My memory of the details is cloudy, but I recall that when it worked, it worked well. When it didn't, you ended up with a shanked 20 yard punt out of bounds. It was effective yesterday for sure.

able1 wrote:There are definitely advantages. I wasn't a fan when we were doing it all the time with a solid punter in Nate Fry. It seemed like a desperation move at the time as we were having alot of issues covering punts. My memory of the details is cloudy, but I recall that when it worked, it worked well. When it didn't, you ended up with a shanked 20 yard punt out of bounds. It was effective yesterday for sure.

There are some downsides although I do like it sometimes. It is more difficult to kick the ball consistently since the punter is moving to one side. You also should not do it every time or it becomes easier to predict the launch point. Its not like Davidson can go right as a left footer so the launch point becomes predictable if you do it too often.

The positives include the delay to allow your coverage to get further downfield and it helps keep the ball to one side of the field. Also might be tougher to field a bouncing football than through the air.

I have a question with the advent of field turf which also reduces the 'crown' of the field(I think).............has that made rugby style punting a better or worse option? I think field turf gives more bounces so it helps in that respect. The lack of a crown might hurt in that it increases the probability of the punt bouncing toward the middle of the field (ie...not uphill) and reducing the directional punting benefit.

And there is the chance to pull a fake better off the rugby punt. I would not put anything past Coach Babers trying that at some point. Joe D is a BiG dude and could just take off.

The sky is the limit for this team...the D played very well against MD> Shore up the ST's and we will be rolling...

Falconwriter wrote: What was, perhaps, most promising that came out of this game? The improvement of the defense. Granted, Maryland isn't anywhere near as talented an offense as Tennessee was, but I saw very measured improvements in both the run and pass defenses. There is talent there;

I just want to say I'm very proud of how they played today, and hope it is an indication of the depth and character that this team has; to keep battling; even when things aren't going well.

The defense won the game in the first half by keeping the score close. If Maryland had gotten up big it would have changed their defensive strategy in the second half and the coverages our offense was able to exploit might not have been there. Sanford was a three star player, but it's unbelievably impressive how many walk-ons are making an impact and in many instances dominating the opposition.