Topic: CFN: CUSA Championship Preview

[Big City]

Three Reasons Why You Should Watch The Conference USA Championship

– The running back battle could be fantastic … hopefully. UAB senior Spencer Brown has been the star of the program’s revival, running for 3,862 career yards with 41 touchdowns, but he missed the game against Rice last week.

He’s not much of a receiver, but he’s a 100-yard machine workhorse who ran for 156 yards and a score in the 2018 Conference USA Championship win and 65 in last year’s loss. If he can’t go, there’s a decent running-back-by-committee approach to work with.

– Marshall’s Brenden Knox has been bottled up – relatively speaking – over the last two games, but he still has yet to run for fewer than 70 yards this season. Like Brown, Knox is a big, tough back who’s not used much as a receiver, but will average five yards per pop balancing out the attack. Marshall is 13-2 when he runs for 100 yards, only losing to Virginia Tech in his freshman year, and UCF in last year’s bowl.

– This is UAB’s third straight Conference USA Championship appearance – winning in 2018 over Middle Tennessee and losing to Florida Atlantic last year – and Marshall is back for the first time since winning in 2014.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2020/12/marshall-vs-uab-conference-usa-championship-prediction-game-preview

[whf]

Sure hope they're right.

[svherd]

Yep, hope they are right. I think he gives our offense too much credit. Grant has to have a good game and that's a lot to ask from a freshmen.  If our OL is not 100% and healthy, this game belongs to the Blazers. Barf!

[Big City]

Yep, hope they are right. I think he gives our offense too much credit. Grant has to have a good game and that's a lot to ask from a freshmen.  If our OL is not 100% and healthy, this game belongs to the Blazers. Barf!

I see it another way. The secret is out. Rice executed it to perfection. Run right at the Marshall D and push them around. Rice won that game early by punching the defense in the face. Marshall has won most of their games based on the way the defense played with good offensive play. Rice identified their strength and put it to work. Grind away the yardage and eat up the clock. How many games have we watched this Marshall offense get off to a slow start?

[gochneaur645]

I see it another way. The secret is out. Rice executed it to perfection. Run right at the Marshall D and push them around. Rice won that game early by punching the defense in the face. Marshall has won most of their games based on the way the defense played with good offensive play. Rice identified their strength and put it to work. Grind away the yardage and eat up the clock. How many games have we watched this Marshall offense get off to a slow start?

Rice had a couple good drives in the 1st half, but they ran it 45 times for only 128 yards (2.8 YPC). The defense did more than enough to win. I'll be happy if UAB puts up those same exact rushing numbers.

[puma]

I'm not particularly worried about the Herd's defense. Against Rice, they performed well given the phenomenally bad positions they were put in because of a horrid kicking game, 5 interceptions, 3 failed 4th down conversions, and being out on the field for 37 minutes. I believe they held Rice to around 200 yards of total offense.

I'm much more concerned about Wells and the offense. UAB is going to do like Rice and blitz like crazy and keep the pressure on him. Either Wells can connect some deep balls to keep them honest and open up some lanes for Knox, or it's game over.

It's also hard not to shake my nagging suspicion that there's some locker room BS going on right now.

[svherd]

I'm not particularly worried about the Herd's defense. Against Rice, they performed well given the phenomenally bad positions they were put in because of a horrid kicking game, 5 interceptions, 3 failed 4th down conversions, and being out on the field for 37 minutes. I believe they held Rice to around 200 yards of total offense.

I'm much more concerned about Wells and the offense. UAB is going to do like Rice and blitz like crazy and keep the pressure on him. Either Wells can connect some deep balls to keep them honest and open up some lanes for Knox, or it's game over.

It's also hard not to shake my nagging suspicion that there's some locker room BS going on right now.

Yep, The onus is on Cramsey, Wells and the O to execute and come up with a solid game plan.

[MicDrass1]

I hope Giovanni calls the game Friday.  Help our ratings!!

https://twitter.com/realsjsgiovanni/status/1338282787044986880?s=20

[Herdiowa]

I just don’t have a good feeling about this game. I hope we win but I guess it comes back to the fact I don’t trust Doc to a) make the right moves and b) keep the team together.

[Garbanjo]

I just don’t have a good feeling about this game. I hope we win but I guess it comes back to the fact I don’t trust Doc to a) make the right moves and b) keep the team together.

We should win easily

But Doc..........

[svherd]

Why does our football team always seem to get worse during the regular season as opposed to getting better?

[marshallmark]

Why does our football team always seem to get worse during the regular season as opposed to getting better?

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

[MicDrass1]

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

Those above teams were were either depleted or average.  Put Purdue in there too.  Holliday's best win ever might be at 6-6 Loserville.  I am just not impressed even though I did enjoy the Maryland win.  CT win should have been a blowout but our coaches kept them in the game.  Of all of those game only one of them was not expected (Md).  Are any of them above .500?  Stale programs.

[The E-Man]

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

One CUSA Championship in 11 years pretty much sums it all up about Doc as a coach..

[svherd]

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

Regular season. Doc seems to get us back on track for bowls. This season looks as though it’s no different.

[marshallmark]

Those above teams were were either depleted or average.  Put Purdue in there too.  Holliday's best win ever might be at 6-6 Loserville.  I am just not impressed even though I did enjoy the Maryland win.  CT win should have been a blowout but our coaches kept them in the game.  Of all of those game only one of them was not expected (Md).  Are any of them above .500?  Stale programs.

The poster was talking about MU fading at the end of the season.  I disagreed.

[pdunn]

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

Rice would not.

[DC01HERD]

Northern Illinois, Maryland, La Tech, South Florida, Connecticut, Colorado State and FIU might beg to differ.

How many of those coaches got fired within a year of losing to John? Losing to John is the kiss of death.

[HerdEcon]

Yep, The onus is on Cramsey, Wells and the O to execute and come up with a solid game plan.

You hit the nail on the head.  Cramsey needs to step up and put some of that offensive genius on display. Wells can't stare down the WR he intends to throw to and make good reads.