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Game thoughts/predictions

Delaware should be ranked higher than they are, but UR and Corp looked really impressive
And the games at UR

Should be a close one

UD has a couple of strengths flying full-speed ahead.
UD possesses one thing that it hasn't had since '07, a running game. AP is a special), quick to and through the hole and hard to bring down. The OL has been pounding the opposition. Devlin is expected to be back this week and everyone already knows his credentials.

The D has played out of its minds, among the NCAA leaders in almost every category. I see UR having to play high-risk, high-reward against UD meaning throwing the ball, because I don't see their type of running game doing much. UD's DB's are very talented - Walters, Bratton and Grant, but the pass rush has been mediocre to date.

Looking forward to extracting revenge.

I believe that at this time next week the Richmond fans will be saying about Andrew Pierce...

"WHO-IS-THAT-GUY-AND-WHERE-DID-HE-COME-FROM?"

Aaron Corp is one of our Orange County boys, and I'm rooting for him, but Richmond will have more than their hands full with the Delaware team this year.

This should be a great game, but I have to give the nod to the Hens.

Delaware hasn't had to show much more than pure vanilla on offense thus far against over matched opponents. Richmond will likely be the first opponent where the playbook is opened up a bit. Should be interesting.

We owe the spiders big time, especially after last years game. I see a big dose or pierce early to set up some big play action throws down the field for devlin. Add another pick-six for the hens secondary and my prediction is 35-17 delaware. For what it's worth anyway.

Should be one of the better games this weekend. I'll take Delaware by 10.

I saw the second half of the UR game and despite the win, I didn't think they looked good. Based on how they played, Elon and UR should both drop in the polls, but that's a conversation for a different thread.

UD hasn't really played anyone, but at least they've all been convincing. They seem to have established a good running game again which answers the question "They have Devlin and .. who else?".

I think these teams are moving in opposite directions, this one goes to UD.

bluehenbillk wrote:The D has played out of its minds, among the NCAA leaders in almost every category. I see UR having to play high-risk, high-reward against UD meaning throwing the ball, because I don't see their type of running game doing much. UD's DB's are very talented - Walters, Bratton and Grant, but the pass rush has been mediocre to date.

I thought the D was very mediocre against Duquesne. Yes, they didn't allow a TD, but DU moved the ball a little too much for my liking.

I'll take the team that lost 15 starters, rebuilt an offensive line, found a new quarterback, hired a new staff, moved into a new pipsqueak stadium who still found a way to hang tight with UVA (who lost by a field goal to USC) for 3 quarters and subsequently beat a top 10 opponent with one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of our level of football (while having a few starters out with injuries) ... and will probably be ranked 5th in the counry today ... by a field goal.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:I'll take the team that lost 15 starters, rebuilt an offensive line, found a new quarterback, hired a new staff, moved into a new pipsqueak stadium who still found a way to hang tight with UVA (who lost by a field goal to USC) for 3 quarters and subsequently beat a top 10 opponent with one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of our level of football (while having a few starters out with injuries) ... and will probably be ranked 5th in the counry today ... by a field goal.

Could you try and be a little more specific? Who are you going with in this one?

89Hen wrote:

bluehenbillk wrote:The D has played out of its minds, among the NCAA leaders in almost every category. I see UR having to play high-risk, high-reward against UD meaning throwing the ball, because I don't see their type of running game doing much. UD's DB's are very talented - Walters, Bratton and Grant, but the pass rush has been mediocre to date.

I thought the D was very mediocre against Duquesne. Yes, they didn't allow a TD, but DU moved the ball a little too much for my liking.

I agree 89, but DU has a similar run offense to JMU where the QB reads the blocking & decides whether to hand off of go himself. UR is more similar in attack to SDSU, and well, you know how that worked out. Gray & Grayson will be formidable, DU picked on Burley early & had success. Eventually they moved Walters over to CB & brought the NE transfer into play S & that helped some. That's the way I see UR could win, a big passing day, especially if we don't pressure the QB. I like the Hens by 10- 10+.

bluehenbillk wrote: UR is more similar in attack to SDSU, and well, you know how that worked out.

Can you expand on this point?

I like the Hens in this one - Devlin and Pierce give the Hens a one-two punch, and the OL has really improved from one year to the next. Plenty of guys to throw to and Devlin will find them.

Defensively, Duquesne moved the ball a little bit, but most of it was when they managed to get Connor Dixon on UD's sophomore corner. When they took him out and moved Walters to corner, that really stymied Duquesne from there on out. I don't think UD let's Burley hang in there too long if he can't hang with Grayson or the other guy, so look for UD's pass defense to be better. And I just don't see Richmond being able to run it well on UD - the DL and the LB'ers have been really good in terms of run D.

If it was in Newark I could see UD winning convincingly, but down there, I see the Hens by 10-14. Pierce is really that good.

Whomever does a better job running the football will win the game.

bluehenbillk wrote:UD has a couple of strengths flying full-speed ahead.
UD possesses one thing that it hasn't had since '07, a running game. AP is a special), quick to and through the hole and hard to bring down. The OL has been pounding the opposition. Devlin is expected to be back this week and everyone already knows his credentials.

The D has played out of its minds, among the NCAA leaders in almost every category. I see UR having to play high-risk, high-reward against UD meaning throwing the ball, because I don't see their type of running game doing much. UD's DB's are very talented - Walters, Bratton and Grant, but the pass rush has been mediocre to date.

Looking forward to extracting revenge.

-I think UD wins.

-To point defensively UD leads the NCAA leaders in most categories is ridiculous- while most of the rest of the I-AA have played a I-A, you've played the school of the deaf and blind, the little sisters of the poor, and an avg at best SDSU team (who just lost by 10 at home to an historically below avg MVFC Ill St). So of course UDs stats are going to be way skewed to make UD look great. To compare CAA or NCAA offensive & defensive stats before Oct when everyone has 5-6 games under their belts is ridiculous. Lets look how your NCAA stats look in a couple of weeks.

I agree with Gannon, the D gave up some big chunks to #10 last week. A worry indeed. But this D is also showing a ability to step up and make big plays when they're needed.

UD's OL wins the battle against UR's D line, wins the time of possession 35-25 and keeps Corp & Grayson on the sideline. UD's finally gives up a touchdown but holds UR to a couple of field goals in the red zone. Delaware 24, Richmond 16.

State Line Liquors wrote:Whomever does a better job running the football will win the game.

You can throw out the records when these two teams play. The team that scores more points will win.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

State Line Liquors wrote:Whomever does a better job running the football will win the game.

You can throw out the records when these two teams play. The team that scores more points will win.

All time records or records so far this year? Do you think the game will feel like a track meet?

State Line Liquors wrote: Do you think the game will feel like a track meet?

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

State Line Liquors wrote: Do you think the game will feel like a track meet?

Was it something I said? I thought it might be a high scoring affair, maybe?

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote:

State Line Liquors wrote: Do you think the game will feel like a track meet?

It took me a minute, but.....

jd of de wrote:UD's OL wins the battle against UR's D line, wins the time of possession 35-25 and keeps Corp & Grayson on the sideline. UD's finally gives up a touchdown but holds UR to a couple of field goals in the red zone. Delaware 24, Richmond 16.

I wouldn't be so quick to give UD's OL the advantage over UR's DL. While UD's OL has indeed improved, you're talking strength against strength. IMHO, this will be the decisive factor in the game, UD's OL against UR's def front 7.

Conversely, where UR is weakest is on their OL, but they will be going against UD's achilles heel, UD's DL.

The QB battle will be a good one to watch also.

The WR's are a push, along with the DB's.

UD may have a slight edge in the kicking game, whereas UR has a slight edge in the Return game.

Coaching?? Head Coach, KC over Scott, OC/DC advantage UR.

Home Field Advantage??? TBD.

Very good game to watch.

jstclmet wrote:
I wouldn't be so quick to give UD's OL the advantage over UR's DL. While UD's OL has indeed improved, you're talking strength against strength. IMHO, this will be the decisive factor in the game, UD's OL against UR's def front 7.

Conversely, where UR is weakest is on their OL, but they will be going against UD's achilles heel, UD's DL.

The QB battle will be a good one to watch also.

The WR's are a push, along with the DB's.

UD may have a slight edge in the kicking game, whereas UR has a slight edge in the Return game.

Coaching?? Head Coach, KC over Scott, OC/DC advantage UR.

Home Field Advantage??? TBD.

Very good game to watch.

Just a couple thoughts, since you've created a few talking points here....

Yes, it's going to be a good game to watch. Very telling for the CAA's future this year. I agree on the key to the game. UD OL vs. UR DL. I'm still not sure if UD's OL is really the strength of our team, but they do seem improved so far. I think there's no question UR DL is their team strength. Strength vs. Strength? Not exactly, IMHO.

Couple head scratchers though:
Homefield advantage unquestionably goes to UR. I don't know how it could be seen otherwise.

Where on Earth do you pull the assistant coach comparison from?

I think it's unfair to say that UD's D-Line is their achilles heel. At this point, what makes them stand out as the achilles heel? If you're going to credit the O-Line for their improvement this year, then how can you discredit the D-Line against the same competition, when they haven't even allowed a TD yet? We're rotating 9 bodies, and 10 when Marcorelle plays rush end. Irv Titre is expected back either this week or against JMU which will give us 11 rotating regularly on the line.

Here's the way I see it:

Richmond is not run blocking well. We have been largely ineffective in the run game each of the first two weeks and probably will be ineffective again Saturday. The pass blocking has been pretty solid, and Corp has done a good job evading rush when he needs to. The highly touted Delaware secondary will get an opportunity to prove its mettle.

Aside from Martin Parker, Richmond's defensive line is very young. If UD's O-line is as improved as is believed, UD will be able to run the football on UR. If UD can't run the football, you'll know WCUPA, SDSU and DUQ were really, really bad in the Front 7.

I hope Trott will allow Graham and Rogers play some man coverage on the outside. We gave the Elon WR's too much room.

Both teams seems pretty solid in the special teams.

Devlin's health is the other big unknown.

PenthouseClosedEnd wrote: Devlin's health is the other big unknown.

Well if that's what you're looking for they're sayign he should be unlimited this Saturday. If the Duquesne game would have amounted to more than a hill of beans he would've played.