Assessing your team's chances

[tampajag]

I like our chances of not making the playoffs.

[Bostonspider]

I think the Spiders should have a good year. Though I am worried about starting on the road at Duke and then travelling to what could be a rejuvenated UD with Devlin under center. UR could be behind the 8 ball quickly. I worry that in the CAA there is such a fine line between being National Champs, and not even making the playoffs. I am hoping for 6-2 in the CAA and 2-1 OOC for an 8-3 and playoff team to start, and then see what happens from there.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Delaware should be solid on defense and much improved at the quarterback position - that alone should be good for a couple of wins improvement over last year.

The huge question will be the o-line where they are realatively small and lack depth. Right now, I feel like these guys could get beat up when facing teams with big, aggressive defenses. Unfortunately, many of the teams on the Hen's schedule fall into that category. With that in mind, 6-5 or possibly 7-4 seems like a realistic expectation for this coming season.

[BCatSymph]

How do you really see your team ending up this year or what are their chances of being/repeating a conference title?

I tried to sit back and look at our team. I can't say I'm unbiased but I do like our chances of repeating. That is assuming everything falls into place and the 'creek don't rise'

It's a kind of amateurish take but here goes:

I think they have the potential to win 9. They will take Angelo and not have a problem with Texas Southern. The whole SLC seems to be in a rebuilding year though I hope TXST is just reloading. I think they have the right coach (Bliel) and some good talent to fill in on the D. I feel Donovan King will be hard to replace.

I did see the freshman McCulloch, in the TSHCA game and he was impressive. Thompson, Houston and Clark will have to step up and motivate that D, though, if it is to be better and successful. The SLC has gone to an O league and we need to be better to shut everyone down. Williams, Wiggins and Bell will have to step it up and I think Bliel will have them ready. Hopefully, again, we will have someone unexpected come in and surprise also.

I can see us beating UCA and NWS this year, even if they are away games and I hope they remember how "out of it" they were against SUU last year so they take that one more seriously and come away with the W. Going into conference 3 - 1 would be good. SAM lost Bomar and even with Aston, you have to have balance in the air to compliment that. Their one chance might be having their incoming Frosh QB - Copeland, take over. He was also in the TSHCA game and looked good. NWS lost Brown and has new staff, so we'll see.

I know it will be hard to replace Cam Luke but I think Bush and Rivas will step up and the guys we have, while singularly not likely equaling what Cam did, may do so effectively as a unit. The O line looks solid. It will just be a matter of execution.

If we take UCA and/or NWS we could win more.Then again,if the D does not gel and the new WR corps does not pan out we could find ourselves falling hard.

I truly hope I am right but will have to see how it plays out. 1 major injury could turn it all on its head.

(this was an email I sent to someone so I just changed it here and there)

I would like to agree that TxSt is reloading, but we've only done so really in a few positions. Offensively I think we're going to carry much of the same firepower onto the field. This time, however, I think the biggest difference will be if the WR corp can make the receptions that last year went to CamLuke. If we spread the ball to different targets each pass play and they make the grabs, defenses are going to have fits. Having our QB and RB returning will help greatly. The OL looks pretty good in terms of depth, so maybe we can keep fresh bodies out all game long.

Defensively, as noted many times on AGS and BF.com, we have some questions. Our secondary wasn't great, but improved a lot over the course of the season. In fact, I was quite impressed with their play in the games I got to see. What troubles me is the DL. If we don't get big mamma-jammas in the middle to stuff the run, and quick ends to rush the pass, I'll be seeing flashbacks of Montana all season. I think our LB/DB corp will be ok as long as the DL steps it up this season.

In terms of the competition... The games that always have me in knots are the LA school. We seem to, as of late, own the Western half of the SLC, along with SELA. But MSU, NwSt, and Nicholls are tossups, not to mention UCA. If we take three of those four, we're golden. And if it comes playoff time and we are pitted against dem Griz and traveling again, you can bet your ass I'll be there!

[Wildcat Ryan]

Weber has a tough Schedule, but it is still winnable, I am very optimistic, I think Weber can instead of being co-champs, win the whole conference outright.

[skinny_uncle]

15-0

[CatMom]

15-0

So when you're sober and your high horse has shrunk back to normal you can post a true assessment with facts/figures,etc.

[clenz]

15-0

So when you're sober and your high horse has shrunk back to normal you can post a true assessment with facts/figures,etc.

No, SIU fans really are that ignorant that they think they will go 15-0

[GOKATS]

A little early to make the call, but I think the Cats will do well this year. Got hit really bad with the injury bug last year- took out the top two QB's, #1 receiver, potential Buchanan LB, this years Buchanan candidate DE, and key linemen on both 'O' and 'D'. It looks like everyone is healthy after surgeries and it should be a good battle for the starting QB position- both have looked good in 7/7 this summer. A much better WR crew with some real talent, speed and the RB's look good (lost Crawford to graduation and you don't just replace a RB of his quality). Defense is definitely the team strength with the only question at one of the corners, but I think a couple players will be shuffled in fall ball and we'll be ok. 'O' line is solid, biggest question with the 'O' is the QB battle and them getting in sync with the WR's. They've spent a lot of time together this summer so I think that should pan out. Special teams is solid with a senior punter/kicker who could easily be All Big Sky and a place kicker who as a true freshman last year did an incredible job and will only get better. As I said. it's too early to call, but as of now I don't see the Cats finishing worse than 3rd in the BSC somewhere between 7-4 and 9-2. Our offense sucked big time (injuries, TO's, etc.) last year and if they start to click and with the defense we have anything is possible.