25 Questions in plaid

 What is their body of work?

They're turned this program around, what with their experienced and seasoned college coach and all.  They are 2-3 right now, with wins against Austin Peay and CMU and then losses @Marshall, @ND and UC at home (in a game they really should have won).  Even having said that, they are going to battle OU for the East title.  They have won 8 straight MAC games.  As they improve, they begin to assume their normal spot at one of the premier MAC programs.  Miami beat BG 40-26 last year but Coach is quick to point out they only led by 3 entering the 4th.

How many seniors and juniors on the two-deep?

They have 29 which is a pretty experienced team.

Who are their statistical leaders?

Keep an eye on Jaylon Bester.  He is #12 in all purpose yards, #2 in combined kick returns, #20 in kickoff returns.  James Gardner is #6 in receiving TDs and #17 in total touchdowns.

What is their turnover ratio?

They are

Offense:

How is their QB play expected to be?

He was set up to be one of the better QBs in the MAC (#2 Phil Steele), but he is not quite there right now.  He is #4 in passing efficiency.  He's completed 52% of his passes but they have been for big yards...14.3 per completion.  He has 10 TDs over 3 picks.

What is their scoring and yards per play?

They are 8th in the MAC in scoring offense at 17 points a game, and that's less than Akron was scoring and you saw what they did.  They are 6th with 5.4 yards per play.

Can they run the ball?

Not great.  They are 7th in the MAC at 3.5 yards per carry.  They have two lead backs who pretty much split the carries, and they are gaining 4.4 per carry between them, which is OK.

Do they pass the ball?

As mentioned, they are struggling to pass for percentages but get lots of big plays.  Four WRs are over 14 yds per catch.

How was their run/pass balance?

They have run the ball on 55% of their plays, which is run heavy in today's game.

Do they convert on 3rd Down?

They are pretty good at a straight up 40%, 5th in the MAC.

Do they score in the red zone?

4.8 points per trip is about average.

Do they protect the quarterback?

No, they give up sacks on 7.7% of their passes.

Defense:

Topline: Scoring and yards per play.

They allow 25 per game, which is #5 in the MAC.  They allow 6.6 yards per play, which is rough at 119th in the nation.  BG's defense allows 6.9 yards per play (123rd). They allow 5.4 yards per play, which is #4 in the MAC.  BG is last in both these categories.

Do they defend the run effectively?

They are 7th in yards against per carry, so average in the conference.  This is a good test for BG assuming we still think that running is our identity.  BG is 11th in rushing offense.

Can they be passed on?

They are strong here...#4.  They allow 55% completons on 11/catch and 6 INT.

Do they get off the field on 3rd down?

This is a weakness, they are #10 in the MAC.

Do they defend in the red zone?

They are really good.  3.6 points per trip and 4 blanks in 13 trips.

Did they pressure the QB?

No.  They get sacks on 3.2% of their pass attempts.

Special Teams:

Punting?

They are pretty good.  #4 in the MAC in net punting.  They have yet to allow a punt return yard.

Punt Return?

They are 7th at 7 yards a return.

Placekicking?

He's pretty good, he was 6 of 7 with a 42 long this year.

Kickoff?

Not great.  Opponents started up 28 and Marshall went to the house on them twice.  Miami is the only team in the MAC this year to have recovered an onside kick.

Kickoff Return?

Not good...they start on their 22.

Miscellaneous: Overall atmospherics and intangibles.

Miami is a 14.5 point favorite and ESPN says they have an 87% chance of winning the game.  You'd have to think that's about right.  They could easily be 4-1 but for a couple collapses, but if you are going to go that way, BG could be 1-4 but for a late collapse. 

We keep hearing BG is getting better.  Well, this is one, if you win, that says something.  If that happens, you know, you might be right. 

If not, you know, Dino Babers was really bad.

One other note.  Miami made a bad coaching decision when Hoeppner left and it set them back almost 10 years.  This is an incredibly difficult thing to make work.

Let's hope we're not on the track.  It is easy to do.  (Ball State, too).

It has been more than 80 years since BG lost its first six.  There have been some bad teams in there.  But never that.  When you add in the two losses last year that were over 70...just not much going on.

So maybe a win changes the conversation.  A loss just keeps it going.