Falcons Commit War Crimes at Doyt, Crush WMU
The Falcons raced all over the Broncos today. A wipe out from about the fourth play on. After the botched reverse on the kickoff, I started to think our streak of bolting downfield and scoring on our first drive would end at three, but, no we drove 99 yards and scored. Later in the quarter we did it again.
550 yards in the first half. 49 points in the first half, a school record. A blocked punt, 3 INT's. (We make no turnovers again). It was a dominant performance, and the Falcons deserve credit. WMU has moved the ball on some teams today, but we got our first shut out since UM's first season.
Running up the score? Nope. Read this from Coach Darnell, who, one has to assume is on his way out of Kalamazoo.
"I want to really congratulate Gregg Brandon, his staff, his football team, because they were absolute class-act today. Anyone that was there, anyone that saw it on TV knows that they could have named the score today. That was huge on Gregg's part."
So, here's the key question as we head into the games agains the Marshall and Toledo--which we must win to stay in the MAC race, and which we must win for a long-shot bowl bid. Is this team better than last year's team?
Its hard to tell, because we have played six straight very poor football teams. But I actually believe this team IS better than last year's team, making the defeat at NIU all the sadder. Consider this:
*Last year, bad teams (CMU, EMU, Kent) hung around on us. Not this year. Most games are over before there are 5:00 off the clock.
*Omar is setting a school record for passing accuracy. He's a better passer than Josh ever was, though not a running threat. Receivers are great--when was the last time a pass was dropped?
*Last year we had a negative turnover ratio. We almost never turn the ball over now. I'll check the numbers later, but of all Omar's passing plays, he's had only 5 or 6 sacks and interceptions COMBINED.
*Last year's team was average in the red zone. This year's team is money.
*The defense is much improved, in my view. This WMU has scored on some people, but we shut them out. The backfield is much improved. A pass rush is developing. Keon is the best player on the team (2 INT's against the Broncos).
*The special teams are outstanding. Suisham is money, return teams are good, and the punting is good.
Anyway, for these reasons, its possible this team is better than last year's team. Big challenges ahead, but both games are winnable. If we continue to perform at this level (and we must be at a high level of confidence), we will finish 9-2 and will have earned a bowl bid.
(Crowd was in the 18,000 range--respectable, on a beautiful day in Bowling Green).
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