25 Questions from Middletown

Muncie is Middletown.
Google it.

What is their body of work?

It's been a rough year in Muncie.  After a huge year last year, they were looking to be challenged by some big graduation losses.  Then, they experienced a biblical plague of injuries and that adds up to a very long year.  They are 4-7 and 3-4, and that includes a loss to FCS Indiana State.  They beat Akron and CMU, played a tough game against NIU.

How many seniors and juniors on the two-deep?

26, which is a normal number.

Who are their statistical leaders?

Scott Secor is the #2 FG kikcer in the country.

What is their turnover ratio?

Interestingly, they lead the MAC at +11 (MAC games only) yet still struggle.

Offense:

How is their QB Play?

This has been a long story.  They started the season with Ozzie Mann.  He was eventually replaced by Jack Milas, and the team began to play better.  Milas will not play Friday in BG, so is it Mann again.  During his time starting, Mann had a 118 efficiency rating (higher than Milas), and that isn't in the Top 10 of the MAC.  He completed 57% of his passes and only 10.3 yards per completion.

What is their scoring and yards per play?

They are 6th in the MAC in scoring and 11th in yards per play...that's your turnovers at work.

Can they run the ball?

No.  They are tied for 12th at 3.8 yards per carry.  Jahwan Edwards is the lead back, and he's a really good player, but has only been able to average 4.3 yards per carry.

Do they pass the ball?

They are 9th in the MAC in passing efficiency.

How is their run/pass balance?

They run on 51% of their plays, which is a slightly above average commitment to the run.

Do they convert on 3rd Down?

They are 9th at 38%.

Do they score in the red zone?

They have a high overall percentage but it includes a lot of FGs.  They score 4.7 per trip, which is average.

Do they protect the quarterback?

Yes.  They have only allowed 7 sacks, which is good (2.7%).

Defense:

Topline: Scoring and yards per play.

This is where the injuries hit.  They are 11th in scoring defense and in yards per play allowed.

Do they defend the run effectively?

They are 10th in yards per carry allowed.

Cardinal defense will arrive in this.

Can they be passed on?

They are 11th in pass defense efficiency.  They allowed 63% completions (12th in league) and 11.9 yards per reception.  They do have 10 INTs...which is 2nd in MAC.

Do they get off the field on 3rd down?

No.  They are 11th.

Do they defend in the red zone?

They are slightly below average at 5.1 points per trip.

Do they pressure the QB?

10 sacks is 3.9% which is below average.

Special Teams:

Punting?

They are 8th in net punting.  No blocks, no TDs.  Guy has some boomers, too.

Punt Return?

They are 2nd in the MAC, no TDs, no blocks.

Placekicking?

They have one of the best kickers in the country.  He will kick on Sundays.  He's 23 of 28, 55 yard long.

Kickoff?

They are 4th in the MAC, teams start on the 23.

Kickoff Return?

Not especially good, teams start on the 28.

Team picture.

Miscellaneous: Overall atmospherics and intangibles.

All right.  The first thing in a game like this is how hard Ball State will play, given that their season will end Friday.  My general theory is that teams come out ready to play, but faced with adversity, I am not sure how resilient they will be.

BG has a similar issue.  The game has no actual impact on the season and Coach said that he won't play people who are not 100%.

On the other hand, it is senior day and that usually is important to the players.

Finally, I don't expect many people in the stands.  At all.  So, any motivation will have to come from inside.