Post by Aggie One on Oct 8, 2015 15:57:07 GMT -5
Contenders or Pretenders?
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
The herd will begin thinning out just a bit beginning this week in the MEAC. Four of the top undefeated conference teams will be going head- to- head starting tonight as South Carolina State will travel to Daytona Beach, Fl. And will do battle with Bethune Cookman in prime time on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.
These two teams have won or shared the last seven MEAC crowns and tonight’s showdown will have major impact on the conference race. Unlike last season when most of the key matchups occurred very late in the year, the 2015 schedule has flip flopped as where most, if not all, of the conference heavy hitters will face each other before the month of October ends.
Beside the weekday BCU-SCSU matchup, Saturday will have NC A&T traveling to Norfolk (2 p.m.), NCCU taking a long bus ride down to in Tallahassee to face FAMU (5 p.m.), Morgan will entertain rejuvenated Savannah State (4 p.m.) , and it will be homecoming in Hampton as they prepare for Delaware State (2 p.m.).
South Carolina State, while picked to finish second in most of the MEAC preseason media polls, still remains the fans pick as the team to beat once it’s all said and done. The Bulldogs boasts one of the finest defenses in all the FCS lead by All American and pro prospect nose guard Javon Hargrove. No question moving the ball on SCSU is no easy task but the same can be said in reverse about the Bulldog offense which has struggled to put up points against quality competition.
The Bulldogs have not gotten consistent play our of the quarterback position because of injuries and inexperience, plus a huge and veteran offensive line that has thus far underperformed in the running game.
Yes, SCSU dispatched UAPB and FAMU easily enough 35-7 and 36-0 respectively but when faced with equally talented defenses from quality FCS opponents , Coach Buddy Pough’s offense has been anything but productive losing 41-14 to Coastal Carolina and 17-3 to a Furman team missing both its regular quarterback and top wide out.
On the other hand, Bethune Cookman has been on the plus side of a couple of major shootouts approaching the midway point of the season with road wins over Grambling (56-53) and NCCU (28-26). There is very little doubt about the Wildcats being able to generate offense and points under new head coach Terry Sims. Quarterback Quentin Williams, when given adequate time, is the probably best pure pocket passer in the MEAC and BCU has no shortage of skill talent to surround him with.
What has been surprising has been the erratic showing of the BCU defense that is surrendering nearly 400 yards and 30 points per game. True, the Wildcats had to replace 10 of 11 starters from a year ago but no one envisioned a defensive unit giving up so many yards so easily against the run (197.6 ypg).
The winner in this contest along with the A&T-NSU victor will have the advantage of directly controlling their own destiny over the next few days or at least until the next separation Saturday takes place which probably be next weekend. This season too many teams are evenly matched and really what will determine who is still standing when the smoke clears will depend most likely 2 major factors – 1) who can stay healthy while playing through the injuries and 2) which team best displays the mental toughness to break through on the road and win those close ball games.
Things are about to get real interesting over the next couple of days.
**********************************************************************************************************************
A&T and Norfolk. Both have been very good from time to time and not so good an equal amount. What they have shown is the ability deal with adversity and come back to win close games. Spartan head coach Latrell Scott may be new to the MEAC but is no stranger to FCS competition as the former head coach at the University of Richmond.
What you will find in Norfolk State is not only a upgrade in personnel but a major uptick in their technique and execution especially on the offensive side of the football behind transfer quarterback Greg Hankerson. As goes Hankerson so goes the Spartan offense. The 6-1, 190 pound junior from Florida Atlantic has hit on 78-151 attempts for 927 yards and 6 TDs thus far this season. So big of a factor he is for NSU, Hankerson accounts for 205 of the 252 yards averaged in the total team offense by the Spartans. His top target has been All-MEAC Isaac White (6-3,180, Sr.) and leading receiver DeAndre Sangster (6-2, 180) who caught the last second game winner against Howard last week.
Defensively the Spartans have a pair of stellar inside linebackers in Kyle Archie (6-0,230, So.) and Rodney Smith (6-3,235, Jr.). They will flank 6-3,310 senior Kevin Williams and Chris Lee (6-3,270, Jr.) who control the run paths in the middle. The Spartans are adjusting to a new system under Scott and some new personnel on defense but remain a very strong unit especially against the pass.
Where there has been a weakness has been in the offensive line and the inability to run the football. The Spartans have been racked with injuries in the offensive line and at running back early on and it has shown with a meager 66.4 yards per game rushing through their first five games. Last week may have been a testament to that very problem as Norfolk ended the day with a net -17 yards rushing against winless Howard.
So what about this week. Despite their rushing woes, the Spartans have pieced together two straight wins in conference play after coming off an anticipated 0-3 start against FBS teams to open the year. Norfolk rallied with 17 straight second half points to erase a seven point deficit to take out Hampton at home and eked out a 15-12 last minute comeback in a titanic defensive struggle on the road last week. Special teams mistakes and poor punting game kept the Spartans pretty much bottled up until the final drive of the game and Scott admits it has been an ongoing problem through much of the season.
With the Aggies coming to town, The Spartans are expecting a big crowd for this game as these two schools have not met on the field since 2012 when the Aggies punched a 30-9 homecoming win in Greensboro. These two old and very friendly rivals should provide a lot of fireworks for the 15,000 that are expected to be on hand (if the weather holds up).
Coach Rod Broadway has remarked how improved the Spartans are this year and they are with Scott now calling the shots and having a proven quarterback to depend on in Hankerson. However, the Aggies are a bit deeper up front on both sides of the ball, a more physical team on defense, a decided advantage on special teams, and an edge in team speed.
A&T didn’t panic one bit when pressed to the wall by Hampton’s big comeback in the third quarter and found the mental toughness necessary to make the big plays and control the fourth period when it really counted.
This week should be no different. It’s pretty much a rerun of last week except the Spartans aren’t quite as potent offensively or quite as fast as Hampton but are far better disciplined. They will present a much more conventional offensive scheme although they will throw the ball more often because of their anemic ground game.
Some of the nerves from last week just aren’t there this week. Don’t know what that means except that the Aggies, if they continue to avoid turnovers and stay efficient in their offense especially on the short field, should fare well on their final leg of the Tidewater tour.
PREDICTION:
N.C. A&T - 25
Norfolk State - 18
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
The herd will begin thinning out just a bit beginning this week in the MEAC. Four of the top undefeated conference teams will be going head- to- head starting tonight as South Carolina State will travel to Daytona Beach, Fl. And will do battle with Bethune Cookman in prime time on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m.
These two teams have won or shared the last seven MEAC crowns and tonight’s showdown will have major impact on the conference race. Unlike last season when most of the key matchups occurred very late in the year, the 2015 schedule has flip flopped as where most, if not all, of the conference heavy hitters will face each other before the month of October ends.
Beside the weekday BCU-SCSU matchup, Saturday will have NC A&T traveling to Norfolk (2 p.m.), NCCU taking a long bus ride down to in Tallahassee to face FAMU (5 p.m.), Morgan will entertain rejuvenated Savannah State (4 p.m.) , and it will be homecoming in Hampton as they prepare for Delaware State (2 p.m.).
South Carolina State, while picked to finish second in most of the MEAC preseason media polls, still remains the fans pick as the team to beat once it’s all said and done. The Bulldogs boasts one of the finest defenses in all the FCS lead by All American and pro prospect nose guard Javon Hargrove. No question moving the ball on SCSU is no easy task but the same can be said in reverse about the Bulldog offense which has struggled to put up points against quality competition.
The Bulldogs have not gotten consistent play our of the quarterback position because of injuries and inexperience, plus a huge and veteran offensive line that has thus far underperformed in the running game.
Yes, SCSU dispatched UAPB and FAMU easily enough 35-7 and 36-0 respectively but when faced with equally talented defenses from quality FCS opponents , Coach Buddy Pough’s offense has been anything but productive losing 41-14 to Coastal Carolina and 17-3 to a Furman team missing both its regular quarterback and top wide out.
On the other hand, Bethune Cookman has been on the plus side of a couple of major shootouts approaching the midway point of the season with road wins over Grambling (56-53) and NCCU (28-26). There is very little doubt about the Wildcats being able to generate offense and points under new head coach Terry Sims. Quarterback Quentin Williams, when given adequate time, is the probably best pure pocket passer in the MEAC and BCU has no shortage of skill talent to surround him with.
What has been surprising has been the erratic showing of the BCU defense that is surrendering nearly 400 yards and 30 points per game. True, the Wildcats had to replace 10 of 11 starters from a year ago but no one envisioned a defensive unit giving up so many yards so easily against the run (197.6 ypg).
The winner in this contest along with the A&T-NSU victor will have the advantage of directly controlling their own destiny over the next few days or at least until the next separation Saturday takes place which probably be next weekend. This season too many teams are evenly matched and really what will determine who is still standing when the smoke clears will depend most likely 2 major factors – 1) who can stay healthy while playing through the injuries and 2) which team best displays the mental toughness to break through on the road and win those close ball games.
Things are about to get real interesting over the next couple of days.
**********************************************************************************************************************
A&T and Norfolk. Both have been very good from time to time and not so good an equal amount. What they have shown is the ability deal with adversity and come back to win close games. Spartan head coach Latrell Scott may be new to the MEAC but is no stranger to FCS competition as the former head coach at the University of Richmond.
What you will find in Norfolk State is not only a upgrade in personnel but a major uptick in their technique and execution especially on the offensive side of the football behind transfer quarterback Greg Hankerson. As goes Hankerson so goes the Spartan offense. The 6-1, 190 pound junior from Florida Atlantic has hit on 78-151 attempts for 927 yards and 6 TDs thus far this season. So big of a factor he is for NSU, Hankerson accounts for 205 of the 252 yards averaged in the total team offense by the Spartans. His top target has been All-MEAC Isaac White (6-3,180, Sr.) and leading receiver DeAndre Sangster (6-2, 180) who caught the last second game winner against Howard last week.
Defensively the Spartans have a pair of stellar inside linebackers in Kyle Archie (6-0,230, So.) and Rodney Smith (6-3,235, Jr.). They will flank 6-3,310 senior Kevin Williams and Chris Lee (6-3,270, Jr.) who control the run paths in the middle. The Spartans are adjusting to a new system under Scott and some new personnel on defense but remain a very strong unit especially against the pass.
Where there has been a weakness has been in the offensive line and the inability to run the football. The Spartans have been racked with injuries in the offensive line and at running back early on and it has shown with a meager 66.4 yards per game rushing through their first five games. Last week may have been a testament to that very problem as Norfolk ended the day with a net -17 yards rushing against winless Howard.
So what about this week. Despite their rushing woes, the Spartans have pieced together two straight wins in conference play after coming off an anticipated 0-3 start against FBS teams to open the year. Norfolk rallied with 17 straight second half points to erase a seven point deficit to take out Hampton at home and eked out a 15-12 last minute comeback in a titanic defensive struggle on the road last week. Special teams mistakes and poor punting game kept the Spartans pretty much bottled up until the final drive of the game and Scott admits it has been an ongoing problem through much of the season.
With the Aggies coming to town, The Spartans are expecting a big crowd for this game as these two schools have not met on the field since 2012 when the Aggies punched a 30-9 homecoming win in Greensboro. These two old and very friendly rivals should provide a lot of fireworks for the 15,000 that are expected to be on hand (if the weather holds up).
Coach Rod Broadway has remarked how improved the Spartans are this year and they are with Scott now calling the shots and having a proven quarterback to depend on in Hankerson. However, the Aggies are a bit deeper up front on both sides of the ball, a more physical team on defense, a decided advantage on special teams, and an edge in team speed.
A&T didn’t panic one bit when pressed to the wall by Hampton’s big comeback in the third quarter and found the mental toughness necessary to make the big plays and control the fourth period when it really counted.
This week should be no different. It’s pretty much a rerun of last week except the Spartans aren’t quite as potent offensively or quite as fast as Hampton but are far better disciplined. They will present a much more conventional offensive scheme although they will throw the ball more often because of their anemic ground game.
Some of the nerves from last week just aren’t there this week. Don’t know what that means except that the Aggies, if they continue to avoid turnovers and stay efficient in their offense especially on the short field, should fare well on their final leg of the Tidewater tour.
PREDICTION:
N.C. A&T - 25
Norfolk State - 18
