Post by Aggie One on Sept 14, 2007 19:29:51 GMT -5
The Week From of Hell
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
This has been a week of bad news stacked on top of a series of bad events from last weekend for North Carolina A&T. First off, although the Aggies dominated most of its game against the Prairie View Panthers on both sides of the ball in their west coast match up in the Los Angeles Coliseum last week, they still managed to squander away numerous scoring opportunities on route to a disappointing 22-7 loss that extends the Aggies winless streak to 18.
Secondly, A&T special teams play was anything but special missing two early and relatively simple chip shot field goals in the first half, having two blocked punts and returned for touchdowns all in the second quarter.
If not for a block in the back penalty, another Panther score off a punt return would have made A&T’s special teams totally hapless at best. In any event this unit was Prairie Views best offensive weapon of the day.
Next on the list of gloom were season ending injuries to starting quarterback Herb Miller and transfer running back Demerick Chancellor from which both were expecting to have exciting season. Miller re-injured his reconstructed knee on a scramble play and Chancellor dislocated a shoulder which required surgery and both are gone for the year.
Although losing Chancellor cuts into the depth chart and the talent pool, the Aggies still have leading rusher Mike Ferguson (122. yds avg. per game), David “Speedy” Robinson, Chaz Truesdale and an improved sophomore Dion McNair to man the tailback spot. That loss can and will be absorbed.
Its not quite so easily done at quarterback, as red shirt Shelton Morgan (6-1, 200) from Elizabeth City Northeastern High School got his first taste of college football and although he didn’t set the world on fire, he did show some potential to be able do some things throwing the football and directing the offense including an impressive 36 yard scoring toss to put up the Aggies only score of the day.
If that wasn’t bad enough, then Sunday turned into the pits when the Aggies were stranded at L.A.X. when mechanical problems and the FAA grounded them an extra day which meant missed classes, one less preparation day, an a shortened practice schedule at the worst possible time on the schedule. Why the worst time you ask? Because this week, its Hampton who comes to Aggie Stadium.
Yes its Hampton, the unquestioned dominant juggernaut of black college football, winner of four of the last five MEAC titles (the last three in a row), loaded with NFL prospects, and coached by Joe Taylor, the dean of coaches among Hocus (Historically Black colleges and Universities) and one of the best in all of 1-AA.
Last week was not a good week. This week will not be a good week. Breaking in a new quarterback with 2 and half quarters of game experience is tough enough but doing it against the Pirates, a defense that has a reputation of being somewhat nasty, isn’t really advisable but Coach Lee Fobbs must play the hand he’s been dealt and you can’t fold in this game.
Now that I have looked at the hand, can the dealer take five?
The news isn’t totally bad for A&T though. Defensive coordinator Demetrius Adams has the Aggie defense back on the road of respectability as that unit improved dramatically from week one, which was pretty decent in the opener, to week two where they actually gave the offense four excellent chances in the first quarter to jump out early.
They managed not only to contain PV’s running attack but actually stuff it for most of the day and generated some pressure out of the three man front and create some turnovers.
With much talked about linebacker Robert Russell getting back into playing shape last weekend, the Aggies should get better as the season goes on as long they remain away from the injury bug that has suddenly hit the offensive backfield.
In like manner, the offensive line picked up the pace considerably last week as Ferguson rushed for 188 yards but offensive line coach Ken Ray will need to have them kick it up another notch to take a lot of the pressure off of Morgan to do too much early until he transitions into the starter.
Another hit at the quarterback posistion would just about seal this season away before it even gets started good.
********************************************************************************************************
This is a Saturday night tape delay ESPNU game, which means another nationally televised audience on the A&T campus. Two years ago, the Pirates put on a clinic against a veteran A&T team by running and passing and finally pulling out sand lot plays in embarrassing A&T.
Conventional wisdom says that this game is a mismatch in every aspect– speed, size, depth, experience. The average fan won’t even look twice at this one and assume it is a beat down waiting to happen and just naming the margin of defeat is all that is left. I wouldn’t take that notion quite that easily. Even though this squad is 0-2, I don’t think this team will be intimidated like it was in 2005.
Despite the fact tht A&T is clearly out manned, they will probably give a good account of themselves and if the defense can keep them in the game going into the fourth quarter anything is possible.
Not likely but possible.
Prediction
Hampton 34
N.C. A&T 14
by Craig R. Turner
bluedeathvalley.com
This has been a week of bad news stacked on top of a series of bad events from last weekend for North Carolina A&T. First off, although the Aggies dominated most of its game against the Prairie View Panthers on both sides of the ball in their west coast match up in the Los Angeles Coliseum last week, they still managed to squander away numerous scoring opportunities on route to a disappointing 22-7 loss that extends the Aggies winless streak to 18.
Secondly, A&T special teams play was anything but special missing two early and relatively simple chip shot field goals in the first half, having two blocked punts and returned for touchdowns all in the second quarter.
If not for a block in the back penalty, another Panther score off a punt return would have made A&T’s special teams totally hapless at best. In any event this unit was Prairie Views best offensive weapon of the day.
Next on the list of gloom were season ending injuries to starting quarterback Herb Miller and transfer running back Demerick Chancellor from which both were expecting to have exciting season. Miller re-injured his reconstructed knee on a scramble play and Chancellor dislocated a shoulder which required surgery and both are gone for the year.
Although losing Chancellor cuts into the depth chart and the talent pool, the Aggies still have leading rusher Mike Ferguson (122. yds avg. per game), David “Speedy” Robinson, Chaz Truesdale and an improved sophomore Dion McNair to man the tailback spot. That loss can and will be absorbed.
Its not quite so easily done at quarterback, as red shirt Shelton Morgan (6-1, 200) from Elizabeth City Northeastern High School got his first taste of college football and although he didn’t set the world on fire, he did show some potential to be able do some things throwing the football and directing the offense including an impressive 36 yard scoring toss to put up the Aggies only score of the day.
If that wasn’t bad enough, then Sunday turned into the pits when the Aggies were stranded at L.A.X. when mechanical problems and the FAA grounded them an extra day which meant missed classes, one less preparation day, an a shortened practice schedule at the worst possible time on the schedule. Why the worst time you ask? Because this week, its Hampton who comes to Aggie Stadium.
Yes its Hampton, the unquestioned dominant juggernaut of black college football, winner of four of the last five MEAC titles (the last three in a row), loaded with NFL prospects, and coached by Joe Taylor, the dean of coaches among Hocus (Historically Black colleges and Universities) and one of the best in all of 1-AA.
Last week was not a good week. This week will not be a good week. Breaking in a new quarterback with 2 and half quarters of game experience is tough enough but doing it against the Pirates, a defense that has a reputation of being somewhat nasty, isn’t really advisable but Coach Lee Fobbs must play the hand he’s been dealt and you can’t fold in this game.
Now that I have looked at the hand, can the dealer take five?
The news isn’t totally bad for A&T though. Defensive coordinator Demetrius Adams has the Aggie defense back on the road of respectability as that unit improved dramatically from week one, which was pretty decent in the opener, to week two where they actually gave the offense four excellent chances in the first quarter to jump out early.
They managed not only to contain PV’s running attack but actually stuff it for most of the day and generated some pressure out of the three man front and create some turnovers.
With much talked about linebacker Robert Russell getting back into playing shape last weekend, the Aggies should get better as the season goes on as long they remain away from the injury bug that has suddenly hit the offensive backfield.
In like manner, the offensive line picked up the pace considerably last week as Ferguson rushed for 188 yards but offensive line coach Ken Ray will need to have them kick it up another notch to take a lot of the pressure off of Morgan to do too much early until he transitions into the starter.
Another hit at the quarterback posistion would just about seal this season away before it even gets started good.
********************************************************************************************************
This is a Saturday night tape delay ESPNU game, which means another nationally televised audience on the A&T campus. Two years ago, the Pirates put on a clinic against a veteran A&T team by running and passing and finally pulling out sand lot plays in embarrassing A&T.
Conventional wisdom says that this game is a mismatch in every aspect– speed, size, depth, experience. The average fan won’t even look twice at this one and assume it is a beat down waiting to happen and just naming the margin of defeat is all that is left. I wouldn’t take that notion quite that easily. Even though this squad is 0-2, I don’t think this team will be intimidated like it was in 2005.
Despite the fact tht A&T is clearly out manned, they will probably give a good account of themselves and if the defense can keep them in the game going into the fourth quarter anything is possible.
Not likely but possible.
Prediction
Hampton 34
N.C. A&T 14
