OK, So Now We Have to Beat Indy, Army , Mary + ?

[RutgersMO]

Nebraska!

So it is written...so it shall be.

Also ok to pull off a major upset of Wisky or U o M- but we've got to find a way (COACHES) who can actually
figure out a way to rotate / play more than 11 players on either side of the ball (e.g. Agudosi, James?, Rettig).

MO

 

[wcfan10]

RU played well last night, but I don't think RU will even get close to bowling this year...

 

[RutgersMO]

RU played well last night, but I don't think RU will even get close to bowling this year...

Well OK....if we have to beat the jv Scarlet / Grey (they stole our primary color....should be called the SCARLET Bowl) so be it.

MO

 

[Abro1975]

Nebraska is very beatable this year. Could be a classic game.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

Nebraska and Wisconsin gives us the best shot for a 6th win.

Extremely unlikely are we beating OSU and Michigan.

Btw, Indiana ia very good this year and. Ould beat us.

Maryland will not be any easier than last year.

Even Army has proven they can hang with top teams.

There are no more easy wins this season.

Every single game will be a battle.

6 games is still possible but not making a bowl game is even more possible.

 

[RutgersMO]

We have no margin of error....must beat:
1. Indy
2. Army
3. Mary and
4. Either Nebraska or Wisky (figuring since we play Huskers at home we have a better chance).

BTW if we DON'T go bowling are we officially on flash flood watch?

MO

 

[RU1977]

If they keep playing the way they did on Saturday everything is fine.....

 

[Saint Puppy]

Cant see us going bowling - hope I'm wrong.

 

[RUBand]

It will come down to coaching, preparedness, team focus and mettle. I'm hoping they rise to the occasion and make plays on the field.

 

[ImBadRU]

D backfield has to keep getting better each week.

 

[ScarletDave]

Getting to a bowl this year will be a great accomplishment given that many in the preseason had us at 3-4 wins, and after the arrests, most had us even worse. But I think we will make it. Indy Mary Army + 1 of (OSU, Mich, Wisky, Neb). I think we can get one of those. A bowl is key, with this young team and the recruiting class coming in, a QB with a year under his belt and Darius coming back on D with Turray another year of experience and build, I'm not usually one to say "we're a year away" but next year could be fun.

 

[MADHAT1]

Need 4 out of 7 to be bowl eligible, hard to do Yes, impossible No
So I'll say this to those that doubt RU can go bowling this year:

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

We beat OSU at home because we blitz and knock out Jones and Barrett.

 

[RUChoppin]

If we managed to go 6-6, then win a bowl game in convincing fashion.... I think some posters on this board might need to be kept away from high floors and sharp objects.

That said, I don't think that's out of reach. Need to win this weekend, first.

 

[gRUntWork]

We were very competitive in last night's game (something we did not do against any of the top teams last year!)
Also, the team played with passion (swarming to the ball, better tackling, an actual pass rush, etc.) that we have not seen all year. The whole team is psyched to have Caroo back, and it's helping the team gel and become better.

If they can continue to play with last night's intensity and limit the really big mistakes/injuries, we will go bowling.

 

[RUChoppin]

If the defense can keep improving week to week as they have been, the second half of this season could be better than expected.

The run defense was much better against MSU than it was against TTFP. We allowed just one big running play of 30 yards, and even then held them to 3.5 ypc - outside of that one big play, they averaged 2.8 ypc. On the ESPN feed, I count 35 rushes (one was the kneel at the end of the game, but not sure why 3 are missing from the box score) - of those, 17 were for 2 yards or less, and 11 went for no gain or a loss. The run defense is showing improvement, and hopefully it gets better as some of the new pieces get settled in (JPO, Joseph, Lewis).

The pass defense looks improved - smaller cushions, fewer wide open receivers, less YAC - even though the MSU receivers made some great catches to overcome decent/good coverage at times. Hopefully that also continues to improve week to week. Have to figure with younger guys, the improvement will be more noticeable - having 5 live games is a much bigger jump from 1 live game than 15 live games is from 11.

Maybe we can see a 2008-like season where it suddenly clicks mid-season and we go on a tear.