preseason YSU football ranking

[Double ET]

Comments by coach on the program during conference media day interview

https://youtu.be/CgaCgo6-rLg?feature=shared

[The YO Show]

Personally, I think the barometer for the year is the season opener at Villanova. If we win that game, I am going to be very optimistic. I personally am worried for that game, I think that game will be a tougher game than the Pitt game in terms of odds of winning. Before anyone hits me with their pitchfork, I am not saying that Pitt will be an easy game, but ironically the FBS game is, IMHO, NOT the toughest OOC game on our schedule. The Jackrabbits Illustrated crew gave us within a 1% difference in odds to win either game (with Pitt being just 1% less likely than the Nova game), both were in the 34-35% and change range.

I am excited by coach philips comments though, he is very enthusiastic and one thing that will be a strength this year should be offensive line, so that bodes well for breaking in a new QB.

[ucfpengbuck]

Coach sounded very positive.  Not sure if he has an alternative but it's year 5 for Phillips and there is no room for excuses as there was when he took over for Pelini.   I'm concerned about all the guys on defense that transferred and most when to a higher conference which leads to ask did the transfer portal make up for those defenders that left ?

[Wick250]

Coach sounded very positive.  Not sure if he has an alternative but it's year 5 for Phillips and there is no room for excuses as there was when he took over for Pelini.   I'm concerned about all the guys on defense that transferred and most when to a higher conference which leads to ask did the transfer portal make up for those defenders that left ?

We did pick up quite a few new defenders from the portal.  They came from P4, G5, and DII programs. I thought that our defense stunk last year, except for the home game against Southern Illinois and, ironically, the game in Columbus. Hard to see how the new guys could be much worse, and they might actually be considerably better.

I did not see the spring game, but some suggested that the hitting was good and that our defensive backs were actually guarding the receivers. What a refreshing change that would be.

[InTheYo]

Coach sounded very positive.  Not sure if he has an alternative but it's year 5 for Phillips and there is no room for excuses as there was when he took over for Pelini.   I'm concerned about all the guys on defense that transferred and most when to a higher conference which leads to ask did the transfer portal make up for those defenders that left ?

We did pick up quite a few new defenders from the portal.  They came from P4, G5, and DII programs. I thought that our defense stunk last year, except for the home game against Southern Illinois and, ironically, the game in Columbus. Hard to see how the new guys could be much worse, and they might actually be considerably better.

I did not see the spring game, but some suggested that the hitting was good and that our defensive backs were actually guarding the receivers. What a refreshing change that would be.

Agree with you here. With the mass defections (players and DC) from a defense that was statistically weak, I am eager to see what this revamped defense with a lot of new talent via the portal can bring. They did look better in the spring game, especially against the pass.

[The YO Show]

DP was incredibly optimistic in MVFC media day and in answering a question about grueling schedule with no bye week, he was saying he was confident we would be fine because our depth has gotten to where it needs to be, he was confident in all four running backs for example and talked about how depth was a point of emphasis for him when ever since he took over the program (slight paraphrasing). Coach does sound incredibly optimistic, most I have ever heard him be.

[dwj]

I remember last year how the coach said how good our defense was going into the season.  It turned out to be the worst we had since Wolford.  Coach just spewing coach talk. 

[YsuPride]

Villanova will be the telling point. We need to contain there offense or it's going to be a long year.  6-6 is my prediction

[YSUGO]

Let’s see 10 new starters on Defense
Lost you’d QB1 and WR 1

40 new faces on team.  Not a recipe for building a program

NIL and thd transfer rule has made it even harder to recruit here at YSU.  From what heard our LT could have left for $$$ but didn’t bolt yet. The economics are against us if we recruit and develop a lot will be poached now.  Expect more defections if we are decent.

QB is unproven and now with NiL etc unless we pay for a decent one nobody’s coming if none guys pan out.
But 10 new guys on D that’s atrocious and honestly if we get lit up it’s on Philips .  5 or 6 wins  if less than 4 the clocks ticking

[YsuPride]

I totally agree with YsuGo.   Defense will need to be better.  Brutal schedule and many difficult road games.  I said it last time 6-6 at the best.

[Jayguin]

Great meet the team event yesterday.  Still brutal schedule.  Encouged to meet some of the new recruits. More optimistic but time will tell.  It looks like a mostly new secondary with solid transfers.  We will see.