Countdown to YSU Season Opener!

[Penguin Nation]

JMU's $$ game against SMU is in week four, which is better then week one.

If we played our 1-AAA teams in weeks one and two, we would have a 2-0 record and rising fan excitement.  If you lose to Pitt on week three, then you still can boast a winning record going into conference play.

My fear is that a loss to Pitt, after years of underachievement, will bring about a "same old, same old" attitude and an early dismissive feeling amongst the casual fans.

Pitt is not the toughest team on our schedule, but the most important game of the season IMO.

This YSU team is a more talented team with a wiser HC than the one that beat Pitt.  Last year, Akron beat Pitt.  It could happen....but if I had to set the spread, I'd say Pitt minus 10, Over/under 45.

[JP21]

Fair enough. I think we have better than the 22 percent chance (at least I think that was what it was) that massey ratings give us though, and I do believe it will be a close game. But I really hope they are prepared to face illinois state and NDSU this year...

We were prepared to face both teams last year. They both had better teams.  What we can't do this year is lose to teams like Indiana State at home.  Games we had no business losing to last year.

[ysufan0505]

JMU's $$ game against SMU is in week four, which is better then week one.

If we played our 1-AAA teams in weeks one and two, we would have a 2-0 record and rising fan excitement.  If you lose to Pitt on week three, then you still can boast a winning record going into conference play.

My fear is that a loss to Pitt, after years of underachievement, will bring about a "same old, same old" attitude and an early dismissive feeling amongst the casual fans.

Pitt is not the toughest team on our schedule, but the most important game of the season IMO.

This YSU team is a more talented team with a wiser HC than the one that beat Pitt.  Last year, Akron beat Pitt.  It could happen....but if I had to set the spread, I'd say Pitt minus 10, Over/under 45.

I would't say they are more talented now than the last time we played Pitt.... That offense was experienced and battle tested with Hess, Cook, Shaw, Berrassa, Stubbs, Bryan and an experienced O-Line. Dominated and kept Pitt off balanced all game long.

[Penguin Nation]

JMU's $$ game against SMU is in week four, which is better then week one.

If we played our 1-AAA teams in weeks one and two, we would have a 2-0 record and rising fan excitement.  If you lose to Pitt on week three, then you still can boast a winning record going into conference play.

My fear is that a loss to Pitt, after years of underachievement, will bring about a "same old, same old" attitude and an early dismissive feeling amongst the casual fans.

Pitt is not the toughest team on our schedule, but the most important game of the season IMO.

This YSU team is a more talented team with a wiser HC than the one that beat Pitt.  Last year, Akron beat Pitt.  It could happen....but if I had to set the spread, I'd say Pitt minus 10, Over/under 45.

I would't say they are more talented now than the last time we played Pitt.... That offense was experienced and battle tested with Hess, Cook, Shaw, Berrassa, Stubbs, Bryan and an experienced O-Line. Dominated and kept Pitt off balanced all game long.

IMO, Wells is more mobile and better then Hess, and Ruiz > Cook. Our defense I suspect will be better.  Hess and especially Stubbs had one of the best games of their collegiate careers.  Everything seemed to go our way that night.  I think the Pitt team will be much better then the one we faced before, tho.

[FOOTBALLFEVER]

Overall YSU has the more talented roster then Pitt, but not necessarily the dynamic playmaker's. Hands down Shane Montgomery is the best offensive coordinator at the FCS level. Look for him to have Wells pull it down and run more this season the kid can move. If Wells and Ruiz can come up big and the offense can take care of the football and the defense can find some creative ways to get off the field on 3rd down and force some turnovers along the way I like the penguins in this game 31-27

[Penguin Nation]

I was wondering if Pitt would be caught looking ahead to the Akron game the week after the YSU game, since Pitt's loss to Akron was fresher.  Interesting to note that Massey ranks YSU (100) much higher than Akron (129), gives Pitt a higher % chance of victory over Akron, and predicts a larger margin of victory over Akron.

Slim chance.  They'll be ready for us.

http://www.masseyratings.com/team.php?t=6236&s=279541

[Double ET]

Overall YSU has the more talented roster then Pitt, but not necessarily the dynamic playmaker's. Hands down Shane Montgomery is the best offensive coordinator at the FCS level. Look for him to have Wells pull it down and run more this season the kid can move. If Wells and Ruiz can come up big and the offense can take care of the football and the defense can find some creative ways to get off the field on 3rd down and force some turnovers along the way I like the penguins in this game 31-27

The trouble is that Pitts HC has prepared against Shane's offense when he was the DC at MSU. He has the experience/knowledge to do it again. The second half of the YSU/MSU game was not pretty. I hope the Pitt's defense is not as good as those at MSU. Hess could not throw a deep ball and I hope Shane might be able to come up with some deep throws with Wells to loosen up the D.

He also knows that YSU is probably better than the Zips. Therefore, IMO, he is not going to look ahead to Akron. Knowing the history, there is no way he wants to lose to YSU at home.

Go penguins!

[FOOTBALLFEVER]

That's a very good point Double Et. I'm fully aware of Narduzzi 's history at M.S.U. and the match-up problems the Guins had against his defense. .again 2 different types of defenses and he doesn't have near that talent at Pitt. Montgomery was limited to what he could do in those games..I think it will be different this time around.

[ScarletRook]

And don't forget Coach Sims is at Pitt also.

[The YO Show]

Not sure how relevant Coach Sims being there is. Our defensive schemes will be different under Pelini, so his knowledge of our defense will be... irrelevant? I suppose he could have other info... but back to the discussion on Pitts team. Everyone is saying Pitts defense will be improved if only technically due to the new schemes Narduzzi will be using.

Expect there to be breakdowns in coverage at times on both teams, considering both teams are learning new defensive schemes. But seriously, the overall Pitt talent level on the defensive side of the ball is rather low so I hear.
YSU should have better talent, especially at defensive end and our linebackers, than Pitt dare I say. In fact, linebacker is the big question mark for Pitt right now.

[The YO Show]

37 days

[ScarletRook]

Not sure how relevant Coach Sims being there is.

Simms knows our offense quite well.  I don't see much change there.

Anyone know the status of Ryan Moore?  Last I heard he will be out for this season also.

[The YO Show]

Fair enough then. I guess having that knowledge is a valid concern.

[IAA Fan]

Good mention on Sims, Scarlet. It will be interesting. I think Simms is more of an X's and O's & he was very active on the field during games. I am not sure he has as much responsibility at  Pitt & not sure he is much of a strategist. I will tell you one thing ...Shane Montgomery is a quality strategist. Now that he is here .. Carl Pelini is one he!! of a coach as well.

[The YO Show]

36 days