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Post by bear38 on Sept 20, 2016 9:46:28 GMT -5
how in the hell did BL get a QB of Russ' caliber to help start a program with no schollys? John Russ is not tall enough, not fast enough, and doesn't have a big enough arm to play FCS Football. How is that not obvious to everyone? Same goes for Payton Usher. Sorry, with his size, he just cannot play FCS Football. Neither Avery White nor Kirby Southard are capable of playing FCS Football. They just don't have the length necessary to play OL in FCS Football today. Oops, almost forgot; Tunde Ayinla, Marvin Davis, Kelly Brooks - all too short to play DL in FCS Football. And Tyler Ward might be big enough, but he's just too slow to play LB in an FCS Program. NONE OF THEM ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING FCS FOOTBALL! Wait...what? They're all starters and/or long-time key contributors on a very good FCS Football Team and they're playing ahead of taller, bigger, faster, much more heavily recruited Players? Seems College Football Coaches of today just may be forgetting to include 2 CRITICAL 'Measure-ables' in their assessments. 1) Ability to play Football 2) Heart = Mental Toughness + Physical Toughness + How bad do they NEED to win + How bad do they HATE to lose. Mercer Football, in 2012 and 2013, was the beneficiary of their competitors' negligent 'group-think.' The 8 young men mentioned above (and there are more on Mercer's Team) grade out OFF THE CHARTS in both of these categories. And those 2 measurables, in the right quantity, even in the absence of other, more easily quantified measurables, ARE, quite simply, ENOUGH! Might be a few more....  . |
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Post by rgarvin14 on Sept 20, 2016 10:16:19 GMT -5
I think we are almost there. I agree that for the most part some of our players don't look the part. However, they are our players and we should support them unconditionally. I told Payton Usher's parents after the game Saturday, I wish he weighed 215 and was about 3" taller. If he had that additional size he would be an absolute beast. He is a tough runner and hits the hole without hesitation at full speed. We have other backs who tiptoe to the line picking their way.
Some of the people on this thread are as delusional as UGA fans who think that they should win the National Championship every year. The Southern Conference is the FCS version of the SEC. Any school would be hard pressed to win the championship year in and year out. Let's also remember that it is a heck of a lot easier to get a kid into UTC and keep them there than Mercer.
I personally think we are still 1-2 years away from competing year in and year out for the SC championship.
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Post by jackal on Sept 20, 2016 10:33:05 GMT -5
I think we are almost there. I agree that for the most part some of our players don't look the part. However, they are our players and we should support them unconditionally. I told Payton Usher's parents after the game Saturday, I wish he weighed 215 and was about 3" taller. If he had that additional size he would be an absolute beast. He is a tough runner and hits the hole without hesitation at full speed. We have other backs who tiptoe to the line picking their way. Some of the people on this thread are as delusional as UGA fans who think that they should win the National Championship every year. The Southern Conference is the FCS version of the SEC. Any school would be hard pressed to win the championship year in and year out. Let's also remember that it is a heck of a lot easier to get a kid into UTC and keep them there than Mercer. I personally think we are still 1-2 years away from competing year in and year out for the SC championship. Weight and height are relative. One of the most electric players I've ever seen in this conference was, what, 5'6 145? www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOfVreEXJM4 |
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 20, 2016 10:46:11 GMT -5
But doesn't every team in America have players that "don't look the part"? To me, that's a relative distinction. As far as the idea that players aren't improving. What is that based on? Wins? Just eyeballing a game?
Every position gets graded out every week. I'm personally not privy to those assessments. I also don't have access to an all-22 to watch. I also don't know the play calls which is what you need to actually grade someone out.
But as far as better for the eye test? John Russ is better. Robert Brown is better. Bret Niederreither is better. Tyler Ward is better. Marquise Irvin, Avery Ward, Tripp Patterson, Marchamn, Jackson.
I mean, I could go on. But do we think these players are getting worse? I'm just not understanding what this idea is based on.
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 20, 2016 10:47:13 GMT -5
I mean, it's hard to win a SoCon title. Period.
Jackal, how long has Furman been in the SoCon? Titles are hard to come by, no?
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Post by chez23 on Sept 20, 2016 11:07:19 GMT -5
A lot of good opinions. Yes the program is young and it gets a pass for that...but for how long? Also, I believe the bigger question is have the kids under this staff improved? I like to hear responses on that. The year is young. Citadel cracked the FCS top ten this week. GT doesn't count except for the $400,000 check we got. The Tennessee Tech game could have easily been a bigger margin as we were on their 10 yard line when we went into victory formation. And the TD gift from incompetent and/or high refs as well. Don't be such a Debby Downer. Not trying to be negative at all. I just wonder if the program is getting the best possible kids in here and if so are they being coached up? MU is a great FCS program to come to, facilities, fans and commitment to the program is there....is this staff recruiting? Georgia is a hot bed for high school football isn't it? |
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Post by FUBeAR on Sept 20, 2016 11:14:15 GMT -5
John Russ is not tall enough, not fast enough, and doesn't have a big enough arm to play FCS Football. How is that not obvious to everyone? Same goes for Payton Usher. Sorry, with his size, he just cannot play FCS Football. Neither Avery White nor Kirby Southard are capable of playing FCS Football. They just don't have the length necessary to play OL in FCS Football today. Oops, almost forgot; Tunde Ayinla, Marvin Davis, Kelly Brooks - all too short to play DL in FCS Football. And Tyler Ward might be big enough, but he's just too slow to play LB in an FCS Program. NONE OF THEM ARE CAPABLE OF PLAYING FCS FOOTBALL! Wait...what? They're all starters and/or long-time key contributors on a very good FCS Football Team and they're playing ahead of taller, bigger, faster, much more heavily recruited Players? Seems College Football Coaches of today just may be forgetting to include 2 CRITICAL 'Measure-ables' in their assessments. 1) Ability to play Football 2) Heart = Mental Toughness + Physical Toughness + How bad do they NEED to win + How bad do they HATE to lose. Mercer Football, in 2012 and 2013, was the beneficiary of their competitors' negligent 'group-think.' The 8 young men mentioned above (and there are more on Mercer's Team) grade out OFF THE CHARTS in both of these categories. And those 2 measurables, in the right quantity, even in the absence of other, more easily quantified measurables, ARE, quite simply, ENOUGH! Might be a few more.... . ...as stated...and now bolded & underlined. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Sept 20, 2016 11:21:08 GMT -5
I told Payton Usher's parents after the game Saturday, I wish he weighed 215 and was about 3" taller. If he had that additional size he would be an absolute beast. Maybe...maybe not. Maybe one of the reasons that he's the Player that he is BECAUSE of his size. Maybe it's an advantage to be able to 'hide' behind the OL and then burst into the tiniest of seams for positive yardage. Maybe he plays with such FIRE and determination is that he's always been 'too small' in the eyes of "Experts." I love him wearing Orange & Black just the height and weight that he is! BTW - He IS an ABSOLUTE BEAST as is - just ask the Players from El Cid, GT, and TTU that have tried to tackle him the past 3 weeks. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 20, 2016 11:38:41 GMT -5
Also, it's worth noting when it comes to recruiting, that Mercer is going to have a different academic standard that doesn't apply to some other places. I was an Admissions Officer at the University. They do not make exceptions for athletes, unless something has changed since I worked there. That's just the reality. There will be kids that can go to some other schools in our conference that would not be admitted to Mercer academically.
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Post by jackal on Sept 20, 2016 12:15:42 GMT -5
I mean, it's hard to win a SoCon title. Period. Jackal, how long has Furman been in the SoCon? Titles are hard to come by, no? Furman has won 13 SoCon titles and been in the league since 1936. |
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Post by jackal on Sept 20, 2016 12:28:06 GMT -5
The year is young. Citadel cracked the FCS top ten this week. GT doesn't count except for the $400,000 check we got. The Tennessee Tech game could have easily been a bigger margin as we were on their 10 yard line when we went into victory formation. And the TD gift from incompetent and/or high refs as well. Don't be such a Debby Downer. Not trying to be negative at all. I just wonder if the program is getting the best possible kids in here and if so are they being coached up? MU is a great FCS program to come to, facilities, fans and commitment to the program is there....is this staff recruiting? Georgia is a hot bed for high school football isn't it? I've said this to our fan base quite often, but it is a highly competitive market. More competitive than many realize. Compared to today, 10 or 15 years ago there were (literally) hundreds of scholarship spots that did not exist. In those days, there were only four D1 football schools in Georgia (UGA, GT, Ga. Southern, and Savannah State). Now there are, what, 7? Mercer has a lot going for it that would be attractive to a recruit. Mercer's offerings, though, are largely similar to what Furman, Samford, Wofford, etc. can offer as well. One of the intricacies of the "new" SoCon and challenges going forward for each program is that there are several other programs in this conference that can offer a recruit similar things. You want good facilities, nice campus, great city, and good academics? Well, there's more than one option. It is not easy for schools like Mercer/Furman/Samford to recruit and easily change direction with the program. They cannot take just anyone. It becomes even more difficult when other conference teams are looking at (literally) the same athletes you are. It is virtually a zero sum game. A guy signs with Furman and he likely takes one out of the basket for Mercer, and vice versa. |
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Post by BearDownMU on Sept 20, 2016 12:35:26 GMT -5
Not trying to be negative at all. I just wonder if the program is getting the best possible kids in here and if so are they being coached up? MU is a great FCS program to come to, facilities, fans and commitment to the program is there....is this staff recruiting? Georgia is a hot bed for high school football isn't it? I've said this to our fan base quite often, but it is a highly competitive market. More competitive than many realize. Compared to today, 10 or 15 years ago there were (literally) hundreds of scholarship spots that did not exist. In those days, there were only four D1 football schools in Georgia (UGA, GT, Ga. Southern, and Savannah State). Now there are, what, 7? Mercer has a lot going for it that would be attractive to a recruit. Mercer's offerings, though, are largely similar to what Furman, Samford, Wofford, etc. can offer as well. One of the intricacies of the "new" SoCon and challenges going forward for each program is that there are several other programs in this conference that can offer a recruit similar things. You want good facilities, nice campus, great city, and good academics? Well, there's more than one option. It is not easy for schools like Mercer/Furman/Samford to recruit and easily change direction with the program. They cannot take just anyone. It becomes even more difficult when other conference teams are looking at (literally) the same athletes you are. It is virtually a zero sum game. A guy signs with Furman and he likely takes one out of the basket for Mercer, and vice versa. That's correct. Seven D1 schools. Mercer, UGA, GT, GaSou, Savannah State, Kennesaw State, and Georgia State. |
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Post by FUBeAR on Sept 20, 2016 13:48:27 GMT -5
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Post by mercerfan on Sept 20, 2016 13:54:40 GMT -5
The year is young. Citadel cracked the FCS top ten this week. GT doesn't count except for the $400,000 check we got. The Tennessee Tech game could have easily been a bigger margin as we were on their 10 yard line when we went into victory formation. And the TD gift from incompetent and/or high refs as well. Don't be such a Debby Downer. Not trying to be negative at all. I just wonder if the program is getting the best possible kids in here and if so are they being coached up? MU is a great FCS program to come to, facilities, fans and commitment to the program is there....is this staff recruiting? Georgia is a hot bed for high school football isn't it? OK. Let's take Tennessee Tech as a case study. First, I'd say TTU is much better than 2015 with their transfers and new coach, I can't imagine any arguing this point. That being said, Mercer played much better against TTU this year versus last year. I would also argue ( and the stats will back me up) that Mercer improved or got better against Citadel from 2015 to 2016. So based on these two data points, yes Mercer is improving and getting better. |
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Post by bear38 on Sept 20, 2016 14:03:56 GMT -5
Might be a few more.... . ...as stated...and now bolded & underlined. Just tweaking you. You are the biggest fan of the Class of 2017! And I appreciate it. Also you had some good words for #38 last week, which were prescience of you. You and Ursus! |
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