[donkey687]

With all the comments about this team not being as good as last year and not BCS worthy, let's see how we look versus common opponents

Army- They ran all over us last year. We looked much better this year. Higher margin of victory this year.
USC- We dominated the game much more this year than last year. Similar result.
UW- We dominated the game much more this year than last year.  More comfortable margin of victory this year.

Thus, if you ask Army, USC and UW, we are much better this year.  Of course, those teams (especially UW) may not be as good this year and those were 3 of our worst performances last year, but let's not write-off our chances to become a BCS bowl type team yet.  Big game next week and could even be our second toughest game of the season.  If we win there, we will be in the top 10 with plenty of opportunities to move up. We will likely be favored in the rest of our games other than UCLA and Oregon but both of those teams are beatable as well.

[donkey687]

With all the comments about this team not being as good as last year and not BCS worthy, let's see how we look versus common opponents

Army- They ran all over us last year. We looked much better this year. Higher margin of victory this year.
USC- We dominated the game much more this year than last year. Similar result.
UW- We dominated the game much more this year than last year.  More comfortable margin of victory this year.

Thus, if you ask Army, USC and UW, we are much better this year.  Of course, those teams (especially UW) may not be as good this year and those were 3 of our worst performances last year, but let's not write-off our chances to become a BCS bowl type team yet.  Big game next week and could even be our second toughest game of the season.  If we win there, we will be in the top 10 with plenty of opportunities to move up. We will likely be favored in the rest of our games other than UCLA and Oregon but both of those teams are beatable as well.

[Rally]

Well, yes, in many ways.  Pre-season we fervently hoped for two things, return of the intermediate passing game and not much drop off on defense.  Gottem both.  If anything the defense is even better, so far, than last year, and the tight ends are back.  We hoped Ty would remain the outstanding player he has been.  Check.  We hoped our receivers would live up to their potential.  Check.  We hoped Hogan would improve.  Well, no check.  We hoped the play calling would become more diversified.  Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no.  We knew we wouldn't have a dominant power runner and hoped the speedy rb committee would work out.  Adjusting to that new reality is proving difficult.  We hoped a very raw oline would improve.  It is, but like most fans we would like to see it sooner than later.

All of the teams expected to dominate this season have struggled and have their issues.  In every conference.  A lot of teams are going to get a lot better over the next month, including, hopefully, ours.  But this season seems to have a very different vibe than last season.  I don't think we'll recognize a lot of teams a month from now.  I love college football, even if my cardiologist wants me to give it up.

[Rally]

Well, yes, in many ways.  Pre-season we fervently hoped for two things, return of the intermediate passing game and not much drop off on defense.  Gottem both.  If anything the defense is even better, so far, than last year, and the tight ends are back.  We hoped Ty would remain the outstanding player he has been.  Check.  We hoped our receivers would live up to their potential.  Check.  We hoped Hogan would improve.  Well, no check.  We hoped the play calling would become more diversified.  Well, sometimes yes, sometimes no.  We knew we wouldn't have a dominant power runner and hoped the speedy rb committee would work out.  Adjusting to that new reality is proving difficult.  We hoped a very raw oline would improve.  It is, but like most fans we would like to see it sooner than later.

All of the teams expected to dominate this season have struggled and have their issues.  In every conference.  A lot of teams are going to get a lot better over the next month, including, hopefully, ours.  But this season seems to have a very different vibe than last season.  I don't think we'll recognize a lot of teams a month from now.  I love college football, even if my cardiologist wants me to give it up.