Anyone want to talk about FIU?

[FW]

Article about them opening camp

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/coll ... 07222.html

Link to their page with the Miami Herald

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/coll ... niversity/

[GreenieBacker]

they won't be a pushover, they're supposed to contend for their conference championship this year.

[Poseidon]

I thought we were waiting for game week.

[RI WAVE]

why not start a bit early ? Been waiting all summer for the season to begin - can't we fudge on the first week prep?

how does our projected d line stack up against their projected o line ?

[long green]

We’re going against some of our bad history here. The last time we beat a major college team in a season opener at home was 1997. Remember, that’s a season opener at home, not just a home opener.

FIU is plenty good enough to beat us but they don’t worry me. Tulane worries me. Play our best game and we’ll be fine. FIU last year did not have bad letdowns. Yeah, they got blown out by FAU but FAU is just as good as them.

FIU got two pieces of luck last year. First, Middle Tennessee’s good QB got hurt at the start of the second quarter in what turned into a close FIU win. Second, they drew two bad, punchless teams from CUSA West. The bottom of the West in that league was much worse than the bottom of the East. FAU, for example, drew two bowl teams from the West. I don’t think FIU was quite as good as their 2018 record.

I certainly don’t want to sound like I’m taking them lightly. They didn’t have any peak performances like our win over Memphis but they didn’t have any real clunkers as I said above. Soundness and experience and a veteran staff add up to a tough opener.

[Johnny Mac]

I was at the game in Miami 2 seasons ago... we came out listless and Banks couldn't do anything right. Their top WR used Parry Nickerson like a roll of Charmin the whole game. We couldn't stop the run once Eldrick Washington got hurt.. as a matter of fact, his injury ended the night for us. Defensively, we couldn't come up with the big stop after that. We had a hobbled Aruna playing inside and could mount ZERO pressure. Offensively, Banks kept making bad decisions at the worst possible times. We are LIGHT YEARS improved from that game.. in every facet. Depth, skill, QB play, offensive philosophy. Our D line will manhandle whomever they put up against us, both inside and out. I worry a bit about our secondary, however their QB should be uncomfortable the whole game and won't have time to pick anyone apart.

That being said, while I am not taking FIU lightly, if we don't shoot ourselves in the foot, there is potential to blow them off the field. And again, I am basing this on how much better we are from 2 years ago.. and I am considering FIU to be roughly the same as they were at that time.

[Poseidon]

Along the same lines of LG how we play will make the difference. You reference that Cincinnati game in '97. It took a little bit for the offense to get going in that one. I think this one may play out the same way or at least I hope it will. We need to execute on offense. That will determine the outcome. The good thing is if anyone has the ability to learn a new offense it's JM. We are in a better position at that position now than last year. So I feel good.

As far as FIU goes they seem solid, but aren't intimidating at any particular position group. They have a new DC this year so that side will be interesting for them as well.

As for last year, our records were the same second half of last season.

[Wave Revival]

I heavily criticized Coach Fritz on social media two years ago after our listless performance against FIU. I said that Butch Davis outcoached and schooled Fritz. Our passing attack was so inept and I said you can’t win against good competition if you can’t throw the ball. This year our quarterback is much better, our offensive coordinator should be much better. Our defensive front seven is better. My only concern is our secondary and Tulane having a letdown in the opener. I expect this team to be too
mature to stink up the season opener.

[waverider]

why not start a bit early ? Been waiting all summer for the season to begin - can't we fudge on the first week prep?

how does our projected d line stack up against their projected o line ?

I was going to wait until game week to look at them in depth with my Phil Steele magazine but maybe I’ll start pulling some comparisons together sooner.

[Poseidon]

why not start a bit early ? Been waiting all summer for the season to begin - can't we fudge on the first week prep?

how does our projected d line stack up against their projected o line ?

I was going to wait until game week to look at them in depth with my Phil Steele magazine but maybe I’ll start pulling some comparisons together sooner.

I think Phil Steele has regressed a bit in the last 5-10 years. I have still bought the mag more often that not because it generally has the most info, but his prognostications haven't been what they once were. Honestly I think all the sports mags are generally worse at predicting. I suspect that is largely because every year the coaches share less and less information.

[PeteRasche]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

[FW]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

Height, they do not have

Their leading returning WR, Alexander (30 catches) is 5-11
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Singleton, who caught 29 passes last year
They have a 5-9 returning WR, Gaiter IV, who caught 24 passes last year (his dad played for Miami in the 90s)
They have a 5-11 returning WR, Thornton, who caught 7 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Scott, who caught 9 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Philon, who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-3 returning WR, Gaskins, who caught 3 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Williams who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-1 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 5-11 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 6-2 transfer from Georgia, who caught 24 passes last year, but he was only at UGA for 2 years, so I don't think he's a grad transfer.

[PeteRasche]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

Height, they do not have

Their leading returning WR, Alexander (30 catches) is 5-11
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Singleton, who caught 29 passes last year
They have a 5-9 returning WR, Gaiter IV, who caught 24 passes last year (his dad played for Miami in the 90s)
They have a 5-11 returning WR, Thornton, who caught 7 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Scott, who caught 9 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Philon, who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-3 returning WR, Gaskins, who caught 3 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Williams who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-1 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 5-11 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 6-2 transfer from Georgia, who caught 24 passes last year, but he was only at UGA for 2 years, so I don't think he's a grad transfer.

Well, um, good... But they still might run away from us, burn us in botched coverage, or just outmuscle us. May we have finally turned a page on those days.

[Wandering Quaker]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

[FW]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

[FW]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

Height, they do not have

Their leading returning WR, Alexander (30 catches) is 5-11
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Singleton, who caught 29 passes last year
They have a 5-9 returning WR, Gaiter IV, who caught 24 passes last year (his dad played for Miami in the 90s)
They have a 5-11 returning WR, Thornton, who caught 7 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Scott, who caught 9 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Philon, who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-3 returning WR, Gaskins, who caught 3 passes last year
They have a 5-10 returning WR, Williams who didn't catch a pass last year
They have a 6-1 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 5-11 freshman
They have a 6-0 freshman
They have a 6-2 transfer from Georgia, who caught 24 passes last year, but he was only at UGA for 2 years, so I don't think he's a grad transfer.

Well, um, good... But they still might run away from us, burn us in botched coverage, or just outmuscle us. May we have finally turned a page on those days.

Of course. I'm sure they're fast. Most South Florida guys are. I was just pointing out that they're not tall (they're actually pretty small for WRs).

[RI WAVE]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

Pete, you have hit the nail on the head on my concerns. I think we did not have the push up front in the past, so more pressure on DBs. But they gambled way too often and lost on some critical long plays. My biggest fear is that we have not fully matured at that position. Hopefully added push up front gives DBs a chance to improve their game.

Anyone have any insight on defensive backfield improvements this year?

[Johnny Mac]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

had 2 fumbles lost as well if I am not mistaken

[wavedom]

My fear is the secondary (as others have said). FIU is the kind of team that will have super-athletic, fast, likely tall, WRs. It seems like when we play teams like that, we will dominate them 4 out of every 5 possessions, but in the fifth one they'll just chuck up a bomb and their receiver will burn us for a TD. And every time it seems like we are taking a lead, or catching up, they connect again, and we end up losing just from them out-athleticizing our CBs and safeties. It's the kind of game where Patrick Johnson will have 7 sacks and practically live in the backfield yet they'll score 35 points on 5 possessions which each included a long-bomb completion (either a TD or down to inside the 10 from which they'd score).

I hope things have changed but I've seen that waaaaaaay too many times with Tulane in this kind of game.

Pete, you have hit the nail on the head on my concerns. I think we did not have the push up front in the past, so more pressure on DBs. But they gambled way too often and lost on some critical long plays. My biggest fear is that we have not fully matured at that position. Hopefully added push up front gives DBs a chance to improve their game.

Anyone have any insight on defensive backfield improvements this year?

The problem we've had with this regime on defense has been that we sometimes just leave someone uncovered and the other team gets a long uncontested TD. Hoping the staff finally has it figured out.

[krewe of ham and eggs]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

had 2 fumbles lost as well if I am not mistaken

Wasn't one of them returned for a touchdown right before halftime?

[1401973]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

had 2 fumbles lost as well if I am not mistaken

Wasn't one of them returned for a touchdown right before halftime?

I think he threw for 36 yards, 1fumble, 1 int. Don’t remember if there was a return, but I think this was a good example of “hero ball”.

[krewe of ham and eggs]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

had 2 fumbles lost as well if I am not mistaken

Wasn't one of them returned for a touchdown right before halftime?

I think he threw for 36 yards, 1fumble, 1 int. Don’t remember if there was a return, but I think this was a good example of “hero ball”.

Just looked it up; 7-24 passing, one pick, two fumbles with one returned for a TD

[Yankeewave]

According to CFN they return alot on defense and are good against run but no pass rush. Their offense is just average.

Im pretty excited to see our D Line in action

[1401973]

[quote="<a href="tel:1401973">1401973</a>"]

Without their DJ, FIU is maybe just a shade better than UAB was last year. And I don't think this year's Wave would struggle against a team of that quality.

It might be the pain meds thinking for me, but I am not concerned.

We beat UAB with a different QB. Banks was 7-24 and ran for 13 yards.

had 2 fumbles lost as well if I am not mistaken

Wasn't one of them returned for a touchdown right before halftime?

I think he threw for 36 yards, 1fumble, 1 int. Don’t remember if there was a return, but I think this was a good example of “hero ball”.

Just looked it up; 7-24 passing, one pick, two fumbles with one returned for a TD[/quote]

QB rating of 9. Ugh.

[1401973]

According to CFN they return alot on defense and are good against run but no pass rush. Their offense is just average.

Im pretty excited to see our D Line in action

Me too. Should look very similar to last year: will physically match up with every o/line we face (yes I’m including the might Auburn Plainsmen), plus active, athletic, disruptive DEs/joker.