So lets talk Richmond....

[UR Fan 2]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

These are long weeks between games and sometimes a little smack talk as long as it doesn't go to far makes it more fun and the week goes by faster. Over the last few years we have played many CAA teams (maybe that will be an advantage for us) in the playoffs and hear everytime how we have no chance. That might be the reason for some of the smack.

Your team has one of the best defenses in the country if not the best and yards and scores will be hard to come by. I feel we have a very good coaching staff that is able to come up with a good game plan to put points on the board. Very few teams have held our offense down the last couple years.

If we are able to shut down your run game which I believe we can than it will come down to you QB to beat us. I think he is very capable of doing that but by the sounds of your fans he has not played well in the playoffs. This sounds like what UNH fans said about their QB coming into the game last week and he played poorly again. If Ward has another bad game I like our chances. How good is your left tackle since he will be in for a tough battle with #44 James Ruffin just ask the LT from BYU as he blew by him to help UNI score.

In the end the game will come down to turnovers and I see UNI winning 23-15. Safe travels to all UR fans that come to the game and hope you enjoy your stay in Cedar Falls except for the outcome of the game.


Go Panthers

We both share beliefs in our team and you have knocked out 2 CAA teams thus far. If you win this week you will likely have to beat another as JMU is very good on their home field.

The CAA North and the CAA South are very different leagues this year. 3 of the top 7 teams in FCS came from the CAA South. William and Mary(the 4th ranked team in the CAA South) did not lose to anyone in the CAA North including UNH. In fact Maine getting in over William and Mary was the biggest joke of the post season.

I think UR and UNI are evenly matched and play similar styles. I was impressed with your starting QB in the win over UNH. The guy is built like a FB, runs like a HB and has a strong arm.

Our OL is solid like yours. Big and strong players. Our best lineman according to scouts was injured earlier in the season. But we have depth.

Our DEs are solid and fast. Sidbury is an NFL prospect.

Our LBs are the best part of our team. McBride flies, and Weldon is coming off the best game of his life.

Secondary is solid but not spectacular. Seth Williams is coming off a 3 INT game at App St.

We run to set up the pass. Your front 7 could give us problems I agree, but you have to watch Ward, he can both run and pass.

Our Kicking game is a bit suspect. Howard(PK) had a solid season but missed some big kicks against UVA and App St. We need him to have his head on straight if we are to beat you.

All in all it will be a war. Can't wait til Saturday.

[UNI Fight]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

There's no doubt in my mind this will be an all out war! Both teams are very similar. You have fast LB's, we have fast LB's. You have a solid line, we have a slightly bigger solid line. Our secondary is also solid, but not spectacular. You can create turnovers, we can too. Our kicking game has been a little suspect lately too.

I am concerned about Ward's running AND passing ability. How has he been under pressure? We have got to be careful that if we get pressure on him, we don't leave the field wide open for him to run!

Both teams are jacked for this one, I'm thinking UNI and Richmond will give ESPN a great game and great exposure for both teams! But the UNI-Dome is very hostile to visitors and is always good for 3 points or so. I'm just thankful we're in the DOME!

UR Fan 2 (or any other UR fans) Any idea how many Spider fans are coming to the dome?

[UR Fan 2]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Ward is cool under pressure. Nothing rattles him even if he is playing below his standards. Not sure how many folks will travel out to the game. I for one will be tuning into ESPN HD for the battle with a few of my closest Spider friends.

[UNI Fight]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Ward is cool under pressure. Nothing rattles him even if he is playing below his standards. Not sure how many folks will travel out to the game. I for one will be tuning into ESPN HD for the battle with a few of my closest Spider friends.

I would probably agree with that assessment, he's been sacked 24 times this season compared to 17 times last season and he's throw 4 fewer INT's this year compared to last (7 to 11), but ESPN.com didn't have stats on times rushed or flushed out of the pocket or anything.

More questions: Obviously we're both biased as fans, I know I am and you were quoted as saying that UR is obviously better than UNI after you watched the UNH game, but if you had to pick one weakness in Ward and one weakness both in your defense and offense what would they be? Just looking for straight up game talk, no smack will ensue (at least not from me).

For us I'd say offense we turned it over way too many times for my liking against UNH and we can't afford to do that to a team that capitalized on a lot of turnovers against Appy. Defense our secondary can be soft. For Grace I think he likes to tuck and run it himself far too much and now he's getting banged up because of it. We have playmakers at WR and RB so I'd love to see him hand it off a little more on those option keepers.

It's also interesting to see that in Richmond's last 3 games they've won by dominating only one half of the game. William and Mary they scored 20 of their 23 points in the 1st half (the last 3 came in OT, shutout in 2nd half regulation), Eastern Kentucky game they were tied 10-10 at half then scored 28 points in the 2nd half to win 38-10, Appy State game Appy was up 7-6 at the half and Rich. scored 27 2nd half points to win 33-13. Probably doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot, but I'm just so ready for this game I'm looking at anything and everything and this stuck out.

[UR Fan 2]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

UNI - I did watch the UNI/UNH game and thought we were the better team, but I am also biased.

You are perceptive on a weakness I see with UR. Some games (not Appy) we show up for 1 half. We can get by against lesser competition but will not work against UNI. UNI is too good and in your dome you will quickly run up a large lead if we fail to play the entire game mentally.

UNI's OL and QB worry me. Your QB is a freak of nature. He looks like a FB but is very fast. We may be a bit undersized trying to contain him.

Our special teams also concern me. Some days they are outstanding and in some cases like last week they fail to show up. At least our Kicker did. In a game between 2 top 6 teams special teams are key.

I also have boought into the CAA South this year as you can tell from my posts on the Richmond board. JMU, Villanova, William and Mary, and Richmond did not lose a single game to an FCS school this year outside of the CAA South. Preseason JMU was picked #1 in the nation and #2 in the CAA South (by coaches). So you can say I am on the CAA South bandwagon.

UNH was a good team but would have finished 5th in the CAA South(Behind William and Mary who beat them). I will admit the UNI/UNH game should not have been as close as it was as you were the better team.

I see UNI and UR as almost identical, but as a fan I have to believe.

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

I would probably agree with that assessment, he's been sacked 24 times this season compared to 17 times last season and he's throw 4 fewer INT's this year compared to last (7 to 11), but ESPN.com didn't have stats on times rushed or flushed out of the pocket or anything.

More questions: Obviously we're both biased as fans, I know I am and you were quoted as saying that UR is obviously better than UNI after you watched the UNH game, but if you had to pick one weakness in Ward and one weakness both in your defense and offense what would they be? Just looking for straight up game talk, no smack will ensue (at least not from me).

For us I'd say offense we turned it over way too many times for my liking against UNH and we can't afford to do that to a team that capitalized on a lot of turnovers against Appy. Defense our secondary can be soft. For Grace I think he likes to tuck and run it himself far too much and now he's getting banged up because of it. We have playmakers at WR and RB so I'd love to see him hand it off a little more on those option keepers.

It's also interesting to see that in Richmond's last 3 games they've won by dominating only one half of the game. William and Mary they scored 20 of their 23 points in the 1st half (the last 3 came in OT, shutout in 2nd half regulation), Eastern Kentucky game they were tied 10-10 at half then scored 28 points in the 2nd half to win 38-10, Appy State game Appy was up 7-6 at the half and Rich. scored 27 2nd half points to win 33-13. Probably doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot, but I'm just so ready for this game I'm looking at anything and everything and this stuck out.

Sounds like another team we know...cough SIU....cough

[JayJ79]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

All in all it will be a war. Can't wait til Saturday.

I'll be sure to bring my grenades!

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Just make sure they dont have water in them this time Jay....that was really weak last time.

[northwest iowa panther]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Sounds like everyone agrees that the two teams are evenly matched looking for the slightest bit of an advantage. Looks to me it will come down to game conditions. If I'm not mistaken, the game is being played in the DOME!

[UNIBear]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Special teams MUST bring their A game...kicking and coverage, punts and coverage
Create and take advantage of turnovers....
The D needs to bring the same hammer they brought last week...
GO Panthers!

[SteinPizza]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Sounds like everyone agrees that the two teams are evenly matched looking for the slightest bit of an advantage. Looks to me it will come down to game conditions. If I'm not mistaken, the game is being played in the DOME!

I disagree. It looks to me like a classic power offense vs. "midwest" defensive matchup. If you're looking for one factor to key...time of possession. One thing is certain, it should be a great game to watch.

[UNI Fight]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

Two UNI articles from the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Spiders headed indoors

Winter chill a treat to UNI

The first article says it will be the first time in Richmond's history that their football team will play an indoor game. Probably won't be a HUGE advantage, but I think the Spiders will be shocked the first time they're tackled and rug burned on the hard UNI-Dome turf!

[Chitown Panther]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

I heard Richmond was granted practice on Thurs and Friday.....very accomodating of us....

[UNI Fight]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

I heard Richmond was granted practice on Thurs and Friday.....very accomodating of us....

That's dumb! There's an open field the Waterloo high schools use, they can use those fields, but not the DOME!

[JayJ79]

Re: So lets talk Richmond....

I heard Richmond was granted practice on Thurs and Friday.....very accomodating of us....

That may have been dictated by the NCAA. At least, a Friday practice probably is. Perhaps the Thursday practice as well.

Practice Schedule
When requested, the host institution or sponsoring agency shall make practice facilities
available.
The committee representative, after consultation with the competing coaches, shall
establish practice locations and schedules. As a general rule, a limited workout may be
conducted on the field of competition the day before the game, unless it is determined by the
NCAA representative that such a workout could damage the field.

(and I don't think the workout is going to damage the field. unless they try to copy Maine and bring sledgehammers)