Defense vs Toledo

[CornCobPipes]

Hope our Defensive coach's are prepared this time to stop a powerful offense running the jet.
Gotta get a game plan for that and get those calls in.....no more Miami!

[AppFan11]

I really believe our D will play well tomorrow. Toledo's offense is similar to Troy's except they throw more. They throw about 34 times a game. We have to impede their game not shut it down. K. Hunt their rb is good. He is 6'0 -225 and can run low. He reminds me of a little bigger Kevin Richardson. We have to gang tackle him. Also their D is very beatable. They are giving up close to 400 yds per game (395). I think we'll be able to move the ball maybe not at will but close. To me the big stat that is in our favor, is turnonvers... they are minus 4 for the season we are plus 8... if that trend continues, we should win.

[Rick83]

If we can get some pressure on their QB so that he has to rush his throws then we'll create some turnovers. I'm not as worried about Hunt, I think we'll slow him down. Our defensive strategy is not to give up the big plays so expect Toledo to move the ball between the 20s and then hopefully we'll hold them to field goals in the red zone. Of course, our ball control offensive strategy hopefully will keep the ball in our possession long enough to keep the Toledo offense off the field and never able to get into a rhythm. I feel pretty good about our chances but Toledo will be tough.

[MtnDevil95]

I agree, not giving up big plays will be a key to the game. It would seem the best way to limit their down field passes (and they make a lot of them) will be getting pressure on their pocket passer. This is a game that can be won or lost in the trenches. If App's big dudes out muscle Toledo's big dudes on both sides of the ball, that would keep possession with the Mountaineers offense, and limit the Rocket's big play capabilities. Pressuring their QB should present some int opportunities for the LOB, I'd love to see a high flying Duck pick one for 6 points going the other way.

[CornCobPipes]

Hope we swarm and gang tackle like we have seen us at our best......not one of those mistake games.......hope the D is hungry.

Offense and Defense and STeams, the whole gambit......hope we finally have that complete game we have looked for and we all know we are capable of against a VERY strong opponent.

[BUTCH1991]

Bout time for the prolific passer, Bentlee Critcher, to complete one for a drive sustaining 1st down. He's overdue.

[CornCobPipes]

Yeah when I think of Bentlee...thinking of pack of cigarettes rolled up one sleeve.....dude is tough as nails........think maybe he and Johnny Law eat the same diet of nails and crap spikes.

[Rick83]

Yeah when I think of Bentlee...thinking of pack of cigarettes rolled up one sleeve.....dude is tough as nails........think maybe he and Johnny Law eat the same diet of nails and crap spikes.

I think Critcher was a linebacker in a past life.

[NoLongerLurking]

When I saw the relative "hype" for the game, my concern began. Play them hard, gentlemen. Go Apps!

[asu66]

I have concerns all over the field about this game. Many of the in-state media types and a lot of our fans have us beating the Rockets like a drum; almost like many of the same folks had us handing it to Miami. How'd that work for us? Hope all of our guys have had their feet on the ground all week.

[JohnnyBurrito]

It really doesn't matter what the fans think. The issue is when players listen to people telling them how great they are and don't prepare the way they should. I don't think that's the case.

[asu66]

It really doesn't matter what the fans think. The issue is when players listen to people telling them how great they are and don't prepare the way they should. I don't think that's the case.

We're pretty much saying the same thing. It's a matter of whether our players have blocked out the enormous amount of hype and focused on the game plan/prep or not. We'll know in 10 or 11 hours if they're prepared for a brawl with a team easily their equal.

[bigdaddyg]

Hopefully we will mix up the defensive looks and will bring pressure. We really shored up the coverage on the bubble screens and our red zone D is stellar. Ground and pound with a seem route or two to a tight end along with some SM highlights

[moonshine]

Profootballfocus has picked Tolefo to win 35-21. Says Woodside is completing 74.1% with 34 TD to 5 INT's when not facing pressure. App ranks 82nd in cumulative pass-rush grade.

Woody must get pressure on their QB and force him into mistakes.

[ashugh]

Yeah, that is exactly what has me worried. Woody hasn't brought consistent and creative pressure all year. Hope he has a plan to bring it tonight or it will be a long one for the Apps.

[Yosef84]

The match up of the Toledo Offense and our Defense is going to make this a very interesting game. I believe our D has improved considerably since we played Miami and Akron but we haven't faced an O as potent as Toledo however I don't think Toledo has face a D as athletic as ours. We won't stop them but we will slow them down. I believe our Offense has under-performed for much of the year due to youth (WRs) and injuries (Cox, Meadors, various OL) and is therefore underrated. The gap is bigger between the App O and the Toledo D than the gap between the Toledo O and our D.

This game could turn into a shoot out which usually means that mistakes will make the difference. Toledo has thrown plenty of interceptions and I think we get at least a couple today....hopefully early!

GO APPS! LET'S DO THIS THING!!!