[NU Sports] Gleanings

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

I wanted to pass this on; reports from Cat watchers say that  PF did a nice 
interview on TV, and cited Thiry and Rees as important members of  our 
offensive line. There's been scuttlebutt to suggest that Thiry has some  sort of minor 
injury, and the news about Rees is refreshing. 
  You know, that since GB was here, we could always recruit  linebackers, 
offensive linemen and running backs, and had trouble recruiting  defensive backs, 
defensive linemen and receivers.   So what happens?  If you believe the 
annuals, we're short at linebackers, O-Line and running  backs(save Sutton) !
   My theory is that we're deeper than "the experts" think we are  on our 
offensive line.  Walk did a terrific job replenishing the pipe line  on the 
O-Line.  I agree with the contention that we may be short-handed at  line backer.  
Losing McGarigle and Roach the past 2 seasons is tough.   RB isn't too bad; 
Roberson is this year's Terrell Jordan; he should see plenty  of snaps backing 
up Sutton.
   Another "nugget" picked up was PF cited Brad Phillips as  pushing 
McPhearson for playing time.  A good problem, as we've got a little  depth for a 
change.
   Without giving a full-blown analysis ,  I believe we're  ready to "turn 
the tables" on a few people this year.  The first test will  be vs. Nevada; one 
of  2 teams we gave the game to last season .  This  is a good year to finally 
have a schedule that isn't one of the best in the  country; when's the last 
time that happened?  IF we stay reasonably  healthy, we'll go 8-4, maybe 
better.  I shouldn't say this, but I feel it's  warranted, if we stay reasonably 
healthy and finish with a losing record (5-7 or  worse) ,  there are serious 
problems  
   Think about it:
Northeastern :W  Nevada: toss up Duke:W  E.Mich: W  Big  Ten:  OSU and Mich. 
probable (but not certain) losses.  
   So then we have:  Minnesota? Please!  They will  suck; what a mistake 
letting Mason go. Fools.  A win.
Mich St.  down year for Sparty; as we all know we should have won last  year. 
A win
  Purdue. T iller has always been a pain in our ass.  OK, a  loss.
  Indiana: Pains of transition; a win for the Cats.   Illinois.  We play 
smarter; for a change this may pit both teams playing  for a bowl. A nice change 
of pace.  A toss up
   Iowa:  How I love it; we'll go 7-4 in our last 11 vs.  Bumble Bees; don't 
believe the annuals; they are average.
  So by my calculations,  we will win 7 games; 2 more are a  toss-up, and 3 I 
see as losses.  Gotta go.  GO  CATS!!             Eric
 



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