For the Marshall Thundering Herd, expect a lot of 56-49 games this fall. At least if this college football season goes the way that last year did. And it’s a distinct possibility given the roster and staff in place. Marshall Coach Doc Holliday will have a chance to live up to the football version of his Wild West namesake- lots of shoot outs!
Fire away! Maybe Wyatt Earp can be his offensive coordinator? And Virgil Earp can be his defensive coordinator? We Are….MARSHALL!
Marshall last season: the picture of mediocrity, 5-7, 4-4 in a very very weak conference. They were almost dead last in college football in scoring defense. The Thundering Herd could be the best team in a very bad and picked over Conference USA this season. Yet that only makes them #68 in the college football 77 in 77. QB Rakeem Cato was the league’s best player last year. He very well could be again.
Marshall reasons to get EXCITED! ALL CAPS! Only look on one side of the ball!!! The #1 passing offense in the nation! They will be fun to watch. O course Marshall also gave up almost exactly 50 ppg on the road last year. That’s good!…if you’re a Bo Ryan coached college basketball team. The Herd somehow won two of those road games: 54-51 at Rice and 38-31 at UAB. Expect more Doc Holliday shoot-outs at the OK Corral. 7 starters return on offense, which is great. Seven starters also return on defense, although who would want them to?
Marshall reasons to get worried :( Other than the forward pass what exactly does this team do well? Did you watch last season? The offense needs to learn how to run the ball and manage clock to keep that horrific run defense off the field. The Blue Devils surrendered 280 yards a game rushing in their last 5. You can’t beat an FCS team with numbers like that. Duke breaks in a new QB And the kick off return game was really terrible last year.
Key games: sept 21st vs. Virgina Tech, that’s it. Nothing else is exciting or relevant. Maybe East Carolina
Marshall bottom line: With their pillow top mattress like soft schedule, 6-6 is your worst case. A bowl bid certainly will happen. No matter how it goes, they’ll still be a pretty mediocre team. Even if they finish 8-4 or 9-3, which is quite likely.
Key & Peele East/West College Bowl Roster: DB Chocolate Wilson, WR Lauderdale Lakes, DB Shykeem Pitts, TE Gator Hoskins, CB Monterrius Lovett, DE Ra’Shawde Myers, DL Armonze Daniel, WR Jazz King, RB Essray Taliafero, DL Jarquez Samuel. This is one area where they really stand out!
I’ve only done nine teams thus far in 2013, but Marshall is tied with Kentucky for the best group.
The Wildcats boast: Za’Darius Smith, Mister Cobble, Farrington Huquenin, Langston Newton and Donte Rumph. And there’s S Cantrell McKinley, RB Dyshawn Mobley, S Dakotah Tyler, LB Pancho Thomas, LS Matthew Adolph, OG Shaquille Love, OG Teven Eatmon-Neard
For the 2013 College Football rankings 1-77
#76 Kansas Jayhawks
#71 Kentucky Wildcats
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. (“Quasi-endorsed” by Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly) He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
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