Questions about the "Tribe" and Cats

[Waldo2]

1. How good is their offense? What type of offense do they run? What are their strengths and weaknesses on offense?
2. Will this game be televised anywhere? If so, is there the possibility of someone transmitting it via Justin TV or some other internet medium?
3. What is the origin of the name "The Tribe"?

Now for a few questions about Weber:
1. Is Eastman out for the year?
2. Is Smith back on track after his suspension?
3. Is Higgins throwing the ball well again?

In my opinion, this game will come down to Weber's ability move the ball and score on the Tribe, which will be a difficult task against the #1 defense in FCS. I think Weber's defense is solid (with the lone exception of the um game), but the offense has been hot or cold this year.

 

[Wildcat 100]

1. How good is their offense? What type of offense do they run? What are their strengths and weaknesses on offense?
2. Will this game be televised anywhere? If so, is there the possibility of someone transmitting it via Justin TV or some other internet medium?
3. What is the origin of the name "The Tribe"?

Now for a few questions about Weber:
1. Is Eastman out for the year?
2. Is Smith back on track after his suspension?
3. Is Higgins throwing the ball well again?

In my opinion, this game will come down to Weber's ability move the ball and score on the Tribe, which will be a difficult task against the #1 defense in FCS. I think Weber's defense is solid (with the lone exception of the um game), but the offense has been hot or cold this year.

Eastman is back; very motivated for this game I hear, since his season was hampered by 2 cheap shots from 2 different games. His frustration will be the fuel he needs to 'make a difference'. Higgins will be back in top form, receivers should run the right routes and get ready to catch the ball. Smith will earn every yard he gains in this game against a stout defense, but look for Bo to bounce if he gets the chance. We play to win, no tomorrows, just one play at a time!!!

 

[n.ogdencat]

Is the Tribe really the best defense in FCS? I've heard from some reliable sources that the Tribes defense is a lot like CSU's (4-3). Good solid D linemen, but somewhat soft secondary. Oh, their linebackers are pretty good and really quick. They don't compare with Wyoming or CSU for that matter. Also, MSU and UM both have extremely talented defensive corp. However, I'm not taking anything away from W & M they are an extremely accomplished unit and should be respected.

I think Weber's defense has been maligned by the fact that the Big Sky has some very good offensive teams. The Sky really knows how to move the ball. Can you say Reynolds, Herrick, Henderson, Nichols, and some of the less known but just as dangerous players Waggoner, Huebel, Hill, and Sacs resurgent offense. Not to mention Weber just went up against the most prolific rushing team in FCS. That fact, in and of itself, is why the Sky has some of the most overlooked defenses. MSU has made a pretty good name for themselves defensively, but still gave up numbers to a lot of teams, but their defense is, and I hope i'm not offending anyone here, one of the best in the FCS.

Also, out of the four losses. Weber was in three of them, should have won two on the last play of the game, and was TO afflicted in the other two. Against UM the score may have been 31-10, but two TOs were inside the redzone, inside the five if I believe, and one of the UM scores was a pick six. Weber hasn't really been out of any game. Against Wyoming, Weber should had recovered the last onside kick and had three TOs in the redzone. Just because Weber's record is 7-4 doesn't mean they are a weak or bad team. Granted, W & M has a very respectable resume: an FBS win and their two loses were against top 10 FCS competition. The game isn't going to be a cake walk, but if W & M think they are going to blow out the Cats they are definitely in for a serious surprise.

 

[native]

Is the Tribe really the best defense in FCS? I've heard from some reliable sources that the Tribes defense is a lot like CSU's (4-3). Good solid D linemen, but somewhat soft secondary. Oh, their linebackers are pretty good and really quick. They don't compare with Wyoming or CSU for that matter. Also, MSU and UM both have extremely talented defensive corp. However, I'm not taking anything away from W & M they are an extremely accomplished unit and should be respected.

I think Weber's defense has been maligned by the fact that the Big Sky has some very good offensive teams. The Sky really knows how to move the ball. Can you say Reynolds, Herrick, Henderson, Nichols, and some of the less known but just as dangerous players Waggoner, Huebel, Hill, and Sacs resurgent offense. Not to mention Weber just went up against the most prolific rushing team in FCS. That fact, in and of itself, is why the Sky has some of the most overlooked defenses. MSU has made a pretty good name for themselves defensively, but still gave up numbers to a lot of teams, but their defense is, and I hope i'm not offending anyone here, one of the best in the FCS.

Also, out of the four losses. Weber was in three of them, should have won two on the last play of the game, and was TO afflicted in the other two. Against UM the score may have been 31-10, but two TOs were inside the redzone, inside the five if I believe, and one of the UM scores was a pick six. Weber hasn't really been out of any game. Against Wyoming, Weber should had recovered the last onside kick and had three TOs in the redzone. Just because Weber's record is 7-4 doesn't mean they are a weak or bad team. Granted, W & M has a very respectable resume: an FBS win and their two loses were against top 10 FCS competition. The game isn't going to be a cake walk, but if W & M think they are going to blow out the Cats they are definitely in for a serious surprise.

Nice analysis, TH4S!

Yes, I think the Tribe is really the best defense in the FCS! Massey rates the Tribe defense #1 in the FCS. The W&M offense is ranked #21, for an overall power ranking of #4. Weber is ranked 13th in both offense and defense, for an overall power ranking of #11.

Even when compared in the pool of ALL 245 DI (FBS and FCS) teams, they rank #21, ahead of #64 Wyoming, #84 Montana, #89 Montana State, #91 Weber, and #110 Colorado State. Yikes!

One small piece of good news is that the Tribe have one of the lowest home field advantage ratings, worth only 1.76 points.

The key to victory, as always for Weber State, will be lack of turnovers and all the little things, like pass protection on offense and sacks on defense, that lead to a positive turnover differential.

http://www.masseyratings.com/rate.php?lg=cf

 

[harkes]

Concerning Question #3 about Higgins throwing the ball.

Cameron threw some of the ugliest picks I have ever seen. He absolutely killed us against Wyoming and Montana State.....not to mention what was a close game before his disastrous screen pass at Montana. To say nothing of his fumble in Colorado.

However, on Saturday Cameron looked like the Higgins of last year. If he throws like he did against Cal Poly We will have a chance on Saturday. I really think that we would all think a lot differently about this team if Cameron played better this season. For a long time I thought it must have been due to a new offense coordinator.

That being said, I think this team goes as Cameron goes. If he is on then we cam open up their defense down the field and allow Smith and Bolen to keep them off balance with the running game. But we must throw first.

 

[Tribe4SF]

1. How good is their offense? What type of offense do they run? What are their strengths and weaknesses on offense?
2. Will this game be televised anywhere? If so, is there the possibility of someone transmitting it via Justin TV or some other internet medium?
3. What is the origin of the name "The Tribe"?


In my opinion, this game will come down to Weber's ability move the ball and score on the Tribe, which will be a difficult task against the #1 defense in FCS. I think Weber's defense is solid (with the lone exception of the um game), but the offense has been hot or cold this year.

1. W&M runs a multiple pro-set offense that provides alot of different looks. Two-backs...one back...occassional power I...two-wide...three wide...one or two TEs...alot of motion from backs, receivers, and TEs. The strength is in the balance of run and pass, and the ability to control possession. There are three RBs involved, and their styles are as follows.

Jonathan Grimes- 5'10" 205- Smart, quick and strong runner who maximizes his carries.

Courtland Marriner- 5'8" 185- Explosive burst- Looks for space to the sides- exceptional speed.

Terrance Riggins- 6'1" 230- Powerful, straight ahead runner with good speed.

All three catch the ball well, and are involved in the passing game.


QB RJ Archer is very athletic, and has a strong arm. He is difficult to capture in the backfield, and makes plays with his legs. Smart, and most accurate in the short and mid ranges. He is drawing alot of NFL interest.


WR DJ McAulay has outstanding speed, and appears to be recovered from nagging shoulder injury. TE Rob Varno has been the most consistent receiver on the team. At 6'5" he runs very well, and makes alot of plays downfield.

2. Don't know of any TV coverage.

3. W&M was known as the Indians until 1982, when we changed our name to Tribe. The school was chartered in 1693 to provide higher education to the colonists, and to establish the first Indian School in the colonies. We have a long, and strong relationship with the Virginia Tribes including the Powhatan, Pamunkey, Mattaponi and Chickahominy tribes. The NCAA could not force us to drop the Tribe name because it is a generic term, but they did force us to remove the two feathers that used to adorn our W&M logo. While the school cannot display the feathers, you will see them everywhere on Saturday among fans. Our fan motto has become "Feathers Forever!". When asked her reaction to the NCAA furor over the Tribe nickname, Mattaponi Historian Minnehaha Custalow replied..."It's a Tribe. We tend to root for those".

 

[Waldo2]

Thanks for the info Tribe4sf. Here is to an injury free and great game on Saturday!

 

[wildkyle]

Yes it will be on the internet. Just go to Weber State official Sports webiste click the Gameday Central and you will see view game live on and click it

 

[talhadfoursteals]

I love the reference about the feathers. Hell yes you should keep those. Show them off with pride. It helps us remember all the great peoples of this nation. I love it!

 

[wordup]

Concerning Question #3 about Higgins throwing the ball.

Cameron threw some of the ugliest picks I have ever seen. He absolutely killed us against Wyoming and Montana State.....not to mention what was a close game before his disastrous screen pass at Montana. To say nothing of his fumble in Colorado.

However, on Saturday Cameron looked like the Higgins of last year. If he throws like he did against Cal Poly We will have a chance on Saturday. I really think that we would all think a lot differently about this team if Cameron played better this season. For a long time I thought it must have been due to a new offense coordinator.

That being said, I think this team goes as Cameron goes. If he is on then we cam open up their defense down the field and allow Smith and Bolen to keep them off balance with the running game. But we must throw first.

Whoa, whoa! You cant rest the blame on any one player's shoulders for losses. That Wyoming game was straight bad game for Higgins, yes, but the pick to the house against Montana? RB busted that play and went left when he shoulda went right. Remember the pick to the house against Ewash? the receiver went over the LB drop instead of under. Higgins throws the ball fully expecting that WR to be there and he's not, instead its the LB. Montana State? WR hooks up on the sideline instead of running the fade into the end zone because he miss reads the CB, that drive ends with a pick instead of a TD. A QB in this system has to have utter faith that his receivers are making the right reads. He cant wait to be sure if that WR is running the right route, he has to have faith that he is. If the QB doesn't throw the ball with faith than we lose, plain and simple. Half, HALF of Higgins' picks have come off of WR busts. But its all okay... you're going to have picks in an offense where receivers are running read routes. But lets spread the blame as well as the praise.

 

[n.ogdencat]

Plain and simple, without Higgins the Cats would not be where they are now. He's a huge reason behind the resent success.

 

[SWeberCat02]

I don't care who's fault it is. You're never going to win when you turn the ball over like Weber did in all of their losses this year. If Weber doesn't protect the ball Saturday, they're finished. Plain and simple.