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Week 1 - UTAH STATE

A

AlumniWSU

Active member
A little early, but anxious to get started. First game up, it's the Utah State Aggies hosting the Weber State Wildcats, Thursday, Sep 1. This FBS/FCS paycheck match-up is much more than that...an instate game of interest to fans on both sides.

Aggies will be showcasing their new 'Maverik' press box/sky suites, new video boards, & will want an impressive 1st game showing (& tune-up for USC in the next game). They're no doubt determined after last yr nearly being upset by the SUU T-Birds (12-9 USU win).

The last USU/WSU meeting was..., well, let's just forget about that 70-6 nightmare, different time, different circumstances under Coach Sears.

Any Weber State fan dare predict an upset by the Wildcats? Anyone saying the Wildcat's strong D will overcome the deeper, stronger FBS Aggies? Utah St. seems headed for a somewhat rebuilding season on defense, but has versatile QB Kent Myers returning, along with at least 6 starters on what appears to be a strong offense.

Wildcats have high hopes to continue improving with a BCS best defensive unit. The offense, especially at QB, will need to execute with a consistency to score points (not get bogged down in the red zone repeatedly like last yr). Will QB Jadrian Clark & backups show up strong, with a solid OL, etc. & a new OC calling the plays? Question marks are there??

Likely, many Wildcat fans would be pleased with a good, competitive showing from Coach Jay Hill's solid rebuilding of the Wildcat football program. USU Coach Wells figures Weber St. will be a "tough" team this year. An upset (which would be win # 2 for the Wildcats in this long time series) is a definite possibility. But so is a dominated loss if the Wildcat offense sputters, with the Aggie offense wearing down the Wildcat defense eventually in the game.

No doubt, Coach Hill is aiming for an upset...he's said the chance is why the FCS teams play these games (along with earning some $$ for the budget). Hear's hoping!!

My WAG is Aggies 38-20 (I'm usually wrong) :thumb:
 
If we didn't have QB issues, I'd like our chances against USU. But since we all know that Clark is an OK QB on his best days I'm going Aggies 28-10 though I would love a WSU upset.
 
USU has a lot of question marks. Regardless of these, USU's OL is going to be really good this year. Offensively the Aggies will be able to put up some numbers. Myers is a excellent QB and he has some talented targets to throw to. Thank goodness Weber is strong, deep, and talented on defense and will be able to check the Aggies abilities.

Thankfully, USU's defense is suspect. Defense has been an Aggie forte the past few seasons. The last time we meet it was a buzz saw that gave teams nightmares. Now? There are a lot of question marks for the Aggies. Getting them game 1 is going to give the Cats a chance to take advantage of their youth and inexperience. Their defense might be a year away from being back on par with what Aggie fans have grown accustomed too.

As a Wildcat, one would think with a returning QB who has started as many games as Jadrian has, that we'd be confident. Well, this Wildcat isn't. We return a lot of starters on offense, a great OL, awesome TEs and RBs and yet, we are worried about our offensive production because our QB isn't that great. I keep hoping that we will all be shocked and that Jadrian pulls out one hell of a year. He can run, has decent arm strength, and for the most part makes decent in play decisions. He just isn't, well, good. He constantly throws either behind, above, at the feet of his target. Stares down his target and just makes bone-headed plays sometimes.
 
Fans interested FYI: Tailgate party & game tickets @ Sep 1 USU game:

4pm Tailgate buffet, north parking lot of Maverik Stadium
6pm Kickoff

$30 per person / RSVP by Fri. Aug 26 / alumni.weber.edu/usu

Questions? contact Bev Rudd at 801-626-6468 or [email protected]

(If want discounted game tickets only: UtahStateAggies.com/tickets. Click on Buy Tickets, Football, Single Game ticket and enter the promo code: WEBERFB16

Show your purple pride & yell loud for the Wildcats in hostile (& sometimes rude territory :lol: ).

UPSET happening?!
 
Thanks for the Bev Rudd Contact for the tailgate party.

I hear you on the Wildcat DEFENSE, it will be stellar against USU, no concerns about them keeping the cats in the game. Talent in the secondary and stout Linebacking core. Hoping we see a lot more stunts and blitzs by this quick group of backers....

I hear you about Clark our QB, and agree, just keep praying that he does not get hurt, we have no number two. One big question that no one is talking about is will there be any changes at the receiver positions this year for the Wildcats. This is a team that is returning a group of receivers and tight ends that dropped 44 balls last season. Also it was a team of receivers that had a very low level of YACS, in fact zero. When they did finally catch the ball they would go right to the ground. No moves no jukes no nothing! Cam the wildcat leading receiver that started 11 games last season had a whopping 20 catches and did nothing with the ball once he caught it, no moves no broken tackles just go to the ground. This is the Big Sky Conference. If you start 11 games as the leading WR and end up with 20 catches your a joke. Of course Cam has been injured for the past two years and cannot practice so why would we expect anything else. I guess he is saving himself for the league, Ha! Looking at practice on Friday, looked like the same old group of receivers playing like they did last year. Some catches, some drops and some half hearted down field blocking by the receiveing corps. New Receiver coach Bills better step it up big time...and stop the baby sitting this light weight group of receivers.
 
Saw practice on Friday, Coaches need to call up Billy Green and beg him to come back asap and no I am not a relative of Mr. Green, Just know that Clark is suspect and after Clark the next level of QB's is like dropping off a cliff.
 
ncaafootball said:
One big question that no one is talking about is will there be any changes at the receiver positions this year for the Wildcats. This is a team that is returning a group of receivers and tight ends that dropped 44 balls last season. Also it was a team of receivers that had a very low level of YACS, in fact zero. When they did finally catch the ball they would go right to the ground. No moves no jukes no nothing! Cam the wildcat leading receiver that started 11 games last season had a whopping 20 catches and did nothing with the ball once he caught it, no moves no broken tackles just go to the ground. This is the Big Sky Conference. If you start 11 games as the leading WR and end up with 20 catches your a joke.
Click to expand...

Where do you get these stats? I show Cameron with 39 catches last year. No stats I have found yet that show YAC or dropped balls.

While I certainly have not been impressed by our receiver corps, I also am not sure the passing attack has put them in a position to be successful. Clark has to be sharper if you want to see more YAC. YAC often results from a QB hitting a receiver in stride.
 
I distinctly remember passes being caught and the receiver running for a TD. I believe that those are completely made up stats. Yes there were dropped balls. An average of 4 per game, I don't think so. Should our receivers drop less balls, yes that would be great. Should balls be thrown more accurately, yes that would be great. Can we expect an improvement in the throw game? I think it is a realistic expectation. It was not good at all last year. For us to be an improved team, does the pass game have to improve? No, it could stay the same and other aspects of our game improve, that would make us better as well. Do we have a long ways to go to get to the FCS play offs? Not really. Last year we were a few points, here and there, away from making it. Same goes for a BSC championship.

We all need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and appreciate where we are, and where we are going. :twocents:
 
For the record since you want the exact stats: Cam did start and play in all 11 games last year on every offensive series. He was the X receiver in the offense and was definetly to go to receiver for the wildcats and no one would argue with that. The fact is he only had 2 TD's last year and only average 13.2 yards per catch as the X receiver. The wildcats had TE's 240 pounds that averaged more yards per catch. 1 of his TD's and his only long catch of the season for 68 yards was a result of a totally blown coverage against the bisons up in North Dakota and he was able to run untouched all the way into the end zone. So yes when your X receiver plays every game and can only get you 2 tugs the whole season there is a few questions that has to be answered in regards to YAC's. There were also other receivers that played the whole season and had 1 or less TD's as well. Yes lots of catch's as well as lots of drops. Let's face it at the college and pro level its not if you can catch as a receiver, that is a given. It's about what can you do with the ball after you catch. The receiving area is a major opportunity to improve at in the upcoming season but it looks like the same cast of characters.
 
I don't think it is really fair to attack Cam. Last year he was virtually injured the entire season, yet, still showed up for practice and games each week. That says a lot about who he is and what he stands for. He isn't going to let anyone down. Do I hope he has a better season this year? Of course. Can he? YES. Will he, well, we will see. He is a major factor in determining whether or not the Cats can break back into the playoffs and vie for a conference championship.
 
While I'm not too optimistic about our QB and WR positions this year, I am willing to wait and judge them until the season starts. Off seasons can do wonders for players. Maybe, just maybe Weber State's QB's and WR's can surprise us all.
 
ncaafootball said:
For the record since you want the exact stats: Cam did start and play in all 11 games last year on every offensive series. He was the X receiver in the offense and was definetly to go to receiver for the wildcats and no one would argue with that. The fact is he only had 2 TD's last year and only average 13.2 yards per catch as the X receiver. The wildcats had TE's 240 pounds that averaged more yards per catch. 1 of his TD's and his only long catch of the season for 68 yards was a result of a totally blown coverage against the bisons up in North Dakota and he was able to run untouched all the way into the end zone. So yes when your X receiver plays every game and can only get you 2 tugs the whole season there is a few questions that has to be answered in regards to YAC's. There were also other receivers that played the whole season and had 1 or less TD's as well. Yes lots of catch's as well as lots of drops. Let's face it at the college and pro level its not if you can catch as a receiver, that is a given. It's about what can you do with the ball after you catch. The receiving area is a major opportunity to improve at in the upcoming season but it looks like the same cast of characters.
Click to expand...

So no dropped ball stats and no YAC stats?

How about we just wait and see how this season plays out? Either we will have a passing attack and be a more well rounded team with playoff aspirations or we won't.
 
UTAH STATE GAME- USU looks to have 7 starters back on offense this year. Their quarterback is outstanding and a multi threat with the USU offensive scheme. They are going to score 30 points plus a game no matter who they play in the MW. So if they are playing the Wildcats they are going to 30 plus points. Which if the Wildcat defense held them to 30 points I would call that a victory. The real question is how many points can the Wildcat offense score to keep up with the aggies. Last year the wildcats had a shot at Oregon State because the defense not only held OSU but also scored as a defense and yet our Offense couldn't score a TD of their own. No, this year will not be a repeat of the 70-6 year or anything close to that embarrasing game. Cats are to tough on defense, but the cats offense is going to have to control the clock a bit and not go 3 and out and keep our defense off the field so they don't wear down like they finally did against OSU in the second half. Good news is USU has a very young defense with 4 returners so hopefully the Cats can put the ball over the goal line and not settle for just putting it through the goal post.
 
As I said, it will be a good test of a questionable Wildcat offense...good to hear Coach Hill state that he was pleased with Jadrian Clark's play overall in the first scrimmage a week ago...Jadrian stated that he owed it partially to new OC Fesi Sitake's simplifying/straightening out some things he's doing, as well as giving credit to other players on offense.

It doesn't take too long for a deeper, good FBS offense like Utah State has to wear down a good FCS defense like Weber State has... if the Wildcat defense is on the field many more minutes than it's offense. As you point out, it will be a key to the game for the Wildcat offense to rack up some points on the board & move the ball, keeping possession.

This fan is hoping the end result is within 3 TDs in an expected Aggie victory but would think Aggies will score 30+ in any FCS game. WSU's defense is certainly capable of holding them down to that or less...that would be considered a victory, agreed. I'm wanting a actual upset win ! GO CATS!!
 
I like this game because it is a money game in our backyard and it is a quality instate opponent.

What I don't like about it is that nobody, outside of a 300 mile radius, knows who USU is or what they have been about for the past few years. A loss could hurt us more than a loss would hurt them. A big loss to them will drop us out of the FCS top 25. If we were to beat them it would be a pat on the back and that is about it. If we were to beat them, it would be but a speed bump on their road to a bowl game.

I hope we are getting good money for this game. :coffee:
 
Been trolling a bit on Aggie forum...not many posts about a FCS matchup game, as expected. Fan comment was made, ...guess is Weber hangs around for a quarter or so...would be happy with a 3 TD margin win..."it would be nice to score 40-50 again like we used to against Weber State".

It was noted that most Aggie players (who were in that SUU first game last year) are not overlooking Wildcats & think they'll need to play well to beat the Wildcats.

Excited to see the college football scene is about to get going on a new season. Hope for Weber State (coaches & team with all of their various challenges on & off the field) that it's a really good season ahead. Important in the USU game especially, is that no season-ending injuries occur. May good fortune shine on the Weber State Wildcats! :coffee:
 
Like always I would like nothing more than a Wildcat victory up in Logan next week, but I will be happy with a respectable loss. The likely hood that we will win in Logan is as usual really slim. Not impossible but slim.

I want Weber to go in and punch USU in the mouth, show them we came to play and leave with their respect.

Our season starts on Sept 10th when we take on South Dakota.

35-21 Utah State
 
SWeberCat02 said:
USU fan predictions:

http://www.usufans.com/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=41437&sid=523f7af4f26627e806adfb1979802523
Click to expand...

Most are fairly reasonable. Our game against them three years ago doesn't help. But, a lot has changed since these two teams last locked horns. Weber is definitely on the rise and USU, well, isn't. Not to say that the Aggies aren't going to have a good year, or that they don't have a good team. I think they will have a good year and that they have a good team, but the talent level isn't where it was the last time these two teams hooked up. Weber has caught up with USU somewhat. Enough to win? I don't quite think so, but enough to be competitive.

My concern is still the QB spot. Weber cannot be one-dimensional against USU. Against other Big Sky Schools and FCS competition Weber can play smash-mouth football and get W's. USU is a different animal. Weber has to prove it can pass the ball consistently and for yardage. We have to be a two-dimensional offense, to have a chance at an upset. USU doesn't have the talent or depth it had under Anderson, but they are still a good team and program. Matt Wells isn't a slouch and will have his team ready to go. This is an important game for recruiting, instate bragging rights, and most importantly not to start the season off with a close win (see last year), or possibly a loss (Wyoming). That definitely sets the tone for the season, and losing to Weber would not be a good indicator for the Aggies.

Now for the Cats. Weber has to earn some respect. Hit them in the mouth and not back down. The last time we played USU, it was absolutely embarrassing. Weber has to go into Logan and prove they are back and dangerous. A Win would be absolutely amazing.
 
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