So is Richmond the real deal this year?

[ASUG8]

Just a question. They're beating a lot of good teams, but usually not handily. Can they win the NC by winning by 7 or less the balance of the season, or is someone going to knock them off?

[93henfan]

I don't think there's a standout team in FCS this year. Richmond may very well still be the best of the bunch, but they're certainly beatable.

[spdram]

Not a dominate team but doing what is needed to stay in the left column. Injuries may cause problems as punter/kickoff spcialist is out for 4 to 6 weeks. Also a number of other players geting some bangs and nicks. The senior leadership keeps this team going in the right direction. We'll need some luck to win back to back, but we're enjoying this run.

[paward]

This is not CAA hype, but anyone can be beat on any given Sat. The meat of the schedule is upon each team. If you come out with one or two in the L column then you have done good. I would love to go undefeated but my gut tells me it will not happen. Our ultimate objective is to make the playoffs. After that anything can and will happen for one team, at least.

[Reign of Terrier]

Richmond may not be the best in the CAA but I think they are better than any team in the SoCon
:(

[Eight Legger]

We are a solid team that does what is needed when it is needed. We are not going to blow many good teams out (though I think 47-0 over Hofstra deserves some recognition from everyone who seems to think we aren't winning by "enough," whatever that means...not to mention beating Maine by 17 on the road today).

I certainly don't expect us to go undefeated, but I really don't care about that, either. The objective is to make the playoffs, and we are two wins away from that goal. This team in the playoffs will be dangerous to whoever we face, because we have experience, confidence and talent.

There are several teams capable of winning it all this year, but none is head and shoulders above the rest. UNH beat Villanova then lost to UMass. UNI lost at home today. Montana has almost lost twice to lesser teams.

[ASUG8]

We are a solid team that does what is needed when it is needed. We are not going to blow many good teams out (though I think 47-0 over Hofstra deserves some recognition from everyone who seems to think we aren't winning by "enough," whatever that means...not to mention beating Maine by 17 on the road today).

I certainly don't expect us to go undefeated, but I really don't care about that, either. The objective is to make the playoffs, and we are two wins away from that goal. This team in the playoffs will be dangerous to whoever we face, because we have experience, confidence and talent.

There are several teams capable of winning it all this year, but none is head and shoulders above the rest. UNH beat Villanova then lost to UMass. UNI lost at home today. Montana has almost lost twice to lesser teams.

Very objective - thanks.
BTW - YT's post above is just sour grapes. xeekx xlolx

[Reign of Terrier]

Very objective - thanks.
BTW - YT's post above is just sour grapes. xeekx xlolx

yeah basicallyxnonono2x

[soccerguy315]

I agree with those that said there's no team that jumps out as the #1. Richmond has looked very beatable (v. UD and JMU), UNI lost today, UNH lost, Nova lost, Montana has looked beatable... no one screams "we are the best team" to me yet.

as for how the CAA shakes out, well:

Richmond... followed by:
Nova beat W&M
W&M beat Delaware
Delaware beat UMass
UMass beat UNH
UNH beat Nova (return to top)

... still a lot of football to play. I don't think Richmond will go undefeated. These close calls will probably catch up to them eventually. Not that losing 1 or 2 in the regular season will make them any less dangerous in the playoffs.

[asknoquarter21]

Could it be possible that the selection committee selects the NC this year??

Seems that a good set of matchups might be better than than any one team this year.

[DTSpider]

In the words of Mickey Matthews "you can never win by enough, and you can never win enough"

I do hate when people look at the margin of victory. If UR played it's starters the entire game - they maybe could have won by more...but last I checked all that matters is the W. Margin of victory is overrated.

[ASUG8]

In the words of Mickey Matthews "you can never win by enough, and you can never win enough"

I do hate when people look at the margin of victory. If UR played it's starters the entire game - they maybe could have won by more...but last I checked all that matters is the W. Margin of victory is overrated.

Understood - but you've had some < 7 point wins, obviously with the starters in. Is this the full power of the Richmond Death star, or is there more? Again, simply a question,

[igo4uni]

In the words of Mickey Matthews "you can never win by enough, and you can never win enough"

I do hate when people look at the margin of victory. If UR played it's starters the entire game - they maybe could have won by more...but last I checked all that matters is the W. Margin of victory is overrated.

Just win, baby!!

[soccerguy315]

In the words of Mickey Matthews "you can never win by enough, and you can never win enough"

I do hate when people look at the margin of victory. If UR played it's starters the entire game - they maybe could have won by more...but last I checked all that matters is the W. Margin of victory is overrated.

UR snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Delaware and JMU. If you were in those situations 50 times each, how many do you think would result in you winning like they did this year? I think you block the FG less than 10% of the time... and I would give JMU odds better than 50/50 to score a TD from the 5 with 1 minute to go. These 2 games are the ones I am looking at to determine "how good UR is". Not whether or not you should've beat VMI by 30 instead of 15 (or whatever)

That said, Richmond is winning, and they deserve the #1 ranking. I'm just saying they are not head and shoulders above the competition.

[appstate38]

They are still the kings of the mountain.... They have answered the bell everytime so far.... We will see how far they can take it.

[Eight Legger]

Lots of ways to look at any given game. We were very fortunate to win at Delaware and at JMU, but I could also tell you that if we hadn't fumbled a punt return and had a couple other insane turnovers at Delaware, we would have won by 21 points. And had we not lost our punter and suffered a blocked punt for TD when our new punter came in at JMU, we would have won that game by 11. I'm not saying you can assume any of this, just that it's as easy to make those claims as it is to say "We got lucky to block that FG at Delaware and lucky to cause a fumble against JMU."

Luck, to me, is more what JMU did last year at Villanova -- winning on a tipped Hail Mary at the horn. Kevin Grayson blocked the FG at Delaware because he was in the right spot and had the height and timing to do it. We caused Thorpe to fumble at JMU last week because our guys were smart enough to swipe at the ball when he didn't tuck it.

The reality is, close games will always be determined by stuff like this. You can't predict it or account for it in the end -- it happens, and one team wins and the other loses. Sometimes it's also matchups. It wouldn't shock me at all if Villanova beat us by two TDs next month, because we always struggle with their style -- and they are a great team.

[kirkblitz]

w is a w no matter what the score is.

[MacThor]

Understood - but you've had some < 7 point wins, obviously with the starters in. Is this the full power of the Richmond Death star, or is there more? Again, simply a question,

Winning by one on the road was good enough in the national semifinals last year.

[ASUG8]

Winning by one on the road was good enough in the national semifinals last year.

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not questioning whether UR is a good team or not, because a W is a W and they've been doing it every week. My question was more whether they're firing on all cylinders at this point or do we have to worry that they will get even better as we go through the remainder of the season.

[ItsyBitsySpider]

I don't think Richmond has played to its potential on offense given their experience on the OL. But whenever they need a drive, they seem to get it. And you can't underestimate how valuable a 4-year starter with Ward's track record and experience is. Although you should try to win them all, I actually think a loss somewhere would help Richmond take some of the pressure off. A 15-game winning streak carries a lot of weight and loss might help refocus us, take the pressure off, and get us ready for the stretch drive. Ok ... just kidding. Let's go undefeated.

[DTSpider]

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not questioning whether UR is a good team or not, because a W is a W and they've been doing it every week. My question was more whether they're firing on all cylinders at this point or do we have to worry that they will get even better as we go through the remainder of the season.

Definitely a lot of mistakes that I've noticed. I've yet to see a 4-quarter effort from this team yet this year. Hope that they will get better.

[JMU Newbill]

Great teams win and that's all they care about, whether its by 7 or 70. Until someone beats Richmond, they are the best team in the country.

[MacThor]

Richmond's weaknesses right now:

Running game. However, they look like the Barry Sanders-era Lions. Lots of runs for losses or no gain, then they'll break a big one. Their backs will keep improving.

Prevent defense. Ugh. This has reared its ugly head since last year's JMU loss (which ironically includes a 16-game win streak). I've lost count of how many scoring drives they've given up in the last two minutes of a half. This will bite them eventually.

Special teams, especially when we're kicking. Radford is a big loss. His replacement is not punting well, and can't kick off deep either. He was also the "long FG" guy. Our long-snapper is really struggling too. Our punt team has given up two safeties on snaps over the head and a blocked punt TD already this season.

But their depth and experience overcomes all of this. Remember after the semifinal loss to App St., we were all commenting on how young they were. These kids have seen it all and just know how to win. I remember watching them shred Hofstra and Jordan Shoop light up ball-carriers left and right, and thinking "wow, when he's your backup linebacker, you know you're loaded."

[Bettina90]

Richmond's weaknesses right now:

Prevent defense. Ugh. This has reared its ugly head since last year's JMU loss (which ironically includes a 16-game win streak). I've lost count of how many scoring drives they've given up in the last two minutes of a half. This will bite them eventually.





I think this speaks to the real weakness. Lack of a pass rush w/o bringing a blitz, and occassionally getting burned even then, see the lass completion in the JMU game down to the goal line and the big play yesterday. Logan and Siddbury brought pressure with only 4 rushers, that is not happenening as often now, the only saving grace is how well the back 7 are playing in coverage. IMO this needs to improve, along with the aforementioned running game if this team is going to make a title run.

[Bettina90]

I figured I would jack up that quote.

[SpidersSportsEditor]

Richmond's weaknesses right now:

Special teams, especially when we're kicking. Radford is a big loss. His replacement is not punting well, and can't kick off deep either. He was also the "long FG" guy. Our long-snapper is really struggling too. Our punt team has given up two safeties on snaps over the head and a blocked punt TD already this season.



I don't think special teams will be a huge problem when it comes down to it. Radford was our long field goal guy, but we also took the redshirt off of Wil Kamin this weekend and he could be a huge key to our success. He made 4 field goals of 50+ in high school and can fill Radford's role as the long kicker. Heck, I wouldn't mind making him the regular field goal kicker since Howard tends to miss field goals in pressure situations (W+M last season being the lone exception). The long snapper issue has also been addressed by taking a redshirt off of a freshmen who has been flawless since he took over. Also, Hatcher's punt return TD might spark something there, since that was a big weapon last year.

In the end, I think our chances at the NC are largely contigent on the draw we get in the playoffs. If we can get home-field, I like our chances of being in a position to win every game. We aren't as balanced as last year in terms of run-pass, but we've created a culture of winning, and sometimes confidence and fearlessness are enough to win the close ones.

[DTSpider]

I think that we all need to lower the expectations with Kamin. The vast majority of his kickoffs were landing around the 20 against Maine. I'm not all that thrilled that we burned a year just for kickoffs.

Same with burning the shirt on Poplaski. He plays like 4 snaps a game. I really fear that we're going to be wanting those shirts back in a couple of years.

[BigHouseClosedEnd]

I think that we all need to lower the expectations with Kamin. The vast majority of his kickoffs were landing around the 20 against Maine. I'm not all that thrilled that we burned a year just for kickoffs.

Same with burning the shirt on Poplaski. He plays like 4 snaps a game. I really fear that we're going to be wanting those shirts back in a couple of years.

DT, I see your point, but Kamin did appear to do better on the kickoffs in the 2nd half. If his kickoffs are 5 yards further than Howard can offer, it is worth it to burn the shirt for a Championship contender.

I don't mind using Poplaski either. He's going to catch a TD or two before the year is done.

[T-Dog]

w is a w no matter what the score is.

I wish some App fans would know this. You would never know we haven't lost a conference game since October 2007 reading our board. xlolx

Richmond is undefeated and that's the important thing for them. They've won every game they've played. What more can you ask for?

[Ivytalk]

Great teams win and that's all they care about, whether its by 7 or 70. Until someone beats Richmond, they are the best team in the country.

Absolutely!xthumbsupx

[spdram]

Don't misunderstand me - I'm not questioning whether UR is a good team or not, because a W is a W and they've been doing it every week. My question was more whether they're firing on all cylinders at this point or do we have to worry that they will get even better as we go through the remainder of the season.

I can only go on my gut feeling, the Spiders have great upside potential. I believe the coaching staff has their eyes on each game but have the realization that if you don't get better each week you're falling behind. I see the PT of some of the younger guys being designed to not only rest the starters (and lessen injuries) but to make sure the younger guys have some solid experience come playoff time.

Having said that winning it all is a combination of talent and luck. So there are probably ten teams out there with a real opportunity to win it all this year. I'm just glad the Spiders are one of the ten.

[JMU-MRD-DAD]

Richmond is a solid team and seemed to be able to win the close ones in the 4th quarter much like JMU did in 2004. I believe they have a real shot at another NC.

I believe their weakness is the running game and if you stop that and put pressure on Ward then your chances increase on beating them.

Go CAA

[Pant8her]

These threads are the Kiss of Death to those on top of the POLL

JINX!