GAME #1 - VUFB @ Duquesne 9/8 - 11am cst

[VULB#62]

Ok, less than a week before we kick off our 2018 football season. Time to start the game thread.

A road game with a question at QB, some depth questions at receiver, and an opening game against a team that already has two under its belt is a combination of conditions that doesn't look too favorable for our boys.

With not much to go on, I'm hopeful our D keeps Duquesne off the board long enough for our offense to get into a rhythm. Also hoping for a close low scoring game. We certainly will not be taken lightly as the Dukes probably did last year.

[vu72]

Here are the game notes.  Not a single true freshman on the 2 deeps and Jimmy is listed as the starter.  Of note to me is that the game will be played on a field with seating capacity of 2200. That is less than half of Brown Field!

http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/B21C9CA1-D4E4-4C6D-8F7C-B22DE5E9ED42/ValpoFB_GamesNotes_Week2_Duquesne.pdf

[VULB#62]

Here's Rooney Field from Google Maps.  Yeah, kinda "intimate" even for a a good size high school.  But it is right in the heart of their campus and the fans are real close to the action.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Duquesne+University/@40.4356194,-79.9898053,119m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8834f15bfbc3736b:0xc98887803ea66b65!8m2!3d40.4374516!4d-79.9905863

Noted that Duquesne got two higher level xfers coming in to help their defense - one from Montana and one from FBS, Pitt.

Another thing that stands out from the game notes is the steadiess in Valpo's staff retention.
- 6 coaches have been here for all 5 seasons that Dave has had the program
- 1 is in his 4th season
- 1 is in his second
- 1 in his first

That translates to consistency of approach from year to year and stable coaching techniques that kids can rely on to get better over time.

[vu72]

Here's Rooney Field from Google Maps.  Yeah, kinda "intimate" even for a a good size high school.  But it is right in the heart of their campus and the fans are real close to the action.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Duquesne+University/@40.4356194,-79.9898053,119m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8834f15bfbc3736b:0xc98887803ea66b65!8m2!3d40.4374516!4d-79.9905863

Noted that Duquesne got two higher level xfers coming in to help their defense - one from Montana and one from FBS, Pitt.

Another thing that stands out from the game notes is the steadiess in Valpo's staff retention.
- 6 coaches have been here for all 5 seasons that Dave has had the program
- 1 is in his 4th season
- 1 is in his second
- 1 in his first

That translates to consistency of approach from year to year and stable coaching techniques that kids can rely on to get better over time.

Looks like the closest parking is down by the river.  Also glad to see that the County Jail is close by just in case the fans get rowdy!

[78crusader]

31-24 Duquesne.  Hope I'm wrong.

Paul

[JD24]

Here are the game notes.  Not a single true freshman on the 2 deeps and Jimmy is listed as the starter.  Of note to me is that the game will be played on a field with seating capacity of 2200. That is less than half of Brown Field! http://cdn.streamlinetechnologies.com/valpoathletics/B21C9CA1-D4E4-4C6D-8F7C-B22DE5E9ED42/ValpoFB_GamesNotes_Week2_Duquesne.pdf

Valpo outdrew Duquesne last year by a few hundred per game. Rooney Field had a larger seating capacity until about 10 years ago when it was cut about in half. Put in some permanent seating which eliminated areas to put bleachers. Why they didn't put in a larger section of permanent seating I don't know.

[VULB#62]

Waiting for the Cecchini video interview by Todd. Hope we can get more info on how this might play
out. If Butler can beat YSU, we can beat DU.

Saying that. And without reading all the coverage, how the heck did Butler freaking do that?

[JD24]

Waiting for the Cecchini video interview by Todd. Hope we can get more info on how this might play out. If Butler can beat YSU, we can beat DU. Saying that. And without reading all the coverage, how the heck did Butler freaking do that?

Video is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0jLdgEscq0&feature=youtu.be
Re YSU vs. Butler...it's exactly what you'd expect in a game in which a team expected to win outgains an opponent by 150 yards and somehow loses. Penalties called back a couple of TDs and gave the opponent first downs.  Couldn't get off the field on 3rd down. Major mistake in not covering an onside kick at the end.

Pelini's PC afterwards indicated he was a bit upset. YSU plays West Virginia this week and are unlikely to win that. This should set up a pretty angry YSU team when Valpo gets to Youngstown.

[VULB#62]

Thx 24

[usc4valpo]

 Valpo needs a healthy Jimmy Seewald to beat Duquesne

[usc4valpo]

Duquesne 34 Valpo 10. From what I am reading, Seewald appears not be 100 percent

[VULB#62]

Also alluded to in Dave's pregame video. Unless he is 100%, there's no way I'd want him on the field at this point inthe schedule. Let's see what Chris Duncan can do.

Here's an interesting comparison.  In last year's season opener against Montana, Jimmy looked so-so.  It was Duncan who lit a fire under the Crusaders to make the game competitive going into the 4th qtr.  Could he do a repeat?  He has the tools.  He just seems snakebit at times.  And that has a lot to do with confidence.

[vu72]

Also alluded to in Dave's pregame video. Unless he is 100%, there's no way I'd want him on the field at this point inthe schedule. Let's see what Chris Duncan can do.

Here's an interesting comparison.  In last year's season opener against Montana, Jimmy looked so-so.  It was Duncan who lit a fire under the Crusaders to make the game competitive going into the 4th qtr.  Could he do a repeat?  He has the tools.  He just seems snakebit at times.  And that has a lot to do with confidence.

Do you think this might be a ploy to have your opponent unsure of who they will face?  Chris is a much different quarterback than Jimmy.

[bbtds]

Do you think this might be a ploy to have your opponent unsure of who they will face?  Chris is a much different quarterback than Jimmy.

If it is, I like it. Only the team and coaches know.

[JD24]

Also alluded to in Dave's pregame video. Unless he is 100%, there's no way I'd want him on the field at this point inthe schedule. Let's see what Chris Duncan can do. Here's an interesting comparison.  In last year's season opener against Montana, Jimmy looked so-so.  It was Duncan who lit a fire under the Crusaders to make the game competitive going into the 4th qtr.  Could he do a repeat?  He has the tools.  He just seems snakebit at times.  And that has a lot to do with confidence.

The confidence issue could be a big one. Duncan's skillset may actually be better than Seewald because he can run and throw on the run. However there's more to playing QB than skillset. After that pretty good debut against Montana's second unit, he was more of a known and accomplished less moving forward...admittedly in spot duty. I'd like to see what he can do though.

I'm not a big believer in the staff putting out false or misleading info regarding Seewald. There's plenty of tape on him and limited on Duncan so I'm not sure how a team would prepare all that differently based on the limited info on Duncan. If Seewald lines up under center, they're going to know what they are going to get particularly since they played last season. I don't know what the big mystery would accomplish.

[bbtds]

I'm not a big believer in the staff putting out false or misleading info regarding Seewald. There's plenty of tape on him and limited on Duncan so I'm not sure how a team would prepare all that differently based on the limited info on Duncan. If Seewald lines up under center, they're going to know what they are going to get particularly since they played last season. I don't know what the big mystery would accomplish.

You don't think the amount of time that their defense prepares for Seewald when they think they could see Duncan has a great effect on their ability to eek out a win in a close game? I think you are truly kidding yourself about how preparing for a team changes the practices. What if we thought Duquesne was going with a different QB? Think that might change our preparation a lot?

[JD24]

I'm not a big believer in the staff putting out false or misleading info regarding Seewald. There's plenty of tape on him and limited on Duncan so I'm not sure how a team would prepare all that differently based on the limited info on Duncan. If Seewald lines up under center, they're going to know what they are going to get particularly since they played last season. I don't know what the big mystery would accomplish.

You don't think the amount of time that their defense prepares for Seewald when they think they could see Duncan has a great effect on their ability to eek out a win in a close game? I think you are truly kidding yourself about how preparing for a team changes the practices. What if we thought Duquesne was going with a different QB? Think that might change our preparation a lot?

Don't make any assumptions regarding what I know about any teams preparation for any one game. I'm not kidding myself. Believe what you will however chances are the Dukes were/are preparing for both anyway with whatever limited info they have on Duncan since Cecchini has played two QBs in OOC fairly consistently throughout his head coaching career. Valpo putting out false info would accomplish nothing.

[VULB#62]

Gotta agree, 24.  This isn't the SEC or the NFL.  Dave is a pretty straight shooter. He may withhold some info or be obviously vague on something, but when he talks directly, what he says is pretty where-it's-at. If anything, I think he signalled that Jimmy might be as much as three weeks away from that 100% we hope he gets to. That is why Chris is so pivotal in this scenario. I hope the confidence he develops as the early term go-to guy will help him and make the QB position among the strongest on the team. He is one year behind Jimmy and even if he reverts to back-up, what a back-up he'd be. And then, like Ben in Dave's first year, he will smoothly transition to The Man in his final year.

[JD24]

Gotta agree, 24.  This isn't the SEC or the NFL.  Dave is a pretty straight shooter. He may withhold some info or be obviously vague on something, but when he talks directly, what he says is pretty where-it's-at. If anything, I think he signalled that Jimmy might be as much as three weeks away from that 100% we hope he gets to. That is why Chris is so pivotal in this scenario. I hope the confidence he develops as the early term go-to guy will help him and make the QB position among the strongest on the team. He is one year behind Jimmy and even if he reverts to back-up, what a back-up he'd be. And then, like Ben in Dave's first year, he will smoothly transition to The Man in his final year.

If Seewald isn't 100% he shouldn't play at all until perhaps the Truman St game. So if he plays at all, I assume he's ready to go. From how Dave has spoken during the pre season, it sounds as if at best he'd be on a "pitch count". What I wonder is are they going to go with a 2nd QB if Seewald is out and what happens if another QB is needed?
We'll soon find out.

[vu72]

Hmmm.  90% chance of rain now dropping to about 50% by kickoff.  If it is wet Jimmy certainly shouldn't play.  Slog it out!

[JD24]

Duncan starts. Raining. Whatever stream was hoped for has been dashed as it isn't working.

Stream now working. Ulbrich punts over Ng

[vu72]

Bummer.  Great effort with our 2nd string QB.  But still, no more moral wins!

[covufan]

Followed online. For Valpo to have a chance to go for win in final minutes at Duquesne is more than I hoped for in this game. A few years ago it was just playing within two scores in the second half. I look forward to the rest of the season.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vu72]

A couple of previous predictions:  31-24 and 34-10.  Final, 23-21.  Some respect earned?   

[usc4valpo]

Respect? Of course. I wish the final drive was not such a disaster. They played well today.