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

[JD24]

This game showed a couple of things...maybe more than a couple of things.

Valpo didn't lose because they were out talented at all. From the kickoff it was clear that the relative ability of the players on both squads was pretty much the same. This is a huge step in the right direction.

Valpo didn't lose because they were playing with a backup QB. Duncan played well...very well. In fact, it's possible if not probable that he made at least a couple of plays the starter would not have and there were no glaring errors the starter would have made over him. The throw to Gessinger was a thing of beauty.

If there is a weakness on offense I think it could turn out to be a lack of dynamics at the skill positions but we'll see. Sometimes a team just needs a guy to make a play and I don't know if that player exists who can supply it with any consistency.

Valpo's offense is a matchup offense in which the coaches attempt to get a matchup they can win over a team which has a high end athlete who that team tries to feed the ball to just because he's better than everyone. A big for instance was lining a slot WR in the backfield with the RB lined up in the slot creating a slot WR vs LBer matchup that can be exploited as Gessinger did yesterday. Valpo ran the same play two more times with Rene and Fox and got nothing out of it so I don't know whether the Dukes adjusted their coverages.

The bottom line is that it was a game that could have been won which, in itself, is a step in the right direction. However it's still a game they could have won and it is disappointing that they didn't.

[JD24]

After watching a game, I have to revise my thoughts on the season just a bit. Valpo should not have any trouble with Truman, Davidson, Stetson, MSU and maybe Marist. I think they, until proven different, are still a bit behind Drake and Dayton. The games vs. Butler and Jacksonville should be great but may be for 4th place.

The Dayton/Duquense game this Saturday may tell us a bit more about Dayton compared to the Crusaders.

[vu72]

After watching a game, I have to revise my thoughts on the season just a bit. Valpo should not have any trouble with Truman, Davidson, Stetson, MSU and maybe Marist. I think they, until proven different, are still a bit behind Drake and Dayton. The games vs. Butler and Jacksonville should be great but may be for 4th place.

The Dayton/Duquense game this Saturday may tell us a bit more about Dayton compared to the Crusaders.

any injury report?

[JD24]

After watching a game, I have to revise my thoughts on the season just a bit. Valpo should not have any trouble with Truman, Davidson, Stetson, MSU and maybe Marist. I think they, until proven different, are still a bit behind Drake and Dayton. The games vs. Butler and Jacksonville should be great but may be for 4th place. The Dayton/Duquense game this Saturday may tell us a bit more about Dayton compared to the Crusaders.

any injury report?

I got a text from the game that Markoff went to the locker room prior to halftime after he had his three runs. Didn't hear anything further. Also might explain the lack of designed runs from Duncan...no backup.

[valpofb16]

Markoff knee was MCL related , looks to be significant

I'm with JD24 I thought we played well and hard , Roberts had a crucial penalty late in the game

Offense: Duncan had a solid game, lack of explosion killed us, I think the Markoff injury changed the game plan a bit

Defense: Snouffer has been excellent the past 2+ years, We competed , no true pass rush guys still

Would have loved a win there , the program is undoubtedly the best it's been in the past 15 years

[VULB#62]

Sorry to hear about Markoff. I missed his appearance when I had to shut down the feed to go to work. How great a loss is this?

Last year the talk was about Chris being the super mobile guy, but bringing in Markoff for QB keepers kinda says something a bit different.

[valpofb16]

Markoff is definitely more mobile than Duncan, however with him available Valpo used Duncan-Markoff in similar packages as Seewald-Duncan, keeping similar substitution patterns.

Side notes from game:

Debuts:
QB #13 Markoff RSFR.
WR #6 Reese FR.
TE #80 Bittner RSFR.
NT #90 Velasco RSFR
NT #78 Sete FR
OLB #89 Helm FR
OLB #37 McKeag FR
CB #29 Sherman FR
P #13 Ulbrich RSFR.

Only 5 true freshman played in the game, that is a huge sign for the program.

Ng appears to be in a battle with Ulbrich for punting jobs. Taliaferro started over Roberts at RT. Only two tailbacks for used.

Side Note: RSSO ILB #44 Sperling has left team

[JD24]

Curious that two of the true freshman who played were LBers considering that is a strength of the team.

Hopefully Markoff simply has a strain which can be a 2 week injury in some cases. In the short term, QB4 now becomes more important for at least one more game.