ETSU

[epx]

If you look at nothing but stats and past performances before last week, you would assume this game to be a walk in the park. But not so fast my friends! As an earlier poster said, they gave #2 NDSU all they could handle. They were in it for the entire game leading at the half and at the start of the 4th quarter! Surprisingly, ETSU's passing attack was anemic at 113 yards only attempting 16 passes. This is surprising after experiencing Gardner Webb's ariel attack offense under Tre Lamb, ETSU's new head coach. On the other side of the coin, ETSU rushed for a net 270 yards against a normally lock down defense of NDSU! The lackluster effort and suspect play calling of last week will wind up in a 1-3 record for the Phoenix. We'll need to bring everything we've got against this team. We also better keep our foot on the gas until the very last minute. Anything less will wind up in a big fat "L".

[VivaElNest]

Over/under 6500 fans?

[eu96]

Maybe I’m crazy, but I think this team is too good to be 1-3. I’m expecting a nice bounce back at home.

[phawkes]

ETSU is a much better team than Western Carolina. The Bucs scored 35 points against NDSU, 4 rushing, 1 passing. They had 270 yards rushing. Their RB Irby is a big-play threat, with a 61-yd rushing TD. Can the Phoenix beat them? Yes, if 1) we don't turn the ball over, 2) we clean up special teams play, and 3) we stop the run. You can bet ETSU defense will be ready for Brayboy. Fortunately, Downing has plenty of other solid targets.

Go, Phoenix!

[VivaElNest]

This game will tell us a lot about what Elon is going to be this year. Win, and it shows that we have some fight and can contend for the playoffs. Lose, and we’re 1-3 and have to run the gauntlet in conference play.

[epx]

Sept 20, 2024 8:19:21 GMT -5 phawkes said:

ETSU is a much better team than Western Carolina. The Bucs scored 35 points against NDSU, 4 rushing, 1 passing. They had 270 yards rushing. Their RB Irby is a big-play threat, with a 61-yd rushing TD. Can the Phoenix beat them? Yes, if 1) we don't turn the ball over, 2) we clean up special teams play, and 3) we stop the run. You can bet ETSU defense will be ready for Brayboy. Fortunately, Downing has plenty of other solid targets.

Go, Phoenix!

Add: the Oline needs to play significantly better as a group. Significantly. Dalton, Brayboy and Dieke all need to have respectable  performances and Hardy needs to find his hands. Downing needs to learn how to slide.

[epx]

Sept 20, 2024 8:19:21 GMT -5 phawkes said:

ETSU is a much better team than Western Carolina. The Bucs scored 35 points against NDSU, 4 rushing, 1 passing. They had 270 yards rushing. Their RB Irby is a big-play threat, with a 61-yd rushing TD. Can the Phoenix beat them? Yes, if 1) we don't turn the ball over, 2) we clean up special teams play, and 3) we stop the run. You can bet ETSU defense will be ready for Brayboy. Fortunately, Downing has plenty of other solid targets.

Go, Phoenix!

I'm not sure ETSU is a more talented team than WCU, but they are absolutely a much better coached team. The real battle on the field today will be coaching.

Tre Lamb is one to watch. Read his bio here: etsubucs.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/tre-lamb/963

[fearthephoenix]

Sept 21, 2024 7:55:41 GMT -5 epx said:

Sept 20, 2024 8:19:21 GMT -5 phawkes said:

ETSU is a much better team than Western Carolina. The Bucs scored 35 points against NDSU, 4 rushing, 1 passing. They had 270 yards rushing. Their RB Irby is a big-play threat, with a 61-yd rushing TD. Can the Phoenix beat them? Yes, if 1) we don't turn the ball over, 2) we clean up special teams play, and 3) we stop the run. You can bet ETSU defense will be ready for Brayboy. Fortunately, Downing has plenty of other solid targets.

Go, Phoenix!

Add: the Oline needs to play significantly better as a group. Significantly. Dalton, Brayboy and Dieke all need to have respectable  performances and Hardy needs to find his hands. Downing needs to learn how to slide.

I agree with everything except Hardy. I don’t think he has been targeted at all this season. The Phoenix passing attack needs to take the short throws and not just go for the home run. This is where Mill and Hardy come into play.

[bjiyf]

First 5 minutes. ZERO EFFORT FROM ELON. Either play with heart or GO HOME!!! I’d bench both starting lineups right now. I’d rather lose with effort than watch lazy a$$ football.

[bjiyf]

Elon D not physical AT ALL.

[bjiyf]

Cignetti took most of his JMU staff to IU with him as he did when he went to JMU. If Folmar was worth a flip he’d be at IU, or at least JMU right now.

[bjiyf]

2 critical drops for Brayboy.

[eu96]

As I feared, that WCU loss had the potential to be season-altering. Looks like that might be the case. Little effort from Elon tonight against a solid but hardly spectacular opponent. 1-3 in non-con was probably the worst case scenario. And here we are.

[fearthephoenix]

Was not in attendance tonight, but watched at home and outside of the display at Villanova last year, this was the most abysmal display of football I’ve seen from a Trisciani coached team. Offensively, just absolutely horrible display. I have zero idea what the game plan was for Folmar. Downing just continues to go for the big play and go for big throw but we have no options for him with short or intermediate routes. We refuse to run a true slot receiver and refuse to get Cody Hardy the ball. Brayboy, with all the preseason accolades and hype, dropped another touchdown and added to his total drops in this game. The offensive line is just playing bad. No physicality on the run today and we insist on keep running the awful RPO. First play fumble from Thomas and essentially the game was over from that point.

Defense started the game absolutely flat and completely showed an inability to tackle and get off the field. Have not been impressed with Khalil Baker and even Caleb Curtain at times. Linebackers were ghosts tonight, and a complete lack of discipline at times on wrapping up and securing the tackle. Teams the last two weeks have dominated our defense by playing in the middle of the field and we haven't adjusted. Hell, even Yurk had two shanked punts towards the end of the game.

Lose next week and that may be it on the season.

[euphoenix99]

At what point do we admit Trisciani is just not a good coach? A veteran Elon team that apparently has all the weapons to be successful this season, got totally dominated by a team that was 3-8 last year. Lamb is doing what today's good coaches do... rebuild quickly and win immediately. We on the other hand rinse and repeat year after year and just expect it to magically improve.

He has a 27-28 career record. One "good" 8-4 season, thanks to a couple of crazy comeback wins that just as easily could have been 6-5. He then laid an egg in the playoff game. This is his brand of football. He likely won't ever be bad enough to lead us to a 2-10 season, but get used to a lot of .500 football and disappointment.

I fully expect them to go 5-3 or 4-4 in CAA play, win a game or two that gives us all hope, and then do the same thing next year.

Go Phoenix!