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Paul Peck's Bull Session: Eastern Michigan
10/4/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Each week, Voice of Bulls Football Paul Peck will preview the upcoming game.
Buffalo vs. Eastern Michigan
Welcome to MACtion. I'm always extra-excited when the first conference game shows up on the schedule. As much as the non-conference slate gives us big name opponents, national attention and "program-building" wins, the Mid-American schedule is a much better gauge of this Bulls team. From now on, UB will play teams with similar talent, resources and approaches. Now, we'll really find out if all the positive signs from the first four games will lead to a special season.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Offense
Well into the second quarter against UConn, the Bulls offense had run only one play from their side of midfield. The UB defense made it easy on their teammates. But the offense did just what it needed to do in a game like that. They used the field position created by the defense to finish off drives and roll up points….The return of Branden Oliver was a big spark. Bo ran over, around and through the Huskies defense. He was clearly determined to get rolling, and it showed. That may be the best sign from the start of the season. Oliver ran for 133 yards against EMU in 2011….Jeff Quinn said Joe Licata had "one of his best games." The sophomore QB was smart and efficient. He moved around in the pocket well, a real sign of his maturity and comfort level….We saw the debut of freshman receiver Boise Ross. With the Bulls looking for more weapons in the passing game, look for Ross to continue to see more snaps…Sophomore guard Robert Blodgett made his first start and played well. He will continue in that spot…Alex Neutz was back to making big plays. He had a 54-yard catch and a 22-yard touchdown. Neutz is now second in the MAC in receiving yards. He has four catches of 49 yards or more…Eastern Michigan's defense comes in ranked 8th in the MAC in total defense. But they are first (and 27th in the NCAA) in third down defense. They held Penn State to 1/10 on third down, and limited Rutgers to 1/8. If the Bulls can gain yards on first and second down, it won't matter. The Eagles have given up some big plays on first and second down. But third and longs will put the Bulls into what the Eagles defense has thrived on: pass rush chances. They have 12 sacks in four games. They had just 7 sacks all last season. The Eagles also have 21 tackles for loss, and they've forced 14 three-and-outs…Safety Mycal Swaim leads the team with 29 tackles. Defensive end Pat O'Connor leads with three sacks.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Defense
In the last two games, the Bulls defense has allowed just two touchdown drives, while totaling five interceptions and seven sacks. This is where there is a true non-conference indicator. This is the Lou Tepper defense we saw last year that finished #2 in the MAC. It may be even better at taking the ball away and making big plays…Adam Redden is a force, with 22 tackles, 2 sacks and 4.5 TFL in the last two games. Taking about his senior safety, Quinn says he "loves Redden's intensity" and Quinn gave Redden the ultimate compliment. He called him "a baller."…Khalil Mack moved up the alltime NCAA TFL career list. He's now seventh with 62 career TFL's. That's 13 behind all-time leader Jason Babin…The Bulls have a total of 29 TFL's, which ranks second in the MAC…They have also scored 41 points off their nine takeaways…A very good sign from the UConn game is the play of senior defensive end Beau Bachtelle. He had his first two career sacks. One came without ever actually touching Huskies quarterback Chandler Whitmer. Bachtelle picked up the offensive tackle and threw him into Whitmer, knocking down the QB and earning Bachtelle the sack. Getting pass rush from the side opposite Mack will really force opposing defenses to adjust how they block. That may get Mack away from some of the double and triple teams he's been seeing…The Eagles have a solid quarterback in Tyler Benz. He is fourth in the MAC in passing yards. He's not a runner, but a good, solid, efficient pocket passer...The main ballcarrier is Bronson Hill. He's twice been over 100 yards this season…There is a bit of an oddity in Eastern Michigan's offense. Their leading receiver is a tight end. I can't remember the last time the Bulls played a team who's top catcher was not a receiver. Tyreese Russell has 23 catches, and averages 10 yards a catch. Quinn says this will force the Bulls linebackers to play with "mind and eye discipline."…The Eagles are also pretty good in the red zone. They're been there six times, and scored six touchdowns.
Bullseye on: MAC Defense
Nobody really plays it, outside of Buffalo and Bowling Green. The MAC is an offensive-dominated league, where more scores are 35-31 then they are 17-14. That's due to the great quarterbacks and the recruiting that seems to focus on finding offensive playmakers first. So when you do play good defense like the Bulls, your conference rivals aren't used to seeing it. That's the advantage. In 2012, the MAC had two of the top three games in conference history in total yards gained. In the last two seasons, three of the four highest scoring seasons have entered the record book. So most MAC coaching staffs and players expect to be able to move the ball, and probably expect to outscore their opponents. But if a team like the Bulls can consistently hold teams to under 28 points, that should lead to a lot of wins. We'll start to find out Saturday.
Please join me, color analyst Jim Kubiak, sideline reporter Scott Wilson and host Brad Riter for the broadcast on the Bulls Football Network. Our pregame show starts at 11:00am. You can hear it in Buffalo on Sportsradio 1270 The Fan (www.sportsradio1270.com), in Rochester on Sports 1280 WHTK (www.whtk.com) and in New York City on Bloomberg Radio 1130 AM (www.bloomberg.com/radio)
