2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

[Armo Wood]

Arkansas-Monticello
2017 record: 5-6
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9Arkansas Tech
2017 record: 8-4
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9East Central
2017 record: 2-9
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 7Harding
2017 record: 11-4
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9Henderson State
2017 record: 6-5
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 6Northwestern Oklahoma
2017 record: 5-6
Offensive starters returning: 10
Defensive starters returning: 8
The Rangers offense will be led by returning dual threat quarterback Isaiah Weed. He will have his entire offensive line, along with wide receiver Horatio Smith and running back Jacob Peyton returning. Defensively, Northwestern Oklahoma returns most of an improved defense that will be led by linebackers Dakota Driskill and Maurice Wright. Last year the Rangers started the season 3-3, then lost three straight before they regrouped and won their final two games. A big issue for NWOSU offensively is going to be the offensive line. Yes, they return intact, and they helped pave the way for a 227.2 ypg rushing average (third in the GAC), but that same offensive line gave up twenty-seven sacks last year (tenth in sacks allowed in the GAC). While the defense improved, they struggled to get opposing offenses off the field. Even with those issues the Rangers still finished the season 5-6 and four of those losses were by one possession. For Northwestern Oklahoma to get past the five-to-six-win barrier the offense will have to improve their pass protection and the defense will have to do better in getting opposing offenses off the field.

Oklahoma Baptist
2017 record: 2-9
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 9Ouachita Baptist
2017 record: 9-3
Offensive starters returning: 10
Defensive starters returning: 6Southeastern Oklahoma
2017 record: 7-4
Offensive starters returning: 9
Defensive starters returning: 8Southern Arkansas
2017 record: 7-4
Offensive starters returning: 6
Defensive starters returning: 8Southern Nazarene
2017 record: 4-7
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 7
The Crimson Storm offense will be led by returning quarterback Jacob Spady who ran for 907 yards and ten touchdowns and passed for another 922 yards and eleven touchdowns. The returning defense is led by safety Josh Jordan and linebacker Myles Roll. The past two years Southern Nazarene has steadily increased their win totals. From one win in 2015, to two wins in 2016 and four wins last year. Statistically they are not a very impressive team, but they are a scrappy team. They knocked off Harding and Henderson on the road last year and had chances to get the win in three of their seven losses. If SNU can be more consistent in execution and closing out games, they will finally have a chance at a winning season since joining the D2 ranks.

Southwestern Oklahoma
2017 record: 3-8
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 5

[Weevil Watcher]

[Divisiontwo]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Dang. You guys have been working out this off season? Huh

[Weevil Watcher]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Dang. You guys have been working out this off season? Huh

There has been a noticeable change in approach, so I would say working out differently.
As you well know, it takes time to make those kind of changes and see results. So that makes me happy

[Mulerider]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

There has been a noticeable change in approach, so I would say working out differently.
As you well know, it takes time to make those kind of changes and see results. So that makes me happy

So you thinking six wins?

[Redready]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Thanks Armo for the review. I always appreciate the effort you put into this work.

:good:

[Mulerider]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Thanks Armo for the review. I always appreciate the effort you put into this work.

:good:

Yes he does pretty good work.

[BisonsGirl]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Armo, thanks for the thoughts and the stats! This has definitely given some food for thought. I feel like your analysis of Harding is pretty spot-on. I was generally impressed with QB Preston Paden in the Commerce game last year. He was a little rough around the edges and was put in a tough situation; hopefully they've been working to smooth out those edges in the off season.

[Finishempty Fred]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Arkansas-Monticello
2017 record: 5-6
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9Arkansas Tech
2017 record: 8-4
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9East Central
2017 record: 2-9
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 7Harding
2017 record: 11-4
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 9Henderson State
2017 record: 6-5
Offensive starters returning: 5
Defensive starters returning: 6Northwestern Oklahoma
2017 record: 5-6
Offensive starters returning: 10
Defensive starters returning: 8
The Rangers offense will be led by returning dual threat quarterback Isaiah Weed. He will have his entire offensive line, along with wide receiver Horatio Smith and running back Jacob Peyton returning. Defensively, Northwestern Oklahoma returns most of an improved defense that will be led by linebackers Dakota Driskill and Maurice Wright. Last year the Rangers started the season 3-3, then lost three straight before they regrouped and won their final two games. A big issue for NWOSU offensively is going to be the offensive line. Yes, they return intact, and they helped pave the way for a 227.2 ypg rushing average (third in the GAC), but that same offensive line gave up twenty-seven sacks last year (tenth in sacks allowed in the GAC). While the defense improved, they struggled to get opposing offenses off the field. Even with those issues the Rangers still finished the season 5-6 and four of those losses were by one possession. For Northwestern Oklahoma to get past the five-to-six-win barrier the offense will have to improve their pass protection and the defense will have to do better in getting opposing offenses off the field.

Oklahoma Baptist
2017 record: 2-9
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 9Ouachita Baptist
2017 record: 9-3
Offensive starters returning: 10
Defensive starters returning: 6Southeastern Oklahoma
2017 record: 7-4
Offensive starters returning: 9
Defensive starters returning: 8Southern Arkansas
2017 record: 7-4
Offensive starters returning: 6
Defensive starters returning: 8Southern Nazarene
2017 record: 4-7
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 7
The Crimson Storm offense will be led by returning quarterback Jacob Spady who ran for 907 yards and ten touchdowns and passed for another 922 yards and eleven touchdowns. The returning defense is led by safety Josh Jordan and linebacker Myles Roll. The past two years Southern Nazarene has steadily increased their win totals. From one win in 2015, to two wins in 2016 and four wins last year. Statistically they are not a very impressive team, but they are a scrappy team. They knocked off Harding and Henderson on the road last year and had chances to get the win in three of their seven losses. If SNU can be more consistent in execution and closing out games, they will finally have a chance at a winning season since joining the D2 ranks.

Southwestern Oklahoma
2017 record: 3-8
Offensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters returning: 5

Armo do you think we are ready to do more than contend for conference championships?

[walnut100]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

It's still too early to bump this Fred please don't jinx this team

[Finishempty Fred]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

It's still too early to bump this Fred please don't jinx this team

I don't believe in superstitions Walnut. The stats versus last year speaks volumes. Don't be scared to jump aboard. This defense and the offense is for real.

[Divisiontwo]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

I don't believe in superstitions Walnut. The stats versus last year speaks volumes. Don't be scared to jump aboard. This defense and the offense is for real.

[Finishempty Fred]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

This team is better than than the 17 team that almost pulled off an upset at Ferris last year. Yeah but you are right, there's alot of season left. But everyone can see that this team is trending in the right direction. We will learn alot more about this team in the next couple of weeks. Getting my popcorn ready for Searcy!!!!

[Bigworm]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Harding is looking like the team everyone expected them to be. Thats gonna be a tuff one. I think we will have to play flawlessly to beat harding at home. SAU got lucky to win in searcy. With that said they were opportunistic and made the bison pay for their mistakes. Mistakes arent typical of harding so i dont expect them to just give us the game like they did SAU. But for now its tech week!!

[Armo Wood]

Re: 2018 GAC Preseason Thoughts

Fred,

1) Has the Ouachita defense improved? No doubts there.

2) Is Ouachita going to make a playoff run? The SE game raised some concerns--which were never going to be answered by the ECU game.

As has been said already, it's still early and a lot of season left to play. In 2015 the GAC had a couple of teams that were 4-0 and looked like they would run the table. One team finished 8-3 and went to a bowl game. The other team finished 7-4.