Harding at GVSU

[FSUBulldog27]

So, I’ve been following this thread for days now and I think it’s time for a reality check. 1) The Laker offense contracted the injury bug early in the season only got worse as the season progressed. Avery Moore was not the same smash mouth QB that he was last year and was injured much of the year. 2) The defense, while starting out very good, seemed to lack discipline as the season wore on. Staying in their coverage lanes went by the wayside and teams were allowed to get outside on them. That’s what Trinidad Chambliss discovered early on in that game. 3)!the defensive line seemed to wear down as the season went on. Perhaps because they were on the field way too much. I have to agree with a previous poster that this defense was not as good as last year.. 4) There’s a difference in being “nicked up” and being the walking wounded. By the time GV got to Harding the starting QB didn’t even dress, 3 starting O-linemen were out and the best one played on a high ankle sprain, the middle linebacker played with a broken thumb and looked like he had a boxing glove on and our best cover and tackling D-back dislocated his shoulder early on and kept trying to get back in the game anyway. Now, if that sounds like whining or making excuses to you, so be it. Would GV have beaten Harding if healthy …..maybe….but as a longtime Laker fan, I really don’t think so. But just once I’d like to try it. Hats of to the Bison. They played a near perfect game at Lubbers Stadium. I may even drive up to Big Rapids for the regional final. I just don’t know which side to sit on as I’m not particularly fond of either team.

Sit on the visitor side

[FSUBulldog27]

You have a valid point and obviously I’m not aware of what GVSU’s injuries are. I certainly agree that quality of opponents makes a difference. I would say regardless of opponent style of play matters too. We play smash mouth fb and run our QB frequently and don’t have the same level of injuries historically. As far as getting rolled up G-C-G I’m not sure that has anything to do with quality of opponent it’s just a persistent hazard for all Int OL. Last yr by the end of the yr mine played on an ankle that had been rolled up so many times he was in a boot half the week every week leading to game day with difficulty being able to weight bear on Sundays after games. Those injuries to me are just part of the game that prob at least one Int OL on every team suffers from by year end. In no way was I questioning the quality of your S&C coaches or training staff because I know nothing about them. But I do think it’s at the very least natural to start asking questions and looking for answers if the injuries are at an alarmingly high rate year in and year out.

I may be wrong but looking at Harding and you guys were so far ahead at half time of many games. I would imagine and looking at some of the carries from 13 or 14 different running backs - your starters could rest more than teams where the SOS in the conference and non conference games are higher. Less gap in scores - which could mean more time Played by starter. I know we had some blow outs but not to the extent Harding did. Nothing personal but more chances to be injured or more bumps and bruises the more that you play. Then again 20 year olds recover better than older players. I guess sometimes it's just bad luck...

[BisonOL]

I may be wrong but looking at Harding and you guys were so far ahead at half time of many games. I would imagine and looking at some of the carries from 13 or 14 different running backs - your starters could rest more than teams where the SOS in the conference and non conference games are higher. Less gap in scores - which could mean more time Played by starter. I know we had some blow outs but not to the extent Harding did. Nothing personal but more chances to be injured or more bumps and bruises the more that you play. Then again 20 year olds recover better than older players. I guess sometimes it's just bad luck...

Very valid point

[KleShreen]

I may be wrong but looking at Harding and you guys were so far ahead at half time of many games. I would imagine and looking at some of the carries from 13 or 14 different running backs - your starters could rest more than teams where the SOS in the conference and non conference games are higher. Less gap in scores - which could mean more time Played by starter. I know we had some blow outs but not to the extent Harding did. Nothing personal but more chances to be injured or more bumps and bruises the more that you play. Then again 20 year olds recover better than older players. I guess sometimes it's just bad luck...

This is a problem I've had with GV for years now. They don't keep the pedal down on inferior opponents anymore and get the backups in. GV is always out there getting up on lesser teams by like 15-18 points, up by not enough to put backups in, but by enough where the playcalling becomes vanilla and that's just where they hang out. I miss the days where BK and Chuck Martin would have the team up by 40 at half, and the second half would be nothing but backups. It resulted in less injuries, and also resulted in being able to get experience for the future. But GV hasn't been able to do that for over a decade now. Whether it's a lack of talent, a lack of killer instinct coaching, or maybe it's just a product of being a run-oriented team. The lack of explosive plays results in longer drives, eating up more clock, less drives to score on, etc.

[4nick8]

I may be wrong but looking at Harding and you guys were so far ahead at half time of many games. I would imagine and looking at some of the carries from 13 or 14 different running backs - your starters could rest more than teams where the SOS in the conference and non conference games are higher. Less gap in scores - which could mean more time Played by starter. I know we had some blow outs but not to the extent Harding did. Nothing personal but more chances to be injured or more bumps and bruises the more that you play. Then again 20 year olds recover better than older players. I guess sometimes it's just bad luck...

I blame the increase in leg injuries on the field "upgrade " from natural grass a dozen years ago. Seems like they are more prevalent now
https://globalsportmatters.com/healt...rface-is-best/

[FSUBulldogs]

I blame the increase in leg injuries on the field "upgrade " from natural grass a dozen years ago. Seems like they are more prevalent now
https://globalsportmatters.com/healt...rface-is-best/

I would agree with this stat. I feel knee injuries were crazy low back in the day when it was just grass surfaces. They need to spend a lot of money researching a better turf solution that they are to push on colleges and pros to use.

[Redwing]

This is a problem I've had with GV for years now. They don't keep the pedal down on inferior opponents anymore and get the backups in. GV is always out there getting up on lesser teams by like 15-18 points, up by not enough to put backups in, but by enough where the playcalling becomes vanilla and that's just where they hang out. I miss the days where BK and Chuck Martin would have the team up by 40 at half, and the second half would be nothing but backups. It resulted in less injuries, and also resulted in being able to get experience for the future. But GV hasn't been able to do that for over a decade now. Whether it's a lack of talent, a lack of killer instinct coaching, or maybe it's just a product of being a run-oriented team. The lack of explosive plays results in longer drives, eating up more clock, less drives to score on, etc.

But you are neglecting the quality of the competition. It is different from the 2000s. And maybe it's a mistake to schedule 2 tougher OOC opponents, but this year's schedule had, what, maybe 5 PO caliber teams? Maybe more.. UWF, Pueblo, Saggy, DU, FSU.. MAYBE MTU. Back ups were in for WSU, NMU, Central,... and even Roosevelt, but injuries drove a lot of that.

Many fans complained about the long bombs in the past. This year, due a lot to personnel I think, was run focused. Not sure how that impacts injury potential in any sense.

[BisonOL]

But you are neglecting the quality of the competition. It is different from the 2000s. And maybe it's a mistake to schedule 2 tougher OOC opponents, but this year's schedule had, what, maybe 5 PO caliber teams? Maybe more.. UWF, Pueblo, Saggy, DU, FSU.. MAYBE MTU. Back ups were in for WSU, NMU, Central,... and even Roosevelt, but injuries drove a lot of that.

Many fans complained about the long bombs in the past. This year, due a lot to personnel I think, was run focused. Not sure how that impacts injury potential in any sense.

Maybe not across the board but I’d certainly say for Int OL and DL you are going to prob see a higher prevalence of knee and ankle injuries getting caught up in the wash/getting rolled for run heavy teams vs teams that throw the ball much more.

[FSUBulldog27]

I will take Ferris +31 easy money. If you guys don’t cover you have to leave the board forever.

Let me know when you need me to send you my venmo information

[bigmrg74]

Let me know when you need me to send you my venmo information

Who would have taken that bet a week ago??

[KleShreen]

Who would have taken that bet a week ago??

Everyone. Harding fans were willing to give Ferris 31 points. So based off that info, Ferris actually won 72-7 today!

[BisonOL]

Everyone. Harding fans were willing to give Ferris 31 points. So based off that info, Ferris actually won 72-7 today!

Haha that’s Leftsider, let’s not lump us all in with his wild projections

[bigmrg74]

Haha that’s Leftsider, let’s not lump us all in with his wild projections

It's what happens when your fan base has a BCON. You get lumped into that wacko. ;-)

[FSUBulldog27]

Everyone. Harding fans were willing to give Ferris 31 points. So based off that info, Ferris actually won 72-7 today!

Plus Massey had us at +3.5 - a 2 time champion playing at home that is an underdog. No respect

[FSUBulldog27]

Hah you have not touched a nerve, I’m touched you thought that. You won back to back, and your time in the sun is over. there’s a better way to play football and it’s with a gimick of unselfish players.

Harding by 31

Here is his post - Venmo, PayPal - a lot to unravel in your post lol. Gimick is no good when trailing and constant 3rd and long. Leftsider its ok.