Filed under: App Football
As we all know, App State and the Swag sit nicely atop the league in the meaningless preseason SoCon rankings.
The two met last year in an unofficial championship game, in which Swag won easily App State Dom. In. Ate. Ed.
It’s expected both teams will be just as good again this season. And the early line is each team has something the other covets.
Establish QB versus established team. Who ya got?
With Edwards learning to play wide receiver in the NFL, Moore is trying to decide between a junior and a redshirt freshman to lead a team that many expect to continue to dominate one of the toughest leagues in FCS. He said Tuesday he is confident either DeAndre Presley, who started a game last year when Edwards was injured, or Jamal Jackson can keep the Mountaineers on top.
“It’ not like we don’t have something to work with,” Moore said. “It’s our job as coaches to get those guys in position to show their stuff.”
While the Mountaineers have to replace Edwards’ 10,392 yards passing, 4,361 yards rushing and 139 touchdowns, they have a wealth of talent returning at other positions as they try to tie Georgia Southern’s record of six straight SoCon titles. Nine starters return on offense, including running back Devon Moore, who led the league with 1,374 last season, and seven on defense on a team that lost in the national semifinals to Montana.
Elon has the opposite problem. The Phoenix bring back Riddle, but not a lot of other starters from a team that went 9-3 last season, making their first ever trip to the FCS playoffs.
Riddle should pass Edwards’ league record for career passing yards by the second game of the season. He already owns the SoCon records for most completions and touchdown passes.
There’s little doubt the most debated question of the App State preseason and, heck, probably the first few weeks of the actual season, will be who should start at QB. But looking at the rest of the two-deep .. /long whistle …. we get feelin’ kinda frisky.
38 days ….
Give me a team any day of the week. Heck we only won 2 championships with loaded teams with Edwards. Had we just had Edwards we would have only won 1 title. It is hard enough to win with a talented team from top to bottom much less a team that is reloading with 1 good player. The Swag will not be as good as advertised. Team over 1 player.
Comment by asu7 07.28.10 @ 10:13 amI remember way back telling everyone that there was no set starting quarterback. It will be a battle up until week one, because Coach Moore loves to see people work for their spot. Let’s just hope that it will be the same quarterback every week and not back and forth. Also I agree with asu7, and I will add that our first 2 titles were helped with great defense. For some reason we have been skeptical on defense since.
Comment by ceez 07.28.10 @ 10:23 amQB can’t throw when he’s sitting on his butt!
Get at him boys!
Comment by JMcCray 07.28.10 @ 10:31 amLove Mcrays post. Give em hell apps!
Comment by DixieDawg80 07.28.10 @ 10:46 am2005 adn 2006 were good defensive teams. 2007 allowed way to many yards to win without a great offense.
This team needs a strong run defense to contend.
This years defense has the ability to be one of the best in the nation; hopefully it will play out that way. Which ever QB earns the starting nod needs to stay healthy too as does the O line. It’s gonna be a great year…
Comment by SpeedkingATL 07.28.10 @ 10:59 amI’ll take Furman over Elon. Furman has more weapons on offense and better depth.
Elon has NEVER won a meaningful game at the FCS level. Lembo was a choke artist at Lehigh, the streak continues.
Comment by AB 07.28.10 @ 11:14 amIf Lembo is a choke artist, what does that make Bobby Lamb? This year could be Lamb’s swan song at Furman since the original Flobby Bobby recently resigned at Vanderbilt and may be interesting in returning.
Comment by Flashman 07.28.10 @ 11:23 amThe jury is out on how good this App D will be. Replacing the DT’s with virtually unknowns, besides Bozzo, is a tall task at the FCS level. Even with college ready transfers coming in, none of them have yet to play a down of Div 1 football. Not to mention, how will the new D-coordinator transition into his new role and will the team buy into his new philosophy? The potential is there and if this D shows that it can stop the run consistently, watch out! I love the talent this D has in the defensive backfield.
Comment by tim 07.28.10 @ 11:31 amhttp://www.goupstate.com/article/20100727/NEWS/100729713/0/znyt02?p=1&tc=pg
It appears that other people may think that relying on the run may be the way to success in the SoCon.
Comment by JMcCray 07.28.10 @ 11:41 amCoach Moore never names a starter until the week of the first game. I dont imagine to see anything different this year.
Comment by C 07.28.10 @ 1:30 pmHide the women and children….App State is coming to town to beat the (edited for family friendly site) out of anything that moves! Jackson or Presley…it does not matter. The beatings will continue until the SoCon catches up to THE NATION!
Comment by Jamey 07.28.10 @ 1:48 pmGoing into the season, barring injury; I really believe we have the best RB in the conference and I really like the prospects for our DEEEfense. What about Tanyi? Has he recovered from his injury. It was a big blow not having him for the Montana game.
Comment by StuckinLodi 07.28.10 @ 2:08 pmI have no problem with us breaking the guys leg since they went after Armanti last year and nothing seemed to happen for this indescretion. “Just one of them racin’ things”.
Comment by App in Greenwood 07.28.10 @ 3:18 pmRubbin is Racin …
I say we bring the pain …
ccc got so fortunate to have missed playing AE twice.
Dang dirty birds. I say we play the music during the snap as well.
Comment by asu7 07.28.10 @ 3:35 pm