Director of New Media
2:45 p.m. ... It was great to catch up with Joshua Cribbs just a few minutes ago in the press box of Dix Stadium.
Cribbs is working his second game providing color commentary on ESPN3, partnering with Doug Sherman on play by play.
Josh still looks like he could play, so it will be interesting to see what happens if another NFL team comes calling after week six when veterans become more affordable.
Whether he plays another down or not in the NFL, Cribbs has already made his mark in the league, and his knowledge of the game as a college quarterback and pro wide receiver and special-teams standout should make him a success in this new part of his career.I had a chance to talk to Julian Edelman for a few moments last night at the team hotel in Cuyahoga Falls. The former KSU quarterback is in town to serve as grand marshal of the homecoming parade. He spent some time with the Flashes last night, sharing some of what he has learned in the pros and specifically some lessons and stories culled from playing under Bill Belichick with the Patriots.
Edelman will be in the press box at halftime for a short press conference, and we are looking forward to getting a photo of him with Josh. In the meantime, click on the images to the right for some shots of Cirbbs prior to today's game and Edelman talking with players last night.ESPN is following Edelman this week to get film for an E60 special on his rise to success.
2:40 p.m. ... Watching pregame warmups, and Jordan Italiano and Demetrius Monday were moving around well, which is encouraging as both had been nursing minor injuries.
Their leadership in the defensive backfield is going to be more important than ever in the first half of today's game as the Flashes wait for the return of Nate Holley and Najee Murray.
To add insult to injury after being ejected last week after two questionable calls, both Holley are allowed to warm up today but must return to the locker room and stay their for the entire first half. They are not allowed on the sideline.
The Flashes will also be without running back Nick Holley, who will miss his second consecutive game to injury.
The emergence of players like Cuthbert and Robinson in the secondary and a freshman like Myles Washington to spell Trayion Durham at running back shows the development of this team. Depth has always been an issue for teams like Kent State. I was talking with radio man Ty Linder earlier this week and we remembered just how tough it has been in the past for the Flashes to cover up for injuries like Holley's. Even last year, when Durham was hurt, the Flashes felt pressure to move Holley from wide receiver to running back to fill the gap, and then give him the bulk of the carries behind a young offensive line. This year, Holley has developed into a consistent playmaker when healthy, Durham is back, and the Flashes are confident Washington, redshirt freshman Raekwon James or Miles Hibbler are capable of carrying the rushing load if pressed into extended service. That's a luxury with which we are not familiar at Kent State.
2 p.m. ... Just how much will Miami try to pick on Kent State's depleted secondary in the first 30 minutes of today's homecoming game at Dix Stadium?
Demetrius Monday at one cornerback and Jordan Italiano at strong safety are the only regular starters available for the first two quarters today while Nate Holley and Najee Murray sit out suspensions for drawing targeting penalties on soft hits last week against Marshall. Nick Cuthbert gets the start at free safety while Quan Robinson moves in at cornerback. Both played well in fourth-quarter relief against the Thundering Herd, but they are likely be tested against a Miami team that may try to go over the top in the passing game to some tall wide receivers.
RedHawks starters Sam Martin and and Chris Hudson stand 6-foot-3 and 6-6, respectively, while their backups at wide receiver are 6-5 and 6-1 in Sam Shisso and Rokeem Williams.
Kent State couldn't find a pattern in how Miami rotates quarterbacks Drew Kummer and Gus Ragland, but putting pressure on that group with the front seven will be a key to the Flashes surviving until they are full strength in the secondary following the halftime break. Miami's offensive line has done a decent job of keeping all three of their quarterbacks upright, allowing just six sacks this season. KSU defensive lineman Terence Waugh already has 6 1/2 sacks this season all by himself – 3rd in the nation.
Based on the success of the run game last week and the development of KSU's own offensive line, my bet is that the Flashes will try to eat some clock and play keep away by pounding the ball behind Trayion Durham and Myles Washington and throwing some short, high-percentage passes that are extensions of the running game with the potential of getting speedsters Antwan Dixon or Ernest Calhoun into some space. Dixon has demonstrated that he can break it big with those opportunities.
No comments:
Post a Comment