Not only that but Pennington and Cato have sparked up a relationship. That will help Cato with the NFL scouts. The teams will begin talking to Chad to see what this kid knows and how he processes information and the playbook and if they get the feeling Chad is being honest with them, that will be a significant endorsement...because Pennington is extremely well respected.
It was a special game for sure. Those chants were awesome. Just a special day honoring those unfortunate players who tragically died combined with the opening of the Pennington Marshall Sports Hall of Fame. I was happy to see that entire team go out there and execute. Last thing - damn does that Marshall D have some hard hitting LBs. Those bad boys laying down big hits all day yesterday.
I can't say I saw enough of a difference to make a note of it, but he's just a skinny quick twitch kid that will mature body wise slowly, but ill bet ya he's wiry strong with hi vertical, its not gonna be easy for him to add too much size, he'd have to go very heavy to get those type of muscles to grow fast..and I don't see that doing anything for him athletically.I would let him develop naturally..keep him in shape and work on specific exercises relative to his core and muscles that will be engaged executing the position.. Its time This staff get Gator Hoskins more reps, he's gonna turn out to be a free agent find for hickey.
His work as a true freshman, 150 pounder: [video=youtube;ToYer6gL1NU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToYer6gL1NU[/video]
I knew we were going to put it on Rice. From all reports and stories from friends there, they were completely focused all week. There was little chance Rice was walking out of there feeling like they played us well. Again, I worry about UAB. While I don't necessarily agree with the word "trap", this team feeds off energy. There may be 1,000 total fans at the UAB game. UAB isn't great, but they've found ways to keep it close with us previously. I won't be betting that game, even with the juicy -20 line. I just hope they prepare. Johnson, Cato, the defense, everyone played incredibly well this past Saturday. It was an fun game to watch.
Also, I believe Marshall will be ranked in the CFP poll for the first time this year. I just can't see how they could leave out a team that's ranked #18 in both the AP & Coaches poll. Not happening...we get in there tomorrow night.
Unfortunately, I will take your bet and then just hope I'm wrong. Here is why I don't think they'll rank them in the Top 25. I think they secretly want to give the access bowl bid to Colorado State, and they know they're handcuffed by their own rules which say the bid must go to the conference champion. I think they WANT to put a 1-loss Colorado State team into their Top 25 but haven't done so because currently they're not on track to participate in the Mountain West Championship Game. What they don't want to do right now is go on record ranking Marshall versus Colorado State. They don't want to feel handcuffed to that ranking week to week. If Boise State loses a game, they will want to suddenly rank Colorado State higher, probably higher than Marshall, but that would look unseemly if it's all done in public so they're going to keep this process for the G5 teams as opaque as possible. What they'd probably like to do is go ahead and rank Marshall, but also rank Colorado State very close to them or even ahead of them. But Colorado State didn't even play a game this weekend while Marshall beat a 6-3 team. So while the Marshall rise would make sense, the CSU rise would not. And next week, CSU plays a powder puff opponent in New Mexico. I think the Western Kentucky game could be the one that gets Marshall ranked if they finish 12-0. That will be the moment the committee relents. And the ultimate reason they'd be relenting is because that weekend will determine whether Boise State or Colorado State represents the Mountain Division in the Mountain West Championship Game. If Boise State loses to Utah State at home (Utah State is a good team) and Colorado State beats Air Force (also a good team currently 8-2), then you could see Colorado State AND Marshall debut on the Top 25, with Colorado State ahead of Marshall. But if not, they'll just debut Marshall that week. I hope I'm wrong. I hope they do the right thing and just go ahead and debut Marshall on the Top 25.
There's just no way for it. The schedule is going to keep killing Marshall. Yeah they just beat Rice but now Rice is a 6-4 team and they have to play Louisiana Tech in two weeks. Even assuming they beat UTEP next week we're looking at a 7-5 team and that's probably the best team Marshall has played thus far, and maybe the best team they'll have played until the CUSA Championship Game. Middle Tennessee just lost to Florida International. So much for MT looking like an impressive notch on the belt. They're now 5-5 and suddenly you have to question whether they go to 5-7, 6-6 or 7-5. They face UTEP and FAU. Odds are probably on 6-6 at this point. Old Dominion is 4-6 with an upcoming game against Louisiana Tech which means they'll be at best 5-7. Southern Miss is 3-8. FIU is 4-7 and FAU is 3-7. None of the above will get to 6 wins. Akron just dropped their fourth game in a row and now they're 4-6. They face "easy" opponents in UMass (3-7) and Kent State (1-9) but at this point can they be trusted to put away both opponents to get to 6 wins? I say no. Ohio is only 5-5 and now they face Northern Illinois (8-2) next week so at best they're gonna end up 6-6. Miami-OH is only 2-9. Marshall has upcoming games against UAB and Western Kentucky, both of which are 5-5. The problem? They face Marshall. And assuming Marshall continues its undefeated streak, both will finish at best 6-6. They should both finish there because one plays UTSA and the other plays Southern Miss, but you never know. So when all is said and done, how many teams will Marshall have ended up facing this season that even ended up bowl eligible? And when bowl selection is done, how many will even end up in some minor "Wanchai Beef & Broccoli Bowl". Basically the committee is going to have to legislate from the bench how much losses mean versus strength of schedule in a very extreme case...and I sense the committee wants no part of that.
David Bailiff the head coach of Rice has played against Texas A&M and against Notre Dame. He says Marshall is up there with both. He says he would put Marshall's defense right up there with Notre Dame's defense (implying better than Texas A&M's). He says they're #21 in the country on the polls but should go higher. http://wvmetronews.com/2014/11/15/bailiff-marshall-is-right-up-there-with-notre-dame-and-texas-am/ Also Rakeem Cato on his relationship with Chad Pennington:
If I'm a GM of any team, I'm reading the draft tea leaves. If he's for sure going in the fifth round, then he's my fourth round selection. UDFA, seventh round. Anywhere outside of the top three rounds and he's 100% a steal based on potential. Third round you'd probably get lambasted initially and I don't see him going in the second anyway based on what I've seen so there's no need to talk about it. I think a more than perfect fit would be in Green Bay. Great system, great receivers, great coaching, and a great QB starting. That removes all of the pressure on Cato but you know he'll get good instruction. Rodgers was drafted in the first round while Brett Favre was still around so a fourth round QB is justifiable. Rodgers has shoulders made of tinder so there's always a chance that Cato can get in. Even more likely is a blowout situation where he gets to go in and show off to the rest of the NFL. Acquit himself nicely and he could be a trade piece to a team that's going to give him a shot at starting or he gets held onto until Rodgers goes the way of Montana, Favre, or retirement.
I agree with your strategy of kind of reading the tea leaves on where the rest of the teams are valuing him and then just drafting him a round ahead of that. That was Seattle's strategy with Russell Wilson. However I'm not sure about him being drafted in Green Bay. I think the team that drafts him should probably be running a system that more closely resembles what he's doing in Marshall. Miami runs a similar system and so does Philadelphia. In fact I think Philadelphia is probably the perfect fit for him. Chip Kelly describes his most idea quarterback essentially being a basketball point guard. That's what Rakeem Cato is. He's a basketball point guard with legitimate throwing skills and accuracy. Everything with him is about seeing the field and reacting to it just a little bit quicker, a little more appropriately than most other guys. You see that in so many ways but I think it especially comes through on the move when he is consistently able to keep his eyes up and find a target rather than try and push forward for a minimal gain. I think Philly is the best spot for him unless he's going to be evaluated so highly that he's going to get a legit chance to start somewhere else. Miami would also be a good spot because the offenses are comparable. I have a feeling that Philly won't necessarily fall into the trap of giving Nick Foles franchise money when they're not certain whether his success is his own or more of a system thing. Mark Sanchez certainly looked stupendous for a week in the system. Not so much the next week. But then, Nick Foles looked stupendous in the system in 2013 and then not so much 2014. You could see Philly make it a point to just keep sifting through quarterbacks, teaching them their system, getting above-average play from them until they find the right guy that's actually worth paying.
CK, do you get to talk to any Dolphin Brass related to the draft or anyone in Org. without being specific of course who would really listen about and thoroughly review Cato? I think Miami would be the best place for him and I know we will have no shot at Winston. I would love for us to draft Cato.
The highlights from the Marshall-Rice game. [video=youtube;-R8al4E3SDg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R8al4E3SDg[/video]
If I can only have you guys look at ONE play from this game, it would be this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1073 Seriously just take a look. At the risk of sounding ridiculous, he's like a composer out there conducting an orchestra. He's reading the safety to the right side of the field and then uses his eyes to lock onto the underneath option, and he pumps it hard. This gets the safety to bite down. Then he moves over to Deon-Tay McManus on the comeback route to the right perimeter, but he doesn't like it because he believes the corner has good coverage. So instead of throwing it, he pulls the ball. Then he points his finger to skyward to McManus which tells him to break up the field deep. As soon as McManus gets the message and turns up the field, he breaks his eyes off him and locates Angelo Jean-Louis who is crossing the entire width of the field. He throws the ball to him. The key is why he told McManus to turn up the field. If I'm wrong then I'm wrong. But I don't think I'm wrong. He did itTO CLEAR THE ZONE. Jean-Louis was running into that zone and Cato didn't want there to be another player and another defender there cluttering it up. If McManus breaks up the field he'll take his corner with him in trail and then Jean-Louis can cross into the zone underneath them. I mean, god damn. You know what kind of awareness it takes to do this? He's like Neo from the ****ing Matrix.
Another one that just shows all the things Rakeem Cato has added to the arsenal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2228 Look at that side-arm throw. He's worried about the defensive end knocking that ball down, so he creates a new angle. He can do whatever he wants with the football.
The collection of his plays... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=153 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=329 (Incomplete Dropped) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=351 (Pennington Cato Comments) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=386 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=403 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=410 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=438 (Hand-Off; Execution) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=455 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=473 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=481 (Scramble 3rd Down Convert) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=661 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=676 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=749 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=763 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=783 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=798 (Replay...what a throw) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=809 (Touchdown Pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=854 (TD Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1073 (Completion...SMH) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1095 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1119 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1147 (Scramble Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1165 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1178 (Touchdown Pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1236 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1584 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1596 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1659 (Touchdown Pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1883 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1902 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=1918 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2228 (Completion...SMH) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2245 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2274 (Rollout Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2288 (OFFENSIVE EXPLANATION) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2301 (Completion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-R8al4E3SDg#t=2335 (Touchdown Pass) Second week in a row I think he's had the best game I've seen him play in 2014.
Rakeem Cato Cliff's Notes: Background & Character 01. Father in prison most of Cato's life. Mother raised 7 kids in Liberty City on her own, died of pneumonia when Cato was 13. 02. Grew up playing ball with friends like T.Y. Hilton, Devonta Freeman & Tommy Shuler. Lived in their houses. Was always the QB. 03. Anger issues a theme in H.S., nearly kicked off team. Luther Campbell went to bat for him. Won a state championship. 04. Issues continued as true freshman starter in college. Benched 3 games for being too angry. Worked thru it, led team to bowl win. 05. Bill Legg carefully helped Rakeem work through anger & trust issues. Remarkable turnaround story. 06. Holliday coached Rivers, Tebow, Newton & Pat White. Very specific that Cato is the "MOST" competitive kid he's ever been around. 07. Has two kids. Specifically cites relationship with Chad Pennington not only as a football role model but as a father role model. 08. Marshall insiders emphatic about his character. Helped clean up the program, cares strongly about his Marshall legacy. Statistics & Accomplishments 01. Cato set high school career passing yardage, completion and pass touchdown records for Miami-Dade County. 02. Cato will own every passing, yardage & scoring record at Marshall as well, eclipsing Chad Pennington in 2014. 03. Cato shattered Russell Wilson's record for consecutive games with a TD pass. Previously 38. Cato on 42 and counting (potential 46). 04. Last time he didn't throw a TD during a game was during 3 games he was benched. Threw a TD in 2 of them (11 total attempts). 05. Has 30-16 record as starter, 2-0 in bowl games. Team was 16-21 in three seasons prior to arrival. 06. Marshall's offense averaged 21.4 ppg & 5.0 yards per play 2010 & 2011. Jumped to 43.1 ppg & 6.6 ypp in Cato's final 3 years. 07. Last three seasons at Marshall: 872 of 1367 (64%) for 10,730 yards (7.8 YPA), 102 TD, 27 INT, 62 Sacks. 104.6 passer rating. 08. Last three seasons at Marshall: 213 runs (including sacks) for 684 yards, 13 TD, 10 FUM. 09. Heading into 2014, his 2012 & 2013 third down efficiency was 2nd only to Jameis Winston. 10. Third down efficiency 2014 thru 10 games even higher: 123.4 passer rating, 50.0% conversion (includes passes, sacks & runs). Offensive Structure & Notes 01. Exclusively shotgun-based offense with read-option zone ground game. 02. Due to high run output, 2014 passing game priorities morphed into A) throwing deep on 1st down, B) converting 3rd downs. 03. Cato is tied for the most 25+ yard completions in the FBS on 1st down (20 thru 10 games). 04. Cato ranks 3rd in FBS in total 3rd down pass conversion rate (50.7% thru 10 games). 05. Cato also ranks 3rd in pass conversion rate on 3rd & 7 to 9 yards (45.5% thru 10 games). 06. OC Bill Legg claims all play-calls have three components: A) Run component, B) Pass component, C) "Rakeem component". 07. Receivers coached to always run routes. QB decides every play whether to hand off, pass or keep. 08. QBs have spread it evenly: 340 handoffs (48%), 316 passes (45%), 53 keepers (7%)...thru 10 games. 09. Offense averages 47 ppg, 7.9 yards per play (half a yard higher than any other offense in FBS). Physical Characteristics & Abilities 01. Listed between 6'0" & 6'1", between 176 & 193 lbs. Claimed in interview to be "190 or 193 lbs" prior to 2013 season. 02. "Skinny, quick twitch body. Wiry strong with high vertical. Not going to be easy for him to add too much size." 03. Despite small frame, was a four year starter at Marshall & never missed a game. Four year starter in H.S. with no notable injuries. 04. Wears gloves most games. Hand size unknown. Pump fakes frequently. Holds with one hand frequently. Not a frequent fumbler. 05. Achieved 52.0 mph average velocity on this 114 foot throw, one of the fastest I've tested at that particular distance. 06. Throws well rolling RIGHT (Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) or LEFT (Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). 07. Can throw off back foot (Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) and can throw after moving off his spot (Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). 08. Speed is unknown (estimated 4.68 per NFLDS). Can certainly run (Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). 09. High agility, change of direction and elusiveness. Exceptional cutting ability. 10. Gets great spin on the ball with gloves on. Examples: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Decision-Making & Information Processing 01. Head constantly on a swivel, gets through his reads: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 02. Presence of mind to regularly direct traffic during plays: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 03. Always keeps eyes up on scramble, exceptional at finding targets: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. 04. Finds ways to get ball thru passing lanes, doesn't get batted balls: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 05. Makes it a point to manipulate defenses with eyes, body language and pump fakes: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 06. Knows when he needs to throw with touch: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 07. Shows situational awareness: Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. 08. Prioritizes avoidance of unnecessary contact. Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 09. Shows the presence of mind & body control to minimize necessary contact. Examples 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. (still under construction)
People often abuse the term, "I hate to say I told you so." But in this case every word is true. I hate to say I told you so.
I know you're rooting for them. And we both want to see this team against some serious competition. And it looks like your theory may be spot on. Makes perfect sense.
For the third consecutive week, no team from the Group of Five conferences - the American, Conference USA, the Mid-American, the Mountain West and the Sun Belt - was ranked in the top 25. Long said the committee discussed Marshall (the only unbeaten team other than Florida State), Boise State, Colorado State, Memphis and Northern Illinois as top 25 candidates. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/11/18/fourth-college-football-playoff-ranking-alabama-oregon-fsu-mississippi-state/19239209/
Terrific. So last week they name a top 5 that includes Marshall, East Carolina, Colorado State, Boise State and Northern Illinois. Then East Carolina blows it (again) and they have to drop them out. So instead of whittling it down to four teams they add another fifth, Memphis...a THREE-LOSS team. This committee wants to make a statement against Marshall. They may feel like their hands are tied and eventually they'll have to put Marshall on top, but they're trying to make a statement.
Here's a nice article from the past. Written November 2009: http://coachesaid.com/article.aspx?id=8941
I hadn't seen this before but it's from Daniel Jeremiah around September 17th. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-nfl-prospects
Yes they are and it is sad. Just like Fl. STATE ( Miami fan here ) they are the defending national champions and have won 26 in a row with Heisman Trophy winner at QB and they beat Miami and take a few more points away from them while keeping Oregon at #2 who DNP but jumped FSU the week before and had Bama jump from #5 to #1 this week. I am sure most feel FSU would defeat MSU or Bama..they are disrespecting Marshall in the same way. Marshall is undefeated and beat some good teams. They easily deserve to be in top 25 and could beat 10 of the top 25 on any day..I love watching them play and have for years. They have several players on their team that I am hoping.that we draft.
You know what, rdhstlr....I think you could be right. This UAB game is the perfect trap. I wouldn't think Marshall could be hooked by a trap game but there are a lot of things working toward exactly that. They exorcised a lot of emotions last week at the Joan against Rice. They walk into an environment that is the polar opposite. UAB has a 71,000 man stadium but only brings a crowd of less than 20,000 to home games. It's a dead atmosphere. Furthermore, UAB is actually pretty good this year. They're 5-5 under a new coach. They run for 200 yards a game and their quarterback Cody Clements (transfer from Washington State) is passing efficiently. Hell they only lost to Mississippi State 34-47. The thing is, with 5 wins and a new regime happening...they want that 6th win. That's bowl eligibility. That's everything for a team like UAB being where they're at. And if they have to go through Marshall to get that bowl eligibility then they'll do that. Marshall will have the same problem against Western Kentucky next week, especially if they lose to UTSA this weekend. The thing that works in Marshall's favor is experience because a lot of Marshall seniors and juniors have experienced this before. They went to UAB's dead zone of a stadium in 2012 and lost 38-31 in a game they were trying to win for bowl eligibility. UAB was only 2-7 at the time and that was an effective trap game for the 4-5 Marshall. I think some of the seniors are talking about that game. They know what it's like so that could be working in Marshall's favor. The spread is only -20.0 which would be a very tempting spread usually but I wonder if it's going to be under that, maybe 14 or 17.
Wanny just said on air that Cato should be invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation. Mentioned he broke Wilsons record, but it true Wanny form didnt mention to the audience what the record was. I only know thanks to CK or I'd be confused. So the question is...does Wanny have an eye for QB talent after all
No but he knows who to ask. He asked his good friend Ron Turner (Norv's brother) who coaches Florida International about Cato because Turner has coached against Cato twice. Turner told Wanny that "(Cato) is a lot like Teddy Bridgewater. He said he's not a big guy but he's accurate, has a very quick release and very quick feet, and probably the most notable thing is how when he gets pressured and has to scramble around, he's got the ability to run for 1st downs but more times than not the thing you can't coach is he keeps his eyes up looking down the field and makes a lot of big throws and plays that way." That's a quote from earlier this season, Wannstedt talking about Cato. So even though Wanny is a fan I wouldn't really say it's Wanny's evaluation.
I think rdhstlr has been dead on thus far in this Marshall-UAB game. Marshall can't stop shooting itself in the foot. It's a letdown game. They're winning 17-6 at halftime but they're a little lucky and a little unlucky. I say a little unlucky because actually they should've had a chip shot field goal on the first drive. Truthfully they should've had a touchdown on that drive. They shot themselves in the foot with penalties and got kicked away from the goal line but Cato brought them back close to the end zone, threw a ball that hit Frohnapfel on the hands (but wasn't placed perfectly), couldn't haul it in. That set up the chip shot which the kicker missed. There have been a MOUNTAIN of penalties being thrown on Marshall in this game. And they're all Marshall's fault. It's not the officials. It's sloppy play. They got lucky with that second touchdown. Cato has been pressured a lot as the OL has been struggling and the down/distance is working against them due to the penalties. He's actually done a surprising good job escaping CONTACT including by big 300 pounders which is pretty surprising. He's pretty damn strong for a skinny 180 pounder. On one such play he escaped and rolled to his right, thought he had a receiver deep, tried to heave it out front of him but the ball was a little short and this allowed a defensive back to undercut it and tip it into the air. But the ball tipped up and landed right in the Marshall receiver's hands. He caught it and ran the rest of the way for a TD. I guess you take it however it comes but Marshall needs to clean up their act here. They've got a playoff committee that wants nothing to do with them. They need to keep piling up the bodies in their wake if they want to crack the top 25.
First nail-biter for Marshall this year. They made it through somehow. The defense scored the winning touchdown. Crazy.
The latest highlight video from the UAB game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIktPhEFcrA Rakeem Cato's plays... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=62 (Roll Right Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=75 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=87 (Off His Spot Complete Conversion - 3rd Down) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=101 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=118 (Zone-Read Keeper TD - Penalty Nullified) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=143 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=299 (Blitz Pressured Scramble Conversion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=316 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=382 (Scramble Convert) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=394 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=415 (Hell of a Rhythm TD Pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=435 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=583 (Roll Right Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=594 (Zone-Read Keep) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=615 (Scramble Conversion - 3rd Down) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=632 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=783 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=804 (Rolling Right Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=826 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=840 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=867 (Pressure Scramble TD Pass - 3rd Down) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=893 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=942 (Replay Two) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1022 (Scramble Conversion - 3rd Down) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1039 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1064 (Scramble Left Complete - 2 Minute) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1129 (Dropped TD Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1346 (Execution Screen Complete Roll Left) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1363 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1434 (Roll Right Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1457 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1508 (Rhythm Complete Big Pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1527 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1566 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1578 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1594 (Replay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1602 (Zone-Read Keep Conversion) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1617 (Rhythm Complete) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tIktPhEFcrA#t=1629 (Replay) It's funny you get so used to some of these plays by Rakeem Cato that during the game itself I was actually a little frustrated that he wasn't doing more. Then you sit back and look at some of the throws he made and some of the things he did with his legs and you're thinking...damn!
This Marshall team is just such a feel good story. Hope they keep the magic rolling. They're winning me over as a fan of the program.
CK, do you think Cato would fit into Lazor's offense? We are going to need a very capable backup next year and competition for Tanny and Cato looks and plays like the real deal and I think he would fit right into our system and they could really compete in 2016... Your thoughts please?
