Well boys, we made it. It's game week again a little over 8 months after seeing our Herd bow out to the Road Runners in Frisco, TX.
On to Stoney Brook....
I thought going into last year's opener vs. UAlbany that it would be a good opening test for the team....and that turned out to be a little too-close-for-comfort. While I don't see this one being a nail-biter like last year, I do think this will be a good opening test. Yes, I know they went 0-10 last year and was absolutely dreadful - especially on defense. But if you look up and down Stoney Brook's roster, you see A LOT of FBS transfers for this season. Penn State, UVA, Oklahoma State, etc. I'm guessing those aren't just guys who walked on and then left. There are some legitimate difference makers in there. I noticed Chance Knox is now there - from Capital High and then caught 140 balls at VMI before landing at Stoney Brook.
Their new HC was the OC at Western Michigan last year so I expect to see a very similar offense. Their new DC Scott Lewis was the DC at Saint Francis (PA), a FCS program that ranked in the top 20 last year in most categories.
Below are the per game averages for the two programs from last season - you can probably throw this in the garbage because I know we're a completely different team this year vs. last and I'm assuming the Seawolves are as well. If nothing else, this is a nice postmortem of last year. The Stoney Brook rankings are out of 122 FCS teams.
On to Stoney Brook....
I thought going into last year's opener vs. UAlbany that it would be a good opening test for the team....and that turned out to be a little too-close-for-comfort. While I don't see this one being a nail-biter like last year, I do think this will be a good opening test. Yes, I know they went 0-10 last year and was absolutely dreadful - especially on defense. But if you look up and down Stoney Brook's roster, you see A LOT of FBS transfers for this season. Penn State, UVA, Oklahoma State, etc. I'm guessing those aren't just guys who walked on and then left. There are some legitimate difference makers in there. I noticed Chance Knox is now there - from Capital High and then caught 140 balls at VMI before landing at Stoney Brook.
Their new HC was the OC at Western Michigan last year so I expect to see a very similar offense. Their new DC Scott Lewis was the DC at Saint Francis (PA), a FCS program that ranked in the top 20 last year in most categories.
Below are the per game averages for the two programs from last season - you can probably throw this in the garbage because I know we're a completely different team this year vs. last and I'm assuming the Seawolves are as well. If nothing else, this is a nice postmortem of last year. The Stoney Brook rankings are out of 122 FCS teams.
| Marshall (6-7) | Stoney Brook (0-10) | |
| PPG | 22.8 (102nd) | 15.2 (112th) |
| Points Allowed | 28.7 (90th) | 39.2 (119th) |
| Total Offense | 358.5 (85th) | 314.2 (93rd) |
| Rush Offense | 132.3 (93rd) | 104.1 (107th) |
| Pass Offense | 226.2 (61st) | 210.1 (55th) |
| Offensive Pass Effic | 121.73 (100th) | 116.59 (93rd) |
| 3rd Down Offense | 31.3% (119th) | 32.8% (98th) |
| Total Defense | 376.5 (60th) | 470.7 (119th) |
| Rush Defense | 155.5 (78th) | 182.4 (97th) |
| Pass Defense | 221.0 (62nd) | 288.3 (120th) |
| Defensive Pass Effic | 127.71 (45th) | 169.96 (121st) |
| 3rd Down Defense | 32.4% (19th) | 43.9% (103rd) |
| Turnover Margin Per Game | -0.85 (126th) | -0.80 (109th) |
| Penalty Yards Per Game | 58.23 (96th) | 60.5 (96th) |
| Net Punting | 36.0 (113th) | 37.7 (31st) |
