Y11 Audio

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

The MAC has made a move to schedule its games with a four-pod structure. We’ll follow suit here with the first of four MAC team(s) preview episodes.

Akron, Buffalo, and Kent State features the Wagon Wheel rivalry and is the most northeastern pod on the MAC’s map. And, to be frank, while there has been some blips of success by these schools to at least find themselves in Detroit for the MAC championship game, they didn’t have the goods to come home with any MAC titles. And if anybody’s going to make it back to Ford Field, it’s going to be a much harder climb to get to the top of the standings.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

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Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Special teamers: forget them not.

Eastern Michigan’s made special teams a big priority for itself over the years. And rightfully so. These are the players that highlight the program-defining moments (hello, wins at Illinois and Purdue) and help define very overlooked aspects of the game. Offense scores and defense makes stops, but special teams determine everybody’s field position before those units hit the field.

Mitch Tomasek and Jesus Gomez were born with steel toes, and having both of them back for their third seasons will bode well for this team, of course. But will there be playmakers at all in the return game?

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Everybody loves a good defensive back.

Year in and year out, Eastern Michigan finds new players either through the high school ranks or through the transfer portal to be immediate impacts on the field. This year’s going to be more of the same in that regard, but who expected EMU to get a 6-foot-4 corner through the HS ranks?

Plenty of transfers can help supplement this team’s depth, and maybe even start right away, but this defense should definitely see improvement with Joshua Scott back in action at cornerback. Daiquan White, who led EMU in pass breakups as a true freshman, also returns with big expectations.

Also, if you need reasons to be blindly optimistic for former Division-III corners trying to make it at MAC level, I’ve got two words for you: Joe Burrow.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Linebackers truly embody what defenses want to do. For Neal Neathery’s final defense in 2022, he brought in Chase Kline and Joe Sparacio who would later help usher in Ben Needham’s defense in 2023.

Now those reliable LBs are gone, who will be the new vocal leaders for this defense in 2024?

Which of the developing LBs will play their way into the rotation?

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

We are moving onto the defensive side of the ball in the second week of Previews Weeks, and we’ll begin talking about guys who get dirty in the trenches.

A lot of returning faces & starters with Justin Jefferson, Joseph Zelinsky, and Peyton Price all back with big hopes in 2024, but DL depth and ability might be what can take this defense to the next level. Last year it felt like EMU was off to a rough start with guys either getting hurt, staying hurt, or re-injuring themselves. If the freshmen in waiting are worth the wait and the new transfers on the edges are as good as advertised, then EMU could see an improved pass rushing grade this year.

I’ve already circled Price’s name, but I’ll do it again here. He’s an interior defensive lineman that has shined ever since he was a true freshman, but it’s now or never for him if he’s going to hit the ceiling that this coaching staff has been hoping to see from him. If he has a good season, then EMU’s capable of having a very strong defense in 2024.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

I’ll say it now. Cole Snyder just might not be an automatic upgrade over Austin Smith.

Sure, I trust he’ll end up playing better football on the whole, but I can’t promise you he’ll be a much improved passer right away. I can’t promise you, just by reading through some of the Pro Football Focus data, that he’ll be a better option as a running QB either.

Also, the NFL’s preseason is actually underway now after two games played yesterday (and the Hall of Fame game last week). Chase Kline, who recently tried his shot at making an NFL team, is going to pursue a different opportunity via WWE Summerslam tryouts.

To help preview Previews Weeks, we’ll go through each of the positions Monday through Thursday this and next week, and then have conference-wide previews in the the third week. We’ll focus on Eastern Michigan’s offensive positions this week, then its defensive episodes will air next week.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Two position groups here to wrap up the offensive positions look-ats through the first week of Prevews Weeks

First, running backs. Samson Evans and Jaylon Jackson, two uber-reliable players that could help move the football in more ways than one, are big losses for this program. Lots of new faces could help define how EMU moves past those struggles, but the main key objective, in my eye is pretty clear: don’t get caught trying to chase ghosts.

After the RBs, we focus the rest of our talk around the team’s tight ends. Not every tight end develops into being the same product on the field because not every tight end comes into the program the same way. There are converted wide receivers, converted quarterbacks, and the standard sixth offensive lineman can always go out and try to catch a pass when defenses least expect it. Jere Getzinger’s a quality senior to help make this offense work, but will the pass-catching tight ends end up being bigger factors in games this season?

To help preview Previews Weeks, we’ll go through each of the positions Monday through Thursday this and next week, and then have conference-wide previews in the the third week. We’ll focus on Eastern Michigan’s offensive positions this week, then its defensive episodes will air next week.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Of these skilled receivers, who will be the new starting quarterback’s best friend in 2024?

Darius Lassiter leaving the program last spring really hurt the offense in a number of ways, even if his departure led to more playing time for J.B. Mitchell. The junior college product was able to be a difference maker in his cameo season with EMU as he built a working relationship with grad transfer QB Taylor Powell. Now, two years later, this team is hoping to find that kind of magic again with four new transfers, and a host of other returning talents that are fighting for playing time.

To help preview Previews Weeks, we’ll go through each of the positions Monday through Thursday this and next week, and then have conference-wide previews in the the third week. We’ll focus on Eastern Michigan’s offensive positions this week, then its defensive episodes will air next week.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

Yesterday we began this series by talking about the quarterbacks. But who’s going to block for them?

Last year’s TFL allowed percentage of 11.07% was tenth-worst in the nation. Some of that had to do with poor performance from the QBs, but the O-line wasn’t without its issues.

Mickey Rewolinski returns as the most experienced lineman, but after that there isn’t a lot of experience back. Broderick Roman’s been with the team the longest out of this group, but his injury history doesn’t provide a ton of confidence in how long he’ll be able to hold up in 2024.

Could this be a transfer-heavy line? Chris Mayo (West Virginia) and Carson Lee (Colorado) are returning former transfers that should see a lot of time this year, and Owen Snively (Colorado State) returns as well. Plus, four transfers joined the team this offseason to compete with some of the younger underclassmen that are still on roster.

To help preview Previews Weeks, we’ll go through each of the positions Monday through Thursday this and next week, and then have conference-wide previews in the the third week. We’ll focus on Eastern Michigan’s offensive positions this week, then its defensive episodes will air next week.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of Y11 Audio; and welcome to the beginning of Previews Weeks! Let’s preview everything that EMU and the Mid-American Conference have to offer this season in the three weeks leading up to 2024’s season kickoff.

To begin Previews Weeks, we’re going to spend a few minutes today talking about, that’s right, EMU’s quarterback room.

Cole Snyder, who started the last two seasons at Buffalo, comes to Eastern Michigan as a graduate transfer after his Buffalo career ended by watching the Eagles clinch bowl eligibility against him and his former team. Jeremiah Salem, a former walk-on, was EMU’s Scout Team Player of the Year last season and is listed as Snyder’s competition for the QB1 position.

Drew Viotto and Jace Stuckey are two freshmen-level players with a ton of potential and buzz surrounding them. That doesn’t mean they’ll get much playing time this year though.

To help preview Previews Weeks, we’ll go through each of the positions Monday through Thursday this and next week, and then have conference-wide previews in the the third week. We’ll focus on Eastern Michigan’s offensive positions this week, then its defensive episodes will air next week.

Y11 Audio is available via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and basically wherever else podcasts are found.

Reach out to the show

Substack newsletter: Ypsi11.com

Twitter: @ARAlvarado13 | @YpsiEleven

Email: [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

ypsilantieleven.substack.com