Quote from: Bombers798891 on September 16, 2008, 12:42:03 PM
Hartwick's offense is legit, but they may eventually want to work on putting a defense together...even accounting for the idiotic college football overtime rules that screw up scoring, they still allowed 27 or more points nine times last season. Allowing 34 points a game is not something elite teams do. They've been giving up 30+ points a game for years now, and they'll start being legit the day they stop.
Here are their totals
2007: 34.9
2006: 31.4
2005: 38.8
2004: 32.1
2003: 30.1
The first game this seaosn? 37 more
The 2007 team won five conference games last season by a total of 16 points. Wins are wins are wins I suppose, but if you're banking on winning EVERY close game and your offense HAS to put up 35 points every game, you're not going to be succesful for long.
Look at last year's playoff game. Up 7-0, Curry's defense starts getting turnovers. They intercept a pass in the endzone and score on the ensuing to go up 14-0. Then, after a fumble, Hartwick's defense is unable to stop a 1st and 22, making it 21-0. Then it's another pick, and a TD on the next play for a 28-0 lead. Hartwick drives into the redzone and Curry's defense forces four straight incompletions. Later, another 1st and 10 in the redzone, three incompletions and a 1 yard rush marks another turnover on downs. Then, after two more turnovers, one of which puts the ball at the 5, 'Wick is unable to hold Curry off right before the half, allowing a TD with no time on the clock. After getting their first TD, Hartwick drives back into the Redzone, but is unable to score after a 1st and Goal. Rather than keeping Curry pinned back, Hartwick allows a 98 yard drive in two plays. Down 42-7 in the 4th, Hartwick's defense finally decides to show up, recovering two fumbles and stopping Curry on two fourth downs, but at that point, it's too late.
Curry's defense made the plays when they needed to, and Hartwick's defense never bailed out their offense by getting a timely turnover or big defensive stop.
They made their plays in the regular season, but their offense kept them in the games to the point where all they needed was one stop. This isn't the kind of team that has a defense they can rely on for 60 minutes week in and week out. And that will be their downfall every year.
Look at some other E8 teams who have made recent runs in the NCAA's. (Some of these runs were before the E8 was the E8)
Ithaca, '01: 15.9 PA
Ithaca, '03: 14.7 PA
SJF: '07: 14.9 PA
SJF: '06: 13.7 PA
The reason those teams could make those runs? Defense. The 2001 Bombers won two road games with a backup QB. The 2003 team won 14-9 at Brockport. Fisher hung with Mount Union in 2006 because their defense kept them in it. And their '07 team allowed only 14 points in their two playoff wins.
Every single one of those four teams had offense scoring over 27 points a game, and three of them scored over 30. But these teams made their marks by having strong defenses as well. Hartwick may win a conference title every now and then if they , but they'll never truly be considered a East power (at least by me) until they have a good defense.
I agree, the defense has to get better. Seeing them play, they are very small on the offensive and defensive lines. Not sure why, but they are. I imagine offensivley they can't run the ball as good as they want to. If they could, it would take some of the pressure off the defense.
Look at the WNEC game as an example. The Hartwick offense scored 63 points in 22 minutes of TOP. WNEC scored 37 points in 38 minutes TOP and ran 88 offensive plays. Being a small defense, 88 plays is going to wear you down, that and a lack of depth could be the issue.
I am sure TOP and running game, SJF and IC are much better then Hartwick.
Again, I don't know if it's a recruiting thing, offensive strategy issue or combination of both. It will be interesting to see how it plays out on Saturday.
Look forward to it.....