NJAC coaches exclude Lions from post-season party
http://wp.me/pChoN-kX

********************

Now, my slight bias toward TCNJ (more familiarity than favor) trapped me into surprise when these awards came out. But for the top award-winners, there's really not a whole lot of arguing.

Chunn was the conference's only 1,000-yard rusher, so it seems fair he's its top offensive performer. Looking back at the numbers, though, it's hard to choose either him or Wilczynski over the other. Both of them did work in 2009.

Don't know how I dropped the ball on the Defensive Player of the Year, but that pick shouldn't astound, either.

If anyone's got thoughts, throw them out and about.

-Matty

TCNJ Player: Rowan coach wanted to fight me
full story http://wp.me/pChoN-kT

"I attempted to sit down and give you a rundown on Montclair but I am biased, Dave you take this one! What I can say is our team is very well coached, defense is very good, we swarm, we tackle, we hit, create pressure. If Maine is a veer option team, we will be ready, my senior year in 05 we played a Salisbury State team that was ranked top 5 in the Country who ran the option and I believe last year or the year before we played Springfield when they had that really good QB who ran the option is well. It's assignment football, who has the full back and QB to pitchman.

Hope that helped a little..."

Montclair State was a team that surprised me. Both when it didn't play up to par against TCNJ and then when it beat Kean in that unofficial conference championship.

I think one of the biggest problems with the team -- again, only when I saw them -- was the quarterback position, and I don't think it was a question of capability. TCNJ rolled the dice on a blitz, and Fischer made them pay, dropping a 40-something yard ball to one of his receivers running a fade, trying to beat single-coverage. Call it a good ball, good route -- both. But the fact of the matter is, that play showed that he's got the talent. If someone's going to bring the heat and leave their corners on an island, every offense needs a player under center that can execute those down-the-field shots. At least then, it seemed like MSU had it.

Problem was, he had struggled for a few games earlier, and got benched in the second half of (I believe) the Buffalo State game. There is so much raw information running through a quarterback's head on every play -- translate the signal from the sidelines, make sure the play and the formation match (coaches make mistakes) call the play in the huddle, make sure everyone's aligned properly (and set before the ball can be snapped), read the defense, possibly make a pre-snap check, and then, and only then, snap the football and execute the play.

Imagine trying to do all that with the tiniest iota of doubt in yourself after getting pulled.

I didn't see a whole lot of variety from their running game. I don't know if it was personnel, philosophy or some combination therein, but I wasn't impressed with the performance put forth by their ground attack. TCNJ stacked the box and, for whatever reason, MSU continued to pound the rock in the middle -- to no avail (1.2 yds/carry). There had to be a better way to get that facet of their attack going. Maybe a swing or slip screen? Bliss didn't seem like he had the wheels to guarantee he made the corner every time, but I would have liked to see more of a committee out of their backfield. Again, that might just be that they didn't have the man-power.

No disrespect.

Obviously their D is dirty. Nothing more needs to be said about that.

And, I guess I'm saying this twice now, how about those special teams? Punter just won NJAC Player of the Week for his afternoon this past Saturday, and their kicker beat TCNJ on the school's homecoming. Call it the squad of misfit toys, but there are three dimensions to a football team. Two-thirds just doesn't cut it.

"What can you tell me about their WR (Hajnos) and RB (Sair)...

Is Sair any relation to Stef Sair?"

Hanjos is a solid wide receiving option, but the team's 2009 season wasn't predicated on its running game. It was also difficult to gauge, considering Smith was still settling back in as the team's quarterback (for everyone that didn't know, he started the season as the team's receivers coach, but, with one year of eligibility remaining, returned to the team after it lost its fourth quarterback).

As for Sair -- whose genealogy I unfortunately don't know anything about -- he's a bruiser. He was the team's starting fullback last year, though when the Red Dragons stopped getting production out of their tailback spot (sorry if that sounds like I'm calling anyone out) they made the switch, two weeks before I got to see him play against TCNJ. The best comparison I can offer is Ron Dayne in his prime for Wisconsin way back when. It wasn't necessarily that he didn't have the agility or capability of getting low enough to make people miss. He just didn't need to.

Based only on what I saw -- mind you, after the team had already been decimated by injuries (scratched a CB the morning of and a backup-turned-starter TE went down in pre-game) -- SUNY-Cortland's strength was its defense without question. The Red Dragon's two defensive ends smother based on their athleticism, but they're also fundamentally sound football players. None of that shoulder-tackling garbage. Head on football (or chin). Punch through. Grab cloth. I'm pretty sure Wiley and Wyler (both T-12 in nation in sacks) are being looked at as possible undrafted free-agent signings in April's NFL Draft. It was a shame that I didn't get to see the two play against a healthy TCNJ offensive line, but they were both extraordinarily dominant football players.

Last note (sorry if this is kind of long) SUNY-Cortland's special teams unit deserve a ton of credit. I guess that also means their coach does too. Their place-kicker, Marc Corrado, drilled something like a 40+-yarder, and it looked like it had some mustard to spare. I'm pretty sure that their punter, Kyle Peterson, won NJAC Player of the Week honors earlier in the year, and Justin Autera won its top specialist award -- in addition to getting a hold of a top offensive rookie.

Best -- or worst I guess, from TCNJ's perspective -- their recruiting base is absurd. Yes. Absurd. The amount of prospective kids they had in the stands eying up the program was staggering. It's not like you see that same pool in Trenton, that's for sure. It's a shame they got caught with that damn bug, but they should be able to fill holes vacated by injuries and graduates.

If anyone else is curious, I have plenty to say for just about every program.

...Still waiting for your calls on NJAC post-season awards. C'mon fellas. Time is money.

ROWAN-39, TCNJ-0
Win gives Profs' record a W, fight after tarnishes everything else
http://wp.me/pChoN-kB

***

So I guess I'm eating my words on that pre-game prediction I threw out Friday, but congrats to MSU on the NJAC championship.

Didn't hear about much, only got the NJAC POTW release with the final score. What ended up giving? Kean's D seemed like it came to play, but I guess Montclair's unit left a smaller margin of error.

ALSO

Before conference selections come out, I'm curious to hear your guys' thoughts on front-runners for NJAC Player of the Year Awards.

You've gotta love what Jake Graci (Brockport) has done with the football when he's found receivers. But the mountain of picks -- combined with the Golden Eagles' 4-6 record -- has got to be a disadvantage. Wins, losses and everything else aside, I'm pretty sure we can concede post-season daps for his teammate (LB Nate Bull) as the conference's top defensive performer.

I like Rowan's Wilczynski for offense. I'm torn between him and Jared Chunn of Kean (who's actually a really nice dude, bt-dubs). Even after Week 6 I'd have put my cash-money on Chris James, but no Vegas line could have called that late-season skid -- or the ridiculous amount of injuries.

Edge to Chunn, since he's the most potent threat on the team with the better record. But I'd have to think that principles and the implications of selecting a back-to-back winner might scuff his chances. Watching FW operate that offense -- without, mind you, a healthy Ryan Leafey -- was pretty impressive though, I'll admit easily.

Eddie Weiser is a lock for the defensive rookie performer, and I'd have to say James Kinloch for Rowan is the favorite on the other side.

Specialist is up in the air though. If I had to guess, I'd say that Kean's utility kicker (sorry dude, drawing a blank on your name) has to be the front-runner. Zucconi's the country's second-best punter, but he's missed a few field goals down the stretch. Billy Daniels (there it is) has kicked a ton of field goals and seems to be just as reliable on punts.

Thoughts?

Probably a hopeless request, but let's keep it positive. That joke of a finish to the TCNJ/Rowan game but as negative a damper on my weekend as a cold sore on a 16-year-old's high school prom picture.

Man...such a busy day....

It's now or never: For none more than TCNJ's James
http://wp.me/pChoN-kt

TCNJ vs. Rowan: Need I say more?
http://wp.me/pChoN-km

Lions Offense Missing Big Uglies, Uber Productivity
http://wp.me/sChoN-oline

**********************************************

So I'm curious, what's been everyone's take on TCNJ? Offense, defense, Chris James, stacked senior wideouts? I'm not trying to filter anyone out, but I'm much more interested in fan opinions based on what they've actually seen.

And please, no numbers. My head is throbbing from them.

I can't help but wonder--two blown fourth-down tries against Kean (kudos to Cougar D for getting big when it needed to) and three missed field goals against Montclair State University. Maybe SUNY-Cortland wasn't a winnable game. But the Lions had Willie P on the ropes--and if you're trying to talk about teams much more talented than their records suggest, well, there you go.

Aside from three inexcusable let-downs against West Conn, they without question win that game too. Probably could have anyway. But [stuff] happens, right?

It's hard because I've watched these guys since training camp and I've believed they could contend since August--maybe even before. But I obviously haven't had the same opportunity with any other program.

So, D3Football.com, you decide. Was TCNJ ever a viable contender for the NJAC, or was 2007--and early 2009--an anomoly?

[Time to be talking Montclair / Kean. This Hammond guy is really pissing me off. Let's open up a board for him and let him go away. I'm surprised Phil hasn't jumped in.

Can't believe the size of the Kean "D" line. The Montclair "O" line better be quick.]

I kind of have to agree.

It's no disrespect to the Red Hawks' hogs, but they got handled by TCNJ's undersized D-line. The Lions front-four are a talented group that's underperformed most of the season, but--based on that performance alone--I can't see Bliss or Fischer getting going against Williams and that stout Cougar first-level.

No disrespect to MSU, but even if Kean's D is only marginally more talented than TCNJ's boys, they're massive. Maybe it's a prediction sure to go wrong, but I'm calling at least 30 rush yards in the red to go against whatever Montclair is able to muster positively.

Advantage Kean.

How has D'Ambrisi looked? Kid's got a cannon but he hasn't been asked of much for most of the year (why would you, when you've got Chunn). Still, if this team hopes to go far, I really believe he's going to have to excel when he's asked to, and I'm curious whether anyone thinks he's got the goods -- this year.

God knows he'll be dirty as a junior, and a preseason front-runner for NJAC Offensive POTY in 2011.

Lions Offense Missing its Big Uglies, Uber Productivity
http://wp.me/pChoN-kp

TCNJ vs. Rowan: Need I say more?
http://wp.me/pChoN-km

Anyone got some stories from the rivalry? I'm pretty sure it's among the fiercest in the conference, even though it's been lacking in competitiveness (I think the analogy I used was USC vs. ND), but hey, that's why this is a forum, right?

Thoughts?

Better, where would you guys rank your Top 5 NJAC rivalries and based on what criteria?

Valid point--it's probably not particularly relevant.

But as a reporter it's not your job to discuss. Columnist, maybe. But I don't value my opinion as any more or less important than anyone else's and when it's offered it's blatantly listed as such. Unlike 90% of the sports media field, I try to segment fact and opinion.

Compartmentalization, baby.

(Try it. Kind of like allocating time toward doing your job at the office, not littering everyone else's otherwise civil discussion board.)

Call it self-promotion, advertisement or whatever you want. I'm putting out information.

Whether you agree with it or not isn't anything I can control, nor would I try to. And I won't be offended if someone happens to feel differently -- even Terd's lonesome a Capella self-applause. Instead, if I'm invoking heartfelt responses, good or bad, at least someone cares about TCNJ football -- which, as we now all know, isn't statistically the case.

But it's kind of part of the description to poke and then watch.

Quietly.

Which is about what I've done until now.

If my two-line posts -- which, for clarification, link to individual posts, not the blog's home page (you don't have to dig, and can read on only if you choose) -- are so resoundingly obnoxious, then skip over them.

It shouldn't be difficult, and then, Terd, you can get back to your input, about as valuable as a sorority girl posting her wardrobe dilemmas on Facebook.

For everybody else, allow me to offer my sincerest apologizes for my role in wasting everyone's time. Responding like that -- a reduction to ultimate absurdity -- isn't really appropriate, let alone professional.

But hey, I've got 30+ years to be tight-assed, right?

*******

So what do you guys think? Is there any parity in the NJAC, or is Montclair, Kean and SUNY-Cortland (in no particular order) on the better half of a palpable rift in the conference?

Oh, forgot about Rowan (no disrespect). Frank Wilczynski might win NJAC POTY if Chunn doesn't repeat right?

Any other candidates?

For offense, that is. I'd be shocked if Nate Bull doesn't win a unanimous selection as its top defensive stud of 2009.

Weiser's got a lock on top defensive rookie, and the receiver out of Rowan might help the Profs clean up post-season awards if F-Dubs gets the nod.

Thoughts?

...You know what...maybe you're right...

It's pretty ridiculous that a student at the school covering the team -- who's since earned internship credit for the project -- would actually bother himself with statistically substantiating what he's seen since August.

I mean, TCNJ's defensive coordinator is just the figurehead son's coach, right?

It's not like Eric Hamilton ranks among the nation's winningest in history, and Matt Hamilton -- not himself a graduate of the highly-accredited institution, far too unobservant to learn a damned thing -- couldn't have picked up a few pointers after watching Jay Hoffman's defenses round out the NCAA's Top 25 year after year.

Not a chance, there's just no way.

Worse, who the hell does this Matty think he is, adding TCNJ to the conversation -- a program imprisoned by a school whose academic standards and a president who doesn't give a damn ceiling any year-to-year progress?

Psh -- what a clown.

It's much more reputable for a 31-year old to post upwards of 2 responses daily to senseless banter on a D3 football forum. I mean, for the people who take advantage of the one medium through which they can B.S. about their alma maters and children's current teams, that's just a waste -- so is anything positive.

Naive, these kids are Terd. Naive.

Now, a lot of the discussion topics aren't exactly "intelligent conversations" but, no worries folks, with the added noise of toddler-caliber insults, the site is everything you've ever wanted.

You want brilliance, flavor? Well D3.com, You've got Terd Fergusen.

Thanks dude, and keep reading! It's feedback like that that keeps me going

(Well, that and $1.49 Quick Chek coffee--anyone else feeling the seasonal pumpkin brew? Try it, such a good investment.)

Don't blame it on the D: Numbers suggest vast improvement in TCNJ defense
http://wp.me/pChoN-ki

TCNJ's future brightened in spite of dismal present
http://wp.me/sChoN-youth

TCNJ's Burns wins 2nd NJAC award--both with strings attached
http://wp.me/pChoN-jT

Colonials' big plays gash TCNJ, which couldn't return the favor
http://wp.me/pChoN-jM