Preview: No. 22 Berry Vikings

Last year: 11-1, 8-0
Change in wins from prev. year: Plus-2
Last playoff appearance: None
Last conference title: None
Last year's rank, total offense: 91
Last year's rank, total defense: 37
Players who started camp: 118
Coach: Tony Kunczewski,
sixth season, 29-22
Starters returning: 10 (five offense, three defense, two specialist)

So how reliable is the info in this publication?

Quote from: umhb2001 on November 27, 2017, 08:09:43 PM

Quote from: BerryCollegeFan on November 27, 2017, 11:16:31 AM

Quote from: Ron Boerger on November 25, 2017, 03:30:33 PM
It's not official yet, but barring a miracle Berry will go down to St. Thomas today.   Nothing to be ashamed about today, Vikings; a solid job against a team much better than you'd seen before, and now you know what to expect in the future.   You have a .500 playoff record (or will) and not many first-year playoff teams can say that.

I thought Berry was overmatched on the lines, but was well matched up in other areas.  CB was maybe the other area.  Berry was a little smaller, but covered well most of the day.  UST's CBs height and length helped them cover better, especially some of the jump balls.  But Berry's WRs were able to get open and beat them on double moves several times. 

Overall a good effort, I just wished the offense had have been able to move the ball more earlier,  left the defense on the field too much in the 1st qtr.

How would you describe the St. Thomas D?  I understand their secondary has size. Were they fast or were they behind? How did they attack the middle of the field? What was their ability to get to the outside?

I agree with BerryCollegeFan's assessment.  UST's domination of the LOS on both sides of the ball was the difference.  I was pleased with the fight the Vikings showed in the 2nd half.  There are no quitters or sissies on that team.  11-1, SAA Champs, and R2 of NCAA playoffs is a great season and all Berry fans are proud of this team.  No doubt they want to do even better in 2018.

My brief thoughts on UST.  Defense is average size and speed, though CB's are tall at 6-3.  A very cohesive unit that is seldom out of position, strong and physical.  The offense is old school, power I football with a big, strong OL and a FB.  Backs are not fast or shifty, but strong and run hard.....mostly between the tackles.  Will throw a pass occasionally off play action & QB roll to opposite side.  TE is big at 6-4 but used mostly to block.  WR's are average size and speed, but run crisp routes and have good hands.  Passing game is pretty basic.  Kicking game is very good.  Summary:  Not loaded with athletes and speed, but a big, strong team (especially OL) that knows it's strengths and plays to them.  Offensive and defensive schemes are not sophisticated, but they do what they do very well with few mistakes.  Exceptionally well coached in fundamentals, assignments, and very disciplined.  Strong run game can force opposing defense to load the box leaving DB's in single coverage.

Quote from: awadelewis on October 21, 2017, 08:17:37 PM
So... Trinity beat Sewanee today by a score of 27-21.   Trinity had a 27-0 lead in the third quarter and let us put up three touchdowns on them over about a  6-7 minute period at the end of the third and start of the fourth.   This was after Trinity's defense was skull-dragging our kids up to that point.

And I think Sewanee would have made it even more difficult on Trinity except for the refs calling a rather dubious roughing the passer penalty and a darn silly (I said stronger words at the time) personal foul penalty by one of our defensive players.

Now that I've seen both Berry and Trinity,  advantage Berry when Trinity goes to Rome if the Vikings keep playing like they been doing so far this season.

Not if Berry plays like they did against Milsaps.  Yes they won, and I guess sometimes good teams find ways to win even when it's not their best effort, but that was disappointing.  Too many penalties and Berry's leading rusher had 38 yds.....that's #$%^ poor. 

Quote from: albatross on October 20, 2017, 01:52:24 PM

Quote from: jknezek on October 20, 2017, 12:15:18 PM

Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 20, 2017, 11:57:12 AM

Quote from: jknezek on October 20, 2017, 11:51:38 AM
With respect Ralph, the odds of Centre and HSU getting in are.... minimal. Centre will have a very limited RRO record and not a great SOS. A 9-1 Centre, with OOC wins over Hanover and Anderson that have 3 wins between them so far, isn't going to fire anyone up. I really don't see anyone else in the SAA getting regionally ranked, so Centre is going to be 0-1 with a mediocre SOS. It's not much of a resume.

Thanks for the response. So I think that we are anticipating a first round match up with Berry and Huntingdon...

It's getting increasingly hard to avoid. Plus it's a pretty pairing. Huntingdon will have an ugly loss, granted week 1, but Guilford is not helping their case. Berry will likely be undefeated. So it will look right for Berry to host Huntingdon in a 4-8 type match up. That leaves the two ASC and two West Coast conference winners paired again, most likely. Hopefully they will spring for the extra flight, sending Linfield to HSU (based on common opponent?) and maybe Chapman/SCIAC winner to UMHB. Avoids any first round rematches, even if some of those teams probably deserve better. Then pair the winners in round 2, where again, they probably deserve better but it is what it is. Meanwhile, winner of Berry/Huntingdon can go a Southern North match up or they just start flying them somewhere, kind of inevitable if Huntingdon wins.

The ODAC winner coming from most likely Shenandoah, H-SC, W&L or RMC can go a lot of places, so that's no big deal.

well said. Huntingdon is the team that could lock it all up, pretty much. I hope they spring for the extra flight regarding SCIAC/West Coast and ASC. That would make things a lot more entertaining...

I'm new to this playoff stuff so it's interesting and educational to read the thoughts of knowledgeable people.

However, me thinks we Berry fans, and especially coaches and players, need to just concern ourselves with Milsaps, Birmingham-Southern, and Trinity....one at a time.  The rest is totally beyond our control.   

Quote from: BerryCollegeFan on October 17, 2017, 08:27:46 AM

Quote from: paparcc on October 17, 2017, 06:54:25 AM

Quote

Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 16, 2017, 04:52:44 PM

Late OFF week for Berry this year.  I believe the coaches started rotating more players as they could to rest legs until they get to the end.  I know several fans in our tailgate were worried about it early in the season.  We will see with 2 more weeks until the break, but I am not as worried about this as I was before, they seem to be well rested.

Rotating players builds depth over several years. It gets better players into your system at a younger age.  Look at UMHB or Linfield or Mount Union. They just re-load!

Not only do players learn the system sooner, it keeps them around.  A lot of 2016 freshmen players didn't return to Berry in 2017 because their chances of playing were slim.  Most gave up football entirely.  That's normal I guess.  But teams made up primarily of Fr and So's usually aren't very good.  So it's a dilemma for coaches to keep guys around, pay their dues, and wait their turn til they become Jr's & Sr's.

Seems like the defense is getting 3-4 deep in most games while the offense is only getting 2 deep at most positions.  WR probably the exception.

RB's went 1-2-3 deep against Hendrix.  The 2-3-4 guys rotated while Collins was out the prior 2 weeks.  It's a long season and they're going to need all of them.  Always good to have depth and guys contributing.  Builds morale along with camaraderie a true sense of being a team.

Quote from: Ralph Turner on October 16, 2017, 04:52:44 PM

Late OFF week for Berry this year.  I believe the coaches started rotating more players as they could to rest legs until they get to the end.  I know several fans in our tailgate were worried about it early in the season.  We will see with 2 more weeks until the break, but I am not as worried about this as I was before, they seem to be well rested.

Rotating players builds depth over several years. It gets better players into your system at a younger age.  Look at UMHB or Linfield or Mount Union. They just re-load!
[/quote]

Not only do players learn the system sooner, it keeps them around.  A lot of 2016 freshmen players didn't return to Berry in 2017 because their chances of playing were slim.  Most gave up football entirely.  That's normal I guess.  But teams made up primarily of Fr and So's usually aren't very good.  So it's a dilemma for coaches to keep guys around, pay their dues, and wait their turn til they become Jr's & Sr's.

@jknezek
That's kind of the point.  Regardless of level it's college football, not Pop Warner.  It's too expensive for schools to provide equipment, uniforms etc. for 100+ players, the majority of whom will never get on the field.   Why waste the kid's and the coach's time?  Keep the best 70, make the 4th string the Scout squad, and let the rest go play intramural. 

Many kids at DIII are very good players but for whatever reason (usually size) didn't get a chance at the D1 or DII levels.  It's competitive college athletics.  On the team I follow the duplicate numbers are always offense/defense.  But regardless it's confusing for spectators, announcers and officials.  What happens when #60 is ejected and another #60 comes in the game later? 

Baseball don't allow it, basketball don't allow it, soccer don't allow it....why football?

Sure wish teams would discontinue the practice of duplicating numbers.  I realize both can't be on the field at the same time, but still its annoying.  So often announcers call the wrong name, especially at away games.  1-99 numbers are available so if a guy isn't good enough to have a unique number, he shouldn't be dressing for the game.

Quote from: BerryViking92 on September 12, 2016, 08:37:51 AM
Good win Saturday for Berry over Lagrange.  Most points we have scored in a game (in our brief history). 2-0.  One to Rhodes.

Both Maryville and LaGrange were good wins.  But can't continue to give up 35 pts per game and expect to win.  9 of the top 10 ranked teams are giving up 14 or less per game.