Down goes the Jumbos, Down goes the Jumbos!

Quote from: The Mole on September 17, 2023, 08:14:04 PM
doesn't  Mammoths defense deserve some credit? Mediocre team was not upset Friday night, much to your chagrin

Quote from: Nescac24 on September 17, 2023, 07:47:04 PM
Watching the Amherst V Midd Game, some things are certain:

Amherst Offense is absolute garbage. Absolute terrible offensive efficiency, O-Line is non existent (although Midd's D-Line is a force), and horrible run game. Pretty sure the local high school team could've put up a better offensive front than Amherst did.

Midd Defense is solid. D-Line remained a force with Kenary and Filias racking up sacks and shredding through the Amherst Offense. Secondary also looked decent with a few pass breakups and small holes that weren't too damaging.

Midd Offense is terrible. Now this is the most mind boggling to me. Coming into the season, Midd O looked to be one of the top 3 offenses. Now, they do have a new OC but still the performance but up on Saturday was one of the worst I've ever seen on any collegiate level. The first quarter looked as usual for Midd, with a strong opening drive and we're absolutely crushing Amherst' defense but after the first quarter. Oh boy. Bad. Not just bad terrible. Let's go over the stats after the first quarter:

*Per drive* -3 yards, 17 yards, 22 yards,17 yards INT, -12 yards FUMB, 3 Yards, 3 yards, 20 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards, 2 yards

Keep in mind that NO scoring was made during any of these attempts. It was baffling to watch, the team went from a locomotive train, to a 8th grade JV team in a matter of minutes. Kennon threw for only 130 yards 11/22 (avg 305 per game last season). There seemed to be no connect with the receivers and Kennon the entirety of those quarters. Passes were either underthrown, overthrown or just plain not thrown when open.

Conclusion:

If Amherst didn't have the worst offense in the entirety of the United States of America, Midd would have lost that game. Their offense isn't up to par with that of last year and the tools they have are being underutilized or plain out neglected. They need to get it together before Saturday or else they will have a rude awakening vs a mediocre Wesleyan team

Did not specify on Amherst Defense due to my previous post regarding to things that are "certain".

Could not tell if it was Midd's horrendous offense that made the Amherst Defense look so good or vice Versa. That being said, watching the game, Midd receivers were open majority of the time, that being said it looked as though Kennon wasn't even looking in the right direction.

In regards to Wesleyan. Watched the game on Friday, they are mediocre at best. Bates looked absolutely terrible and Wesleyan easily could've threw that game. That being said, it is week 1 so you can't take everything as you see it. From a current POV, the general consensus is that Midd will beat Wesleyan and only have to contend with Trinity and Tufts. If they play how they did on Saturday, they may lose against a mediocre Wesleyan football team.

Watching the Amherst V Midd Game, some things are certain:

Amherst Offense is absolute garbage. Absolute terrible offensive efficiency, O-Line is non existent (although Midd's D-Line is a force), and horrible run game. Pretty sure the local high school team could've put up a better offensive front than Amherst did.

Midd Defense is solid. D-Line remained a force with Kenary and Filias racking up sacks and shredding through the Amherst Offense. Secondary also looked decent with a few pass breakups and small holes that weren't too damaging.

Midd Offense is terrible. Now this is the most mind boggling to me. Coming into the season, Midd O looked to be one of the top 3 offenses. Now, they do have a new OC but still the performance but up on Saturday was one of the worst I've ever seen on any collegiate level. The first quarter looked as usual for Midd, with a strong opening drive and we're absolutely crushing Amherst' defense but after the first quarter. Oh boy. Bad. Not just bad terrible. Let's go over the stats after the first quarter:

*Per drive* -3 yards, 17 yards, 22 yards,17 yards INT, -12 yards FUMB, 3 Yards, 3 yards, 20 yards, 4 yards, 4 yards, 2 yards

Keep in mind that NO scoring was made during any of these attempts. It was baffling to watch, the team went from a locomotive train, to a 8th grade JV team in a matter of minutes. Kennon threw for only 130 yards 11/22 (avg 305 per game last season). There seemed to be no connect with the receivers and Kennon the entirety of those quarters. Passes were either underthrown, overthrown or just plain not thrown when open.

Conclusion:

If Amherst didn't have the worst offense in the entirety of the United States of America, Midd would have lost that game. Their offense isn't up to par with that of last year and the tools they have are being underutilized or plain out neglected. They need to get it together before Saturday or else they will have a rude awakening vs a mediocre Wesleyan team

— Breaking —

Rumored Midd WR Donovan Wood ruled out for contest against Amherst

— Bates V Wes —

Interesting showing by both teams. First game of the season so hard to tell early on, but both look like capable teams with some kinks to work out. Secondary on both teams seem subject to large exposure. Holes will need to be filled.

Overall great way to start the NESCAC season.

Summer Camp Update:

Middlebury - Junior Receiver Donovan Wood apparently out indefinitely with injury

Williams - Fischetti focus of offense for the Ephs

Colby - Still ongoing debate with starting QB

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on April 20, 2023, 11:10:20 AM
Agreed. The two best receivers coming back have to be up for grabs between Richardson at Tufts and Wood at Midd. Wood was their clear cut #1 so got a lot more targets but will be interesting to see how they compare this year with richardson being the #1 for berluti with lutz gone.

Any idea who will replace Johnson at running back for the jumbos?

Quote from: Scoops on April 19, 2023, 08:39:59 PM
I certainly don't think Tufts will be hurting to replace Lutz if the rumors of his departure are true. Their receiving group was pretty deep this season, and they had some pretty impressive skill group classes the last few years that should be coming into their own. With Lutz and Tomlinson gone, they still have arguably the best receiver in the league in Jayden Richardson. Easily the biggest snub from the all-conference list.

Quote from: NESCACFball24/7 on April 18, 2023, 08:24:36 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on April 18, 2023, 02:26:45 PM
Seems like things are going very well so far for Logan Tomlinson at UNH:

https://news.yahoo.com/division-iii-transfer-tomlinson-stars-035900570.html

In other transfer news, former Tufts tight end Joshua Meriwether has transferred to Tennessee State, I believe as a grad transfer.  He has not played much for Tufts, maybe injured? 

https://twitter.com/J_Meriwether81/status/1631677281272733696

Meriwether is a grad Transfer with 2 years of eligibility (covid year and injured this year). He started for them in 2021 but was mostly used as a blocking tight end. Looks like he's from Nashville so that seems like a natural move.

In other news I was told that Lutz told the team over the weekend that he will be at Delaware next year. Any ideas on who will pick up the slack for them with him gone?

Lutz (Tufts) Receptions: 80
Richardson (Tufts) Receptions: 41

Wood (Midd) Receptions: 54
Livingston (Midd) Receptions: 53

Not sure if Wood was there #1 guy. Seemed pretty even in receptions and targets for both him and Livingston. In contrast to Tufts, where Lutz clearly was based on receptions/targets. With Livingston graduating, it's not a stretch to say Wood would be getting targeted somewhere near the same as Lutz.

Quote from: Nescacman on October 21, 2022, 10:53:23 PM

Quote from: MidDay on October 21, 2022, 10:11:51 PM


Catches: Lutz
TDs: Wood
Yards per  catch: Elkhoury
Yards: Lutz


In addition to leading the league in TDs, Wood leads in YPC among the top 19 receivers, is 2nd in yards and 3rd in catches.  Major playmaker.  Won't be surprised if he ends up leading all categories with Maldjian injured at RB and greater emphasis on pass game with Kennon healthy (he was injured in pre-season, though Tauber played very well in his absence for the first three games).

No doubt, Donovan Wood is stud, but, of course, he's no Devante Reid...      

Last Weekend Trinity V Middlebury (Reid/Wood) Head to Head:

Reid: 5 Catches, 39 Yards, 1 TD
Wood: 7 Catches, 138 Yards, 1 TD

Keep Sleeping on Midd Nescacman.

Quote from: Nescacman on September 30, 2022, 01:10:23 PM
2022 Week #3 NESCACMAN Picks

Welcome back NESCAC...It's Week #3 in the league where they "pay to play" ... We can't believe that a third of the year is done after this week...This week in the 'CAC: Middlebury tries to keep HCOF Ritter's dream of a final undefeated season alive against the Polars...Wes tries to get back on the winning track at Hamilton...Can Amhurst salvage their season against Hartford State...Colby looks to take the early lead in the C-B-B against UBates....And in the NESCAC GOTW, Tufts looks for revenge for last year's OT loss against the Purple Cows...

Middlebury College Panthers at Bowdoin College Polar Bears: Middlebury coming off a big win at home against Wes...Bowdoin looking to get back in the win column on their Homecoming...Keys to Victory ("KTV") for Bowdoin: Get Eden going...Bowdoin's pressure D gets to the MID QB thus forcing some turnovers...Stop the MID running game forcing them into throwing situations...KTV for Middlebury: Get the running game going...Control the clock and play keep away from the Bowdoin offense...Home teams have won 7 out of 10 games thus far this year and Bowdoin looked good at home in Week 1...We think MID isn't as good as their record...Bowdoin hasn't beat the Panthers since 2009...We think they change that in 2022...We like the Polars in an upset at home...

Bowdoin 24 Middlebury 21
Point Spread: Middlebury -3 
Weather (weather courtesy of The Weather Channel): Cloudy skies. High of 64.

Wesleyan University Cardinals at Hamilton College Continentals: Wesleyan will try to bounce back after a tough loss at Middlebury...Hamilton looking for their second win in a row at home...Hard to believe the Conts haven't had a winning season since 1996...Wes has gone 8-1 in their last 9 games against the Continentals including 4 in a row on the road in Clinton...KTV for Wesleyan: If Wesleyan is able to stop Hamilton's run-first offense, it could be a long day for the Continentals...Wesleyan needs to be more disciplined and get their vertical passing attack going...We wouldn't be surprised to see one of Wes' young stud QBs see some action in this one...KTV for Hamilton: Force some Wesleyan turnovers and get under Wesleyan's skin to force some dumb penalties...Control the clock on offense keeping the ball away from Estevez, Simco, Tomlinson et al...We think Wesleyan has too many weapons to lose to Hamilton...We expect Wes to get back in the win column.

Wesleyan 35 Hamilton 14
Point Spread: Wesleyan -14 
Weather: Cloudy. High of 62.

Hartford State Bantams at Amhurst College Lord Mammoths: We do not expect this game to be at all competitive as the #1 team in the NESCAC faces off against what we consider to be amongst the worst...Amhurst will have a tough time (again) putting the ball in the end zone (they've only scored two TDs in two games thus far AND only had the ball 3x in the red zone in 2 games)...

Hartford State 34 Amhurst 7
Point Spread: Hartford State -21 
Weather: Sun and clouds mixed. High of 64.

UBates (Lewiston Campus) College Bobkitties at Colby College White Mules: Season has not started the way HCOF Coyne had hoped...Despite that, UBates will come out every week and compete...Consider these facts for UBates: last in total offense, total defense, and scoring defense and 9th in total offense just ahead of the mighty Amhurst offense...This week is the first C-B-B game of 2022 and Coyne is familiar with these type of rivalry games having played at both Williams and Wesleyan...123rd meeting between the two, this time under the lights which adds an interesting twist...KTV for UBates: Well they made the QB change and it didn't seem to matter...Need to figure it out against a good Colby defense...We think short, quick passes to their above average WRs might do the trick...Need a few breaks to pull this one out on the road...KTV for Colby: Offense has not been great...Need to grind it out on the ground and let their defense set the tone...We think Colby comes away with the win in a low scoring affair...

Colby 21 UBates 10
Point Spread: Colby -7 
Weather: Cloudy skies. High of 65.

NESCAC Game of the Week

Tufts University Jumbo's at Williams College Purple Cows: Loser of this one will have an uphill fight to win the league as Tufts tries to avenge last season's tough OT loss to the Ephs...Both teams coming off their first win of the year...Did Tufts resolve their defensive issues or is the UBates offense just not good??? Tufts offense has been as good as advertised and very balanced (#3 in both rushing and passing in the league)...Tufts has outscored their opponents 55-7 in the last 6 quarters...Williams problem has been their passing attack which looks a bit out of synch with a new QB and missing 7-year starting star receiver Frank Stola (funny side-bar note...last week up at Middlebury over the loud speaker we hear that a Stola made a tackle for Middlebury...one of the NESCACMEN asked is that the same Stola that played at Williams and did he transfer to Middlebury...of course, that was Frank's younger brother, Rocco, but still funny stuff)...KTV for Tufts: Score early and often...Stop the very good Williams ground game and force the Cows to pass the ball which has thus far been a challenge for them in '22...KTV for Williams: Establish the run to set up the pass...Get some pressure on Berlutti and keep him contained...The Williams defense should have plenty of practice doing that since they practiced against a very similar player in Bobby Maimaron for the last six years...We think Tufts has too much offense for Williams to contain and the Williams passing game can't keep up...Tufts wins in what we think is a slight upset on the road.   

Tufts 28 Williams 21
Point Spread: Williams -3 
Weather: Showers in the AM, then cloudy in the afternoon. High of 61.

NESCACMAN's Picks (winners):
2022 Season: 6-4
2021 Season: 33-12
2020 Season: 0-0
2019 Season: 33-12
2018 Season: 36-9
2017 Season: 35-10
2016 Season: 32-8
2015 Season: 30-10
2014 Season: 30-10
2013 Season: 32-8
Career: 267-83 (.763 winning percentage)

The disrespect to Midd is astonishing

If you watched the Midd V Wesleyan game, Midd is the clear #1  as of now. There defense has been putting up the best numbers in the league and the QB is currently leading the NESCAC in passing yards. Trinity has been getting lucky late in their games which will come back to haunt them later if they do not figure it out. Wesleyan was the clear #1 in everyone's mind last week and Midd completely outmatched them.

Only time will tell, but don't write off Midd