FB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Just reading stats can fool you sometimes. AU played a decent game. They moved the ball pretty well but just didn't finish. The O had almost 300 yards of offense. The D looked good versus a team that can't or won't pass the ball. It's kinda hard for any team to get going when the other team is shortening the game. I'd reserve further judgement until after next weeks AU game. Anyone who thought that NP is going to win a game in the CCIW should change that thought. You aren't going to win many college football games without passing the ball at all.

au dad;

You are correct. You have to be aleast balanced. 85%-90% one usaully spells bad results.

NPU runs the option offense, gentlemen. Ever watched any of the service academies play? They run the option as well. Yesterday Army threw 11 passes the entire game, while Air Force threw 12 in its game. Navy averaged eight passes per game last year. The whole point of the option is to run the football on every play. If you throw more than a dozen passes per game, you're not playing the option properly.

This is the first full year that NPU has run the option. The Vikings will no doubt have a ton of growing pains with it, as yesterday demonstrated. It's an offense that demands pinpoint precision, and NPU is a long way away from the level of execution needed to make it work against most teams on this level. So, yes, they will be underdogs in every CCIW game that they play, just as they always are, regardless of what offense the Vikings are using. But to say that "you aren't going to win many college football games without passing the ball at all," simply shows that your knowledge of college football is lacking. Air Force has been to three straight bowl games. Schools like Nebraska and Oklahoma had massive success running the option in the '70s and '80s. Augustana won four straight D3 championships back in the '80s running the option, and was the CCIW's dominant program for long thereafter -- all while throwing half-a-dozen passes per game, at most.

The option can be successful, if you have the right personnel and you execute it properly.

As for the "shortening the game" excuse, that doesn't wash. Aurora had the ball for over nine minutes more than NPU did yesterday. The Vikings simply did a good job of keeping the Spartans out of the end zone.

[au dad]

I will leave the above poster with this comment:


Comparing North Park's offense to the Augie's teams of the 80's or any of the Service Acacdemy's offense is not needed. It doesn't compare. Making a "guess"on someone's football knowledge without PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of that person and their experience isn't something ANY OF US here should do.

[Gregory Sager]

I will leave the above poster with this comment:


Comparing North Park's offense to the Augie's teams of the 80's or any of the Service Acacdemy's offense is not needed. It doesn't compare.

It fully compares in terms of style, because for all intents and purposes the style is identical. It does not compare at all in terms of execution, for patently obvious reasons -- as I made quite clear in my earlier post.

Making a "guess"on someone's football knowledge without PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of that person and their experience isn't something ANY OF US here should do.

You made a sweeping statement -- "You aren't going to win many college football games without passing the ball at all" -- apparently without taking into consideration option-based teams that have won plenty of college football games (e.g., Air Force) without passing the ball. Given that you were in error, and that you did not demonstrate familiarity with a style of offense that has been a well-recognized part of the college-football landscape for decades, my response to you was fully warranted.

[oldnuthin]

This is the first full year that NPU has run the option. The Vikings will no doubt have a ton of growing pains with it, as yesterday demonstrated.

Greg,  how many games did they run this offense last year? My understanding is that they ran this offense for 9 of their ten games last year.

[maidenslayer77]

AU BLACK 'N BLUE!!!

[d3fan1515]

Caught BU this weekend at Eureka and was very impressed with the way the team handled themselves this week. The defense played hard and the offense was able to control the clock.  Defensively I felt like they were very good against a pretty good passimg attack from Eureka.  Eureka had some very good wideouts and their QB had a big arm. However, the defense was very composed and only gave up one bad drive which ended in the TD.  People who stood out defensively for me was #51 who had a sack and a couple tackles for loss and also the Defensive backfield!  Offensively, the eagles are pretty explosive! When was the last time a BU team threw the ball for over 300 yards, and 4 passing td's lol?? #4 and # 11 are very solid WO's, and if teams want to stack the box against BU this year they will have their handsfull trying to cover these guys man to man! #1 is the most explosive player in the offense he should of had 200 yards rushing, but runs of 80 and 40 yards were negated bc of penalties! BU used a two quarterback systme this week, and both kids played well! They both have pretty strong arms and we will see who gets the start this weekend against NPU. Good luck to all teams this coming weekend.

[d3fan1515]

Any info on NPU, I knw they run the option, but how about defensively?

[old 40]

D3fan;

I thought NPU did OK on Defense. They only gave up 117 rushing yards anf 181 in the air. Aun did not do much except from 30-30. I thought they were  smaller that AU's Offensive line. Their LB's are good and the secondary played OK. Depth may be an issue as their eason moves forward.

Au will have to play better to beat IWU. They will be OK in the NAC and shouldhave only CUC to beat to win it.

[Gregory Sager]

This is the first full year that NPU has run the option. The Vikings will no doubt have a ton of growing pains with it, as yesterday demonstrated.

Greg,  how many games did they run this offense last year? My understanding is that they ran this offense for 9 of their ten games last year.

No, NPU started running the option in the fifth game of the season on a part-time basis, but didn't commit to it 100% until the very last game. You can see a pretty dramatic break here in the 2009 team statistics between the fourth and fifth games in terms of the running/passing ratio on offense. Needless to say, the mid-season switch failed in spectacular fashion. It's not really the sort of thing that you can successfully install as a coach and pick up as a player in mid-season; you have to start working on the option from Day One in summer camp. But it did give the coaches and players at least a bit of familiarity with it, and it let everyone on the team know that it was the direction in which the NPU football program was committed to move.

Any info on NPU, I knw they run the option, but how about defensively?

I think that old 40 pretty much summed up my impression of the North Park defense as well.

[tm343407]

Greg is entirely correct. The option is something that takes years to get down pat, especially if you do not have the players designed to run it. Also with the comment AU dad made about not passing the ball, does show your lack of football knowledge with regards to that offense. The option is something that must be extremely well-executed in order to run properly. Don't expect NPU to get it down for a couple of years.

[bleedblue]

All this talk of the triple option and lack of passing from NPU makes me wonder if I stumbled on a CCIW board by mistake??

Anyway, anybody got any predictions for this weeks games??

[Gregory Sager]

All this talk of the triple option and lack of passing from NPU makes me wonder if I stumbled on a CCIW board by mistake??

Well, it was all the result of a post about the Aurora vs. North Park game from an Aurora poster that commented directly upon NPU's offensive philosophy. But, regardless, the thread is still relevant in terms of the NAthCon, inasmuch as NPU's opponent this coming Saturday is Benedictine.

[old 40]

Greg

The NPU and BU game should be a good one and a very interesting one. NPU will run alot and based on last weeks game BU has gotten pass happy but they can run with the tailback they have. Field position and special teams will make the difference in this game.

I suspect that NPU will be much tougher opponent than Eureka (no slam intended). NPU is in the CCIW, even though they struggle, will have more athletes than Eureka did. The CCIW is one of the top 5 leagues in D3. Even if NPU is at the lower end they syill will be a tough opponent for any NAC team.

IMHO if BU can't stop the NPU running game then they eat time and win. If NPU can't stop the pass BU will win. Close game for sure with in 4-6 points.

[old 40]

Early guesses for me this week.

AU@MacMurray- was close for 3.5 qtrs. LY but not this year. AU wins Big 38-14.

Carthage@LC- Stats show LC has no D or at least struggles there. Carthage is a throwing machine and their QB throws 5-6 TD's. Carthage  big 52-14.

CUC@Chicago- To much CUC Offense. They control the game and win. CUC 31-10.

CUW@Bethel- Minnesota may not be a kind place for CUW. Bethel wins easy 42-7.

Hope @WLC- Former MIAA opponents face off. WLC is much improved but Hope wins. 28-10.

Loras@Rockford- RU is in for another long year. Loras wins 36-0.

MBBC@Crown- MBBC showed last week they can score and their D has improved. Crown is a very good Offensive team. Crown wins 42-21.

BU@NPU- Another CCIW team. A close game. BU wins a squeaker 14-12.

Good Luck to everyone's team.

[tm343407]

IMHO if BU can't stop the NPU running game then they eat time and win. If NPU can't stop the pass BU will win. Close game for sure with in 4-6 points.

Who wins if BU can't stop the run, and NPU can't stop the pass?