FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

Yep.  This has to be about Mason Zurek and the Little Giant defensive front for Wabash to win it.  That and a clean performance in all three phases. 

Nobody wins against these kinds of teams this late in the year with a defense and an RB.  A QB is going to have to make a play or two here.  Ours or theirs- one of these quarterbacks is going to make a big play that makes a difference.

In this case the "big play" may be a mistake.  A critical turnover by one of the QB's may prove to be the difference.  Perhaps that's what you meant too though, wally.

[wally_wabash]

Here are a couple more things to talk about:

Total Offense (National):

4. UST
34. Wabash

Total Defense (National):

3. UST
5. Wabash

And?

And... they show that UST put up better quantitatives while blowing away the competition in a conference Pat and the other experts think is far better than the one Wabash played in.  I'm not an expert, but Pat and the gang are, so having better numbers against better competition gives me cautious optimism for Saturday.

You should be cautiously optimistic on Sunday.  At the same time, if I had a magic wand and the choice to pick any of the 7 quarterfinalists to play in this round, I'd either pick the Tommies or Wesley, probably the Tommies.  But waiving around pretty similar total offense and total defense rankings against teams who not only have no common opponents and very few second degree common opponents doesn't make any sense. Now we throw in the fact that its pretty clear that Caruso has absolutely no issues with running the score into the stratosphere against overmatched competition or running a classless PAT fake that would only be appropriate if the football were painted red white and blue and Sweet Georgia Brown were blaring over the PA system.  We do that and you still want to talk about national rankings?  You do realize that Zurek has basically rewritten the record book in the last three weeks of competition, when we actually had competitive games to play.  Maybe Raeburn should have really let him loose against Hiram and Kenyon because 35-0 and 38-0 just aren't convincing enough wins.

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

It was clown shoes and you know it.  But I'll play along.  Defend the drop kick when the score was 72-3.

[wally_wabash]

Yep.  This has to be about Mason Zurek and the Little Giant defensive front for Wabash to win it.  That and a clean performance in all three phases. 

Nobody wins against these kinds of teams this late in the year with a defense and an RB.  A QB is going to have to make a play or two here.  Ours or theirs- one of these quarterbacks is going to make a big play that makes a difference.

In this case the "big play" may be a mistake.  A critical turnover by one of the QB's may prove to be the difference.  Perhaps that's what you meant too though, wally.

You can certainly look at it that way.  I think the main point is that quarterbacks will matter in the game- their job will require more than just giving the ball to the back standing next to them.  3rd and longs are going to happen and these guys are going to have to make throws in spots where the other side knows that they have to throw.  Those are the moments that I think will wind up defining the game. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Here are a couple more things to talk about:

Total Offense (National):

4. UST
34. Wabash

Total Defense (National):

3. UST
5. Wabash

And?

And... they show that UST put up better quantitatives while blowing away the competition in a conference Pat and the other experts think is far better than the one Wabash played in.  I'm not an expert, but Pat and the gang are, so having better numbers against better competition gives me cautious optimism for Saturday.

You should be cautiously optimistic on Sunday.  At the same time, if I had a magic wand and the choice to pick any of the 7 quarterfinalists to play in this round, I'd either pick the Tommies or Wesley, probably the Tommies.  But waiving around pretty similar total offense and total defense rankings against teams who not only have no common opponents and very few second degree common opponents doesn't make any sense. Now we throw in the fact that its pretty clear that Caruso has absolutely no issues with running the score into the stratosphere against overmatched competition or running a classless PAT fake that would only be appropriate if the football were painted red white and blue and Sweet Georgia Brown were blaring over the PA system.  We do that and you still want to talk about national rankings?  You do realize that Zurek has basically rewritten the record book in the last three weeks of competition, when we actually had competitive games to play.  Maybe Raeburn should have really let him loose against Hiram and Kenyon because 35-0 and 38-0 just aren't convincing enough wins.

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

Yes, I'm sure the Tommies decided to throw a behind-the-back pass on a PAT trailing 3-0 because they knew that early 2-point conversion would be a difference maker.

[wabndy]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

OK - i'll take it back if you can tell me with a straight face that Caruso would have no problem running that play in that situation in the Stagg bowl.  No? 


I'll save you the time.  He wouldn't.  Why? Because the only way you make that play work is if you throw the pass as a high jump ball - which means there is enough time for most everyone on the figure out that the ball is still in the air mid-flight. A jump ball means either team can catch it and a team with some real power blocking behind it has a shooters chance of picking it off and returning it for a defensive PAT.  But Caruso would have known that he wasn't playing Mt. Union and that even if the pass had been picked off, there was more than enough size and speed to contain any interception.


Besides - this was @#$#$  Carleton!  A team that hadn't won a game since week 1 and you played them in week 10.  The Johnnies had just crushed them 56-0 the week before.  He was worried about the score differential?  Really?  Really?


So basically Caruso wasted practice time the week before to prep and run a fake play that no coach this side of the Indianapolis Colts would dream of running against playoff caliber competition.

[Tom Thumb]

UST is going to lose a game because of John Gould. I hope it's this one.

Not meant to be an attack on Connor Rice, but wanted to point out a few things. Statistically speaking, Wabash may have a greater chance of losing a game because of Rice, not Gould.

Stat                                   John Gould      Nat'l Rank      Connor Rice      Nat'l Rank     

Passing Efficiency                     172.2              10                   130.1                   88
Passing Yards                           2600               31                   2225                    65
Passing Touchdowns                   24                 37                     19                      63
Passing Yards Per Comp            16.67               2                   13.32                    57
Passing Yards Per Game            216.7              72                  185.4                   111

In addition, Gould has a higher completion percentage than Rice (61.7% to 54.2%), more net rushing yards on 47 fewer carries (247 to 205), and two less fumbles (1 to 3). Gould does have one more interception (9) than Rice (8) on the season.

Gould's overall body of work is solid. He gets lost in the mix with all of the big names on offense (i.e. Roberts, Dowdle, Waldvogel, etc.), but I honestly think he runs the offense better than our QB that took us to the Stagg Bowl a few years ago.

[jamtod]

I was already at the bar with a buddy by that point.

Aside from being a different type of play and an opportunity to put some things into practice (that you might not in a close game), I don't see why one needs to take issue with that. It's a legal play and worth 1 point, just like an extra point.

The onside kick up 40-3 (or something) would be the best example I could come up with and I'd really have to put my homer glasses on to justify that :-)

[jamtod]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

OK - i'll take it back if you can tell me with a straight face that Caruso would have no problem running that play in that situation in the Stagg bowl.  No? 


I'll save you the time.  He wouldn't.  Why? Because the only way you make that play work is if you throw the pass as a high jump ball - which means there is enough time for most everyone on the figure out that the ball is still in the air mid-flight. A jump ball means either team can catch it and a team with some real power blocking behind it has a shooters chance of picking it off and returning it for a defensive PAT.  But Caruso would have known that he wasn't playing Mt. Union and that even if the pass had been picked off, there was more than enough size and speed to contain any interception.


Besides - this was @#$#$  Carleton!  A team that hadn't won a game since week 1 and you played them in week 10.  The Johnnies had just crushed them 56-0 the week before.  He was worried about the score differential?  Really?  Really?


So basically Caruso wasted practice time the week before to prep and run a fake play that no coach this side of the Indianapolis Colts would dream of running against playoff caliber competition.

I didn't say we didn't expect to win, and I also didn't say we'd run it against Mt Union. I don't see why that matters or needs to be justified.  These guys are a bunch of kids out there to have fun, and they do that under Coach Caruso.  I definitely saw a more conservative style of play against St John's, but at the same time, it is not uncommon for Caruso to call play fakes, go for 2, go for it on 4th, and kick onside even against tough competition.  It's all a part of the game, it's legal, the guys are out there to enjoy the game of football and I don't have a problem with that. I am looking forward to the game on Saturday. I enjoy watching the Tommies because it's my school, but they also play a fun style. Hoping to take my wife along if we can arrange a sitter for the 3 kids.

[02 Warhawk]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

Down 3-0 during a PAT...how's that possible? The Tommies go for the 'ole PBT (Point Before Touchdown)?

[Tom Thumb]

A few things to add about the Carleton game.

First, it was senior day. Caruso has the largest senior class in his eight years of coaching. He made sure they got in and they didn't just hand the ball off and wind down the clock. They got to play. Guys who have worked their tails off for four years on scout team got to play in front of their families. I would speculate that some of them scored their first touchdowns of their careers. I don't think Caruso cares much about what other people think, he was just happy he took care of the guys who have bought into the program.

Second, for people that were watching that game, Carleton was fixing to upset UST. The first quarter they came out fired up. They came to play. They almost upset 17th ranked Concordia Moorhead a few weeks prior to playing UST. You just never knew which Carleton would show up.

[jamtod]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

Down 3-0 during a PAT...how's that possible? The Tommies go for the 'ole PBT (Point Before Touchdown)?

Obviously you know that I meant before the touchdown.

[02 Warhawk]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

Down 3-0 during a PAT...how's that possible? The Tommies go for the 'ole PBT (Point Before Touchdown)?

Obviously you know that I meant before the touchdown.

I know...just busting your chops. So the Tommies went for 2 when already up 6-3.

[jamtod]

Just to clarify on the "classless PAT fake" - the Tommies were down 3-0 at that point.  Many folks only have seen that play and the final score. Last I checked, 2 points were more than 1 and the goal was to put up more points than the other team - trickeration is fair game.  If you saw that game as I did, there might be other areas to take issue with if you want to call the team/coach classless that would have better standing.

Down 3-0 during a PAT...how's that possible? The Tommies go for the 'ole PBT (Point Before Touchdown)?

Obviously you know that I meant before the touchdown.

I know...just busting your chops. So the Tommies went for 2 when already up 6-3.

Yep. The game was clearly out of hand at that point, right? I'm sure you are aware that the Tommies go for 2 as often as they kick the PAT.

[bashbrother]

One thing I just noticed about the 2015 St. Thomas team:

Against "better" teams,  their offense starts slow at least with scoring.   They then seem to really get it going in the 2nd qtr.

                           1st Qtr    2nd Qtr
St. Johns (1st)       0              7
Bethel                    7             14
CMH                       0             28
La Verne                0             21
St. Johns (2nd)      7             22

Strange pattern -  That's 14 total points in the 1st qtr in 5 games.               

[wally_wabash]

Yep. The game was clearly out of hand at that point, right? I'm sure you are aware that the Tommies go for 2 as often as they kick the PAT.

Now you're just making stuff up, man.  UST scored 91 touchdowns and attempted 76 PATs.  15 2-point tries is not anywhere near 76 PATs.