FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[nkwest]

TommieMedia preview, including quotes from the head coach and players: http://www.tommiemedia.com/featured-news/st-thomas-tussles-with-wabash-saturday/

[USTBench]

When thinking about Zurek I think about two other big, talented backs that UST was unfamiliar with and had to corral.

Joel Sweeney from UWEC in 2012 went 27 carries for 104 averaging 3.9ypc. This was the first game of the season and UST needed a late miracle to win, but they steadily improved that year to get to the Stagg Bowl.

and

Brandon Domeyer from Wartburg in the 1st round of the NCAA in 2014. Domeyer went 27 carries for 138 yards averaging 5.1ypc. Wartburg's offensive line last year was phenomenal and UST's D was nowhere what it is now.

I'm guessing Zurek and Roberts will probably carry the ball 70 times combined. (Provided Roberts is healthy) Both teams are going to try to impose their will at the line of scrimmage and anything big we see through the air will come off the play action.

[wally_wabash]

TommieMedia preview, including quotes from the head coach and players: http://www.tommiemedia.com/featured-news/st-thomas-tussles-with-wabash-saturday/

That's a good read.  Thanks for sharing!

[USTBench]

TommieMedia preview, including quotes from the head coach and players: http://www.tommiemedia.com/featured-news/st-thomas-tussles-with-wabash-saturday/

That's a good read.  Thanks for sharing!

Seems like GC has a ton of respect for Wabash.

[smedindy]

Great read. I'm ready for a slobber-knocker Saturday!

[hazzben]

The thing that impressed me was that the TE (Dowdle) was their leading receiver in terms of yards (709) and TD's (8) and also averages 22 yds/rec.  Those are WR stats not TE stats!

Dowdle is a stud. Augsburg had an AA TE, also an AA (national champ) wrestler back when I played at BU. And IMO, Dowdle is probably the more complete TE. Both were monster blockers, but Dowdle is more dangerous with the ball in his hands.

He's that rare guy who can threaten in the pass game and is impossible for a LB to match because of speed or a DB because of size. But more than that, he's a huge plus in the UST run game. They want to establish the LOS and Dowdle gives them an incredible blocking presence on the edge. Caruso is also a master at the PAP, so Dowdle is a weapon he knows how to utilize.

[hazzben]

I admit I don't know the first dang thing about the MIAC, but NOBODY gives up 50+ with a really good defensive front. I don't care if you've got 4 of us playing in the secondary. It doesn't happen.

There were several good to very good front 7's in the MIAC this year. The difference is that UST was at another level with their Oline and RB combo. SJU's front 7 in particular was very good. If they hadn't matched up against UST twice, we'd have a better feel for how good. But just ask UD about the SJU front. It wasn't pretty, even in the rematch, when the vastly improved UD team was going back to Collegeville.

Keep in mind as well, that 50 pt average isn't just the offense. It's the way the D puts constant pressure on an opposing Offense, the field position they consistently produce, the TO's and the Special Teams play. This UST team really compliments itself well in all those regards.

Their achilles heel is penalties. And maybe, maybe the lack of an elite WR. Though their receiving corps is a very good unit top to bottom.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Keep in mind as well, that 50 pt average isn't just the offense. It's the way the D puts constant pressure on an opposing Offense, the field position they consistently produce, the TO's and the Special Teams play. This UST team really compliments itself well in all those regards.

Really, really good point (and something that the Wabash faithful can/should appreciate themselves).

[bashbrother]

Looks like a cool but fast track for Saturday's game.....   Winds don't look like they will be too much of a problem.

Game On!

[wally_wabash]

There were several good to very good front 7's in the MIAC this year. The difference is that UST was at another level with their Oline and RB combo. SJU's front 7 in particular was very good. If they hadn't matched up against UST twice, we'd have a better feel for how good. But just ask UD about the SJU front. It wasn't pretty, even in the rematch, when the vastly improved UD team was going back to Collegeville.

There's a 41% 3rd down conversion rate by SJU opponents that would challenge the idea that they had a really, really good front line defense.  That's a poor number.  168th in the division poor.   There's other factors clearly, but 12 games worth of 3rd down percentage is a really good indicator of what's going on at the LOS. 

[joelmama]

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)?

I was thinking the same thing.  Except they also went for two a couple minutes later and were still passing the ball up 72-3 with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter to go.  Legal sure classy not at all. 

The receiver on that final passing touchdown was a senior (on senior day), Teddy Andrews.  It was his only reception for the year.

So what?  They had plenty of previous blowouts.  Why not get your senior some real playing time in multiple games rather than just waiting for the last one.   I saw they put 60+ on somebody else and there was a td pass with 7 minutes to go there too so it is a pattern.

You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play and not by running up the score with 2 point conversions and throwing the ball to squeeze in that last score late in the game.  I guess there are just alternate philosophies at work here.

[USTBench]

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)?

I was thinking the same thing.  Except they also went for two a couple minutes later and were still passing the ball up 72-3 with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter to go.  Legal sure classy not at all. 

The receiver on that final passing touchdown was a senior (on senior day), Teddy Andrews.  It was his only reception for the year.

So what?  They had plenty of previous blowouts.  Why not get your senior some real playing time in multiple games rather than just waiting for the last one.   I saw they put 60+ on somebody else and there was a td pass with 7 minutes to go there too so it is a pattern.

You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play and not by running up the score with 2 point conversions and throwing the ball to squeeze in that last score late in the game.  I guess there are just alternate philosophies at work here.

I guess I am of the philosophy that you play your seniors on senior day if you're up big. Otherwise, if you're up big, it's about development of younger players who you anticipate will contribute significantly at the varsity level.

As far as running up the score goes, I've been on both sides of a blowout. Losing by 20 or losing by 40, didn't really make a difference to me. I think the whole "running up the score" trope is a little tired. You keep playing until you can take a knee. If I'm a second, third or even fourth teamer I'm trying to show my coaches something and I'm trying not to get my head taken off. Alternatively, if I'm losing big and now the reserves are in, I still have my pride and I'm trying score or stop the other team from scoring depending on my position. The whole idea that you can't pass because you're up 4 scores late in the game is asinine. Nobody gets anything out of it. The team getting blown out isn't working on actual game situations if a team is just going to run the ball on 3rd and long every time. The team winning isn't getting their reserves any legitimate game experience if they just run the same ISO play 3 teams and punt. This isn't HS, there's no mercy rule or running time. These kids are adults and know the deal, and if they don't, well, there's a nice life lesson: life is hard sometimes.

[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.

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

I was thinking the same thing.  Except they also went for two a couple minutes later and were still passing the ball up 72-3 with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter to go.  Legal sure classy not at all. 

The receiver on that final passing touchdown was a senior (on senior day), Teddy Andrews.  It was his only reception for the year.

So what?  They had plenty of previous blowouts.  Why not get your senior some real playing time in multiple games rather than just waiting for the last one.   I saw they put 60+ on somebody else and there was a td pass with 7 minutes to go there too so it is a pattern.

You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play and not by running up the score with 2 point conversions and throwing the ball to squeeze in that last score late in the game.  I guess there are just alternate philosophies at work here.

My original point was not to be snarky but rebut the posting of comparative national total offense and total defense rankings between the Tommies and Little Giants.  It's like arguing that Grinnell has the best basketball team in the country just because they may lead the nation in total scoring.  If you are running up scores like 80-3 on a regular basis in a league where this is generally not how other teams behave - then you better have league leading stats.


If that is the St. Thomas way, so be it.  At the same time, I guess GC is the kind of person that has fun playing  Madden as the Patriots against the Titans in easy mode.

[Tomcat]

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)?

I was thinking the same thing.  Except they also went for two a couple minutes later and were still passing the ball up 72-3 with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter to go.  Legal sure classy not at all. 

The receiver on that final passing touchdown was a senior (on senior day), Teddy Andrews.  It was his only reception for the year.

So what?  They had plenty of previous blowouts.  Why not get your senior some real playing time in multiple games rather than just waiting for the last one.   I saw they put 60+ on somebody else and there was a td pass with 7 minutes to go there too so it is a pattern.

You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play and not by running up the score with 2 point conversions and throwing the ball to squeeze in that last score late in the game.  I guess there are just alternate philosophies at work here.

I am glad you brought up a couple points here that I would like to touch on.

1 "You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play"

Yes, this is how you let your players develop, thus the back-up QB has thrown for 8 touchdowns, and back-up running backs have accounted for 25 rushing touchdowns this year. So yes this is a pattern, not only do the starters put up points but when the back-ups get their opportunity to play they take the field and do there jobs (which is to score).

2. 2 point conversions/ Fake Field Goals

This is a part of what the UST football team is about, it's in their DNA. As pointed out earlier in the board. UST has gone for 2 16 times through 13 games. Which indicates that Saint Thomas goes for 2 pretty much every game. It changes the way the other has to call a game, have you ever considered in last weeks game against SJU, Saint Thomas had converted a 2 point conversion. This left SJU down by 26 after a touchdown and forced with the decision to go for 2 to make it a 3 score game. To further prove my point that this is part of UST football I would like to recall the 2012 Stagg bowl. Do you remember how UST scored there touchdown? Oh yeah it was on a fake FG. Going for 2 point conversions and fake field goals are a weapon in UST's artillery. They don't change that weather they are playing SJU, Carleton or Mount Union.

[MIAC23]

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)?

I was thinking the same thing.  Except they also went for two a couple minutes later and were still passing the ball up 72-3 with less than 1/2 of the 4th quarter to go.  Legal sure classy not at all. 

The receiver on that final passing touchdown was a senior (on senior day), Teddy Andrews.  It was his only reception for the year.

So what?  They had plenty of previous blowouts.  Why not get your senior some real playing time in multiple games rather than just waiting for the last one.   I saw they put 60+ on somebody else and there was a td pass with 7 minutes to go there too so it is a pattern.

You develop players and depth at this or any other level by letting them play and not by running up the score with 2 point conversions and throwing the ball to squeeze in that last score late in the game.  I guess there are just alternate philosophies at work here.

My original point was not to be snarky but rebut the posting of comparative national total offense and total defense rankings between the Tommies and Little Giants.  It's like arguing that Grinnell has the best basketball team in the country just because they may lead the nation in total scoring.  If you are running up scores like 80-3 on a regular basis in a league where this is generally not how other teams behave - then you better have league leading stats.


If that is the St. Thomas way, so be it.  At the same time, I guess GC is the kind of person that has fun playing  Madden as the Tommies against the Carleton in easy mode.

FIFY