FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wabco]

Don't care about where the game is the week after the Bell game.  Wabash starts its playoff run on Saturday and then wherever the wind takes us.  Besides ... UWW has very fine and hospitable fans (even free parking and no 3 inch thick book of regulations backed up by rent-a-goons), a super stadium and a great football team ... just PLEASE NO SNOW ... PLEASE.

[zed07]

I didn't go to either school, but I have a highly vested interest in Wabash.  I don't believe it can occur on the 116th Annual Mudslinging board, but is there a chance that anyone will intelligently talk about the actual game itself, perhaps on this board?  For instance, how does Wabash slow down DePauw's short passing game?  Can either team produce much of a ground game to keep the ball away from the opposing offenses?  Thoughts on special teams advantages?  Etc..........

[wally_wabash]

I didn't go to either school, but I have a highly vested interest in Wabash.  I don't believe it can occur on the 116th Annual Mudslinging board, but is there a chance that anyone will intelligently talk about the actual game itself, perhaps on this board?  For instance, how does Wabash slow down DePauw's short passing game?  Can either team produce much of a ground game to keep the ball away from the opposing offenses?  Thoughts on special teams advantages?  Etc..........

Wabash has had an entire year to figure out a way to deal with that short passing game.  Two years really.  If they haven't figured it out by now...

As for running...I'm not expecting a lot of action on the ground this weekend.  Wabash's run defense has been very good this year.  Conversely, Wabash's run game hasn't been particularly good in any big game in the last couple of years.  Saturday would be a great day to reverse that trend. 

Special teams....return advantage to Wabash.  Wes Chamblee is outstanding in the return game.  Placekicking advantage to DPU for reasons that we don't need to rehash here now or really ever again. 

[Fripp52]

Here's my game synopsis:  DPU - Even though Spud is or near the top 10 nationally in several passing categories, this is a ball control offense.  They have the number 2 time of possession in the country.  They can run the ball effectively.  They have 2 kids who have gained 500 yards each in 8 games and one of them has probably only played in 6.  The offensive line has been a pleasant surprise.  Spud and the other QB have only been sacked 5 times.  And they are getting better in run blocking as the season has progressed.  The WR group is very good.  Koors, Mulligan, and Dahlstrom are pretty damn good, one of them may be among the best in the country.  And there are 2 other kids who contribute.  The TE is also good, but we don't seem to like to throw to him.  Defensively, I would use the word inconsistent.  They shut teams down for quarters at a time, and then they let up a big play or a big quarter.  The defensive line is not all that big, but is decent.  All the ends rush the QB pretty well.  The tackles are solid.  They rotate 2 groups of 4 every 3 plays or so.  I am not sold on that, but it is what they do.  The LBs are good athletes, but sometimes suffer from bad tackling or missed assignments.  The corners, esp Valdiserri, are pretty good.  Gbur had a bad game last week.  The safeties are both physical, but struggle to cover the deep ball.  (I am being honest here because one of them is my son.)  This is a place DPU is vulnerable.  My biggest beef with the defense is we do not bring extra pressure, like ever.  This is the only defense I have ever seen that sits back and never brings a 5th rusher.  And I mean ever.  I think the scheme is a weakness.  I think we are best when we go to nickel and even dime.  I think it will be used a lot on Sat.
My take on Wabash - QB is strong and throws a very good deep ball.  I do think he struggles with other throws because his motion is slow.  It doesn't mean he can't complete other throws.  I just think the ball gets their late.  It does not look like Wabash has a running game.  I see this other kid is back.  Maybe that will help.  The offensive line is mostly the same from last year.  They are big and strong.  But, they seem slow.  The TE is a non-factor.  And, like DePauw, the WRs are the strength.  I am not sure of the depth they have, but their top 2 or 3 are as good as DePauws.  I think the deep ball will give DePauw trouble.  So, our key is to get to Hudson, and often.  Defensively, I cannot comment much.  I know they lost a lot from last year, but it appears they have re-built pretty well.  Their LBs seem agressive and athletic.  I really cannot comment on the DBs.  I watched the Witt game on line.  The one saftey had 4 picks, but he is now hurt.
Special teams - again, cannot comment in depth about Wabash here.  I do see they have a good KO return game.  DePauw is average on KO return.  They are good on punt return.  Havercamp seems healthy now as several of his kicks went into the end zone last weekend.  He has been pretty good at FGs and has a good leg.  But sometimes, he is erratic and will miss a makeable FG or miss an extra point.
Comments ?

[Caveman # 95]

Don't care about where the game is the week after the Bell game.  Wabash starts its playoff run on Saturday and then wherever the wind takes us.  Besides ... UWW has very fine and hospitable fans (even free parking and no 3 inch thick book of regulations backed up by rent-a-goons), a super stadium and a great football team ... just PLEASE NO SNOW ... PLEASE.

I agree with you on UWW...great fans (and very gracious hosts), great facility (the "sunk in" stadium is very cool), and NO "BIG BROTHER" waiting to bust you for a 'thought crime'.  The 8 inches of snow in 3 hours I could also do without 8)

[DPU3619]

Matt Hudson hasn't seen a secondary this fast and this talented since this game last year.  I'm assuming his nightmares include #2 running in the opposite direction with his football until he reaches the painted area. 

I watched that Wabash/Witt game in its entirety.  I'm not trying to sell Witt short here, but DePauw's defense is probably just as well equipped to stop the LG's, but for different reasons.  Those are some good, old fashioned, corn-fed boys up there.  Big, strong, and going to do the same things to you until you beat it.  Yes, no Hudson in that game, but I think I've got a good enough idea to draw that conclusion.

While Mr. Hudson was very inaccurate in this game last year in general, it felt to me like he didn't have a whole heckuva lot of ideas about what DePauw was doing.  It's a very confusing scheme.  You've got ends dropping into coverage.  You've got safeties coming, you've got corners coming, you've got LB's coming and DT's dropping.  The thing about the 4-2-5 is that you have to have the speed to get your guys to the spot.  Some of those calls make for an awfully long run to get to your spot.  DePauw has that speed at just about all 11 defensive postions.  Guys go from open to covered really fast in this scheme.

I'll say this again, Wabash HAS to run the football.  DePauw's passing offense will have more success against the Hard Hats than Wabash's passing offense will against DePauw's D.  You have to limit Spud's possessions.  He will score it.  If you try to take Mulligan and Koors away, Jon Ellis will go bonkers again.  It happened to Trinity. 

Control the ball.  That's the secret.  If DePauw gets to 70 plays, good night.

[02 Warhawk]

Don't care about where the game is the week after the Bell game.  Wabash starts its playoff run on Saturday and then wherever the wind takes us.  Besides ... UWW has very fine and hospitable fans (even free parking and no 3 inch thick book of regulations backed up by rent-a-goons), a super stadium and a great football team ... just PLEASE NO SNOW ... PLEASE.

I agree with you on UWW...great fans (and very gracious hosts), great facility (the "sunk in" stadium is very cool), and NO "BIG BROTHER" waiting to bust you for a 'thought crime'.  The 8 inches of snow in 3 hours I could also do without 8)

What would playoffs in whitewater be without a little snow!?  

+K for both of you. I remember pulling into the parking lot at 9:00 a.m. prior to that game. I was taken back by the amount of red I saw that early in the morning outside the stadium. I think you guys had two or three RVs decked out in Wabash colors.

[Fripp52]

Wes, agree with most of your points, especially the point around number of plays DePauw gets.  One point - DePauw's base defense is a 4-3.  When they go nickel, it becomes a 4-2-5.  As I said above, I tend to like it when they do this and I suspect we will see this often on Saturday.  I just wish they would bring extra people off the corner.

[DPU3619]

Very true, my friend.  Although, even when they're in that 4-3, it's not exactly your typical 4 deep 3 under zone 4-3 scheme.  Even so, watching the game from a year ago, it seemed like I saw a lot more of the nickel than I recall in the weeks leading up to it.  Plus, as successful as it was last year, I think it's a no brainer that you hit them with it for a good portion of the afternoon on Saturday unless they try to commit to running the football.

[BashBacker#16]

Fripp & Wes,

Seriously, I had hopes you might actually add some insight here, especially breaking down the matchups.  All you both did was confirm the fact that the Dannies are Mount Union?  Really, are they?  By the sound of your "takes" they will be colliding with Mount in the national championship.  Again, your D is giving up some points (call it over 20) and for you to say that the DPU secondary is the best Wabash has seen this season...BARF. 

Maybe Wally or BashBro can provide a preview on Bash.  Our LB's are scary, big, and can all run to the ball.  CJ Gum will be the most physical LB you have seen this season.  He's nasty.

Lastly, I love how one of you complain about the scheme while the other says it's "the bomb."

WAF!

[D3_DPUFan]

Our LB's are scary, big, and can all run to the ball.  CJ Gum will be the most physical LB you have seen this season.  He's nasty.

Big, scary, nasty, mean. Same preview each year from the wide-eyed Wallies. Yawn. We'll see Saturday.

[Fripp52]

BB16, not sure that's what I said.  Read my post again.  It's pretty honest and critical where needed.  I said the D was inconsistent, that we were vulnerable to the deep pass and big play, LBs missed tackles and assignments - what would you call that assessment ?  As opposed to our LBs are scary, big, and all run to the ball, Gum will be the best we have seen.  I saw him against Witt, not the best I have seen.  I guess our guys are scary, big and fast as well since they are the same size as yours.
By the way, congrats on finally selling out your ticket allotment.  We would add more stands, but Wabash can't fill them.

[BashDad]

By the way, congrats on finally selling out your ticket allotment.  We would add more stands, but Wabash can't fill them.

Couple steps too far on that one. Until Depauw has an attendance that approaches the one in Crawfordsville (by even two grand), I'd stick to another line of dissing.

[DPU3619]

Fripp & Wes,

Seriously, I had hopes you might actually add some insight here, especially breaking down the matchups.  All you both did was confirm the fact that the Dannies are Mount Union?  Really, are they?  By the sound of your "takes" they will be colliding with Mount in the national championship.  Again, your D is giving up some points (call it over 20) and for you to say that the DPU secondary is the best Wabash has seen this season...BARF. 

Yes.  Just like I told you on the Monon board an hour ago, our defense did the same thing through the whole season last year and we knocked your ass all over Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium for 60 minutes.

[D3_DPUFan]

Control the ball.  That's the secret.  If DePauw gets to 70 plays, good night.

DePauw is second in the nation in Time of Possession. Against Millsaps this year had the ball for 13 minutes of the 4th quarter,; 42:24-17:36 for the game. And I think we all know TOP for the past two Bell games against those big, nasty, fast Little Giants.