FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

BB16/Wabco/Wally - Do you have an update on the DLine and other key returning starters on D? (its been a long summer)

From the DL, Whyde graduated after starting all 11 games last season.  But, returning along that line are:

Jake Kolisek - 11 Games Played, 11 Games Started in 2009
Kenny Coggins - 11 GP, 10 GS
JD McClintic - 11 GP, 6 GS (started in the Bell and playoff games)

That's a good, experienced group coming back.  Who is going to step in for Whyde...16 probably has a better idea than I do, but I'd guess Zinsmaster is in line to start this year.  Or Clegg.  We shall see. 

[zed07]

Coggins is out of eligibility I believe.  For football, anyway.

[Duster72]

Bashbro - how in the world did you get that pic of the new jerseys?  Very sharp, dig them.  

BashDad#84 - perhaps you should show the "BACK" of Wes' jersey??    That will be a more frequent view of #84.

Alright...lots of question marks on the Bash O-front and no one has provided any specifics or names.  Here are some names that should be competing up front...just my opinion.  Hopefully Brent Harris will have the roster posted and updated...I know I am missing some guys too going off the 2009 roster.  I like the fact that ER has this group and I like that these guys have been in the program waiting on their shot.  The size is there for sure.

Sr. Nick Durm, 6'5 280 (should be a leader up front)
Jr. Chris Daniel, 6'5 303
Jr. Jack Ruddy, 6'1 278 (needs to stay healthy but could be nasty)
So. Wes Kitley, 6'4 290
So. Chase Tichenor, 6'2 275

Can't wait til camp!!!  WAF!!!

I know Weston is hoping to have a shot at a spot on the line.  He got in some 4th Quarter minutes last year in the blowouts.  So I think your list is reasonably close.  I like how ER seems to be reshaping the team to be a little more balanced.

[wally_wabash]

I know Weston is hoping to have a shot at a spot on the line.  He got in some 4th Quarter minutes last year in the blowouts.  So I think your list is reasonably close.  I like how ER seems to be reshaping the team to be a little more balanced.

I think balance has a lot to do with available personnel.  Here's the breakdown of run plays as a percentage of total plays run for Wabash over the last several years:

2001 - 49.7% run
2002 - 53.7%
2003 - 59.2%
2004 - 56.2%
2005 - 53.3%
2006 - 46.4%
2007 - 45.8%
-----------------
2008 - 55.9%
2009 - 54.5%

So CC's offenses generally ran more than they passed, except for '06-'07 when, frankly, Wabash didn't have the personnel to lean on the run game.  Interesting to note that CC's two highest run% years were 2003 and 2004...his two worst seasons record-wise at the College.  Being able to run is important...being able to make first downs and score points is more important.  If the path of least resistance to the end zone is through the air, then I say let it fly.   I'll take TD's over balance all day every day. 

[bashbrother]

For the most part, in my opinion, CC's offenses relied on the pass to set-up the run.  Especially in the tougher games on the schedule.  They were pass focused offenses in reality, although the numbers show quite a bit of balance.

Some of this balance came from the fact that many times early in the second half of lopsided games (which there were plenty), the passing attack went on the shelf and the rushing numbers were bolstered.

To some extent, this is also creating more balanced numbers for the ER led offenses.

[wally_wabash]

For the most part, in my opinion, CC's offenses relied on the pass to set-up the run.  Especially in the tougher games on the schedule.  They were pass focused offenses in perception, although the numbers showed quite a bit of balance.

Some of this balance came from the fact that many times early in the second half of lopsided games, the passing attack went on the shelf and the rushing numbers were bolstered.

To some extent, this is also creating more balanced numbers for the ER led offenses.  

This is still very much the case now.  2008 is a great example.  Wabash had a streak of four games in a row with 180+ rush yards (the last three with over 200 rush yards per game) heading in to the Witt game.  Witt week comes and Wabash runs 20 times for 33 yards.  Whoopsie.  Wabash then ran all over people until the games got challenging again...the final three games for Wabash in 2008:
26 for 79 yards vs. DPU
37 for 87 yards vs. CWRU (who Wabash ran all over the year before you'll recall)
23 for 36 yards vs. Wheaton

Wabash hasn't been a run-first team since 2003 (maybe 2004).  It's no coincidence that two of the best RBs to wear the uniform were on that roster.  Wabash hasn't had a back of the Morris/Lafitte caliber since, well, Morris/Lafitte.  I'd wager an adult beverage that if/when Wabash has that kind of back on the roster again, we'll see more run-first schemes against the better teams.  But for now, the best offensive players are under center and on the outside.  That's where the playmaking is going to be concentrated.  

[bashbrother]

I agree completely.   It all starts with talent at the running back position.   Not to say we haven't had some quality at that position since Morris/Lafitte,  we just haven't had talent to that level.

It then obviously, relies on having a quality O-line that will compliment this attack. Recruiting and coaching come in to play here.   It is possible to have a great pass blocking squad up front, that struggles with the run game.

You need both to be successful.

The best intentions of establishing a running offense is a great goal.  Although it is one that can be easily abandoned in a particular game after a few 1st quarter three and outs.

[wally_wabash]

And the poll is out...

Witt (8) 79
Wabash (1) 71
Allegheny 63
Wooster 56
OWU 41
Denison 32
Kenyon 30
Oberlin 19
Hiram 14

Can't say that there is really a single surprise on this list.  

I take that last statement back.  Assuming a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point system for these ballots, the coach that didn't pick Wittenberg to finish first picked them to finish third.  That is shocking. 

[BashDad]

While Wabash's point total seems to indicate two third place votes.

edit: although I guess that's no surprise-- votes from allegheny and wooster would push them down.

[bashbrother]

Anyone have a quick update on the turf at Hollett?

[wally_wabash]

Anyone have a quick update on the turf at Hollett?

The last thing I heard was that typical late July central Indiana monsoons have delayed the turf install.  I think they're more or less ready to put it down...still on schedule to have it down by the time camp starts.  I'm sure there will be a photo album up on the site as soon as the green stuff starts going down. 

[Duster72]

According to the various Wabash blogs, the turf was supposed to go down today.

And I agree that ER still throws more than he runs, but my impression was that CC ran it just enough to keep the D honest (except when he had Lafitte).  Seems like ER runs to set up some passes - more the Colts model of the mid-2000s.

I also think it's more important to run in November than it is in September.

Wabash has proven they're capable of playoff runs, but I have sat through too many blustery/snowy/windy/cold as hell playoff games wishing we had a running game to go with the passing game which isn't working well in the winter conditions. 

[wally_wabash]

I also think it's more important to run in November than it is in September.

Wabash has proven they're capable of playoff runs, but I have sat through too many blustery/snowy/windy/cold as hell playoff games wishing we had a running game to go with the passing game which isn't working well in the winter conditions. 

I'm sure Wabash would have run more in those games if they had a back like Dan Pugh or Justin Beaver or Rocky Gingg...it's easy to stay on the ground when you've got those kinds of players to hand off to.  You can't run 50 times in a game just because the weather turns...you've got to have the horse. 

[wally_wabash]

Wittenberg at #8, Wabash at #24 in the D3football.com preseason top 25.  I'm wondering if week 10 could be a game of top 10s if both teams perform as they should over their first eight games.  It's possible that Wabash could hit a ceiling with the voters somewhere in the teens until they get a quality win.  Or until a bunch of teams lose (CWRU was stuck at 12 last year until 3 teams in front of them lost in week 9). 

Week 10 is big for the North region...Wabash @ Witt, as well as NCC @ Wheaton.  Tough choice for the D3football.com travel crew.   

[BashDad]

Turf is delivered:

http://www.wabash.edu/photo_album/home.cfm?photo_id=17522&photo_album_id=2464