FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Bash-Dad #84]

The drive back from Meadville after a loss must be soul-crushing.

Have no plans to find out what that feels like and we will be in Meadville.....

[Li'l Giant]

Thankfully no one on this team knows what that's like. We haven't lost in Meadville since 2003. Gheny came into that game 0-3, beat us 7-6 and didn't lose again until the first round of the playoffs.

[DPU3619]

Couple of league side notes...

- Surprising result from Meadville today.  We've heard a lot from the folks down south about how weak this league is.  It's not that easy driving back from PA with a win, is it? 

Yesterday's result doesn't change my opinion on this league one bit.  This won't be one of the best editions of DePauw football by a sizeable margin.  I said that two months ago.  Losing to a team after you make stupid turnovers and can't move the football against a team that gave 28 to Bethany doesn't mean the NCAC is awesome.  It means a mediocre DePauw team played like crap against a different mediocre football team and lost.

EDIT: Just for clarity, I don't think DePauw woulda beat many teams from the SCAC playing like that, either.  Probably nobody but Rhodes & Sewanee.  Bad football.  Pool B and Pool C chances are done. There's one priority left now.  You've got 6 games to find something somewhere in that offense that can win the Monon Bell.  That defense has actually been pretty good through 2 games against some unimpressive offenses.  Won't really know much else about it until Wabash.  Hopefully it's better than 47 pts.

[Li'l Giant]

Yesterday's result doesn't change my opinion on this league one bit.

[bashbrother]

Thankfully no one on this team knows what that's like. We haven't lost in Meadville since 2003. Gheny came into that game 0-3, beat us 7-6 and didn't lose again until the first round of the playoffs.

That was the MudBowl Game.... you had to bring it up.  uuugh.    At least with their new turf, we know that both teams will not leave the field wearing the same color jerseys.

[smedindy]

Oh, Westley,

It's true that the bottom of the NCAC is weak compared to the SCAC's dregs. But Allegheny lost to Bethany, a team that is rising and is not the team that always went 1-9 a few years ago. Oberlin has improved a great deal from their reputation. OWU will be solid, if not spectacular. Denison seems to have put a renewed emphasis on athletics. Wooster will always give you a game.

And you didn't just move to the NCAC for football, ya know. Enjoy swimming against Denison and Kenyon!

[wally_wabash]

Couple of league side notes...

- Surprising result from Meadville today.  We've heard a lot from the folks down south about how weak this league is.  It's not that easy driving back from PA with a win, is it? 

Yesterday's result doesn't change my opinion on this league one bit.  This won't be one of the best editions of DePauw football by a sizeable margin.  I said that two months ago.  Losing to a team after you make stupid turnovers and can't move the football against a team that gave 28 to Bethany doesn't mean the NCAC is awesome.  It means a mediocre DePauw team played like crap against a different mediocre football team and lost.

We shall see.  This isn't exactly a stellar edition of Allegheny football either.  I'm interested to see the DPU/OWU result in a few weeks.  OWU gets an extra week to prepare...could be an interesting game in Delaware.

[DPU3619]

DePauw's got improving to do if they want to beat OWU.  Everything about their offensive output is pedestrian.  They aren't throwing it with the same efficiency we're all used to.  They still can't run it as well as I'd like.  Also, 5 turnovers in 2 games and a ton of penalties.  If the offense is able to find a gear at some point, I think that defense can keep them in a lot of these games.  If not, they're gonna lose 21-14 or 17-10 to the good teams on the schedule.

The Bishops, Centre, and Wabash are all better than DePauw right now.  They're just not on the same level.

[OWho?]

Now, now Wes lets not get ahead of ourselves. The Ole Battling Bishops have a lot of improving to do before anyone can proclaim victory over Depauw Mr. Anderson. Special teams are still a problem, blocked kicks have become a common sight at OWU games  , some local seniors need to step it up on special teams not to mention any names. Heeeee Huuurrrrrr!!!!!!! It is Wooster week and the Bishops are anxious to go. The OWU offensive line led by Chris Badenhop, the toughest lineman in the NCAC, have been playing better than expected so far. Lets hope they can keep it up against Wooster, who will provide a very tough test for the battle weary Bishops in the middle of their meat grinder against the three Ws. All the BEST all the TIME.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Always and forever yours,     
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                   WAR BEARS!!!

[wabashcpa]

Not related to football, but just got back home from hearing Bob Knight speak at Wabash.  Very cool.

[bashbrother]

Wabash (17) & Witt (19) move up in this weeks poll...   

http://d3football.com/top25/2011/week3

[Duster72]

BB16 nailed it.  Chase makes some beautiful throws and some amazingly athletic plays.  He escapes sacks that he has no business escaping.  But if he would throw the ball away instead of taking sacks he would add 50+ yards to the offense every week.  You can get away with that against the second tier opponents.  You cannot against good competition.

And I will also say that the game was never in doubt.  Wabash was rolling.  Hard to maintain intensity when you have laid the proverbial smackdown on the other team in the first quarter.  That TD before halftime was a fluke broken coverage play.  OWU had nothing for Wabash's A game.

[wabco]

My problem with Chase is that it appears to be the same operating style as was showcased last year.  We have receivers who should and will hurt you, but he is not finding them and instead is running around after finding receiver #1 covered (as opposed to even tucking it and really running) until he is placed on his back 10 yards behind the line. 

We also have 2 other very qualified QBs who may not have quite the run around skills but are decent in that area, and have the passing skills to find the receivers and get them the ball.  Use Chase's skills otherwise.  Against OWU run around may not be of more moment than a bother.  But against the really good teams ...a real O stopper problem.  If he can stop this and do it ...fine. But  my leash would be short, given the other horses in the stalls. And we will not have the teams until Wash U for the "final exam" test as to what bad happens to O with this run around style. 

We have an outstanding receiving corps and we need to get them the ball.  If this was one game ... I would say all the things you guys said earlier in this post in response to my earlier comment.  But, my memory is that this is something which tends to happen.  So, my feeling would be ... OK ... but very short leash and instruction as to how to remedyu and find secondary receivers.  If no real and I mean real change (conversion of Saul-esk), QB 2 and 2+ need to be warmed up and playing while Chase is overcoming this defect.  Or else, Chase become a RB/slot with the added ability to also pass.  His skills as a running weapon are too great to be on the sideline.

Don't mistake this post as anti anything Wabash, Chase, or the rest of the team.  It is not.  I just believe if we are to maximize the potential here ... and there is a lot of it ... my nickle:  hard conversations/direction/and ultimate choices need to be made soon.

[wabco]

On another subject, the Dannies experienced Gheny ... and not just Gheny but Gheny at home.  Always good solid kids and good coaching.  The Dannies were just not heads and shoulders better and got hard hit and hard played ... Gheny-ed.  You don't bring your A game (or else your game is not "A") and Gheny will surely make it a long day.

[WABCOL86]

Wabco, BB16 and Duster72, you took what I was really getting at and fleshed it out.  Thanks!  I like Chase but I question him at QB.  Evidently last year, so did ER and hence what became a two-headed monster end of last season.  It DID work quite well against DPU.