FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[cave2bens]

Wally-

Per your request for (the) Head, see your yahoo account.   

Cave2Bens

[FightinScot]

Wally, et al -

You're right, 3 yards on 7 carries is terrible. Awful, especially against those "cake eaters" from Denison. Flagg is having a down year, to understate the obvious. That can be attributed to many different factors, which I've spelled out before. And I agree - this year, even without seeing much of the competition, I don't see how you could call him anywhere near the top RB in the NCAC.  I just don't see how Barnes is more dangerous, that's all.

Also, can anyone truly "single handedly" tilt a football game? Don't take that as me nitpicking your argument, just food for thought. And please, don't just say "Chase Belton" to spite me. 

[Bash-Dad #84]

Wally, et al -

You're right, 3 yards on 7 carries is terrible. Awful, especially against those "cake eaters" from Denison. Flagg is having a down year, to understate the obvious. That can be attributed to many different factors, which I've spelled out before. And I agree - this year, even without seeing much of the competition, I don't see how you could call him anywhere near the top RB in the NCAC.  I just don't see how Barnes is more dangerous, that's all.

Also, can anyone truly "single handedly" tilt a football game? Don't take that as me nitpicking your argument, just food for thought. And please, don't just say "Chase Belton" to spite me. 

Since football is the ultimate team sport, I am not sure anyone can "single handedly" tilt a game. However, I can think of a player or two that could make a huge difference in the momentum!

[wally_wabash]

I just don't see how Barnes is more dangerous, that's all.

I've seen Flagg play Wabash four times now and not one time has he done something that made me say "Whoa!  How'd he do that?"  In the two games that I've seen Barnes play in person, he's done it about a dozen times.  With Flagg, if you play good defense, you'll probably make him a sidenote (or altogether negligible as Denison did).  With Barnes, you can do everything right on defense and he can still do something to beat you.  That's the difference. 

[ExTartanPlayer]

Although I've never seen either these guys play firsthand, I think wally just made a very good point re: the overall philosophy of "difference-makers" on a field.

Yes, a QB/RB's success depends on his teammates and the defense.  It is possible for a RB to play a solid game and end up with very poor stats to show for it if the OL was ineffective, or the defense really schemed to stop him, et cet.  However, a guy with truly spectacular abilities is still often noticable to the trained eye - he'll make at least a few plays that make you think "Wow, he's pretty good" even if he's struggling overall.

wally's post makes the distinction between a solid every-down player and a guy with potential to be a difference-maker, and I understand where he's going with that.  If a RB is truly a spectacular player, you would expect that at least once or twice a game, he would make a play that made you say "Whoa!" (even if it wasn't a long touchdown run - it could be as simple as pushing the pile for an extra three yards on 4th & 1, or escaping a loss in the backfield and turning it into a seven-yard run).

Tangentially, the ability to be a difference-maker does not always translate into being the best player over the course of 60-70 snaps, and we often tend to overrate the "difference-maker" because those spectacular plays are so easy to remember.  Consider the following - which RB would you have preferred in his prime: Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith?

Sanders was definitely more of a home run threat (the "difference-maker") who made some plays that Emmitt never could have, but he also had a lot of negative plays because of his tendency to look for the big play.  Emmitt was remarkably consistent.

[bashbrother]

As we get later into fall,  weather becomes more of a factor in games, I took a look at Saturday's games and found only a few that might be impacted.

Denison @ Allegheny - 60% chance of rain

Hiram @ Case -  40% chance of rain

Wabash @ Oberlin  - 20% chance of rain

[wally_wabash]

It's obvious that we're all super fired up for Week 7 in the NCAC.   

[wabco]

Resting up for the November 5 tailgate behind LG Stadium prepatory to a bang up ball game.  AND a Little Giant victory.

[Bash-Dad #84]

Resting up for the November 5 tailgate behind LG Stadium prepatory to a bang up ball game.  AND a Little Giant victory.

Resting up to make the drive over to Oberlin tomorrow to see the Little Giants travelling road show!

Wabash Always Fights!

[wally_wabash]

It's all good...this isn't exaclty the sexiest week of games this year.  Kind of a "Sorbet Saturday" if you're into giving nicknames to your college football weekends.  I'm a little interested to see if Wooster figured anything out offensively during their bye week.  I'm a little interested to see if Denison can go to Meadville and beat Allegheny which would set them up for a second place finish in league play.  It's a pretty soft week for storylines...but we'll be tracking nonetheless. 

[Wabash Hokie]

Don't forget the school from the south.  I anticipate a long ride home from Sewanee for the kittens.

[D3_DPUFan]

Don't forget the school from the south.  I anticipate a long ride home from Sewanee for the kittens.

What do you base that on big timer?

[Wabash Hokie]

I base this on the DPU offense, or lack thereof, currently ranked 219th in scoring offense in D3.  While the Dannie D has been more than adequate, they have had to spend way too much time on the field.  Sewanee is averaging over 230 yards per game rushing and is going to grind out first downs, or a least try to.  They have been successful moving the ball against better competition to date and DePauw's offensive offense has not shown much life. Maybe the new QB will bring new life in his second start.  However, until DPU can put points on the board, they will have many long bus rides this season as well as a beatdown coming on 11/12.

[bashbrother]

Wabash needs to take care of business,  stay sharp and get the starters off the field after a half......   Staying healthy is our #1 goal right now.   No more injuries.  The score is really irrelevant...... as long as we have more.

Wally -  My weather comments were an attempt to get the pick-em a little more spread out.   

[D3_DPUFan]

I base this on the DPU offense, or lack thereof, currently ranked 219th in scoring offense in D3.  While the Dannie D has been more than adequate, they have had to spend way too much time on the field.  Sewanee is averaging over 230 yards per game rushing and is going to grind out first downs, or a least try to.  They have been successful moving the ball against better competition to date and DePauw's offensive offense has not shown much life. Maybe the new QB will bring new life in his second start.  However, until DPU can put points on the board, they will have many long bus rides this season as well as a beatdown coming on 11/12.

I've got nothing for that...pretty accurate assessment.