FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DPU3619]

One thing to add to the post from 3, I think the thing that Wabash does well defensively is understand the angles. "Here's how they want to attack us, and here's the way to get to the football." Yeah, they've got big, strong LBs that are mean as snakes, but he really wouldn't need them, honestly.

It's a lot to prepare for because NCC gives you so many different looks and does them all well. But, it's my unbiased opinion that if anybody is going stop NCC that isn't in a purple jersey, this is the team that can do it.

I think if NCC gets to 24, it's all gone wrong. Dunno if Wabash can get there, particularly with Belton on one wheel.

[BashDad]

BashDad:

Oh my god, even this clip makes me sad. What a painful scene.

[BashDad]

I think if NCC gets to 24, it's all gone wrong. Dunno if Wabash get there, particularly with Belton on one wheel.

Yeah, I agree. I think the ideal is 17-14 or 24-17.

Two points that I lost the energy to expand:

-Chase is 18-1 as a starter.

-If I had to pick only one Wabash player who was going to have a big game on Saturday, I'd pick John Horn. He's big, has been relatively quiet the last couple weeks, and can pull down 50/50 balls routinely. There will be a lot of those, I suspect.

-Also, I betcha NCC scripts a deep pass play early in the game. They did this against Redlands, Bethel, Wheaton, and Augustana. Just seems to be the way they loosen up teams. I don't know what to make of that, but I think they'll try it.

[bashbrother]

Wow.  That's the second coming of the "I won't listen to you bad mouth America" speech from Animal House.  LOL.  Great post.

What?  oh yeah......http://youtu.be/6PYb_anBMus

BashDad.... could be the greatest post I have ever read on this board.... Bravo!

[cave2bens]

And in final analysis, when all the talk is done and play's about to commence...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWa_lHc4grY&feature=related

[robertgoulet]

Bashdad,

No one who follows the CCIW or NCC said anything about triple TD favorites.  I put the line at NCC -12, which I think is about right. Hazzbeen called It -20.5 and you'll notice he is a Bethel fan from the MIAC.

Your comments about Wes remind me of 2008 when Pete Ittersagen was the best special teams player in the universe (and he is in the NFL). He absolutely dominated the post season winning games @Wabash, and @Franklin. we played @Mt Union and they kicked to him every time. Their superior speed on special teams negated the obvious advantage. NCC has an outspoken policy of not playing starters on special teams and they have still ranked at the top of the conference in most categories. I agree with you that they will likely kick to Wes. This will be an interesting story line to follow Saturday.

The best point you make is the road vs home stat. I completely agree this is the wildcard. Most teams don't play as well on the road as they do at home. If there is another Redlands type game out there for NCC it will be on the road at a place like Wabash.

This is the part that worries me the most about this game. NCC's coverage units have been  spotty in the games that I have seen this year. The returners seemed to always be just 1 man away from breaking one.

[Mugsy]

Bashdad,

No one who follows the CCIW or NCC said anything about triple TD favorites.  I put the line at NCC -12, which I think is about right. Hazzbeen called It -20.5 and you'll notice he is a Bethel fan from the MIAC.

Your comments about Wes remind me of 2008 when Pete Ittersagen was the best special teams player in the universe (and he is in the NFL). He absolutely dominated the post season winning games @Wabash, and @Franklin. we played @Mt Union and they kicked to him every time. Their superior speed on special teams negated the obvious advantage. NCC has an outspoken policy of not playing starters on special teams and they have still ranked at the top of the conference in most categories. I agree with you that they will likely kick to Wes. This will be an interesting story line to follow Saturday.

The best point you make is the road vs home stat. I completely agree this is the wildcard. Most teams don't play as well on the road as they do at home. If there is another Redlands type game out there for NCC it will be on the road at a place like Wabash.

This is the part that worries me the most about this game. NCC's coverage units have been  spotty in the games that I have seen this year. The returners seemed to always be just 1 man away from breaking one.

That was very apparent in the Wheaton game.  2 kickoffs were returned to the 50 and as you said were one man away from a return for TD.  <sigh>... not that it would have mattered.   

[Li'l Giant]

Oh my god, even this clip makes me sad. What a painful scene.

Yeah, it is. But it is a Fark thing for applause.

[smedindy]

What a glorious week. Thanksgiving turkey and football Saturday. Of course, I'll be en route driving to Key West Saturday during the game, but thanks to the 'net I should be able to keep very close track.

As we know, most every playoff game is crucial for each program but I think the Wabash / North Central game is the most critical.

For the LG's it's to prove that they belong in the conversation of the teams that are right below the Purples in the D-3 hierarchy.
For North Central, it's to prove that they can knock off a Purple and to do that they need to defeat an experienced and deep team in hostile territory.

This is a game that could chart the course for the next 3-5 years for both teams.

[Always.A.Titan]

All this crossover is what makes playoff football exciting. Not to mention, a little diversity in postings here. It is nice to hear from new people.

I was at the NCC-IWU game this year. I happened to play in the IWU-Wabash game 2 years ago. I think some of the guys might still be sore from that game. 

Anyway, I might be the only CCIW guy who would lean towards the Little Giants. I think Wabash will have a physical edge when they are on defense and the edge on special teams. I am also not completely sold on NCC being in the tier of UWW and MU. Should be a good game on Saturday. 

[bashbrother]

I happened to play in the IWU-Wabash game 2 years ago. I think some of the guys might still be sore from that game. 

What a great football game that was A.A. Titan..... 

One of the things I saw materialize on Saturday with the Illinois College team is that they became a bit gun shy, dropping passes, hearing footsteps a bit.... they simply didn't want to be hit anymore.   Wabash was laying the lumber all day, clean but painful 

I watched a bunch of NCC highlights videos on youtube last night and their defense is very physical as well.   No doubt there will be some serious hitting on Saturday....  The highlight packages also changed my perception of the NCC offense as well.... If you have 3 or 4 running plays of 30 + yards a game and a bunch in the 10-15 yard range,  the rushing total tends to get large quickly....and.....anyone thinking that they cannot pass when they want/need to, is making a serious mistake.   Very hard offense to game plan for... they do many things very well.  (have to take in consideration that a highlight reel, is just that... the best plays)

Turnout and support this game.  It is going to be a very good one.

[robertgoulet]

I happened to play in the IWU-Wabash game 2 years ago. I think some of the guys might still be sore from that game. 

What a great football game that was A.A. Titan..... 

One of the things I saw materialize on Saturday with the Illinois College team is that they became a bit gun shy, dropping passes, hearing footsteps a bit.... they simply didn't want to be hit anymore.   Wabash was laying the lumber all day, clean but painful 

I watched a bunch of NCC highlights videos on youtube last night and their defense is very physical as well.   No doubt there will be some serious hitting on Saturday....  The highlight packages also changed my perception of the NCC offense as well.... If you have 3 or 4 running plays of 30 + yards a game and a bunch in the 10-15 yard range,  the rushing total tends to get large quickly....and.....anyone thinking that they cannot pass when they want/need to, is making a serious mistake.   Very hard offense to game plan for... they do many things very well.  (have to take in consideration that a highlight reel, is just that... the best plays)

Turnout and support this game.  It is going to be a very good one.

Hey, you never know, maybe this weekend is the game they decide to unleash their AA TE for the first time in quite a while. They've been running so much they haven't had much use for him other than as a blocker. You'd think a 6'7" 260lb TE whom is getting looked at by multiple NFL teams would be used a bit more in the offense!

[BashBacker#16]

Always-a-Titan,

Very cool that you played in the IWU/Wabash game a couple of years ago, curious, do you remember CJ Gum?  He had some big hits in your game. 

BB16

[wabndy]

Keith,
Why did you have to go and say such nice things about Wabash in the podcast?  One of the keys to this successful season for the Little Giants is proving your predictions wrong.

[Always.A.Titan]

Always-a-Titan,

Very cool that you played in the IWU/Wabash game a couple of years ago, curious, do you remember CJ Gum?  He had some big hits in your game. 

BB16

I remember the entire game. Specifically, I remember CJ, Kraft, and Frederick at S. That D seemed to enjoy hitting a lot. They got me good a few times. But, that trio was tough all day, and nearly impossible to block. I can only imagine that CJ has gotten better in all facets in the past couple of years.