FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashDad]

Dude. Can we wait until after September 1st before beginning this Wabash/Franklin pissing contest? I really, really want to be a fan of the Grizz right now. Like really. I've got a big 'ol, overly exuberant FC/UMU post in the works. Don't make me hate you, yet. It confuses me.

[gofor7pitt]

Dude. Can we wait until after September 1st before beginning this Wabash/Franklin pissing contest? I really, really want to be a fan of the Grizz right now. Like really. I've got a big 'ol, overly exuberant FC/UMU post in the works. Don't make me hate you, yet. It confuses me.

I love Wabash! Don't be confused. I have family that have played at both schools.  I think it would benefit both teams if they opened up the season with each other.  Look forward to your post.

[SaintsFAN]

I won't be using the Mount Union/Franklin game in the pick 'em, so here's my quick take on what I think happens there...

For three weeks leading into that game, Mount Union is practicing against Mount Union.  Franklin is not practicing against Mount Union.  The first 20 minutes or so of that game is going to be very, very difficult for Franklin.  The Grizzlies may well adjust to Mount Union speed after 20 minutes or so, but by then they'll be chasing 4 TDs.  If Franklin gets off the deck after that initital blitzkreig, I think they'll probably lose by 18-24.  If they don't, they'll lose by 35-40 (or more).  I think this would be a much, much better game later in the season and especially after one or two playoff games to get Franklin ramped up for the Purple Raiders.  I just think it's a huge ask to be ready for that game on September 1.

Kind of how the Wabash - Mount Union playoff game went last year. I thought Wabash played Mount pretty tough last year. With Wabash and Franklin being the two best Indiana DIII teams, and I would say it's debatable who will be better this season, I think Franklin has a shot to surprise on Sep 1.  Wabash had such a great D last year and will this year as well. I would give Franklin the nod on offense over Wabash this year though. 
By "speed" do you mean overall speed at every position, or just at the skill spots?

I will say the team speed at Mount is impressive.  I had no idea how fast they were (especially defensively) prior to witnessing it in person against Wheaton College in 2008. 

[BashDad]

I swear to god, every time I read "team speed" I want to throw up.

[wally_wabash]

I thought Wabash played Mount pretty tough last year.

Correct.  Wabash also got to warm up for that Mount Union game against a North Central team that a lot of people believed was as near an equal to Mount Union as the North Region has produced in a long, long, long time.  I think that mattered. 

By "speed" do you mean overall speed at every position, or just at the skill spots?

Mount Union hasn't put a slow kid on a football field since 1989.  So...every position.   Where it will really show up here is on the defense.  Franklin can't simulate Mount Union's quickness on defense.  Best case scenario, I believe, is that Franklin gets through the first 3-4 possessions without getting turned over while they get accustomed to things.  They might limit the hole they have to climb out of if they can avoid getting turned over early. 

[smedindy]

If I were Franklin, I'd rather open with Mt. Union than having to play them after a diet of Earlham, Bluffton and Manchester.

[BashDad]

Best case scenario, I believe, is that Franklin gets through the first 3-4 possessions without getting turned over while they get accustomed to things.

This is the BEST case? Just hoping they get through the first quarter without causing disaster? No. No it's not. Which year of football are we gearing up for? 2004? I don't get it. The best case is that Franklin gets to run their 10-15 scripted plays in the first two series and get UMU into all their different defensive looks. UMU will have a filthy defense. But Leonard is a genius if he knows what's what on the other side of the ball. And the dudes executing are all, like, non-idiots and experienced against the best team (by a long shot) in the country. So. I don't know. THAT's the best case. That they can play 3.5 quarters with the confidence that they prepared correctly.

But stoppit. I wanna save all this. We've got way too much time between now and then.

[SaintsFAN]

I swear to god, every time I read "team speed" I want to throw up.

OK, defensive team QUICKNESS. 

Seems to be a theme for most teams playing Mount for the first time to take some time to adjust to the overall team quickness -- and it also seems Mount puts points on the board early while the opponent is adjusting.  You are absolutely correct -- this is not Mount circa 2004, and Franklin does have a shot IMO.  I like that they've scheduled the Mounties -- and with Mount losing Piloto and Murray 3 days before camp, will be as vulnerable as I can remember for an opener, offensively.  Defensively -- they'll be sick with Diesul and Driskell leading them. 

[BashDad]

I can't stop:

We could all agree that Franklin, last year, would've finished in the top half of the OAC. Right? I think that's probably true. Take a look at UMU's performance against 3 of those 4 teams:

ONU? 14-6 
BW? 25-20 
Captial? 27-7

Now then. Last year's UMU offense was as vulnerable a unit as they've had in at least a decade, probably more. The Raider faithful want you to believe they've got some dude who's gonna average 6ypc waiting in the wings (they don't) or that Burke is somehow going to wrestle the reigns away from a mediocre senior QB (he won't). Look, they're still Mount Union and I'm no fool: they're better than most and better--presumably--than Franklin. But it's not a slam dunk. They are, from my perspective, a worse offensive team than they were last year. I just don't see how you can believe otherwise. But--and a big one--I don't know what that means yet, neither do they, and neither do you. How good is a team that relies squarely on Neal Seaman? I don't know. Probably a little less than great in my opinion, but to have the beginnings of any real answer they have to play a good team first. Thankfully, we don't have to wait for that to happen.

Franklin, who had their best team in forever last year, is a good team. They scored more points against the national champion in the first half of their playoff match-up than UMU scored all game in theirs. And you know what? They'll be better this year. They were all sophomores and juniors. The gap between UMU and the best of the rest, which already seemed thinner than we're used to, is now even smaller. Look at those scores above. Two of them, at least, are a Raider ****-up away from being losses. That's... I don't know. Interesting? I think so. Franklin may need UMU to make some holy-moly mistakes to keep the game close, but if any UMU team in recent memory is going to do that, it's this one. The Grizz have a real shot, I think. So there. I'll take your 28 points!

[bashbrother]

I just question whether their team speed will be team speedy enough to equalize the team speed that Mount Union has with all of their speedy upper and underclassman.




Ok, seriously, will there be any kind of webstream coming out of Franklin for this game?

[wally_wabash]

I may be too harsh on the Grizzlies.  Or maybe my expectations of the Mount Union offense are too high.  Maybe both.  In Franklin's games with Whitewater last year, they got buried by turnovers (and easy scores off of those turnovers) early in the games.  Mount Union's offense won't have to be great to pile on points if they get turnovers and short fields.  Avoid that scenario, and they may have a shot as Mount Union can't quite grind you down the way UWW does.   

[gofor7pitt]

I just question whether their team speed will be team speedy enough to equalize the team speed that Mount Union has with all of their speedy upper and underclassman.






Ok, seriously, will there be any kind of webstream coming out of Franklin for this game?

Well, I do know that at least 3 of the Freshman skill players for Franklin run 4.5 "40's" (1RB and 2 WB's). But they are just Freshman right now so don't know if they can contribute much this year.  Leonard recruited very well this year. Only 55 players, but lots of quality. 

[wally_wabash]

Good question, bashbro.  I think Hometown Sports carried their September game against UWW last year.  I have no idea if they are going back there this year or not.  I can't find any links or notes whatsoever to a vid stream coming from Franklin itself. 

[wabco]

OK Bashdad.  Read your analysis and I am a fan of your insights.  It has kept me from raising the level from "beat bumps" (which is win by about 28) to "Monkey Stomp" which is more than 28.

I just think that Mount - both from watching on TV/computer and from watching them against Wabash last year - is pretty solid at every D position.  Will be very impressive on defense to the point of creating O opportunities off it.  Will not make D mistakes of a mortal sin nature.  Will cause these type mistakes from Franklin.  And will cash in.  Franklin will have decent D but not to the point of grinding down the Mount O, which will function at an acceptable + level.  The game will have to change in latyer second Q to Franklin catch up to stay close.  Very hard against Mount D ... especially when the D becomes simpler given the catch up requirement.  Perhaps a bubble of Franklin hope at the beginning of the third from scripted halftime plays.  Script goes away.  The drudge of late third efforts against Mount D will not work.  And the end is near.  BB 16, get Bashdad's beer ready.

[bashbrother]

Good question, bashbro.  I think Hometown Sports carried their September game against UWW last year.  I have no idea if they are going back there this year or not.  I can't find any links or notes whatsoever to a vid stream coming from Franklin itself.

Wally -

Hometown doesn't have the game on their schedule?   I sure hope something materializes, I would like to see that one.