FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashDad]

Wabash is also leading the nation in Turnover Margin. I'm guessing there isn't another defense in the country that has scored 7 touchdowns through three games, either.

Wooster is going to reveal how much of a mirage these statistics are. If Wabash is just really good, as opposed to OH-MY-GOD-WABASH-IS-REALLY-GOOD, we'll see a 28-7 kind of game. The D won't have a smorgasbord of turnovers and they'll give up a few hundred yards of offense. I'm kind of expecting this, to tell you the truth. If that instinct is incorrect and they come out against the Scots and post another shut-out that yields comparable stats, I think the conversation about Wabash's ceiling remains--as it is now--wide open.

[nike]

So Wabash plays Wooster this week.  I imagine the Woo coaching staff has this being the game of the year for Wooster--then again, maybe not--maybe trying to treat it as just another game.  Either way, looking forward to it.  We still have the best hot dogs and popcorn in the NCAC in my humble opinion.
Cannot see how Barnes will have time to do anything.  From the clips i have seen, Wabash defense is as good as any they have had.  I know it is early and tough teams yet to play, but they appear to have more than just 11 guys on the field.  The freshman db may go down as your best ever. 
The game will be a blast on our beautiful carpet. 

[wally_wabash]

Wabash is also leading the nation in Turnover Margin. I'm guessing there isn't another defense in the country that has scored 7 touchdowns through three games, either.

Wooster is going to reveal how much of a mirage these statistics are. If Wabash is just really good, as opposed to OH-MY-GOD-WABASH-IS-REALLY-GOOD, we'll see a 28-7 kind of game. The D won't have a smorgasbord of turnovers and they'll give up a few hundred yards of offense. I'm kind of expecting this, to tell you the truth. If that instinct is incorrect and they come out against the Scots and post another shut-out that yields comparable stats, I think the conversation about Wabash's ceiling remains--as it is now--wide open.

I'll take the over on Wabash's 28...and probably the over on Wooster's 7 as well.  This game this week is ripe for a closer-than-you-think result.  1) Back to back long trips for Wabash, 2) Richard Barnes is finally playing up to the level that I think we thought he'd get to soon after seeing him nearly beat Wabash in C'ville in his second career start, 3) there has to be a game where these guys exhale for a minute, doesn't there? 

I do think Wooster will get some decent offense going this week.  Barnes is one of about two guys in the league who I think can get away from the Wabash rush 3-4 times during a game and get a big play because of it.  Wooster hasn't shown anything so far this year that makes me believe they will keep Wabash from running at will so I do believe Wabash will get their points.  Maybe not 60 of them, but plenty of points in any case.  I know Wabash hasn't lost out there since 2003, but I always have a little pang of nervousness about this trip and am always relieved to get out of there with a win. 

[The_Bishop]

- Wabash leads the nation in 3rd down defense...opponents are just 3-38 on 3rd down.  Yikes. 

Wowee, that is absurd.  And I'd be willing to bet of the 3 successful conversions, none were more than 5 yards.  Sick numbers.

[sigma one]

Me, too, Wally.  I always leave Wooster with a sigh of relief.
     Wooster's defense has surrendered 689 rushing yards in 3 games (or 678, depending upon where you look.  I'm taking my info from the individual game Box Scores rather than from the cumulative season statistics on the Wooser site--might have to do wth that "team rushing" category that statisticians use):  226 to W & J-- 5.3 a carry (give them that one with W & J well ahead after scoring 3X in the first eight minutes); 260 to Oberlin--5.3 a carry; 203 to Hiram--4.4 a carry.   Even though Wooster led in those last two games, they probably were not finishing up with the bagpipers in the game. Ya think they are working on that this week?
    Wally's point spread is a tough one.  I can see this game being a lot closer than people think; I can see Wooster really challenging the Wabash defense because Barnes can move and Hackel has really rushed the football.  Then again, I've been wrong about most things this year (excepting the easy call of one of the Big Three losing to someone other than themselves).   If  Wabash can smother them most of the game rather than just slow them down, then most of us will probably come around to saying that this defense is OMG exceptonal.

[nike]

The problem will be that Barnes cannot throw to himself.  He is not only the most athletic, but the fastest player also.  Wabash defense just too quick and they seem very intense or hungry or whatever the correct word is.  They get after it.  Like they are on a mission this year after the questions about last year in a couple of "what happened?" games.  Starts with the lean mean head coach.

[bashbrother]

I personally still believe Wabash rolls in this one.   Barnes, although a nice player.....  will not have seen the speed and size as he will be faced with on Saturday...maybe ever.

A 58% completion percentage, against the competition that he has faced is indicative of a struggling passing game.   Barnes ran for 21 yards net last year against Wabash... with a long of 13. (Sacked him 4 times) In 2011,  he had 13 yards rushing against us.    I believe that many fans of Barnes's athleticism, I being one,  have always propped him up as being a true impact player... only to have his play fall short of expectations.  (OWU syndrome)

I also look at the fact that Wabash has had a running (Zone read) system for some time now and all of our player practice against it every day.   Thus, Wabash's success against Athletic QB's has improved significantly over the years.

Lastly and as someone had mentioned,  IF ER believes he can play a significant amount of man coverage in this game,  then Wilkins and Woods will be freed up a bit to keep an eye on Mr. Barnes.    Also, I look for Wabash's D to blitz more this week. 

[wabashcpa]

Give the points - Wabash will roll.  W&J beat them by 37 - this will be worse.  Maybe not Allegheny differential, but close.

[BashBacker#16]

Finally some good discussion!  .

SigmaOne (aka Lou Holtz) - you would be nervous if Bash was playing Turkey Run High School this week.  Hey, how did your Dannie QB lose his job to a 5'11 180 freshman?  I will never let you live that down.  If I knew when you posted that I would quote you!  Muhahaha.  His numbers are really bad.

Even knowing the Wabash D pretty well, it's crazy when you think of the personnel.  Speed is everywhere and it's easy to forget guys like Wilkins, Gibson, and even Woods.  I can also see Scola "spying" Barnes throughout the game.  Either way, I think it will be a tough day on the Wooster QB.  The Buresh brothers will be chasing that dude all day long.  I'm hopeful that Breukman will return this game - Wabash's biggest interior D lineman.  He has yet to play a down but should be back soon.  Scary.

Did anyone notice the size of the Bash O-line?  6'7 271, 6'2 315, 6'7 290, 6'5 310, and senior captain 6'3 275 - seriously.

P.S.  Our punter is really good too!

[waf56]

I'm hopeful that Breukman will return this game - Wabash's biggest interior D lineman.  He has yet to play a down but should be back soon.  Scary.

Breukman played a lot against Gheny last Saturday, and he clogged the middle up big time. Just like he should. Also, he is looking huge: http://www.wabash.edu/photo_album/home.cfm?photo_id=40389&photo_album_id=3666

[GRIZ_BACKER]

Finally some good discussion!  .

SigmaOne (aka Lou Holtz) - you would be nervous if Bash was playing Turkey Run High School this week.  Hey, how did your Dannie QB lose his job to a 5'11 180 freshman?  I will never let you live that down.  If I knew when you posted that I would quote you!  Muhahaha.  His numbers are really bad.

Even knowing the Wabash D pretty well, it's crazy when you think of the personnel.  Speed is everywhere and it's easy to forget guys like Wilkins, Gibson, and even Woods.  I can also see Scola "spying" Barnes throughout the game.  Either way, I think it will be a tough day on the Wooster QB.  The Buresh brothers will be chasing that dude all day long.  I'm hopeful that Breukman will return this game - Wabash's biggest interior D lineman.  He has yet to play a down but should be back soon.  Scary.

Did anyone notice the size of the Bash O-line?  6'7 271, 6'2 315, 6'7 290, 6'5 310, and senior captain 6'3 275 - seriously.

P.S.  Our punter is really good too!

may not be relevant but DPU lost to the team that lost to Earlham.

[ExTartanPlayer]

SigmaOne (aka Lou Holtz) - you would be nervous if Bash was playing Turkey Run High School this week.

Besides raw talent, you know what makes an undefeated team?  A team that genuinely takes every game seriously, including games against mediocre opposition.  Wooster might have been pretty bad last year, but they have won two in a row and despite the misgivings about the competition in those two games, Barnes has posted very good numbers in them.  Of course Wabash is a heavy favorite this week...but did you ever think they would lose to Allegheny or Oberlin last year?

Maybe some of you guys are sick of hearing about those losses.  Sure, that was 2012 and this is 2013, but if Wabash wants to go undefeated this year, they would do well to heed the lesson from those two games (as they certainly have appeared to thus far this season).  If you want to go undefeated, you do have to take every game seriously, even if the competition may not be on your level.  So, yeah, if sigma one wants to be nervous about a 2-1 Wooster team that's scored 39 and 38 points the last two weeks, I think that's reasonable, even if Wabash's defense IS way better than Hiram's and Oberlin's and the result SHOULD be lopsided.  Oberlin was 3-5 last year when they came to Hollett, and two of those wins were against Hiram and Earlham.

Did anyone notice the size of the Bash O-line?  6'7 271, 6'2 315, 6'7 290, 6'5 310, and senior captain 6'3 275 - seriously.

That is a huge line for Division III.  It's not a guarantee of success, and plenty of good D3 linemen are smaller, but wow, that's a big line.

[BashBacker#16]

Ex-Tartan,

Good post brother.  I agree with you.

Saturday we'll see first hand.  What were Barnes numbers against Wash & Jeff?  That may be more relevant.  We'll see...

WAF

[sigma one]

ExTartanPlayer:  the check is in the mail.

#16 Better safe than sorry.
       Barnes v. W & J------------------------9 0f 23 for 183 yds.   2TDs     1Int
                                                             20 rushes for 51 yds.   Long of 14.  Sacked 5X
                                                             
                                                                                                                                 

[cave2bens]

may not be relevant but DPU lost to the team that lost to Earlham.

Save that one in the vault for mid-November's Monon thread, Griz... BreckBear will appreciate it.