FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[USee]

Even in Wabash's one loss, it wasn't like the defense wasn't doing its job. There was one drive. HSC had a couple big plays. DPU had that big play that went splat at the end, and is now a Monon Memory^TM.

If Wabash can contain big plays, then Franklin's not going to be able to succeed.

Wabash is a pressure defense. They bring the heat, lots of it from God knows where. No one I have seen has been able to combine the personnel required to match up AND the scheme required to block it. You can't give up big plays when your QB is running for his life before he can set his feet. One of these games soon a team will matchup with the right personnel and they will have the right scheme. That doesn't mean Cody Buresh isn't going to beat someone and get pressure anyway, but if a team can eliminate the free rusher disruptions, then by definition the DB's have to cover a little longer and it becomes more of a chess match.

[wabashcpa]

Just got the e-mail from Livestream about the feed for the Wabash-Franklin game, so it does appear the game will be streamed online.

[HCAlum86]

All of our Wabash posters will be unavailable from tomorrow until after Saturday's game, with an excitement induced constipation keeping them bound to their couches.

[wally_wabash]

How bad ass that both Zurek and Holmes made 1st team!  Both Buresh brothers!!  Akinribade's 4th straight 1st team!  Congrats to all NCAC selections

Did a quick check on All-NCAC teams of the past to see if this has happened before with both RBs on the 1st team coming from the same school.  It's happened twice- 1995 and 1996.  Both times it was Wittenberg, and both times it was the same two players.  Definitely rare, and definitely cool.  Last we wondered what if both of those guys were healthy, this year we know.  1st team All-NCAC for both guys.  Great stuff. 

Congrats to all of the all-conference honorees. 

[HCAlum86]

I am a little upset with Hiram's representation in the all-conference polls. Fleetion, IMO, is hands down a first-teamer. I find it a little bit ridiculous for a team that led the nation in takeaways through Week 8 to have no representation on the first team on the defensive side of the ball. Fleetion, Weaver, Lemuel were all worthy candidates.

[BashBacker#16]

Does anyone remember hearing when ER was hired how he stressed the importance of an established running game?  If I recall, that went a long way in the decision to hire him.  His point was that it was difficult/impossible to advance deep in the playoffs with ONLY a strong passing game.  It took awhile to get there (largely getting the right backs) but it's interesting to see the shift and transformation since the days of CC.  Wabash rushes for more than we throw.  This is also a big reason I'm most excited about the playoffs this year.  Strong D + strong running game = very tough "out" in the tournament.

WAF

P.S.  Has Franklin's D faced 2 bigger/better backs this season?  They are listed at 225 and that is legit.  As Fincham said before the Witt game, when they get going, it's as if the entire field tilts - downhill!

[GrizFan]

Franklin is starting a freshman center.

Yep, it was next man up when three-year starter and senior captain Joe Green went down with an injury.

The other big injury for the GRIZ is the loss of TE Dylan Jenney.  Jenney is a senior captain who has size (6'5 240) and speed.  He was the GRIZ's leading receiver against both IWU and UWW and was lost during game 3 at Anderson.  His receiving and blocking has been missed. 

[sigma one]

What BB #16 says is accurate.  That's what Raeburn said, and that's what he's been trying to do during his tenure. 

[smedindy]

I am a little upset with Hiram's representation in the all-conference polls. Fleetion, IMO, is hands down a first-teamer. I find it a little bit ridiculous for a team that led the nation in takeaways through Week 8 to have no representation on the first team on the defensive side of the ball. Fleetion, Weaver, Lemuel were all worthy candidates.

Takeaways are just one part of a defense. Giving up 39, 48, 41, and 45 to four NCAC teams may have hurt any perception about Hiram's defense.

[HCAlum86]

I am a little upset with Hiram's representation in the all-conference polls. Fleetion, IMO, is hands down a first-teamer. I find it a little bit ridiculous for a team that led the nation in takeaways through Week 8 to have no representation on the first team on the defensive side of the ball. Fleetion, Weaver, Lemuel were all worthy candidates.

Takeaways are just one part of a defense. Giving up 39, 48, 41, and 45 to four NCAC teams may have hurt any perception about Hiram's defense.

Oh, I completely agree. But the fact that Fleetion didn't even make honorable mention, to me, is not fathomable. The kid had a stellar year, playing like a linebacker and covering like a DB. And to be honest, I do not think Romanowski deserved the second team honors for us.

[sigma one]

Hiram's improvement is laudatory.  Let's remember that Wabash and Wittenberg are two dominant defenses, and DePauw was strong defensively as well.  Their points against and overall numbers point to them capturing a large number of spots on the all-NCAC team.  Fleetion is a strong player, but the top teams had strong players at the same position, although his not getting honorable mention also surprises me.  By the way, each NCAC team got three HM players, chosen by the head coaches.  So what does this say when the Hiram coach chose three players who did not get a 1st or 2nd team selection?  He chose Partridge, Romanowski, and Bates. 
     On the offensive side, Hiram was strong, but a lot of the NCAC teams had strong offensive years. 
     I was surprised by several of the all-NCAC choices, but these would only be quibbles, and the coaches watch the tape and see the performances.
     I've thought for several years that the NCAC should name three WRs to both the first and the second teams in a nod to the predominance of the modern passing game.  After all, the league names four linebackers in an era of 3-4 defenses, and still names four defensive linemen.
     

[wabashcpa]

Does anyone remember hearing when ER was hired how he stressed the importance of an established running game?  If I recall, that went a long way in the decision to hire him.  His point was that it was difficult/impossible to advance deep in the playoffs with ONLY a strong passing game.  It took awhile to get there (largely getting the right backs) but it's interesting to see the shift and transformation since the days of CC.  Wabash rushes for more than we throw.  This is also a big reason I'm most excited about the playoffs this year.  Strong D + strong running game = very tough "out" in the tournament.

WAF

P.S.  Has Franklin's D faced 2 bigger/better backs this season?  They are listed at 225 and that is legit.  As Fincham said before the Witt game, when they get going, it's as if the entire field tilts - downhill!

I know I have played devil's advocate to say why Franklin has a chance, but the bolded statement above is why I am optimistic beyond this weekend.  I think to compete with a Whitewater-caliber opponent we have the right recipe.

[Li'l Giant]

I am a little upset with Hiram's representation in the all-conference polls. Fleetion, IMO, is hands down a first-teamer. I find it a little bit ridiculous for a team that led the nation in takeaways through Week 8 to have no representation on the first team on the defensive side of the ball. Fleetion, Weaver, Lemuel were all worthy candidates.

I'm glad Hiram is better. I only watched one full game of Hiram's (against Wabash, of course) so I'm obviously not as familiar with them as HCAlum86.

Hiram landed 5 players on the All-NCAC teams. I only looked back a few years and that's the most going back to 2009. A 4-5 team that gave up an average of 30 points in those 9 games isn't going to load up the 1st Team Defense with Wabash, Witt, and DePauw's defenses having solid years.

[HCAlum86]

To Li'l Giant and Sigma's points, I do not disagree with other schools being more well represented than us, as I believe they should be. My slight is that the best player on our defense was not even mentioned, and it seems as if those that were chosen (outside of Lemuel and Partridge) were done so almost arbitrarily. Kyle Bates and Romanowski did not have a overly impressive years, and they find themselves on this list; yet Weaver and Fleetion were THE major contributors to a defense that produced a lot of turnovers, and they are left off.

I know at the end of the day, "all-conference" really does not mean much, but it just does not seem to me that anyone gave these kids their due diligence, rather stuck to the kids that were on pre-season lists.

And congrats to all of the all-conference selections, it is something to be proud of and I am sure most of those kids earned their spots, I am just very confused by our representation.

[bleedpurple]

Franklin is starting a freshman center.

Yep, it was next man up when three-year starter and senior captain Joe Green went down with an injury.

The other big injury for the GRIZ is the loss of TE Dylan Jenney.  Jenney is a senior captain who has size (6'5 240) and speed.  He was the GRIZ's leading receiver against both IWU and UWW and was lost during game 3 at Anderson.  His receiving and blocking has been missed.

That kid was a stud. Too bad about the injury. Two captains down.  Feel bad for them. It's always hard to be out for the playoffs after all that hard work, especially in the playoffs.