FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[Retired Old Rat]

As someone who has seen St. Thomas many times over the past few years, and twice this year, I'd be careful about saying that Wabash won't be seeing anything much different this week.  These Tommies may be the best offensive line I've ever seen.

The other piece is Jordan Roberts.  He is a beast of a running back.  He left the game last Saturday with what looked like an ankle injury.  Haven't heard anything about his condition for this week.

If you can't stop the run and make them throw you are in trouble.  Hope you've got some strong, fast guys who can seal the edge.

[wally_wabash]

As someone who has seen St. Thomas many times over the past few years, and twice this year, I'd be careful about saying that Wabash won't be seeing anything much different this week.  These Tommies may be the best offensive line I've ever seen.

The other piece is Jordan Roberts.  He is a beast of a running back.  He left the game last Saturday with what looked like an ankle injury.  Haven't heard anything about his condition for this week.

If you can't stop the run and make them throw you are in trouble.  Hope you've got some strong, fast guys who can seal the edge.

Speaking strictly about size here, Wabash has seen the kinds of dudes St. Thomas has in each of the last two weeks.  We can have a more layered conversation about quality, but looking strictly at the measureables here, the UST offensive line won't be a new thing.   

Roberts is the one thing that we can definitely say Wabash hasn't seen a reasonable facsimile of this year.  Unless you count practice (hey-oh).  Seriously- we might have the two best backs in the division on the same field Saturday at O'Shaughnessy.  Good stuff. 

[BashBacker#16]

Do you think UST fans know we have a decent running back?  I mean, he's ok. 

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.  The UST line is so huge I don't know if Wabash should make the trip.

I love the underdog card.

WAF

[wally_wabash]

The longest running sports talk radio show had about 8 minutes on the Tommies and Wabash yesterday.  http://www.1500espn.com/sportstalk-ondemand/  The November 30th podcast: D3 talk starts at about 4:30.

Thanks for sharing, AO.  Always fun to hear what other people around the nation are saying, even if they've got some facts mixed up here and there.   

[02 Warhawk]

Do you think UST fans know we have a decent running back?  I mean, he's ok. 

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.  The UST line is so huge I don't know if Wabash should make the trip.

I love the underdog card.

WAF

Probably because they have destroyed everyone in their path so far (including the playoffs)...all while playing in a power conference. They held Sura (1st team AA) to just 3 yards a carry in both their games this year.

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

We'll see what happens though.

[Li'l Giant]

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.

And no opponent we face in the quarterfinals will be until we win one of these games. The problem takes care of itself if we win.

[Desertraider]

Do you think UST fans know we have a decent running back?  I mean, he's ok. 

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.  The UST line is so huge I don't know if Wabash should make the trip.

I love the underdog card.

WAF

Agree. But in case you have not heard: Wabash Always Fights! 

Probably because they have destroyed everyone in their path so far (including the playoffs)...all while playing in a power conference. They held Sura (1st team AA) to just 3 yards a carry in both their games this year.

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

We'll see what happens though.

[02 Warhawk]

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.

And no opponent we face in the quarterfinals will be until we win one of these games. The problem takes care of itself if we win.

+K

nailed it

[wally_wabash]

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

Name names, please. 

[02 Warhawk]

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

Name names, please.

St. John's.....twice.

Like I said (before you get all hot and bothered), I'm not 100% convinced St. John's is better than Wabash, but you can certainly make the case. Even Pat and Keith said (paraphrasing) that we'll never know how good they were because they couldn't get outside the state of MN.

Going along the lines of what Li'l Giant said. Wabash needs to earn it. Maybe this is the year...we'll see.

[wally_wabash]

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

Name names, please.

St. John's.....twice.

Like I said (before you get all hot and bothered), I'm not 100% convinced St. John's is better than Wabash, but you can certainly make the case. Even Pat and Keith said (paraphrasing) that we'll never know how good they were because they couldn't get outside the state of MN.

Going along the lines of what Li'l Giant said. Wabash needs to earn it. Maybe this is the year...we'll see.

There's not really anything statistically that distinguishes St. John's from Wabash if you're willing to completely ignore their atrocious 3rd down defense and a fairly pedestrian rush defense.  But MIAC, right?   

[Pat Coleman]

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

Name names, please.

St. John's.....twice.

Like I said (before you get all hot and bothered), I'm not 100% convinced St. John's is better than Wabash, but you can certainly make the case. Even Pat and Keith said (paraphrasing) that we'll never know how good they were because they couldn't get outside the state of MN.

Going along the lines of what Li'l Giant said. Wabash needs to earn it. Maybe this is the year...we'll see.

There's not really anything statistically that distinguishes St. John's from Wabash if you're willing to completely ignore their atrocious 3rd down defense and a fairly pedestrian rush defense.  But MIAC, right?

Guess we'll find out soon how much that means.

[02 Warhawk]

This will be the toughest opponent Wabash has faced this season, hands down. On the flip side, I'm not 100% certain that's the case for St. Thomas.

Name names, please.

St. John's.....twice.

Like I said (before you get all hot and bothered), I'm not 100% convinced St. John's is better than Wabash, but you can certainly make the case. Even Pat and Keith said (paraphrasing) that we'll never know how good they were because they couldn't get outside the state of MN.

Going along the lines of what Li'l Giant said. Wabash needs to earn it. Maybe this is the year...we'll see.

There's not really anything statistically that distinguishes St. John's from Wabash if you're willing to completely ignore their atrocious 3rd down defense and a fairly pedestrian rush defense.  But MIAC, right?

Guess we'll find out soon how much that means.

Bingo.

[nkwest]

Do you think UST fans know we have a decent running back?  I mean, he's ok. 

I know Wabash is going to have to play a near perfect game but I certainly don't get the sense any St Thomas dude is the least bit worried.  The UST line is so huge I don't know if Wabash should make the trip.

I love the underdog card.

WAF

I'm not sure I've seen any UST fans posting on the subject, just MIAC fans responding to Wabash fans nonchalantly tagging UST's o-line as more of the same.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Wabash's program. UST will not be able to make the same mistakes (penalties) or miss the same opportunities (overthrown receivers, dropped INTs) against Wabash that it has in recent weeks. Similarly, Wabash cannot expect to commit six TOs of its own and escape with a W. These two teams appear to match up extremely well; I don't expect a blowout in either direction. UST hasn't carried less than a 14 point lead into the 4th quarter this year (twice: at SJU & at Concordia-Moorhead); if Wabash is up or within one score late, it'll be interesting to see how UST responds.

[USTBench]

I think the thing that is distinguishable from just sheer size is talent on UST's o-line. When you see 6'9" and 350lb on a D3 team you're probably thinking that the kid isn't very good. And I'm not saying he's Ali Marpet, but if David Simmet had a slightly quicker first step in HS he'd probably would be playing in the B1G or SEC. As it stand he moves like an athlete (he played hoops in HS and his dad played hoops at SJU) and he's a Gagliardi finalist. You don't see too many offensive linemen in contention for the D3 equivalent of the Heisman.

Caruso has always prided himself on o-line play, and his most successful teams have been built around them. He maintains this might not be his most talented o'line (He's had some Rimington Award winners, one at UST in Curtis James, and I think one at either USD or NDSU when he was a coordinator) but it is his most cohesive. Like ROR said, Roberts is a talented back. He transferred from South Dakota where he was a major contributor (over 100 yards rushing against NDSU one game). UST doesn't have prolific receivers or QB but they are consistent and good. Nick Waldvogel is their most versatile receiver and Gilliand is their best receiver. Charlie Dowdle is probably one of the best pass catching TEs in the country IMO and he can also block.

On defense UST is fast and aggressive. They have the defensive lineman of the year in the MIAC in Ryan Winter. They run a 3-4 and blitz from crazy angles. Not unusual to see a CB or safety in the backfield.

UST has had some slow starts trying to figure out new opponents or different offenses. La Verne, Concordia, Bethel, SJU (game 1). Their aggression can also get the best of them in terms of penalties, but it seems to be a risk they're always willing to take.

Anyway, really excited to see Wabash. Always respected the program, glad to get to see it first hand. Expecting a decent game on Saturday.