FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

jcu87alum · November 21, 2005, 12:50:32 PM

Congrats to Capital and Mt. Union on opening round wins. Cap faithful, I truly was hoping to get to Naperville for the game, but was stymied by too many obligations at home. Great road win.

Keep the DIII post season victory record firmly in the OAC's hands!

reality check · November 21, 2005, 01:41:55 PM

OK so JCUalum doesn't have the best sense of direction. Or maybe his next post congratulating the OAC will come on the NWC board.

(Great job Delaware Valley. You guys repped the MAC well!

)

usee · November 21, 2005, 01:43:16 PM

bashdad-i haven't seen depaws defense, but i will be surprised if cap's isn't better by a decent margin. I am not an expert bu I have seen the #2,#3, #12, #19 and #34 ranked defenses play. depaw is #30. there is a sizeable difference between #34, #19 and #2 and #3 in my opinion. all are good defenses but the differentiating factor is the speed and the pace at which they play. most of these defenses have a few players that are big difference makers. the biggest difference is that the top 5 or so usually have a few more than the others in the top 30. my observation is that this seems to be the case with capital. they move to the ball so well in the secondary, lbs, and dline that it makes execution offensively a little more challenging. balls that were completions against most opponents become knockdowns. scrambles that were first downs become sacks, holes that were open longer close quickly, etc. Again, i don't think its impenetrable by any means, just more challenging.

as i said earlier, i think wabash offense will fare somewhere between ncc and mt union v cap defense. it depends on how quickly and effectively they adjust to the difference in speed. the bigger key to the game is the wabash d v cap o and turnovers. who gets em and what they do with them.

wally-i don't think you can/will coax capital into blitzing. that doesn't seem to be what they do. they did it sparingly v ncc but i just don't think its in their gameplan too much. they are a cover team, keep it in front of you and knock the tar out of you when/if you complete it/run it type defense. my guess is that if they begin blitzing wabash consistently it will be because you beat them at what they do best already.

wally_wabash · November 21, 2005, 01:57:17 PM

That's good news, usee. Any of us who have seen plenty of Wabash games this season know just how surgical Russ can be if you let him hang out in the pocket all day (contact Wooster, Denison, and Albion for testimonials). If the Wabash o-line can keep Cap's front four away from Russ, I think the Wabash offense will do just fine. I don't expect the Wabash receivers to run around for big yards after the catch because of Capital's speed (there's that word again), but Wabash will be happy to repeatedly hit on the 5-8 yard passes. All season Wabash has tailored it's offensive game plan to what the defense will give up, whether it's passing in the flats, passing short over the middle, going deep...whatever. Creighton has found the weakness and exploited it masterfully all year. Saturday will be the biggest test of the year.

Again, I think it all comes down to how Cap's front four pressures the quarterback. If they can fold the pocket, Wabash is going to have some tough sledding. If they can't, Russ is going to have another solid day which will bode very well for the LGs.

usee · November 21, 2005, 02:05:39 PM

wally- i agree. i am a huge creighton fan. i think he is as good an offensive mind as there is. i think it will make for a great battle.

does anyone know if wabash/capital exchange playoff game tapes from last saturday? if so, this would be a big advantage to wabash since ncc is so similar.

bashbrother · November 21, 2005, 02:20:28 PM

I believe NCAA rules mandate that each team needs to share it's last 3 games.........

I could be wrong, but I think this is correct. So they would get the Albion, Depauw & Denison games.

and Bash would receive the North Central, Wilmington & John Carroll games.

The John Carroll game may be an interesting one to breakdown...I think I'll go take a look.

WallyFS4 · November 21, 2005, 02:40:43 PM

Usee

Bashbro is correct. They trade the last 3 games. As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS![/size][/font]

usee · November 21, 2005, 02:59:09 PM

i know its the last three but is it including playoffs? in the past it was only 2 and it was the last two regular season games. even after a playoff game you still recieved only the reg season games. this was true for the firs and second round i believe and then you began to get get playoff games but never the most recent one, always a week lag. part of that was because of the bye week for the top seeds so it may all be changed now that there is parity on number of games played. i just don't know.

BashBacker#16 · November 21, 2005, 03:40:55 PM

usee,

Film trade = last 3 regular season games. Not sure about the rules in the past...

I think (I know) the Bash WRs are good enough that they will get yards after the catch...Walker, Summers, Green, and Russell are all capable of big plays on yards after the catch. They are a scary bunch - must be the coaching, right FS4?

I get that Cap's D-backs are talented and quick, but honestly, when Bash goes 4 wide, there will be guys open - it's a matter if Russ getting it to the open receiver. Creighton has been "lights out" most of the year on play calls and game planning.

Is it Saturday yet?

WallyFS4 · November 21, 2005, 03:57:42 PM

BB16

It's all coaching. It has nothing to do with talent of the receiving corp.

From top to bottom. It might be the best receiving corp Wabash has ever had, and they have had some great ones. You would know better than me. As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS![/size][/font]

Pat Coleman · November 21, 2005, 05:32:43 PM

Capital and Wabash each got the final three regular-season videos from their opponent. The first playoff game doesn't get exchanged after the first playoff game because of time considerations.

The winner of Capital/Wabash will see either Mount Union's MSJ tape or Augustana's Lakeland tape, plus the final two regular season games.

formerd3db · November 21, 2005, 05:53:10 PM

WallyFS4:
It might have a little something to do with the fine offensive line.

From what I saw Saturday, if the line doesn't block like they did against Albion, the receiving corps and #3 will get hammered. But if they continue the protection as they did last Saturday, QB and his corp will continue to steamroll. Hopefully, Wabash will continue on the same level. It would be great to see that.

wabashcpa · November 21, 2005, 06:10:07 PM

I'd like to think our depth at wide receiver will be a factor in the outcome. Need to find the weak link in Capital's secondary and exploit it, even if it's with our third or fourth receiver. Not much of a dropoff between receivers 1-4 (not to mention the RB's and TE) - can Cap's secondary say the same? It's moot if we don't pass protect sufficiently.

How is weather going to impact the passing game? Right now the extended forecast shows a HIGH of 39 degrees. We can expect it will be somewhat windy as well.

WallyFS4 · November 21, 2005, 06:35:42 PM

d3db

You are 100% correct. It starts up front on both Offense and Defense. Without the pit, Russ & Co. could not do thier jobs. BB16 was poking fun. As always.

WABASH ALWAYS FIGHTS![/size][/font]

formerd3db · November 21, 2005, 07:42:18 PM

WallyFS4:
I figured he was having a little fun too!

Just thought I'd join in on a little of that as well. Anyway, good luck to Wabash Saturday. Cold weather is okay, but, hopefully, the snow will stay away. BTW, wishing all you 'Bash guys and your families (and other NCAC'ers too) a Happy Thanksgiving this week. Later.