FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[BashBacker#16]

HoosierQBScout,

Hudson from Salem (IN), Short from Naples FL, Melind from Broad Ripple (Indy), plus I think they have a couple from out-of-state (IL) & (AZ).

Ohio guys:  does anyone know anything about Xenia H.S. (OH) - from D3's recruiting piece, I saw Bash has a kid from there - an OL named Adam Bauer.  I think he has good size.  Is it a good program, what class?

Wally - I want the pre-season over/under on Wallick's yards vs. the Wabash D...it looks as if he really struggled last year against the top CCIW teams - North Central, Augie, & Carthage are examples.

[fijidoc]

Not Wally but my over under for his rushing yards vs. Wabash Def: 65 yards.

[wally_wabash]

I wish I knew more about how Millikin ran the ball.  Wallick sounds like a bowling ball type and sometimes those guys can have some success against Wabash (K'zoos RB from a couple of years ago and Tarquino from Gheny come to mind) and are most effective when they line up not terribly deep and get the quick hitters through the line for 3-5 yards.  If Wallick fits that mold, and that's how they use him, I'll put the O/U on his yards at 85.  Earlier somebody said Millikin runs a Witt-style offense which I take to mean an offense dominated by the run game and primarily dominated by stretch plays...either off tackle or sweep type stuff.  If they try to stretch Wallick out on the Wabash D, the O/U on his yards plummets to 60. 

Even bigger than Wallick in this game is going to be Millikin's defense.  Statistically underwhelming one year ago, are they going to have enough to keep Wabash from posting a big number on the scoreboard?  Wallick can run all up and down Hollett, but if Millikin can't get a stop it won't matter. 

[Superfoot Wallace]

Of the opinion that the CCIW is strogner top to bottom than the NCAC.  Not to say the top one or two teams in the NCAC might not be better than the top one or two teams in the CCIW, but this might mitigate some of the slights being thrown the Big Blues way  with regards to Wallicks numbers and the defense.  Just of the opinion that Wallick sees better defenses week in and week out and their defense sees better offenses week in and week out than in the NCAC.

Wallicks numbers fell off from his sophomore to junior year.  Some of this might be attributable to the loss of some quality Olinemen I remember being discussed when the boards were hosted under the old format.

A good gauge of this game will be an opponent in common.  See that Wabash also picked up Franklin College for a nonconference game.  Really looking to get some variety out of that schedule.  Franklin was throttled by Wallick two years ago, while barely losing to them this past season.  Could be a few factors: replacing olinemen comes to mind first, but it could be that Wallicks tires have reached their 80,ooo treadlife warranty.  I would bargain on the former.

Neibuhr usually runs a pair of backs and has a third back for rotation at fullback.  The faster, usually shiftier back will be the fullback in starting rotation and the brusier, Wallick, will be the starter at tail.  When the starting fullback starts working in at tail the blocking fullback will come into the game.  Find the original fullback from the upback position is the homerun back, and the stretch is somewhat misdirection with fullback counter away from the pitch.  Good Luck!

Im putting the over for Wallick at 135 yards, but I think Wabash wins this one.  The Franklin game on the other hand,  I dont know if having Wabash alum on the coaching staff south of Whiteland will save the Little Giants.

signed,
Van Eagan

[BashBacker#16]

Unless a team has another Tony Sutton, I feel pretty confident a runner will not have a ton of success on our rush D.  Coach Neathery has shown that since his arrival 5 years ago.  The Bash D has been close to the best in the league each year (and amongst D3 leaders) he has been there.  Knowing what returns on that side of the ball, I expect nothing different this season.  There will be some new names but they can play - Banach (OLB), Kraft (OLB), Gangloff (DL), Anderson (DL), & Peterson (DB) should all step up.

Macleod - I think Bash will look at the Franklin game as a big statement game knowing it is an in-state school.  Coach Leonard has done a nice job but they will be outmatched in this opener and CC will have the Little Giants primed.  Too much size, speed, and depth.

Wooster's Drushal was named 2nd team in the Lindy's Football Preview (I saw it yesterday).  Doesn't it seem like Drushal has played for 9 years now!  They mention Wabash's WR corps and their speed with their #25 ranking.

[Mugsy]

Unless a team has another Tony Sutton, I feel pretty confident a runner will not have a ton of success on our rush D.  Coach Neathery has shown that since his arrival 5 years ago.  The Bash D has been close to the best in the league each year (and amongst D3 leaders) he has been there.  Knowing what returns on that side of the ball, I expect nothing different this season.  There will be some new names but they can play - Banach (OLB), Kraft (OLB), Gangloff (DL), Anderson (DL), & Peterson (DB) should all step up.

Macleod - I think Bash will look at the Franklin game as a big statement game knowing it is an in-state school.  Coach Leonard has done a nice job but they will be outmatched in this opener and CC will have the Little Giants primed.  Too much size, speed, and depth.

Wooster's Drushal was named 2nd team in the Lindy's Football Preview (I saw it yesterday).  Doesn't it seem like Drushal has played for 9 years now!  They mention Wabash's WR corps and their speed with their #25 ranking.

BashBacker#16,

I posted my thoughts on Wallick over on the CCIW board.  Wallick is no Sutton, but he's no sloutch either.  The top CCIW defenses were able to contain him last year, but that may have been a function of Millikin's lack of pass offense - which should be better this year with a more experienced QB. 

I don't doubt Wabash has the ability to control Wallick, but you don't rush for 3600 yards in 3 seasons against some pretty tough competition without have some serious ability.  I don't think it can be a foregone conclusion that Wallick will be shutdown completely.  Even if you hold him below 4 yards per carry for almost the entire game, he is still very dangerous as he can break one at any point and he generally is a workhorse back - one that gets stronger as the game goes on.  Case in point he had over 35 carries in 5 games last year.

Another factor that may help Coach Neathery is his familiarity with Millikin, having played against them for his 4 years at Wheaton.  I don't think Millikin's offensive scheme has changed too much, with exception to the rush/pass balance based on personel.  The last few years they have relied more on the run due to struggling pass offense.

[tigerdadplm]

Mugsy-  Let me preface this by saying that I hope to never have to compliment wabash again....but....be careful what you wish for.  Our (DePauw's) offense was ranked pretty high in both rushing offense and scoring offense nationally going into the bell game.  We ran into a buzz saw that day.  They don't do much (blitzing/stunting) but they are always in the right place at the right time and its usually in the backfield.  Our RB is one of the best out there and he was frustrated all day.  I don't know who they have back from last year but I hope they lost a few.  I actually think that the secondary is the strength of the defense, the corners and fs are on islands all day and they play very disciplined which allows them to commit everyone else to the LOS.

P.S.-  I just threw up in my mouth

[Li'l Giant]

P.S.-  I just threw up in my mouth

And that lends much credibility to your analysis.

[Mugsy]

Mugsy-  Let me preface this by saying that I hope to never have to compliment wabash again....but....be careful what you wish for.  Our (DePauw's) offense was ranked pretty high in both rushing offense and scoring offense nationally going into the bell game.  We ran into a buzz saw that day.  They don't do much (blitzing/stunting) but they are always in the right place at the right time and its usually in the backfield.  Our RB is one of the best out there and he was frustrated all day.  I don't know who they have back from last year but I hope they lost a few.  I actually think that the secondary is the strength of the defense, the corners and fs are on islands all day and they play very disciplined which allows them to commit everyone else to the LOS.

P.S.-  I just threw up in my mouth

Please don't misinterpret what I said.  I did NOT say in any way that Millikin would run all over Wabash.  As I stated over on the CCIW board, Augustana, North Central and Carthage all handled him quite well last year.

Nor did I say Wallick is far more talented than all other running back Wabash faces.  What I attempted to do was give an honest assessment based on a question directed to me by BashBacker#16 on the CCIW board about how good Wallick is, what his strengths are, the challenges Wabash will have with him, etc. 

That said... Wallick has the physical abilities to be dangerous against any team, IF Millikin has a passing offense that keeps opposing defenses from putting 8 men in the box and shutting down the run at all costs.  Millikin hasn't had that in a few years now.  I don't know about this year.

I've been watching Wabash for some time as we have scrimmaged them over the years when I played at Wheaton and I coached at Wheaton when Coach Neathery was an outstanding defensive end.  Wabash is very talented and has had a very stout defense.  Make no mistake though, Wallick is one of the more talent running backs they will face this year.

[wally_wabash]

I think we're all looking forward to the Millikin game.  I'm particularly excited every year when we get some fresh teams on the schedule.  Wabash has opened the last four years with K'zoo then followed that up with home/homes vs. Earlham (which was stale because Earlham is in our conference yet we played them in non-conference games) and Wash U. who rotates on and off the schedule every handful of years. 

I think most in the Wabash camp are thrilled about getting a CCIW team on the schedule.  The CCIW's out of conference won-loss record was unbelievable last year, so I don't think anybody thinks Millikin will be an easy game.  It's going to be a big interconference game and it's a game that the NCAC really, really needs in order to bolster the conference rep. 

[BashBacker#16]

Mugsy - very insightful comments on Wallick and Millikan in general.  Thanks for the input.  My remark about Sutton is not meant as any disrespect to Wallick & the Big Blue, I know he is a very good back - his numbers speak for themselves.  I am just confident in the Wabash D for 2 reasons:  Coach Neathery's game planning abilities & our personnel up front.  Don't get me wrong, if we are not ready to play that day, it will be a long game. 

Tigerdadplm - nice post, I actually laughed out loud with your puke comment.  Ya, Rogers build Marks up like he was the next Earl Campbell so the Bash D was ready that day.  Did you have a chance to ever watch Pynenberg mirror Wiethoff?  That was downright scary when he chased him down on more then one occasion.  Every one of our DBs is back with some young ones pushing for PT. 

[Mugsy]

Mugsy - very insightful comments on Wallick and Millikan in general.  Thanks for the input.  My remark about Sutton is not meant as any disrespect to Wallick & the Big Blue, I know he is a very good back - his numbers speak for themselves.  I am just confident in the Wabash D for 2 reasons:  Coach Neathery's game planning abilities & our personnel up front.  Don't get me wrong, if we are not ready to play that day, it will be a long game. 

BashBacker#16,

fyi... I didn't take offense to any of your comments.  I never saw Sutton play, but obviously he was an incredible back.  I think we are in agreement that Wabash has the personel and coaching to be capable of stopping the best D3 running backs.  Based on my limited opportunities to see Wallick play (only 2 games against Wheaton), it is my opinion that Wallick has all the tools to be a top D3 running back.  It should be a good challenge for the Wabash D and we will see what happens in the fall.

[wally_wabash]

If I'm not mistaken, Wabash didn't blitz a ton in the Bell game last year because Weithoff can kill you if you breaks the pressure.  Weithoff busted big runs off on Wabash in '03 and '04...I think Wabash was determined to not let that happen again in '05.  Wabash did start sending more pressure later in the game when Depauw was trailing and really forced into throwing.  In any case, my recollection is that Wabash does blitz more often than they did vs. Depauw and there were some games where Wabash blitzed early and often. 

[lancer98]

Hold on to your hats.  I have learned that Wooster has just hired a new D-Line coach named Felix Catheline.  He wrecked the NCAC for many years before moving on and now he is back.

The rest of the NCAC should be very afraid.....his presence should send a shock wave throughout the league this year.  He is that good.

[wally_wabash]

One All-NCAC HM as a senior doesn't exactly paint a picture of someone having "wrecked the NCAC for many years."  I don't know how well he can coach, but let's at least keep things in a mild amount of perspective.