FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

aueagle · September 17, 2006, 07:57:14 AM

This is not good for the Bishops. Next up....yikes!!

BashBacker#16 · September 17, 2006, 05:51:50 PM

Hey, what is the deal with Kenyon this year??? I thought they were supposed to be much improved and ready to contend.

They must not be getting Sanchez in the open field...

Wally - since I did not see it, did Russell blow away from the Millikin defender on the 80 yard reception? I wish I could have seen that.

I agree with your comments on the Bash D - they will keep getting better. Thankfully we bounced back and hopefully we can make a statement this weekend on the Bishops to start NCAC play.

Nice win for Earlham.

fijidoc · September 17, 2006, 06:09:34 PM

I was at the Bash game and here is what I saw:

1.) Milikan kept their DB's on an island all day. kept matching ups safties man to man vs. slot receiver and continued to get burned all day.

2.) Bash made no attempt to establish a running game. Probably due to match ups and Milikan continuing to leave their DB's isolated in coverage. Either way Bash must find some kind of running threat to continue to be effective offensively. Milikan did look strong on D line and LB's so probably just picked on their weakness. But the Bash running game is a concern.

3.) Defensively our lineman can't get off blocks. That is the big difference that I see. Our LB's don't have the room to flow and run to the ball like in the past because our D Line can't penetrate and can't get off blocks. Also they can't get a pass rush at all unless we bring LB's which caused troubles on dump off passes to the RB's because no one was left to cover them.

4.) Overall defense held up pretty well for 3 quarters but what happened in the end of the 3rd and 4th quarter is a concern. If our offense can't establish some kind of a running game to keep the defense off the field they are going to get tired and don't have the depth they have had in the past.

5.) Some of the problems are correctable but I'm afraid that some are just due to a lack of experience/depth/talent in certain areas. I still think Bash can win the NCAC this year but it will be a struggle all year long and this team will need to learn to play a full 60 minutes of football.

Superfoot Wallace · September 17, 2006, 06:15:05 PM

Quote from: BashBacker#16 on September 17, 2006, 05:51:50 PM
Nice win for Earlham.

That win was more than nice for Earlham, and Kenyon will still get in somebodys craw before this is all said and done. Would laugh if it were one of their own.

signed,
the Hamburglar

ADL70 · September 17, 2006, 06:39:09 PM

BB16...Sanchez didn't start or play much against CWRU. Spartan D matches up well v Lord O. This was their lowest offensive output since last year's
CWRU game. Over half of their 281 yds came in the 4th quarter against subs. And 81 yards were on one run.

wally_wabash · September 17, 2006, 07:53:49 PM

BB16-

Russell got behind his man on a post route (the post was open all day for Wabash). The ball was slightly underthrown and Russell had to slow up a couple of steps to get it which gave the DB a chance to tackle him with a dive and arms around the legs but Russell kept his balance and ran real fast for about the last 40 yards of that play. He's fast.

bashbrother · September 17, 2006, 09:13:51 PM

I believe we will see this Bash team make improvements every week. I really think this team is trying to find its identity and build some depth. The loss of Lange didn't help that goal this week, but Wabash has talent lined up to step in.

Our offense will be able to score on anyone. The ultimate success of this season will be determined by how much our defense develops over time.

There has been a few possible reasons for the lack of a rushing game against Millikin. I have another one.

Could it be that CC knew or was worried that we would have to score a bunch of points to win the game?

wally_wabash · September 17, 2006, 09:53:52 PM

I think CC tabled the run because Millikin wasn't stopping the pass at all. Anything Wabash wanted to do through the air, they could. Why go out of your way to run if the other team is going to let you pass all day? And of course it didn't help that Millikin blew up every run Wabash attempted early in the game.

Looking ahead, I have no doubt that Wabash has to get some more balance. The breakdown Saturday probably had something to do with fatigue (MU ran 30 more plays than Wabash did and had the ball for about 10 minutes longer). Like I said, if Wabash is trotting out the defense for 80 plays every game, it's only a matter of time before they blow a big lead and lose. And losing is no longer an option with the conference season upon us.

Regarding Lange...I thought Gangloff played pretty well, and Morrison looked alright when he was in there. He's going to be good. Wabash has the horses on D, it's just hard to figure out why they aren't playing better.

smedindy · September 18, 2006, 10:32:05 AM

The thing that saved Wabash's bacon was that Millikin's QB didn' t have the arm strength to make a comeback. I think that's a fine club Wabash beat and it may be one of the best non-conference wins this year for the NCAC.

WallyFS4 · September 18, 2006, 10:32:32 AM

I maybe asking a question that has been discussed already. Wondering what happen to Ja'Michael Hill? I had heard he was a very promising CB. I know young men come and go. Just wondering what happen to this young man. As always.

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

smedindy · September 18, 2006, 10:36:47 AM

He didn't return to school this fall. That's all I know.

fijidoc · September 18, 2006, 11:22:17 AM

I was just looking at the Depauw schedule. Has anyone noticed that they only have 4 home games this year and have already played 2 of them? They only have 2 home games left all year. That has got to be horrible. I would shoot whoever did my scheduling if I had to do that. Bad enough to only have 4 home games but when 2 of them lead off the season, OUCH. Now I now next year will be great with all the potential home games assuming they are mostly home and home type series but that is just brutal.

wally_wabash · September 18, 2006, 11:28:01 AM

It sounds like their schedule has not been adequately managed.

You will not find me feeling sorry for Depauw. Ever.

D3 Poster · September 18, 2006, 11:45:14 AM

For me it's OWU. The Bethany loss was a shocker.

wabco · September 18, 2006, 12:14:59 PM

You could see some of the rust beginning to fall off. Huff looked good ... even in rush he was getting ... still a few floaters but much better than Franklin. Receivers are catching now ... again a plus from Franlin. Special teams need work ... better kick off coverage (a function of lesser speed on behalf of Millikin?) ... but punt blocking was bad. You could see the punt block was going to happen ... everytime a little closser to the punter. D line did not penetrate ... perhaps that was a function of the need to protect against the Millikin RB. Speaking of the Millikin RB ... he never quit ... several times he almost got free when normals would have been downed ... his one TD on the screen was a function of his not quiting.

So ... 'Bash blocks better on punts, does not quit tackling the Millikin RB, ... that is 2 TDs ...

We will be there ... I have every confidence the coaches will diagnose and cure the D line pressure issue.