FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

Alright...here are my Wabash/Wheaton thoughts....

Wabash O - The new look offense is definitely much different than what we saw CC running.  Similar in that the wideouts are really spread out and they seem to like to throw underneath crossing routes and get guys loose in space, but the tempo is way different and the guys are pretty clearly still getting accustomed to it.  The offensive line played a good ball game...great size with that group and they kept the Wabash quarterbacks safe all day.  The run blocking also looked good.  Yoder had some nice runs for the LGs and Kimp looked alright.  Hudson seemed a little off and was not in sync with his receivers.  All new receivers (except Rode of course) so this is to be expected.  Wabash was virtually penalty free which is good to see in the first real "game" action of the year.  Getting the new offense to work is going to be tricky enough without having silly penalties.  I think the new receivers are going to be good...Wes Chamblee really stood out to me.  Wabash has 3-4 games to get the offense fine-tuned...I expect them to be fine. 

Wabash D - The defensive line was impressive as expected.  The new cover 2 scheme in the secondary needs some work (Wheaton was able to exploit the coverage for some deep passes in the second half).  Run defense up the middle was strong, but Wheaton's RB was able to get really good yards on the corners.  Wabash will definitely have to shore up the run defense outside the hashes.  The defense was really aggressive...forcing three TOs in the first half.  Looks like Raeburn has the Hard Hats back into a ball-hawking mode which is great. 

Special teams - I think Whitehead is locking up the placekicking duties.  I have no idea who is going to punt...the punt team did not look very good to me.  Coverages were just fine...Ittersagen didn't have a lot of room to run on his returns. 

Overall, I think Wabash is doing well.  Considering that Wabash got absolutely creamed in this scrimmage last year and that Wabash is putting in the new schemes for the first time, the result is a positive one for LG fans.  By no means is Wabash "there" yet, but if they show improvement over the course of the season, they'll be a really good team by the time November rolls around. 

[ScotLass]

All in all, a great opening win for the Scots yesterday. Absolutely stellar clock management by Woo throughout the game, something that has bit our behinds more than once in the past. The offense was balanced and the play calls much more inventive. Nice to see some new weapons put into play. The defense hung tough, giving up fewer points than any other NCAC team this week, nothing to sneeze at considering the Heller factor. Both the O and D lines seemed to snooze a bit in the 3rd quarter but woke right back up in the 4th.

The Scots efforts at the B-W scrimmage and in this opening win show they have built strongly on their momentum coming off last season.

Speaking of Heller: I did wonder, "what the Heller" during the game. He averaged 4.7 yards a carry, yet Woo picked off 5 interceptions. Am not sure why they were passing. Guess that's why I don't even play a coach on TV. I'd have gone to Heller until it flat out didn't work anymore or he dropped over, whichever came first. Woo would have won, as the Waynesburg defense looked weak, but I do believe the score would have been a lot closer. The bizarre play calling was just added manna from heaven. Nice to be on the receiving end of that kind of thing.

GO SCOTS!!!!!!!!

[SaintsFAN]

scotlass,

I think Waynesburg might be excited to have their new QB...Dawson.  He's the brother of record-setting QB, Brian Dawson of W&J (late 90s or early 2000s).. They probably leaned on him a little too much because of his name. 

Thats my guess..  Heller carried the ball exactly 24 less times against COW this year than he did last year.  Inexplicable..not that it sounds like it would have mattered much.

[nike]

Trying not to get  too excited yet, but the Scot's offense sure looked pretty balanced numbers wise.  And several people caught the ball, so maybe Sheppard won't get so much attention.  But Holter ran the ball a lot for a quarterback, which always scares me.
Next week should be great.  Both teams will know where they are this year.  Saw some of OWU on their stream and they looked awful.  Talked to a someone who talked to someone(always dangerous) who said that Hymes is still enrolled at OWU, but decided not to play, for whatever reason.  Physically, he is fine, but just wants to get his degree.  Best wishes to him. 
Why is game at Wooster for second year in a row?
And HIRAM!!!! Way to go!

[wab64]

     Great summary, Wally! Wabash always seems to be snake-bit when they play with Wheaton, including the last time they played in the regular season (2001, I think). It was CC's second game and it was a genuine stomping, causing the staff to retool their entire defensive strategy- its been all upward since.
     Putting Wally together with the picture array, a few lacunae present themselves---where was Evan Sobecki? Still nursing sore gluts??---what have they decided to do with Brock Graham? Who have they put in the middle as linebacker?
     It would appear that the soph WRs might be the item- good reports on Kody Lemond and Wes Chamblee along with our #1 Andrew Rode, but no Graham??
      The offense looks promising-with enough reps they should click, but, Wally, they better not wait until November. They better have it together by 18 October in Springfield. Outside coverage against the run has always been a headache-particularly mobile quarterbacks from Wiethoff on. It looks like Denison has a guy, Barnes, who, as reported on the site, put up 445 yards total offense Saturday, including 270 on foot!! I am a total cynic, not to mention a worry wart, but I'd like to see some decent containment this week. I hope I fret needlessly.

[wally_wabash]

     Great summary, Wally! Wabash always seems to be snake-bit when they play with Wheaton, including the last time they played in the regular season (2001, I think). It was CC's second game and it was a genuine stomping, causing the staff to retool their entire defensive strategy- its been all upward since.
     Putting Wally together with the picture array, a few lacunae present themselves---where was Evan Sobecki? Still nursing sore gluts??---what have they decided to do with Brock Graham? Who have they put in the middle as linebacker?
     It would appear that the soph WRs might be the item- good reports on Kody Lemond and Wes Chamblee along with our #1 Andrew Rode, but no Graham??
      The offense looks promising-with enough reps they should click, but, Wally, they better not wait until November. They better have it together by 18 October in Springfield. Outside coverage against the run has always been a headache-particularly mobile quarterbacks from Wiethoff on. It looks like Denison has a guy, Barnes, who, as reported on the site, put up 445 yards total offense Saturday, including 270 on foot!! I am a total cynic, not to mention a worry wart, but I'd like to see some decent containment this week. I hope I fret needlessly.

I can answer a few of those questions....

- I got to the scrimmage a tad late and missed the first Wabash series.  Sobecki was on the table with ice on his ankle when I showed up, so it looked like he got tweaked during Wabash's first series. 

- Brock was out catching passes in the first half.  They even had him back returning a punt one time.  I can't say exactly what they're going to do with Brock, but he's too good of a player to not have a place.  If he needs to be a slot receiver, he can be a slot receiver.  If they need him to block in the backfield, he can do that.  No matter the scheme, there's always things a team can do with a guy as versatile as Graham. 

- Bryan Watson was playing a lot of middle linebacker yesterday.  If memory serves he either forced or recovered a fumble in the scrimmage.  In the new scheme, the linebackers have a lot more space to cover individually (4-3 this year as opposed to the 4 and sometimes 5 LB look CC's defense gave).

Agreed about being ready to go on Oct. 18.  Obviously, Wabash will need to be playing good ball to win that game.  Wittenberg didn't exactly come out of the gate blowing any minds yesterday, so they've got some work to do as well. 

As far as Barnes goes...the guy is a crazy good athlete.  He was NCAC sprinter of the year last year so he's got wheels.  But this is the same Mike Barnes who ran for -35 yards against Wabash last year.  He had a great day up in Michigan, but this isn't exactly Kalamazoo that is coming to town on Saturday.  The LGs are no doubt aware of the threat he poses...I trust that the game plan will keep him accounted for.   

[Superfoot Wallace]

Still trying to figure out where Oberlin found their game.  Honestly, didn't give them a snowballs chance in hell.  Trying to tell myslef W&J was pulling punches or...  hell, this is college football nobody pulls punches with the game in question that late.  I don't care how you spin it, wakeup call...  the Yeomen aren't playing for mediocrity.

Denison comes out and wins.  And with a day like I've not heard of since Tommy Frazier and Brooks Bollinger played...  in the same game?!?  Coming into this season have forbid myself from looking at the Denison roster, but how many of their formidable Oline from last season return?  Just keep flashing back to their contest with Kenyon and an ATN I believe article.

Wooster done got salty with arguably the nations top rushing attack.

WTH, what do you guys think this is, the OAC or something?

Was thinking to myself,  RHIT wins a shootout with Earlham, but ehhh it's just Earlham...  Do we have to take note here too...  Is this shootout different than the Manchester shootouts of years past?  Seem to remember RHIT being pretty competent defensively, even if their coach is a former fancy pants receiver type.

Let's hope a rising tide lifts all boats.  Seriously, the Terrier's just won a season opener. 

Even Kenyon got in a track meet of sorts with CWRU.  Score came out flopped at 62-26, but pushed the Spartans to the point of injury.   Wouldn't mind seeing this game at the Stagg versus University of Chicago next week.

signed,
PHytins verus sABBAThia 

[OhioFootball00]

The case/kenyon game was 62-0 at one point...but denison looked really good...and oberlin we knew their offense was going to put some points up but it looked like their defense held up for the most part...i didnt expect them to have desire to put up that kind of a fight after last year was supposed to be the year of the yeomen...great job

[ADL70]

Give credit to Kenyon for continuing to fight, but all their points came in the fourth quarter, 7 against back-ups and 20 against the jv team, aided by a turnover at the CWRU 4.

[Superfoot Wallace]

70, thanks for that little morsel.  Anymore to identify about the Lords?  Our hosts here on D3football.com haven't linked a game story and neither has either teams' webpage.

Will the Terriers trounce them or should Denison keep looking over their shoulder?  Wanted to say or should Oberlin, Denison et al not take them lightly, but....

Some are making the big boys take note.  Wake up Lords.  Coach Creighton leaves the conference and you're reverting?  Take it to UofC.

Rochester and CMU loom large on the Spartan schedule and without an AQ in the UAA expect the schedule must be run, that is...  unless... 

No, the schedule must be run.  The out of conference results continue to improve paired with upped internal parity per each and the UAA and NCAC will eventually realize either three bids between them or at least room for a second bid without needing the schedule run.


signed,
"'I am not a Kruk'"

[wally_wabash]

New top 25 poll...

Wabash creeps up to #9 in the new poll (up two spots from the preseason ranking).  I'm assuming Wabash gained points from voters dropping SJF and probably W&J a bit.  Wittenberg sits with the "others receiving votes" crowd at 18 votes, up one vote from the preseason poll. 

[aueagle]

OWU soph. QB Mike Fisher was ill before the CMU game, so, insert 2 freshman QB's.
Fisher did have 2 surgeries for the removal of a cyst from his cheek in the offseason....I recall word having been that he was out of school winter break (not long?). Two surgeries.
Still no firm word on Steve Hymes as to why he is not playing. As well as Fisher played last season, maybe Hymes didn't dig being a No.2 or splitting time. He was on the pre-season & in the media guide.
Fisher has 11 days to get back.
For Wesleyan to win....#3 needs to be behind center....
GO BISHOPS

[wab64]

        What a stunning Monday----

         1. Wally_Wabash answered ALL my queries, with dispatch and completeness
         2. A ScotLass sighting-the first of the year.
         3. The Bears beat the Indianoplace Colts, 29-13.


                              Such Bliss

[ADL70]

Thanx eagle for the info.  Hope Fisher has a full recovery.

MacLeod here's Kenyon's side of the story:
http://athletics.kenyon.edu/x27811.xml (The photo is a year old)

Ironically the CWRU site's recap appeared verbatim in the PD, credited "Staff reports."

[nike]

Hymes is in school and decided not to play.
Why is OWU going to Wooster two years in a row?
Something wrong with Selby?