FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[ScotLass]

Wow. Wooster wins a squeaker. I'm curious to see the ScotLass Post Game Report^TM

Unfortunately, the Scotlass post- game report is really no different than the assessment I posted after the OWU/Woo game.

First of all, it is my opinion that a win is NOT a win......sure, Woo managed to eek out another win and heads into next week 4-0. However, those 4 wins should have been games that were used to build on and improve on some areas that are weak. That isn't what has happened over the course of the season and it bodes poorly for Woo's chances in some challenging upcoming contests.

Congratulations to the Woo defense. They have come to play and have done an outstanding job through 4 games where the offense has lacked focus at times. Every game has shown a defense of players who have exceeded expectations by hanging tough series after series while the offense has struggled to consistently execute. I am sure that gets old after a while. The offensive display yesterday was horrific. (ex. 2 of 14 on 3rd down conversions).

I stand by my defensive assessment of a couple of weeks ago, they are the real deal. One area that needs improvement is getting better at the pass rush.

The offense played yesterday like they came out with an attitude that said, "hey it's just Earlham, all we have to do is show up." It's the same attitude that made their contest with Hiram last year look like Woo was going to embarrass themselves and give Hiram a win. It's an attitude that hasn't allowed them to show improvement over the course of these 4 wins. Consequently, they have not used their time wisely to prepare for and improve towards being able to field their best efforts against upcoming teams that will use the quarters where Woo's offense sputters to wear down the defense.

Yesterday Woo had no consistent offense, managed the clock poorly, wasted time outs, couldn't rotate players in and out without confusion, had costly penalties, and by the end of the 1st quarter I could reliably call the Earlham defense since our entire play selection could have fit on a 3x5 card. Interestingly, the few times this season that the defense even marginally looked like they might cave, the defensive coaches were in their face. Not so with the offense when they come to the bench.

I would suggest instituting the buddy system this week. Pair a defensive player with an offensive player and let's work on lifting everybody up to their potential. The WHOLE team needs to show up, as a unit, consistently ready to play a full 4 quarters of football. 4 games in, without displaying any marked improvement, the coaching staff needs to coach up and inspire competitive intensity that will improve execution on each and every play.....the contests coming up will surely demand it. After all, a win is NOT a win!

GO SCOTS!!!!!

[DPU3619]

Wes- I had it in mind to write a post saying it was a shame that DePauw was not considered more highly in the Poll with a 3-0 record, with a schedule not significantly weaker than Wabash's. Only 1 point in "others receiving votes". I guess you can kiss that goodby. As they say-"Il y'a fait rien" It don't mean nothing!

Yeah, they hadn't played 3 very inspiring opponents to get to 3-0.  And they didn't beat any of them particularly convincingly for my taste.  Doesn't get any easier the rest of the way, either.  Last 3 roadies are @ #19 Trinity, a BUS TRIP to Sherman, TX to see Austin, and of course, @ the #7 LG's, who will very, very likely be 9-0 and in the Top 5 by then. 

They're flat going to have to learn to play better or it's going to get ugly.

[Li'l Giant]

a BUS TRIP to Sherman, TX to see Austin

I took the Greyhound from Indy to San Antone one summer when I was completely broke at the end of the school year. It was without a doubt the longest 26 hours my life. I'm fairly certain Depauw won't have to hang out with a bunch of coked-up parole jumpers like I did and they won't have to stop as many times so it shouldn't take nearly 20 hours to get to Dallas. But it sounds like a recipe for disaster to ride that far, play a game and then ride back.

[WAF78]

Well Wes...all I know is that DPU didn't make the playoffs last year and beat our butt up and down the field last year. DPU plays in a tougher conference than we do...ranked 15 out of 27 where the NCAC is ranked 20th. DPU has the bell...and until we win it back...on the field...we can spout about playoffs, rankings, stats...and it don't mean nothin.

[wally_wabash]

Well Wes...all I know is that DPU didn't make the playoffs last year and beat our butt up and down the field last year. DPU plays in a tougher conference than we do...ranked 15 out of 27 where the NCAC is ranked 20th. DPU has the bell...and until we win it back...on the field...we can spout about playoffs, rankings, stats...and it don't mean nothin.

A lot of teams that didn't make the playoffs last year beat teams that did.  It takes more than just one good Saturday every year to be a playoff team. 

Last year was a very successful year, Bell or no Bell.  There are prizes out there to be won...prizes that don't get taken away when you lose to a rival every so often.  That's the bigger goal presently. 

[FightinScot]

[The offense played yesterday like they came out with an attitude that said, "hey it's just Earlham, all we have to do is show up."

Exactly- the whole team came out with that mentality, and it showed. Guys were looking ahead to Case and came out flat all day against the Quakers - not having three offensive starters didn't help- but give Earlham credit, they played their hearts out. We need to get a lot better to be ready for this coming stretch. I feel like we have the talent to compete with the upper echelon teams in the conference, but if we continue to fail to execute things might get ugly. Lets focus this week and fight for trophy #2 of the year!

GO SCOTS

[DPU3619]

Well Wes...all I know is that DPU didn't make the playoffs last year and beat our butt up and down the field last year. DPU plays in a tougher conference than we do...ranked 15 out of 27 where the NCAC is ranked 20th. DPU has the bell...and until we win it back...on the field...we can spout about playoffs, rankings, stats...and it don't mean nothin.

A fair point, my friend.  Although, I will say that the early returns on the Erik Raeburn era give me the feeling that his group will get off the bus considerably more ready for play than the LGs may have been last November.  Call it a hunch that they won't make that mistake again. 

We're still about 6 weeks away from all that, though.   

P.S. - a fun note for all of you gentlemen:  Points surrendered by the Wabash D this season - 54.  Points surrendered by Depauw at Millsaps on Saturday - 55.  Yikes.

[wally_wabash]

P.S. - a fun note for all of you gentlemen:  Points surrendered by the Wabash D this season - 54.  Points surrendered by Depauw at Millsaps on Saturday - 55.  Yikes.

Worth noting that only 14 of those points have come on the first team D....and zero against the first team D since the 2nd quarter of the first game vs. Denison. 

[wally_wabash]

Interesting what you find when you go inside the boxscores....question for the Witt fans out there:

Brumfield was not good against OWU (9-16, 68 yards).  He threw 3 interceptions against Hiram on Saturday before he came out.  Is Durbin going to get a look at QB before 10/18 or is Brumfield the guy? 

[wabndy]

I for one would like nothing better than to start breaking down the bell game, but the first week in October does seem a bit premature.  There is that small matter of a game in Springfield, Ohio in a couple of weeks.  The game against Wash U. should also be an interesting preview.

[wabco]

Just got back from C-ville ... 'Gheny came in with an attitude and did a couple of stupid things before the game which I would think their coaches would have counseled against. 

In any event, from my position in the stands, Wabash put on such a devastating clinic, my question is:  how does Allegheny regroup for next week?  They were monkey stomped in every aspect of their game.  Nothing worked.  There were no bright spots.  Even the 'Gheny press report on Allegheny.edu  website had trouble inventing positives.  As a coach, where do you start to put Humpty Dumpty back together again ... with 6 days and counting?

Dim and bright for Wabash:  Brock may be out a game or two with a concussion (as I understand it) and Sobecki is ready and Pi***d.   On to Wash. U.  They always have a decent team, well coached and focused.  They do not do stupid before game things or dumb during game things.  Wabash will need its A game again.

[bashbrother]

New D3 Top 25 is up.  Top 7 remain the same, although it looks like Wabash gained some votes.

http://www.d3football.com/top25/2008/week-5

[wabashcpa]

I'm not sure what to make of Washington.  They beat Witt in Springfield, which is never an easy task.  Then they lay a big egg in Memphis against Rhodes.  Which Wash U are we going to see?  I know Wabash has been chugging along pretty good, getting better each week, but this has all the makings of the classic trap game.

[wally_wabash]

I'm not sure what to make of Washington.  They beat Witt in Springfield, which is never an easy task.  Then they lay a big egg in Memphis against Rhodes.  Which Wash U are we going to see?  I know Wabash has been chugging along pretty good, getting better each week, but this has all the makings of the classic trap game.

Wash U is a team that is very well coached and doesn't make a lot of mistakes.  I have no idea what happened vs. Rhodes, but winning a game in Springfield (with most of that game being played by Huffman) is reason for pause.  Witt doesn't lose at home very often.  It is important to keep in mind that Wash U. is neither a conference or a regional game for Wabash, so the result (in theory) as it pertains to selection and seeding is largely irrelevant.  That being said, any loss is going to stick in the minds of people that have a say to such things so the Little Giants will want to win and based on what I've seen so far, ER will have the troops ready.  There's an edge to the 2008 version of Wabash that I don't think was there in previous seasons...and it's a good thing.  The next two weeks are huge.  After four weeks of anticipated "easy" games, it's going to be fun to see how the Little Giants attack the meat of the schedule. 

[BashFan74]

Was there for most of the Witt-Wash U game.  Wash U was well-prepared and had a balanced attack.  Witt offered up several turnovers, including a fumble on their 9 yard line and a couple of blocked kicks.  An opportunistic defense took advantage of each.  The first half was all-Wash U -- Witt and its fans were stunned to be down 21-zip.  To its credit, Witt staged a major comeback, even after the season-ending injury to Huffman.  Credit a well-prepared backup QB, Brumfield.