University Athletic Association

[mustang]

It was windy, rainey and cold for both teams. The offense for Case has been erratic for 2 years now. No excuses.

[SpartanMom_2016]

It was windy, rainey and cold for both teams. The offense for Case has been erratic for 2 years now. No excuses.

The offense played well overall.  They scored 33 points.

[ExTartanPlayer]

It was windy, rainey and cold for both teams. The offense for Case has been erratic for 2 years now. No excuses.

The offense played well overall.  They scored 33 points.

Yes and no; you have to consider context. Frostburg State had allowed 57 and 59 points in their first two games - it's pretty obvious that they have an OK offense and a terrible defense. Scoring 33 is a nice number but against a team that gives up 50+ you'd like to see more.  Obviously that is dependent on the exact flow of the game and situation, but I gather that Case was ahead 26-20 at halftime and the offense scored just 7 in the second half in a game when more was needed. It's fair to point that out.

Gotta say I'm disappointed in the UAA overall thus far, especially CMU and Case. WashU actually is doing exactly what I expected - playing great defense and scuffling on offense, but they have played a pair of top 25 teams close. Chicago is the big surprise - while it's hard to know exactly what to make of their schedule thus far (two 2012 playoff teams, but one from a very weak conference and both clearly not what they were last year), but they are 3-0 and playing very good defense.

[SpartanMom_2016]

I agree that context is important. For an offense that scored no points the previous week 33 is quite an improvement.  Case was able to move the ball.  One of the fumbles was on the Frostburg 3.

[jaybird44]

The Wash-U defense was tremendous...giving up only 10 points despite being on the field for over 42 minutes and facing 94 plays from Coe's offense.  The Kohawks gained 424 yards, but Wash-U forced 3 turnovers and kept the Bears in the game.

It will be an interesting week of practice for the Bears' offense.  Three QBs were used, none were effective...6 first downs and 124 yards of total offense were all that could be mustered.  Not sure if wholesale changes are in store for the Bears' home game vs. Centre this week, but it would appear that Wash-U's offense has reached a crossroads moment relatively early in the season.

[mustang]

It was windy, rainey and cold for both teams. The offense for Case has been erratic for 2 years now. No excuses.

The offense played well overall.  They scored 33 points.

Allow me to explain. In most instances you would be correct. I guess the larger point I was trying to make was it is well known that the defense is young and inexperienced. The good news was that the offense is experienced at the quarterback, running back and receiver positions. This would indicate that a run centric, ball control offense would be an ideal. Cold, wind and rain play into that strategy nicely. It's hard to make judgements on a game when all you have to go by is live stats so my points are more general in nature. Bottom line is the offense needs to carry the water and if it had been just a hair more productive in the last season and a half we would be having a different discussion. Lots of season left and I remain optimistic and confident that these players will play to their potential.

[DagarmanSpartan]

This is shaping up to be a LONG season.

I sure hope that we can turn it around.  Maybe Puget Sound will give us an opportunity.

[ExTartanPlayer]

It was windy, rainey and cold for both teams. The offense for Case has been erratic for 2 years now. No excuses.

The offense played well overall.  They scored 33 points.

Allow me to explain. In most instances you would be correct. I guess the larger point I was trying to make was it is well known that the defense is young and inexperienced. The good news was that the offense is experienced at the quarterback, running back and receiver positions. This would indicate that a run centric, ball control offense would be an ideal. Cold, wind and rain play into that strategy nicely. It's hard to make judgements on a game when all you have to go by is live stats so my points are more general in nature. Bottom line is the offense needs to carry the water and if it had been just a hair more productive in the last season and a half we would be having a different discussion. Lots of season left and I remain optimistic and confident that these players will play to their potential.

Excellent post. This is what I was trying to get at above - yes, it was nice for the offense to score 33 points, but given that it's the more experienced side of the ball AND the fact that they were playing a team who, through two games, had shown some offensive capability but ZERO defense, it would be reasonable to say the offense needed to produce more in that game.  As they did against Oberlin, who went on to allow 39 to Wooster in their second game.

I'm not "blaming" the Case offense for the losses, the defense bears some blame as well - it's more that I disagree with any suggestion that the offense played well (and thereby the loss is on the defense).

I do think WashU's defense has played superbly through three games, despite having two losses. They have held a pair of ranked teams to 17 and 10 points while getting little from their offense.  The reason I'll make this statement about one side of the ball for WashU and not for Case is, again, context and the caliber of competition.

WashU might well be 3-0 if they had played Chicago's schedule, and I expect them to win their next few games if they can figure out anything on offense.

CMU certainly has the talent to be better than they've shown, but this far it's looking bleak. The lone win against Allegheny (which would normally stand as a nice win) looks pretty hollow now that the Gators have lost badly to both Kenyon AND Hiram at home...historically the two worst teams in the NCAC.  The losses have come against OK-but-not-great teams, and worse, the offense hasn't been able to finish drives, so we haven't really been all that close to actually winning either game.

I think all of the 1-2 teams have potential to finish the year with winning records - but each of them badly needs more from at least one side of the ball.

[SpartanMom_2016]

I'm not "blaming" the Case offense for the losses, the defense bears some blame as well - it's more that I disagree with any suggestion that the offense played well (and thereby the loss is on the defense).

I am a long time sports parent and I don't think it is productive to "blame" losses on one half of a team.  Football is a team sport.  Each and every member of a team contributes to every win and every loss.  Part of being a team is picking up for others who are having a rough day.  That did not happen and I think that is the most important lesson to be learned here.

[ExTartanPlayer]

The Wash-U defense was tremendous...giving up only 10 points despite being on the field for over 42 minutes and facing 94 plays from Coe's offense.  The Kohawks gained 424 yards, but Wash-U forced 3 turnovers and kept the Bears in the game.

It will be an interesting week of practice for the Bears' offense.  Three QBs were used, none were effective...6 first downs and 124 yards of total offense were all that could be mustered.  Not sure if wholesale changes are in store for the Bears' home game vs. Centre this week, but it would appear that Wash-U's offense has reached a crossroads moment relatively early in the season.

Thanks for the description.  Will be interesting.  WashU's defense is probably the best side of the ball on any of the UAA teams, but they'll have to find SOME offense!

[MonroviaCat]

The Wash-U defense was tremendous...giving up only 10 points despite being on the field for over 42 minutes and facing 94 plays from Coe's offense.  The Kohawks gained 424 yards, but Wash-U forced 3 turnovers and kept the Bears in the game.

It will be an interesting week of practice for the Bears' offense.  Three QBs were used, none were effective...6 first downs and 124 yards of total offense were all that could be mustered.  Not sure if wholesale changes are in store for the Bears' home game vs. Centre this week, but it would appear that Wash-U's offense has reached a crossroads moment relatively early in the season.

Thanks for the description.  Will be interesting.  WashU's defense is probably the best side of the ball on any of the UAA teams, but they'll have to find SOME offense!

Looking forward to seeing this weeks game between Linfield and Case!  Nice for the Cats to see a new opponent even if its just for the one year.  I think everybody is expecting a blowout but things can get interesting with long travels to a new field against a new opponent.  I fully expect my Cats to take care of business but it could be an interesting game.  What can you guys tell me about the Spartans?

[casefldad]

The Wash-U defense was tremendous...giving up only 10 points despite being on the field for over 42 minutes and facing 94 plays from Coe's offense.  The Kohawks gained 424 yards, but Wash-U forced 3 turnovers and kept the Bears in the game.

It will be an interesting week of practice for the Bears' offense.  Three QBs were used, none were effective...6 first downs and 124 yards of total offense were all that could be mustered.  Not sure if wholesale changes are in store for the Bears' home game vs. Centre this week, but it would appear that Wash-U's offense has reached a crossroads moment relatively early in the season.

Thanks for the description.  Will be interesting.  WashU's defense is probably the best side of the ball on any of the UAA teams, but they'll have to find SOME offense!

Looking forward to seeing this weeks game between Linfield and Case!  Nice for the Cats to see a new opponent even if its just for the one year.  I think everybody is expecting a blowout but things can get interesting with long travels to a new field against a new opponent.  I fully expect my Cats to take care of business but it could be an interesting game.  What can you guys tell me about the Spartans?

I think that playing Linfield should exciting for Case.  We had a lot of turnover in the defense this year but have a bunch of highly motivated kids trying to step up (and I think they will).  Hopefully the game will be challenging and exciting.  If ever Case needed motivation it should be now.  We had hope to be 3 and 0 heading into our Linfield game but that is not the case - so we just need to deal with it.

I'll be at the game and am excited about it.

Welcome to Linfield and their fans to Case Western....

[wildcat11]

If any of you Case fans want to get to know Linfield a little more please check out the blog I run.  Lots of players interviews, post game thoughts, a great numbers breakdown on Tuesdays, and much more.

ADvantage Catdome: http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/

[ExTartanPlayer]

If any of you Case fans want to get to know Linfield a little more please check out the blog I run.  Lots of players interviews, post game thoughts, a great numbers breakdown on Tuesdays, and much more.

ADvantage Catdome: http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/

Not a Case fan, but a UAA fan/alum, thanks for posting.

Entering the season, I had hopes that CWRU would give you guys a worthy game.  After some lackluster performances the last two weeks, I am not sure exactly what you'll get.  Regardless, it is exciting to see another UAA team playing one of the traditional powerhouses (in addition to WashU's season openers with Mount and UWW recently).

[wildcat11]

If any of you Case fans want to get to know Linfield a little more please check out the blog I run.  Lots of players interviews, post game thoughts, a great numbers breakdown on Tuesdays, and much more.

ADvantage Catdome: http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/

Not a Case fan, but a UAA fan/alum, thanks for posting.

Entering the season, I had hopes that CWRU would give you guys a worthy game.  After some lackluster performances the last two weeks, I am not sure exactly what you'll get.  Regardless, it is exciting to see another UAA team playing one of the traditional powerhouses (in addition to WashU's season openers with Mount and UWW recently).

Yeah...you have to keep in mind this will be Linfield's second LONG trip in the past three weeks.  D3 flight travel is a lot different than D1 travel so I have no idea how Linfield will respond mentally or physically.  I do know we have a pretty good squad.  Hope they can play up to the billing.