FB: Middle Atlantic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

I'll take the UNDER for DelVal as the publications really go from the prior year many times. The Aggies lost both starting safeties, including All-Everything, Shawn Miller. They lost both starting CB's. They also lost ALL FOUR starting linebackers from a killer unit. Not 1, not 2, not 3, (sounds like Lebron when he joined the Heat), but 4. They also lost their anchor in the middle, Mark Issac, a stud football player AND heavyweight wrestler. They return Chris Snowden and Vince Dileo on the defensive side.

On offense, they lost three starting lineman, including two All-MAC first team players, Tyler Sylvester and John Walsh. They lost their top two running backs, including the best RB in the league, Devauntay Ellis. They also lost two of their top three receivers as well as their best punt returner and best kick returner (two separate players). They return a QB, two linemen, the top WR and their two TE's. They do get All-American punter, Steven Adams back for his senior season and I expect his leg to get quite a bit of action this year.

Picking the Aggies to repeat is either insanity, or, you must believe that Stevenson, Albright and Widener are going to be shells of themselves this year. I'll make my prediction in a couple of weeks, but I'm going under, and not by a 1/2 game, or even 1 1/2 games.

Last thing, I believe they are the only team who no longer has patsies, Misericordia and FDU on their schedule for the next two years. There is no way in hell that this was done by a blind draw. No way, no how.

[ITH radio]

I spoke with Coach Kelly for Kickoff and was really impressed by what he told me they had coming back. I didn't make the final pick in predictions, but I really think the Pride could be in for a big, 2014 like, year.

[Pat Coleman]

Albright lost a ton.

But they had a great recruiting class as well.  I'm sticking by the 6 wins...

Counting on freshmen who have had 19 D-III practices ... hmm

Not at all.  I just think that the program is going in the right direction now.   Given that and the taste of success recently, and 3 (pretty much automatic wins on the schedule) winning 3 additional games might not be an unanswerable call.

Who are those automatics? Miseri, FDU and Wilkes? Albright doesn't have Alvernia and I don't think Wilkes is an automatic.

More on our prognostications coming ... Kickoff '18 goes live tomorrow! Register now if you haven't already!
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2018/06/order-kickoff-2018-now

[bman]

Albright lost a ton.

But they had a great recruiting class as well.  I'm sticking by the 6 wins...

Counting on freshmen who have had 19 D-III practices ... hmm

Not at all.  I just think that the program is going in the right direction now.   Given that and the taste of success recently, and 3 (pretty much automatic wins on the schedule) winning 3 additional games might not be an unanswerable call.

Who are those automatics? Miseri, FDU and Wilkes? Albright doesn't have Alvernia and I don't think Wilkes is an automatic.

More on our prognostications coming ... Kickoff '18 goes live tomorrow! Register now if you haven't already!
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2018/06/order-kickoff-2018-now

Hey Pat

Yes, the three automatics (IMO) are Miseri, FDU and Wilkes.   You have more insight than I, but until we see much improvement from Wilkes, it's a fair assumption to make.   I'd almost think that FDU would be more competitive than Wilkes, given the past couple of years.   I haven't read Kickoff yet, but I will, and perhaps I will change my opinion after the read.   Until then I will stay with my pick at 6 would stand forcing them to beat Kings, and 2 of the following: Salisbury, Stevenson, Leb Val, Widener.   I will excuse them for not beating Mary Hardin Baylor or Del Val...

Going to get my kickoff now....

[bman]

Albright lost a ton.

But they had a great recruiting class as well.  I'm sticking by the 6 wins...

Counting on freshmen who have had 19 D-III practices ... hmm

Not at all.  I just think that the program is going in the right direction now.   Given that and the taste of success recently, and 3 (pretty much automatic wins on the schedule) winning 3 additional games might not be an unanswerable call.

Who are those automatics? Miseri, FDU and Wilkes? Albright doesn't have Alvernia and I don't think Wilkes is an automatic.

More on our prognostications coming ... Kickoff '18 goes live tomorrow! Register now if you haven't already!
http://www.d3football.com/notables/2018/06/order-kickoff-2018-now

Hey Pat

Yes, the three automatics (IMO) are Miseri, FDU and Wilkes.   You have more insight than I, but until we see much improvement from Wilkes, it's a fair assumption to make.   I'd almost think that FDU would be more competitive than Wilkes, given the past couple of years.   I haven't read Kickoff yet, but I will, and perhaps I will change my opinion after the read.   Until then I will stay with my pick at 6 would stand forcing them to beat Kings, and 2 of the following: Salisbury, Stevenson, Leb Val, Widener.   I will excuse them for not beating Mary Hardin Baylor or Del Val...

Going to get my kickoff now....

Read the MAC kickoff section...sticking to my guns...

Confused about the rankings a bit though...if you could opine on the rankings of Del Val and Widener (without giving away too much) as opposed to how you have them finishing in conference.  It seems a bit incongruous...

[Pat Coleman]

When the preseason ranking comes out, Keith and I are often beholden to the will of the other 23 voters.

[bman]

When the preseason ranking comes out, Keith and I are often beholden to the will of the other 23 voters.

makes sense

[jmcozenlaw]

I'll take the UNDER for DelVal as the publications really go from the prior year many times. The Aggies lost both starting safeties, including All-Everything, Shawn Miller. They lost both starting CB's. They also lost ALL FOUR starting linebackers from a killer unit. Not 1, not 2, not 3, (sounds like Lebron when he joined the Heat), but 4. They also lost their anchor in the middle, Mark Issac, a stud football player AND heavyweight wrestler. They return Chris Snowden and Vince Dileo on the defensive side.

On offense, they lost three starting lineman, including two All-MAC first team players, Tyler Sylvester and John Walsh. They lost their top two running backs, including the best RB in the league, Devauntay Ellis. They also lost two of their top three receivers as well as their best punt returner and best kick returner (two separate players). They return a QB, two linemen, the top WR and their two TE's. They do get All-American punter, Steven Adams back for his senior season and I expect his leg to get quite a bit of action this year.

Picking the Aggies to repeat is either insanity, or, you must believe that Stevenson, Albright and Widener are going to be shells of themselves this year. I'll make my prediction in a couple of weeks, but I'm going under, and not by a 1/2 game, or even 1 1/2 games.

Last thing, I believe they are the only team who no longer has patsies, Misericordia and FDU on their schedule for the next two years. There is no way in hell that this was done by a blind draw. No way, no how.

I'm also hearing about another loss on the offensive side of the ball. This looks like a year where Widener, Stevenson and a surprise team (Lycoming?................RIP LycoSimba) take advantage of the massive losses at DelVal and beat the Aggies on their home turf (meaning the Aggies play all three on the road). No excuses NOT to this year.

[Pat Coleman]

I'm also hearing about another loss on the offensive side of the ball. This looks like a year where Widener, Stevenson and a surprise team (Lycoming?................RIP LycoSimba) take advantage of the massive losses at DelVal and beat the Aggies on their home turf (meaning the Aggies play all three on the road). No excuses NOT to this year.

Is it the one mentioned as a possibility in Kickoff?

[bman]

Pat
Kudo to you and the team for another excellent version of Kickoff this year.   Pass my compliments to the MAC writer.
Great job as always.  I only have about 200 more to read!

[tweisman5]

I spoke with Coach Kelly for Kickoff and was really impressed by what he told me they had coming back. I didn't make the final pick in predictions, but I really think the Pride could be in for a big, 2014 like, year.

I agree that Widener is looking exceptionally strong this season. Their defense I believe will be as strong as anyone will find throughout the country. The only question mark I believe will be if there offense has made strides this season to be somewhat of a threat for a possible postseason run. If so, I believe we could see them make as strong of a run as Del Val did last season.

[bman]

I spoke with Coach Kelly for Kickoff and was really impressed by what he told me they had coming back. I didn't make the final pick in predictions, but I really think the Pride could be in for a big, 2014 like, year.

I agree that Widener is looking exceptionally strong this season. Their defense I believe will be as strong as anyone will find throughout the country. The only question mark I believe will be if there offense has made strides this season to be somewhat of a threat for a possible postseason run. If so, I believe we could see them make as strong of a run as Del Val did last season.

Then things must have significantly changed since my conversation with him in April.   I hope the confidence everyone has written is well founded....
Improved...certainly...12-0...wow. Thats a gutsy prediction....and that will be tested week 1 against Rowan...a team that we have struggled against recently.

[@d3jason]

I think Del Val is still very good this season and in it all the way to the Keystone Cup. Darden is a winner, a senior, and has the ability to put that team on his back. They do a great job recruiting there and I'm pretty sure the cupboard isn't bare.

To me, Widener must be better at the quarterback position. The guy(s) from last year have a long way to go.

Stevenson has a senior QB, like DVU, and a fertile area for recruiting. They will have players.

To me, Lyco has to get bigger, stronger and faster. Always well-coached.

[bman]

I think Del Val is still very good this season and in it all the way to the Keystone Cup. Darden is a winner, a senior, and has the ability to put that team on his back. They do a great job recruiting there and I'm pretty sure the cupboard isn't bare.

To me, Widener must be better at the quarterback position. The guy(s) from last year have a long way to go.

Stevenson has a senior QB, like DVU, and a fertile area for recruiting. They will have players.

To me, Lyco has to get bigger, stronger and faster. Always well-coached.

Jason

I couldn't agree more with everything you stated. 

Until I see DVU struggle, I won't believe that they won't be at the top of the standings.
And the QB position has been an issue at WU for a few years now...

Lyco used to have a stranglehold on recruiting the Philly Catholic League, which gave them stellar talent. It gave them an edge...  I need to take a look at their roster to see if that is no longer the case....

[tweisman5]

I think Del Val is still very good this season and in it all the way to the Keystone Cup. Darden is a winner, a senior, and has the ability to put that team on his back. They do a great job recruiting there and I'm pretty sure the cupboard isn't bare.

To me, Widener must be better at the quarterback position. The guy(s) from last year have a long way to go.

Stevenson has a senior QB, like DVU, and a fertile area for recruiting. They will have players.

To me, Lyco has to get bigger, stronger and faster. Always well-coached.

Jason

I couldn't agree more with everything you stated. 

Until I see DVU struggle, I won't believe that they won't be at the top of the standings.
And the QB position has been an issue at WU for a few years now...

Lyco used to have a stranglehold on recruiting the Philly Catholic League, which gave them stellar talent. It gave them an edge...  I need to take a look at their roster to see if that is no longer the case....

I do believe that Del Val is at that level where they just reload instead of replace. I just have a hard time seeing them repeating as conference champs after looking at past history and other comparable peers that look to be a threat. Past history suggest it's extremely difficult to repeat. When you throw in the talent that Albright, Stevenson, and Widener field it makes the odds even more unlikely for Del Val. I see this season being one of the most competitive conference races in recent years with at least a four team race.