FB: American Southwest Conference

[sjusection105]

Oh boy! It's slings and arrows time!
My money is the Collegeville Crew can get the polite Come On Down Cru a tad riled up this week.

You know us DOC. Most have been on here long enough that it takes a lot for the trolls to get under the skin. I've already seen shots fired about "not seen a defense. . . , " and I'll leave it at every year the defense seems to step up a level. There is no AJ Fenene or Haston Adams on the line this year, but they line keeps doing what Coach Harmon needs them to do and every year looks better than the last. I guess we'll see who pushes who around on the line Saturday, and if St. Johns WRs can create the space they need.

By definition, that's what they (along with TE tandam) do......run excellent routes and create mismatches in space as well as tight coverage.

And UMHB's defensive backfield covers and tackles very well. My biggest concern will be the TEs in the middle of the field, but even then, there are not usually many RAC yards. Guess we'll see saturday

Yes we will.
We, as SJU fans have been surprised every week at the new wrinkles rolled out by the first year OC. I'm sure there will be things that we have not seen to date but things that have been worked on from day 1. The TEs create mismatch problems all over the field, they have good size & run very well.

[HScoach]

^  The bigger key will be your offensive line and how Erdmann handles the pressure of the MHB front.

[wally_wabash]

These kinds of games are really fun.  Two teams that have really had it pretty easy all year going up against a side that will be their equal (or better) for the first time.  Everybody recognizes the challenge, but nobody thinks their side can lose.  Can't wait to watch this one on Saturday.  It's going to be very difficult to pick a winner on this one this week. 

[D O.C.]

I agree with hscoach.

[edward de vere]

The South/West Region is not as complete a description of the real strength/dominance of D-3 football as I would like.

I think that the best commonly-known descriptor of the dividing line might be the line designating the Central  and Eastern Time Zones.

That gives us the ASC, the CCIW, the MIAC, the NWC, and the WIAC versus everyone else.

Which means, over the past 25 years, the Eastern Time Zone wins!

(13-12.)

(You can look it up.)

(Seriously.)

(I'm not kidding.)

[Ralph Turner]

The South/West Region is not as complete a description of the real strength/dominance of D-3 football as I would like.

I think that the best commonly-known descriptor of the dividing line might be the line designating the Central  and Eastern Time Zones.

That gives us the ASC, the CCIW, the MIAC, the NWC, and the WIAC versus everyone else.

Which means, over the past 25 years, the Eastern Time Zone wins!

(13-12.)

(You can look it up.)

(Seriously.)

(I'm not kidding.)

Actually Albion (also a Purple Power from way back) makes it 14-11.

[bleedpurple]

The South/West Region is not as complete a description of the real strength/dominance of D-3 football as I would like.

I think that the best commonly-known descriptor of the dividing line might be the line designating the Central  and Eastern Time Zones.

That gives us the ASC, the CCIW, the MIAC, the NWC, and the WIAC versus everyone else.

Which means, over the past 25 years, the Eastern Time Zone wins!

(13-12.)

(You can look it up.)

(Seriously.)

(I'm not kidding.)

Right. One team. Mount Union carries the load.  And they arrive at the Stagg Bowl in pristine condition. Their first round opponent gives them a pedicure, their second round opponent gives them a manicure, their third round opponent dabs them on the forehead with a warm wash cloth, and the semi-final opponent serves them chocolate covered strawberries. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, teams are basically brutalizing each other, probably losing an average of one to three starters along the way.  It's amazing it's as balanced in terms of results as it is.

[edward de vere]

Mount Union:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo

[OzJohnnie]

^  The bigger key will be your offensive line and how Erdmann handles the pressure of the MHB front.

Yes, our concern as well this year as last year's the line was leaky and dominated by UST and arguably weak against others.  This year we were caught a few times by blitz crazy St Olaf early on in the season and many worries were a little peaked.  But we held up well against Bethel's very scary D line and then we were near perfect against UST's blitz crazy blitz-fest straight from BlitzMania IXX.

So this year the O line has demonstrated some spectacularly reliable pass blocking and respectable run blocking as the games wore on and teams were forced to put more effort into pass defending.  Will they hold up again against UMHB?  Possibly. I'm pretty confident that UHMB will rush Erdmann a few times and get a sack or two, but I'm also pretty confident that the offence can deal with the pressure.

The key to the offense's passing success, if you have seen any Johnnie games this year, is more than Erdmann's arm and composer (which are both uncommon). The Jays commonly present four pass setups (since the Tommie game anyways) and run a large number of plays from each. They have managed to drill a level of passing sophistication not often achieved in D3, which is more commonly dominated by large, strong and fast but not particularly complex.  I don't think I've seen a passing attack this well-drilled since the linfield team of '04 and there abouts.

I mention the setups since the Tommie game as that was an explosion of new offensive play making.  We fans hadn't seen it previously and hadn't expected it.  And they've been running it non-stop with little variation since.  Well, if there were ever a time to introduce a new set of plays and setups then this is the time. So many of us Johnnies sit here like kids in a candy store wondering what treats Mr Wonka will roll out on his trolly next.  I hope they are super tasty.

[bleedpurple]

Mount Union:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoBvt9CcQo

Lol. That's awesome! I have no idea how many years it's been since I heard that song!

[D O.C.]

Can Erdmann run?

[OzJohnnie]

Can Erdmann run?

Can a bear **** in the woods?

(Actually, he runs a couple times a game when the pocket breaks down but he's a pocket passer)

[wally_wabash]

I mention the setups since the Tommie game as that was an explosion of new offensive play making.  We fans hadn't seen it previously and hadn't expected it.  And they've been running it non-stop with little variation since.  Well, if there were ever a time to introduce a new set of plays and setups then this is the time. So many of us Johnnies sit here like kids in a candy store wondering what treats Mr Wonka will roll out on his trolly next.  I hope they are super tasty.

[DuffMan]

Can Erdmann run?

He can, but I cringe every time he does because he's not one to shy away from hits.  He picked up a few key 1st downs with his feet vs. Whitworthless.  He's not a QB that's gonna routinely pull it down and run, though.

[DFWCrufan]

The South/West Region is not as complete a description of the real strength/dominance of D-3 football as I would like.

I think that the best commonly-known descriptor of the dividing line might be the line designating the Central  and Eastern Time Zones.

That gives us the ASC, the CCIW, the MIAC, the NWC, and the WIAC versus everyone else.

Which means, over the past 25 years, the Eastern Time Zone wins!

(13-12.)

(You can look it up.)

(Seriously.)

(I'm not kidding.)

Right. One team. Mount Union carries the load.  And they arrive at the Stagg Bowl in pristine condition. Their first round opponent gives them a pedicure, their second round opponent gives them a manicure, their third round opponent dabs them on the forehead with a warm wash cloth, and the semi-final opponent serves them chocolate covered strawberries. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, teams are basically brutalizing each other, probably losing an average of one to three starters along the way.  It's amazing it's as balanced in terms of results as it is.

Man I did a spit take reading this! Seems that way, but I still have to say UMU is a tier 1 program. Yeah one bracket seems a bit stiffer but I have to say that is not Mounts problem, let's see programs pick up the pace, quit with the "Lets win our conference and hope we move on" attitude and start working to become tier 1 programs themselves.
Look at UW-W - Ya'll had a few transitional years right I mean it looked like Oshkosh was taking over the drivers seat, but look at them now! driving the game! UW-W could have easily said, "well lets take a few years and hope to pull off a conference and then maybe we can move on" Oh hell no, it was We expect to win, we expect to be in the playoffs we expect to be top tier competitors and we expect to lose the UMHB game (Heh Heh threw that one in there)