FB: American Southwest Conference

[SW66]

Been a Cru fan for a long time but this is the softest team with no edge to their play that I have seen in a long time. I saw lots of this in the scrimmages but when I mentioned it all I got was a bunch of folks telling me that I must be mistaken because this is UMHB. It really does seem that there is no leadership on this team and I really don't see coaches getting on the players at all. I was not wrong when I said this team would struggle if they just try to out athlete other teams because it is very evident we don't have the people to do that this year. Some graduated,some chose not to come back,some were suspended or kicked off the team and others just are not stepping up. Hope coach Fred can turn things around soon or we may see our first year missing the playoffs in many a moon.

[TheChucker]

Re: the Cru. Have there been are a lot of substitutions? I couldn't tell because my video feed was terrible. Substitutions, especially in the O Line, are a recipe for a sluggish offense but are still a great chance to get many involved early in the season.

Plus, I'll add that routine monkey stomps year after year aren't always healthy for the conference (see the MIAC).

[archgemini24]

What I saw on Saturday was a bit surprising, since I expected the Cru to eventually run away, but I think it would be be too easy to give into alarm for their performance against a team they were probably not very inspired to play. They are the defending champs, and I feel like they deserve the benefit of the doubt until they play a team where motivation should not be an issue. I trust they will clean up what they need to.

[MUC57]

What I saw on Saturday was a bit surprising, since I expected the Cru to eventually run away, but I think it would be be too easy to give into alarm for their performance against a team they were probably not very inspired to play. They are the defending champs, and I feel like they deserve the benefit of the doubt until they play a team where motivation should not be an issue. I trust they will clean up what they need to.

I think you have a valid point. Sometimes Mount Union will easily handle a stronger team but struggle, somewhat, with a lesser team. It's almost like they play to the level of the opposition. UMHB has a good program going down there in Belton. I'm sure they'll be OK (Drat). Go Everybody!   

[cover2]

While I do feel UMHB has some things to work out and had some self inflicted issues on Saturday, I don't think Bellhaven is getting enough credit.  They, for the first time that I can remember, looked like a solid college football team with good athletes.  Their QB played well and with great poise and both of their lines looked good and played well too.  I was impressed with them when other times I've seen them it was obvious they wouldn't match up.  I think that's a good sign and hope other teams in the ASC are raising their level of play.

[Etchglow]

Quote from: TheChucker on Today at 10:13:42 am
Re: the Cru. Have there been are a lot of substitutions? I couldn't tell because my video feed was terrible. Substitutions, especially in the O Line, are a recipe for a sluggish offense but are still a great chance to get many involved early in the season.

Plus, I'll add that routine monkey stomps year after year aren't always healthy for the conference (see the MIAC).

Because I'm bored and want to dig through some data...




   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Position	Name	Class	Experience	Position on Depth Chart
RT	Dorion Dreighton	Junior	Started 7 games last year including Stagg bowl	1
RG	Jeffery Sims Jr	Sophomore	Played 8 games last year but not against SJU, UWW, or UMU, 2nd on depth chart at C for Stagg bowl	1
C	Steven Sellers	Junior	Started all games but Sul Ross game	1
LG	Domenico Valdespino	Junior	Played 9 games (Started 6), did not play against SJU, UWW, or UMU, 2nd on depth chart for Stagg bowl	1
LT	Azaviar Carter	Junior	Started 11 games last year, including Stagg bowl, played in 1 other	1
WR	Jonel Reed	Senior	Started all but McMurray game last year	1
WR	Cobe Burch	Sophomore	JV	2
WR	Michael Stimpson	Sophomore	JV	1
WR	Jaylan Jenkins	Junior	Transfer	2
WR	Brenton Martin	Junior	Transfer	1
WR	Ernest Musue	Freshman		2
TE	Gary Ruckman	Junior	Sat out 2017-18, 2016 JV	1
TE	Ethan Owens	Junior	3 Starts, 11 total games, did not play against SJU, UWW, or UMU	2
QB	Ryan Redding	Sophomore	Played against Berry last year
QB	Luke Poorman	Senior	1 start out of 9 games last year
RB	Jo'Vel McDaniel	Freshman		1
RB	Tye Hill	Freshman		2
RT	Russel Hogue	Freshman	DNP	2
RG	John Horn	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2
C	Matthew Sanders	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2
LG	Cameron Williams	Sophomore	JV, Played vs Albright	2
LT	Dakota Crawford	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2

[TheChucker]

Quote from: TheChucker on Today at 10:13:42 am
Re: the Cru. Have there been are a lot of substitutions? I couldn't tell because my video feed was terrible. Substitutions, especially in the O Line, are a recipe for a sluggish offense but are still a great chance to get many involved early in the season.

Plus, I'll add that routine monkey stomps year after year aren't always healthy for the conference (see the MIAC).

Because I'm bored and want to dig through some data...




   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Position	Name	Class	Experience	Position on Depth Chart
RT	Dorion Dreighton	Junior	Started 7 games last year including Stagg bowl	1
RG	Jeffery Sims Jr	Sophomore	Played 8 games last year but not against SJU, UWW, or UMU, 2nd on depth chart at C for Stagg bowl	1
C	Steven Sellers	Junior	Started all games but Sul Ross game	1
LG	Domenico Valdespino	Junior	Played 9 games (Started 6), did not play against SJU, UWW, or UMU, 2nd on depth chart for Stagg bowl	1
LT	Azaviar Carter	Junior	Started 11 games last year, including Stagg bowl, played in 1 other	1
WR	Jonel Reed	Senior	Started all but McMurray game last year	1
WR	Cobe Burch	Sophomore	JV	2
WR	Michael Stimpson	Sophomore	JV	1
WR	Jaylan Jenkins	Junior	Transfer	2
WR	Brenton Martin	Junior	Transfer	1
WR	Ernest Musue	Freshman		2
TE	Gary Ruckman	Junior	Sat out 2017-18, 2016 JV	1
TE	Ethan Owens	Junior	3 Starts, 11 total games, did not play against SJU, UWW, or UMU	2
QB	Ryan Redding	Sophomore	Played against Berry last year
QB	Luke Poorman	Senior	1 start out of 9 games last year
RB	Jo'Vel McDaniel	Freshman		1
RB	Tye Hill	Freshman		2
RT	Russel Hogue	Freshman	DNP	2
RG	John Horn	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2
C	Matthew Sanders	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2
LG	Cameron Williams	Sophomore	JV, Played vs Albright	2
LT	Dakota Crawford	Freshman	Played vs Albright	2

Great info!

If I'm reading your list correctly, my comment was wrong. The skilled positions look very inexperienced (to the Cru) but the O Line has 3 of 5 starters back from last year's playoff run.

[justafan12]

I was at the HSU vs. HPU game.  HSU offense looked for very good.  I don't think they punted all game and scored every time except for 2 interceptions.  HPU could not stop them; did not matter if it was run or pass. 
HSU defense did not look as strong.  HPU moved the ball at times via both the run and pass.  Also, HSU defense had penalties that kept drives alive. 

[crufootball]

Word from the media session today is that Jase Hammack will start practicing tomorrow and could play this weekend. Luke will start if Hammack isn't ready to play and was awarded the game ball after the Bellhaven game for his gritty play and doing enough to win the game.

I am the eternal optimists when it comes to UMHB (and who can blame me with our record) so while I am concerned I don't think the sky is falling yet. First off while we haven't blown away out opponents as we have in the past we also have not been in real danger of losing. As the list below indicates we essentially lost every skill position player other than Jonel who didn't play in the first game either. Can we play like this and win the ASC, probably not, but I also don't think we are going to continue to play like this. I liked what I saw from Jo'Vel McDaniel at RB and if Jase can come back and be his former self I think that covers a lot of problems we have had in the first two weeks.

[Etchglow]

Word from the media session today is that Jase Hammack will start practicing tomorrow and could play this weekend. Luke will start if Hammack isn't ready to play and was awarded the game ball after the Bellhaven game for his gritty play and doing enough to win the game.

I am the eternal optimists when it comes to UMHB (and who can blame me with our record) so while I am concerned I don't think the sky is falling yet. First off while we haven't blown away out opponents as we have in the past we also have not been in real danger of losing. As the list below indicates we essentially lost every skill position player other than Jonel who didn't play in the first game either. Can we play like this and win the ASC, probably not, but I also don't think we are going to continue to play like this. I liked what I saw from Jo'Vel McDaniel at RB and if Jase can come back and be his former self I think that covers a lot of problems we have had in the first two weeks.

That is great news!

[UMHB03]

What I saw on Saturday was a bit surprising, since I expected the Cru to eventually run away, but I think it would be be too easy to give into alarm for their performance against a team they were probably not very inspired to play. They are the defending champs, and I feel like they deserve the benefit of the doubt until they play a team where motivation should not be an issue. I trust they will clean up what they need to.

I think the alarm comes from the fact that the Crusaders don't look like they're even close to being a top team. They've shown up sloppy and uninspired against inferior opponents in the past, but that usually meant that they won by 30 rather than 50. In such performances, you could always point to a handful of correctable mistakes that would have made the difference between a 30 point win and a 50 point win. Saturday's game showed that there are DRAMATIC improvements that need to be made to get UMHB back to what we are accustomed to (yes, I know we're spoiled). More troubling is the fact that we just don't seem to have the have the noticeable athletic advantage that we usually do. There are no TJ Joseys, KJ Millers, Aaron Simms, or Markeith Millers on this team, who look like men among boys against teams like Belhaven and Albright, and prove to be the difference against the top opponents.

I'm certainly not going to write them off, ofcourse. As you correctly pointed out, their track record has earned the team and staff the benefit of the doubt that they're at least capable of getting it done. Still, the the first two games of this year have produced 6 of the 8 worst quarters of football that I've seen from this program in at least a decade. Hopefully Hammack can come back and provide some leadership, and Coach Fred can pull a rabbit out of his hat by finding some play makers on offense. It just doesn't look very promising so far, given how good HSU looks, and how far the Crusaders have to go to reach that level.

[DFWCrufan]

I for one am not counting them out, I just hope the players with Cru legacy will shape this team. Alot of new faces and new transfers have to buy in and trust, do their job and make the guy next to them better.

I don't get the idea the Crufaithful are turning our backs, I believe we are just wishing the best that the 2019 rise to the legacy teams of the past.

[TheChucker]

What I saw on Saturday was a bit surprising, since I expected the Cru to eventually run away, but I think it would be be too easy to give into alarm for their performance against a team they were probably not very inspired to play. They are the defending champs, and I feel like they deserve the benefit of the doubt until they play a team where motivation should not be an issue. I trust they will clean up what they need to.

I think the alarm comes from the fact that the Crusaders don't look like they're even close to being a top team. They've shown up sloppy and uninspired against inferior opponents in the past, but that usually meant that they won by 30 rather than 50. In such performances, you could always point to a handful of correctable mistakes that would have made the difference between a 30 point win and a 50 point win. Saturday's game showed that there are DRAMATIC improvements that need to be made to get UMHB back to what we are accustomed to (yes, I know we're spoiled). More troubling is the fact that we just don't seem to have the have the noticeable athletic advantage that we usually do. There are no TJ Joseys, KJ Millers, Aaron Simms, or Markeith Millers on this team, who look like men among boys against teams like Belhaven and Albright, and prove to be the difference against the top opponents.

I'm certainly not going to write them off, ofcourse. As you correctly pointed out, their track record has earned the team and staff the benefit of the doubt that they're at least capable of getting it done. Still, the the first two games of this year have produced 6 of the 8 worst quarters of football that I've seen from this program in at least a decade. Hopefully Hammack can come back and provide some leadership, and Coach Fred can pull a rabbit out of his hat by finding some play makers on offense. It just doesn't look very promising so far, given how good HSU looks, and how far the Crusaders have to go to reach that level.

I'll qualify this by admitting I've only watched a handful of UMHB games starting last fall, so take it with a grain of salt. I have, however, watched a ton of D3 games in the MIAC over the past few decades with a few high level playoff teams from other conferences - mainly the WIAC. When I visited UMHB last fall with my kid for two weekends (watched the HSU regular season and Johnnies playoff games) what popped out for me was the defense, not necessarily the offense. I came away thinking UMHB assembled the best collection of D3 defensive athletes I've ever seen. The offense was good, but it seemed to me like it was built more for ball control to complement an incredible defense that gets turnovers and a lot of stops with good field position. If UMHB can keep its defensive strengths, I'm hoping that gives the newer offensive skill players time to gel.   

[DFWCrufan]

The old saying, Offense wins games, Defense wins championships"

[Crubacker]

So, is "cheetah" referring to Chidubem Nnoli?------------------I don't even see him listed on the UMHB roster anymore.  Anybody heard anything on him?  What about Montana Miller--------------will he get any varsity time?