FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Llamaguy]

Bethel will have to capitalize on any opportunity Mount Union gives them and eliminate big plays.   

How many of those per game does Mt. Union offer up?

How many Mt. Union opponents have done that in the say, last 10 years? 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Bethel will have to capitalize on any opportunity Mount Union gives them and eliminate big plays.   

How many of those per game does Mt. Union offer up?

How many Mt. Union opponents have done that in the say, last 10 years? 

Recent history showed that Ohio Northern, UMHB, and St. Johns have done it.

[Llamaguy]

Bethel will have to capitalize on any opportunity Mount Union gives them and eliminate big plays.   

How many of those per game does Mt. Union offer up?

How many Mt. Union opponents have done that in the say, last 10 years? 

Recent history showed that Ohio Northern, UMHB, and St. Johns have done it.

Right you are! In the words of Steven A.; "howeva", since 2000, Mt. Union has lost those 3 games and won 108 others. A quick calc. shows it happens about 2.7% of the time. I'll go with the percentages but Bethel will refute Mt. Union is due for one of those games.

FWIW, Jessica Simpson gets an acne breakout more frequently than Mt. Union has one of those games, even with her new and improved infomercial products.   

[seventiesraider]

Blowouts are boring, but the anticipation of a blowout is unbearable.

Looks like I'll need a couple of extra cupcakes for my birthday party.

[reality check]

80 rushing attempts for Bethel???

That's over 26 3-and-outs.  Impressive.

[HScoach]

80 rushing attempts for Bethel???

That's over 26 3-and-outs.  Impressive.

And that's too funny.

[bushman]

How's BU pass defense?  I'll wager nobody can stay with Garcon.

[reality check]

Bethel seems to be used to fast starts (outscoring opponents 111-40 in the first quarter).  If they don't start fast, they'll end faster.


Their pass defense seems pretty solid forcing 23 INT's and giving up less than 50% completion percentage.    From the looks of the box scores and season stats, they made a lot of teams play from behind (as could be expected from a playoff team in the semi's) and those teams were forced to throw more than they were probably used to.  So I'm thinking their pass defense is solid and gives up yards because so many teams were passing to play catch up and giving up some yards here and there are inevitable.  They've given up 17 passing TD's on 464 attempts (as compared with MUC's 33 passing TD's in 340 attempts).  There's a certain team still alive in the playoffs that I believe also has a pretty good pass defense but does give up a good chunk of yards because their opponents are always playing from behind.  Who could that be???


I can't believe I am saying this about the semifinal game but I think this game might be somewhere between TCNJ and SJF unless Bethel really surprises me.  I just don't think they match up well or have the kind of offense that will keep them in it.  I hope I'm wrong and it's a game worth listening to.

[runyr]

Bethel seems to be used to fast starts (outscoring opponents 111-40 in the first quarter).  If they don't start fast, they'll end faster.


Their pass defense seems pretty solid forcing 23 INT's and giving up less than 50% completion percentage.    From the looks of the box scores and season stats, they made a lot of teams play from behind (as could be expected from a playoff team in the semi's) and those teams were forced to throw more than they were probably used to.  So I'm thinking their pass defense is solid and gives up yards because so many teams were passing to play catch up and giving up some yards here and there are inevitable.  They've given up 17 passing TD's on 464 attempts (as compared with MUC's 33 passing TD's in 340 attempts).  There's a certain team still alive in the playoffs that I believe also has a pretty good pass defense but does give up a good chunk of yards because their opponents are always playing from behind.  Who could that be???


I can't believe I am saying this about the semifinal game but I think this game might be somewhere between TCNJ and SJF unless Bethel really surprises me.  I just don't think they match up well or have the kind of offense that will keep them in it.  I hope I'm wrong and it's a game worth listening to.

rc, thanks for the analysis.  Interesting.  I'm leaning toward Mount covering our pick-em spread.  No disrespect meant to Bethel.  Bethel looks like a very good team.  I hope they are.  Blowouts are no fun for most Mount fans.

[HScoach]

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=390047&r=1&subCategoryID=

Wetzell to play.

[jaypeter]

Would anyone mind a PM for me to ask some questions about Stagg Bowl arrangements?
jaypeter

[HScoach]

Jaypeter:  No problem.  I've been to 9 of them

On to Saturday.  I have a real problem believing that Bethel will be able to run the ball consistently against Mount.  MUC has shown the ability to somewhat control J. Beaver and the huge WWW line, and I don't see any way Bethel's running game is better than what Whitewater has brought to the last 2 Staggs.

I'm not predicting total domination by the defense because a good option game is hard to completely shut down, but if Bethel hopes to be within striking distance in the 4th quarter, they're going to have to throw the ball well enough to keep Mount off balance. 

Someone earlier posted something about their kicker/punter being terrible and how Bethel likes to go for it on 4th down.  That's another key for Bethel.  DON"T PUNT!

[HScoach]

Someone in the East finally gets it:

......Everyone sh!ts on MUC because they are so good...Maybe LK just makes the right decisions based on the players he has each year???  Mount Union always has players, but their scheme changes from year to year, and sometimes from game to game, based on their talent, and what is going well for them at THAT time.  Amazing how a coach can adapt to his players like that isn't it???  There is a lot to be said about that.  Instead of pointing the finger at MUC's depth, and their talent, and their 'dumb' players who can't get in anywhere else(which I think is crock), maybe, just maybe, it's the fact their coach doesn't have  hard-on for himself, is smart enough, is knowledgable enough, and is flexible enough to coach his team based on the talent he has each year, and against what another team throws at him each game?

Yes, MUC has an advantage NOW, that they have built this program over so many years, and so many players want to play for this outfit, but EVERY other program has the same opportunity.  If you blame it on academics and standards, you are crazy, because smart kids can play football too!!!   I'm sick of all the excuses.  It comes down to coaching and execution.  Every team has the talent...except for maybe Utica...

[bcflyguy1]

Are you saying that Bethel players only grab Johnnie crotches?  How flattering.  Kinda. 

TC-
Throwing stones from the porch of your glass house, again?  Bad technique.

Raider fans, this is the kind of thing I was talking about.  Let me encourage you again to make up your own minds about Bethel's program this weekend.

[Small but Slow]

The quote from Lewdogg11 is the most accurate outside observation I've heard of LK's coaching style.  Every team is bound to have off games and lose one occasionally.  To beat Mount Union a team has to not only be very good, but has to catch the Raiders on an off day, which doesn't happen often.