FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[formerd3db]

I hope Willamette makes the Stagg Bowl. I'm sure their fans will be happy about a 9:00 am Stagg Bowl start

Yeah, what's up with that 11:00 starting time???

Division I-AA (sorry, FCS) championship is on the 19th.  DII on the 13th.  Are they moving us early to squeeze in the (gasp) NAIA?  [it starts at 12:00]

They've done that before at The Stagg, so it is not new.  Personally, I liked the night game a few years back when Mount and Bridgeport played.  That allowed for people to sightsee in the area during the day, shop, tailgaiting and the "parking lot" flag football games, along with the outdoor music/band entertainments, etc., before the televised ESPN game under the lights.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I hope Willamette makes the Stagg Bowl. I'm sure their fans will be happy about a 9:00 am Stagg Bowl start

Yeah, what's up with that 11:00 starting time???

Division I-AA (sorry, FCS) championship is on the 19th.  DII on the 13th.  Are they moving us early to squeeze in the (gasp) NAIA?  [it starts at 12:00]

They've done that before at The Stagg, so it is not new.  Personally, I liked the night game a few years back when Mount and Bridgeport played.  That allowed for people to sightsee in the area during the day, shop, tailgaiting and the "parking lot" flag football games, along with the outdoor music/band entertainments, etc., before the televised ESPN game under the lights.

Did you mean Bridgewater?

[HScoach]

I wonder what everyone else thinks about us DIII guys watching an NFL broadcast to watch some no-name guy on special teams.  I'm so bad I even play the punts and kickoffs back on the DVR to try to track our guys.

Did that very thing last night watching the Colts game.  Luckily my wife knows I have no life and didn't even blink.....

[tv112]

Kehresma, It was a little disapointing saturday and it took a couple of days to get over. I watched the game from the stands and could not believe we had our DBs stuck in a soft zone all day. They pressured the QB with the line, but put the DBs in a position that they could not defend the short pass. The constent pressure on the QB gave him only the short pass to throw and we just sat back and let him do it. Unbelievable. Franklins QB and their recievers made plays all day long, don't know if they can do it every game, but they did not drop balls and made some unbelievable catches. Two calls I did not agree with :
1) OTTS offense was putting points up with Franklin and we tried to get fancy with a half back pass on our own 25 yard line??? fumble inssued and Franklin went up two scores.
2) 4th and 5 on Franklins 45 yard line, down two scores, OTTs defense not able to slow down the passing attack, under 7 mins. remaining in the game and we PUNT???
I think the magnitude of the game may have been a little overwhelming for a team and coaching staff that have not been involved in the playoffs before. Some crazy calls towards the end of the game cost OTT big. But, Congratulations on a great season and keep moving forward. Good luck to all of the players in the future.

[formerd3db]

I hope Willamette makes the Stagg Bowl. I'm sure their fans will be happy about a 9:00 am Stagg Bowl start

Yeah, what's up with that 11:00 starting time???

Division I-AA (sorry, FCS) championship is on the 19th.  DII on the 13th.  Are they moving us early to squeeze in the (gasp) NAIA?  [it starts at 12:00]

They've done that before at The Stagg, so it is not new.  Personally, I liked the night game a few years back when Mount and Bridgeport played.  That allowed for people to sightsee in the area during the day, shop, tailgaiting and the "parking lot" flag football games, along with the outdoor music/band entertainments, etc., before the televised ESPN game under the lights.

Did you mean Bridgewater?

Oops!  Yes, and what an idiot I am   I guess that's what happens at night when I start "losing it" i.e. getting tired, or is that just a part of getting old?  

[raiderfan1983]

I have got to start checking this board on Sundays more often.  I missed all the fireworks about some school I had never heard of until last week and I hate missing discussions about the Hood.  Anyway, about the MUC defense, I listened to the game on the radio (600 miles is a long trip for a football game) and it seemed like the D has a bend but don't break mentality.  The fear (without seeing them in action this past week) is that they will play a team that will be able to capitalize when they have the ball inside the 30.  Any thoughts from people who saw the game?

[jaypeter]

Raiderfan1983,

I agree with your concern.  Not having seen the team play this year, I have come away with the opinion that if Mount Union is to be beaten this year, they will lose in a shoot-out type game where the defense is unable to find a stop at the end of the game.  I'm more nervous about facing a good offense than I am about facing a great defense.  Except for last year's Stagg Bowl, Mount Union can usually score some points when they need to.  They haven't this year always been able to come up with a stop.

[HScoach]

I don't think it's a "bend but don't break" mentality or design.  I simply think they are susceptible to a straight ahead running game.  In my mind, labeling a defense as bend but don't break implies they sit in soft zone, don't blitz or take chances and keep everything in front of them to avoid giving up the big play.  Unless my idea of what that term means is all wrong, I don't think it applies to Mount.  That style fits the Monty led defenses, but not VK.   Now, I'm not saying all of the VK defenses are better than all of Monty's, I'm just clarifying what I believe "bend but don't break" means to me.

Now to the actual play on the field.  I don't think there is any question the strength of this defense is the ability of the DE's getting to the QB.  Not stuffing the run between the tackles.   The middle of the defense (DT's and LB's) is quick, but very undersized.   Therefore by personnel abilities, they're going to give up some yards to a power running game.  This defense by design and skill set is perfectly suited to defend the spread, which is what most of the OAC (and college football as a whole) is running these days.  I can remember in previous years really worrying about a matchup with a team that could spread the field and sling it, but not now.  The concern this season is a power running game coupled with a high percentage QB.

However simply relying 100% on a power running game is cutting it close because 1 mis-step or penalty takes the opponent out of their comfort zone and plays directly into Mount's hands.  In obvious passing situations, this defense is going to almost impossible to exploit consistently.   You might hit them once or twice on 3rd and longs, but you're not going to be able to make a living out of the converting those. 

However a power running game that can throw the ball with enough consistency to keep the defense off balance will be a serious problem for this team.  They won't have to throw for 200+ yards, just complete high percentage passes in variable situations to keep the D guessing. 

What will overcome all of this is an offense that continues to put up points and takes away the ability to ball control against MUC.  This is a similar situation as we had in the 90's with Borchert's teams.  Mount scored so quick and often to start the games that the other team started pressing offensively in an effort to keep up.    Opponents would hang for a quarter or so before being taken out of their game plan.  As long as Micheli, Kmic and Company keep rolling along and make teams play catch up, the defense will be just fine. 

What will be interesting is what happens if Mount sees a team with a power running game AND a strong enough defense to keep Mount under 30 points, or a terrible weather day that takes away the vertical passing game.  Then we'll have a real battle.   When that happens, our All-American QB and TB will have to make the plays down the stretch to win it.

Maybe I'm completely jaded because I'm an ex-center and spend way too much time what the line play, but what worries me more than anything is a big, strong D-line that completely dominates the line of scrimmage ala Rowan in '99.  The key will be if the opponent can get consistent pressure on Micheli and force Kmic to dodge defenders in the backfield.   This O-line has played very well mentally, but they're lacking the physical size, strength and depth to be good.  As such, they're what I would  describe as a "typically above average D3 line", but not near what we're used to.

If Mount is to win the title this year, they will do so on the strength of their skill people.  Not the line play.  Which is exactly how Mount won their first few titles. 

[raiderfan1983]

hscoach: Thanks for a lot of great info and insight.  I guess when I was referring to "bend but don't break" I was basing it on what I was hearing on the radio, not on the overall mentality of the defense.  I remember Monty's defenses letting teams move the ball between the 30s and then tightening up.  I can see the concern about a power running game.  If the ends are constantly rushing up the field to apply pressure to the QB, you are putting a lot of pressure on the tackles and LBs filling the middle.  Thanks for giving me something else to worry about... 

[Pat Coleman]

The Stagg Bowl is at 8 a.m. Willamette time, actually. Even worse.

[labart96]

Some LL pundits discussed last weekend's results as well as the upcoming MUC-Hobart game last night.

An archive for the broadcast is available at:

www.blogtalkradio.com/LLRecap

[Desertraider]

Took a look at the Hobart site and the roster. Check out the guns on #75 (front row). Don't know anything about him - but he looks impressive.

http://www.hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=football

[seventiesraider]

The Stagg Bowl is at 8 a.m. Willamette time, actually. Even worse.

Even dumber

If you guys have as much time as me you can join me in emailing ESPN and the NCAA. It won't do any good this year but perhaps if they understand somebody cares they might at least do it at 2:00 o clock in the morning so we can party.

[Blutarsky]

Took a look at the Hobart site and the roster. Check out the guns on #75 (front row). Don't know anything about him - but he looks impressive.

http://www.hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=football

I thought DeRiggi graduated last year......apparently, he moved to Hobart.

[labart96]

Took a look at the Hobart site and the roster. Check out the guns on #75 (front row). Don't know anything about him - but he looks impressive.

http://www.hwsathletics.com/roster.aspx?path=football

Name's Ryan Aruck.  He's our NT.  6' 2" 300lbs.  Third on team in tackles with 82 (incl 9 for losses totalling 28 yards, 2.5 sacks and 1 FF).  Kid's a beast and will hopefully give Hobart a fighting chance facing your running game up the middle.

His counterpart is #54 Mike Farraca (6-0, 280).  Farraca sees a lot of double teams and is real strong as well. 

Honestly it's our weak side LBs that are our soft spot.  Our ILBs are All-America quality, especially #40 Hager (ranked in the top 20 nationally in tackles/game), so Kmic's best option is to run off tackle - of course I am assuming the MUC coaching staff knows this already and will exploit it as much as possible Saturday.

I'd almost wish we'd move Hager and #9 Sanders (our other ILB) outside for this reason alone