FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[PurpleSuit]

I would say that Berg will be a test for the Mount defense.  Berg's defense might be horrible, but their offense is legit.  They struggled with JCU but are still averaging 50 points.   Bethany is also currently in 1st in the PAC at the halfway point, not looking like as bad of a opener opponent as we all thought.

The OAC competition has been poor thus far, but the defense has done exactly what they are supposed to do.  The eye test says that the defense looks better this year than last year at the same point.  Much deeper and not giving up big plays. 

JCU will be the biggest regular season test for any of the top teams, it just happens to be at the end. 

[SaintsFAN]

I would say that Berg will be a test for the Mount defense.  Berg's defense might be horrible, but their offense is legit.  They struggled with JCU but are still averaging 50 points.   Bethany is also currently in 1st in the PAC at the halfway point, not looking like as bad of a opener opponent as we all thought.

The OAC competition has been poor thus far, but the defense has done exactly what they are supposed to do.  The eye test says that the defense looks better this year than last year at the same point.  Much deeper and not giving up big plays. 

JCU will be the biggest regular season test for any of the top teams, it just happens to be at the end.

Bethany hasn't played W&J yet and doesn't play Thomas More.  They'll be 3rd place in the PAC.

[PurpleSuit]

I'm not saying that Bethany is a top 25 but if they knock off W&J, like they did last year, they will have a good chance to win/share the PAC.  Prior to the season almost everyone was railing against Mount for scheduling such a cupcake in week 1. 

Bethany should be favored to win the rest of their games outside of W&J.  I don't think anyone on the OAC board had them penciled in for 8-2/9-1.  It definitely helps the Mount strength of schedule.

[ExTartanPlayer]

Re: Bethany, I see both sides of this discussion.

Bethany is poised to take advantage of a down year in the PAC (plus the favorable unbalanced league schedule with no TMC on their plate) and as the cards currently stand, they'll be favored to win every game from here on but W & J.  There's some serious feel-good potential here, because Bethany has not finished with a winning record since 2001 and finds itself almost assured of putting that out to pasture (and one upset away from a conference title).  Of course, they are also still just Bethany and have to beat all the teams they're supposed to beat, too, which is a new position for them.

With that said, I still don't think a blowout of Bethany tells us much about Mount by the curve which Mount typically grades itself, but I think that has more to do with the overall gap between the nation's top 5 teams and the rest of the field than it does with whether Bethany is a "cupcake" or actually a "pretty good" team.  It will be a nice on-paper boost for their SOS, which will matter come playoff time, and in hindsight it's possible that the easy blowout was more just Mount being Mount than it was a function of the weakness of the opponent.

[ohiofan1954]

I was at the Bethany-Case game Saturday so I saw them against someone else then Mt. Hate to say this but even though they won they didn't look good. That was one of the worst games I have ever seen. The fast break offense just wasn't that good and Case's offense was well, offensive. To top it off Bethany managed to miss on 3 extra point attempts. Bad game between average at best teams. BW wasn't much on Saturday either but they would handle Bethany.

[mr_mom]

Spreads for Week #6 of the OAC Pick-Em have been posted.

[reality check]

How far have we fallen as a conference when we're in the middle of conference play and can't think of anything better to talk about than the relative strength of Bethany College? 

[PurpleSuit]

How far have we fallen as a conference when we're in the middle of conference play and can't think of anything better to talk about than the relative strength of Bethany College?

its been pretty slow around here lately.  Mount Union's playoff posturing will likely be the hot topic until the last week of the regular season.  Maybe Mount-JCU will stir up some chat. 

I was never saying that Bethany was a test to Mount, rather that they have been a pleasant surprise in helping Mount's chances to hold home field through the national semi-finals.  Beating a conference title contender > beating typical Bethany in the eyes of the selection committee.  With how tight UMHB and Mount are in the eyes of the nation, every little bit is going to help 

[Craft_Beermeister]

Wabash has moved up and into the top 10 in this week's rankings. It is nice to see Vince Kehres's cousin, Erik Raeburn, coaching well again this year.

[Dr. Acula]

How far have we fallen as a conference when we're in the middle of conference play and can't think of anything better to talk about than the relative strength of Bethany College?

its been pretty slow around here lately.  Mount Union's playoff posturing will likely be the hot topic until the last week of the regular season.  Maybe Mount-JCU will stir up some chat. 

I was never saying that Bethany was a test to Mount, rather that they have been a pleasant surprise in helping Mount's chances to hold home field through the national semi-finals.  Beating a conference title contender > beating typical Bethany in the eyes of the selection committee.  With how tight UMHB and Mount are in the eyes of the nation, every little bit is going to help

I think it's going to be pretty slow until Mount/JCU week.  The last year or two Berg week would have added some chatter, but that drubbing by JCU deflated their season early on.  Plus their defense has looked so porous that Mount should have little trouble lighting up the scoreboard.  Truthfully, Suit deserves credit because he never bought into the Berg hype in years past and it certainly looks like his recent assessment of them as nothing more than Ott when they were 2nd best is accurate.  Most of us including myself were much more worried about Berg last year.

As for this week, ONU will give the defense their best test to date.  Angle adds the running threat at QB.  It's always good to see how you handle that.  Magazine is a solid RB although my guess is he struggles Saturday.  Price is a threat at WR so that'll be good for the secondary to see a legit big play WR.  Which ONU defense shows up?  The one that was shredded by Berg 2 weeks ago?  Or the one that played pretty well against JCU last week?  My bet is we see something closer to Berg than JCU just based on how they've played against other opponent this year.

[PurpleSuit]

pretty good article about the connection between Mount and Toledo

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/434049?referrer_id=878183

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

pretty good article about the connection between Mount and Toledo

http://www.bcsn.tv/news_article/show/434049?referrer_id=878183

Good Read, but the author states that LK stepped down to become the school's AD, he was the AD before he became the Head FB coach if I remember right.

[PurpleSuit]

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20141008k2kcym

the future schedules are coming together, Mount will be playing NC Wesleyan in 2016 and 2017. 

[Dr. Acula]

Things of interest as I skim the updated OAC stats:

ONU ranks last in the OAC in pass defense.  283.5 yds/gm.  I would say that's bad news against Mount (306 yds/gm) except that the Bears held JCU to 17 points last week.  The Streaks top the conference in passing.  I still think it's probably bad news in the end.  Also not promising on paper...ONU gives up an OAC worst 54.5% 3rd down conversions while the Raiders convert a conference leading 51.2%

Angle is having a really nice year for ONU.  He is 2nd in total yards per game (337) thanks in large part to his 285 yards rushing this year.  His passing numbers (265.8 yds/gm, 61.5%, 10 TD, 1 INT) are strong enough to test the Mount D.  And Price is #1 in receiving (7.75 rec/gm, 113 yds/gm, 5 TD).  That's a good thing when it comes to pushing the secondary.  They need tested a little.

Burke's pass efficiency is 220.8.  That's obscene.

Mount is averaging over 300 yds/gm rushing and passing.  306 yds passing, 309 yds rushing.  That's just pretty impressive.  Not much to say other than that. 

JCU ranking 2nd in nearly every defensive statistic (rush D, pass D, defensive pass eff, etc.) is a testament to how good their D is considering they've played Berg, ONU and BW in conference already.  Those stats are only going to improve until they come to Alliance.  Other than the Raiders those are probably the next 3 best offenses (BW is debatable).

The two headliners in the rushing leaders, Michals and Brooks, are both seniors.  But after that there's a lot of youth.  A bunch of sophomores and freshmen filling out the leaders.  And one of those leaders?  Wilm soph Chase Manica who is averaging 100.5 yds/gm and 5.1 ypc.  I believe that's the kid that transferred in so good job Coach Hairston.  Not to be overlooked is also Etta freshman Nick O'Neal (110.2 yds/gm, 5.5 ypc, 6 TD).  That's a heck of a start to the college career.

It has to be mentioned that Mount's top 2 WR at 105 yds/gm and 60.2 yds/gm are the 2 former QB's.  The big play element Namdar and Scott are bringing is making a noticeable difference.  In 4 games they have 4 TD catches of 40+ yards.     

[Raider 68]

Things of interest as I skim the updated OAC stats:

ONU ranks last in the OAC in pass defense.  283.5 yds/gm.  I would say that's bad news against Mount (306 yds/gm) except that the Bears held JCU to 17 points last week.  The Streaks top the conference in passing.  I still think it's probably bad news in the end.  Also not promising on paper...ONU gives up an OAC worst 54.5% 3rd down conversions while the Raiders convert a conference leading 51.2%

Angle is having a really nice year for ONU.  He is 2nd in total yards per game (337) thanks in large part to his 285 yards rushing this year.  His passing numbers (265.8 yds/gm, 61.5%, 10 TD, 1 INT) are strong enough to test the Mount D.  And Price is #1 in receiving (7.75 rec/gm, 113 yds/gm, 5 TD).  That's a good thing when it comes to pushing the secondary.  They need tested a little.

Burke's pass efficiency is 220.8.  That's obscene.

Mount is averaging over 300 yds/gm rushing and passing.  306 yds passing, 309 yds rushing.  That's just pretty impressive.  Not much to say other than that. 

JCU ranking 2nd in nearly every defensive statistic (rush D, pass D, defensive pass eff, etc.) is a testament to how good their D is considering they've played Berg, ONU and BW in conference already.  Those stats are only going to improve until they come to Alliance.  Other than the Raiders those are probably the next 3 best offenses (BW is debatable).

The two headliners in the rushing leaders, Michals and Brooks, are both seniors.  But after that there's a lot of youth.  A bunch of sophomores and freshmen filling out the leaders.  And one of those leaders?  Wilm soph Chase Manica who is averaging 100.5 yds/gm and 5.1 ypc.  I believe that's the kid that transferred in so good job Coach Hairston.  Not to be overlooked is also Etta freshman Nick O'Neal (110.2 yds/gm, 5.5 ypc, 6 TD).  That's a heck of a start to the college career.

It has to be mentioned that Mount's top 2 WR at 105 yds/gm and 60.2 yds/gm are the 2 former QB's.  The big play element Namdar and Scott are bringing is making a noticeable difference.  In 4 games they have 4 TD catches of 40+ yards.     

Dr. Acula,

I think is good that the Raiders will face a duel threat at QB, it will tell how the defense performs against the ONU offense. At
the beginning of the year I did not think ONU would be as competitive as they are now.

What impresses me thus far is the the Raiders are well balance this year, and do not have to rely only on one player(K.Burke)
to carry the offense this year.  Agree, the JCU defense is good based upon the numbers which as you said get better.
I have not read the JCU-ONU play-by-play, but I am sure that many ONU fans believe that game could have gone the other way.

The O line seems to be gaining confidence and the defense is more aggressive than last year, but ONU, Heidelberg and JCU
will tell if the much needed improvement is a real for 2014. The turnover result so far at +6 is much improved vs. last year.