FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[USee]

Congrats to JCU for a tough, hard fought win yesterday in Wheaton.  I thought the battle for the LOS was where this would be won and both sides took turns beating up on the other. Holding Myers and company to 14 pts and only 2 redzone trips was a big accomplishment for the Wheaton D. On the other side, JCU stuffed Wheaton's inside running game and held them to 2-5 in the redzone. Wheaton outgained JCU 345 yds to 339 but the defenses were the story. A FG that was just wide right with a minute left was the difference. JUC made one more play than Wheaton yesterday.

Good luck this week, I was looking forward to my 7th trip to Alliance (lucky #7) but that will have to wait until next year. The Thunder have almost all of their team back next year so we will remain hopeful we can make another run.

Again, congratulations to John Carroll, they were a play better yesterday.

[Desertraider]

I watched the replay last night and stand by my statement that WJ remind me of ONU (ding away). They have a couple good players - but nothing special. What really stood out to me: WJ was SLOW-SLOW-SLOW
Raiders complete pass after pass and WJ has one or two defenders in the picture. WJ completes a pass and has 10 yards open in front of him - yet before he can even secure the ball 4 or 5 Raiders appear. Same on run plays - saw a few holes open up and as soon as the back plants and cuts into the hole he is met by 3 or 4 defenders. WJ was, like ONU and Adrian, slow. Watching the game I kept thinking of the old Babe Ruth reels - the ones where he rounds the bases in like 2.3 flat. That was how Mount looked - WJ looked like they were stuck in the mud.

[Raiderplaybyplay]

Frankly Im not at all surprised at BJs dwindling carries. His running style is hampered quite a bit by Ohio November weather and resulting field conditions. If traction is superb, then BJ is superb. You have to plant the cleats firmly to do what he does so well....and he cant now. The downhill runners and one cut types are way more reliable this time of year. Cover the field all week and watch what happens. Plus he has a spy on him all day.

Im a Linfield fan all of a sudden!

Wheatons D must be pretty good...gotta see what UMU learns from the tape

What about the fact that he's playing on turf? Does traction in cold weather really impact his ability that much? I wasn't at the W&J game so I'm not sure what the field conditions were like, but he didn't seem to do so well against Adrian either and the field looked fine to me.

I agree that traction could be a factor, but I guess it would make a lot more sense if they were playing on grass.

[Craft_Beermeister]

Mount Union against JCU should be a great game this weekend. 

After a decade of getting kick around by the Raiders losing by an average of 51 to 8 the Blue Streak have become more competitive in the last two years dropping Mount Union's average win differential for the decade down to a more respectable 49 to 12.

Year   Mount Union   JCU
2014          31          24
2013          42           34
2012          59           17
2011          58             7
2010          51           7
2009          56            7
2008          41            7
2007          53             0
2006          31           14
2005          70             0
2004          55             3
2003          34           16

[Raider 68]

Mount Union against JCU should be a great game this weekend. 

After a decade of getting kick around by the Raiders losing by an average of 51 to 8 the Blue Streak have become more competitive in the last two years dropping Mount Union's average win differential for the decade down to a more respectable 49 to 12.

Year   Mount Union   JCU
2014          31          24
2013          42           34
2012          59           17
2011          58             7
2010          51           7
2009          56            7
2008          41            7
2007          53             0
2006          31           14
2005          70             0
2004          55             3
2003          34           16

Craft_Beermeister

Good post! +k While I have not looked up the stats, OAC opponents who have played the Raiders 2 times in a year, one regular
season and one for the playoffs, have lost by a greater margin than the first meeting. We'll see if that trend holds for the
second meeting. IMHO, the Raiders have improved as a team since 11-15-14. We'll see!

[USee]

I would think the game tape of the Wheaton/JCU game will be very helpful to the UMU team. Geoff Dartt, UMU's OC, coached many of the Wheaton players he will see on tape a few seasons ago. In addition, Wheaton played JCU with a 3 man front and 3 safeties to combat their use of their 2 TE's who line up tight and as WR without substitution. It allowed Wheaton to matchup very well in passing and/or running situations without substitution. I don't know if the OAC is mostly a man to man defense but JCU seemed frustrated with zone. The 2 high safeties look and the alternating of hard corner vs soft corner cover 2 looks. I will be interested to see how Mount plays them the 2nd time around.

[Dr. Acula]

Was Wheaton able to get any pressure with 3 or did they have to blitz?  Mount's issue was a lot of times they couldn't get pressure from only the 4 linemen, especially in the 2nd half.  The JCU O line did a good job on them. 

I wonder if we see a little more of Furda this week?  He seems to make the most plays per snap on the D line.  Especially in the backfield coming off the edge.

[pradierguy]

And Lance Leipold is heading to Buffalo: http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/11/28/buffalo-bulls-hire-lance-leipold-head-coach

[Dr. Acula]

Wow. Good for him.  He most definitely deserves a shot at D1.  He's absolutely earned it.  I wish him much success!  Love when D3 guys prove football is football and winning like he has is crazy regardless of the level.  Good luck to him!  Except against Toledo, obviously.   

[Mr. Ypsi]

Wow. Good for him.  He most definitely deserves a shot at D1.  He's absolutely earned it.  I wish him much success!  Love when D3 guys prove football is football and winning like he has is crazy regardless of the level.  Good luck to him!  Except against Toledo, obviously.   

And against EMU, my employer for 34 years!  (Though, alas, most teams need no luck against EMU. )

[USee]

Was Wheaton able to get any pressure with 3 or did they have to blitz?  Mount's issue was a lot of times they couldn't get pressure from only the 4 linemen, especially in the 2nd half.  The JCU O line did a good job on them. 

I wonder if we see a little more of Furda this week?  He seems to make the most plays per snap on the D line.  Especially in the backfield coming off the edge.

There were no sacks on either side for the game. Some pressure. JCU put some pressure on Wheaton's Peltz but never sacked him. The Thunder coaches realized he simply will not run so they dropped 8 on most pass downs and kept everything in front of them. Drilled all their routes and broke on them hard. They focuses on tackling. Thats whey Michals was leading receiver with 6 catches. All check downs because no one was open.

[Desertraider]

Frankly Im not at all surprised at BJs dwindling carries. His running style is hampered quite a bit by Ohio November weather and resulting field conditions. If traction is superb, then BJ is superb. You have to plant the cleats firmly to do what he does so well....and he cant now. The downhill runners and one cut types are way more reliable this time of year. Cover the field all week and watch what happens. Plus he has a spy on him all day.

Im a Linfield fan all of a sudden!

Wheatons D must be pretty good...gotta see what UMU learns from the tape

What about the fact that he's playing on turf? Does traction in cold weather really impact his ability that much? I wasn't at the W&J game so I'm not sure what the field conditions were like, but he didn't seem to do so well against Adrian either and the field looked fine to me.

I agree that traction could be a factor, but I guess it would make a lot more sense if they were playing on grass.

I can't explain what is going on with BJ. I watched the game last night and the field looked fine (not wet, no snow, etc.). On the radio call they said several times that he was on the bench and had several players come by and talk to him - but no medical staff was with him. On a side note: watching the game last night I really like listening to Jim Ballard with Harry and Joe. My only critique would be - stop referring to the players by their nicknames (ex. "Meach"). It just gets a bit annoying - other than that Jim is great to listen to especially when he breaks down a play. I heard him refer to the safety movement prior to the snap and say "they're gonna pass here because of" etc. and he was spot on every time. Good insight.

[Dr. Acula]

I read the game article in the Rep and it said Mitchell left with an "undisclosed injury" Saturday.  Hopefully it's minor and he's ready for JCU.  Need all hands on deck for The Rematch.

[Dr. Acula]

Thanks, USee.  Sounds like Swider pretty much said "I don't think you can drive down the field moving the chains with no big plays" and was correct.  Not sure VK will employ that tactic as he's normally verrry aggressive. 

[Blutarsky]

Any word on whether Coach Leipold is finishing out the season with UWW?  I'm also guessing he will be taking some of the staff along to sunny Buffalo.....