FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[badgerwarhawk]

Another problem a D3 or any QB prospect would have is simple numbers.  Teams typically only keep three, sometimes four, QBs where as they tend to keep more players at other positions.  So simply put there are more jobs for players at other positions. 

[SaintsFAN]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

I also believe the JCU/Berg game will be closer than recent years (yeah, great prognostication, SaintsFAN!) but I think Coach Hallett and staff will have the SP's prepared... now, we'll find out a lot about their QB because as you said JCU will absolutely load the box to stop the run.  You just can't win football games against good teams at this level averaging 4.1 yards a passing attempt.  The kid also was sacked three times, which most of you know absolutely kills the momentum of a team that wants to run the football.  On a sidenote, Hallett really seems to be able to recruit elite RB's.  He did so in his time at Thomas More and continues to churn them out at Heidy.  Its pretty remarkable really - lose your starting RB to Mount Union?  Okay, lets plug in Cartel Brooks. 

[bluestreak66]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

I also believe the JCU/Berg game will be closer than recent years (yeah, great prognostication, SaintsFAN!) but I think Coach Hallett and staff will have the SP's prepared... now, we'll find out a lot about their QB because as you said JCU will absolutely load the box to stop the run.  You just can't win football games against good teams at this level averaging 4.1 yards a passing attempt.  The kid also was sacked three times, which most of you know absolutely kills the momentum of a team that wants to run the football.  On a sidenote, Hallett really seems to be able to recruit elite RB's.  He did so in his time at Thomas More and continues to churn them out at Heidy.  Its pretty remarkable really - lose your starting RB to Mount Union?  Okay, lets plug in Cartel Brooks.

A huge part of me still thinks this game is going to be a bit of a blow out. Obviously, so early in the season,, and with JCU and Berg with just one game down a piece, it's hard to say. I feel like a lot of the doubt for JCU comes from the fact that they had a seemingly close game against St. Vincent. But that is also the same St. Vincent that beat Waynesburg last week (a team who is usually in the top half of the PAC), and even last year, they gave JCU just as close of a game as every opponent, except for Mount (obviously), ONU, and Wheaton, and they were actaully almost on par with Berg and BW. What Ron Dociato has done at St Vincent so far needs to be remebered. having personally played under him while at JCU, I can say he was the best coach when it came to getting people fired up. Especially since it was against his former team.
As for Berg, I feel like they've lost a lost offensively from years past, but haven't done anything to improve their defense. And I'm not totally convinced that a close loss to Cortland is even all that great at the moment, as Cortland hasn't even entered E8 play yet.
The adage is if you want to be the best, beat the best. in this case, it's really if you want to be the best team not Mount in the OAC, beat the best team not Mount in the OAC. And until that happens, I have to think JCU will pull this off. Closer maybe than last year, but I think the final will be somewhere in the realm of 38-10 JCU.

[Sir Battlescars]

And Waynesburg absolutely crushed Muskingum in week one too, 35 - 10. 

[Pat Coleman]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

ONU was playing at home, FWIW.

[HScoach]

Saintsfan?

Oh good, you're here.  Let's talk about Cleveland Browns football.

Are you trying to make me sick?    I'd rather discuss something completely irrelevant like how 4 decent RB's are better than 1 Chuck Moore.......

[mr_mom]

Frankie says "Relax". 

Mom says "Get yer picks  in".

[bman]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

I also believe the JCU/Berg game will be closer than recent years (yeah, great prognostication, SaintsFAN!) but I think Coach Hallett and staff will have the SP's prepared... now, we'll find out a lot about their QB because as you said JCU will absolutely load the box to stop the run.  You just can't win football games against good teams at this level averaging 4.1 yards a passing attempt.  The kid also was sacked three times, which most of you know absolutely kills the momentum of a team that wants to run the football.  On a sidenote, Hallett really seems to be able to recruit elite RB's.  He did so in his time at Thomas More and continues to churn them out at Heidy.  Its pretty remarkable really - lose your starting RB to Mount Union?  Okay, lets plug in Cartel Brooks.

A huge part of me still thinks this game is going to be a bit of a blow out. Obviously, so early in the season,, and with JCU and Berg with just one game down a piece, it's hard to say. I feel like a lot of the doubt for JCU comes from the fact that they had a seemingly close game against St. Vincent. But that is also the same St. Vincent that beat Waynesburg last week (a team who is usually in the top half of the PAC), and even last year, they gave JCU just as close of a game as every opponent, except for Mount (obviously), ONU, and Wheaton, and they were actaully almost on par with Berg and BW. What Ron Dociato has done at St Vincent so far needs to be remebered. having personally played under him while at JCU, I can say he was the best coach when it came to getting people fired up. Especially since it was against his former team.
As for Berg, I feel like they've lost a lost offensively from years past, but haven't done anything to improve their defense. And I'm not totally convinced that a close loss to Cortland is even all that great at the moment, as Cortland hasn't even entered E8 play yet.
The adage is if you want to be the best, beat the best. in this case, it's really if you want to be the best team not Mount in the OAC, beat the best team not Mount in the OAC. And until that happens, I have to think JCU will pull this off. Closer maybe than last year, but I think the final will be somewhere in the realm of 38-10 JCU.

I was at the Berg/Cortland game.  To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with either team.  Berg seemed to be undersized but athletic.  If JCU has size, IMO Berg will struggle...

[Sir Battlescars]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

I also believe the JCU/Berg game will be closer than recent years (yeah, great prognostication, SaintsFAN!) but I think Coach Hallett and staff will have the SP's prepared... now, we'll find out a lot about their QB because as you said JCU will absolutely load the box to stop the run.  You just can't win football games against good teams at this level averaging 4.1 yards a passing attempt.  The kid also was sacked three times, which most of you know absolutely kills the momentum of a team that wants to run the football.  On a sidenote, Hallett really seems to be able to recruit elite RB's.  He did so in his time at Thomas More and continues to churn them out at Heidy.  Its pretty remarkable really - lose your starting RB to Mount Union?  Okay, lets plug in Cartel Brooks.

A huge part of me still thinks this game is going to be a bit of a blow out. Obviously, so early in the season,, and with JCU and Berg with just one game down a piece, it's hard to say. I feel like a lot of the doubt for JCU comes from the fact that they had a seemingly close game against St. Vincent. But that is also the same St. Vincent that beat Waynesburg last week (a team who is usually in the top half of the PAC), and even last year, they gave JCU just as close of a game as every opponent, except for Mount (obviously), ONU, and Wheaton, and they were actaully almost on par with Berg and BW. What Ron Dociato has done at St Vincent so far needs to be remebered. having personally played under him while at JCU, I can say he was the best coach when it came to getting people fired up. Especially since it was against his former team.
As for Berg, I feel like they've lost a lost offensively from years past, but haven't done anything to improve their defense. And I'm not totally convinced that a close loss to Cortland is even all that great at the moment, as Cortland hasn't even entered E8 play yet.
The adage is if you want to be the best, beat the best. in this case, it's really if you want to be the best team not Mount in the OAC, beat the best team not Mount in the OAC. And until that happens, I have to think JCU will pull this off. Closer maybe than last year, but I think the final will be somewhere in the realm of 38-10 JCU.

I was at the Berg/Cortland game.  To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed with either team.  Berg seemed to be undersized but athletic.  If JCU has size, IMO Berg will struggle...

Mama always told me before my JV games "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!"

[SaintsFAN]

Saintsfan?

Oh good, you're here.  Let's talk about Cleveland Browns football.

Are you trying to make me sick?    I'd rather discuss something completely irrelevant like how 4 decent RB's are better than 1 Chuck Moore.......

Or how all you need is heart to make it to the NFL???

[SaintsFAN]

After the lull of the bye week we actually get a couple of very intriguing match ups to open OAC play.

BW @ ONU
It's going to be interesting to see how BW looks coming off that head scratching opener against Bluffton.  For some reason I feel like the Jackets are going to bounce back and play tough this week.  For ONU I think this is a bigger game simply because they may be able to contend and if they hope to this is obviously a must win.  Plus I'm interested to see how Freed looks this week after a stellar debut.

JCU @ Berg
This is the prime time game to me.  I think this game gives us a good initial look at how the OAC shakes out in 2015.  JCU has dominated better Berg teams recently, but has JCU slipped too?  I still think JCU wins this game fairly easily.  If they load up against the run and stop Lacey/Vocke I just don't think Berg can consistently move it through the air against JCU.

The rest of the games are pretty pedestrian.  Mount will roll Musky obviously.  Ott should handle Etta.  If they don't after the way Etta looked against Denison then there may be some issues in Westerville.  Especially after that opener.  Not exactly confidence inspiring.  Cap/Wilm is actually interesting in so far as Wilm is actually 1-0 and Cap had some positives from their loss to Witt.

I'm looking for ONU to continue what they started last week with the win at Utica.  I think its insane to go on the road with a true freshman QB against an upstart team in Utica and come out with a win like that.  We'll see how it translates to OAC play, I guess, but I look to ONU as a contender for the Trophy given out to the 2nd place OAC team in 2015. 

ONU was playing at home, FWIW.

Well.  Shoot.  Thanks, Pat. 

[SaintsFAN]

And Waynesburg absolutely crushed Muskingum in week one too, 35 - 10. 

I think St Vincent is on the rise.. They may shock one of the PAC leaders this year. 

[BoBo]

If you look at the totality of D3 players that have made an NFL roster in the last 15 years I think by position it has been dominated by receivers.  Linemen are generally shorter or lighter than most NFL players at those positions where size is helpful at receiver but there are plenty of small receivers that have been successful.  I think quarterbacks other than Johnny football and Drew Brees are pretty much 6 2" or greater. Linebackers and D-Backs are also places where the best of D3 can also make it a bit easier.  Quarterbacks are such a longshot that even the best from D3 usually just get a passing look and that is all with the exception of Ballard but that was the mid nineties also.

Russell Wilson says hello!!

[Spurrier]

Rain...rain...go away...here's to a polar bear victory under the lights

[motorman]

You guys seem to have underestimated Berg. Beating JCU 10-0