FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[BergAlum]

I really hope we don't sleep on Heidelberg next week or it could be our first regular season home loss in 11 years.

I know Mount played very poorly today, but this isn't Brooks/Dye Berg.  Berg needed two long passes in the final two minutes to set up a short TD and eek out a 27-24 win over MUSKY today.  At home.  That's a sentence I'd expect to type about Cap's game with the Fish.

Was at the heidelberg game,  you guys might think Mount played bad, the berg had just one first down the entire first half,  talk about watching some lethargic football, and the jcu game last week was as equally horrible to watch.  Assuming you guys show up to play you should have no problem against the berg.  I fully expect you all to shut down Brian Lacy and the ground game, and get to Tyler Stoyle with ease.  Another 50+ win to like 14

[BoBo]

I really hope we don't sleep on Heidelberg next week or it could be our first regular season home loss in 11 years.

I know Mount played very poorly today, but this isn't Brooks/Dye Berg.  Berg needed two long passes in the final two minutes to set up a short TD and eek out a 27-24 win over MUSKY today.  At home.  That's a sentence I'd expect to type about Cap's game with the Fish.

Mounts "victory" can be seen a number of ways. They played like garbage and eeked out a win despite being outplayed. However, they did win. No matter how this is viewed - they didn't collapse and lose it. However, much improvement is needed. I would feel better about Berg if the didn't complete those 2 long passes. Mount's problem starts with the pass defense - it isn't that good. The run D wasn't good today but I think ONUs line was better than Mount has seen this season. I really think the 2 QB system is becoming a problem. Poorman looked good in 1st qtr - Mount got going - then he had to sit and Fulford had a slow start. Against better teams Mount can't afford to lose momentum early. My .02 cents - and no I have no championship rings to back my opinion up. I just think the 2 QB thing is going to hurt in the end.

You know what they say about QB rotations? If you got two (starting) quarterbacks, you don't have one.

[Raider 68]

I really hope we don't sleep on Heidelberg next week or it could be our first regular season home loss in 11 years.

I know Mount played very poorly today, but this isn't Brooks/Dye Berg.  Berg needed two long passes in the final two minutes to set up a short TD and eek out a 27-24 win over MUSKY today.  At home.  That's a sentence I'd expect to type about Cap's game with the Fish.

Mounts "victory" can be seen a number of ways. They played like garbage and eeked out a win despite being outplayed. However, they did win. No matter how this is viewed - they didn't collapse and lose it. However, much improvement is needed. I would feel better about Berg if the didn't complete those 2 long passes. Mount's problem starts with the pass defense - it isn't that good. The run D wasn't good today but I think ONUs line was better than Mount has seen this season. I really think the 2 QB system is becoming a problem. Poorman looked good in 1st qtr - Mount got going - then he had to sit and Fulford had a slow start. Against better teams Mount can't afford to lose momentum early. My .02 cents - and no I have no championship rings to back my opinion up. I just think the 2 QB thing is going to hurt in the end.

desertraider,

Agree, IMHO I would stick with L. Poorman as the starter. The coaches have four games  to determine which player brings to
consistency to the team. Use Fulford as a big back with pass option plays. The Raiders thought they had the game won when
the score was 35-7, but give credit to ONU for coming back. Practice should be tough this week, we'll see.

[ohiofan1954]

wow, etta beating BW. Guess my original grade on BW after the Defiance game was correct.

[section13raiderfan]

I did not see the game yesterday but it sounds like the defensive backs gave up some big pass plays. Did the defenders by chance get caught with their backs to the play again? That drives me crazy. I see it at every level. Receivers run a route that makes the defender turn and run, and that defender is instantly now the designated victim. The greater the physical mismatch the better the results. If there is no real pocket pressure then its gonna work most of the time. Defenses have to evolve now because the techniques of crowding the receiver and reacting to his eye and hand motion are not working anymore. Its too easy to decoy those things. Defenders are almost better off to conceed the catch and then try to rip out the ball before its secured. (But ya better not miss). Best to get to the passer before he he throws. That would help the Dbacks greatly.

[Desertraider]

From the Snap Judgements by Adam Turner:

"The Crusaders have already equaled their best win total since 2011. But if they lost their final six games, it would not be a shock. When one of the top teams in your conference after three weeks of conference play might not win another game, it's a down year for your league."


I understand Cap is 3-1 and sits at the top of the OAC in a 3 team tie BUT lets not forget Cap was 3-7 in each of the last 3 seasons and 2-8 in 2012. Cap losing the last 6 games would not be the signal that the OAC is down, it would be Cap performing the way they have for the past 4 seasons and that they played the "bottom" first. They have wins over a 1-2 Musky team, a 1-2 Otterbein, and 0-3 Wilmington. Cap may be 3-1 but they have ONU, Mount and JCU in the next 3 games. In other words....who have they played? For the record - the OAC is down. But Cap isn't the sign that points to that.

[Dr. Acula]

Maybe he thought is was 2006 and not 2016?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Anyone have a link to the MTU vs WJU JV game from last weekend?

9/18/16 - JV:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZaHVaSZv58
Mount Union 54
W&J 28


9/25/16 - JV:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sth9Jv6kKk
Mount Union 30
Ashland 27

Yesterday's game?

[Dr. Acula]

We've got to find a pass rush somehow, whether it's scheme or personnel. No Louis Berry as well, not sure but he didn't look healthy last week after the game after getting dinged at BW. Defense looked flat and didn't tackle well in space, which was surprising.

In my very unprofessional opinion, UMU offense needs to pass to set up our run game. We can't pound BJ a ton every game and be ready for the playoffs. I didn't watch the entire game, but it seemed ONU was putting 7-8 guys in the box and daring them to throw. We have the line to give the young QBs time. Im not sure who I want at QB, but we need to get the safeties and linebackers on their heels.

It definitely doesn't seem like the threat of the pass is slowing down opposing defenses.  I wasn't watching every play in Ada.  Did Mount throw down the field?  I saw mainly short slants and the like.  Again, I'm fine with that considering the QB situation.  Let them gain confidence.  But down the road they're going to need to stretch the field to open things up both for the running game and the short passing game.  My hope is that they're just slowly adding layers for the QB's each week with the intention of having the full playbook at their disposal by the end of the season.  And they have that luxury.  They can win the OAC with a limited playbook for the first 9 games.  It just might not be pretty in the meantime. 

Related question, more than one poster on here has cited 1998 as probably LK's best coaching job.  If VK takes this team to Salem is that more impressive?   

[HScoach]

^ if he wins it, then yes.

[hsbsballcoach7]

We've got to find a pass rush somehow, whether it's scheme or personnel. No Louis Berry as well, not sure but he didn't look healthy last week after the game after getting dinged at BW. Defense looked flat and didn't tackle well in space, which was surprising.

In my very unprofessional opinion, UMU offense needs to pass to set up our run game. We can't pound BJ a ton every game and be ready for the playoffs. I didn't watch the entire game, but it seemed ONU was putting 7-8 guys in the box and daring them to throw. We have the line to give the young QBs time. Im not sure who I want at QB, but we need to get the safeties and linebackers on their heels.

It definitely doesn't seem like the threat of the pass is slowing down opposing defenses.  I wasn't watching every play in Ada.  Did Mount throw down the field?  I saw mainly short slants and the like.  Again, I'm fine with that considering the QB situation.  Let them gain confidence.  But down the road they're going to need to stretch the field to open things up both for the running game and the short passing game.  My hope is that they're just slowly adding layers for the QB's each week with the intention of having the full playbook at their disposal by the end of the season.  And they have that luxury.  They can win the OAC with a limited playbook for the first 9 games.  It just might not be pretty in the meantime. 

Related question, more than one poster on here has cited 1998 as probably LK's best coaching job.  If VK takes this team to Salem is that more impressive?   

From what I saw because the video was late starting, UMU didn't throw downfield. Even Hargroves long catch was because of a broken tackle. I understand your points of not showing plays that you don't need to and building off of each week with the young QBs, I would just want to see them do it under pressure. I guess it's possible that they could be seeing better defense in practice, but I'm not sure this season.

On the coaching note, I feel that VK did very well in 2014 to even make it to Salem.
For LK I'd go 93, 98 or 05.
If VK, and that's a big IF they make it to Salem, this could be the best coaching job of all. Little experience returning and two rotating freshmen QBs is quite a job. I believe they can do it, but it will take lots of work and improvement before playoff time.

[mr_mom]

Spreads for Week #6 of the 2016 OAC Pick-Em have been posted.

Please get your picks by Noon on Saturday.

[raiderpa]

Good article in the Alliance paper this morning.  If I were not a technology zero, I would share. Thought it made great points about Mount, actually anyone, being a prisoner to their success.
Instead of asking why or criticizing Mount thus far, perhaps we should look at the fact that VK and staff are bringing a very young group along slowly, still winning, and looking ahead to better times when the rookies pass through the portal to "Experienced".

The same thing happens to everyone....happened to WWW...to past Augustana teams after their run...

Will stay patient and hope the coaching and game time pays dividends for the young guys.  I also do not believe they have to win it all to prove a great coaching job was done. 
The Kehres drive for perfection will get the most of this team, now and down the road.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Good article in the Alliance paper this morning.  If I were not a technology zero, I would share. Thought it made great points about Mount, actually anyone, being a prisoner to their success.
Instead of asking why or criticizing Mount thus far, perhaps we should look at the fact that VK and staff are bringing a very young group along slowly, still winning, and looking ahead to better times when the rookies pass through the portal to "Experienced".

The same thing happens to everyone....happened to WWW...to past Augustana teams after their run...

Will stay patient and hope the coaching and game time pays dividends for the young guys.  I also do not believe they have to win it all to prove a great coaching job was done. 
The Kehres drive for perfection will get the most of this team, now and down the road.

Here's the Article:  The good and bad of being Mount Union

[Desertraider]

Looks like it would be a good one - but I am not a subscriber and thus can only read the first 3 sentences. Oh well.