FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

6. Special teams - Mount has a history of making special teams plays in the playoffs. Blocked punt against UWW in Stagg, the blocks against UMHB. Got another couple on Saturday with the TD off the onside kick and the punt inside the 5. With all of the shortcomings Mount has elsewhere Special Teams is an area that needs to make plays. I was very pleased with this against Alfred.

The only thing I'll mention on this is that they uncharacteristically gave up a couple long kick returns.  They're normally pretty tight on kick coverage.

[Desertraider]

6. Special teams - Mount has a history of making special teams plays in the playoffs. Blocked punt against UWW in Stagg, the blocks against UMHB. Got another couple on Saturday with the TD off the onside kick and the punt inside the 5. With all of the shortcomings Mount has elsewhere Special Teams is an area that needs to make plays. I was very pleased with this against Alfred.

The only thing I'll mention on this is that they uncharacteristically gave up a couple long kick returns.  They're normally pretty tight on kick coverage.

I agree. Gave up a 44 and 37 yard return. But still kept it respectable with 8 returns for 166 (20.75 yd avg). Always can be better and usually is, but ST made a few plays and they will need those Saturday. On Mounts path to the Semis - yea it was "easier" but I don't like that word. I mean looking at the brackets I see 5 teams that Mount would have struggled with outside of the East bracket:
UMHB, UST, UWO, UWW, jcu (almost ready for all caps on you guys!). But these are the same teams that anyone else in the bracket would struggle with. I think Hopkins and Hobart would have given fits in other brackets as well. I am not ready to say it was the easiest path because I think the opinion is skewed against the East teams (specifically E8 and LL). I am not saying that in the West or North JHU or Hobart make the semis - but I think Hobart could have made the second round and Hopkins maybe the third. Just my opinion.

[section13raiderfan]

If by chance the football Gods smile on the OAC and both JCU and UMU end up in the Stagg Bowl do you know who is gonna be smiling? Jim Ballard. Both Qbs were tutored at Jims Qb academy.

[Pat Coleman]

If by chance the football Gods smile on the OAC and both JCU and UMU end up in the Stagg Bowl do you know who is gonna be smiling? Jim Ballard. Both Qbs were tutored at Jims Qb academy.

Story from the front page of D3football.com last Thursday afternoon will answer that question for you:
http://www.d3football.com/playoffs/2016/freshman-qbs-one-path-two-destinations-davis-moeglin

[Desertraider]

IF it is an all-OAC showdown (which would be awesome) - how about we play it at Browns stadium? I mean that stadium hasn't seen good football in....well ever. No offense to Salem - love the place - but it would be kinda funny to have 2 teams, separated by what 45 miles?, go to Salem, VA for a game. Imagine the attendance if it was local and for all the marbles! Oh well-

BTW: Pat I was skeptical of your "Mount names their score" - I will never doubt you again  . +K indeed.

[JCUStreaks70]

IF it is an all-OAC showdown (which would be awesome) - how about we play it at Browns stadium? I mean that stadium hasn't seen good football in....well ever. No offense to Salem - love the place - but it would be kinda funny to have 2 teams, separated by what 45 miles?, go to Salem, VA for a game. Imagine the attendance if it was local and for all the marbles! Oh well-

BTW: Pat I was skeptical of your "Mount names their score" - I will never doubt you again  . +K indeed.

I was thinking the same thing! Haha.

[Dr. Acula]

6. Special teams - Mount has a history of making special teams plays in the playoffs. Blocked punt against UWW in Stagg, the blocks against UMHB. Got another couple on Saturday with the TD off the onside kick and the punt inside the 5. With all of the shortcomings Mount has elsewhere Special Teams is an area that needs to make plays. I was very pleased with this against Alfred.

The only thing I'll mention on this is that they uncharacteristically gave up a couple long kick returns.  They're normally pretty tight on kick coverage.

I agree. Gave up a 44 and 37 yard return. But still kept it respectable with 8 returns for 166 (20.75 yd avg). Always can be better and usually is, but ST made a few plays and they will need those Saturday. On Mounts path to the Semis - yea it was "easier" but I don't like that word. I mean looking at the brackets I see 5 teams that Mount would have struggled with outside of the East bracket:
UMHB, UST, UWO, UWW, jcu (almost ready for all caps on you guys!). But these are the same teams that anyone else in the bracket would struggle with. I think Hopkins and Hobart would have given fits in other brackets as well. I am not ready to say it was the easiest path because I think the opinion is skewed against the East teams (specifically E8 and LL). I am not saying that in the West or North JHU or Hobart make the semis - but I think Hobart could have made the second round and Hopkins maybe the third. Just my opinion.

That's it?!  You don't think Mount would have struggled with any outside of those 5?!  Wow.  At a minimum I'd add Linfield, SJU, UWP, NCC and Wheaton to that list.  I could easily be talked into HSU and Wesley too. 

[Desertraider]

I will give you Linfield and MAYBE Wheaton. I am not saying Mount would have wiped the field with any of them - but I would not have been worried either.

[pradierguy]

Adam Schefter posted this a couple minutes ago:

"Cecil Shorts told @BrittMcHenry he dislocated his knee, tore his ACL, MCL and PCL. Beyond brutal."

Could be the end of the road for Cecil Shorts in the NFL. Always had injuries even while at Mount. Tough to see, but he made over $7,000,000 since he's been drafted and should be well positioned for life after football!

[USee]

I will give you Linfield and MAYBE Wheaton. I am not saying Mount would have wiped the field with any of them - but I would not have been worried either.

Mount would have struggled with any team in the field that plays great defense and has a good offense. Obviously JCU is one of those teams as are most of the teams Dr Acula listed. Mount, despite the tradition, is going to struggle against MHB this week. The Cru has a Purple Power type defense and an explosive offense.

[Desertraider]

Adam Schefter posted this a couple minutes ago:

"Cecil Shorts told @BrittMcHenry he dislocated his knee, tore his ACL, MCL and PCL. Beyond brutal."

Could be the end of the road for Cecil Shorts in the NFL. Always had injuries even while at Mount. Tough to see, but he made over $7,000,000 since he's been drafted and should be well positioned for life after football!

Video clip if you want it: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2601794-cecil-shorts-injury-updates-on-buccaneers-wrs-knee-and-return

Does not look good. Hoping for the best for Cecil.

[Dr. Acula]

I will give you Linfield and MAYBE Wheaton. I am not saying Mount would have wiped the field with any of them - but I would not have been worried either.

You have a lot more confidence than I do.  After watching this defense all year I would have been worried about all of those teams.

[SaintsFAN]

I will give you Linfield and MAYBE Wheaton. I am not saying Mount would have wiped the field with any of them - but I would not have been worried either.

You have a lot more confidence than I do.  After watching this defense all year I would have been worried about all of those teams.

I think they did struggle with all three teams they've already played this postseason.  Its not a stretch to say they'd have had the same struggle against 80% of the field. 

[SaintsFAN]

IF it is an all-OAC showdown (which would be awesome) - how about we play it at Browns stadium? I mean that stadium hasn't seen good football in....well ever. No offense to Salem - love the place - but it would be kinda funny to have 2 teams, separated by what 45 miles?, go to Salem, VA for a game. Imagine the attendance if it was local and for all the marbles! Oh well-

BTW: Pat I was skeptical of your "Mount names their score" - I will never doubt you again  . +K indeed.

No.  I've already got my flight to Salem booked and Delta doesn't have a non-stop into Hopkins.  Had to fly on a United puddle-jumper when I flew into Cleveland last year to see TMC beat CWRU.   No thanks.  I vote for keeping it in Salem. 

[Craft_Beermeister]

I will give you Linfield and MAYBE Wheaton. I am not saying Mount would have wiped the field with any of them - but I would not have been worried either.

Mount would have struggled with any team in the field that plays great defense and has a good offense. Obviously JCU is one of those teams as are most of the teams Dr Acula listed. Mount, despite the tradition, is going to struggle against MHB this week. The Cru has a Purple Power type defense and an explosive offense.

Everyone agrees that the Mount team is very young this year and aren't as dominate as they have been in past years, but other than the UWO game Mount Union gave JCU the most difficult time.  In that game After JCU was up 13-0 Mount's defenses forced JCU to go 3 and out a total of 8 times before JCU scored  a touchdown on a strip sack.  The game end with both teams going back and forth in driving for TDs with JCU scoring last.  From about 2 minutes before end of the first half and the strip sack TD in the fourth quarter Mount dominated the game.  Like a true champion JCU capitalized on turnovers and was strong at the end.

JCU is a strong contender to win it all because they have a strong defense and strong offense.  Mount Union on the other hand isn't showing the level of consistency expected from Mount football, but when they are on they can be hard to beat.  Ask JCU.