FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[JCUStreaks70]

Wally with his usual acerbic, D-III play-off all knowing response!  Well done sir!   

Unless the next three weeks create havoc that hasn't been seen since say OSU lost to Pur....oh wait...umm...OSU lost to Iow....no wait.....Urban lie....no not that...ummm.......   

I am guessing no 8-2 team is getting in via Pool C this year.

Jokes aside, the point was that there's a looong line of teams queuing up for 5 Pool C bids.  Two losses isn't an automatic disqualifier, but two losses without any really good wins probably is.  Even if Marietta somehow manages a close game with Mount Union and even if that "result" carries a bunch of positive inertia for Marietta, it's hard to see (right now) how they'd be one of the five teams that gets picked. 

The last time the OAC sent a 2-loss team (ONU in...2015?) ONU was the top ranked at-large team in the North.  Under the proposed hypothetical, Marietta is still sitting behind JCU, meaning they have to wait until JCU goes in before they even get considered.  That could take a couple of rounds of voting.  Mechanically it really just doesn't work for a two-loss team that isn't the first at-large team in line from their region.

But it isn't impossible.  Weirder things have happened.

Correct about '15 ONU. That year ONU was helped by the three way tie for 2nd in the OAC; ONU beat JCU, who beat BW, who beat ONU (obviously all 3 lost to Mount). I think ONU was the 2nd team that year because of their head to head win over JCU. BW was eliminated the minute they had that head-scratching loss to Bluffton.

[JCUStreaks70]

BW is currently a non-ranked team.  Assuming JCU and BW are both undefeated going into week 11, would a BW victory be enough to propel them into the playoffs.

John Carroll vs. Baldwin-Wallace may well be a play-in game. If the winner ends 9-1.

All teams are non-ranked at the moment, since the regional rankings don't come out until next week.

If both teams are 8-1 going into that game, I have to think it will be a defacto play-in game. The winner of the game would position themselves to have a 2-1 Record against Regionally Ranked opponents; because I still think Marietta will be a Top 10 North Region Team.

[wally_wabash]

BW is currently a non-ranked team.  Assuming JCU and BW are both undefeated going into week 11, would a BW victory be enough to propel them into the playoffs.

John Carroll vs. Baldwin-Wallace may well be a play-in game. If the winner ends 9-1.

All teams are non-ranked at the moment, since the regional rankings don't come out until next week.

If both teams are 8-1 going into that game, I have to think it will be a defacto play-in game. The winner of the game would position themselves to have a 2-1 Record against Regionally Ranked opponents; because I still think Marietta will be a Top 10 North Region Team.

If Marietta loses to Baldwin-Wallace and again to Mount Union, they're not going to be ranked.  Remember that last year, the North regional advisory committee really aggressively (and head-scratchingly) valued win percentage.  I just can't see a spot here where 7-3 and 0-2 or 0-3 vs. RROs gets the Pioneers ranked after the close of business on 11/10. 

[MUC57]

Wally Wabash

Because I have a lot of respect for your insight on the game, I'm curious as to your take on this years Purple Raiders. My rather uneducated opinion is that, while we have plenty of talent and have won the games handily, JCU excluded, something just doesn't seem right. Many of us feel they're not quite a championship team yet! Defense is solid, receiving corps is outstanding but ............?
I realize you, as far as I know, haven't seen a Mount game this year. But by just reading various sources, any thoughts? Thanks and Go Little Giants!

[HScoach]

Wally Wabash

Because I have a lot of respect for your insight on the game, I'm curious as to your take on this years Purple Raiders. My rather uneducated opinion is that, while we have plenty of talent and have won the games handily, JCU excluded, something just doesn't seem right. Many of us feel they're not quite a championship team yet! Defense is solid, receiving corps is outstanding but ............?
I realize you, as far as I know, haven't seen a Mount game this year. But by just reading various sources, any thoughts? Thanks and Go Little Giants!

Wally,

If you don't mind, can you handicap the Ohio high school playoffs that start next week too? 

[wally_wabash]

Wally Wabash

Because I have a lot of respect for your insight on the game, I'm curious as to your take on this years Purple Raiders. My rather uneducated opinion is that, while we have plenty of talent and have won the games handily, JCU excluded, something just doesn't seem right. Many of us feel they're not quite a championship team yet! Defense is solid, receiving corps is outstanding but ............?
I realize you, as far as I know, haven't seen a Mount game this year. But by just reading various sources, any thoughts? Thanks and Go Little Giants!

I started 2018 by thinking Mount Union was in front of the field by quite a ways.  I don't think Mount Union is in front of the whole field by quite a ways now.  I don't vote in the top 25, but if I did I'd be on the fence about whether or not my #1 vote would go to Mount Union or UMHB, despite UMHB persistently farting around with their QB situation.  I would be thrilled to see a Mount Union vs. UMHB game in Shenandoah and I'd love to see who's A game is better.  As for Mount Union vs. the rest of the field, I frankly don't think anybody else is even close.  John Carroll's familiarity with the Raiders gives them an advantage most other teams don't have.  They'd be the only other team in the field that I think could maaaybe beat Mount Union. 

So, yes, I think Mount Union is plenty good enough to win the championship.  I understand there are nits being picked, which is par for the course.  The thing is, from my POV, even when Mount Union isn't perfect, they're still better than 99% of division 99.9% of the time.  So when you all say "I'm not sure Mount Union can win the championship" I think what you really mean is "I'm not sure Mount Union can win the championship...by 40 points." 

[MUC57]

Wally

Knew I could count on you. Thanks heaps!

[resqdog]

In the old days ( last year and before) Mount Union wouldn't show anything until week 10 when they played John Carroll. The defense would get better from week to week, the O line would begin to click, the receivers and backs would work on timing and try to stay healthy, and the play calling would be, well vanilla.  Come week 10 and the play book would start to creak open and footballs would start to fly and the defense would be doing things you never saw before.

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish.  So here we are in week 8.  How many long passes have you seen? Not many.  Trick or even unusual plays?  Very few.  Vanilla.  Plain and simple.  Why show your cards.  There are 8 games left. Line up and stop us.

Fast forward to week 10, or 11.  The defense, if they stay healthy, is really good IMHO. (MUC that means In My Humble Opinion.) The receiving core has to be one of the best if not THE best in D3.  The QB isn't too shabby either. And the running backs, with Jawanza healthy, will be three or four deep.  So the future is bright.  And by the way, while I think UMHB is pretty good, they really don't get tested much during the regular season.  And this quarterback reporting is kind of weird. Say what you want about the OAC in past years, there are some decent football teams in this conference.

[MUC57]

resqdog

Thanks for the explanation on IMHO but IKT (I knew that)! Just havin' fun with ya. Go Raiders!

[Dr. Acula]

Looking at some OAC stats tonight and Tanner Clark's numbers are damn good.  That kid is lapping the field nearly.  The second best guys in the conference are just over 100 yds/gm and 10 TD.  Clark is at just north of 170 yds/gm and 17 TD.  6.8 ypc too.  That's really impressive stuff.  He's a sophomore so going forward there will be Clark, Petro, Cangenelli, a hopefully healthy Christiaan Williams.  There is going to be some serious talent at RB in the OAC.



 

[WRMUalum13]

In the old days ( last year and before) Mount Union wouldn't show anything until week 10 when they played John Carroll. The defense would get better from week to week, the O line would begin to click, the receivers and backs would work on timing and try to stay healthy, and the play calling would be, well vanilla.  Come week 10 and the play book would start to creak open and footballs would start to fly and the defense would be doing things you never saw before.

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish.  So here we are in week 8.  How many long passes have you seen? Not many.  Trick or even unusual plays?  Very few.  Vanilla.  Plain and simple.  Why show your cards.  There are 8 games left. Line up and stop us.

Fast forward to week 10, or 11.  The defense, if they stay healthy, is really good IMHO. (MUC that means In My Humble Opinion.) The receiving core has to be one of the best if not THE best in D3.  The QB isn't too shabby either. And the running backs, with Jawanza healthy, will be three or four deep.  So the future is bright.  And by the way, while I think UMHB is pretty good, they really don't get tested much during the regular season.  And this quarterback reporting is kind of weird. Say what you want about the OAC in past years, there are some decent football teams in this conference.

Lol the "old days" thank you for clarifying that you only meant 2016/2017. Because in my version of the "old days" 2009-2012,  JCU was not the last game and they werent very competive, in 2011 they were mounts OAC opener and lost like 59-7 I think.

[edward de vere]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

[resqdog]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Good point...I had forgotten about that...he might help eh?

[Dr. Acula]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had to upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I

Now they push John Carroll to week 3.  And while the defense was great and they tossed in some blitzes, I think it's fair to say that the O line wasn't quite clicking yet, the QB was just getting going, the timing with the recievers wasn't great, and the play calling was well, vanilla-ish. 

And arguably the best player on the team - Jared Ruth - didn't play.

Ruth is a difference maker.  I was trying to remember...Mount has obviously had a lot of great WR over the years.  And a lot of times you'd have the senior complimented by the soph who was going to be the next #1 guy.  But I was trying to remember a time where you had two upperclassmen big play WR playing side by side like Hill and Ruth.  The only season I could think of was the Knapp/Sirianni combo back in the early 00's.  Taurice was explosive with Namdar, but he was more of a quick slant guy than a home run threat.

1993 (All Seniors):
Bubonics (WR) - 1,769
Atwood (TE) - 851
M. Siriani (WR) - 684
Gresko (RB) - 638

2003:
Knapp (WR) - 1,467
N. Siriani (WR) - 998

2007:
Garcon (WR) - 955
Davis (WR) - 875