FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I think weight is a lot more important than height in comparing football players. JMO

How do you measure yourself against other golfers?

[rscl70]

1) I would take the listed sizes at D3 schools with a grain of salt, both exaggerated and simply not updated 

2) Mount has traditionally been on the "smaller" side and wins with speed/quickness.  I'll never forget the OL "being bigger than Ohio State" and then St Johns "small" DL destroyed Mount in the Stagg

At least we get to play the games on the field to determine a champ

I agree, I'm sure any given players listing isn't perfect, but I think it's a wash in this scenario since all teams probably fail to update / inflate to a similar degree, I just thought it was an interesting analysis to actually compare size apples to apples. Rather than the eyeball test.

The 2015 semi-final is like a case study of speed winning over size. UWWs offensive line looked like an FCS unit, but Mount's front 7 was like a brick wall to run against in that game.

I also think after moving to a spread offense in 2012 Mount has  been prioritizing quicker pass blockers on the O-line as opposed to in the past where running a more pro-style offense requires bigger guys up front. I know that it's been getting harder to recruit for LOS positions due to D2s popularity in Ohio but I think it's been part of the strategy for the last decade or so as well.

Size is important, but quickness, athleticism, and conditioning are more important.  A player may be better at 270 than he is at 300.  Mount's "smaller" lines are usually better athletes than those they are competing with.  But when you reach this level that is not necessarily true.

A good little man will beat an average big man. However, a good big man will always beat a good little man.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Mount Union's troubles on the trenches lately (IMO) have been with Big/Athletic D Linemen.

They have had more athletic OL the past 10 years or so, but when they face a defense that can get pressure, without blitzing (like UMHB), Mt has trouble.

I'm also worried about facing NCCs OL and big RBs.

[USee]

I think weight is a lot more important than height in comparing football players. JMO

How do you measure yourself against other golfers?

Well, I am a big golfer. That is to say, I'm big, and I play golf.

[Fido0650]

 

I think weight is a lot more important than height in comparing football players. JMO

How do you measure yourself against other golfers?

By height - Ty Webb

[theaprof]

I miss the smack talk from days of yore--"You've never seen a team like ours", etc.  Oh well.

[D3fanboy]

I miss the smack talk from days of yore--"You've never seen a team like ours", etc.  Oh well.

Do they even have the internet in Iowa?

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

I miss the smack talk from days of yore--"You've never seen a team like ours", etc.  Oh well.

Sort of along those lines, Del Val Coach in an interview prior to playing Mt. Union:

"Not in a cocky way, but I have not seen a team as physical as us, so I hope that carries over to this weekend," said Aggies coach Duke Greco. "I think we present some challenges to them in terms of physicality and athleticism that maybe they haven't seen yet, either. It'll be a great game."

[Captainred81]

I think at this stage in the season, each team has probably seen size and speed to Nth degree.  Certainly all they have played top notch teams this year and in recent years. 

If team a has large big O line and team B had a smaller faster D line whose to say the Dline can't get around them unblocked and make TFL.  At the same time whose to say the big Oline can't win some battles and drive the smaller player down the field. 

I think these games come done to  1v1 who wants it more on every play.  Who can get beat one play, get up and win the next play.  Execution is key and winning the battles against your man on more plays than you lose. 

As for Mount... Del Val. had legit size and speed on the D Line, we gave up 2 sacks and a few TFL's.  Mostly though Plunk threw the ball quick and with little pressure.  Wartburg has a smaller, less talented line, but they have more composure and discipline and give Mount anything.  My expectation though, if Wartburg plays with only 4 DL in the box and the LB's 6-8 yards off the ball and outside the tackle box.... Look out.  Our WR's block tremendously down field, and O-line is fast gets down field to make blocks.  After watching their game agaist aurora, I dont understand how their D works.  I see glaring holes.  I'm not offensive coordinator, but when you have 3 WR to one side and an LB covering one 8 yards off the ball and one uncovered and the other covered 12 yards off the ball, that's a lot of space. 

[D3fanboy]

I think at this stage in the season, each team has probably seen size and speed to Nth degree.  Certainly all they have played top notch teams this year and in recent years. 

If team a has large big O line and team B had a smaller faster D line whose to say the Dline can't get around them unblocked and make TFL.  At the same time whose to say the big Oline can't win some battles and drive the smaller player down the field. 

I think these games come done to  1v1 who wants it more on every play.  Who can get beat one play, get up and win the next play.  Execution is key and winning the battles against your man on more plays than you lose. 

As for Mount... Del Val. had legit size and speed on the D Line, we gave up 2 sacks and a few TFL's.  Mostly though Plunk threw the ball quick and with little pressure.  Wartburg has a smaller, less talented line, but they have more composure and discipline and give Mount anything.  My expectation though, if Wartburg plays with only 4 DL in the box and the LB's 6-8 yards off the ball and outside the tackle box.... Look out.  Our WR's block tremendously down field, and O-line is fast gets down field to make blocks.  After watching their game agaist aurora, I dont understand how their D works.  I see glaring holes.  I'm not offensive coordinator, but when you have 3 WR to one side and an LB covering one 8 yards off the ball and one uncovered and the other covered 12 yards off the ball, that's a lot of space.

Hopefully Mount got the personal foul penalties out of their system last week.  The key will be turnovers and mistakes for Mount.  Wartburg's defense is a turnover machine and their zone look will make red zone opportunities tough.  I think that Mount will have a few opportunities to hit a big play if they can get the Wartburg LBs and Safeties to creep up a bit with the run and/or short passes.  It looks like Wartburg will let you nickel and dime them but want to fill zones to force a mistake

Defensively, Mount can't miss tackles.  Watching the Wartburg-SJU game now, man SJU just couldn't get the Knights on the ground.  Wartburg looks very fundamentally sound

[edward de vere]

I miss the smack talk from days of yore--"You've never seen a team like ours", etc.  Oh well.

See Dec. 5th post by Rhythm21 on the American Rivers conference board.

[CruFrenzy]

Alright, time to set the weekly odds for the semi final matchups! I was waiting to see if any books would post lines for the games this weekend but it looks like they (Vegas & offshore books) will likely only be posting odds for the Staggbowl next week.

UMHB @ North Central (-3.0) o/u 51

I toyed with making this line closer to NCC -4.5 or even a little more initially given the home field advantage (which I expect to be significant) but I cannot shake the feeling this game will be tight all the way.. I think NCC has shown they are even more so committed to the run this year and will more than likely try to control the clock, hence the lower total this week.

Wartburg @ Mount Union (0.0) o/u 48

I expect this one will probably draw some differing opinions, but this is just my two cents anyway. If this game was at a neutral site I would have Wartburg slightly favored so I think a pick 'em is appropriate here based on what I've seen. I know some of the models online and Twitter have Mount Union favored by a touchdown or more but I don't think those models necessarily adjust from year to year in D3 all that well especially when you have a team outside fo the traditional contender caliber conferences make a run. This Wartburg defense is elite, but no doubt they will face the best skill players they've seen all season so that will be fun to watch.

[purple]

 Hey Cru...question...has Warts played a real life passing attack team?  That's usually quite an advantage for us. Does anyone know how Warts D has done against a good passing team?  Mount is way more than good.

[WRMUalum13]

Some additional comparisons of the final 4 I found interesting: # of D3 All Region Players (technically offensive and defensive POY are double counted in this)

Mount Union
POYS: 2
1st team: 3
2nd Team: 3
3rd Team : 1

Wartburg
POYS: 1
1st team: 3
2nd team: 4
3rd team:  3

NCC
POYS: 1
1st team:  5
2nd team:  4
3rd team:  1

UMHB
POYS: 2
1st team:  8
2nd team: 3
3rd team: 2

Unsurprisingly 4 squads loaded with talent. At #12 in the last poll I was surprised to see how many all-region players Wartburg had. No wonder they are playing in the semi-finals.

[CruFrenzy]

Hey Cru...question...has Warts played a real life passing attack team?  That's usually quite an advantage for us. Does anyone know how Warts D has done against a good passing team?  Mount is way more than good.

Totally agree the Purple Raider passing game & more specifically the WR talent is a level above anyone Wartburg has seen yet, I actually mentioned that already 

But it would be unfair to say they haven't seen any good passing attacks. St. Johns finished the year top 10 at 303 ypg, Aurora was also top 25 in that category and the #2 scoring offense in D3 and got shut down pretty good. La Crosse were solid but a bit more balanced so I wouldn't put them in the "passing team" category.

But yes you are right, UMU will be the best offense and passing attack the Knights have seen but I do think they will slow them down enough to keep it very close and possibly win if Mount Union doesn't stop the Wartburg rushing attack.