FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[emma17]

For those who say the QB position at Mount is a toss up, what did Seaman do to lose the #1?  I did not see any reason to doubt he would be the starter from day one this season.  Now, if Pioloto had taken the Raiders to a Stagg victory maybe different, but he did not.  The latter has a bazooka for an arm, but Seaman has made all throws asked of him and presents a Micheli type challenge as a running and option threat, which I think we will see more of this season.

Point well taken.

I will counter by asking what has Seaman done to handed the #1 qb spot?  Open competition is good for all.  I think we would all appreciate the mobile Seaman that we heard about/saw at louisville and frosh yr at Mount

I don't think he'll be handed the #1 spot, but it's definitely his to lose, I would think.

I thought Seaman had a good year last year before he got hurt. I think there's no doubt the job is his.

02 Warhawk,

Will it be Blanchard for UWW. Almost the same situation, injury, back-up fills in. The difference was UWW's
back-up Qb lead the team for several games!

Raider 68- I hope you don't mind I chime in on your question to 02.
I'm not sure if people outside the WIAC know just how good Blanchard was last year.  In 10 games, he threw 21 touchdown passes and had 1 interception- which occurred AFTER he had fractured his thumb in the last regular season game.  He had an efficiency rating of 181.95.  He completed 72% of his passes.He is a strong athlete as well.  In the 10 games, he ran for 203 yards- and you could see the team was limiting the amount he would run.   
As good a job as Brekke did when he came in- he is the "back-up".  In that way it's very different than the Seaman-Piloto question as it seems there is legitimate debate as to who is better. 
I think I posted something like this last year, but truly, think of Micheli's athleticism when it comes to Blanchard.   

[Raider 68]

emma17,

Thanks for your input. There was another Blanchard who was a special, Derek was All-American OL at Mount so it runs in the family! 

[emma17]

emma17,

Thanks for your input. There was another Blanchard who was a special, Derek was All-American OL at Mount so it runs in the family! 

68- I've had the good fortune of talking w Derek a couple times- he is really a good guy, has a great family and he's a very proud Purple Raider alum.

[seventiesraider]

The Raiders will face one serious challenge in the regular season and it will happen in Ada. On the road, on the tundra.

[B38W]

Can anyone tell me if Brian Gamble made it camp?

[BoBo]

For those who say the QB position at Mount is a toss up, what did Seaman do to lose the #1?  I did not see any reason to doubt he would be the starter from day one this season.  Now, if Pioloto had taken the Raiders to a Stagg victory maybe different, but he did not.  The latter has a bazooka for an arm, but Seaman has made all throws asked of him and presents a Micheli type challenge as a running and option threat, which I think we will see more of this season.

Point well taken.

I will counter by asking what has Seaman done to handed the #1 qb spot?  Open competition is good for all.  I think we would all appreciate the mobile Seaman that we heard about/saw at louisville and frosh yr at Mount

I don't think he'll be handed the #1 spot, but it's definitely his to lose, I would think.

I thought Seaman had a good year last year before he got hurt. I think there's no doubt the job is his.

02 Warhawk,

Will it be Blanchard for UWW. Almost the same situation, injury, back-up fills in. The difference was UWW's
back-up Qb lead the team for several games!

Raider 68- I hope you don't mind I chime in on your question to 02.
I'm not sure if people outside the WIAC know just how good Blanchard was last year.  In 10 games, he threw 21 touchdown passes and had 1 interception- which occurred AFTER he had fractured his thumb in the last regular season game.  He had an efficiency rating of 181.95.  He completed 72% of his passes.He is a strong athlete as well.  In the 10 games, he ran for 203 yards- and you could see the team was limiting the amount he would run.   
As good a job as Brekke did when he came in- he is the "back-up".  In that way it's very different than the Seaman-Piloto question as it seems there is legitimate debate as to who is better. 
I think I posted something like this last year, but truly, think of Micheli's athleticism when it comes to Blanchard.   

Raider 68, for comparison-sake, think of Brekke being the Earl Morrell to Blanchard's Johnny Unitas and/or Bob Griese (although I don't know if Brekke plays baseball like Earl Morrell did!!  ) The difference being Shula knew what Morrell could do, Leipold really didn't with Brekke.  As emma stated, it is Blanchard's athleticism that really sets the two apart. It was remarkable what Brekke accomplished last year, but Blanchard is clearly the #1. IMO, the coaching staff harnessed Blanchard last year because they really didn't know if there was a back-up capable of leading the team if anything happened to Blanchard. That's no longer a concern, so maybe Leipold will be more willing to "unleash" Blanchard a bit. Although, as well put together as Blanchard is, it took a silly throwing hand to the helmet to end his season.  I've been thinking since last December how different the Stagg would've played out had if teams #1 were in the game. What do you think?  Hopefully Blanchard can remain healthy the entire year, and he can perform equally or better than last season -- then you and the rest of the D3 world can actually experience what we are talking about. Same goes with Seaman.

[emma17]

The Raiders will face one serious challenge in the regular season and it will happen in Ada. On the road, on the tundra.

Hey Seventies, I see you don't think Oshkosh will be a challenge to Mt either.  What is it about Ohio Northern that makes you feel they would be a serious challenge?  Given the score of last year's game between Mt and ONU, and knowing how many returning starters Mt has compared to ONU, it seems they wouldn't be the team that would challenge.   

[PurpleSuit]

I think the fact that ONU is on Mount's schedule, and at home, is why 70's said they would be a serious challange.  I guess someone would have to be choosen as Mount's toughest game. 

[skunks_sidekick]

Nice story on Fox 8 Cleveland this morning about Mount.  W & J scrimmage is next Friday I believe.

[Knightstalker]

+K to BoBo for using Earl Morrell, Johnny Unitas and Bob Griese in a post.

[Raider 68]

BoBo,

Regarding your Stagg Bowl question " I've been thinking since last December how different the Stagg would've played out had if teams #1 were in the game. What do you think?"

I think the Raiders would have prevailed with a couple points win.

For UWW- Coppage no doubt was diiference, Brekke played well enough at QB, so Blanchard would probably
               not contributed more than Coppage and/or Brekke

For Mount- Seaman was so consistant all year, and Piloto came into that game as his first as a starter. Some
                key INT's for him and lack of game time exposure hurt him in the end.

Both defenses played very well as they usually do, therefore Seaman's loss for that big game would have,
IMHO changed the result.

Now we are in a new year so we will see, but a great question! +k

[02 Warhawk]

BoBo,

Regarding your Stagg Bowl question " I've been thinking since last December how different the Stagg would've played out had if teams #1 were in the game. What do you think?"

I think the Raiders would have prevailed with a couple points win.

For UWW- Coppage no doubt was diiference, Brekke played well enough at QB, so Blanchard would probably not contributed more than Coppage and/or Brekke

For Mount- Seaman was so consistant all year, and Piloto came into that game as his first as a starter. Some
                key INT's for him and lack of game time exposure hurt him in the end.

Both defenses played very well as they usually do, therefore Seaman's loss for that big game would have,
IMHO changed the result.

Now we are in a new year so we will see, but a great question! +k

I disagree with this statement. Here was Brekke's line for the Stagg Bowl:

8-22, 121 yards, 1 TD, 3 Ints. I would like to think that Blanchard would have done better than that, considering he only threw 1 pick during the regular season. UWW's offense would have been more balanced if Blanchard been in there. Brekke struggled throughout the game and forced Coppage to carry the load. Luckily he was up for the task (39 carries that game).

[badgerwarhawk]

Blanchard will be the starting quarterback.  Brekke did an excellent job but the starting job goes to Blanchard.

I also disagree with 68's assessment of how the Stagg Bowl would have turned out if Blanchard, assuming Blanchard had been completely healthy, had started instead of Brekke.  Perhaps Seaman would have made a difference but it wouldn't have been enough to overcome the impact Blanchard would have had on our offense.  I guess the good thing for us is that it doesn't really matter.  The Stagg Bowl was what it was and everything else is speculation. 

[emma17]

I think the fact that ONU is on Mount's schedule, and at home, is why 70's said they would be a serious challange.  I guess someone would have to be choosen as Mount's toughest game. 

I just don't get it.  Why is ONU considered a serious challenge if Oshkosh is not.
The stats for the 2010 games are monstrously in favor of Oshkosh being a tougher challenge- without even considering what each team brings back.  ONU gained 183 yards to Oshkosh's 436.  ONU scored 0 points, Oshkosh put up 28 points- twice as much as any other team except the other WIAC team Mt played.  Oshkosh brings their offensive stars and defensive backfield back this year. 
Must be an OAC thing. 

[MasterJedi]

I think the fact that ONU is on Mount's schedule, and at home, is why 70's said they would be a serious challange.  I guess someone would have to be choosen as Mount's toughest game. 

I just don't get it.  Why is ONU considered a serious challenge if Oshkosh is not.
The stats for the 2010 games are monstrously in favor of Oshkosh being a tougher challenge- without even considering what each team brings back.  ONU gained 183 yards to Oshkosh's 436.  ONU scored 0 points, Oshkosh put up 28 points- twice as much as any other team except the other WIAC team Mt played.  Oshkosh brings their offensive stars and defensive backfield back this year. 
Must be an OAC thing. 

Home field advantage + ONU has a defense. IIRC they held Mount to 27 points last year, which Oshkosh had (and probably still has) no hope of doing. Oshkosh will score points, I just don't think they'll be able to slow Mount down again at all.