FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Raider 68]

It's nice to watch Mount again where they're winning because of the QB, instead of in spite of the QB!  Makes heading to the stadium a lot more fun.

I know it's way too early to be looking towards 2013 when we're not even 24 hours removed from Week 4, but the Raiders are going to be extremely young next year.    Burke is the only non-senior on the entire offense and only 3 D-lineman (DE Thomas, DT Fechko and DE Rosalva) return for defense.    Better win it in '12 because the '13 roster is going to look a lot like 1994 or 1998.

HSCoach,

Agree in part. This year the Raiders have the great defense and a consistant offense to allow them to have the underclassmen receive even more PT than in some past years. Yes, this could be the year to finish the job, but there is so much talent there, When was the last time a freshman or two was even on the varsity, let alone get in a game!

This year's seniors are committed to the titles and there may be only a few teams that stand in their way, we'll see!

[HScoach]

Woods will be a junior next year and Skilliter is not in the dog house.

I thought Woods was a Soph last year and was sitting out Junior year due to transfer. But if he has 2 more years then great. On the Skilliter comment I had heard that he had fumble issues and that's why he wasnt getting more playing time - couple people were actually talking about it the stands at the game.

Also - I really have to know why ONU didnt pull the starting QB for the 2nd half? The backup came in for one play when the starter had to leave and he completes a pass (first down I think) then goes back to the bench. Thats all well and good but when you come out for the 3rd qtr down 27pts and the starter has done NOTHING - why not take a gamble? Especially when the kickoff gets taken to the house and you are down 34 before the offense hits the field. I thought the backup looked ok - he certainly didnt look as frustrated as the starter did. Granted he was getting the 2nd defensive unit but still.

The backup yesterday had been the starter, but was benched after throwing 6 picks in the first 2 games, both losses.   The guy yesterday started game #3 which was their only win.   Neither are any good.

[Desertraider]

Woods will be a junior next year and Skilliter is not in the dog house.

I thought Woods was a Soph last year and was sitting out Junior year due to transfer. But if he has 2 more years then great. On the Skilliter comment I had heard that he had fumble issues and that's why he wasnt getting more playing time - couple people were actually talking about it the stands at the game.

Also - I really have to know why ONU didnt pull the starting QB for the 2nd half? The backup came in for one play when the starter had to leave and he completes a pass (first down I think) then goes back to the bench. Thats all well and good but when you come out for the 3rd qtr down 27pts and the starter has done NOTHING - why not take a gamble? Especially when the kickoff gets taken to the house and you are down 34 before the offense hits the field. I thought the backup looked ok - he certainly didnt look as frustrated as the starter did. Granted he was getting the 2nd defensive unit but still.

The backup yesterday had been the starter, but was benched after throwing 6 picks in the first 2 games, both losses.   The guy yesterday started game #3 which was their only win.   Neither are any good.

Thanks for the info. Neither looked good from where I was sitting. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being great) I would put the back-up at a 3, only good in the sense that the starter was a 2.

[motorman]

OMG, for the second time this year Heidelberg has had a team that hasn't received a single vote in a previous poll jump them into the top 25. Guess they will have to show the voters how wrong they are in 2 weeks when the meet Otterbein on the field.

I really don't understand how Otterbein gets so many votes for beating a team that sure appears it isn't as good as everyone thought when they hadn't gotten any at all prior to beating BW.

And that argument that Heidelberg's schedule is back loaded should have nothing to do with this week's poll. Because if that were true about Berg, it is also true of Mount's conference schedule and I don't hear anybody saying they shouldn't be ranked yet cause their schedule is back loaded.

[Pat Coleman]

When Heidelberg goes to seven straight Stagg Bowls it can be ranked in that scenario. And even Mount has Franklin on its schedule, as opposed to Alma.

Heidelberg's backloaded conference schedule is not the issue. The fact that Heidelberg's opponents to date are 2-15 is.

[Dr. Acula]

Ott is getting rewarded because they have beaten BW and JCU already.  While BW is clearly not as good as advertised I think it's safe to say after UMU, Berg and Ott those are the next 2 best teams and probably by a pretty wide margin.  Berg will get their due if they beat Ott who will be 5-0 heading into the Berg game.  That's going to be a HUGE game. 

[Ric]

Desertraider - Woods was a sophomore last year and this would be his junior season but my understanding is, when transferring from one OAC school to another, the player must sit out one year, but does not forfeit that year of eligibility. So he'll have two years left if he chooses to use them.

Skilliter is getting less carries because of playing cornerback. I think the coaches are actually thrilled he is able to do what he is doing.

All - The state of the future of Mount Union is bright. There are four freshman that have been mentioned as very promising players, three of which are on defense. You might have seen one, #90 Lally, another kid from St. Eds, run down the QB for a sack late in the game Saturday. I have never had a coach talk about FOUR freshman before.

[Dr. Acula]

All - The state of the future of Mount Union is bright. There are four freshman that have been mentioned as very promising players, three of which are on defense. You might have seen one, #90 Lally, another kid from St. Eds, run down the QB for a sack late in the game Saturday. I have never had a coach talk about FOUR freshman before.

It sure seems like Rosalva is developing into a player so with Lally potentially doing the same next year they could be stacked at DE going forward.

Also, regarding the freshmen crop remember LK specifically mentioned in the WHBC interview before week 1 that he thought there were multiple freshmen that could start next year and that he really liked the class. 

[bambord]

Pat,

Your insights/posts to the OAC are appreciated.  Especially, considering how busy you are, attending 3 of 4 UWW games.  That info info from a recent WIAC post. 

I recall someone asking you why you don't attend MUC games.  You're reply was something to the effect that, "There will be time enough for that during the play-offs.")  Were your 3 UWW games play-off games?  Do you expect UWW not to be  a play-off team?

PT

When Heidelberg goes to seven straight Stagg Bowls it can be ranked in that scenario. And even Mount has Franklin on its schedule, as opposed to Alma.

Heidelberg's backloaded conference schedule is not the issue. The fact that Heidelberg's opponents to date are 2-15 is.

[theaprof]

Does anyone know if there was any special significance to the two teams huddling up at the end of the game for what looked like a group prayer?  Was it the multiple sclerosis issue or something else?

[raiderpa]

Pat, thanks for the clarification on the Heidelberg ranking. Perfect logic.   It is amazing to me that you keep all that stuff straight.  I can't remember the middle names of my children...
Btw, the Mount second offensive line got a lot of minutes Saturday, and with the JV schedule, they will be ready for the future,  I also cannot quit reflecting on the post by HS Coach about LK's movement of players and the difference it has made.  This is obviously LK stirring the pot for a Stagg run and win...He appears to REALLY want that trophy back...gotta love it as a Raider..

[Dr. Acula]

I feel like the D gets glossed over with a "Yeah, they're great" and not much else a lot of the time.  I know I'm guilty of it myself.  So I spent some time at lunch looking over stats so I could give the D their due for what they've done so far.

-They're allowing 1.1 yds/carry.  It's hard to lose when you can rush the passer AND stop the run like that.  Berg and BW will be good tests for the run D though, especially Cartel Brooks obviously. 

-The average opponent's drive is 4.4 plays long, 11.3 yds in length.

-Opponents go 3 and out or turn it over in less than 3 plays 64.2% of the time.

-Opponents have crossed the 50 on them a total of 6 times all year.

-In the 4 red zone situations they've allowed 1 TD, forced 2 TO's and had a TO on downs.

-In 4 games they've allowed 4 (what I would call) drives.  Franklin had 3 nice drives including the 15 play 80 yd TD drive.  Other than that Etta's 8 play 50 yd drive is it.

Obviously outside of Franklin the competition hasn't been great.  And the next 2 weeks will only see these numbers continue.  But I figured we should still applaud the D for the video game type stats they're putting up 4 games into the season.  They have been unbelievable in every aspect to date.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat,

Your insights/posts to the OAC are appreciated.  Especially, considering how busy you are, attending 3 of 4 UWW games.  That info info from a recent WIAC post. 

I recall someone asking you why you don't attend MUC games.  You're reply was something to the effect that, "There will be time enough for that during the play-offs.")  Were your 3 UWW games play-off games?  Do you expect UWW not to be  a play-off team?

PT

I actually explained this unusual circumstance in the podcast, but I'll boil it down for you.

Game 1: Friday night, easy choice since I was already planning to be in Chicago on Thursday.
Game 2: $89 each way on Delta to O'Hare and I saw a second game on that trip.
Game 3: Wasn't in the original plans, but the first four weeks of the season made this a necessity from a news perspective.

I am sure that if Mount Union had already lost a game and was then playing a ranked team four and a half hours from me, I would go see that game, too. In fact, I saw Mount Union at UW-Oshkosh in 2010 in basically the exact same circumstance.

Any questions?

[HScoach]

I feel like the D gets glossed over with a "Yeah, they're great" and not much else a lot of the time.  I know I'm guilty of it myself.  So I spent some time at lunch looking over stats so I could give the D their due for what they've done so far.

-They're allowing 1.1 yds/carry.  It's hard to lose when you can rush the passer AND stop the run like that.  Berg and BW will be good tests for the run D though, especially Cartel Brooks obviously. 

-The average opponent's drive is 4.4 plays long, 11.3 yds in length.

-Opponents go 3 and out or turn it over in less than 3 plays 64.2% of the time.

-Opponents have crossed the 50 on them a total of 6 times all year.

-In the 4 red zone situations they've allowed 1 TD, forced 2 TO's and had a TO on downs.

-In 4 games they've allowed 4 (what I would call) drives. Franklin had 3 nice drives including the 15 play 80 yd TD drive.  Other than that Etta's 8 play 50 yd drive is it.

Obviously outside of Franklin the competition hasn't been great.  And the next 2 weeks will only see these numbers continue.  But I figured we should still applaud the D for the video game type stats they're putting up 4 games into the season.  They have been unbelievable in every aspect to date.

Not saying the Mount D hasn't been impressive, but only ONU actually tried to run the ball so far this season against Mount.  And they did it with a QB that could NOT throw if his life depended on it, so ONU made crowding the line of scrimmage an easy decision for VK.  With QB sacks in college put against the rushing totals, and playing predominantly passing teams in the OAC, I don't lend a whole bunch of weight to the Mount defensive statistics against the run.  In my mind, the only team that makes a serious effort to run the ball is BW.  Best running game in conference is probably H'Berg simply because their diverse offensively with a capable RB.   So I would expect Mount's rush D numbers to be stellar, partly because they're very good and partly because the OAC is devoid of threatening running teams.   It's not like we're play Augie and MHB every week and shutting down their run games.

[emma17]

Pat,

Your insights/posts to the OAC are appreciated.  Especially, considering how busy you are, attending 3 of 4 UWW games.  That info info from a recent WIAC post. 

I recall someone asking you why you don't attend MUC games.  You're reply was something to the effect that, "There will be time enough for that during the play-offs.")  Were your 3 UWW games play-off games?  Do you expect UWW not to be  a play-off team?

PT

I actually explained this unusual circumstance in the podcast, but I'll boil it down for you.

Game 1: Friday night, easy choice since I was already planning to be in Chicago on Thursday.
Game 2: $89 each way on Delta to O'Hare and I saw a second game on that trip.
Game 3: Wasn't in the original plans, but the first four weeks of the season made this a necessity from a news perspective.

I am sure that if Mount Union had already lost a game and was then playing a ranked team four and a half hours from me, I would go see that game, too. In fact, I saw Mount Union at UW-Oshkosh in 2010 in basically the exact same circumstance.

Any questions?

Yeah, why did you miss the UWW vs UWSP game?