FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[HScoach]

E-lee:  welcome back

[purpled]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

And now the long wait until September begins...

Be safe!

[rscl70]

Tweet from Roman Namdar:

@romannamdar3: Good footwork and route running workout with @Authentic24_7 got a lot of work to do to get where I wanna be

This speaks volumes when it comes to the success at Mount Union. It isn't just LK and VK - it isn't a bunch of D1 & D2 transfers (as some would like to believe) - it isn't a gimme OAC schedule and slanted playoff schedule (someone had previously posted that Mount gets handed home playoff games). Roman Namdar was a back-up QB on a team that won the National Championship 4 days ago (as of the date of the tweet) - and he is already preparing for next years title defense! So you want the mysterious formula - put down the tissues and earn it!

Hear! Hear!

[rscl70]

Craig Candeto is the new HC in Bexley.  Credit to Cap, they went outside the box on this hire.  I like it.  Although I'm not sure JK will like seeing a Midshipman in charge!

Cbus Dispatch

I will be very interested to see what offense Capital runs in week 1 next year.  Their opponent in Bexley is the Thomas More Saints.

That was my first thought as well, SF.  Wonder if we'll see the option?  I'm not sure what they run at the Citadel.

Been years since I posted, but the new hire at my alma mater brought me back out of the woodwork.

At The Citadel they run the triple option.  Not sure of the exact coaching lineage, but I think the offensive coordinator was with Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.

So it would stand to reason that Paul Johnson's QB at Navy, and a guy who coached with Johnson at Georgia Tech, and then at The Citadel, which runs the same offense it would stand to reason that Candeto is bringing the triple option to the OAC.

Does Capital have the QBs and OL to run it?  Last Capital game I saw was a playoff game, so I don't know.

With so many teams moving to some variation of the spread I think it'd be cool if Cap ran the triple option.  And I'd have to think that it would be no picnic for their opponents to prepare for since you see it less and less these days.

Additionally, I read on the CCIW board some time ago something to the effect of Augustana leveraged that offense in recruiting by targeting guys who ran it in HS because there were so few teams running the option in college so they almost had a built in recruiting pool.  Well, if there was any truth to that there are even less teams running it now I'm sure (but also less at the HS level too).  With Wakefield going back to Perry maybe he'll bring back the wing-t and Candeto can befriend him.  Haha.

Don't know anything about Candeto outside what I've read, but he seems like the kind of person guys will want to play for.  Looks like a good move for Cap.  I hope the school gives him what he need to win 8 games a year.

[HScoach]

Time for the Returning Players from the Stagg Bowl 2-Deep Roster:

Offensive Returners from Stagg Bowl Two-Deep:
WR  88  Sherman Wilkinson  Jr
WR  86  Luke Meacham  So
WR  17  Jack Nichols  Jr
TE   45  Lane Clark  Fr
RB    6  Mason Minnich  Fr
OT  78  Gage Goble  Jr
OG  79  Alex Goff  So
C    64  James Kent  Jr
LG  60  Anthony Presutti  Fr
QB  10  Kevin Burke So (Only Starter of the Bunch)
QB    3  Roman Nambdar  So  (Probable Move to WR)

Defensive Returners from Stagg Bowl Two-Deep:
CB  24  Tre Jones  Fr
CB  26  Isaiah Chambers  Jr
SS  31  Alex Kocheff  Fr
FS  15  Mike Maier  Jr
S    20  Joshua Scott  So
DE    6  Ted Rosalva  So  (Starter)
DE  90  Tom Lally  Fr
DE  30  Nyejel Thomas  Jr  (Starter)
DT  91  Matt Fechko  Jr  (Starter)
DT  92  Charlie Avila  So
DT  58  Pat Mahoney  So
LB  44  Jonathan Gonell  Fr
LB    4  Hank Spencer  Fr  (Starter)
LB  42  LeShawn Luke  Fr

I've heard (second hand from a current player) that the Freshman Class this year was one of the best in recent history.  Many starters next year may not have even been on the Playoff Roster.

Only 1 Starter from Offense (Add Germany Woods and Drew Prendergast to the RB Stable) Returning and 4 from Defense.  Lots of new faces next year, ready to step up to their Seat at the Table!

My only true concern heading into 2013 is the WR corps.  There are some youngsters that "could" be good, but with the senior dominated group we just lost, it's hard to know what there is behind it.  Hopefully Namdar is the speedster we desperately need to stretch the field.  Thankfully the QB and RB positions will be better in '13 which will take some pressure off the receivers to be the offensive difference makers.

O-line:  Needs re-built, but there is a starter (or two) to be found amongst the D-line depth that will make it at least solid.  There is upperclassmen depth to fill out the line and it's hard to believe the line won't be at least serviceable to start the season.  They also have the benefit of having a mobile, experience Burke at QB as well as Germany Woods carrying the ball which is a huge upgrade over Lattimore and Co.

QB and RB:  See above.

D-line:  should the strength of the team and be very, very good.  Would nice if Orteca was back again, but Fetchko is a stud and Lally will be.  Rosalva & Thomas are solid and experienced. 

LB:  Spencer has a chance to be on the Mount Rushmore of LB's at Mount.  By seasons end, he was already the best LB on the team.

DB:  will be a young group, and missing Driskill will really suck, but there is young talent here just waiting to explode on the scene.  Kocheff has star written all over him and Tre Jones has all the physical tools.


Those around the OAC and the Nation hoping that Mount would take a big step back with the graduation of the '12 senior class will be surprised with how good the '13 Raiders are going to be.  Not going to say another title is a definite, but they're going to be talented enough to compete for it.  The question is whether this team has the drive and leadership to maximize their potential.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Behind Driskill, Spencer was the one I was watching on D for Mount vs. UMHB and UST.  Kid's an absolute Stud for a Freshman.

[Dr. Acula]

Behind Driskill, Spencer was the one I was watching on D for Mount vs. UMHB and UST.  Kid's an absolute Stud for a Freshman.

The thing that I like on D is that they seem to have the "next great one" at each level of the defense.  Lally at DE, Spencer at LB and Kocheff at S all seem poised to be stars as sophomores.  Like HScoach said Tre Jones has all the tools, but he has some work to do to become that lockdown corner.  Kocheff looks ready now.  I swear there were times when I confused his #31 for 21 because he looked like Driskill coming up in run support and hitting people.

Also, if Lally develops like we all hope to team up with Fechko I'd think that'd open things up for Rosalva/Thomas even more.  The D line is going to be very good. 

[edward de vere]

Hell, I'll just be happy if Burke finishes his runs like a quarterback instead of a fullback.  I kept expecting MHB and St. Thomas to break him like a turkey wishbone when he refused to go down (which was almost always the case).

[ExTartanPlayer]

Craig Candeto is the new HC in Bexley.  Credit to Cap, they went outside the box on this hire.  I like it.  Although I'm not sure JK will like seeing a Midshipman in charge!

Cbus Dispatch

I will be very interested to see what offense Capital runs in week 1 next year.  Their opponent in Bexley is the Thomas More Saints.

That was my first thought as well, SF.  Wonder if we'll see the option?  I'm not sure what they run at the Citadel.

Been years since I posted, but the new hire at my alma mater brought me back out of the woodwork.

At The Citadel they run the triple option.  Not sure of the exact coaching lineage, but I think the offensive coordinator was with Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.

So it would stand to reason that Paul Johnson's QB at Navy, and a guy who coached with Johnson at Georgia Tech, and then at The Citadel, which runs the same offense it would stand to reason that Candeto is bringing the triple option to the OAC.

Does Capital have the QBs and OL to run it?  Last Capital game I saw was a playoff game, so I don't know.

With so many teams moving to some variation of the spread I think it'd be cool if Cap ran the triple option.  And I'd have to think that it would be no picnic for their opponents to prepare for since you see it less and less these days.

Additionally, I read on the CCIW board some time ago something to the effect of Augustana leveraged that offense in recruiting by targeting guys who ran it in HS because there were so few teams running the option in college so they almost had a built in recruiting pool.  Well, if there was any truth to that there are even less teams running it now I'm sure (but also less at the HS level too).  With Wakefield going back to Perry maybe he'll bring back the wing-t and Candeto can befriend him.  Haha.

FWIW, I do believe that a unique system can serve as a recruiting advantage on the individual player level. The trick is getting guys who are GOOD ENOUGH at running that system to make it effective.

For example, I was an undersized OL/DL coming out of high school that lacked the speed to play LB and the height to play TE, and I was probably too small to be effective in a zone blocking scheme at 5'11" and 240ish.  I'd played in a wing-T in high school, and when I saw that Carnegie Mellon ran the wing-T, I figured that was my best chance to play ball (although this was FAR from the only reason I chose CMU). I ultimately became a starter because I fit the system well and liked it - so here's one case where playing that unique offense may have worked a little as a recruiting tool.

Now the more pertinent question, though, is whether that recruiting tool also attracts really good players (because, much as it pains my pride to admit this, I seriously doubt that MY attendance at CMU changed the program trajectory at all).

There is definitely an advantage to playing a "different" offense in terms of game prep - we beat Millsaps, a team far faster and more talented than we were defensively, because they hasn't seen anything that REMOTELY resembled a wing-T that season, while our defense had seen a couple of spread offenses like theirs - but this only works insofar as you have talented enough players to run it well.

[Raider 68]

Time for the Returning Players from the Stagg Bowl 2-Deep Roster:

Offensive Returners from Stagg Bowl Two-Deep:
WR  88  Sherman Wilkinson  Jr
WR  86  Luke Meacham  So
WR  17  Jack Nichols  Jr
TE   45  Lane Clark  Fr
RB    6  Mason Minnich  Fr
OT  78  Gage Goble  Jr
OG  79  Alex Goff  So
C    64  James Kent  Jr
LG  60  Anthony Presutti  Fr
QB  10  Kevin Burke So (Only Starter of the Bunch)
QB    3  Roman Nambdar  So  (Probable Move to WR)

Defensive Returners from Stagg Bowl Two-Deep:
CB  24  Tre Jones  Fr
CB  26  Isaiah Chambers  Jr
SS  31  Alex Kocheff  Fr
FS  15  Mike Maier  Jr
S    20  Joshua Scott  So
DE    6  Ted Rosalva  So  (Starter)
DE  90  Tom Lally  Fr
DE  30  Nyejel Thomas  Jr  (Starter)
DT  91  Matt Fechko  Jr  (Starter)
DT  92  Charlie Avila  So
DT  58  Pat Mahoney  So
LB  44  Jonathan Gonell  Fr
LB    4  Hank Spencer  Fr  (Starter)
LB  42  LeShawn Luke  Fr

I've heard (second hand from a current player) that the Freshman Class this year was one of the best in recent history.  Many starters next year may not have even been on the Playoff Roster.

Only 1 Starter from Offense (Add Germany Woods and Drew Prendergast to the RB Stable) Returning and 4 from Defense.  Lots of new faces next year, ready to step up to their Seat at the Table!

My only true concern heading into 2013 is the WR corps.  There are some youngsters that "could" be good, but with the senior dominated group we just lost, it's hard to know what there is behind it.  Hopefully Namdar is the speedster we desperately need to stretch the field.  Thankfully the QB and RB positions will be better in '13 which will take some pressure off the receivers to be the offensive difference makers.

O-line:  Needs re-built, but there is a starter (or two) to be found amongst the D-line depth that will make it at least solid.  There is upperclassmen depth to fill out the line and it's hard to believe the line won't be at least serviceable to start the season.  They also have the benefit of having a mobile, experience Burke at QB as well as Germany Woods carrying the ball which is a huge upgrade over Lattimore and Co.

QB and RB:  See above.

D-line:  should the strength of the team and be very, very good.  Would nice if Orteca was back again, but Fetchko is a stud and Lally will be.  Rosalva & Thomas are solid and experienced. 

LB:  Spencer has a chance to be on the Mount Rushmore of LB's at Mount.  By seasons end, he was already the best LB on the team.

DB:  will be a young group, and missing Driskill will really suck, but there is young talent here just waiting to explode on the scene.  Kocheff has star written all over him and Tre Jones has all the physical tools.


Those around the OAC and the Nation hoping that Mount would take a big step back with the graduation of the '12 senior class will be surprised with how good the '13 Raiders are going to be.  Not going to say another title is a definite, but they're going to be talented enough to compete for it.  The question is whether this team has the drive and leadership to maximize their potential.

2013 looks very promising! No doubt Coach Kehres will recruit some stellar freshman in key areas.
Winning another Championship just helps again!, another WR from Florida?

[raiderpa]

What HS Coach said....
plus..I thought Germany Woods was the best back in the OAC when he was at H-berg, so he will be huge.  I think that Burke showed that he will not let things get too far out of whack as far as leadership is concerned.  Spencer and Kochoff are All-Americans in waiting..and Namdar, if he moves to WR will be the new "one" if his speed is what it is rumored to be.  (Someone in the know on his speed?  Has to be decent as a state champ relay member in Texas)

I think 2013 is the type of year that LK loves.  Lots of questions, lots of moves to make, lots of recruiting to fill holes, and he is energized to go. I am excited for the prospects.

One thing I will mention about a conversation that I had with a fellow Raider fan....We used to live in fear of LK leaving (early days), or retiring (now days), but the common comments going around now are.."well, Vince is ready and things will may be different, but Mount will be fine".  The son has become his own man and in the opinion of many, ready to assume the spot when dad calls it a career.  (not for a few more seasons I hope)  But, it is amazing how Vince has quietly (not so quietly when he gets ticked off) grown and gained the respect of Mount faithful.

[PurpleSuit]

What HS Coach said....
plus..I thought Germany Woods was the best back in the OAC when he was at H-berg, so he will be huge.  I think that Burke showed that he will not let things get too far out of whack as far as leadership is concerned.  Spencer and Kochoff are All-Americans in waiting..and Namdar, if he moves to WR will be the new "one" if his speed is what it is rumored to be.  (Someone in the know on his speed?  Has to be decent as a state champ relay member in Texas)

Namdar ran a 23.13 200 meters and 49.5 400 meters in high school.  Both would have been top 5 finishes in the OAC outdoor season.  I'm pretty sure he is running track this year too.  He has the speed.   The 400 isn't really indicative of football speed, but Cecil never ran a sub 50 sec 400 meters while at Mount.


and add Lally to the list of future All-Americans

[Desertraider]

Using the 2012 Media Guide as a reference point the o-line looks like it will be fine. I imagine something like this:
Gage Goble - 6'4 265
Alex Goff - 6'5 310
James Kent - 5'11 250
Josh Winn - 6'2 290
These were all returning letterman for this year and will be back next year. I don't see Presutti listed on the Mount website roster so I don't have anything on him size wise. But if you look at a guy like Matt Keith (6'2 300) or Thomas Taggart (6'4 300) both of which are Sophomores then the line looks to average about 6'2 & 285. Size don't mean much - I mean UST had a big line - but it is a start.

Alot of people seem to be talking about the new hires in the OAC - I saw the front page poll - and I was wondering how we are measuring "success"? I mean JCU was 6-4, CAP 2-8, Wilma 1-9 and Marietta 0-10. Is this in terms of % increase from previous year? Arth has a alot more to work with in that the QB is solid and the defense is respectable. But if Hairston can put together a 4-5 season then Wilma may put up a statue of him at the field. I guess what it comes down to is this: does Arth putting together a 8-2 season beat out Candeto and a 5-5 Hairston and a 4-5 or Waddle and say 3-6? Also, regarding Candeto and a wing-T etc...he would need a bunch of small, fast guys to run it well. He knows that. I don't know if CAP has the overall team speed to run it well right now.

[Dr. Acula]

Presutti is 6'0", 275. 

[Dr. Acula]

And don't forget Lane Clark.  He's 6'4" 230 as a freshman.  If he bulks up any he'll be damn near OL size at TE.  Haha.