FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

The worst news for Etta is that it's down there so JCU might not have a complete 3rd team to put in depending on the travel roster size. 

[Raider 68]

Toph,

JCU is really playing well, but the surprise for me is how well their defense is playing through
4 games! Their season, like the Raiders and Heidelberg will come down to the last few games.

[Dr. Acula]

Browsing the conference stats and thought a couple items were interesting...

Other OAC ones:

BW is 9th in passing at just 127 yds per game.  3 TD, 5 INT on the season.  And their QB is their leading rusher at 56.5 yds/gm.  The Jackets offense is not strong is the lesson there.

ONU is better only than Etta allowing 231 rushing yds per game.  50+ yds worse than 8th place Cap.  That is just really hard to swallow.  The Bears should never be down there.

Berg's Brooks (9.7 per carry) and Dye (29.2 per catch) are making the most of their touches when they get them in these blowouts.  Both guys lead the OAC at their position and avg north of 100 yds per game.  Also made me wonder, what happened to Lacey at RB?  He played really well and I haven't seen him in box scores recently.  Injured perhaps?

I love that Wilm is going down guns blazing.  Arehart is leading the conference at 341.5 yds passing yds/gm.  Duncan is leading the conference at 164.8 rec yds/gm.  If you're going down might as well go down swinging.

Raider ones:

On paper Mount looks pretty good sitting at 2nd in rushing yds (246/gm) averaging 5.6 ypc.  But if you remove backup QB Taurice Scott running during mop up time those numbers become 4.6 ypc and 190/gm.  If he wasn't running it someone else would be so the yds would be replaced to some extent, but my point was that his 22.4 ypc avg skews the stats.  Of course this also leads to the question of do they need to figure out a way to get Scott on the field prior to the 3rd qtr of a blowout?  He's 5th in the conference in rushing (74.7 yds/gm)!

All 3 starting WR currently rank in the top 8 in rec yds/gm.  Nicholls (90.8), Meacham (63.8) and Gainer (63.2) have all played pretty well.  I'm especially happy for a kid like Nicholls that has paid his dues for 3 years.  Work hard, wait your turn and then step in and become an All-OAC player when you get your chance. 

[Toph]

Toph,

JCU is really playing well, but the surprise for me is how well their defense is playing through
4 games! Their season, like the Raiders and Heidelberg will come down to the last few games.

You're absolutely right.  I said at the beginning of the season that we all knew they could score, but the question was could they stop anyone?  Not that they've faced the stiffest of competition (I think virtually everyone agrees that BW has been exposed), but they are flat out dominating, which is what a fan like me wants to see.  They are averaging almost 38 points a game and giving up just over 1.  I can't find a nit to pick right now.

I'm already clearing my calendar for the game against the Berg, and I should also be able to make the game at Mount...and hopefully stay for the duration, instead of leaving for the Hood when the score is out of hand (but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet). 

I'm doing my best to stay measured.  Continued improvement, cutting down on TOs and penalties, strong play by the defense...that's what I'm looking for in the next few games.  No stumbles, just keep improving.  It's very exciting to be talking Blue Streak football so much on these boards again, even if I'm the only one driving the conversation.

[purpled]

Get T. Scott on the field as much as possible...get him some experience and watch out...he doesn't have to play QB...didn't that happen to Cecil? IMHO, so far, Woods has been a little disappointing...why not give Mitchell a shot?

[mr_mom]

Spreads for Week #6 of the OAC Pick-em are posted.

Originally had more games, but
- Threw out the Border Claw Trophy game (E.Tex Bap @ LA College) cuz just had E.Tex last week.
- Threw out the Book of Knowledge Trophy game (Carleton at Macalester), cuz I don't think it will be that close.
- Threw out the Bethel at Concordia-Moorhead game cuz every other Pick-Em has that one.

Enjoy!
Mom

[PurpleSuit]

I know that Mount is having some issues with the O-Line early in the season, but does anyone think that maybe Woods just wasn't as good as we thought?  Maybe, just maybe playing at 'Berg is a lot different than playing at Mount?  I think/hope he gets it together and racks up the yards, but I question players that transfer up.  Maybe the typical Mount backups are better than the 'Berg starters.  Who knows?

I think that you will see more and more T. Scott on the field in the 'Berg game/playoffs, Mount isn't going to add a bunch of film for their "secret weapon" a la Micheli early in his career.

'Berg gave up 27 to ONU, ouch.....I guess J. Scott sums up my feelings about 'Berg's chances.....

[ExTartanPlayer]

I know that Mount is having some issues with the O-Line early in the season, but does anyone think that maybe Woods just wasn't as good as we thought?  Maybe, just maybe playing at 'Berg is a lot different than playing at Mount?  I think/hope he gets it together and racks up the yards, but I question players that transfer up.  Maybe the typical Mount backups are better than the 'Berg starters.  Who knows?

It's fair to ask that question, but that doesn't really hold up because Woods ran for 1034 yards (6.5 ypc) in 2010 and then 1421 yards (6.0 ypc) in 2011 playing against the exact same OAC competition save for Mount/Heidelberg being switched on the schedule.  It's not like he "transferred up" from a different league; he's running against the same teams he did before.  I don't think we can chalk it up to playing at 'Berg being different than playing at Mount because he's playing against the same teams, except now he's playing for the "best" team instead of the 2nd/3rd best team.

I do think the year off (and maybe some other issue that we're just not aware of, perhaps he is nursing an injury or something) could have something to do with it.

Anyone think he transferred out because he thought Cartel Brooks was going to take his spot as the feature back?  Perhaps this has been discussed before, but Brooks had a heck of a 2011 season as a backup.

'Berg gave up 27 to ONU, ouch.....I guess J. Scott sums up my feelings about 'Berg's chances.....

Not sure I'd take those points all that seriously.  It was 55-12 at the end of the third quarter.  You know better than to take stats compiled against backups in a blowout seriously.

[PurpleSuit]

I know that Mount is having some issues with the O-Line early in the season, but does anyone think that maybe Woods just wasn't as good as we thought?  Maybe, just maybe playing at 'Berg is a lot different than playing at Mount?  I think/hope he gets it together and racks up the yards, but I question players that transfer up.  Maybe the typical Mount backups are better than the 'Berg starters.  Who knows?

It's fair to ask that question, but that doesn't really hold up because Woods ran for 1034 yards (6.5 ypc) in 2010 and then 1421 yards (6.0 ypc) in 2011 playing against the exact same OAC competition save for Mount/Heidelberg being switched on the schedule.  It's not like he "transferred up" from a different league; he's running against the same teams he did before.  I don't think we can chalk it up to playing at 'Berg being different than playing at Mount because he's playing against the same teams, except now he's playing for the "best" team instead of the 2nd/3rd best team.

I do think the year off (and maybe some other issue that we're just not aware of, perhaps he is nursing an injury or something) could have something to do with it.

Anyone think he transferred out because he thought Cartel Brooks was going to take his spot as the feature back?  Perhaps this has been discussed before, but Brooks had a heck of a 2011 season as a backup.

perhaps Mount gets a bit different level of attention/effort than 'Berg, not suggesting anything to offend our few 'berg fans.  Perhaps Muskie/Etta/ all doesn't get up for 'Berg as they would Mount for the first half of action on a Sept Saturday?  Maybe the 'Berg savior Brooks would be "struggling" at Mount as well

[Raider 68]

If the Raiders are fortunate to play a total of 15 games this year, then the O line and Germany Woods will have over 70% of the season left to improve the running game. Since the Raiders have not  had a RB in the mold if Nate Kmic, it is easy to speculate if the offense is struggling  just because of it.

Averaging over 50 points per game is far from it. Coach V.Kehres will adjust where he needs to
until the O line achieves the synergy it needs to open the offense more as the tougher games
approach. I for one, just want the defense to keep the opponent under 200 yards per game, no
injuries, bring in the up and coming weapons as required and continue to prepare for the last
three weeks of the season.

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

If the Raiders are fortunate to play another 15 games this year, then the O line and Germany Woods
will have over 70% of the season left to improve the running game. Since the Raiders have not
had a RB in the mold if Nate Kmic, it is easy to speculate if the offense is struggling  just because of it.
Averaging over 50 points per game is far from it. Coach V.Kehres will adjust where he needs to
until the O line achieves the synergy it needs to open the offense more as the tougher games
approach. I for one, just want the defense to keep the opponent under 200 yards per game, no
injuries, bring in the up and coming weapons as required and continue to prepare for the last
three weeks of the season.

Another 15 Games?  That would make 19 on the Season! 

[Raider 68]

Kira & Jaxon's Dad,

Thanks for catching that!

[Dr. Acula]

I know that Mount is having some issues with the O-Line early in the season, but does anyone think that maybe Woods just wasn't as good as we thought?  Maybe, just maybe playing at 'Berg is a lot different than playing at Mount?  I think/hope he gets it together and racks up the yards, but I question players that transfer up.  Maybe the typical Mount backups are better than the 'Berg starters.  Who knows?

It's fair to ask that question, but that doesn't really hold up because Woods ran for 1034 yards (6.5 ypc) in 2010 and then 1421 yards (6.0 ypc) in 2011 playing against the exact same OAC competition save for Mount/Heidelberg being switched on the schedule.  It's not like he "transferred up" from a different league; he's running against the same teams he did before.  I don't think we can chalk it up to playing at 'Berg being different than playing at Mount because he's playing against the same teams, except now he's playing for the "best" team instead of the 2nd/3rd best team.

I do think the year off (and maybe some other issue that we're just not aware of, perhaps he is nursing an injury or something) could have something to do with it.

Anyone think he transferred out because he thought Cartel Brooks was going to take his spot as the feature back?  Perhaps this has been discussed before, but Brooks had a heck of a 2011 season as a backup.

perhaps Mount gets a bit different level of attention/effort than 'Berg, not suggesting anything to offend our few 'berg fans.  Perhaps Muskie/Etta/ all doesn't get up for 'Berg as they would Mount for the first half of action on a Sept Saturday?  Maybe the 'Berg savior Brooks would be "struggling" at Mount as well

To address the bolded...

-At this point we definitely can't say that he's as good as we expected.  The results just aren't there.  But from seeing the flashes when there has been a hole it's hard to believe that the issue is he's just not good. 

-I looked it up a while back and I believe it was actually something like 22 months between his last game at Berg and Franklin this year.

-Unfortunately, this could very well be the case if Brooks was the RB too.  The O line has been a work in progress.

I think it was amonachino that said it about the O line and the same is true here....if he's not their best back he won't be playing.  If VK and Dartt think Minnich or Mitchell or someone else is the best option at RB those guys will get the carries.  It's that simple.  So the fact that he's starting and getting the majority of the first half carries tells me they don't think the issue is in the backfield, IMO.

[Ric]

Scott got flagged 15 yards for the above hit. Am I just wearing purple glasses or was that a bad call? I see it now like I saw it live, good hit. I didn't think he raised his hands or that it was a helmet to helmet hit. I think the officiating at ONU was an embarrassment to he OAC.

[Ric]

+K to  PurpleSuit for posting the hit. Hell, Albert Belle flattened Fernando Vina worse than that!

Ah, the good ole days...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i9aIjLcf-8