FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

The kick return unit was one of the undercover weird things too.  They were not good at all.  In fact, they ranked damn near last in D3 in kick return average at 14 something I think.  I also looked at some point during the playoffs and not only was their average bad, but I don't think they had a single return longer than around 30 yards all season. 

[Raider 68]

The kick return unit was one of the undercover weird things too.  They were not good at all.  In fact, they ranked damn near last in D3 in kick return average at 14 something I think.  I also looked at some point during the playoffs and not only was their average bad, but I don't think they had a single return longer than around 30 yards all season. 

No doubt the Raider coaches have some things to work on during the off-season, starting with the defense. I hope they
change the scheme for 2014, since the 4-2-5 just does not seem to get it done anymore against  the top teams. In recent
years special teams were always special at Mount. A few years ago, there were some kick-off returns and punts for TD's.
Boy, a great offense can cover for many things most of the time!

[Dr. Acula]

I'm not sure if it's scheme or guys.  The 4-2-5 looked good in 2011 and 2012 against every top team including UWW.  The only thing I don't totally understand is why the D linemen seem to get smaller and smaller every year.  I understand VK values athleticism, but it puts a lot of pressure on them to make plays when they face a big line like UWW.  Not a lot of room for error.

[HScoach]

A lot more D2 schools in Ohio to recruit against now than there used to be when LK built the machine.   There are only so many 6'-3", 250+ lbs guys to go around.   Hence the amount of out of state kids on the roster now compared to the 1990's.   The landscape in Ohio has changed.   Not sure if this list is still 100% complete as I put it together a few years ago, but it gets the point across.   Lots of competition for the handful of big guys that are produced. 

DI-FBS
1.  Ohio State
2.  Akron
3.  Bowling Green
4.  Kent State
5.  Miami
6.  Ohio U.
7.  Toledo
8.  Cincinnatti

DI-FCS
9.  Dayton
10.  Youngstown State

DII
11.  Ashland
12.  Findlay
13.  Tiffin
14.  Central State U.
15.  Lake Erie College
16.  Urbana
17.  Ohio Dominican
18.  Cedarville
19.  Notre Dame College
20.  Ursuline
21.  Malone
22.  Walsh



The defensive scheme isn't the problem in my opinion.  Far be it actually.   Given the number of spread teams in today's college football, I'd rather have my base defense be the nickel that will be needed 90% of the time instead of a big 4-3 that I rarely get to play in.   I think it's easier to add another LB against a power team than it is to add another DB against a spread, especially when the norm is the spread. 

IMHO, the problem wasn't even the D-backs this season (though they weren't anything to write home about).   It was the lack of D-linemen that was the downfall of Mount.   Specifically DE.   Fetchko and Lally were fine at DT, but without a couple good DE's that warrant a double team or two, the DT's got swallowed up inside.   And therefore the DB's were exposed too often.   And not just against UWW, it was a re-occurring problem all season.   Even against the OAC bottom feeders.   Absolutely no pass rush from the DE position in 2013.   If that doesn't get fixed in 2014, it won't matter what else happens on the roster.

[bleedpurple]

The kick return unit was one of the undercover weird things too.  They were not good at all.  In fact, they ranked damn near last in D3 in kick return average at 14 something I think.  I also looked at some point during the playoffs and not only was their average bad, but I don't think they had a single return longer than around 30 yards all season.

This is a little mystifying. Given the level of athletes and the depth that is normally found in the the Purple Raiders' program it seems like there should be no excuse for this kind of performance.  I understand it's unrealistic to expect Mount to be in the top 25 in every category known to man, but to fall near the bottom nationally in a relatively important category like kick return is very surprising.  I wonder if VK is going to do a top to bottom program assessment like LL did a year ago.  A trip to the Stagg Bowl is nowhere close to 7-3, but there appears to be enough areas that are "un-Mount-like" to warrant a look.

[Raider 68]

From HScoach:

"The defensive scheme isn't the problem in my opinion.  Far be it actually.   Given the number of spread teams in today's college football, I'd rather have my base defense be the nickel that will be needed 90% of the time instead of a big 4-3 that I rarely get to play in.   I think it's easier to add another LB against a power team than it is to add another DB against a spread, especially when the norm is the spread.

IMHO, the problem wasn't even the D-backs this season (though they weren't anything to write home about).   It was the lack of D-linemen that was the downfall of Mount.   Specifically DE.   Fetchko and Lally were fine at DT, but without a couple good DE's that warrant a double team or two, the DT's got swallowed up inside.   And therefore the DB's were exposed too often.   And not just against UWW, it was a re-occurring problem all season.   Even against the OAC bottom feeders.   Absolutely no pass rush from the DE position in 2013.   If that doesn't get fixed in 2014, it won't matter what else happens on the roster."


Agree in general, but so many times in the big games that extra LB could have helped. It gets back to question of too small D Lines size getting caught by bigger O Lines. Regarding Ohio, both Wittenberg and JCU had very large O lines, so they are recruiting them. Still given the other schools, the Raiders have not had the large O and D lines in a long time.

[badgerwarhawk]

No doubt the Raider coaches have some things to work on during the off-season, starting with the defense. I hope they change the scheme for 2014, since the 4-2-5 just does not seem to get it done anymore against  the top teams.

Perhaps they should go to the Pam Ward 5-2-5.  That might work. 

[emma17]

Perhaps the offense overachieved while the defense underachieved?

This.  That's exactly what happened,the latter to a larger degree.

Personally, I was more concerned about Witt than Wesley.  I had zero worry about Wesley. I knew they'd be good because it's Wesley, but they weren't a great team by Wesley standards.  I expected a 2-3 TD win. I just didn't think they would be able to score close to enough to keep up.  Obviously that's not what we saw.

I'm with you on the Witt game. I was sure Mt was at its peak and moving forward after that performance.

Others have commented on the D-line. The lack of pass rush and run stopping from the interior D line was very evident in the Stagg, a big difference from the 2011 unit.

Given all the scholarship schools in Ohio the Mt success really is amazing.
I imagine it's the championship runs that enable Mt to compete w the scholarship schools.

[Pat Coleman]

But Leipold isn't Shades. 

+1
True in so many ways. Also like the nickname.

[D3MAFAN]

Perhaps the offense overachieved while the defense underachieved?

This.  That's exactly what happened,the latter to a larger degree.

Personally, I was more concerned about Witt than Wesley.  I had zero worry about Wesley. I knew they'd be good because it's Wesley, but they weren't a great team by Wesley standards.  I expected a 2-3 TD win. I just didn't think they would be able to score close to enough to keep up.  Obviously that's not what we saw.

I'm with you on the Witt game. I was sure Mt was at its peak and moving forward after that performance.

Others have commented on the D-line. The lack of pass rush and run stopping from the interior D line was very evident in the Stagg, a big difference from the 2011 unit.

Given all the scholarship schools in Ohio the Mt success really is amazing.
I imagine it's the championship runs that enable Mt to compete w the scholarship schools.

...and more recently the success of former players in the N.F.L.

[emma17]

Perhaps the offense overachieved while the defense underachieved?

This.  That's exactly what happened,the latter to a larger degree.

Personally, I was more concerned about Witt than Wesley.  I had zero worry about Wesley. I knew they'd be good because it's Wesley, but they weren't a great team by Wesley standards.  I expected a 2-3 TD win. I just didn't think they would be able to score close to enough to keep up.  Obviously that's not what we saw.

I'm with you on the Witt game. I was sure Mt was at its peak and moving forward after that performance.

Others have commented on the D-line. The lack of pass rush and run stopping from the interior D line was very evident in the Stagg, a big difference from the 2011 unit.

Given all the scholarship schools in Ohio the Mt success really is amazing.
I imagine it's the championship runs that enable Mt to compete w the scholarship schools.

...and more recently the success of former players in the N.F.L.

I get your drift but I think that part is too early to tell. Mt was winning championships and getting great recruits (Garçon and Shorts) before the NFL success stories began.

[bleedpurple]

Perhaps the offense overachieved while the defense underachieved?

This.  That's exactly what happened,the latter to a larger degree.

Personally, I was more concerned about Witt than Wesley.  I had zero worry about Wesley. I knew they'd be good because it's Wesley, but they weren't a great team by Wesley standards.  I expected a 2-3 TD win. I just didn't think they would be able to score close to enough to keep up.  Obviously that's not what we saw.

I'm with you on the Witt game. I was sure Mt was at its peak and moving forward after that performance.

Others have commented on the D-line. The lack of pass rush and run stopping from the interior D line was very evident in the Stagg, a big difference from the 2011 unit.

Given all the scholarship schools in Ohio the Mt success really is amazing.
I imagine it's the championship runs that enable Mt to compete w the scholarship schools.

...and more recently the success of former players in the N.F.L.

I get your drift but I think that part is too early to tell. Mt was winning championships and getting great recruits (Garçon and Shorts) before the NFL success stories began.

I'm sure the NFL exposure helps in terms of growing Mount's profile and name recognition.  It does remain to be seen if it will help in attracting players with NFL potential. National Championships may be less of a factor moving forward given they have won 2 of the last 7.  But they do have that ridiculous stat of every graduating class having at least one championship since forever ago.  And their long run of ESPN appearances probably helps quite a bit. 

[amonachino]

Mount union since 1993  has not won the stagg bowl every year.  There are teams that have beaten them.  As a matter of fact they have not reached the stagg bowl every year since 1993.  They have been to the stagg 17 times.  They have been to it 9 times in a row.   They have won 11 of the 17.  they have lost 6 times.  So in 21 years they have 11 stagg victories.  They have been beaten 10 times overall in the season, in the playoffs, or in the stagg to not win the bronze and walnut trophy.  So looking back there were teams in Div.3 that had special seasons to compete and beat Mount. When mount did not go to or win the stagg did everyone think the program was over?  What this is all about?  Is UWW now the more dominant program.  Time will tell.  Go back to their first win in the stagg.  How many thought it would be like this?  Mount will do what it did back in the early 1990's.  They will go back to the drawing board and figure out how to once again to gain the leverage.  Like aging sometimes one does not see all the issues until something happens.  This year showed some very concerning problems.  This is a very strong team coming into next year.  I see 5-7 teams that are capable of winning the Stagg.  So to all the fans or opponents that think Mount is not going to be Mount, our opponents will be disappointed and our fans will be smiling.  The battle has just begun again.  The desire to get the 12th is more then the previous 11.  This program is SPECIAL and what ever it takes, that will be the price that will be Paid.  How do I know that, let previous behavior tell you what future behavior will be.  P.S. I enjoy our friends from UWW being on the board.  Good comments and in site all the time.  loose lips sinks ships, just kidding.

[HScoach]

^ not sure the past 27 years are as good an indication of the future as you're making it out to be.   I vaguely remember hearing something about a change at HC.   Might be a slight factor in predicting future results.

[amonachino]

UWW seemed to be doing o.k. after their major change.  Most outstanding programs are going to have HC changes be it 27 years or 7 years.  The name is not changing.  Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, etc.  If the man is not right for the program he will leave.  take Rich Rod. at Mich.  Yet Michigan will be great again.  They must find the right fit.  So if VK is not, which I believe he is, given time will tell.  Another one will take over a great program.  The landscape of outstanding teams does very little changing.  I did not say no changes.  Take UNHB.  Yet they have not won a sausage.  the UWW is a change. So what is your point, if a HC leaves the program is over?   Didn't Woody Hayes leave Ohio state?  How's that working for them since 1968?  Please say what you really want to say.  Every great coach is going to at some point leave the program, St. John.  Is there winning and success over?