FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[bceagle80]

Seriously though, it is too bad these guys get all the way to college and then figure out, for some reason, they do not wish to play for Mount Union.

I think most common is the realization that college ball is a LOT different than high school and significantly more competitive than they expect.

I think it's not that they don't wish to play for Mount Union, but that they find they can't play for Mount Union. This isn't intramurals, son!

My son knows and agrees with this statement. He said he had feelings of wanting to quit as well. I told him that was entirely normal. No one wants to put their body through what he has been doing and will do in the next couple of weeks. You would not be sane if you did not have the thought of "What the heck am I doing out here?!!! I said if he works just to get through these few weeks, he will know he belongs and it will get easier.

He experienced some hard hitting action that affected him directly. One of the O-Linemen was taking on a D-lineman next to him on one play and pancaked the d-lineman (who happened to be one of the biggest on the Junior Varsity) who rolled up onto my son's leg. He said when he watched video of the play it looked like he got hurt like Joe Theisman did. Fortunately, he has conditioned his body well, worked to be really flexible and worked out like a beast to be strong. While he needed a couple of ice baths on his leg, he is okay. He actually walked off the field after the injury on his own and finished practice.

Good news is he is getting very positive feedback from the coaches. They like how he hits. Two areas to improve on: hold his blocks just a little longer and stay off the ground. Since he has essentially put on 20 pounds since last season, he admitted he is still getting used to his body being the size it is. I told him it is not whether you end up on the ground, its what you do when you get there. He needs to essentially needs to do an "Up-Down" (hit the ground on your hands and feet and then bounce back up immediately). He understood. He knows if he continues to work on his agility and works to stay off the ground, he will get better. I know he is very coach-able and will improve each and every day.

He impressed with one of the senior o-lineman who is in the 1300 club (total pounds lifted in bench, squat and power clean ). While my son is strong (bench [300 lbs.], squat [515 lbs.] and power clean [275 lbs.) , he knows the consistency and focus it will take to get into that level of overall strength. I told him he'd get there over the next couple of years if that is what he wants to do.

[Purple Badger]

bceagle80 did the freshman get tested on their max weights yet?

[bceagle80]

bceagle80 did the freshman get tested on their max weights yet?

I do not know the answer to that one at this time. It did not come up in discussion with my son. I will let you know once I speak to him again. It may not be tonight.

[Dr. Acula]

Just read the article in the Review about Kappas becoming DC.  Sounds like he wants to have a large rotation on the D line (10 guys).  Despite another article saying they'd switch to a 4-3 this year it actually sounds like what most folks probably thought...it's basically the same D scheme...a hybrid Kappas said, with an emphasis on versatility.  So maybe they call Kocheff a OLB and say it's a 4-3?  Haha.

Regardless, it sounds like more guys are going to be rotated in across the D this year to address the lack of depth they felt they had last year. 

Alliance Review link

[Raider 68]

Just read the article in the Review about Kappas becoming DC.  Sounds like he wants to have a large rotation on the D line (10 guys).  Despite another article saying they'd switch to a 4-3 this year it actually sounds like what most folks probably thought...it's basically the same D scheme...a hybrid Kappas said, with an emphasis on versatility.  So maybe they call Kocheff a OLB and say it's a 4-3?  Haha.

Regardless, it sounds like more guys are going to be rotated in across the D this year to address the lack of depth they felt they had last year. 

Alliance Review link



Dr. Acula,

I hope not, never have been a fan of the 4-2-5 defense. Hopefully, they can have a legitimate 4-3. No doubt, the Raider success will,
IMHO depend heavily on D-Line play. Last year, the lack of DE did not help matters. The offense will score a lot,
but against the playoff teams, the defense needs to return to its pre-2013 levels when it was always the top 5 defenses
in D-3. With the addition of Kappas and a second year HC coach and help with the QB's, the outlook is positive, buttttttttttttt
it will depend on the D-line. (Hope they are bigger and tougher)

[ExTartanPlayer]

Good heavens, why are you OAC'ers always having trouble with the quote function? This isn't rocket surgery.

"We ain't come here to play school, classes are POINTLESS"

- Cardale Jones

[HScoach]

Good heavens, why are you OAC'ers always having trouble with the quote function? This isn't rocket surgery.

"We ain't come here to play school, classes are POINTLESS"

- Cardale Jones

Exactly.   I've obviously failed as an educator!

[bceagle80]

bceagle80 did the freshman get tested on their max weights yet?

I do not know the answer to that one at this time. It did not come up in discussion with my son. I will let you know once I speak to him again. It may not be tonight.

I did speak to my son last night. He was much more relaxed and healed up from his injury. To answer the question regarding being tested on max weights, the answer is no. Basically, the coaches are not concerned whether you area weightlifting champion, they want production on the football field. The biggest difference for my son is that he is used to playing very low to get leverage on people (think pro style offense) and now he is learning a more zone blacking scheme at Mount Union. This is no secret. They have been using this as are many successful programs throughout the country. He will be fine.

With the zone blocking, it is more about having your head up and seeing the field, your ability to provide a powerful pop when you strike an opponent to block him and to continue to provide that pop as you block your zone assigned in a particular play and, of course, driving with your legs. My son has some striking power. At the National Underclassmen Ultimate 100 combine he attended in 2013, he hit a defensive player with such force, he raised him at least a foot off the ground and you heard coaches and directors at the camp exclaim "Oooh" like they had just been hit when it happened.

Side note: He said a few O-linemen have been moved up to Varsity. They had already used the offense Mount Union uses in high school and are big enough and strong enough to compete for positions with the Upperclassmen now. My son is learning a whole new offense but is "a student of the game" and is getting better every day. He is big enough right now to compete now as well. He has now gone into his "mental toughness" mode, won't quit on anything  and will not waver from his goals.

[dlippiel]

bceagle80 did the freshman get tested on their max weights yet?

I do not know the answer to that one at this time. It did not come up in discussion with my son. I will let you know once I speak to him again. It may not be tonight.

I did speak to my son last night. He was much more relaxed and healed up from his injury. To answer the question regarding being tested on max weights, the answer is no. Basically, the coaches are not concerned whether you area weightlifting champion, they want production on the football field. The biggest difference for my son is that he is used to playing very low to get leverage on people (think pro style offense) and now he is learning a more zone blacking scheme at Mount Union. This is no secret. They have been using this as are many successful programs throughout the country. He will be fine.

With the zone blocking, it is more about having your head up and seeing the field, your ability to provide a powerful pop when you strike an opponent to block him and to continue to provide that pop as you block your zone assigned in a particular play and, of course, driving with your legs. My son has some striking power. At the National Underclassmen Ultimate 100 combine he attended in 2013, he hit a defensive player with such force, he raised him at least a foot off the ground and you heard coaches and directors at the camp exclaim "Oooh" like they had just been hit when it happened.

Side note: He said a few O-linemen have been moved up to Varsity. They had already used the offense Mount Union uses in high school and are big enough and strong enough to compete for positions with the Upperclassmen now. My son is learning a whole new offense but is "a student of the game" and is getting better every day. He is big enough right now to compete now as well. He has now gone into his "mental toughness" mode, won't quit on anything  and will not waver from his goals.

bceagle80 dlip wishes your son all the luck in the world! dlip loves reading the parent/player perspective through camp. +k

[SaintsFAN]

Good heavens, why are you OAC'ers always having trouble with the quote function? This isn't rocket surgery.

"We ain't come here to play school, classes are POINTLESS"

- Cardale Jones

Exactly.   I've obviously failed as an educator!

You're fired. 

Guys -- I'm back.  Baby Cora is 19 weeks old and things are great with her.  She sleeps 8-10 hours/night uninterrupted -- which is awesome.  She's done this since her third week.  SaintsFAN bought a house in January at a sheriff's auction in Southeastern Indiana (which is still Cincinnati) and between the total rehab project on the house//taking care of Cora at night and SF's previous job -- there was ZERO time or energy to visit with my friends here.  Well, the rehab of the inside is done (notice I said inside), the baby is becoming more independent and SF switched back into sales (in a totally new industry) -- so here I am.  Look forward to talking football with each of you.  Hopefully Pat hasn't kicked me out of the Top 25 voters -- I'll really have time to study teams this year. 

Anywho -- hope all is well for all of you.. and lets get this season kicked off!!

Did I miss anything good or was it just an offseason of MUC hyperbole and asking about commitments 24/7 by certain "special" people??

[ExTartanPlayer]

Did I miss anything good...

Nah, I don't think so.  Mostly chasing our tails talking about the usual stuff.

Good to have you back.

[bceagle80]

bceagle80 did the freshman get tested on their max weights yet?

I do not know the answer to that one at this time. It did not come up in discussion with my son. I will let you know once I speak to him again. It may not be tonight.

I did speak to my son last night. He was much more relaxed and healed up from his injury. To answer the question regarding being tested on max weights, the answer is no. Basically, the coaches are not concerned whether you area weightlifting champion, they want production on the football field. The biggest difference for my son is that he is used to playing very low to get leverage on people (think pro style offense) and now he is learning a more zone blacking scheme at Mount Union. This is no secret. They have been using this as are many successful programs throughout the country. He will be fine.

With the zone blocking, it is more about having your head up and seeing the field, your ability to provide a powerful pop when you strike an opponent to block him and to continue to provide that pop as you block your zone assigned in a particular play and, of course, driving with your legs. My son has some striking power. At the National Underclassmen Ultimate 100 combine he attended in 2013, he hit a defensive player with such force, he raised him at least a foot off the ground and you heard coaches and directors at the camp exclaim "Oooh" like they had just been hit when it happened.

Side note: He said a few O-linemen have been moved up to Varsity. They had already used the offense Mount Union uses in high school and are big enough and strong enough to compete for positions with the Upperclassmen now. My son is learning a whole new offense but is "a student of the game" and is getting better every day. He is big enough right now to compete now as well. He has now gone into his "mental toughness" mode, won't quit on anything  and will not waver from his goals.

bceagle80 dlip wishes your son all the luck in the world! dlip loves reading the parent/player perspective through camp. +k

dlip,

Glad to be of service!!

I am sure everyone knows Larry Kehres, Vince Kehres and Kevin Burke have taken the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS. What you don't know is my son took it yesterday and challenged my son, my wife (I will step in for her)  and his Strength and Conditioning Teacher (weightlifting coach) from high school. I gave this coach the heads up so he can be the first to extend this challenge to the new high school head football coach (my son's coach died of cancer in January) and his staff. He loved the idea. It will be a good team building exercise. The video will be up on YouTube at some point.

[HScoach]

bceagle:   check your PM's

[RoyalPurple]

Any word out of Tiffin. Coach Mike showed me the new stadium a couple weeks back, but knows where my allegiances lay. 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

Any word out of Tiffin. Coach Mike showed me the new stadium a couple weeks back, but knows where my allegiances lay.

One of the projected Starting Offensive Lineman for the Student Princes stopped in our weight room this summer.  He played HS ball for our Head Coach.  I had to give him the business about MTU vs HU.

His opinion was that this was the year for HU to beat Mount.  He heard rumors that Mount's recruiting was down and that VK had an illness and they would be able to finally defeat the Raiders.

I'm not so sure about the rumors he heard and am looking forward to the continuation of the OAC Championship Streak!