FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Dr. Acula]

Yeah, I'm sure to non-Mount folks it seems ridiculous that there is anything but praise after a 66-7 game.  But we're always projecting out to "is that national title level"?  The positive is that I've watched 5 games so far and the defense has looked better than 2013 for sure.  I've been pleasantly surprised with Butler at DT.  He seems to get good penetration.  Furda is another surprise at DE after moving from WR.  He could develop into a nice player as he learns the position. 

Another thing that should be noted is that after last year VK admitted that they lacked depth on D because they were so young he had to play the starters as much as possible to get them game experience together.  He and Kappas wanted to rotate in a lot of guys this year to build depth.  They've played the 4 starters on the D line, but Furda, Brown, Hubbell, Avila are playing a lot even in the first half.  They're much better off in terms of depth this year.

[Desertraider]

Yeah, I'm sure to non-Mount folks it seems ridiculous that there is anything but praise after a 66-7 game.  But we're always projecting out to "is that national title level"? The positive is that I've watched 5 games so far and the defense has looked better than 2013 for sure.  I've been pleasantly surprised with Butler at DT.  He seems to get good penetration.  Furda is another surprise at DE after moving from WR.  He could develop into a nice player as he learns the position. 

Another thing that should be noted is that after last year VK admitted that they lacked depth on D because they were so young he had to play the starters as much as possible to get them game experience together.  He and Kappas wanted to rotate in a lot of guys this year to build depth.  They've played the 4 starters on the D line, but Furda, Brown, Hubbell, Avila are playing a lot even in the first half.  They're much better off in terms of depth this year.

Could not have said it better myself. I watch every game, or listen to every game, thinking exactly that. Look, Mount is good every year - they have been Great 11 times. The point totals don't mean anything. Yesterday Mount did not dominate the game (I know I really struggle to type that given the stats) the way the score indicates. Sorry that the standards are set that high but LK and Mount set them - gotta live up to it or raise the bar.

[Spurrier]

Polar bears could easily be 7 and 1 right now with a shoot-out loss to Heidelberg and a late touchdown  loss against jcu...(don't really see mount having any trouble there)...discuss...where all my polar bears at?

[ohiofan1954]

Well Spurrier I had a chance to visit ONU for the Muskingum game and I was certainly impressed with the University, the campus and the facilities. Everyone has a off game though. Was the Muskie game the polar bears night off? I know the Muskie basketball team has the tendency to do that to others, maybe the football team does as well. ONU started slow that night and was only tied at half. True to their credit they put on Muskingum pretty good in the second half but still not what I was expecting to see. In the polar bears defense the Muskies seem to put up a good fight for a half before caving in the second half. Your game with them reminded me of the BW game. Muskies would have been leading that game at half if not   for a fumble return. So I guess a workmanlike performance that night, maybe a off night  but got the job done in the end. Maybe I will catch them this week against Capital.

[Desertraider]

The JCU game will define Mounts season IMHO. I know JCU will come in ready and confident. The game will be decided early - I think by half. If JCU is leading (god forbid!) or within 10 at half then it will be tight to the final whistle. If Mount is up by 17 or more then I think it will be a monkeystomp. Mount has to take JCU out early in the mental aspects. Get pressure from D-line and good coverage - especially over the middle in that 10-20 yard range. On Mounts side of the ball they have to run. I saw some stuff I did not like in the pass game on Sat. It is ALL timing. Burke takes snap, half step back, turn and throw. Not too much second and third read. Problem is that OTT had good coverage, the wind (couldn't go deep) and the timing was off. I would love to see Mount throw in a wrinkle and use some WR motion across the set. Something to keep the LBs and DBs moving. A good defense (UWW and the like) has an advantage when they can just set the defense and go.  Those late adjustments, just before snap, by the D gives the O an advantage. IMHO. Previous games don't matter here - Mount will get JCUs best shot. I look for JCU to try to hit one real early and force the pace from the start. Having said that...Mount 613 JCU 3...no this has all the possibility of a 27-24.

However - first it is BW...then the JCU banter can begin!

[raiderpa]

As they always do, BW will give us the most physical test of the regular season.  It will be a slobber-knocker and the kind of game that will test the Raiders in all aspects of their preparation.
I watched the first quarter and a half of WWW-Platteville and WWW was giving up short slants and some medium fades, but did not see anything that would lead me to believe that they are suspect...anywhere.  Platteville looked huge up front.  I did not see, however, the usual precision offense that WWW has shown and perhaps this is due to the fact that Kumerow is missing.  Like I said, I only watched a quarter or quarter and a half and the running game did not resemble past WWW squads.
The Mount Union bias here is that the WWW running game has always been so freaking good and dominating.  I did not observe that.  Again 1 and 1/2 quarters is not a fair "scout".

[MasterJedi]

As they always do, BW will give us the most physical test of the regular season.  It will be a slobber-knocker and the kind of game that will test the Raiders in all aspects of their preparation.
I watched the first quarter and a half of WWW-Platteville and WWW was giving up short slants and some medium fades, but did not see anything that would lead me to believe that they are suspect...anywhere.  Platteville looked huge up front.  I did not see, however, the usual precision offense that WWW has shown and perhaps this is due to the fact that Kumerow is missing.  Like I said, I only watched a quarter or quarter and a half and the running game did not resemble past WWW squads.
The Mount Union bias here is that the WWW running game has always been so freaking good and dominating.  I did not observe that.  Again 1 and 1/2 quarters is not a fair "scout".

I would say some of that has to do with Kumerow being gone, when hes been in the game nobody has been able to cover him, which has been able to help free up the running game early. On the other hand UWW was able to wear down UWP in the end, running a lot better in the second half and ending up with 243 rushing yards.

[Walt]

Maybe I will catch them this week against Capital.

ONU played a Cap a few weeks ago and won  38-31.   Cap hosts Heidelberg this week .

[Dr. Acula]

JV Raiders completed their undefeated season yesterday at Bethany.  Not sure of the score, but my guess is it was not close considering how they've been piling on teams this year.  Pretty good considering the schedule (Ashland x2, JCU x2, W&J x2, BW).  Good work Raiders!

[badgerwarhawk]

As they always do, BW will give us the most physical test of the regular season.  It will be a slobber-knocker and the kind of game that will test the Raiders in all aspects of their preparation.
I watched the first quarter and a half of WWW-Platteville and WWW was giving up short slants and some medium fades, but did not see anything that would lead me to believe that they are suspect...anywhere.  Platteville looked huge up front.  I did not see, however, the usual precision offense that WWW has shown and perhaps this is due to the fact that Kumerow is missing.  Like I said, I only watched a quarter or quarter and a half and the running game did not resemble past WWW squads.
The Mount Union bias here is that the WWW running game has always been so freaking good and dominating.  I did not observe that.  Again 1 and 1/2 quarters is not a fair "scout".

To date this year the WARHAWKS are averaging 221.4 rushing yards per game.  Last year we averaged 166.7, in 2012 it was 187.2 and in 2011 it was 221.3.  Platteville allowed an average of 124 yards rushing.  We rushed for 243 yards, nearly double their average.  One significant difference this year is our depth.  All three running backs sharing carries are starter quality and it's allowed us to have "fresh legs" later in games.

[Sir Battlescars]

Polar bears could easily be 7 and 1 right now with a shoot-out loss to Heidelberg and a late touchdown  loss against jcu...(don't really see mount having any trouble there)...discuss...where all my polar bears at?

Aww for crying out loud! Would someone please tell Spurrier where all the dang Polar Bears are hiding. The poor guy has been looking for them all season.

[ohiofan1954]

Maybe I will catch them this week against Capital.

ONU played a Cap a few weeks ago and won  38-31.   Cap hosts Heidelberg this week .

oops, that's what happens when you turn 60. Better put my glasses on next time. Thanks for the correction

[bleedpurple]

As they always do, BW will give us the most physical test of the regular season.  It will be a slobber-knocker and the kind of game that will test the Raiders in all aspects of their preparation.
I watched the first quarter and a half of WWW-Platteville and WWW was giving up short slants and some medium fades, but did not see anything that would lead me to believe that they are suspect...anywhere.  Platteville looked huge up front.  I did not see, however, the usual precision offense that WWW has shown and perhaps this is due to the fact that Kumerow is missing.  Like I said, I only watched a quarter or quarter and a half and the running game did not resemble past WWW squads.
The Mount Union bias here is that the WWW running game has always been so freaking good and dominating.  I did not observe that.  Again 1 and 1/2 quarters is not a fair "scout".

Raiderpa, just wanted to say I appreciate the restrained perspective you offer with this post. I think all of us can, from time to time watch a game or part of a game and jump to quick conclusions.  My thought is the UW-W running game is better than they showed in that half. And it certainly is much better with a defense having to account for Kumerow. I think it's fair to ask the question as to whether this UW-W running game will match previous years. For the reasons BW outlined, I think most UW-W fans are not all that concerned about that. To bring in the previous question back into play, obviously it's fair to ask the question as to whether the UW-W pass defense is as good as it was last year. My somewhat contentious response to a previous post was in reaction to a declarative statement based on what I believe to be a premature conclusion. In WIAC games (to compare blow out stats seems pointless) the 2014 UWW defense has allowed 71 less yards passing, has one less interception, the same number of sacks, and three more fumble recoveries than in 2013.

I honestly think the proper perspective in all this is that barring injury or something else unforeseen, UW-W will be UW-W.  Are they beatable? Of course! Will it be easy? I hope not!!! 😉

[Onward on, John Carroll]

I know JCU will come in ready and confident.

Coach Arth will have the team ready to the best of their abilities.  I do not doubt that.  However, to think that they will be confident is a bit of stretch.  Playing a team to whom you have lost for decades and a team that has made a mockery of you more often than not in those games does not really lend it self to coming in confident.

I think that Mount will win this game.  In the past few years, the teams that have been most successful against Mount are the teams that were big upfront and able to control the line of scrimmage.  While John Carroll is good in many ways, I do not think that JCU has the hogs to push Mount around up front.  That said, John Carroll will be left trying to outscore Mount Union offensively which is a poor recipe, generally, if you want to succeed in beating Mount Union and especially this year as I think your offensive weapons are excellent (as usual).

[Onward on, John Carroll]

Vince will want the Plattevilles tape. UWWW pass defense not like last years

The passing game wasn't very good against Otterbein let alone a great team.  They've got some work to do before JCU.

Please . . .work on something else.  Don't focus on John Carroll, focus on the playoffs. The Streaks do not need you eliminating your weaknesses prior to November 15.  All kidding aside, I hope for a good game but, as I said earlier, I anticipate a Mount win.