FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Desertraider]

Woody Hayes used to say regarding relying on the forward pass. "There are three things that can happen and two of them
are bad". The Raider defense is better than the last few years and IMHO, the D-line play will cause huge issues for the Wesley
OLine and QB Callahan. He is a talented QB, but needs a little time to throw and unlike T. Scott he is not known as a runner.
It will be a good game, great weather and Wesley is a class program! Defensively, Wesley is ranked 67th in total defense,
so the Raiders will score a lot, make big plays and can control the tempo with L. Nemeth.

I don't think this is quite right.  I think Callahan can run just fine.  Not the same way Scott runs, but they're not the same kind of player either. 

Either way, it's moot IMO.  I don't believe we've seen anything here that tells us Wesley's defense is capable of keeping the score in down in an area that makes us think Wesley can win.  Callahan might be the best player in the Division, but unless he's playing defense on Saturday, it's probably not going to matter much.

Callahan is more Roethlisberger-like. He extends the play with his ability to move in the pocket and will run if he has to. In his last 2 visits to Alliance he has 8 INTs (4 each year). He can't do that if Wesley is to have a chance.

I guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't really matter what Callahan does or doesn't do...it only changes the degree of the end result.  I don't think Wesley can score enough points, even if they play well, to bail out their defense.  Not against the Raiders.  Right?  What's a great game against Mount Union's defense going to get you?  28 points?  Maybe 35?  Does anybody think the Raiders aren't going to hang a 40 burger (at least) on the Wolverines?

I agree. Callahan threw for a ton against Mount the last 2 years (440 last year and 633 with 8TDs the year before). 2 years ago Mounts D was young and gave up a lot of points but won in basketball fashion (62-59?). Last year Wesley's D was better than this year (according to Wesley posters) and they gave up 70 in a losing effort managing 21 points. If the Wesley D was better last year and gave up 70....it could be a long day for them. The thing is that Mount D is much - much better than last year. If Wesley gets 21 then they played a near perfect game. But the Wesley D is not holding Mount under 21.

[raiderpa]

I think Wesley gets 21-28, but Mount outscores them.  The pass rush will harass Callahan like nobody has done before...just hope he doesn't get blindsided and hurt.  The Mount rush is fearsome.  What is the feeling of the big one in Wisconsin?

Mount has had great QB's in the past, and Scott is not a great QB, but I believe he is the most elusive QB that I have ever seen at Mount. (I go back to '73).

I think WWW wins  at Oshkosh and sets up a big one in Alliance, provided the Raiders do not suffer the upset of the decade.

[reality check]

Losing to Wesley would not be "the upset of the decade".  Wilmington winning in Alliance would be the upset of the decade.  Okay, millenium. 

[wesleydad]

I agree. Callahan threw for a ton against Mount the last 2 years (440 last year and 633 with 8TDs the year before). 2 years ago Mounts D was young and gave up a lot of points but won in basketball fashion (62-59?). Last year Wesley's D was better than this year (according to Wesley posters) and they gave up 70 in a losing effort managing 21 points. If the Wesley D was better last year and gave up 70....it could be a long day for them. The thing is that Mount D is much - much better than last year. If Wesley gets 21 then they played a near perfect game. But the Wesley D is not holding Mount under 21.

The fact that Callahan threw for 440 last year when the game was ugly and Wesley could do nothing but pass surprised me.  I agree with Wally.  It is all about the defense.  I posted on the NJAC site that if Wesley can keep Mount under 50 they have a chance.  The defense, with the eye test, does not look good.  They sometimes look lost, can't stop the run - Marcellin from Rowan ran for a bunch of yards.  The short pass route, slant, anything over the middle is usually open.  It is mind numbing sometimes to watch, yet somehow they make enough stops to allow the offense to score enough to win.  Everything has to go Wesley's way for them to win.  Mount has to turn the ball over.  The 70 they got last year was a perfect storm along with a team that seemed to quit early.  I can only hope that this team shows up with a WTF attitude and throws caution to the wind.  Get crazy, but challenge Mount and see what happens.  They did that the year Cecil had to take over at QB and if not for him may have won that game.  I am not delusional with my expectations nor am I going to predict that they will win, I hope they can play a competitive game and earn back some of the respect that was lost with last years result.  Wesley is one of the the top programs in the country notwithstanding their struggles in the 1/4 or semis against the big 2.  Only a few other teams have been good enough to keep playing them.

[joelmama]

I think the only chance Wesley has is if they hang onto the ball.  They have ben an average d3 (maybe a bit better than average) at hanging onto the ball and last year T/O's killed them and the game ran away from them right away.

Also interesting to see a team that actually has more penalties against them than Mount.

[SaintsFAN]

All I know is that I won't be at the game this year.  I went to the game between these two last year anticipating a classic, like the last time UMHB came to Alliance.  I remember talking with Pat and wesleydad at halftime last year and not knowing what to say. 

With how quickly Wesley abandoned the running game (before Burke & Co. had their third possession), the play calling on offense helped doom Wesley, IMO.  They ran it up the gut for 5 yards a clip on three run calls before UMU blew up an end around on 2nd down.  Third down was incomplete followed by a punt and you know the rest.  To me, the coaches panicked and the team responded by getting their doors blown completely off. 

I'm with Wally - doesn't matter what #14 on the visitor side does.  It just doesn't.  Last year was supposed to be their best shot and I can't fathom another 8 hours in the car after flying to Cincy on Friday night to see another UMU blowout.  I think that's what will happen.  Again.  The 2013 barn burner is a distant memory.

Like Pat said last year prior to the game:  it will either be a close one or Mount comes out and does what Mount does.  My money is on the latter.  The former has about a 5% chance of happening.

[SaintsFAN]

Woody Hayes used to say regarding relying on the forward pass. "There are three things that can happen and two of them
are bad". The Raider defense is better than the last few years and IMHO, the D-line play will cause huge issues for the Wesley
OLine and QB Callahan. He is a talented QB, but needs a little time to throw and unlike T. Scott he is not known as a runner.
It will be a good game, great weather and Wesley is a class program! Defensively, Wesley is ranked 67th in total defense,
so the Raiders will score a lot, make big plays and can control the tempo with L. Nemeth.

I don't think this is quite right.  I think Callahan can run just fine.  Not the same way Scott runs, but they're not the same kind of player either. 

Either way, it's moot IMO.  I don't believe we've seen anything here that tells us Wesley's defense is capable of keeping the score in down in an area that makes us think Wesley can win.  Callahan might be the best player in the Division, but unless he's playing defense on Saturday, it's probably not going to matter much.

Callahan is more Roethlisberger-like. He extends the play with his ability to move in the pocket and will run if he has to. In his last 2 visits to Alliance he has 8 INTs (4 each year). He can't do that if Wesley is to have a chance.

I guess what I'm saying is that it doesn't really matter what Callahan does or doesn't do...it only changes the degree of the end result.  I don't think Wesley can score enough points, even if they play well, to bail out their defense.  Not against the Raiders.  Right?  What's a great game against Mount Union's defense going to get you?  28 points?  Maybe 35?  Does anybody think the Raiders aren't going to hang a 40 burger (at least) on the Wolverines?

I agree. Callahan threw for a ton against Mount the last 2 years (440 last year and 633 with 8TDs the year before). 2 years ago Mounts D was young and gave up a lot of points but won in basketball fashion (62-59?). Last year Wesley's D was better than this year (according to Wesley posters) and they gave up 70 in a losing effort managing 21 points. If the Wesley D was better last year and gave up 70....it could be a long day for them. The thing is that Mount D is much - much better than last year. If Wesley gets 21 then they played a near perfect game. But the Wesley D is not holding Mount under 21.

14 of those points came in garbage time during the 4th Quarter.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Losing to Wesley would not be "the upset of the decade".  Wilmington winning in Alliance would be the upset of the decade.  Okay, millenium.

Have they ever put 70 on the board against Wilma?

You mean in the first quarter?

[SaintsFAN]

One thing that has been said here and is very wrong:  Callahan is not a runner.

He's a great athlete who is better as a thrower but the kid can run if the D forgets about him and gets ran off in Cover 0.  Wesleydad, you've seen him more than I have.  What say you?

[wesleydad]

One thing that has been said here and is very wrong:  Callahan is not a runner.

He's a great athlete who is better as a thrower but the kid can run if the D forgets about him and gets ran off in Cover 0.  Wesleydad, you've seen him more than I have.  What say you?

Johns Hopkins 15 - 66 4.4
Salisbury 11 - 87 7.9
NCC 13 - 111 8.5

These are the games where I think Callahan was used as part of the running game in the game plan.  Last week they spread Hopkins with 5 wide and ran Callahan on delays.  I do know that one way to slow down a crazy rushing d line is to make them worry about the QB running the ball out of passing formations.  His running was the difference in the NCC game once it was obvious they had no solution to it.  Is he a running QB, no, but he will not hesitate to run it if it is available.  I agree with Saints fan, Callahan is a better running QB than some are stating.  He is also not afraid to take a hit or deliver one when he runs.

[bleedpurple]

I think Wesley gets 21-28, but Mount outscores them.  The pass rush will harass Callahan like nobody has done before...just hope he doesn't get blindsided and hurt.  The Mount rush is fearsome.  What is the feeling of the big one in Wisconsin?

Mount has had great QB's in the past, and Scott is not a great QB, but I believe he is the most elusive QB that I have ever seen at Mount. (I go back to '73).

I think WWW wins  at Oshkosh and sets up a big one in Alliance, provided the Raiders do not suffer the upset of the decade.

Oh no you don't. Don't you dare lose that game! 

[pg04]

I think Wesley gets 21-28, but Mount outscores them.  The pass rush will harass Callahan like nobody has done before...just hope he doesn't get blindsided and hurt.  The Mount rush is fearsome.  What is the feeling of the big one in Wisconsin?

Mount has had great QB's in the past, and Scott is not a great QB, but I believe he is the most elusive QB that I have ever seen at Mount. (I go back to '73).

I think WWW wins  at Oshkosh and sets up a big one in Alliance, provided the Raiders do not suffer the upset of the decade.

Oh no you don't. Don't you dare lose that game! 

I'd respond but I think I'd get more negative karma from everyone but Wesleydad 

[Teamski]

One thing that has been said here and is very wrong:  Callahan is not a runner.

He's a great athlete who is better as a thrower but the kid can run if the D forgets about him and gets ran off in Cover 0.  Wesleydad, you've seen him more than I have.  What say you?

Johns Hopkins 15 - 66 4.4
Salisbury 11 - 87 7.9
NCC 13 - 111 8.5

These are the games where I think Callahan was used as part of the running game in the game plan.  Last week they spread Hopkins with 5 wide and ran Callahan on delays.  I do know that one way to slow down a crazy rushing d line is to make them worry about the QB running the ball out of passing formations.  His running was the difference in the NCC game once it was obvious they had no solution to it.  Is he a running QB, no, but he will not hesitate to run it if it is available.  I agree with Saints fan, Callahan is a better running QB than some are stating.  He is also not afraid to take a hit or deliver one when he runs.

With the exception of the 1st quarter last week, Callahan has an uncanny ability to throw while on the run.  If you watch his best plays, he gets that ball downfield accurately while on the run.  If anything will save Wesley this weekend, it will be that sole ability. 

-Ski

[Desertraider]

Congrats to Hank Spencer: http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151130ss8dsc

[Desertraider]

Does anyone know the status of Durum Alarms? He was injured against SLU and did not play against Albright. Not sure where to find the info.