FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[ITH radio]

It isn't so much your DBs but do you have LBs that can match up with RBs and TEs that have speed also. On any given pass play you have to defend Hill, Kennedy, Friss, Herrington, Mitchell and Ruth - all have speed to spare. If you have 4 solid DBs...that accounts for well 4 of them.

DBs are pretty good with D'Antonio being the best. Collier is a good cover man but is only 5'7" and occasionally gets his back turned to the ball. Scales has done well but is a first year starter. Cragg the FS is short too but very experienced. Your biggest match up advantage will be against the HOB LBs. The OLBs are good but the inside guys probably aren't fast enough to keep up with your RBs/TEs coming out for patterns. This is what scares me the most about Saturday.

[Bartman]

2 deep is here if it hasn't been posted yet - and it is here if it has.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/files/16fbgm-hobart.pdf

Hargrove is listed behind Hill.

Thx for posting. Hobart uses doesn't provide game notes until a couple hours before the game. Worries me to see 3-3-5 D. Hobart has never fared well against that type of defense.

They normally go more 3-5-3...but Holly Rowe (Rowe) astutely pointed out its actually a "3-5-4" defense.  Actually, she may have even said it was a 4-5-3...regardless it was wrong.

How about going with a 3-4-3 and leaving your SPUR, Deerr , on the bench(I think he counts as 2 players?)...Hobart's TE's would really appreciate it ...it would lower the 21 point spread and give the Statesmen a more sporting chance..... not loving that 4-5-3 , for sure

[Desertraider]

Warning...Tongue-in-cheek below!!!


I can picture Saturday going like this for two elderly loyal Mount Union fans in Alliance:

A white Cadillac (Ohio plates: LK4PREZ) pulls into the parking lot, and finds a first-row spot just outside of Mount Union Stadium. "First row...we got lucky today!", the driver mumbles to his friend. The two old timers then simultaneously open their door and very gingerly get out, both sporting their faded 1960's Purple Raiders jacket. A tradition they started wearing back when Mount won their first Stagg Bowl in 1993. Totally oblivious to their surroundings, they very deliberately begin making their way to the stadium's entrance. As they make the short trek their debate rages on (which started 30 miles back just outside of Akron) about who was the better Raider: Chuck Moore or Dan Pugh. As they approach the gate, to no one in particular without breaking stride, they instinctively each flash their Purple Raiders Athletic Events Patron pass, which is about as routine to them as tying one's shoe. Then the two 1965 alums begin their ascend up the bleachers...eventually making their way to their lucky playoff seats. The same seats they've occupied every November for the past 23 years. Finally, as they get settled in, and mutually agree that Nate Kmic was better than both Moore and Pugh, one takes a curious look around and says to the other "Hmmmm....small crowd today".

I kid because I love  Good luck to you Mount fans.

That's funny. A few corrections. 1) They would be discussing Russ Kring vs. Moore vs. Pugh before deciding on that "young 'un" Kmic. 2) The license plate would say "LKRULES". 3) The jacket would be the 1960 Mount Union College but have all of the Championship patches stitched on the back (saw that one at the UWW playoff game last year). You also left out the thermos of tea and 2 cups ("cheers Martha"! "cheers Harry"!)

Oh - and the "lucky playoff seats" don't exist. They have been sitting in the same ones since 1994. Getting a seat on the home side during playoffs is almost impossible because of them!

Ha! I'll do better next time. 

In all seriousness...I wouldn't be surprised if some fans show up in Alliance expecting to see a game Saturday. I imagine 20 straight years(?) of traveling to Alliance for playoff games is a hard habit to break for fans.

After 22 years of home playoff games having a few fans show up may actually happen...now if the band shows up, or worse marches onto the field...."Houston, we have a problem".

[raiderpa]

Mitchell got a lot of yards against OAC teams and was able to break a couple every game, so they added up fast.  He is not a feature back, and I have never seen him break a tackle.  If you wrap him, he goes down.
I would tell my players to not react to his juking and jiving, then when he decides to plant and go, he will be easy to bring down.  I just have no faith in this kid against top notch opponents.  If Mount gets to the semis, he will disappear. I have been waiting for Nero to bust out, but apparently he does not have the power I thought he may.
Along with pass rush, Mount will definitely have to recruit a bruising runner.

[Pat Coleman]

2 deep is here if it hasn't been posted yet - and it is here if it has.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/files/16fbgm-hobart.pdf

Hargrove is listed behind Hill.

Thx for posting. Hobart uses doesn't provide game notes until a couple hours before the game. Worries me to see 3-3-5 D. Hobart has never fared well against that type of defense.

They normally go more 3-5-3...but Holly Rowe (Rowe) astutely pointed out its actually a "3-5-4" defense.  Actually, she may have even said it was a 4-5-3...regardless it was wrong.

Against most teams, It probably just seems that way anyhow.

Pretty sure that was Pam Ward. She did PBP and Holly Rowe works the sidelines.

[Desertraider]

2 deep is here if it hasn't been posted yet - and it is here if it has.

http://athletics.mountunion.edu/sports/fball/2016-17/files/16fbgm-hobart.pdf

Hargrove is listed behind Hill.

Thx for posting. Hobart uses doesn't provide game notes until a couple hours before the game. Worries me to see 3-3-5 D. Hobart has never fared well against that type of defense.

They normally go more 3-5-3...but Holly Rowe (Rowe) astutely pointed out its actually a "3-5-4" defense.  Actually, she may have even said it was a 4-5-3...regardless it was wrong.

Against most teams, It probably just seems that way anyhow.

Pretty sure that was Pam Ward. She did PBP and Holly Rowe works the sidelines.

RIGHT! It was Pam Ward - god she was awful. Thanks Pat! BTW - love the new look on the site.

[badgerwarhawk]

I remember how hard I laughed when I heard her say it.

[wally_wabash]

I think ESPN's Stagg Bowl crews are generally pretty good (yes, even Pam Ward).  It's pretty unfair to judge them too harshly given that they can't possibly be as familiar with the subject material as we are.  If I've got any criticism of the ESPN Stagg Bowl broadscasts, it's only that they have a tendency to grab one or two story lines and beat them into the ground over the course of the game.  They went wild with Jordan Roberts's story (did you know he played against NDSU?!?!?) last year and it got to be a bit much.  But generally they're fine. 

[02 Warhawk]

Splitting hairs here, but I remember her constantly referring to UWW as "Wisconsin-Whitewater" the entire game. It really started to bother me after about the first quarter.

I wanted to yell through the TV "Just say 'Whitewater'!!!"

[Bartman]

Mitchell got a lot of yards against OAC teams and was able to break a couple every game, so they added up fast.  He is not a feature back, and I have never seen him break a tackle.  If you wrap him, he goes down.
I would tell my players to not react to his juking and jiving, then when he decides to plant and go, he will be easy to bring down.  I just have no faith in this kid against top notch opponents.  If Mount gets to the semis, he will disappear. I have been waiting for Nero to bust out, but apparently he does not have the power I thought he may.
Along with pass rush, Mount will definitely have to recruit a bruising runner.

Last time Hobart played UMU Kmic was the Raiders RB, now there was a power back, for sure.

[hsbsballcoach7]

id like to see true fresh choat get some carries, dude seems like he may be the next "one"

I felt like BJ was used perfectly last season as a compliment to Nemeth and it fit him well. Also, in the Stagg Bowl, he didn't try to dance, he just made some good cuts and it worked well. I hope he can get back to that. We really do need to recruit or find a banger on the roster (Nero/Choat?).

I'd like to see Choat get some meaningful time too....when he's ready. He was a powerful runner in high school with some speed. He'll need to add 10 lbs to become a college feature back.

I have confidence that the staff will have the team ready and from the social media interaction I've seen, it seems like the players are taking this all as a challenge!
Let's go Raiders!

On a JCU note, they should win their first round game this week. I hope they don't have a letdown for their sake. In my opinion, they "could" beat WW if they make it that far. This year WW offense hasn't shown that they can impose their will or make big plays and their defense sure gives up a lot of yards.

I hope that the OAC can represent well to get the whiners off of UMU for their SOS. As a note, I do know that the rest of the league is a BAD after UMU and JCU.

[Desertraider]

I think ESPN's Stagg Bowl crews are generally pretty good (yes, even Pam Ward).  It's pretty unfair to judge them too harshly given that they can't possibly be as familiar with the subject material as we are.  If I've got any criticism of the ESPN Stagg Bowl broadscasts, it's only that they have a tendency to grab one or two story lines and beat them into the ground over the course of the game.  They went wild with Jordan Roberts's story (did you know he played against NDSU?!?!?) last year and it got to be a bit much.  But generally they're fine.

Wally - you are spot on about 99% of the time (nobody is perfect...well except perhaps the "Guru" ) but we are going to have to agree to disagree on Pam. She re-introduced me to the mute button and was the reason for listening to the radio broadcast while watching the game (even with the 3-5 second delay - it was better).

The story line I get tired of hearing about during the Stagg Bowl is (drumroll) - "in Division III there are no scholarships like in Divisions I and II....yada yada yada". Yes - it is true, but for god's sake when you say it every 30 seconds. ('Nemeth breaks a tackle and rambles for 26 yards - did you know in Division III they don't have scholarships like in Divisions I and II?') Oy. BTW: did you know Jordan Roberts wants to be a priest? Hmmm - I heard that somewhere

BTW/BTW: Not a knock on Jordan Roberts! Kids awesome. However, a knock on ESPN and their unwillingness to simply call the game like they would call an Alabama or OSU game. It feels like they are sort of 'patting DIII on the head' during the game (way to go young fellas - you're special!).

[emma17]

I think ESPN's Stagg Bowl crews are generally pretty good (yes, even Pam Ward).  It's pretty unfair to judge them too harshly given that they can't possibly be as familiar with the subject material as we are.  If I've got any criticism of the ESPN Stagg Bowl broadscasts, it's only that they have a tendency to grab one or two story lines and beat them into the ground over the course of the game.  They went wild with Jordan Roberts's story (did you know he played against NDSU?!?!?) last year and it got to be a bit much.  But generally they're fine.

Wally, I agree wholeheartedly (mark this day down).  I thought Pam was pretty good on the recording I listened to. 
I believe that was the 2007 Stagg so I admit it could have been Joan Rivers and I would have liked it. 

[HScoach]

Desert^

Exactly my thoughts on their coverage too.

[raiderpa]

Looking at the Mount roster with players eligible to dress for playoffs, I only see (IMO) 4 seniors of consequence and over 55 sophomores and freshmen.  They listed around 110 players eligible to dress for playoffs, not playoff roster. As far as the playoff roster, it should be interesting how many frosh and sophomores dress for the game.