FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[Onward on, John Carroll]

The thing that really stood out to me watching the JCU/Berg game yesterday was the body language.  Berg was up for that game big time and it showed.  They were playing with some swagger.  JCU just seemed flat to me.  And honestly they looked that way against BW too.  I'm curious if the JCU posters agree? 

Regardless, great win for Berg.  3-0 and those are no cupcake wins.  They have some dudes on offense.  I really like that Vocke kid.  Versatile.  He's playing RB, he's splitting out in the slot playing WR.  Their skill guys are problematic.

I absolutely agree 100%. I feel like it's beginning to show how much Arth brought to the table, and what exactly they lost. I was at the playoff games against both UWW and UWO last year, and you could tell the team legitimately thought no one could beat them. Haven't seem them play in person yet this year, but just watching online, they seem like they're just going through the motions. It is clear that there is something missing this year that last year's team had. There is still time to right the ship. The playoffs seem like a longshot this go-round, but that doesn't mean JCU needs to go the Capital route. Hopefully, they can write this year off as a setback, and maybe come back next year even stronger.
In the meantime, I think the Berg-Mount game looks like it could be very, very good this year! Berg was able to through one monkey off their backs, so maybe they'll get the other one off this year too.

I was afraid that this JCU squad would be a 7-3/6-4 team and said as much on this board before the season.  Disappointed I am right but I think I am right. 

The offense is sputtering and the two headed QB is confusing to me.  We go to the national semifinals with a redshirt freshmen in Moeglin and now all of the sudden he gets yanked in games 1 and 3 of the following season. Now, watching the games, I agree that he has looked less than sharp.  Trouble adjusting to a new offense, a new coach or a new way to prepare?  Loss of supporting cast reeking more havoc than expected?  An injury that is nagging him or not healing?  I am not sure what it is but the kids does not look engaged and the back-up doesn't look much better.

Arth was a special coach and we reaped the rewards of that for several seasons with one loss seasons and playoff appearances and excitement.  That said, we were always very close to not making the playoffs in many those seasons. Just last year we snuck by BW and ONU.  Even with a win over Mount, a 7-3 team is not getting a Pool C.  A three point loss to ONU cost us the playoffs in 2015. As you pointed out, we won those games in years past but, this year, so far, we have lost those games/that game.

Let's hope they do not give up on the season and start rebuilding for nest year.

[hsbsballcoach7]

And jcu falls out of the Top 25...not really a surprise since they are 1-2 and just got ground-up by the Berg. But given everything that came back from last year - wow. I guess the surprise is that they haven't even looked competitive, other than against BW - which isn't saying much.

I agree Mounts D is the strength thus far. It concerns me only because the D has seen some lack of discipline by a few. I love the way Charlie Dear plays because he seems on the egde of losing control flying all over the place. However, he has crossed over a few times (personal foul against BW). As strong as the D has been - I have noticed quite a few lapses. Geat pressure with 4 or 5, QB slips the pressure and persuit- WHAM welcome to 20 yards of green up the middle. ot saying they missed assignments - but because of the way Mount pressures and persues - they can't afford a missed tackle, especially in space. Saw a few of those against Etta and BW that resulted in good yardage. At the end of the day its BW and Etta - they really lack the weapons to make you pay for it. Berg appears different. Those mistakes could be costly.

The run game looked really good yesterday. Petrucelli (in need a nickname) ran tough between the tackles. JEM not so much early. However, after standning on the sidelines and watching Petrucelli (really need a nickname) it was almost as if he had a "lightbulb" moment ('this freshman is taking my spot')because when he came back in 3rd qtr, he ran different. He hit the hole and kept going instead of hitting the hole and bracing for contact. He was hitting tacklers and taking 2 or 3 or bouncing it. He has to keep that up.

In terms of where this compares with other Mount teams....well I don't see a ring - yet.

Don't care - I am going with PETRuceLli - and adding an "O" for "Oh my god did he just hurdle that dude"? I am calling him PETROL - it makes the machine GO!

desertraider,

Petrol is a good one!

Petrucelli = "cell block"?
I like that they wear the old durags like the teams of the 90's. Never forgot how fearsome the Dlinemen looked with the paint/headgear.

[mr_mom]

Spreads for Week #5 have been posted. 

Oh wait ... Shenandoah-Randolph Macon is on Thursday night.  Let me go remove it before smedindy races to make the pick.   

[Dr. Acula]

I was looking at the stats on NCAA.org and saw that the OAC has five QB's in the top 50 in pass efficiency in D3 including four in the top 20.  Pretty good.

Fulford (1)
Creditt (13)
Stepp (16)
Freed (18)
Stoyle (41)

[Craft_Beermeister]

Hansen Ratings just came out with week 4 playoff predictions for DIII playoff. The only OAC teams listed as having odds to make the playoffs are UMU at 96% and Heidelberg at 63%. The odds posted to win it all were listed at 29% for UMU and 1% for Heidelberg.

Following UMU in odds for be Champion were St. Thomas and Mary Hardin-Baylor with both at 15%

[Small but Slow]

 1% for Heidelberg.

So you're saying there's a chance.

[merlecanlas]

1% for Heidelberg.

So you're saying there's a chance.

1% more of a chance than JCU.  who would have thought that going into the season?

[BergAlum]

1% for Heidelberg.

So you're saying there's a chance.

1% more of a chance than JCU.  who would have thought that going into the season?

I knew it was our year   
Shame though we will lose so many to graduation after this year; so its one last playoff run for a while probably

[edward de vere]

I like "Petru The Punisher", or just "The Punisher."

Though it is theoretically possible that this is somewhat over the top. . . .

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

1% for Heidelberg.

So you're saying there's a chance.

[bluestreak66]

1% for Heidelberg.

So you're saying there's a chance.

1% more of a chance than JCU.  who would have thought that going into the season?

I knew it was our year   
Shame though we will lose so many to graduation after this year; so its one last playoff run for a while probably

Speaking from experience, it is better to have run and lost than not to have run at all 

[merlecanlas]

Can Berg be this year's JCU?  They aren't beating Mount, can Berg go 9-1?  and would that equal a home playoff game?  or does Berg screw up and lose to BW or some other OAC that they should handle?

[Pat Coleman]

9-1 with a loss to Mount Union can often be a recipe for a first-round home game but it depends on how the rest of D-III does.

[merlecanlas]

9-1 with a loss to Mount Union can often be a recipe for a first-round home game but it depends on how the rest of D-III does.

that would be great for the OAC

[BergAlum]

Can Berg be this year's JCU?  They aren't beating Mount, can Berg go 9-1?  and would that equal a home playoff game?  or does Berg screw up and lose to BW or some other OAC that they should handle?

I would like to think the Tricolor are going to go 9-1; but given how we struggled against the muskies, and lost to the bein last year; a sweep of the rest of the non-Mount OAC schedule is no guarantee.  Personally, I think we might blow a game in the coming weeks; though looking forward to see how they play this week against the muskies, as this will be the first game this year against a not so solid squad. If they are not dominate over them, maybe we have just been lucky so far.