FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[bluestreak66]

Mood for tomorrow's game.....

[Desertraider]

So I heard Mount's JV lost to jcu this year? Random lady at Meijer in Avon seemed very eager to tell me (my Mount pullover does invite commentary from time to time). Found it funny she walked away saying "keep it classy Mount". Wait - wasn't it jcu students and fans that threw a hissy fit and blocked the parking lot exit, dumped trash cans around Mount's campus, caused the Mount physical plant to get called in for overtime clean-up and were a general disgrace? Meanwhile, the Mount faithful responded as we normally do. Exited the stadium in orderly fashion, straight to the chapel and prayed for those pitiful streaks 

Mount 654 - jcu (-7).....and Mount goes for 2 to close it out. Find the gas pedal - never let up. 

[archgemini24]

Are the Raiders saving Petro for something? And why are they throwing 1st-and-goal from the 2? AND 2nd-and-goal from the 2? This seems like the perfect time to just direct snap to Petro 4 times and break their will a little bit.

[Desertraider]

I was wondering about passing from the 2 as well. As for Petro - I have ZERO info - I think maybe Parker is just the 1st option.

[archgemini24]

I was wondering about passing from the 2 as well. As for Petro - I have ZERO info - I think maybe Parker is just the 1st option.

Fair points. Follow-up question: Are they saving Parker for something? 10 total carries between them is just low. He does have a few catches, though.

That said, JCU has had almost zero answer for Plunk (28-for-33), so maybe it's just a matter of the Streaks can't stop the passing game. Sticking with it until things change or the weather turns sour?

[archgemini24]

That pick hurt only because the backfield release was open to put the receiver in space against probably a linebacker. That throw would have been another great one, but not one that was necessary.

Parker is definitely the first option now.

AND, wow, RUBY! Woah, dude, calm down!

[Desertraider]

I have not seen cumulative stats yet - but 37 attempts early in 3rd qtr seems a bit pass heavy. On the drive with the pick - that run by Parker is exactly why I think he is the better option. He runs like Petro from 2 years ago. Great balance and vision and I loved the cut back to the middle from the sideline...got an extra 10 yards.

[Desertraider]

At this point it is 13 rushing attempts and 37 pass attempts.

[bluestreak66]

That game actually went much better than expected!

[WRMUalum13]

I know it's the classy thing to do, but taking a knee at the 5 against JCU just feels wrong lol.

Overall good showing by JCU, our announcers think they'll drop out of the top 25, but so far they've had a close loss to a top 15 team, and a 2 score loss against a top 5 team. I think their #21 rank is warranted.

Really felt like this could have been a 42-7 game if the Mount O had been a bit sharper. I'm not totally sold on going away from the zone-read style offenses we've had since 2012. It looks like we're currently running a west-coast style short pass attack that is effective, but makes us a little less dynamic compared to a read-option attack IMO. But then again, changing the offense to fit Plunk's skillset makes sense.

I was also a little concerned about the number of near-interceptions Plunk threw today. He's awesome and can really thread the needle, but sometimes maybe threading a little too close for comfort.

Hats off to JCU's recruiting, they just seem to reload with big, fast players every year. They match up physically with anyone in D3.

[archgemini24]

GG, JCU!

Takeaways, even if some qualify as nit-picky:

Maybe it's early in the season, but I'd like to see Plunk pull it down on few of those bootlegs where he has a lot of space. He doesn't need to break it big or risk a hit, but even just getting 5 or 6 yards would set up more manageable situations later. If that is the plan for later in the season, fine, but when yards become more of a premium against better teams, the cheap yards could be crucial. I know he's not going to be like the last set of QBs that have logged significant minutes (Fulford, Poorman, Davis, Scott, and Burke had no problem pulling it down as it was convenient), but that threat is missing, and teams know it.

The sideline throws trying to drop it between two defenders and get a receiver toe-tap look great if they convert them, but look like really bad decisions when they miss. Someone had to be unaccounted for to get an easier completion.

Running game managed to have a good afternoon. Seemed like as soon as I mentioned my questions about the running game, Parker started getting a few.

The pass defense still needs a bit of work. There were a few lost-in-coverage receptions that were not very inspiring. The corners also looked a bit slow, but that is probably not giving Fugh enough credit. It is worrisome, though. Capable receivers like that have been a problem (Kameinski and Kumerow come to mind), and I am certain the other teams at the top of the polls have a similar stud.

Rush D was nice, though. Most teams still do Mount a favor when they run the ball.

Fortunately, I think Mount Union just finished their toughest stretch of the regular season, and has time to improve. I am not sure how much we will be able to tell how much they have improved until the playoffs, though.

[archgemini24]

I know it's the classy thing to do, but taking a knee at the 5 against JCU just feels wrong lol.

Overall good showing by JCU, our announcers think they'll drop out of the top 25, but so far they've had a close loss to a top 15 team, and a 2 score loss against a top 5 team. I think their #21 rank is warranted.

Really felt like this could have been a 42-7 game if the Mount O had been a bit sharper. I'm not totally sold on going away from the zone-read style offenses we've had since 2012. It looks like we're currently running a west-coast style short pass attack that is effective, but makes us a little less dynamic compared to a read-option attack IMO. But then again, changing the offense to fit Plunk's skillset makes sense.

I was also a little concerned about the number of near-interceptions Plunk threw today. He's awesome and can really thread the needle, but sometimes maybe threading a little too close for comfort.

Hats off to JCU's recruiting, they just seem to reload with big, fast players every year. They match up physically with anyone in D3.

I feel better that other folks watching had nearly the same thoughts on this game that I did, especially with the shifts in the offense (screens or short-outs to the wide side of the field always make me hold me breath: those are begging to get pick-6'd). There were definitely a few throws that should have gone to someone else or mucked. If Mount is going to use the short-passing game as an extension or complement to their running game, fine. Just use it.

The read-option might be dead without a QB that will pull it. Better to not run it at all than to run with it with a QB that is always going to hand it off (see Stroud and Ohio State).

[Desertraider]

I would have liked Mount to establish the run early. Very pass happy - and not even the fun type of pass happy. I didn't get a view of the "22" but it seemed jcu was in 2 deep safety for most of the game. The seams were there and the middle on 10-12 yard routes. But alot of dump offs. Granted Parker out of the backfield was impressive. Saw several plays with 2 wide to a side and the inside receiver was covered by safety playing 12 yards off - would have loved to see Mount hit hard slants or run a slant and bring the outside up the exposed seam. Oh well.

[archgemini24]

I would have liked Mount to establish the run early. Very pass happy - and not even the fun type of pass happy. I didn't get a view of the "22" but it seemed jcu was in 2 deep safety for most of the game. The seams were there and the middle on 10-12 yard routes. But alot of dump offs. Granted Parker out of the backfield was impressive. Saw several plays with 2 wide to a side and the inside receiver was covered by safety playing 12 yards off - would have loved to see Mount hit hard slants or run a slant and bring the outside up the exposed seam. Oh well.

Agreed on the first point: I would have liked to see more running early, but if the defense is going to play off the receivers and constantly give the offense 5-8 yards, I can respect the discipline of the coaches and players to not get bored with it. It is workmanlike and entirely unfun, but with the style of offense they seem to be running, it is a bread-and-butter and rhythm-establishing play. Maybe later on it sets up double-moves, but at the very least it wins the down since they aren't running zone-read option with the running game anymore. I think this style of offense might also help explain how Parker managed to win the nod over Petro: Parker is a hell of a pass-catching back out of the backfield, and ended up being the leading receiver today.

Regarding the options on formations opening things for the inside receiver, I admit I was not looking at that too much, but given the ease and success of their basic pass play, I don't think they were looking too much, either. I hope they catch that when they watch the film.

[JCUStreaks70]

Thanks for the kind words Mount fans. We've been able to keep the #2 in the OAC status for 8 years, and I hope we can continue this trend. I'd love nothing more than to overtake you all, but I do believe that while we are going to be out of the Top 25, we are probably the best 1-2 team in the country.