FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[bluestreak66]

I miss my Mount internet friends already 
Hope the series can continue in nonconference

SHOCKED that you picked against the Streaks in the weekly pick'ems!
Historically, from my memory [old man perspective] you would pick JCU regardless.

LOL I know! That was a much closer game than I ever thought it would be!

[MUC 2008]

"The Standard"

I understand that.

We had the fortune of having the greatest coach in college football history for 27 seasons. Winning 93% of the time is not the norm. Losing two regular season games in 19 seasons is not the norm.

The unimaginative offense is ranked No. 7 in yards per game and No. 6 in scoring. Last season it was No. 6 in YPG and No. 5 in scoring.

Let's say we go 11-1 again, or 12-1 (i.e., we don't win the national championship) and you get the coach run out of town. Who's coming in? It's almost certainly going to be someone from the LK coaching tree, correct?

Zac Bruney maybe - he has a winning percentage of just over .500 at Wheeling.

Erik Raeburn? - he had an .875 winning percentage at Wabash with two unbeaten regular seasons out of eight. At Gannon his offense last season was 82nd in total yards per game and 105th in scoring. His best team at Wabash, 2015, (they lost to Mount Union 20-8) was 41st in total offense and 26th in scoring.

Both fine coaches but do they have the resumes of The Standard?

In 1982, a once-in-a-generation coach retired from the University of Alabama with a winning percentage of .824 and six national championships in 25 seasons. In the 25 years after that, Alabama went 202-101-2 (.6655) and won one national championship. And they ran six coaches out of town (the first four were from the Bryant coaching tree) before finding Nick Saban in 2007 - and even that hire was panned by a lot of fans.

I'm not blindly defending Dartt, the play-calling, any of that, OK? But I think it's reasonable to accept that Division III, as a whole, is more competitive than at any time in its history. I want to see the Raiders win every game as much as the next guy. But, man, beating your biggest rival in the final game for the foreseeable future by any margin ... it seems like nit-picking. (I thought our onside kick coverage team was fantastic BTW!)

I post this only to hopefully spur reasonable discussion, not an argument.

This was well stated, as has been many posts on this topic through yesterday and today.

I came on here two weeks ago and lost my mind about the field goal kicking.  Thought for a brief moment that would be assuaged yesterday, but that was an illusion.  At this point, the only word I can use is bewilderment.  Two almost 40 yarders, both while down, which end up being the margin of victory, but yet Mount can't make extra points later on in the game when it matters? Just like two years ago vs. Wartburg? Or countless other examples? What's the common thread here? It's not the players, it's not Jeff Wilkins.  It's another Geoff. And to top it off, the kickoffs to start the game were going through the end zone - then when Mount needs a deep one toward the end of the game, THAT is when Mount decides to pooch kick and it goes out of bounds? Not to mention that Mickey Mouse two point play that every year they trot out in a "will they or won't they" that absolutely no one buys.

That, to me, goes to a bigger issue.  This coaching staff outsmarts itself, constantly.  But it seemingly doesn't outsmart other teams a lot.  Case in point, and allow me to admittedly speculate a bit, as I am not in the coach's room, but presumably this vanilla offense is to keep plays hidden for the playoffs.  Well, I for one am sure glad Mount kept all those "special" plays hidden for all those games after Alma...oh wait...

I saw a defense yesterday that, as has been seen time and time again for the last several years, struggled to get players on and off the field personnel/package wise, looked disorganized, confused, befuddled, pick your adjective.  Is the HC doing too much? Being OC, having to manage game clock (which he consistently fails at doing in key situations?) I obviously cannot answer that, but the small details which Mount took granted and assumed for decades under LK and VK are no longer spoken for, and, to this novice observer, add up at times. A too many men penalty that kept a drive alive for JCU? That's a detail that is on the coaching.  An ill timed pooch kick.  On coaching.  A two point play that had no business being run? On coaching, even if that isn't what was wanted.  Why? Because you shouldn't be lined up in that silly and senseless formation that isn't even fooling Otterbein anyway, yet every year they trot it out thinking they're the 72 Dolphins, resting on the Walnut and Bronzes won by other men.

Another unforced coaching error:  JCU had absolutely no answer for Etch and Noah's big play threats.  So why is Etch only getting 13 touches, on which he had 176 yards?  I mean, nothing against the other young men who carried the rock for Mount yesterday, but Etch clearly is on another level.  I speculate that the staff cannot adjust but for at half, but nothing "in-game," hence the staff is static to what the "schemes" and "plans" and "projections" say.  Maybe it's because what I do in my daily life requires me to think on my feet, a lot, but I just don't see why you don't run Number 0 yesterday until his wheels fell off.  However, I'll leave that up to people who know the game better than me.   

But, I quoted this post for a reason.  Who's out there that's better.  I lived in Erie for 5 years - they're about to build a statue of Raeburn at Gannon, so he's not going anywhere.  And even if, who's to say the BoT thinks there's anything wrong? They look at that .933 winning percentage and probably see us fans as lunatics - and they may not be wrong.  I absolutely love Noah and Etch as players.  They have an edge to them that I haven't see on this Mount team in a few years - Noah reminds me a little bit of Kenny Stabler, though I am too young to have actually seen him play in his day.  He pumped the crowd and students up when it was needed.  Good for him, too many people on the home side sit on the hands too much anyway, if you ask me.  So unless we pool our resources and win the Mega Millions and somehow convince Candle or Campbell to come back to Alliance on a $100 million personal services contract signed by all of us, what we see is what we get. 

Ironically JCU might have made the biggest mistake on the field yesterday after all - trying to block that punt in the second half.  Also, remember, the opponent is allowed to be good too, and JCU is.  I will miss this rivalry for many reasons.  JCU was the only other OAC school I felt engaged in the fan gamesmanship - the EZ Up concession stand and portajohns on the visitors side at Shula Stadium while the home side had palatial facilities, and how last year the only way in was seemingly through the JCU tailgate scene.  Mount will miss ya, Streaks!   

[raiderpa]

I wonder if JCU and Mount would consider a first game home and home in the future?  I know that there are many still stung and angry that JCU left the league, but down the road both will be searching for an opener and the rivalry and lack of travel makes a lot of sense.

[Raider 68]

I wonder if JCU and Mount would consider a first game home and home in the future?  I know that there are many still stung and angry that JCU left the league, but down the road both will be searching for an opener and the rivalry and lack of travel makes a lot of sense.

raiderpa,

It would make sense to schedule a quality opponent as a non conference, but JCU does not want to play the Raiders unless it is in the playoffs. Let's face the real reality of them leaving the OAC, it was not the so called "Academic synergy with the other NCAC schools". but tired of not earning a playoff spot in the same conference as the Raiders.

[Desertraider]

If I am JCU I would cut the Mount game as a nonconference and use BW instead. The BW is a winnable game and their goal is to get into playoffs.

[D3fanboy]

I think that we all know that Dartt will never get "fired".  While I think that there is a lot to be desired as a head coach, he (like the vast, vast majority of coaches) is not doing a bang up job at being both HC and OC. 

Mount has always been loaded with assistant coaches that would become successful after Mount.  A huge problem is that it hasnt looked like there has been any Campbell's, Candles, Caponi's, Bruney's, Manning's, Watson's, Burke's etc on the staff in the past few years.  If Dartt is going to succeed, and I really, really hope that he does, he's going to need some staff help (hire a damn OC!).

[Dr. Acula]

I'm sure JCU is happy to get the football benefits of the NCAC, but I honestly think JCU probably looked at the current landscape for D3 private schools and made a strategic decision to push harder to be a regional if not national university.  They made a move to align with other schools doing the same thing.  They have a natural in all over the country with the parochial ties in any city.  If CWRU returns to the NCAC it only strengthens that wide net model more.  As an OAC fan I'm disappointed, but I think JCU just made a business decision and I don't blame them for it.

[Dr. Acula]

As far as Saturday, I will say that I thought those two teams appeared to be fairly even and closer to JCU's ranking than Mount's ranking if we're being honest.  I'm not saying that's what Mount is, but that's what they looked like Saturday IMO. 

The defense did not look good for long stretches.  If they had both starting corners out, that's certainly an issue out of their control.  But when they couldn't get pressure (which was the case pretty much all day) they were getting shredded in the secondary.  Even with backups I was surprised at that outcome.  The one thing I found myself wondering was who is the "cooler" on the back 7?  In the past they nearly always seemed to have a guy that would make the big play to turn the tide or stop momentum.  Guys like Driskill, Berry, Kostelnik, etc. that just had a knack for making those plays at key times.

Offensively I thought Echeverry looked phenomenal obviously.  His burst and ability to hit 5th gear in the open field was the difference in the game.  The TV guys mentioned he was reminding them a little bit of Chuck Moore the way he was running.  Beaudrie's long TD run was also key.  I thought he played well overall.  I'm not sure what to think of the WRs yet.  Cooper made a really nice tough catch.  Turner got deep on JCU at least twice that I saw.  I think they look competent which we'd expect from a pretty veteran group. 

BW always punches above their weight against Mount.  Bubonics has 9 TD, 1 INT on 80% passing.  This is not going to be easy so hopefully the improvement starts to build this week.

[D3fanboy]

Marcus Jackson seems to be playing fine at one of the LB spots, but I am not sure about the other spot.  I think the secondary will get sorted out when healthy, Parker is one of the top CB in the conference so losing him is going to cause some scrambling back there.  Rossy has to be more dominant as well, if you want to be considered one of the top defenders in the nation, you simply have to play better than what we have seen through two games. He's the number difference maker on defense by far.  If Rossy is back to being a dawg on defense, then I bet the secondary starts looking a little better as well

[Captainred81]

Holy Moly...  Harsh critics.  We did win, it was nerve racking, but we won. 

Positives:

A)  O-line and run game.  Early in the game JCU seemed to be spying on Beaudrie, but they stuck with it and found success.  Also, it seems they realized that the pass was not going to win this game and they doubled down on the run and and scored some points. 
B)  This is a relatively young team, that HAS NOT won a national championship.  They came back from some adversity and played hard, made plays and won a game against a team ranked in the top 25. 
C)  Our punter is pretty good. 
D  Held a good rushing team to 3 ypc

Needs Improvement:

A)  You gotta make the extra points.  The game is out of reach at the end with 4 more points on the board. 
B)  Rossy Moore... why is he in coverage?  He is position to be one of the best DL/LB in UMU history with TFL and sacks.  Again, Why is he in coverage?  If we need more people in coverage, we should take a look at our personnel and determine strengths and weaknesses. In case it's questionable, Moore's strength is rushing the passer. 
C)  Goes with B... pass coverage.  If our best pass rusher is covering receivers... then he's not putting pressure on the QB and the QB has more time to throw, and he's most likely covering someone who is a bit faster and more agile and gets open.  You see my point. 


Definitely D3 is in a different place than it has been.  Lets not forget that VK lost in the 2nd round in 2019.  Then we lost in the semi's to NCC in 21, then Stagg Bowl, then 2nd Round.  With all of the schools and teams getting transfers, and 6th years and it's a tough terrain.  I definitely had some thoughts about a few of the play calls, but I'm pretty good coach while sitting on my couch.  For most the part I thought the offense was powerful and fast and with some experience and repetition they can be very hard to stop.  I would have like to see some more blitz packages, but the JCU QB was poised and good at getting rid of the ball and finding his reads. 

BW week... Lets grow and get another one!!!

[D3fanboy]

on the topic of extra points: I know that he missed an XP, but Mount seems to have a solid kicker this year.  Based off of the roster, the Raiders look to be based on running the ball and playing defense.  Every point is going to be super valuable against quality opponents. Hopefully it was just the coaches getting cute with the swinging gate 2 pt conversion mess and then chasing that point. 

Most experienced OL in all divisions of college football and a stable of running backs...take the points and run the damn ball

[Raider 68]

I think that we all know that Dartt will never get "fired".  While I think that there is a lot to be desired as a head coach, he (like the vast, vast majority of coaches) is not doing a bang up job at being both HC and OC. 

Mount has always been loaded with assistant coaches that would become successful after Mount.  A huge problem is that it hasnt looked like there has been any Campbell's, Candles, Caponi's, Bruney's, Manning's, Watson's, Burke's etc on the staff in the past few years.  If Dartt is going to succeed, and I really, really hope that he does, he's going to need some staff help (hire a damn OC!).

 

Good point, the football assistants rarely are mention unless they do something overwhelming good or bad. There do not seem to be those coaches ready to assume a future potential HC role. I remember the old adage the people hire in their own image, so the HC may not either listen to his assistants or let them coach. The DC needs to look long at hard at their schemes since they were not working. Having your best defensive player in pass coverage is just plain stupid.

[D3fanboy]

I thought last week was the tipping point for '24 Mount Union, who knew that the same could be said for this week?  Another "rivalry week" facing an opponent that hasn't sniffed success vs the Raiders in a very, very long time.  I guess losing off of a freak helmet bounce could be considered a victory by some in Berea. 

Does Mount come out unprepared once again? Will they ever look like a national championship caliber team again?  or are they trying to outsmart everyone once again and save plays/players for the Stagg Bowl? BW will be playing for their season on Saturday, will Mount be going through the motions?  I'd love to see some leadership step up, because it sure isn't coming from the crew wearing headsets on the sidelines

[Raider 68]

I thought last week was the tipping point for '24 Mount Union, who knew that the same could be said for this week?  Another "rivalry week" facing an opponent that hasn't sniffed success vs the Raiders in a very, very long time.  I guess losing off of a freak helmet bounce could be considered a victory by some in Berea. 

Does Mount come out unprepared once again? Will they ever look like a national championship caliber team again?  or are they trying to outsmart everyone once again and save plays/players for the Stagg Bowl? BW will be playing for their season on Saturday, will Mount be going through the motions?  I'd love to see some leadership step up, because it sure isn't coming from the crew wearing headsets on the sidelines

The Raiders could lose in Berea this Saturday if as a team including all the coaches do not improve over last Saturday. A few great performances gave Mount the win against JCU, but beneath the surface, it was ugly. It could be a one TD game with B-W at 3-0 with all the motivation.

[pradierguy]

I think that we all know that Dartt will never get "fired".  While I think that there is a lot to be desired as a head coach, he (like the vast, vast majority of coaches) is not doing a bang up job at being both HC and OC. 

Mount has always been loaded with assistant coaches that would become successful after Mount.  A huge problem is that it hasnt looked like there has been any Campbell's, Candles, Caponi's, Bruney's, Manning's, Watson's, Burke's etc on the staff in the past few years.  If Dartt is going to succeed, and I really, really hope that he does, he's going to need some staff help (hire a damn OC!).

The HC factory seemed to stop right around the time LK stepped back. Obviously he had been in the game a long time, was super secure with himself, and had nothing to fear. But that era of churning out super high quality former-player-turned-coaches has absolutely ended.

I don't think LK not being at the helm is the sole reason. They don't get paid much (understatement of the year), they aren't guaranteed to be coaching in the Stagg Bowl like many years passed, and many of these kids are graduating with 4+++ years of debt.

It is almost like the guys cut out for coaching simply move on, or don't even exist at all any more. 2002-2012 seemed to be a different breed of player (or in all reality were coached better), which in turn, created coaches downstream.

Maybe Dartt fears being pushed. I doubt it though.