FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[section13raiderfan]

Micheli looks very akward sliding to avoid contact. If he gets hurt...it will be by sliding. You know he doesnt want to do it....its just the last thing  LK can coach him on. He mastered everything else so far.

Is ONU gonna mail it in the rest of the way? What the...........!???

Is Rocky still at CAP? Will the Assman be able to do what the Rock never could?

GO NATE

[mr_mom]

I think Nate has over 700 yards in three games vs. St. Johns Fischer College.

801 yards in 3 games

[Mugsy]

HS Coach: Good work!

Nate: Nice Stats!

Nate has a total of 2724 yards during the playoffs for an average of 181.6 per game rushing....against the best teams in the country.

I was not suprised by his lesser rushing games versus traditionally "weaker" programs either....

It makes sense when Mount is up big on someone to pull him during the 1st or 2nd quarter.

I don't want to say someone is "owed" something but for all the times Nate has been pulled at half, I hope he does smash all the records.  I'm guessing Mr. Bowers played full games during his career.

Over 2700 yards rushing in the playoffs.  Amazing. 

To put that into perspective:
Prior to the past decade, Wheaton had a history of prolific QB's and not too much emphasis on the run game.  So as a result Wheaton only has 3 RB's with more than 2700 yards rushing for their career.  In fact the all time rushing leader for Wheaton has 3100 yards, which isn't a shabby college career.

If Kmic stays healthy and barring a significant upset early in the playoffs, Kmic will have more yards rushing in his playoff career than all Wheaton RB's have in their careers.

[seventiesraider]

Is Rocky still at CAP?

No, but Cousin Rocco is a second year Freshman DB for the Buckeyes

[pradierguy]

Augustana 37-361

St. John Fisher 42-371   

LOL. Unreal.

[skunks_sidekick]

It's still early.........but with the way the D-III national scene is shaking out do we have a potential "game of the year" this weekend in Alliance?  It looks like CAP is that good (but of course we will know more after this weekend) so I am expecting one knock-down, leave it on the field game.

You KNOW the A$$man is one tough dude to endure THAT name his whole childhood life!   

Sliding.....sliding.....there's no stinkin' SLIDING in football!   

Early prediction.......CAP loads the box, but also doubles up the Cece with a safety over the top as much as possible.  Mount reacts by moving Cece around the field, and he has a "Garcon/Shorts" type of game by running, catching, and THROWING a touchdown.  Nate wears em down in the 4th quarter to rush for a buck fiddy.

A$$man throws for two TD's, but is picked off twice.

Final - Mount - 31
           CAP - 14

And....the North Canton Southwest A Team scores a record 35 points to beat its cross-town rival NORTH!  (You heard it here first).   8)

[OU#25]

Mr. Ypsi,

I was thinking the same thing...however there's more regular season games then playoff games so I think that it more than balances out.  Also don't forget that Nate did not play during the regular season his Freshman year.  I'll rate Nate doing it against the OAC and the rest of the nation's best...over Bowers doing it against Geneva, St. Vincent, Waynesburg, Bethany, Thiel  and a host of others. 

Also as exciting as it is for Nate to crack the 100 touchdown mark and many other records...which he will probably do...I stll need to mention Bill Borchert running & passing for more than 200 touchdowns during his Mount Union career.  He really needs to be recogized by a higher athletic body for is work.  According to the NCAA Records office in Indy, Mount Union has the option to count Borchert's regular and post season statistics in a combined manner (like any modern day player) but they've chosen not to do that at this time.

[Wideout]

I agree with sidekick but we do have other receivers that can play the game I think.

[JK]

Capital's offense has to be productive, take care of the football, and keep the defense off the field as much as possible or Nate will wear them down in the fourth like you predict.

Cap's DL and LBs are all pretty good.  I don't know if they will have to load the box to stop Kmic, I think they can get it done with 7.  I think the DBs are the weakest part of Cap's defense, so I worry about Micheli and Shorts going off more than I worry about Kmic getting 150 on the ground.  HE'll get his 150 if he plays 4 quarters.  You have to worry about him getting 250.  150 means it's a good game, 250 means MUC is doing whatever they want on the ground...

On the flip side, I think (hope) you short change Cap's offense with your prediction of them only scoring 14.  Marty has three legit All conference type talents at WR to throw to.  Alexander and Blake have already been All-OAC and Matt White will be soon.  I believe White is 6'2" 200+-ish...think Kive Kraft or Lewis Howes type of body, maybe a bit shorter, but just as thick.  Still young and learning though.

The running game is the weak part of the Cap offense again, so that is my worry on that side of the ball.  But, Manny Matsakis is more "run and shoot" and Collins was more "spread."  I think RB's Tim Connor and Dominic D'Andrea are good enough to keep the defense honest though...put in 8 or 9 DB's and those guys could get 4 or 5 yards a carry.

Capital's freshman kicker is pretty good and Tom Ganter, the Punter, could be all-OAC.  He might be needed to change field position...

It really does look to be a great game.  I'm not going to make a prediction other than Cap will score 24...

[Wideout]

If DB's are weak for CAP then its game over 350 in the air multi. receivers.

[HScoach]

Nate's playoff production:

2005 Playoffs
Vs. Mt. St. Joseph 25-157
Vs. Augustana 37-361
Vs. Capital 38-177
Vs. Rowan 48-160
Vs. Whitewater 28-185

2006 Playoffs
Vs. Hope 6-43
Vs. Wheaton 29-294   
Vs. Capital 38-174
Vs. St. John Fisher 42-371   
Vs. Whitewater 25-111

2007 Playoffs
Vs. Ithaca 29-199
Vs. New Jersey 14-68
Vs. St. John Fisher 20-199
Vs. Bethel 19-104
Vs. Whitewater 30-121

What I find amazing more than the pure numbers is that only New Jersey could be classified as "shutting down Kmic". 

But then again they completely (and stupidly) stacked the line of scrimmage in a blind effort to stop the running game and left Garcon, Davis and company running free in the secondary as Micheli finished 18 of 25 for 354 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

Everyone KNOWS that Nate is getting the ball come playoff time, and yet he still get his yards.  The guy is simply a stud!  (see Note 1 below)



Note 1:  whoever has the Mr. Obvious trophy, please send it to me ASAP

[cufan]

I think Caps DB's have been very solid this year.  If Ronnie Smith is healthy this weekend it should be a great game.

I think more importantly for Cap is they have to protect Marty and keep Mounts defense off balance with several successful running plays.

[HScoach]

JK,

Thanks for actually talking some football.  I also agree with your statement about Kmic and 150 yards.  He'll get his yards.  What Capital must do is not let Nate control the game.  Expecting to shut down Kmic isn't realistic.  Just don't let him beat you with big plays.

I might be slanted in my thinking being an old lineman, but I think the key for Capital is the O and D lines.

Defensively, the Capital front 4 against the young, but improving, Mount O-line will define their day.  If Capital can get pressure on Micheli without blitzing, then Cap has a very good chance at controlling the MUC offense.  Mixing in some blitzes to confuse the offense and to keep them honest is great, but if Cap HAS to blitz to stop Kmic and pressure Micheli, it's over.

By contrast, BW's front 4 did very little in pressuring Micheli or closing down the running lanes for Kmic.  They were completely manhandled at the line of scrimmage.  Now I don't know whether that means the MUC O-line has improved that much since SJF and ONU, or whether the BW defense isn't that good, but I'm leaning towards BW being down defensively since Franklin hung 42 on them.

Offensively for Capital, the O-line needs to keep Millings and Herbert off of Assman and run the ball enough between the tackles on draws to keep Williamson and Liggett honest.  They don't need to run for 100 yards, just hit a few quick 6-7 yards runs to slow down the pass rush.  As BW found out last week, if the threat of the run is not there, the MUC D-line is almost unblockable.  Especially Millings and Herbert.

I'm expecting a great game.  The long range weather forecast looks good too.

[Dr. Acula]

Good point about Cap's other WR's, JK.  It's more than the Alexander show.  All three have impressive ypc numbers (over 17.5) so I definitely think the MUC DB's need to avoid the big play.  And Evan Blake already has 6 TD's.  My hope as a Raider fan is that they can pressure Assman enough to force him into a bad throw or two.  Tough task given his performance so far.

If they contain Kmic with only their front 7 I will be very surprised.  Of course, I guess one's definition of "contain" is relative. But if anyone has the horses to do it, it's Cap.  Should be a good one as always.     

[OU#25]

uhhhhhhhhhh...and don't forget that Micheli can and will run.  So pressure on a typical QB is one thing...pressure on Micheli is something else...I believe he's got over 1,000 rushing yards for his career...so a controlled pass rush might be a better idea for Capital come Saturday.