FB: Presidents' Athletic Conference

[fb4life1]

CC,

I will not be able to make it to Greenville this weekend.  Family obligations will keep me away!

Wes,

I agree with you that W&J will be able to run on the undersized and overhyped Thiel D.   However, I was interested in your comments about last years game and checked the games stats.  I was surprised to find that W&J rushed 29 times for 67 yards, not very impressive.  I still feel that W&J will rush for about 200 yards this time around.  We shall see.   

[PittTBCW]

Both Coaching staffs are solid. They both have different philosophies.

I DO think Thiel's defense will be able to shut down the run and they will walk the walk so to say this weekend.

[Wes Mantooth]

Stats dont show as they got away from the run but early in the game they were having success. And i disagree i beleive that the Thiel d from two years ago is better  than this years D for a few reasons #90 George Kum Ji and  Chris Minton. I do not beleive that the Thiel D line has any one close to those two or an All American in the secondary like Kennard Davis(albeit overated). Thiels overall team may have improved but not the Defense. Lorber is a good d lineman but not on the level of those two previous mentioned. But thats neither here nor there things will be settled this saturday on the turf in greenville.

[Cleveland Cartel]

Mantooth,

No doubt about it George and Minton up front gave Thiel size, power and talent up front to stuff the run.

What Thiel has been so good at is coaching the guys to be sound football players.  Each one of those D lineman and Linebackers know their role and they do not try make more plays than they can.  Another big difference is these guys had the leadership of the seniors that graduated before them, and they know how hard they have to work to win PAC's and be 1-0 on every saturday.  Yes, size might not be the same but they are still closing holes and flying to the ball, and that is something Thiel coaches demand everday out of their players. 

Thiel may not have the biggest and most talented Defense but they have depth and guys who go out there and just do their job.  They understand the game and they are coachable.  So they have the opportunity rotate guys in and out to keep their players fresh.

[Bob.Gregg]

So your saying if Thiel wins Saturday you not giving them a chance to win out?  Or are you saying that an 8-2 Thiel team doesnt make the playoffs? Or both..... I can recall in 2004 Thiel was 7-2 going into the final game of the year against Buff State....as it turned out if they would have won they would have made the playoffs at 8-2....and they barely missed at 7-3.

I'm saying IF Thiel wins Saturday, the PAC will NOT have an NCAA tournament team.

I'm NOT saying Thiel can not win out.  They certainly can.

I'm saying I don't believe an 8-2 team from THIS YEAR'S PAC makes the dance.

[South Willy]

Bob...

Do you think the fact that the PAC Champ starting next year is guaranteed a spot will effect this years selection. With 2 in last year and an automatic next year, I don't think they would ignore an 8-2 Thiel or W & J.
Or do we think they will overlook the conference since the champ will get the automatic next year anyway.

[Bob.Gregg]

South,

I don't believe next year's AQ status will have any impact on this year's selection.

We've seen strange things happen amongst the "B" Poolers over the last several years.  There have been too many good teams some years.  There have been years where there weren't enough quality teams and still the spots had to be filled.

Many things can still happen, leaving a 2-loss PAC team up for serious consideration.  But, for a 2-loss PAC team to be up for ANY consideration, at least several things are going to have to happen.

[PittTBCW]

Bob,

Great points!!!

Almost Saturday Predictions coming up in the next few days!!

GO TOMCATS!!!

[AC24#724]

Well..........it's that time for the Swammy to start this week's poster's selections.
TMC vs Westminster, TMC 's defense against the run is very good which will about stall rungame which will make QB have to throw more, his stats have been good in that regard but TMC defense against pass is also good with LB and CB's. Stellman, QB at TMC has some good mobility and good view of field as first year player. Critical game for TMC a little more than Westminny for Westminny must play all top teams left Thiel, WJ and Waynesburg. Tough loss to Thiel haunts TMC but they win here
TMC 21
WM  7

GC vs Bethany......Grind out run game of GC will conrol ball and eat clock, QB getting better each week for GC, Bethany more open offense must make big plays passsing to keep game competitive. Sunny day forecast maybe helpful to utilize speed more in skiled positions but still fall short
GC 21
Bethany 14

Thiel/WJ.........big time game of year in PAC at somewhat early stage of season with some possible?? things down the road blocking clear path for each team. I just can't seem to think that WJ will stop Thiel's run game since Salisbury went threw them and around them although I think Thiel could snuff some of the WJ run game with LB play, stunts, stacking box... leaving QB no option to pass more which could open things up a little for WJ. Receiving corp for WJ is good and also can make things happen after catch. QB at Thiel will need to have "solid day" to keep CB and Safety's at bay on Defense for WJ. If that happens this game will be going down to 4th quarter and a turnover changing game around. Swammy see's this one with home field making difference and a couple key calls going their way:
Thiel 13
WJ 10

Good Luck to all teams this weekend, even the Bye team....Waynesburg....who rests up for bigger weeks to come, starting with Bethany next week at Homecoming but ya gotta want it fellas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PittTBCW]

Prediction Time:

TMC @ Westmini

TMC goes on the road again this week and looks to snap thier losing streak and get even up their record conference play.  The Titans are trying to forget about their one point loss to GCC last weekend and get thier first win in conference play. I think this game will feature more scoring then most think as Westminster will look to throw the ball while TMC will have a little more success offensively this week. I think it will come down to the better defense.

TMC 28 Westmini 20

Bethany vs Grove City

Grove City was able to pull out the one point victory at home last week vs the visiting Titans. While Bethany did not fair that well in thier first conference game vs the defending champion Tomcats. I see this game as a good game. It will come down to Bethany and thier ability to stop the run. My magic eightball says No!

GCC 31 Bethany 21

Game of the week:

Thiel vs W&J

Thiel's returns home for only the second time in 6 weeks and its thier Homcoming as they look to stay atop the conference standings. W&J seeks revenge of the OT loss last year and is coming off a bye week. I think this game will be a very good game much like last years game in Washington. Both temas are different teams as graduation hit both teams. This game will feature more running this year and will be won up front. Thiel's offense looks like it finally got back on track last week and it was lead by the rushing of Minton and Hess. W&J put up high numbers in their last game as Mendel rushed for nearly 200 yards. The question is whether or not these teams can run on each other. I see the conference leaders in rush defense walking the walk before a fired up homecoming crowd.

Thiel 21 W&J 17


Good Luck to all teams this week

GO TOMCATS!!!

[South Willy]

I see GC being able to run the ball but not dominate with the run. BC has starting linebackers back this week and the D will play much better than against Thiel. BC threw for over 200 yards in the rain and muck last week and against an average defense, I can see the BC passing game going for 300+ yards.  IF BC can get through the 1st qtr without giving their opponent a 14 point lead as they have allowed in 3 of 4 games and if BC can even run for 75-80 yards, they will win the day.

I'll reverse Pitt's prediction...BC 31   GC 21.

[Cleveland Cartel]

Willy,  Here are your comments from the previous posts:

And I had to put some facts out there about the "AVERAGE DEFENSE" of Thiel.

I see GC being able to run the ball but not dominate with the run. BC has starting linebackers back this week and the D will play much better than against Thiel. BC threw for over 200 yards in the rain and muck last week and against an average defense, I can see the BC passing game going for 300+ yards.  IF BC can get through the 1st qtr without giving their opponent a 14 point lead as they have allowed in 3 of 4 games and if BC can even run for 75-80 yards, they will win the day.

I'll reverse Pitt's prediction...BC 31   GC 21

Thiel for having an average defense did a bang up job in a 49-7 drubbing of your bisons.  Bethany ran 58 total offensive plays and had 201 total yards which includes -3 on 21 rushing attempts.  Bisons two quarterbacks attempted 36 passes which comes out to be 62% of the time your passing the ball. 

Bethany also has great recievers with parker and Cruze and to think the Oline could run all over Thiel would of been a mistake, and the coaches knew their strengths and they passed all day.  Of course your going to rack up some yardage by passing 62% of the time. 

To say Thiels D is average here are some stats for you to chew on:

Tomcats are ranked 17th in the nation for total defense and 37th in total defense in the nation.

In the PAC Thiel's Defense is ranked number 1.  Including these categories also Points allowed a game, passng yards allowed, rushing yards allowed and total defense.

Dating back to 2004 (27 games)  the only running backs to eclipse 100 yards are Ryan Mendel with 105 in   2004, and Ryan Ables 123 yards in 2005. 

Tell me now is Thiel's Defense still average? 

If Thiel's Defense is average than the Bison's offense is overated. 

[South Willy]

CC...

Ouch, sorry to get you so excited.

My grammar was probably bad but I was refering to the Grove City defense the Bison play this week as average. I mentioned in a previous post that I think Thiel has the "D" to shut down W & J's run game and lock up a close win at homecoming.

[South Willy]

CC...

I look forward to your opinion and prediction for the BC/GC game this week.

[Cleveland Cartel]

South Willy,

My apologies!  I referenced that line in terms of Thiel's Defense now I can breath a little!  Once again sorry about that I honestly read your paragraph 4 times to be sure I understood everything.  I really am sorry. 

Other than that I agree your observations thus far!