FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Yesterday Maurice Shoemakere-Gilmore had himself a pretty good day vs Augie. 26 carries, 220 yds (8.2 ypc) and 1 TD. He also caught 2 TD passes. IWU had been averaging just 142 yds a game on the ground and Augie was giving up 135 yds a game. I still think MSG is one of the better talents at RB in D3 and yesterday, in a game I watched about a half, he was awesome.

USee,

I'm going to disagree with you.  I didn't see this elite back you speak of a couple of weeks ago and his stats against Wheaton don't change my opinion.

Well, I don't see a better back in the league right now. Austin Breunig has the same yds per carry for his season as MSG has for the NCC game and his average for the season is better than any other running backs. I haven't seen any other backs run for 200+ this year against anyone.  I think a lot of what we saw against NCC and Wheaton was the opponents controlling the line of scrimmage and then he got limited carries when the scores got out of hand. I am pretty sure most of the CCIW coaches would take him on their team. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yesterday Maurice Shoemakere-Gilmore had himself a pretty good day vs Augie. 26 carries, 220 yds (8.2 ypc) and 1 TD. He also caught 2 TD passes. IWU had been averaging just 142 yds a game on the ground and Augie was giving up 135 yds a game. I still think MSG is one of the better talents at RB in D3 and yesterday, in a game I watched about a half, he was awesome.

USee,

I'm going to disagree with you.  I didn't see this elite back you speak of a couple of weeks ago and his stats against Wheaton don't change my opinion.

Well, I don't see a better back in the league right now. Austin Breunig has the same yds per carry for his season as MSG has for the NCC game and his average for the season is better than any other running backs. I haven't seen any other backs run for 200+ this year against anyone.  I think a lot of what we saw against NCC and Wheaton was the opponents controlling the line of scrimmage and then he got limited carries when the scores got out of hand. I am pretty sure most of the CCIW coaches would take him on their team.

Amen.  Now that the Diabolical Duo^TM is out of the way, MS-G (to distinguish him from a dietary term ) is hopefully ready to fully break free.  Is 1,500 yards a reasonable estimate?  Or am I being too conservative?

[AndOne]

Hold the pepper, but pass the salt!    . 

[CardinalAlum]

Yesterday Maurice Shoemakere-Gilmore had himself a pretty good day vs Augie. 26 carries, 220 yds (8.2 ypc) and 1 TD. He also caught 2 TD passes. IWU had been averaging just 142 yds a game on the ground and Augie was giving up 135 yds a game. I still think MSG is one of the better talents at RB in D3 and yesterday, in a game I watched about a half, he was awesome.

USee,

I'm going to disagree with you.  I didn't see this elite back you speak of a couple of weeks ago and his stats against Wheaton don't change my opinion.

Gee, a red bird and a Thunder disagreeing on something... what's next?... are yous twos gonna argue over who will win the WC @ SoDup game too???

This world is falling apart

It's actually quite rare as USee and I are usually very much on the same page on how we view things.   That may not be the case this week!   

[CardinalAlum]

Yesterday Maurice Shoemakere-Gilmore had himself a pretty good day vs Augie. 26 carries, 220 yds (8.2 ypc) and 1 TD. He also caught 2 TD passes. IWU had been averaging just 142 yds a game on the ground and Augie was giving up 135 yds a game. I still think MSG is one of the better talents at RB in D3 and yesterday, in a game I watched about a half, he was awesome.

USee,

I'm going to disagree with you.  I didn't see this elite back you speak of a couple of weeks ago and his stats against Wheaton don't change my opinion.

Well, I don't see a better back in the league right now. Austin Breunig has the same yds per carry for his season as MSG has for the NCC game and his average for the season is better than any other running backs. I haven't seen any other backs run for 200+ this year against anyone.  I think a lot of what we saw against NCC and Wheaton was the opponents controlling the line of scrimmage and then he got limited carries when the scores got out of hand. I am pretty sure most of the CCIW coaches would take him on their team.

I completely agree with both statements above.   Moving on so the dead horse video doesn't resurface! 

This will be as big of a game in the conference and for the national scene as there has been in a couple of years in the CCIW.   This game will give someone the inside track to a top seed in the playoffs and the other team a road playoff game and more difficult draw, assuming they can win out in the coming weeks.   Both teams have been puzzling at times.   Wheaton has given up some yardage and points through the air and that seems to be a strength for NCC this year.   The matchup between the offensive line of NCC and the Wheaton D will be a huge factor come Saturday evening.   Wheaton D-Line has been outstanding.   The Cardinals have struggled to run the ball consistently.  I'm sure USee and Mugsy will have more numbers to consider at some point this week.  I'll look forward to that.

[wally_wabash]

This will be as big of a game in the conference and for the national scene as there has been in a couple of years in the CCIW.   This game will give someone the inside track to a top seed in the playoffs and the other team a road playoff game and more difficult draw, assuming they can win out in the coming weeks.   

It's a big game, yes.  BUT:
- As long as UWW, UMU, UMHB, and STT remain unbeaten, the path to a top seed is blocked.  Unless when you say "top seed" you mean something other than one of the #1 regional seeds.  If you mean like a #2 or #3 seed, then sure.  But that's not how I read that. 

- The loser at 9-1, I don't think, necessarily hits the road for round 1.  Either of these teams at 9-1 has the profile to host a 4-5 kind of game.  That gets you on the road for round 2 to one of the purples, but not necessarily on the road to start.  I think either of these teams would host, let's say, somebody like Monmouth in round 1. 

[CardinalAlum]

This will be as big of a game in the conference and for the national scene as there has been in a couple of years in the CCIW.   This game will give someone the inside track to a top seed in the playoffs and the other team a road playoff game and more difficult draw, assuming they can win out in the coming weeks.   

It's a big game, yes.  BUT:
- As long as UWW, UMU, UMHB, and STT remain unbeaten, the path to a top seed is blocked.  Unless when you say "top seed" you mean something other than one of the #1 regional seeds. If you mean like a #2 or #3 seed, then sure.  But that's not how I read that. 

- The loser at 9-1, I don't think, necessarily hits the road for round 1.  Either of these teams at 9-1 has the profile to host a 4-5 kind of game.  That gets you on the road for round 2 to one of the purples, but not necessarily on the road to start.  I think either of these teams would host, let's say, somebody like Monmouth in round 1.

Correct.  I meant a top seed in the region that would hopefully host a couple of games.  And I completely agree that as long as those 4 are undefeated, that's your top 4 seeds.

[Neverwas]

Reading Wally's post makes me excited.  We are half way through the season and the playoff talk is just barely starting to creep in to conversations. I am sure Wally does not share my enthusiasm. 

As a Wheaton fan, it has been nice not worrying about what 9-1 means or doesn't mean for the last two years.  Here's to hoping that continues.

[wally_wabash]

Reading Wally's post makes me excited.  We are half way through the season and the playoff talk is just barely starting to creep in to conversations. I am sure Wally does not share my enthusiasm. 

Stay tuned, friend.  The volume on postseason chatter is going to get turned way up this week. 

As a Wheaton fan, it has been nice not worrying about what 9-1 means or doesn't mean for the last two years.  Here's to hoping that continues.

Given the full on implosion happening in the OAC this year, and the certainty that the North RAC is going to rank a 9-1 CCIW runner up in front of a 9-1 NCAC/HCAC runner up, I don't think Wheaton or North Central have much to sweat on Selection Sunday.  If the Brass Bell runner up runs the table (and they should), they're going to be first in line from the region and they won't have to wait long to get that invitation. 

[Mugsy]

Beyond the Bell game, which for all purposes is likely for the CCIW crown, there are other really intriguing games this week in CCIW action.  Two other games seem to pit teams that appear to be very evenly matched (on paper at least), and could determine in which tier of the CCIW they finish.

Carthage (4-1) @ Elmhurst (4-2):
Both teams have very similar points per game on defense (CC - 20.4, EC - 18.5), and not too dissimilar on offensive scoring.

Augustana (2-4) @ Millikin (2-3):
These two are even closer on points scored and allowed - Augustana has scored 9 more points and allowed 11 more points via one additional game.

[thunderdog]

I probably won't have time to share too many thoughts on the Millikin @ WC game this past Saturday, but 1 player who really caught my eye with his dominant play was Frosh DT #47 Patrick O'Connell (6'1" 257). He played 2-3 yards deep into Millikin's backfield all game long, totally man-handling any would-be-blockers in his way. Looking at his stats for the year, in just 4 games played, he has 15 tackles of which 8.5 are TFL's (43 yards lost) and 5 sacks (32 yards lost)... that tells me that Patrick has been blowing-up the opponents backfield all year long and I just haven't noticed it yet.

A red-shirt Frosh transfer from Ball State... 4 year starter at Stevenson HS... team captain of 14-0 team that won the 2014 IL Class 8A State Championship.

Keep doing what you've been doing young man... and say HI to Broc Rutter for us

Let's Roll!

[thunderdog]

...that's after... of course... Chase Greenlee properly welcomes Rutter to the CCIW...

Let's Roll!

[USee]

I would have put the early line on the Bell game at Wheaton +5.5 and I just noticed it's Wheaton +6.5 in Wallys NCAC pickem. 

More thoughts on the game later in the week but one thing is certain,  these two teams are going to be going at it for the next few years as there are just 11 SR starters among 44 combined for these teams.

[izzy stradlin]

..... these two teams are going to be going at it for the next few years as there are just 11 SR starters among 44 combined for these teams.

Especially in the trenches.  Between offensive and defensive lines, Wheaton has 1 SR starter (Peter Gibson).   I think it's something similar at NCC.

[AndOne]

..... these two teams are going to be going at it for the next few years as there are just 11 SR starters among 44 combined for these teams.

Especially in the trenches.  Between offensive and defensive lines, Wheaton has 1 SR starter (Peter Gibson).   I think it's something similar at NCC.

And One, how are you doing my friend.  Looks like you have a pretty good team to watch this year.  They have been playing well and it will be interesting to see how they do against Wheaton.  Are they as good as they look from afar?  Good luck the rest of the year.

Yes, the Cardinals are very fundamentally sound, tough, and exciting to watch.
Without delving into too deep of an analysis, here are a few things I've noticed so far this season:

* QB on a football team might be the single most important position in all of the major sports. Last year the Cards were ably led by a freshman who posted very good numbers, and showed the potential to be an excellent player in the future. This season, however, they have had the good fortune to have a D1 QB transfer into the program. Broc Rutter, only a freshman eligibility wise, has completed 63.6% of his passes for 1,069 yards and 11 TDs vs only 2 INTs in four games. His efficiency rating is 174.6.
And, should he get hurt, into the game can come a much more than capable backup.

* The Cards are a generally young and deep team. Among the centers, guards, tackles, and TEs on the O line, the current 2 deep chart shows no seniors. They have especially excelled at pass blocking.
Among the other positions on the offensive side of the ball, 2 of the 3 starting WRs are seniors whose experience with things like running routes, I think, aids the freshman QB. Starting RB Austin Breunig is a junior.
The Cards lead the conference in successful 3rd Dow conversions. 

* While probably lacking what can be called a superstar, the WR corps, led by Alex Ulmer, as a whole are experienced, athletic, tough, and results orientated. They always seem to be where the QB expects them to be, and always seem to be able to make the tough catch.

* On defense, the Cards do not currently start any seniors either on the line or at any of the three LB spots. There is some bend to their overall D line and LB play, but not much break.
The secondary is probably NCC's most experienced area overall. 3 of the 4 starters are seniors. With 9 INTs so far, they both defend the pass, and support the run very well.

* The Cards lead the league in:
- Punting
- Preventing the opponent from converting on 3rd down,
- Turnover margin.

** Despite the above, NCC still faces tough competition ahead, particularly in the form of Wheaton which has now racked up 26 regular season conference wins in a row.

Areas for Improvement

* As previously posted about, the Cards are running less, and throwing more this season. However, when they do run, the run blocking needs to improve as they sit only in 5th place in the conference in average yards gained per rush.

*  NCC is currently only 7th in average yards per kick-off return.

Just a few things. Not a complete list by any means. 

Izzy,

In answer to your question, the above is a post I did 4 pages ago in response to a question about the Cardinals from a Wesley (who the Cards played last year) fan. You can read as much or little of it as you choose. However, the bottom line is that NCC starts a total of FIVE seniors---2 (of 3) wide receivers, and 3 of the 4 defensive backs are seniors.
Hope that covers it.