FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[ncc58]

If anyone has payed attention to the NCC EC games for the past three years....they haven't even been close. I think EC has come a long way, but they do not have the same kind of athletes that NCC, IWU or wheaton have. 

Maybe I'll eat my words..but the odds of EC making the playoffs are not that great.  They would have to go 9-1 and beating two out of three of those teams just is a tall order...

Completely disagree!  They DO have the same kind of athletes.  Scottie Williams could be the best player in the conference.   Lester has done a great job of recruiting the same types of kids that NCC has now and is a great coach.  I think Elmhurst has as good a shot as they have had in many years.

I agree, which is why North Central needs to come out and play as they have in the last two games. If Elmhurst can't mix up the offense and need to rely on Williams all night, I think it will be tough for them to pull out the "W".

I don't think anyone will take EC lightly all year. Scottie Williams is a threat, every team has seen enough of him that they know he could easily rush for 200+ yards.

I wouldn't say that Lester is a great coach, he's good coach though. EC needs to do better than a middle of the pack CCIW record.

[Langhorst_Ghost]

I'm starting to climb on the Elmhurst bandwagon.
It used to be a team could make a few mistakes against EC and still come away with a win, but I sense this is no longer the case.  `

There's plenty of room on the back of the Bluejay bandwagon - just be sure to leave that red letterman's jacket in Naperville!

If anyone has payed attention to the NCC EC games for the past three years....they haven't even been close. I think EC has come a long way, but they do not have the same kind of athletes that NCC, IWU or wheaton have. 
Maybe I'll eat my words..but the odds of EC making the playoffs are not that great.  They would have to go 9-1 and beating two out of three of those teams just is a tall order...

Completely disagree!  They DO have the same kind of athletes.  Scottie Williams could be the best player in the conference.   Lester has done a great job of recruiting the same types of kids that NCC has now and is a great coach.  I think Elmhurst has as good a shot as they have had in many years.

It takes time to build a program.  Coach Lester and is staff are now in their 5th year, and this year's senior group is Lester's first recruiting class and a REALLY good one (Furco, Williams, Tuckson, Lane, Homoky, and others).  That means 4 years in the system, developing themselves as athletes and students of the game, becoming completely in sync with the coaching staff and the expectations of the Head Ball Coach.  And yes, the talent gap has shrunk considerably since Lester arrived.  EC has had a long run of talented skill players, but the depth and ability of the entire roster is tremendously improved.

How soon we forget where NCC was before Thorne arrived.  3-7 in 2001, 5-5 in 2000, 2-7 in '99, 3-6 in '98 - an "also-ran" in the CCIW.  And it didn't happen overnight for the Cards under Thorne either...6-4 in 2002, 7-3 in '03 and '04 before climbing to the top of the conference in '05. 

This is not all that dis-similar a pattern from the 'Jays current path.  6-4 (3-4) from '05 to '07 under Journell, then 3 out of 4 winning seasons under Lester from '08 on (including two seasons at 4-3 in the conference).

Building a successful program takes time, talent, consistency, and support - check, check, check, and check under the Lester regime.  Is NCC still the class of the conference?  Absolutely they are.  But just as NCC had to overtake Augie and Wheaton to get to where they are, the 'Jays will have their chance next Saturday to take that next step.

[AndOne]

Looks like I really started something with my comment about Elmhurst.

I do want to make it perfectly clear that when I said I am starting to get on the EC bandwagon, I did not mean I expect them to beat NCC, Wesleyan, or Wheaton. What I meant is that I think they are capable of doing so unless the other teams bring their A game to the field. It used to be that a team could probably commit 3-4 turnovers, or play poorly on special teams or something on that order and still post a W vs EC. I don't think thats the case anymore. While I still don't expect EC to triumph against the other teams mentioned, they have come up to the point where they are in position to do so in the absence of the best effort from the opponent.

[USee]

Interesting Wheaton dropped 1 place in the poll and lost 25 points with a big win over a cream puff. Must have been the Albion v Benedictine result has taken some of the luster off the Thunder for the pollsters?

[Pat Coleman]

Brockport State and Buffalo State moved onto everyone's ballot this week. Those votes had to come from somewhere.

[NCF]

Looks like I really started something with my comment about Elmhurst.

I do want to make it perfectly clear that when I said I am starting to get on the EC bandwagon, I did not mean I expect them to beat NCC, Wesleyan, or Wheaton. What I meant is that I think they are capable of doing so unless the other teams bring their A game to the field. It used to be that a team could probably commit 3-4 turnovers, or play poorly on special teams or something on that order and still post a W vs EC. I don't think thats the case anymore. While I still don't expect EC to triumph against the other teams mentioned, they have come up to the point where they are in position to do so in the absence of the best effort from the opponent.

A little controversy to the board is a good thing

[79jaybird]

From somebody who has seen plenty of the goods and the bads of EC football over the last decade here's my perspective.
A) Lester is a great coach and great motivator. Plus I think he is the best recruiter we have had in a while.  Wish some of the other cabinet members were like Tim.
B) Athletes-  Elmhurst has had the same level of players as NC/IWU/WC the last few years. I.E. Demma, Evans, Luna, etc.  The difference has been execution.  You can't look at a Studebaker, because he is a unique horse that doesn't come around every year.
C) It takes time to build a program- Correct, however Elmhurst has been saying that since 1987 and the Wendell Harris era.  At some point this "time" gets consumed and you have to either put the *** on the field or get off the pot.  Just like potty training my 2 year old,  "It takes time to graduate out of diapers"... but you can't wear diapers for ever. 
D) It's a great day to be a Jay- And Thunder, and Cardinal, and Titan, and Red Men, etc.  Any day on the field is a gift from God and be thankful you have the opportunity to play.

[shepherd]

It was nice to see a Wheaton win after the loss although I am not sure it told us to much on the overall strength of the team yet. 
1. Jordan Roberts was running better than he did in week 1.
2. Although the stats show only one sack the offensive line pass blocking has some strong links and still some matters that need to be addressed.  Looked like they just put a band aid on the problem.  Cut blocking should never be the first mode of pass blocking it wont work in CCIW play.
3. Reece Butler has potential to be a good quarter back somewhat similar to Sean Norris.  The coaching staff said he had a great preseason and his couple of plays he was in show he was pretty comfortable.
That is what I got out of the game.
Does anybody know the status of injured players?  I think more than 10 didn't dress for game one.  Is anybody out for the year? Espesially Charlie Velling and Garrett Meador.

[shepherd]

To any Elmhurst fans did Scottie Williams lose weight?  Its so hard to tell with rib pads etc.   He seems a little faster and looks like he has a lower body fat ratio than last year.

[Mugsy]

Does anybody know the status of injured players?  I think more than 10 didn't dress for game one.  Is anybody out for the year? Espesially Charlie Velling and Garrett Meador.

I'm more concerned about the status of Hiben.

Not because I know anything about the nature of his injury that has led to being held out the last 2 games, but more to the impact he has on the Wheaton offense.  He had 7 catches in the one half he played this year (at Benedictine) and was virtually unstoppable unless you double team him.  BU started double teaming him in the 2nd half.  I don't recall when the injury occurred.  If you need to double Hiben, that makes the other WR's just that much more effective.

Yes, Meador is the returning CCIW OPOY, but Roberts is not a significant dropoff at all (IMO).

Yes, Velling was a 1st Team All-CCIW a couple of years back, but he took a couple years off and is likely only to get some spot carries here and there with Jarrett as the primary back.  Now if Jarrett gets injured, then it becomes a bit more of an issue.  Even then I'm not sure where Velling is on the depth chart (Is Justin Swider ahead of Velling)?

[Mugsy]

and looks like he has a lower body fat ratio than last year.

Can one deduce this from the video or bleachers?   

[Titan Q]

B) Athletes-  Elmhurst has had the same level of players as NC/IWU/WC the last few years. I.E. Demma, Evans, Luna, etc.  The difference has been execution.  You can't look at a Studebaker, because he is a unique horse that doesn't come around every year.

But have the 'jays had the depth and balance of talent that NCC, IWU, and WC have had, 79?  I'm especially thinking of the defensive side of the ball.

Points allowed per game in CCIW play:

2011 - 28.6 (6th best in CCIW)
2010 - 26.7 (5th best)
2009 - 31.3 (5th best)

It seems to me that NCC, IWU, and Wheaton have all had better overall defensive talent than Elmhurst in recent years.  Those points allowed numbers seem too high, and too consistent, to attribute to execution alone.     
   

[79jaybird]

Good point Q and depth is indeed something Elmhurst has never had.  If 1 of their starts goes down or gets injured,  they have not had that #2 or # guy to fill the void(s). 

[shepherd]

Does anybody know the status of injured players?  I think more than 10 didn't dress for game one.  Is anybody out for the year? Espesially Charlie Velling and Garrett Meador.

I'm more concerned about the status of Hiben.

Not because I know anything about the nature of his injury that has led to being held out the last 2 games, but more to the impact he has on the Wheaton offense.  He had 7 catches in the one half he played this year (at Benedictine) and was virtually unstoppable unless you double team him.  BU started double teaming him in the 2nd half.  I don't recall when the injury occurred.  If you need to double Hiben, that makes the other WR's just that much more effective.

Yes, Meador is the returning CCIW OPOY, but Roberts is not a significant dropoff at all (IMO).

Yes, Velling was a 1st Team All-CCIW a couple of years back, but he took a couple years off and is likely only to get some spot carries here and there with Jarrett as the primary back.  Now if Jarrett gets injured, then it becomes a bit more of an issue.  Even then I'm not sure where Velling is on the depth chart (Is Justin Swider ahead of Velling)?

My bad I forgot to add Hiben.  He is the most important.  I was in a hurry during my lunch break. My concern with Velling is that he was the last back for Wheaton that was even remotely successful against NCC's first unit.  Yes Roberts is very good.  I'm just wondering about Meadors health status, not picking one over the other.  Joe Davis said he was willing to go the entire season with both if they both performed well.  I'm not trying to start controversy just curious as we usually here something about injuries. What to pray for what the family might be going through.

[shepherd]

and looks like he has a lower body fat ratio than last year.

Can one deduce this from the video or bleachers?   

He looked more bulky last year both fast and powerful.  This year he resembles the size of Coppage thinner, but it may just be pads.  He also has more moves this year instead of a slasher.  Ive never seen him do the stop hesitation (or whatever its called?) move last year.  Just wondering.