FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[NCC2010]

About as good of a bracket draw as NCC could've hoped for, although i'd have preferred Mount's quadrant and Trinity flipped.  I think we shouldn't have any problem reaching the Semis but that semi matchup is going to be amazing.  I have it as UMHB vs Wheaton in that quarter-final, and those are probably the 2 teams in the nation i want the cards to face least (toughest matchups IMO). either way, really hope we get to host the Semi this year as would love to see one of the texas teams or Linfield make the trip.

As far as this season has gone, by far the biggest surprise to me has been the defensive backfield.  After losing Beesley, i thought that might become the weakness of the team.  However, i actually think this year DB group is better than last years (who got exposed in the title game) by quite a bit. Julian Bell coming back and moving to safety has worked out great, and transfer Antwain Walker might actually be better than Beesley.  either way, this group gives me way more confidence if a rematch with UMHB or another team with fast/great WRs comes about.

I think the cards' national title chances will rest squarely on Lehnen's shoulders.  He is a great dual threat but there are still a few decisions each week in the passing game that i think could end up costing us in the bigger games.  eventually, we will have to throw (or so i think) in a crucial situation to win the natty, and i am not positive Lehnen has mastered that part of his game yet (reading defenses, etc.)

Either way going to be a great playoff and cant wait to watch how it unfolds!

[USee]

Lots of records associated with this year's North Central football team, but here is one of the possibly more bizarre ones.

In this past Saturday's 63-3 win over Augie, senior backup (in name only) RB Terrence Hill had 216 yards rushing, and 3 TDs, on only seven rushes. That's an absolutely insane average of 30.9 yards per rush. Can't help but think Terrence would be starting at 99.9% of other schools.

Mercy.  It has to be so deflating to see Greenfield run off for a breather and KNOW that absolutely nothing just got easier for your defense, if even for a couple of plays.

Not to diminish Terrence Hill, who is an outstanding RB but the POY in the CCIW is actually the NCC offensive line. I have seen a lot of great ones nationally in my time (UWW, Mt Union, UMHB, Linfield, St Johns, etc) and in terms of run blocking, this one is right up there with the best. That's why you can hand it to almost anybody and they will average 6 yds a carry.

If there is going to be a team that beats NCC it will have to be one with an elite front 7 on defense because these guys absolutely maul people. One of the most physical offensive lines I have ever seen at D3 level. I thought last years NCC OL was great, this one is better. That said, UMHB matched up with them and we soon found out about NCC's kryptonite. It's gonna take every bit of that kind of talent on a defensive front to stop this NCC team.

[USee]

About as good of a bracket draw as NCC could've hoped for, although i'd have preferred Mount's quadrant and Trinity flipped.  I think we shouldn't have any problem reaching the Semis but that semi matchup is going to be amazing.  I have it as UMHB vs Wheaton in that quarter-final, and those are probably the 2 teams in the nation i want the cards to face least (toughest matchups IMO). either way, really hope we get to host the Semi this year as would love to see one of the texas teams or Linfield make the trip.

As far as this season has gone, by far the biggest surprise to me has been the defensive backfield.  After losing Beesley, i thought that might become the weakness of the team.  However, i actually think this year DB group is better than last years (who got exposed in the title game) by quite a bit. Julian Bell coming back and moving to safety has worked out great, and transfer Antwain Walker might actually be better than Beesley.  either way, this group gives me way more confidence if a rematch with UMHB or another team with fast/great WRs comes about.

I think the cards' national title chances will rest squarely on Lehnen's shoulders.  He is a great dual threat but there are still a few decisions each week in the passing game that i think could end up costing us in the bigger games.  eventually, we will have to throw (or so i think) in a crucial situation to win the natty, and i am not positive Lehnen has mastered that part of his game yet (reading defenses, etc.)

Either way going to be a great playoff and cant wait to watch how it unfolds!

One of the unsung heroes' of NCC's defense is JR DT #97 Dan Lester. He has been one of the dominant forces in our league up front. No one knew anything about him and he has made play after play in every game. NCC has a great secondary and two top flight DE's but this kid was the guy who made them a top 10 defense in my mind.

I think there are only 1 or 2 teams that can match NCC's physicality up front on both sides. The ones that can, will find NCC's offense is pretty one dimensional. They are gonna run it at you 70% of the time and hit you on play action. Lehnen is great on play action and with his feet. He isn't really a drop back passer/reader of defenses. We saw that in the title game last year and if anyone can do what UMHB did, we would see it again in my opinion.

[SpartanHouse]

NCC developed the blueprint for Elmhurst. Hire a local successful HC coach.

Thorne was perfect as he had just retired. You're not going to get a HC to take the job unless they are retired. They'd be giving up their pension.

[Next Man Up]

USee,

Lester may be "unsung" other places, but not in Naperville.

Thinking you meant NCC's offense is pretty one-dimensional. 

[Thunderdome21]

About as good of a bracket draw as NCC could've hoped for, although i'd have preferred Mount's quadrant and Trinity flipped.  I think we shouldn't have any problem reaching the Semis but that semi matchup is going to be amazing.  I have it as UMHB vs Wheaton in that quarter-final, and those are probably the 2 teams in the nation i want the cards to face least (toughest matchups IMO). either way, really hope we get to host the Semi this year as would love to see one of the texas teams or Linfield make the trip.

As far as this season has gone, by far the biggest surprise to me has been the defensive backfield.  After losing Beesley, i thought that might become the weakness of the team.  However, i actually think this year DB group is better than last years (who got exposed in the title game) by quite a bit. Julian Bell coming back and moving to safety has worked out great, and transfer Antwain Walker might actually be better than Beesley.  either way, this group gives me way more confidence if a rematch with UMHB or another team with fast/great WRs comes about.

I think the cards' national title chances will rest squarely on Lehnen's shoulders.  He is a great dual threat but there are still a few decisions each week in the passing game that i think could end up costing us in the bigger games.  eventually, we will have to throw (or so i think) in a crucial situation to win the natty, and i am not positive Lehnen has mastered that part of his game yet (reading defenses, etc.)

Either way going to be a great playoff and cant wait to watch how it unfolds!

One of the unsung heroes' of NCC's defense is JR DT #97 Dan Lester. He has been one of the dominant forces in our league up front. No one knew anything about him and he has made play after play in every game. NCC has a great secondary and two top flight DE's but this kid was the guy who made them a top 10 defense in my mind.

I think there are only 1 or 2 teams that can match NCC's physicality up front on both sides. The ones that can, will find NCC's defense is pretty one dimensional. They are gonna run it at you 70% of the time and hit you on play action. Lehnen is great on play action and with his feet. He isn't really a drop back passer/reader of defenses. We saw that in the title game last year and if anyone can do what UMHB did, we would see it again in my opinion.

It wouldn't surprise me if Lester won the Don Larson award for the conference's outstanding defensive player this year. 

[wally_wabash]

Lots of records associated with this year's North Central football team, but here is one of the possibly more bizarre ones.

In this past Saturday's 63-3 win over Augie, senior backup (in name only) RB Terrence Hill had 216 yards rushing, and 3 TDs, on only seven rushes. That's an absolutely insane average of 30.9 yards per rush. Can't help but think Terrence would be starting at 99.9% of other schools.

Mercy.  It has to be so deflating to see Greenfield run off for a breather and KNOW that absolutely nothing just got easier for your defense, if even for a couple of plays.

Not to diminish Terrence Hill, who is an outstanding RB but the POY in the CCIW is actually the NCC offensive line. I have seen a lot of great ones nationally in my time (UWW, Mt Union, UMHB, Linfield, St Johns, etc) and in terms of run blocking, this one is right up there with the best. That's why you can hand it to almost anybody and they will average 6 yds a carry.

If there is going to be a team that beats NCC it will have to be one with an elite front 7 on defense because these guys absolutely maul people. One of the most physical offensive lines I have ever seen at D3 level. I thought last years NCC OL was great, this one is better. That said, UMHB matched up with them and we soon found out about NCC's kryptonite. It's gonna take every bit of that kind of talent on a defensive front to stop this NCC team.

If you look at the very short list of teams that might have this- UMHB, UWW, UWL, maybe Linfield, maybe UMU, maybe St. John's, maybe Wartburg, maybe Del Val (taking just defense here and expanding a bit to make the point)- only UMHB and Linfield are on NCC's half, and one or both will be eliminated before they see NCC.  What an incredible thing to have happened here that North Central got totally isolated from the pile of great teams not that far from them geographically.  It would be hard to hand pick a better path for them. 

[CardsFan1988]

My favorite NCC stat this year:

NCC averaged 8.1 yards per rushing attempt. That lead the country by 1.5 yards which is the difference between the second place and 25th place teams in the country.

Greenfield is incredible averaging 8.3 yards per carry on significant volume, but in addition to him:
  - Hill (backup running back) averages 8.8 ypc (over 500 yards rushing)
  - Sacco (third string running back) averages 10.7 ypc (over 500 yards rushing)
  - Lehnen averages 9.2 ypc (490 yards rushing including sack totals)
  - Chisum (4th string running back) averages 7.9 ypc ( 250 yards rushing)

The depth in the backfield is incredible, and to USee's point, this offensive line is playing at a different level (and clearly has significant depth as much of Sacco and Chisums yards have come with the backup OL in). I still have concerns about being able to throw to win a game when needed, but it will take a special effort to slow down this running attack.

Also of note - the offense only has 3 seniors on the entire 2-deep.

[Next Man Up]

Regarding the Cardinals passing game, I have every confidence in Luke Lehnen. However, the thing I believe is imperative in order for the passing game to reach its full potential and become a truly effective weapon is for a second WR to step forward and become a major target/threat. As great as he is, Hardy can't do it all. He has about 2.5 times the number of catches than the second leading active wide receiver, and also around 2.5 as much yardage. He is always going to be defended by the opponent's top cover guy, and sometimes doubled. This will only work for so long before that aspect of the offense will be neutralized. So the question for a passing attack to become a true weapon for the Cards is "Who is going to be the Blake Williams of this team"?

[D O.C.]

Fixed it for you . . .
f you look at the very short list of teams that might have this- UMHB, UWW, UWL, maybe Linfield,

[Next Man Up]

Logan Hanson's final regular regular season predictive ratings say that right now North Central would be at least a 12.5 point favorite over any other D3 team in the country. I sure hope thats true, but I worry 12.5 points over any other team is at least a bit high. 

[kiko]

Logan Hanson's final regular regular season predictive ratings say that right now North Central would be at least a 12.5 point favorite over any other D3 team in the country. I sure hope thats true, but I worry 12.5 points over any other team is at least a bit high. 

Others may feel differently, but given the much smaller sample size for football versus basketball, and the relative paucity of crossover games between different conferences, I don't put a lot of faith in this data for football.  At best, it is akin to what we might see in basketball in mid-December, which is too early to draw a ton of precise conclusions.

If you look at the very short list of teams that might have this- UMHB, UWW, UWL, maybe Linfield, maybe UMU, maybe St. John's, maybe Wartburg, maybe Del Val (taking just defense here and expanding a bit to make the point)- only UMHB and Linfield are on NCC's half, and one or both will be eliminated before they see NCC.  What an incredible thing to have happened here that North Central got totally isolated from the pile of great teams not that far from them geographically.  It would be hard to hand pick a better path for them.

Zero complaints here regarding how the bracket played out for North Central.  Now it's up to the team to make the most of it.

And I would add Wheaton to the list above if for no other reason than that they are extremely familiar with North Central and where there might be vulnerabilities, and that they may be a tad bit motivated if the two were to meet again.

[markerickson]

Hiring a successful HS coach may be your playbook, but in the pre-Thorne era, North Park's hiring of the Elgin HS coach (Elgin?) was a complete debacle.  Player flaunting a gun in front of a dorm and other recruits with issues led to a quick departure.  The breadth and depth of North Park's 50+ years of utter futility go well beyond geography.  I suspect this is the current case at Elmhurst as well.  Remember the pre-sanction Scottie Williams' years?

[CardinalAlum]

Hiring a successful HS coach may be your playbook, but in the pre-Thorne era, North Park's hiring of the Elgin HS coach (Elgin?) was a complete debacle.  Player flaunting a gun in front of a dorm and other recruits with issues led to a quick departure.  The breadth and depth of North Park's 50+ years of utter futility go well beyond geography.  I suspect this is the current case at Elmhurst as well.  Remember the pre-sanction Scottie Williams' years?

Ron Ellett maybe?  Jacobs HS

[markerickson]

I believe you are correct.