FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Comet 14]

I don't think that a loss in either of these games makes any of these 4 teams a pretender. There is still a lot of football to be played.

[redman04]

I don't think that a loss in either of these games makes any of these 4 teams a pretender. There is still a lot of football to be played.

Nice K+

[matblake]

Matblake- If Elmhurst hasn't played any top notch opponents yet how are they ranked 15 in quality of wins?

Well, considering that Olivet has yet to play Albion Hope and Alma, Benedictine has yet to play Concordia/Wisconsin, Chicago have yet to play Carnegie Mellon and Case Western and Wash U the quality of win index might be a little bit skewed at this point. Depending on how the games for these teams plus how Elmhurst themselves and their CCIW opponents stack up determine the QOW.  http://www.d3football.com/qow.php  Given the way they calculate the QOW, its my opinion that you can't really rely on it until the entire season is played.

[matblake]

I don't think that a loss in either of these games makes any of these 4 teams a pretender. There is still a lot of football to be played.

I can't dispute that.  Elmhurst might win the rest of their games and become CCIW champion.  They might also only win one more.  Just trying to get people talking, it appears to have worked 

[matblake]

Let me also say that I was planning on making pretender/contender games every week from here on out.  The idea came to me because there are so many make or break games week in and week out in the CCIW plus I watch too much ESPN with their "Fact or Fiction" segments.  I neglected to say that in my initial post and rightfully got called out on it.  Thanks Comet! 

[79jaybird]

"Do you like the new rules"

I do not like the new rules.  While the running clock does make the game(s) go by quicker, I would rather see more football and more plays.  The running clock eliminates about 5:00 worth of action that I would rather see being used for plays.    I have talked to a few players (not just EC guys), and they have told me that they would rather be playing those minutes.

Coaches, egos, players discontent, etc. is nothing new and I would venture to guess every program has dealt with this adversity one time or another.  I have talked to John Thorne and know that he has the Cardinals heading in the right direction.  Remember, they were one penalty away from winning the CCIW last year.

EC/NC matchup this weekend I think favors the Jays for this reason.
The Cardinals (similar to Carthage) have a passing offense with Kniss.  Their bread and butter is letting Kniss sit in the pocket and find Stuedemann (or other receivers) downfield.  I think the style of defense EC has with their strong D-Line that likes to blitz and throw stunts in their face, has the advantage here.
Heading into the Augie game, I knew Elmhurst's defense would not have this advantage b/c Augie's a run first offense.  This keeps the defense honest and with no pass rush needed.
O'Boyle did not have a lot of time (especially that 4th quarter) to throw the ball, which is why I think Elmhurst has a slight advantage on the defensive side of the ball vs. NC's passing offense.  This is a defense that limited Augie to only 14 points a half, and gave their offense a chance to win.

[matblake]

Thanks for the insight there jaybird.  That is definitely something that I hadn't thought of, especially since I haven't seen the jays play or had a chance to hear them.  You have made it clear so far this year that the Jays D definitely plays as a unit.  Should be a good battle.  I thought Kniss was out of this world, he had this intangible about him that I couldn't put my finger on.  Sort of like Tim Brylka from Millikin, you couldn't really nail down one reason why he was that good, he just was.

[Mugsy]

EC/NC matchup this weekend I think favors the Jays for this reason.
The Cardinals (similar to Carthage) have a passing offense with Kniss.  Their bread and butter is letting Kniss sit in the pocket and find Stuedemann (or other receivers) downfield.  I think the style of defense EC has with their strong D-Line that likes to blitz and throw stunts in their face, has the advantage here.
Heading into the Augie game, I knew Elmhurst's defense would not have this advantage b/c Augie's a run first offense.  This keeps the defense honest and with no pass rush needed.
O'Boyle did not have a lot of time (especially that 4th quarter) to throw the ball, which is why I think Elmhurst has a slight advantage on the defensive side of the ball vs. NC's passing offense.  This is a defense that limited Augie to only 14 points a half, and gave their offense a chance to win.

Do NOT underestimate the quality of NCC's offensive line.  Going into the Wheaton/NCC game, I expected Wheaton's defensive line to be in Kniss' face all day, given the pressure I had seen them display in previous games.  If not for Andy Studebaker, Kniss would have had all day in the pocket to find his receivers (and on many plays he did).

I know the Elmhurst d-line is one of the strengths of the team, but they better come to play on Saturday.  The NCC o-line pass protects very, very well.

[matblake]

I also do not like the new rules.  I would rather have several more offensive plays. 

I think that it increases the coaching responsibilities.  There are a lot more situations that need to be thought out because of the faster re-set of the clock.

Like it or hate it, it is the way the game works right now. 

[usee]

"Do you like the new rules"

I do not like the new rules.  While the running clock does make the game(s) go by quicker, I would rather see more football and more plays.  The running clock eliminates about 5:00 worth of action that I would rather see being used for plays.    I have talked to a few players (not just EC guys), and they have told me that they would rather be playing those minutes.

Coaches, egos, players discontent, etc. is nothing new and I would venture to guess every program has dealt with this adversity one time or another.  I have talked to John Thorne and know that he has the Cardinals heading in the right direction.  Remember, they were one penalty away from winning the CCIW last year.

EC/NC matchup this weekend I think favors the Jays for this reason.
The Cardinals (similar to Carthage) have a passing offense with Kniss.  Their bread and butter is letting Kniss sit in the pocket and find Stuedemann (or other receivers) downfield.  I think the style of defense EC has with their strong D-Line that likes to blitz and throw stunts in their face, has the advantage here.
Heading into the Augie game, I knew Elmhurst's defense would not have this advantage b/c Augie's a run first offense.  This keeps the defense honest and with no pass rush needed.
O'Boyle did not have a lot of time (especially that 4th quarter) to throw the ball, which is why I think Elmhurst has a slight advantage on the defensive side of the ball vs. NC's passing offense.  This is a defense that limited Augie to only 14 points a half, and gave their offense a chance to win.

Jaybird,

You are sadly mistaken here. You have compared NCC's offense to both Carthage and Augie. I don't see how you can make that jump. NCC has the best offense in the conference. Augie isn't close and carthage's offense isn't even in the same zip code. make no mistake if elmhurst gave up 380 yds to carthage they are looking at a 450+ pasting from kniss and company. you better hope you keep them out of the endzone and your offense can score a lot.

[CardinalAlum]

Wow, did you actually use the name NCC?   

[Mugsy]

Wow, did you actually use the name NCC?   

The Bell is home again and it is no longer "Bell Week".  So some semblance of civility has been restored, but only just a little.

[matblake]

Some observers have stated that cardinals seldom bathe, or that the male rarely does so.
http://home.bluemarble.net/~pqn/ch31-40/cardinal.html

There, feel better CardinalAlum?

[usee]

Wow, did you actually use the name NCC?   

It is post 'Bell game" so it has become an authorized method of reference to the naperville school. 8)

[79jaybird]

Usee-- I have yet to see an offensive line (exception Augie-- because all they do is run the ball all day)  be able to handle Elmhurst's defense consistently.    The point I was making is that in the recent years, the difference in EC/NC games has been Kniss being able to sit in the pocket and find Spencer or Stuedemann, etc.  downfield.  Elmhurst didn't have the D-line that they have today.  I don't think Kniss gets the ample time Saturday which forces the Cardinals running game to step up if they are to beat Elmhurst.