FB: Northwest Conference

[Gig Harbor Cat]

OK so you have insider information

[CalCat]

Took in Whitworth/Redlands last night and saw Redlands dominate Whitworth physically especially on both sides of the line.  Whitworth's offense was very predictable trying to run first with Anderson who could never get untracked against the quicker and more physical D-line of Redlands.  When Whitworth's QBs were forced to throw they just weren't up to it against the stronger quicker Redlands defense.  Selway the Redlands QB threw all night underneath and was impressive how quickly from the gun he got rid of the ball to his receivers.  Stewart the Redlands RB was a load all night long and really wore Whitworth down the second half.  Last night he was the best RB on the field.  Whitworth just isn't the same team I saw play really well against Azusa Pacific last year especially on defense and will be challenged to come back next week at Chapman.  We set on the Whitworth side just in front of the Chapman coaches and some players which was very interesting being they play both Whitworth and Redlands and their comments as the game progressed were fun to listen in on.  I would be surprised if Redlands doesn't move through the SCIAC and not come out on top, at the same time Whitworth could lose two or three games just in the NWC.  I have seen Claremont vs L.C. , Pomona vs UPS, and Whitworth vs. Redlands, and will see Willamette vs La Verne next week and am looking forward to comparing Willamette and Redlands as it may be a preview of a later matchup.  My guess after last night would be October 25th in McMinnville will decide the NWC.  I think Whitworth can get better but won't have enough to 3-peat this year.  Looking forward to a couple of Cat games vs Menlo and Whitworth in Mac in a couple of weeks.

Nice post CalCat....I'm surprised that Whitworth wasn't as physical as usual. That has been one of their strong suites. I'm assuming Chapman is a fairly decent team that could give Whitworth another beating.

I don't think Chapman will give Withworth a beating but certainly should give them a good game.  Withworths challenge (coaches) will be to make sure they have a short memory of last night.  Many of those kids have played the last couple of years on impressive teams and that had to be hard to take coupled with coming back down to play again against a team that feels they can compete with good teams and maybe don't get enough respect.  Would love to see Chapman and Linfield get somthing going both football and baseball.

[Bearcat Press]

Hi again everyone,

What a game!  I'm working on my article right now, so I thought I should share a couple of impressions.

1.) Willamette won this game because of the defense.  Period.  To turn the ball over in your own red zone three times in the first half and only be down by a touchdown was huge.  SOU did not cross the 50 yard line in the fourth quarter.

2.) Speaking of the defense, they've scored 21 points so far this year.

3.) Mitchell Rowan is a really good punter.  Really, really good.

4.) The offense hasn't been spectacular, but it's been getting the job done and (up until yesterday's first half) not turning the ball over.

5.) SOU is good, but not great.  Athletically, they're extremely talented, but they've got discipline issues.  They really hurt themselves with a couple of personal foul penalties, an offensive pass interference that wiped out a first down, and interfering with the punt returner.  That last one gave us the ball at midfield with 10 minutes left and led to the touchdown that iced the game.

This was a huge win, but Speckman can't be happy with the fact that we've come out flat - this week, really flat - two weeks in a row.  I like this team a lot, but I'm not sold yet, and I'm worried about La Verne as a potential trap game.  Last year we followed up beating Linfield by laying an enormous egg at UPS, so I'm still antsy about next week.  But as long as wildcat11 keeps picking against us, I think we're in good shape.

[MonroviaCat]

5.) SOU is good, but not great.  Athletically, they're extremely talented, but they've got discipline issues.  They really hurt themselves with a couple of personal foul penalties, an offensive pass interference that wiped out a first down, and interfering with the punt returner.  That last one gave us the ball at midfield with 10 minutes left and led to the touchdown that iced the game.

Sounds pretty typical of SOU...

[wildcat11]

But as long as wildcat11 keeps picking against us, I think we're in good shape.

Nope...I'm officially going to start picking Willamette until they play Linfield.  With any luck I'll continue to keep missing Willamette games......until they play Linfield.

[Pat Coleman]

5.) SOU is good, but not great.  Athletically, they're extremely talented, but they've got discipline issues.  They really hurt themselves with a couple of personal foul penalties, an offensive pass interference that wiped out a first down, and interfering with the punt returner.  That last one gave us the ball at midfield with 10 minutes left and led to the touchdown that iced the game.

Sounds pretty typical of SOU...

To me this proved that he saw the game.

[Foss]

Big rise and fall for a couple of NWC teams in the D3 poll. Whitworth falls at least 19 spots from #26 to not receiving a single vote and Willamette jumps from #42 into the top 25 (#25). Large movements and both appropriate, IMO. Also, the SCIAC's Redlands moves up a few more spots after their domination of the Pirates.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, it doesn't take a lot to fall from 26. Whitworth only had 38 points to begin with.

[pineconefan]

509 -
If that information about Kemp is accurate, and he is out for the season, whoever the Pirates have to take over at QB is in for a tough learning curve.

The timing of this injury is not kind to Whitworth with Chapman, followed by Willamette, then Linfield. 

The defense as a whole and the offensive line are going to have to step up big time from their performance on Saturday.

[Foss]

Pat - Yep, I noticed that. I suppose the same could be said in a sense for Willamette's movement up as they went from 4 to (only) 38 points. Still, I thought fairly significant poll position movements (not point changes).

[(509)Rat]

Well pinecone sounds like the info got is in fact inaccurate (or the injury is being downplayed).  As of now its a high ankle sprain.  I'm sure there will be x-rays and since I know you are sensitive to me leaking injury info  I'll go ahead and pm the Rat supporters on the board when I know more. 

With the way Kemp has been throwing the ball I don't think the injury will be a huge deal.  I think the bigger problem is the already predictable play calling will become even more predictable (who thought that was possible?) with Tully and co. having absolutely zero confidence in Kemp's replacement, be it Jansen or Peck.  I think Peck throws a nice ball but is not a threat to run which Tully can't stand.  The offense is perfectly capable of mixing up the run and the pass, using more high percentage type throws so that the new QB can limit the mistakes early on.  I'm just glad Whitworth gets Chapman before a surprisingly tough Willamette team who always seems to give the Pirates a good game (SEE the predictable comment above).

On a side note it looks like Whitworth's secondary is really missing last year's starters more than any group on either side of the ball.  4 starters and a 5th player who saw the most playing time last year are gone (the 5th had a knee injury last spring and is sitting out this year) and the inexperience showed against Redlands.  Not too worried about Chapman and Willamette but I sure hope this unit can step up before Linfield, a team with good coaches and the players to attack them.

[bluenote]

I find our schedule to be flat out odd. We've only played 1 game when most teams have played 3. We play SOU next week and that's their 5th game. We go from being ranked 35 to 36 without even playing. Willamette's at 25 and HSU is at 24. Both low in my opinion. That's idiotic with Franklin at #14. This is getting absolutely astonishing....

[MonroviaCat]

I think a high ankle sprain IS a big deal especially for a QB like Kemp.  For one thing, he relies on his wheels as much as his arm.  It is also difficult to plant and throw on a sprained ankle (especially a high sprain).  I've got a high sprain right now (a very minor one thankfully) and it's sore just sitting at the computer! 

[cawcdad]

. . .  I'm just glad Whitworth gets Chapman before a surprisingly tough Willamette team who always seems to give the Pirates a good game (SEE the predictable comment above).

On a side note it looks like Whitworth's secondary is really missing last year's starters more than any group on either side of the ball.  4 starters and a 5th player who saw the most playing time last year are gone (the 5th had a knee injury last spring and is sitting out this year) and the inexperience showed against Redlands.  Not too worried about Chapman . . . .

I wouldn't get complacent about Chapman, in fact the way the Pirates  have played the first two games, I would be worried. I saw them play Menlo and they are a very good football team. Very balanced with running and passing on offense. They were smaller than Menlo but very quick off the ball on both sides of the line. The Oxy announcers commented favorably a couple of times about Chapman and them playing for a pool B.

[bluenote]

. . .  I'm just glad Whitworth gets Chapman before a surprisingly tough Willamette team who always seems to give the Pirates a good game (SEE the predictable comment above).

On a side note it looks like Whitworth's secondary is really missing last year's starters more than any group on either side of the ball.  4 starters and a 5th player who saw the most playing time last year are gone (the 5th had a knee injury last spring and is sitting out this year) and the inexperience showed against Redlands.  Not too worried about Chapman . . . .

I wouldn't get complacent about Chapman, in fact the way the Pirates  have played the first two games, I would be worried. I saw them play Menlo and they are a very good football team. Very balanced with running and passing on offense. They were smaller than Menlo but very quick off the ball on both sides of the line. The Oxy announcers commented favorably a couple of times about Chapman and them playing for a pool B.

I'm picking Chapman over Whitworth this week. Chapman doesn't mess around. Whitworth looks like a wet noodle compared to last year. This will be their 3rd game and they have yet to get it together.