FB: Northwest Conference

[Bearcat Press]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but welcome to the NWC board, TxFight!

I think this:

ETBU seems to be our resident Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde.  You literally don't know which team is going to show up.

and this:

They have proven that they have the talent to play with the best teams in the country, now they just have to find a way to play to that level on a consistent basis.

could just as easily describe Willamette the last couple of years as well.  This season, I'll expect the Bearcats to have a very solid defense that's focused on stopping the run.  However, that focus on run-stopping does leave the secondary pretty vulnerable at times, a weakness that pass-oriented teams like Linfield and PLU have often exploited.  Predicting what the Bearcats will look like offensively is tough, with a new head coach and a (potentially) different scheme.  Last season, Willamette was really hurt by the lack of a tailback or flanker with true breakaway speed - which was absolutely essential in the fly offense run by Coach Speckman.  I'm not sure to what extent that problem was remedied this offseason.

Apparently though, all this discussion is fairly academic, since Linfield's going to run the table and win the conference going away.  Right?

Blue - I'll be looking forward to seeing you at Magoo's that Friday!

[TxFight]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but welcome to the NWC board, TxFight!

I think this:

ETBU seems to be our resident Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde.  You literally don't know which team is going to show up.

and this:

They have proven that they have the talent to play with the best teams in the country, now they just have to find a way to play to that level on a consistent basis.

could just as easily describe Willamette the last couple of years as well.  This season, I'll expect the Bearcats to have a very solid defense that's focused on stopping the run.  However, that focus on run-stopping does leave the secondary pretty vulnerable at times, a weakness that pass-oriented teams like Linfield and PLU have often exploited.  Predicting what the Bearcats will look like offensively is tough, with a new head coach and a (potentially) different scheme.  Last season, Willamette was really hurt by the lack of a tailback or flanker with true breakaway speed - which was absolutely essential in the fly offense run by Coach Speckman.  I'm not sure to what extent that problem was remedied this offseason.

Apparently though, all this discussion is fairly academic, since Linfield's going to run the table and win the conference going away.  Right?

Blue - I'll be looking forward to seeing you at Magoo's that Friday!

looking forward to hopefully a good exciting, injury free game under the Friday Night Lights!!!

[bluenote]

+k wildcat11 for the great info. Much appreciated! Dlip wishes Linfield all the luck this season!

Thanks for stoping by dlip....the best to Union also!

[bluenote]

Blue - I'll be looking forward to seeing you at Magoo's that Friday!

Certainly...I'll buy you a burger....

You buy drinks! 

[D O.C.]

DO.C. wishes dlip a good playoff and injury free season. DO.C.was in New York driving and driving, stopped for gas, saw a Union sign and cruised the campus.
We will move up if somebody above us falters IMHO.

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome: 'Cats pull back curtain on 2012 fall camp

[river]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the party, but welcome to the NWC board, TxFight!

I think this:

ETBU seems to be our resident Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde.  You literally don't know which team is going to show up.

and this:

They have proven that they have the talent to play with the best teams in the country, now they just have to find a way to play to that level on a consistent basis.

could just as easily describe Willamette the last couple of years as well.  This season, I'll expect the Bearcats to have a very solid defense that's focused on stopping the run.  However, that focus on run-stopping does leave the secondary pretty vulnerable at times, a weakness that pass-oriented teams like Linfield and PLU have often exploited.  Predicting what the Bearcats will look like offensively is tough, with a new head coach and a (potentially) different scheme.  Last season, Willamette was really hurt by the lack of a tailback or flanker with true breakaway speed - which was absolutely essential in the fly offense run by Coach Speckman.  I'm not sure to what extent that problem was remedied this offseason.

Apparently though, all this discussion is fairly academic, since Linfield's going to run the table and win the conference going away.  Right?

Blue - I'll be looking forward to seeing you at Magoo's that Friday!

Welcome back yourself,  BP -- this fan (and I'm sure many others) out here in cyberspace will be looking forward to your take on how the Bearcats  transition to a new head coach and match up successfully with the rest of the conference this year.   

[PA cat]

19

[D O.C.]

Ooooo....good omen for the season. I'm riding the RedLine Metro in D.C. and I look up and there's The Catholic University of America!

[PA cat]

18

[cawcdad]

Do people want to do a Pick' em again? Does someone want to take it over?

NWC Pick 'em winners:
2011 - Jayhawkdaddy
2010 - wildcat 11
2009 - Proud Papa Joe and cawcdad
2008 - Blueneote
2007 - (509)Rat and pineconefan

[bluenote]

Do people want to do a Pick' em again? Does someone want to take it over?

NWC Pick 'em winners:
2011 - Jayhawkdaddy
2010 - wildcat 11
2009 - Proud Papa Joe and cawcdad
2008 - Blueneote
2007 - (509)Rat and pineconefan

We would love to have you do it again....I'm not good at math. 

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome: What are the Top Ten Linfield Plays over the past 10 years?

[CamCat]

I just found out my old friend Jim Eaton who I shared an office with in San Jose when I started in the insurance business years ago and was a running back for Michigan State is the grand father of Ashton Eaton, a U. of O. grad and gold medal winner of the Olympics Decathlon.

I also used to run the track regularly at San Jose State in 1976 where Bruce Jenner trained for the 76 Olympics Decathlon and got to know him a bit before he became a Kardashian. Ok, so this ain't football but it can fill some space till the pigskin starts flying.

[PA cat]

17