FB: Northwest Conference

[emma17]

1) I have never seen three guys get laid out in one play...
2) Are the players ok, anyone know?
3) Linfield does an interesting move, lead with fore arm but finish with shoulder and head in the chest. I am not going to debate it but one of the hits could have been called, second one toke arm lead , I need a better angle. I like what LF teaches their kids, to make it a tough call on the ref.
4) I agree, how can you be on the play and not glance out of the corner of your eye....I think when I played crack backs were legal and we kept our head on the swivel, in fact practiced reading it.

OD

I did it way too many times.  One time I got hit so hard while looking up for the ball that the nozzle in my air cushioned helmet was blown out.  The membrane deflated and the helmet settled flat on my head- I was certain my skull was cracked to pieces.  I know, it helps to explain a lot. 

[wildcat11]

One thing that should be kept in mind in this conversation about coverage teams staying aware is that in the playoffs, sometimes you have guys on kick coverage who haven't played there most of the season. With just 58 guys on the playoff roster, some guys are playing double duty.

That's a great point and not one that I had thought of.  Perhaps 11 or somebody else could comment on this.  If that was a "new" return team last week then it really made the blocking that much more impressive IMO.

Pat's right that in the playoffs you have guys that might not play as much special teams during the regular season having to take a bigger role in the playoffs.  UWW is dynamite on ST's and I think Linfield is pretty darn good in that phase as well. 

[criswyly]

Just watched the controversial kick return on my frame by frame Adobe Premiere software.  None of them could be called clipping....and if any of them are illegal in anyway then the rules need to be changed.  That was just good plain ole fundamental football, in my opinion.

[D O.C.]

Travel squad, playoff roster, or not, anyone whoever laced 'em up from pee wee or flag football gets pancaked once and then never again unless you're not in your right mind.
Some of us lived for the focused guy to embarrass.

[umhb2001]

I know I'm really late to the party and this is probably a dead horse, but I finally have time to catch up on things.   Watched the punt return video last night.   Wow.   That was PERFECT blocking.  Clean and devastating.

For those people complaining about the hits, I suggest you switch to watching soccer. 

For those kids that got laid out, I suggest you pay attention on the football field or switch to playing soccer.

Soccer can give one quite an injury as well... but most of those guys are great actors. I actually think that women's soccer is worse.

[umhb2001]

One thing that should be kept in mind in this conversation about coverage teams staying aware is that in the playoffs, sometimes you have guys on kick coverage who haven't played there most of the season. With just 58 guys on the playoff roster, some guys are playing double duty.

If football powers that be are so interested in player health and concussions, why don't they allow for more players on the roster? Seems to me that more plays equals greater opportunity to get a concussion or some other injury. NCAA shoots themselves in the foot too many times.

[dahlby]

umhb,
The costs probably come in to play.

[HSCTiger74]

  If the play of the week is the one that all the recent discussion has been about, then I'm not sure why there's been so much fuss. Looked like good solid hits on inattentive players to me.

[emma17]

Travel squad, playoff roster, or not, anyone whoever laced 'em up from pee wee or flag football gets pancaked once and then never again unless you're not in your right mind.
Some of us lived for the focused guy to embarrass.

So it was You! 

Regarding the legality of the hits on the punt return- why are people saying there is so much fuss or disagreement?  I don't think anyone's really arguing that the hits were missed calls or grossly illegal - unless I'm missing something.

A well blocked punt return.

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome Tuesday's Truths and Quick Hits (Special Wednesday Edition)

[criswyly]

17 degrees on Saturday and it's not even Winter yet....what a pile of cherries

[OldCatProf]

The two best D3 games I've ever watched were the 2005 semifinal at Linfield and the 2009(?) quarterfinal at Whitewater. Didn't much care for the final score either time but both games were titanic battles by two very strong, well-coached teams. If memory serves (and frequently it doesn't these days ) a significant difference regarding Linfield this time is that the Cats have a much stronger running game than before. In those two prior games I believe Linfield was essentially a "pass-first" team. Certainly the Cats have much better balance than when they played Whitewater previously.

Perhaps this "third time" will be a charm. I'll be there rooting for the Cats...if I'm not frozen solid by game time.

GO CATS!!!!

[MacQuiz]

I'm sooooo happy to see Cory's analysis.  The reality is the real deal!
We cannot just say..."ohhh yeah...we're gonna win cause this-n-that whatever blah blah.
It's the "Dag-Gummm" elite 8 playoffs.  No more "Rah Rah"...time for "Put up or Shut Up".
Really...come on now you guys....let's call em like we see em....
It's easy to put a couple words down about what might be...it's another to make sense about what's likely or possible.
This is going to be the most difficult and well earned victory of the season.  It's not just possible but absolutely achievable with our best performance.  Using the words "best performance" is not asking too much.  We're there now boys...no more time to get ready for the challenge.  It's now and the opponent is putting his jaws on your butt.  Get to it now!

[Pat Coleman]

One thing that should be kept in mind in this conversation about coverage teams staying aware is that in the playoffs, sometimes you have guys on kick coverage who haven't played there most of the season. With just 58 guys on the playoff roster, some guys are playing double duty.

If football powers that be are so interested in player health and concussions, why don't they allow for more players on the roster? Seems to me that more plays equals greater opportunity to get a concussion or some other injury. NCAA shoots themselves in the foot too many times.

Over the past eight years or so the roster has increased from 48 to 58 players. They're doing what they can within the fiscal reality that Division III gets 3.18% of the NCAA budget, as per the NCAA constitution.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

My call is a late comeback W for the Cats winning by 4

Phone it in, Salty D is the difference maker in this one.

GHC

Safe flight tomorrow for the Cats, and anyone else trekking to the game  !!!