FB: Northwest Conference

[George Thompson]

The far bigger variables are 1) how Linfield's out-of-conference oppenents did, 2) how the rest of the NWC did in their out-of-conference games, and 3) how those NWC oppenents fared in their other games.  Linfield would have been helped by better seasons by HSU and Oxy; better non-conference showings by PLU, UPS, (etc.); and even by better seasons by NWC opponents like Concordia, Gustavus A., La Verne, HSU (again - this time via Whitworth).  

In the case of Hardin-Simmons, Linfield hurt themselves by knocking H-S's very good QB, Justin Feaster, out for the season, and also their very good receiver, ZaVious Robbins.   H-S lost their next three games without them.     That really hurt LC's SOS.    That was a shame because H-S was a very good football team before those two key injuries, far better than their 6-4 record indicated.

GO CATS! GO!

George

[George Thompson]

George-

I meant that sju and mt would never travel when they were the actual (or de facto) #1 seed. I know about the '02 game. I was there. The email makes it sound as if there would be a situation in which this season they could go on the road before the semis.

Spiritof86,

I know; her email was not in line with what we have seen in the past.

George

[wildcat11]

All-NWC Coaches team is out and the coaches did a pretty good job in keeping it real.  12 guys on 1st team offense (11 position, 1 PK) and 15 Defense (14 position, and 1 Punter).  Would still like to see that defensive number closer to 12 total but compared to previous years this is a job well done by the NWC Coaches.

http://www.nwcsports.com/sports/fball/2009-10/news/allnwc

Coach of the Year:  Joseph Smith, Linfield
Offensive Player of the Year:  Aaron Boehme, Linfield
Defensive Player of the Year:  Ralph Pineda, Willamette

[wildcatter23]

In the case of Hardin-Simmons, Linfield hurt themselves by knocking H-S's very good QB, Justin Feaster, out for the season, and also their very good receiver, ZaVious Robbins.   H-S lost their next three games without them.     That really hurt LC's SOS.    That was a shame because H-S was a very good football team before those two key injuries, far better than their 6-4 record indicated.

GO CATS! GO!

George

I saw both plays... and I don't think we "knocked out" either one. Both were just flukey injuries that happen in a football game...so if you wouldn't mind...quit making things up like that.

and your "GO CATS! GO!"  thing is rather patronizing after you've made some idiotic statement.

George:

It is ironic that H-S lost their QB in the first half, and then had a subpar season.  Reminds me that LC lost their QB at H-S the year before, and then had a subpar season.  The QB in question?  Aaron Boehme (sp?), who has been putting up superb statistics AND leadership for the'Cats!  Should be a great game Saturday!


GO 'CATS!

[Kingsmen4]

you put 47 on PLU in a game, the cats put 41 on plu in the first half so be ready ..  Just ask OXY how they tried  to stop the pass one year they played up and we go deep fast .. another 6 on the sciac... makes for a long ride home... 

Go Cats

Go Big D

The Cats also got 44 put on them by PLU. Thats 37 more than they put on CLU ...

The drama club here at CLU throws purple frisbee's around on the soccer field for exercise after class, I think that's what you are talking about? 

Any ride home from Oregon is a long ride home, but it sounds like Jiggles might add an hour or two to the trip regardless...

Need a place to get a few beers Friday night in Portland to stay on par with GHC any suggestions would be appreciated, won't make it to McInville until Saturday morning

Go LU

[bluenote]

Kingsman4...when you are nearing town...watch out for the cow pies on the road. The clowns don't start work until 9:30 am.

[wildcat11]

The Cats also got 44 put on them by PLU. Thats 37 more than they put on CLU ...

Very true and I hope that CLU hangs their hopes on that fact. 

[bleedpurple]

Congratulations to the Linfield Wildcats on their undefeated regular season. Best of luck to the Cats in the playoffs. (At least for awhile  )

[D O.C.]

Bluenote, please leave George alone until the end of track season, at least. No in-fighting here.
Besides, I do not remember you tweeking the ears of InchesGuts a few years ago when he laid this jaw-dropper on Post Patterns.

As a Linfield fan who has been to almost every game the last few years, and a long time reader of Post Patterns I am very excited for this year's playoffs.  Mainly because I believe it is an opportunity for Linfield to make a decisive statement about their high quality of play, and prove it against the top programs in D3. If they win it this year they have a chance to exorcise some demons of St John's, silence any doubters at UMHB, and possibly have a dream match up against Mt Union.  This has got me so fired I decided to post here for the first time.  

I've noticed guys like Kenneth K and others asking for opinions on match ups, advantages, and strengths/weakness of Linfield's #1 scoring offense by those who have seen the Wildcats play on a weekly basis. Since Kenneth and these folks don't get the opportunity to see them play in person. I figured I would give them a description of our team's offensive strategy and basic philosophy and let them form their own opinions on how to beat Linfield.  Yes, Brett Elliot is the most crucial player in Linfield's offensive system .  However, the Linfield coaching staff as done an excellent job of designing a scheme that maximizes the strengths and talents of the players they have.  Feel free to add or refute anything I have mentioned, I'm just trying to enlighten those who haven't had the opportunity to see the #1 team play so they know what to look, or listen, for in the playoffs..  I for one, enjoy the strategy of the game and the subtle adjustments which make the difference in winning and losing.  I figured others might as well.



My obervations of Linfield Offense:   Linfield's offense is essentially an ace back scheme with 3-4 wide receivers in multiple formations.  The basic philosophy is to attack the outside edges of the defense. Since the arrival of BE, the high percentage short to intermediate passing game as the primary offensive weapon, however many scores come off of deep passes as secondaries start to get tired of getting pecked away on the shorter routes.  The majority of the patterns one can expect are short crossing routs, quick outs, slant patterns, short to intermediate hooks, and bubble screens to receivers ( the latter of which I believe is Linfield's true bread and butter...more on that in a bit).  The running game has been less of a focus in the last 2 years (for obvious reasons), and in my opinion is primarily used to counter pass rush pressure and also implemented when the linebackers get too spread out trying to get under the recievers on short outside passes.    

As mentioned above, it is my opinion that the "bubble screen" to the wide outs is essentially the bread and butter of the Linfield offense.  Often times you will see them use it 5+ times a game in crucial situations when they need sure yardage to extend a drive.  Elliot can take one step, fire a quick accurate pass down the line of scrimmage to the 2 receiver side, long before he feels any pressure (which accounts for his few sacks and high efficiency).  The receivers are very well coached at blocking down field, an underrated aspect of the Linfield's offense.  Linfield receivers are physical and strong; often out sizing the opposing DBs (see C. Allen 220lbs).  The inside slot receiver cuts the DB covering the outside receiver (who caught the ball), then the receiver immediately cuts out wide down the sideline for 5 to 7 + yards.  This essentially is Linfield's true running game and explains why teams with "huge, powerful d-linemen" and   "awesome linebackers" have been generally rendered ineffective. Linfield basically takes the run game and moves it outside the hashes making the lineman less crucial. Linfield puts so much pressure on the outside DBs that unless they can break up quickly and make solid tackles at the line of scrimmage, the opposing team is done for from the start. Everything flows from this basic play (and other short high percentage passes).  After a time, Db's creep up, Linebackers widen out, D-linemen slow their pass rush knowing the ball will be gone before they take a few steps. Soon Elliot has all day to throw, and a Db bites too hard thinking another short pass is coming... and here comes the long ball....E+A = TD !!

Some teams have tried to counter this with 8-men back.  This however is just a slower death...Elliot is simply too good to give him that much time, he will find and open receiver and deliver and accurate pass. Also, this is when the inside running game and the Fly is implemented, and Linfield coaches know how to run the ball when they have too (Remember David Russell a few years ago).  The running game is just good enough that it must be respected, and forces teams to honor the possibility of inside runs. (Remember how the Stagg Bowls started last year...3 runs, the 3rd was TD by Hazenburg of the Fly.      

Most teams have tried bringing pressure with overloaded blitz packages. Like most QB's, Elliot is less accurate when he is moving.  However, Linfield's coaching staff is particularly aware this and will then test you deep 1 on 1 outside (see OXY last year ..7 TD passes)  or use a variety of  draws, screens, shovel passes, and flares outs to the backs (see Stagg Bowl last year ...Jenkins MVP).  

Obviously UMHB has had the most success against Linfield the last 2 years (in at least the 2nd half).  Essentially they blitzed Elliot , with D-linemen getting there hands up on the outside thereby knocking down at least 3 or 4 passes, and being physical with the Linfield WR's at the line of scrimmage.  Thomas Ford even mentioned "getting their hands down" during his Stagg Bowl interview on the sideline.  The result... Elliot became somewhat flustered the second half and threw some picks trying to throw deep to wide outs who got knocked of their routes at the line.  In my opinion, Elliot simply didn't look off the free safeties enough on those passes otherwise they might have worked anyway.

So the bottom line is...for you to have a chance at shutting down Linfield you must do it from the outside, where they attack you.  The DB's must match Linfield's physicality at the line and still be able to run deep.  The linemen must be disciplined enough to be able to pass rush, while being aware of the screen and draw, and get their hands up on quick passes.   If your team has this disipline and physical ability... you have a shot. However most teams haven't come close to being able to sustain this kind of solid outside play consistently throughout the entire game under constant pressure from the Linfield offense who executes it so well.  Most defenses are naturally geared toward inside run stopping first not dealing with blocking on the edges WRs vs DBs.. And most d3 DB's aren't accusomed to the ball being thrown so quickly and accurately on outside routes.  So good luck to the other teams, if they find a way to counter this style of attack then hats off to them ...I'm looking forward to seeing how teams try to adjust in the playoffs.  

I was almost so stunned I did not respond. No telling what he'd do next.

George is a particular kind of LINFIELD fan that reminds me of my Ethics professor. Like Bill Cosby, I would walk around asking, "Why is there air?"

[speedybigboy]

you put 47 on PLU in a game, the cats put 41 on plu in the first half so be ready ..  Just ask OXY how they tried  to stop the pass one year they played up and we go deep fast .. another 6 on the sciac... makes for a long ride home...  
Go Cats Go Big D

The Cats also got 44 put on them by PLU. Thats 37 more than they put on CLU ...
The drama club here at CLU throws purple frisbee's around on the soccer field for exercise after class, I think that's what you are talking about?  
Any ride home from Oregon is a long ride home, but it sounds like Jiggles might add an hour or two to the trip regardless...
Need a place to get a few beers Friday night in Portland to stay on par with GHC any suggestions would be appreciated, won't make it to McInville until Saturday morning
Go LU

In all fairness we scored 30 of those points in the 4thQ with our first team O against AT Least Linfields 3rd team if not 4th team D.  I doubt you will find Linfields D to be a problem for them or solution for your guys

and I vageuly recall a trip to Oregon that included a place called Jiggles, but I'm pretty sure it was in Eugene, not McMinnville?

[Bearcat Press]

KGW is reporting that Jerry Glanville is out at Portland State and that Speckman is on the short list of replacements.

http://www.kgw.com/sports/football/Glanville-out-as-PSU-coach-70250062.html

Maybe my reporting career isn't over just yet ...

[criswyly]

The NCAA d3 selection committee is absurd...no seeding....What in the world is their MO this year

What  schools did these people graduate from?  Spin On U

Next they will be getting the Nobel Pea....Wait a minute...that's not football

[d-train]

KGW is reporting that Jerry Glanville is out at Portland State and that Speckman is on the short list of replacements.

http://www.kgw.com/sports/football/Glanville-out-as-PSU-coach-70250062.html

Maybe my reporting career isn't over just yet ...

I've heard they were this close to hiring Speckman 3 years ago before Glanville showed interest.  I think he could do okay at PSU...

[bbaddict]

Jiggles is in Tualatin.  It's right off of I-5 where you turn off to go to HWY99 to McMinnville.  Not sure if it's still open.  Something about a lost liquor license . . .?? Don't quote me on that. 

Wow, that's some news about Glanville -- doesn't really surprise me though.    Sure hope it doesn't mean WU loses Speck.  Something to think about.

Good luck to Linfield against Cal Who this Saturday.  Like I said before, Cal Lu was the only game I watched WU play this year that was interesting (besides the one against Linfield).   I have to say, I liked the outcome better against Cal Lu.

[coco]

Whatever happened to InchesGuts? Did Wildcat11 shoot him?

PSU would do well to hire Speckman, but I'd hate to see him leave Willamette. Speckman and Glanville -- there's a contrast for you.