FB: Northwest Conference

[Wildcat'64]

Yep the Linfield "Cupcakes" did have three seasons in the last 12 years that we loss three games in the season (and most Cat fans will recall the discussion on this Board and concern at that time as to the future direction of Linfield football>>>>we practically had a revolt on our hands as Linfield just doesn't loose 3 games in a season, let alone 3 years in a row.

Fortunately we haven't had any 5 loss seasons like the Wesley "Cupcakes" or our 56 straight winning seasons would have ended in 2002 when Wesley had a very bad season.

[Lever Street]

(I love the 'Cats as much as anyone, but I am disappointed by my fellow Linfield posters.  The last few pages were painful to read.  Awful posts by Linfielders met by polite replies from Wesleyans.)

Back to the Cal Lu game, the Cats made two blunders which kept Cal Lu close.  Terrible D on the Hail Mary, then the 'Cat receiver tipping the pass which wound up being intercepted and returned for a Cal Lu TD.  Those two plays kept Cal Lu in the game.  Otherwise, the 'Cat D looked very good against a terrific Cal Lu O.  Bend, but no break.

Josh Hill and the running game looked great, keeping the chains moving.  Anticipating seeing the 'Cats try to establish the run against Wesley.  I like our chances, even with the cross country trip.

I've seen countless games at CatDome, and I'd put this victory over Cal Lu as one of the most exciting games of them all.

Go Linfield!

[MonroviaCat]

(I love the 'Cats as much as anyone, but I am disappointed by my fellow Linfield posters.  The last few pages were painful to read.  Awful posts by Linfielders met by polite replies from Wesleyans.)

Back to the Cal Lu game, the Cats made two blunders which kept Cal Lu close.  Terrible D on the Hail Mary, then the 'Cat receiver tipping the pass which wound up being intercepted and returned for a Cal Lu TD.  Those two plays kept Cal Lu in the game.  Otherwise, the 'Cat D looked very good against a terrific Cal Lu O.  Bend, but no break.

Josh Hill and the running game looked great, keeping the chains moving.  Anticipating seeing the 'Cats try to establish the run against Wesley.  I like our chances, even with the cross country trip.

I've seen countless games at CatDome, and I'd put this victory over Cal Lu as one of the most exciting games of them all.

Go Linfield!

I agree with everything you said in this post--especially the first part. 

[Bubs1856]

Well stated Lever..very appropriate post. I would agree on the caliber of the CLU game, only one better IMO was the 2005 battle with UWW.  Despite being on the losing end still the best game ever at the Catdome!

[MonroviaCat]

Well stated Lever..very appropriate post. I would agree on the caliber of the CLU game, only one better IMO was the 2005 battle with UWW.  Despite being on the losing end still the best game ever at the Catdome!

Yeah--I had that same thought about the UWW game--that one was actually even more exciting but of course we lost it....44-41....crazy game.

[D O.C.]

There you are PA_wesleyfan. If the boards are going to be fun this week your group will need you. Are you guys on any discussion board now that you are independent?

'CAT BACKERS this team is steadily moving forward. Here're reasons why this year.....

http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/bios/Chris_Mayes
http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/bios/Mike_Aseidu
http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/bios/Jeff_Morgan
http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2011-12/bios/Shane_McSweeny

...and please don't get Shane McSweeny mixed up with Shawn McAndrew.   

[bluenote]

Bluenote, not sure why they have that as a video highlight on the website.  Not sure how that matters either.

Well...I think they should have a video highlight of them winning a game against Apprentice School... I want to see some of their trick plays like Willamette and PLU do.

[wesleydad]

I will get this out of the way so I can talk football.  Every school has it's tradition, congrats on Linfield's.  Certainly a proud and deserved one, the 56 straight winning seasons is amazing.  My son graduated 3 seasons ago now and all I have done is become arguably the most traveled D3 football fan in the country.  I am not going to list it again, but journey over to the mid atlantic board and take a look at the games I have gone to this year.  I will have driven over 3K miles by the end of the season.  I like D3 football for all the great things that my son experienced at Wesley and we experienced also.  The Wesley folk know that I could have easily walked away very bitter with how some things turned out, but knowing that it is all part of life, the negative did not come close to the positives of the Wesley tradition.  So keep tauting your great college and all that makes it great, but remember there are many other great colleges out there doing a great job with their students and athletes.  Monrovia, Bubs, and Lever, I knew it would just be a matter of time before there would be some others that wanted to discuss what should be a great football game.  Altough I am sure the video does not do the game justice compared to being at the field, I found the game to very intense as I watched it.  Lever, I would expect any Linfield fan to like their chances, you don't get to be ranked 5th if you are not good.  We Wesley fans also like our chances, and in the end it is nice that they will play Saturday to find out who is better that day.

[wesleydad]

DOC, we still go to the ACFC/Independent board in the south region.

criswyly, forgot to mention that I don't waste my time -K ing people, I always find it funny when mine goes down.  would much rather whomever did not like my post to come on and rebut my points if I actually made any.

[downtown48]

(I love the 'Cats as much as anyone, but I am disappointed by my fellow Linfield posters.  The last few pages were painful to read.  Awful posts by Linfielders met by polite replies from Wesleyans.)

Back to the Cal Lu game, the Cats made two blunders which kept Cal Lu close.  Terrible D on the Hail Mary, then the 'Cat receiver tipping the pass which wound up being intercepted and returned for a Cal Lu TD.  Those two plays kept Cal Lu in the game.  Otherwise, the 'Cat D looked very good against a terrific Cal Lu O.  Bend, but no break.

Josh Hill and the running game looked great, keeping the chains moving.  Anticipating seeing the 'Cats try to establish the run against Wesley.  I like our chances, even with the cross country trip.

I've seen countless games at CatDome, and I'd put this victory over Cal Lu as one of the most exciting games of them all.

Go Linfield!

I agree with everything you said in this post--especially the first part.

Monrovia, couldnt agree more.  Wow, I haven't posted on here in a long time so I'll probably get torched for this but it's been embarrassing to read this board the last several pages. Nobody needs to be reminded or educated on Linfield's history or tradition. It speaks for itself...If they follow D3 football they know about it, if not they'll learn about it. Not from the drivel on here but when our team comes to town and goes toe to toe with them for a full 60 as I'd expect from any of the 16 teams that are still playing. People already want to beat our ass because we've got a 75% plus winning percentage over the last half century. No need to give everybody another reason to hate Linfield other than that. There is a big difference between good natured smack talk going back and forth and the pompous BS that been on here for the last few hours. I'm as big of a Linfield honk as the next guy but I try not to make people HATE the place when I talk about it.

That being said, Linfield playing on the road this week is an absolute joke. Nothing we can do about it now though and it's high time the cats pick up their first road playoff win in a LONG time!

[bluenote]

+K 

wesleydad...just gave you +K for giving your side of the story....with all kidding aside, us 'Cat's Respect you......believe me. .....we're mostly tongue in cheek! 

[PA_wesleyfan]

 We have pretty thick skin.. We have played UWW a few times and they are without a doubt the most unreasonable fans I've ever come across. Of course all they do most of the day is shoot minus karmas..  As the week goes on we will get into X's and O's .

[D O.C.]

Browse this and it explains all the faithful have been trying to express - in a football sense

http://catdomealumni.com/

wesleydad...we can hope this fool does not come on to talk X and O with you. He actually posted this the year we won the Stagg! Our fan!

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.

Don't suppose UWW coaches read it, but it was a close. game.

[bluenote]

We have pretty thick skin.. We have played UWW a few times and they are without a doubt the most unreasonable fans I've ever come across. Of course all they do most of the day is shoot minus karmas..  As the week goes on we will get into X's and O's .

+K...just got you to 45!   

[cawcdad]

Well stated Lever..very appropriate post. I would agree on the caliber of the CLU game, only one better IMO was the 2005 battle with UWW.  Despite being on the losing end still the best game ever at the Catdome!

Possibly the best football game at any level I have ever seen, and I have seen many.