FB: Northwest Conference

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome = 2012 NWC pick 'em: Week 7

[bluenote]

I like your picks Wildcat11....a few toss-ups for sure but I like your analysis.

[d-train]

ADvantage 'Catdome = 2012 NWC pick 'em: Week 7

You picked the Loggers last week?!

[wildcat11]

ADvantage 'Catdome = 2012 NWC pick 'em: Week 7

You picked the Loggers last week?!

Ha!...well done D-Train.  Well done.

[wildcat11]

ADvantage Catdome = Around The 'Catdome'Osphere

This week's round-up includes
-Your weekly dose of Wildcat coverage
-Lots of Whitworth/Willamette recaps
-Thenewstribune.com pointing at the wrong part of the Logger team after Pacific's win.
-The Corvallis paper runs a story on Oregon's "other" undefeated college football teams.
-Tully RIGHT IN YOUR FACE
-Bearcats getting some run for their high flying offense

[d-train]

Good point on the newstribune piece.  I didn't know UPS was missing some keys weapons on offense, and that certainly would have helped them keep pace.  But the Loggers defense will make anyone feel like a Levi Johnston scoring machine. 

[D O.C.]

Yeah,ok,ok, I want to see defense and what the freshman running backs can do.
Good luck, Whitworth.

[criswyly]

I guess the Cats decided to make a statement today and used the Rats to do so......54 - 14.  I don't ever remember beating a Whitworth team that bad.  I guess I need to go to work more often during the first half

[criswyly]

Oh BTW, what happened to that victory bell?

[MonroviaCat]

I guess the Cats decided to make a statement today and used the Rats to do so......54 - 14.  I don't ever remember beating a Whitworth team that bad.  I guess I need to go to work more often during the first half

I'm pretty sure it's the most points we've put up on Whitworth....

[D O.C.]

509.....Whitworth has a good team.
I do not think those corners are going to grow any time soon.

[cawcdad]

I learned last night that a colleague from another school in our district is a Pacific football alum from the early 80s and his nephew currently plays for the Boxers. Go NWC! Go Cats!!

[bluenote]

Next weeks slate looks intriguing.....Linfield @ Lewis and Clark. I see the Wildcats dominating this game.

.......and a VERY interesting match up between Willamette and PLU @ PLU. I think we'll have a better idea about both those teams after next week. I would assume Willamette may be the slight favorite but I think PLU has some decent/strong weapons on offense (especially the passing game) and the defense seems faster and more aggressive than the last few years.

[MonroviaCat]

Next weeks slate looks intriguing.....Linfield @ Lewis and Clark. I see the Wildcats dominating this game.

.......and a VERY interesting match up between Willamette and PLU @ PLU. I think we'll have a better idea about both those teams after next week. I would assume Willamette may be the slight favorite but I think PLU has some decent/strong weapons on offense (especially the passing game) and the defense seems faster and more aggressive than the last few years.

I agree--the Willamette at PLU game is a big one.  I feel like PLU can win this one if they minimize youthful mistakes.  Willamette's offense has been potent but their D has certainly looked vulnerable.  I think both teams are going to score points and it could be a "last team to score, wins" type of game.   I actually think the UPS v Whitworth game could be intersting---if Tully continues to just run run run and UPS can pass without throwing INTs (the DBs for Whitworth are young and not too big), it could be a close one....UPS is certainly itching for a win.

[OldCatProf]

Is it just my imagination or do the Cats have greater talent, depth, and balance than in several (many?) years? Seemingly, for several years after winning the Stagg Bowl in '04 we had very good passing games but sometimes struggled to produce an adequate (let alone strong) running attack. Fortunately, over those years we generally had strong defensive play.

This year, we appear to have a "plug and play" roster. First we lose senior starter RB Josh Hill (after his great and consistent first three games), so we "plug in" senior RB Steven Nasca and freshman RB Shafer...and they perform magnificently. This week we lose Nasca to injury so we get a great game (again) from Shafer and "plug in" another freshman RB back Tavon Willis to back him up. Tavon plays very well too. Of course, the new guys that were "plugged into" the offensive line this year have a great deal to do with that too.

On defense we lose pre-season All-American defensive tackle Tyler Steele to season-ending knee surgery and find yet another freshman, Marq Randall "plugged into" the defensive line. This week he leads the team with seven tackles!!! Add in a few other freshmen such as CB Chad Coburn and you've got to wonder "Who are all these guys?" "How did this happen?"

I'm throwing out a honk to Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Brandon Hazenburg. Recruiting is a year-around task and often a non-recognized task. It appears that "Haze" is as proficient a recruiting coordinator as he was a receiver back in Stagg Bowl days. Excellent work by Haze. We appreciate his expertise and dedication to all things Catdome.