FB: Northwest Conference

[Browneagle64]

Great game rats. I am glad that both the rats and Oxy made saturday's game at the pine bowl exciting.

[Tuxguy]

  Whomever plays the best game wins---

MC 

Wow! The depth of your analysis is amazing!!   

Let me guess....

1.  The team with the most points at the end of the game is called the "winner".
2.  The goal of the offense is to score points.
3.  The goal of the defense is to keep the other team from scoring!!

Also,  we are not morons, we are a very elite group of posters refered to as the
"Classless A$$hole CLub"......keep in mind though, as any Wildcat poster will attest to, 99% of what we say is banter.  IN person, we are all great guys   

We look forward to being in Spokane!

Great guys?

Good guys maybe,  that show up at your tailgate, eat your sea food, steak, and dogs. Drink your adult pop(Don't have Hamms or it will be all gone) and longies, and then sneak out with a Victory at the Catdome. I remember it well!  I Still have nightmares from it!
All and all they are good guys.  8)
Pirate fans, just don't let them near your tailgate or Elk's lodge, or it's all over

[MonroviaCat]

  Whomever plays the best game wins---

MC 

Wow! The depth of your analysis is amazing!!   

Let me guess....

1.  The team with the most points at the end of the game is called the "winner".
2.  The goal of the offense is to score points.
3.  The goal of the defense is to keep the other team from scoring!!

Also,  we are not morons, we are a very elite group of posters refered to as the
"Classless A$$hole CLub"......keep in mind though, as any Wildcat poster will attest to, 99% of what we say is banter.  IN person, we are all great guys   

We look forward to being in Spokane!

Wow, I can't believe I actually wrote that.  Usually, I'm much less observant.... LOL...
What I meant, possibly, was that the team that makes the fewest mistakes (e.g. least turnovers and penalties) wins.  In those terms, you could play 'worse' and still win....but not this week.  Either that or I was trying to say that the team that scores more than the other team will get to move on to the next round.....It's hard to keep track of my thoughts.....

[ritz72]

  Whomever plays the best game wins---

MC 

Wow! The depth of your analysis is amazing!!   

Let me guess....

1.  The team with the most points at the end of the game is called the "winner".
2.  The goal of the offense is to score points.
3.  The goal of the defense is to keep the other team from scoring!!

Also,  we are not morons, we are a very elite group of posters refered to as the
"Classless A$$hole CLub"......keep in mind though, as any Wildcat poster will attest to, 99% of what we say is banter.  IN person, we are all great guys   

We look forward to being in Spokane!

Wow, I can't believe I actually wrote that.  Usually, I'm much less observant.... LOL...
What I meant, possibly, was that the team that makes the fewest mistakes (e.g. least turnovers and penalties) wins.  In those terms, you could play 'worse' and still win....but not this week.  Either that or I was trying to say that the team that scores more than the other team will get to move on to the next round.....It's hard to keep track of my thoughts.....

I know MC, just having a little fun!!

[MonroviaCat]

I know MC, just having a little fun!!

That's what its all about (especially when your team {for me that is Linfield} is not involved)


MC

[rockcat]

Whitworth is goin' to get owned by the J's this weekend....SJU in a rout, 35-14 phone it in!

Mighty Royal

P.S.  Chuck Norris will make the Pirates beg for mercy!

MR is just hatin' on Whitworth because the Rats did something Bethel can't do....win a playoff game.  Keep your head up MR, it could happen someday.

[speedybigboy]

From the Daily Dose...League champion Whitworth became the third conference team to win a playoff game this weekend with the first-round victory against Occidental. It probably is the only one the NWC will get this year but serves as a reminder that the league is not a one-trick pony. (And that's only for people who don't remember Pacific Lutheran.)...


bold emphasis added

[Tuxguy]

Looks like some motivation for the Pirates with D3.com already picking them to to be defeated by St. Johns.

By the way Pirate fans, the Johnnie come lately boys can dish it out, but they can also take it too. Have fun this week!    

for those of you who keep up with the local High School sports and the McMinnville Grizzlies, the Boys Soccer team won the State title Saturday night against the all mighty,  10 time, and defending state Champion the University of Jesuit out of Portland.
The game ended tied 1-1. went to 2 over times and ended 1-1. It went to a PK shoot out after 5 shoots, was 4-5 each. Mac won 8-7. The McMinnville keeper had to do 2 redo's after stopping both shots  and  being called for coming off the line early. He than made a stop once more and the Mac boy made his for the Title.
Congratulations. 

[speedybigboy]

Just so no one takes my earlier post incorrectly.  I don't see it as PROBABLY the only win for the NWC this year.  Two great teams will battle it out.  My pick is with the home team,

GO PIRATES.

[TC]

I think St. Johns is a huge challenge and the Rats are going to need to play their best game of the year to win this one.  It look to me like the key to beating the Johnnies is to stop the run. In the game they lost and ones where they were held close they didn't move much on the ground. 

That being said, St. Johns looks like it prefers to pass and has two go-to recieivers.  The bigger challenge for the Rats this week may be scoring on offense.  It looks like the Johnnies can be run on  but Clark is going to have to make them respect the passing game in order for the ground game to get going. 

A few quick notes...

Johnnies on Offense:   You may not need to worry about stopping the run as the Johnnies may do it for you.  SJU's "run" offense is actually a mix of shovel, screen, and swing passes, along with a mix of traps, options and dives.  A lot of times you win see the Johnnies win against good teams with very modest "run" yardage, when in actuality they are moving the ball well against over-aggressive defensive fronts by using screens and shovels.  Don't be fooled by SJU only rushing for 62 yards against Central--if the passing game is working, Gagliardi won't try to force a run game.  (Kinda like '03 against Linfield, when pass-happy SJU had the best WR in the country running out of the backfield for the first time all year because Linfield couldn't stop them.  Hey, do what works.)

The Johnnies' "traditional" passing offense has been inconsistent this year.  Jr. Alex Kofoed is a 3-year starter (and as far as I can tell, will become the only 4-year starter at quarterback in SJU history next year), and in some ways he peaked the first game of his freshman year.  He is obviously very talented, but has had turnover issues in many big games.  He's quick but rarely keeps the ball on the option.  He doesn't have great size, but throws a decent enough deep ball.  When he and the receivers are clicking the Johnnie O is nearly unstoppable, but that hasn't been the case at some points this season.  He also injured his throwing thumb against Concordia this year and missed a few games, but it doesn't appear this injury is affecting his play any more.

Kyle Gearman is as big and talented as any receiver in D3, but has also been inconsistent this year (partially because they will go long stretches of time without throwing to him).  Brian Weber is the deep threat and is good at it.  Brandon Royce-Diop came into the program as a QB and has been more or less forgotten about this year until last week (although he has had some success in the return game), and can really be a weapon on trick plays and passing downs.  Casey Haugen starts at receiver.  (My mother taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  Unless it's about Bethel, St. Thomas, Scrubby, or AO.)

Johnnies on Defense:  Nick Gunderson is a So. defensive tackle.  He is kept in a cage between games and is fed raw meat.  His hobbies include destroying running games, mauling quarterbacks, collecting stamps, and blocking kicks.  His only natural enemy is sea lampreys. 

Kevin McNamara is pretty tiny for a defensive end (listed at 5-10, 210) but he gets to the quarterback.  In the playoffs last year, Monmouth decided they weren't going to let SJU's interior linemen get to them.  McNamara had 7.5 sacks.

Linebacker Jamie Steffensmeier led the '03 national championship team in tackles as a first-year.  He sure hasn't gotten worse in the mean time.  The other linebackers are young, with 2 first-years seeing tons of playing time.

The secondary is experienced if unspectacular.  Overall, the defense is undersized--"linebackers" on the defensive line, "safeties" at linebacker, "d-backs" at safety, etc.  But they are FAST and well coached.  They use their speed and schemes to disrupt offenses--no one was able to consistently move the ball against their first-team defense all year, except for one game.  In that one game, Bethel's huge O-line blasted the SJU D-line off the ball the whole second half, and their talented backs took advantage.  The only other teams that I have seen do that to the Johnnies were Mt. Union (multiple vintages) and Whitewater (2005).  If Whitworth is able to do that Saturday, then good luck in Wisconsin.  I'll take my chances. 

Johnnie Special Teams:  Most teams are lucky to have one placekicker.  The Johnnies have THREE!  Which, unfortunately means they don't have any.  The placekicking has been pretty rough this year, and there have been some rough snaps in the punting game, as well.  Royce-Diop and Lofboom are decent enough return men, but they don't make you forget Blake Elliott.  Special teams is not this team's specialty.



When it comes down to it, St. John's definitely has the talent to win this game, but anyone will tell you: This isn't the same SJU team as 2003 (or even 2000).  They are a legitimate top-16 team, but it sounds like Whitworth is, too.  I get the feeling that SJU is a better team, but Whitworth is certainly talented, and I don't like either team's chances against Whitewater.  It should be a good game, and if this is the end of the road for the Johnnies, so be it.  Realistically, I just don't see it:

St. John's 28,
Whitworth 20.

[DustySJU]

I think St. Johns is a huge challenge and the Rats are going to need to play their best game of the year to win this one.  It look to me like the key to beating the Johnnies is to stop the run. In the game they lost and ones where they were held close they didn't move much on the ground. 

That being said, St. Johns looks like it prefers to pass and has two go-to recieivers.  The bigger challenge for the Rats this week may be scoring on offense.  It looks like the Johnnies can be run on  but Clark is going to have to make them respect the passing game in order for the ground game to get going. 

A few quick notes...

Johnnies on Offense:   You may not need to worry about stopping the run as the Johnnies may do it for you.  SJU's "run" offense is actually a mix of shovel, screen, and swing passes, along with a mix of traps, options and dives.  A lot of times you win see the Johnnies win against good teams with very modest "run" yardage, when in actuality they are moving the ball well against over-aggressive defensive fronts by using screens and shovels.  Don't be fooled by SJU only rushing for 62 yards against Central--if the passing game is working, Gagliardi won't try to force a run game.  (Kinda like '03 against Linfield, when pass-happy SJU had the best WR in the country running out of the backfield for the first time all year because Linfield couldn't stop them.  Hey, do what works.)

The Johnnies' "traditional" passing offense has been inconsistent this year.  Jr. Alex Kofoed is a 3-year starter (and as far as I can tell, will become the only 4-year starter at quarterback in SJU history next year), and in some ways he peaked the first game of his freshman year.  He is obviously very talented, but has had turnover issues in many big games.  He's quick but rarely keeps the ball on the option.  He doesn't have great size, but throws a decent enough deep ball.  When he and the receivers are clicking the Johnnie O is nearly unstoppable, but that hasn't been the case at some points this season.  He also injured his throwing thumb against Concordia this year and missed a few games, but it doesn't appear this injury is affecting his play any more.

Kyle Gearman is as big and talented as any receiver in D3, but has also been inconsistent this year (partially because they will go long stretches of time without throwing to him).  Brian Weber is the deep threat and is good at it.  Brandon Royce-Diop came into the program as a QB and has been more or less forgotten about this year until last week (although he has had some success in the return game), and can really be a weapon on trick plays and passing downs.  Casey Haugen starts at receiver.  (My mother taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.  Unless it's about Bethel, St. Thomas, Scrubby, or AO.)

Johnnies on Defense:  Nick Gunderson is a So. defensive tackle.  He is kept in a cage between games and is fed raw meat.  His hobbies include destroying running games, mauling quarterbacks, collecting stamps, and blocking kicks.  His only natural enemy is sea lampreys. 

Kevin McNamara is pretty tiny for a defensive end (listed at 5-10, 210) but he gets to the quarterback.  In the playoffs last year, Monmouth decided they weren't going to let SJU's interior linemen get to them.  McNamara had 7.5 sacks.

Linebacker Jamie Steffensmeier led the '03 national championship team in tackles as a first-year.  He sure hasn't gotten worse in the mean time.  The other linebackers are young, with 2 first-years seeing tons of playing time.

The secondary is experienced if unspectacular.  Overall, the defense is undersized--"linebackers" on the defensive line, "safeties" at linebacker, "d-backs" at safety, etc.  But they are FAST and well coached.  They use their speed and schemes to disrupt offenses--no one was able to consistently move the ball against their first-team defense all year, except for one game.  In that one game, Bethel's huge O-line blasted the SJU D-line off the ball the whole second half, and their talented backs took advantage.  The only other teams that I have seen do that to the Johnnies were Mt. Union (multiple vintages) and Whitewater (2005).  If Whitworth is able to do that Saturday, then good luck in Wisconsin.  I'll take my chances. 

Johnnie Special Teams:  Most teams are lucky to have one placekicker.  The Johnnies have THREE!  Which, unfortunately means they don't have any.  The placekicking has been pretty rough this year, and there have been some rough snaps in the punting game, as well.  Royce-Diop and Lofboom are decent enough return men, but they don't make you forget Blake Elliott.  Special teams is not this team's specialty.



When it comes down to it, St. John's definitely has the talent to win this game, but anyone will tell you: This isn't the same SJU team as 2003 (or even 2000).  They are a legitimate top-16 team, but it sounds like Whitworth is, too.  I get the feeling that SJU is a better team, but Whitworth is certainly talented, and I don't like either team's chances against Whitewater.  It should be a good game, and if this is the end of the road for the Johnnies, so be it.  Realistically, I just don't see it:

St. John's 28,
Whitworth 20.

Crimeny TC... how 'bout just sending 'em the damn game plan!   

[bluenote]

I have no idea if SJU is as good as they have been when Linfield played them the past few years.... but I can tell you that Whitworth will be tested this week. The Johnnies are usually very well coached, have a lot of talent and are solid all around. All the recent games we've (Linfield) played vs SJU have been close battles. I don't think Whitworth has near the offense of any of the Linfield teams of the past who have played SJU (or even this year) especially if Clark is gimpy, but I expect Whitworth's defense to at least keep things in check. It will be an interesting game....I wish it was closer than what, the 8 hour drive, I'd love to watch the game in person.....

....you can expect the Johnnies to bring a fairly decent contingent as they did when they played at the CatDome....

[OzJohnnie]

A few quick notes...

Johnnies on Offense:   You may not need to worry about stopping the run as the Johnnies may do it for you...

I guess my "you're still in it if you can force turnovers and keep them coming in the early second half" stuff was undercooked.  And, here I thought I might get some grief from handing up something as lame as that.

Well, at least PieRates have no excuses for losing now, right?  Game over?  Pack your bags and your copy of The Travelers Guide to Fine Cheeses and Big Women.

[DuffMan]

Whitworth is goin' to get owned by the J's this weekend....SJU in a rout, 35-14 phone it in!

Mighty Royal

P.S.  Chuck Norris will make the Pirates beg for mercy!

MR is just hatin' on Whitworth because the Rats did something Bethel can't do....win a playoff game.  Keep your head up MR, it could happen someday.

Rockcat,

I dub thee an honorary Johnnie for that post!  Karma for you

[DuffMan]

Crimeny TC... how 'bout just sending 'em the damn game plan!   

I'd send them the playbook (if there was one), but they'd still have to stop it .