FB: Northwest Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

Foss,

Playing on the road probably favors a slightly closer score for UPS next year.  Because UWW did fly all the way across the country, they probably only brought 55 guys or so.  At that point there was only so deep they could go in the depth chart.  But when they play out in Wisconsin next year they can play all 100 guys if they want.  Less likely then that they will continue to score at such a rate through the second half.

Good point - at home you can play your 3rd, 4th, 5th string; on the road they're a thousand miles away!

[Foss]

GrizztheLogger, I give your squad credit for taking on the big boys. Moreso, I understand UPS actually sought out UWW and initiated the home and home. Considering how a number of other teams these days seem to do the opposite and run away from playing good teams, kodos to UPS. I was just hoping the score wouldn't be quite that lopsided, but then again a lot of teams have been getting hammered by UWW the last 3+ years so no shame in that. By the way, good to have a Logger on the board.

pineconefan, that's a good observation and you're probably right. Maybe it will be more like 49-6 in '09. 

[OregonCityCat99]

First chance to post following the game....I am super-impressed with the toughness and resolve from the team. Would have been pretty easy to get down after the long drive and fumble.

We have to remember, Lamson and Franklin are both sophomores......which is great for the future of the Cats.  If we can get Ford back healthy soon, it'll only get better.  The D is FAST!!!!!  Man they fly to the ball.  Overall, great atmosphere and looking forward to a NWC title back at the CatDome this season.

The Purple Flag will be absent next week, but see you all in 2 when we get some revenge against the Rats.

[D O.C.]

Some nice Statesman newspaper candids from the waning sun game Saturday 27th


http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=J0&Date=20080928&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=809280802&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=8

I especially like the "let's have a meeting at your helmet" # 11 out of 23.

I think we can refer to it as the "go easier on L&C rule."

Perhaps now UPS has sympathy with Lewis and Clark?

[GrizzTheLogger]

Perhaps now UPS has sympathy with Lewis and Clark?

The Loggers knew what they were getting into when it came to scheduling Whitewater.  Sure, they could have called up La Verne or Whittier again but really, what's the point?  It might not be the case with Linfield and Southern/Western Oregon but it tends to get old when you are playing the same non-conference teams year-in and year-out.  At the very least, more football fans from around the country have now heard of Puget Sound.

As for L&C, the Loggers were in their shoes not too long ago and while UPS doesn't really show sympathy on the field, they respect what they are trying to do and, like the rest of the NWC, hope that they can get back to fielding a competitive team soon.

[bluenote]

....I'm assuming next weeks "Game of the Week" will be Willamette @ Whitworth......that will be a fun one to try and pick! Right now I'd have to go with Willamette...but the Rats are pretty tough at home! I had a feeling Whitworth would beat Chapman...gosh darn...should, have gone with my gut instinct on that one!

[menlodaddio13]

Really don't know how good or bad Whittier is, although I'd lean toward the bad side    But Menlo did look pretty doggone good especially on O.  Moved the ball well, scored at will.  REally looking forward to the drive down to Mac and I know you are thinking a little more seriously about the Oaks after the last two weeks.  Skill guys are looking much better. Corners are very suspect but athletic.  Pretty healthy coming in as well.  Good balance, mobile QB solid Running backs and "finally" healthy wideouts made the offense click this week.  Whittier did seem out of sort,  even at the hotel acted beat coming in, no swagger you see in Linfield, Whitworth and even the PLU teams when visiting.

Look forward to my first trip to Linfield, we were very inpressed with the team, coaches and players when we met at UPS on a recruiting deal.  They seem to have so much more depth at most positions. Anxious to see Menlo string three strong showings in a row and play well now that league has started.  As I have heard a couple of you say, you never know which Oak team is gonna show..should keep this week interesting

[cawcdad]

I just noticed that Jim Good (Linfield '94) is the coach at Hamline. He and Coach Smith played with each other. Any possibility of a game? It would be a west region D-III game. Although the Pipers aren't the strongest of teams, the MIAC is a pretty good conference

[D O.C.]

MDD...please do not feel ill will toward the general populace of CatBackers when some (most?) freshman in attendance start hollering and guffawing when the south sea gutturals emit forth from your team during warm-ups. Those fresh frosh have not been at LINFIELD long enough to attend the annual luau.

However, if the hooting comes from some 6'5" choker setter from out near Clatsop County wearing Can't Bust 'Ems with a glop of Copenhagen in his lip, please, feel free to set him straight.   8)

[wildcat11]

Look forward to my first trip to Linfield, we were very inpressed with the team, coaches and players when we met at UPS on a recruiting deal.  They seem to have so much more depth at most positions. Anxious to see Menlo string three strong showings in a row and play well now that league has started.  As I have heard a couple of you say, you never know which Oak team is gonna show..should keep this week interesting

Bring your rain gear as it sounds like it's going to be a wet one next Saturday.  It does sound like Menlo is improving but if the Oaks are going to have a chance they're going to have to play out of their minds if the 'Cats bring their "A" game.

Loved seeing all the frosh talent Linfield was playing last night.  The present and future is bright for the 'Cats if they keep it together.

[Proud Papa Joe]

Home sweet home. 10:30 sunday night, just rolled in. Long drive. The Lamson's had alot of fun at the Tailgate party. Nice to see the fellow posters and readers out in force. Great game. Got the W. Would also like to see some long bombs once in awhile. Can't wait to see just how fast the wideouts are. Good to control the ground game that will definitly open up the passing game. Thanks for everything and will see you all next week, maybe. If not next week Whitworth for sure. Have a great week everybody. And nice to meet Tuxguy, Blue and Gig. Also got to see Sweed after the game. So long.

Go Cats

Pound the Rock and lock deep.

PPJ

[speedybigboy]

new system we have implemented.

Care to elaborate in private?

I think it's called the "spread option attack offense" but I'm not a football expert. Maybe someone else can elaborate.....all I know is that it's pretty good, especially if you have good quick skill people and lineman that can block. But it takes a good qb to pull it off that can both run and pass. It's exciting to watch, but we need to fine tune it and get better at it. I'd like to see more a little more passing and a little less running by the qb. But it does kind of surprise the defense when the qb just takes off out of the shotgun and gains 12 yards.

Also for RnP

From what you describe, I've heard it called the "Gun - Option".  IF so I think that's what West Virginia, Michigan, and maybe Florida run.  A quick perusal of their games this week shows their pass-run ratio to be 40-60, 50-50, and 40-60, roughly and respectively.  Michigan is probably distorted from playing catch up the 2nd half.  Their first half was 40-60.  Your game against SOU was 25-75, so some more passing would be helpful.

On the other hand, in that offense, the QB has to be a strong runner. With the d1 schools above, their QB's are generally the first or second leading carrier, at least by attempts.

One of the local high schools, led by Cat Alum, Jamie Mayo, is running it this year and they killed my alma mater with it.

[downtown48]

The downside was what everyone already knows. Four more fumbles, two of them lost. One led to SOU's only score and the second almost seized defeat from the jaws of certain victory with 1 minute or so left at SOU's goal line.

Four fumbles in two weeks is unacceptable...this horse has been beaten to death, but is there really nobody on the roster that cares about the football!?  I'd say there are probably 2 or 3 plays a season that a back gets hit where you say "gee, helmet on the ball, big hit, he should get a pass on that one."  Please tell me these four came on big hits because either way he's used up his 3 freebies already.

As far as the spread option goes...Hopefully Franklin is durable because recent history doesn't bode well for quarterbacks in this offense.  Oregon is on at least their third and maybe their fourth QB this season and they probably play for that national championship last season if Dennis Dixon doesn't get hurt.  Jake Locker is out for six weeks with a broken thumb from this weekend.  West Virginia was a Pat White injury in the last game away from a certain National Title game appearance last year...On the other hand, Florida and Tebow won it all a couple of years ago.  I've heard that Franklin can fly, so hopefully he can avoid the big hits...Should be a fun season now that we're back on the right side of the W/L column. 

[RedandPurple]

new system we have implemented.

Care to elaborate in private?

I think it's called the "spread option attack offense" but I'm not a football expert. Maybe someone else can elaborate.....all I know is that it's pretty good, especially if you have good quick skill people and lineman that can block. But it takes a good qb to pull it off that can both run and pass. It's exciting to watch, but we need to fine tune it and get better at it. I'd like to see more a little more passing and a little less running by the qb. But it does kind of surprise the defense when the qb just takes off out of the shotgun and gains 12 yards.

Also for RnP

From what you describe, I've heard it called the "Gun - Option".  IF so I think that's what West Virginia, Michigan, and maybe Florida run.  A quick perusal of their games this week shows their pass-run ratio to be 40-60, 50-50, and 40-60, roughly and respectively.  Michigan is probably distorted from playing catch up the 2nd half.  Their first half was 40-60.  Your game against SOU was 25-75, so some more passing would be helpful.

On the other hand, in that offense, the QB has to be a strong runner. With the d1 schools above, their QB's are generally the first or second leading carrier, at least by attempts.

One of the local high schools, led by Cat Alum, Jamie Mayo, is running it this year and they killed my alma mater with it.

speedy:
Thanks for the input. You really cleared things up for me. After 4 years of watching Linfield's high octane pass offense I was expecting the same for the last two seasons. the 'Cats could score anytime from anywhere on the field. When my son played on the o-line for the 'Cats he wanted to run everything up the middle (crazy lineman) I prefer the air attack. Guess I have to make some adjustments of my own.

[criswyly]

This season is starting off really slow for me....the breakup in my webcasts have been really bad...makes it really difficult to follow the action...and very frustrating....I know you all really feel sorry for me....Anyway, thanx to MonroviaCat for keeping on top of things on the in-game board.

The preceding posts have also given me a much clearer picturer of things to come...this is really shaping up to be a very unique year...with the best to come...hopefully.  I really loved to hear about the freshman and sophmores starting on defense.