FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Nescacman]

Week 3 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

No movement in the rankings this week. We don't think we have ever seen such a disparity between the top 5 and the bottom 5. One big reason is issues at the QB position. 4 of the 5 top teams all have legit #1 QB's while none of the teams in the bottom 5 have figured out that you need to have a decent signal caller to win at ALL levels.

1. Amherst (2-0, Last week:1): Two wins against some of the weaker teams in the league, this week we see what this team is made of. They will be playing their 4th string QB against a good Midd team. Amherst defense has picked up where they left off in 2015 having only allowed 10 points season to-date and leading the 'Cac in team defense.
2. Hartford State (2-0, LW: 2): Another team that has faced little competition in their first two games. While Amherst has done it with defense, Trinity has done it with offense leading the league in scoring and total offense. As long as QB Sonny stays in school, they are good. By the way, we loved the alt uni's in week 1!
3. Tufts (2-0, LW: 3): Tufts squeezed by a "game" Bates squad in posting win #2 in 2016. Although we love Chance Brady, we think Tufts inconsistent offense will catch up with them at some point this year.
4. Wesleyan (1-1, LW: 4): Big win for Wes as they seemed to get back on track last week. Wesleyan is the most balanced offense in the league, among the 4 teams with actual offenses.
5. Middlebury (2-0, LW: 5): Here we go again, another Middlebury squad that passes but can't/won't run the ball. This will catch up with them at some point...maybe this week. ironic that ex-Pant QB Donnie McKillup (now a Purple Moose coach) may help stop them. Middlebury finally plays an actual football team this week. We will very quickly find out what they are made of.
6. Bates (0-2, LW: 6): Speaking of one dimensional, Bates has thrown exactly 19 passes (for 66 yards) in two games. They are the best of the weaklings, but not by much. IOO, will never win as long as they don't even try to throw the ball.
7. Colby (1-1, LW: 7): One of several QB challenged teams in the NESCAC. Colby, with their 3rd string QB calling signals, is going in reverse. Hurdle-Price is a wasted talent on bad team. 
8. Hamilton (0-2, LW: 8): We are convinced Murray could coach at Hamilton 20 years and it would not make a difference. The buff and blue (what happened to the buff part anyway), are on their way to another bad year. Consider these stats from their game against Wes last week...180 yards of total offense, 9 first downs, 2 of 10 on 3rd down, 22 minutes TOP, while allowing over 500 yards of total offense to Wes. We rest our case.
9. Bowdoin (0-2, LW: 9): We will say it again...an awful football team. Maybe they improved slightly in week 2 but bad is bad...case in point v. Amherst...132 yards of total O, 9 first downs (we see a trend here!), 9 yards rushing (on 26 attempts), and 3 of 15 on third down. They have given up almost 1,000 yards total offense to their opponents in 2 games and are last in the 'Cac in total D.
10.Williams (0-2, LW:10): Former HCOF Kelton now 0-6 at Shorter. Ephs horrible once again last week. Williams offense v. Hartford State...-10 yards rushing (on 28 attempts), 12 first downs, less than 200 yards of Total O and 5 of 17 on third down. Not to be outdone, the Williams D allowed over 500 yards of total offense including 316 yards rushing This program has sunk to a new low. Won't see a W until 2017, at least.

[PolarCat]

Week 3 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

No movement in the rankings this week. We don't think we have ever seen such a disparity between the top 5 and the bottom 5. One big reason is issues at the QB position. 4 of the 5 top teams all have legit #1 QB's while none of the teams in the bottom 5 have figured out that you need to haver (sic) a decent signal caller to win at ALL levels.

A true student of the game would realize that in this league, it's the OC's who call the plays, not the QB's.  But hey, making fun of grown adults instead of 20 year old kids wouldn't be as much fun, would it?

Really disappointed in the direction this board has gone this year.

[polbear73]

There is something majestic about one individual playing the roles of both left offensive tackle and also placekicker, which transcends the pettiness  of specialty.

Long time Mainers will remember Bowdoin captain and offensive tackle John Delahanty in the late 60's handing the place kicking chores very well for the Polar Bears.  John was recently inducted into the Lewiston (ME) sports Hall of Fame and his kicking was a big reason, although he was a fine tackle as well. 

[polbear73]

Week 3 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

No movement in the rankings this week. We don't think we have ever seen such a disparity between the top 5 and the bottom 5. One big reason is issues at the QB position. 4 of the 5 top teams all have legit #1 QB's while none of the teams in the bottom 5 have figured out that you need to haver a decent signal caller to win at ALL levels.

Oh, I think that even the coaches of the bottom five teams have figured out the importance of a good quarterback and some of the quarterbacks of those teams even have talent.  Playing behind young, inexperienced offensive lines that don't allow for proper time to throw or produce running games may have more to do with it than the talent of the quarterback. 

[PolarCat]

There is something majestic about one individual playing the roles of both left offensive tackle and also placekicker, which transcends the pettiness  of specialty.

True.  Just like there would be something majestic about one individual being a world class cardiac surgeon, concert pianist, rock climber, Tai Kwon Do champion, race car driver and cordon bleu chef.  But with the possible exception of the recently retired Dos Equis spokesman, that just doesn't exist in this century.  Heck, in the NFL, you don't even have kickers handling the punting.

The last NFL non-specialist I can remember kicking was Doug Flutie in his final game as a Patriot.  They play may have been "special", but it was also an anachronism.

[westcoastDad]

Very true Frank!  The word specialist shouldn't be taken as a negative.  It's just the evolution of the game these days.

Wes Welker?  Remember him?  I'm not a Patriots fan but Wes Welker played both ways in high school and kicked field goals.  I think that I read a few years back that he scored 3 or 4 TDS AND kicked a 48 field goal in the state championship game as a senior.

Whether you are the PK with the pressure of a miss rarely being acceptable, a HOF TE like the Dallas Cowboys traded for mid-season who dropped an easy pass from Staubach in Super Bowl, or just a new HC at Williams College way out in the sticks......

all of them.....all competitive participants are to be applauded!  Take Noone for granted


quote author=frank uible link=topic=4146.msg1757790#msg1757790 date=1475840365]
There is something majestic about one individual playing the roles of both left offensive tackle and also placekicker, which transcends the pettiness  of specialty.
[/quote]

[westcoastDad]

Polar Cat u may remember that Randall Cunningham used to also punt for the Philadelphia Eagles even when he was their starting QB.  They would use it when defenses weren't expecting it.  I think once he booted one 60+

Nice job on the POWER RANKINGS NESCACMAN!


ote author=PolarCat link=topic=4146.msg1757811#msg1757811 date=1475845934]

There is something majestic about one individual playing the roles of both left offensive tackle and also placekicker, which transcends the pettiness  of specialty.

True.  Just like there would be something majestic about one individual being a world class cardiac surgeon, concert pianist, rock climber, Tai Kwon Do champion, race car driver and cordon bleu chef.  But with the possible exception of the recently retired Dos Equis spokesman, that just doesn't exist in this century.  Heck, in the NFL, you don't even have kickers handling the punting.

The last NFL non-specialist I can remember kicking was Doug Flutie in his final game as a Patriot.  They play may have been "special", but it was also an anachronism.
[/quote]

[Nescacman]

Week 3 NESCAC Weekly Power Rankings

No movement in the rankings this week. We don't think we have ever seen such a disparity between the top 5 and the bottom 5. One big reason is issues at the QB position. 4 of the 5 top teams all have legit #1 QB's while none of the teams in the bottom 5 have figured out that you need to haver (sic) a decent signal caller to win at ALL levels.

A true student of the game would realize that in this league, it's the OC's who call the plays, not the QB's.  But hey, making fun of grown adults instead of 20 year old kids wouldn't be as much fun, would it?

Really disappointed in the direction this board has gone this year.

Hey Cat, actually a true fan would know that in ALL leagues, including the NFL, the HC or OC calls the plays. The only time an NFL QB has input on play calling is at the line when they audible. We are not commenting on the play calling but rather the execution of said calls.

As far as making fun of 20 yo's v adults, those that have been reading this board for 4 years know that we call it like it is. We are equal opportunity in terms of negatives AND positives...that means everyone is fair game...players, coaches, administrators, officials, parents, fans, etc.

IOO, 20 yo college football players should be able handle criticism, this isn't Pop Warner...when they enter the work world, they don't get trophy's everyday, sorry to say.

[middhoops]

How about this for this weekend:

o   Wesleyan 28 @ Colby 10
o   Williams 07 @ Bates 21
o   Trinity 28 @ Hamilton 07
o   Amherst 21 @ Middlebury 07
o.  Tufts 35 @ Bowdoin 07             

Middlebury ONLY wins if they have a 100 yard rusher.......:.

Middlebury will NOT have a hundred yard rusher.
Amherst will win the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
The real difference is Lebowitz.  Either he steps up and makes key completions against a far better defense than he's seen so far, or Amherst leaves Vermont with another W.  Mills' teams don't turn the ball over much, dagnabit.
Now, Middlebury may very well run for 100 yds between Meritus, Jacobs and Lebowitz.  Does that count?

My heart says Midd 24-17.  My head says Amherst 21-14

Go Heart!!

[PolarCat]

Make up your mind, will you?  First you said "you need to haver a decent signal caller to win."  Now you say "we are not commenting on the play calling".  Which is it?

I'm with polbear.  Sometimes the QB is the issue.  Sometimes it's a young porous OL.  Sometimes it's an OC who is so predictable the opposing DC has him locked down.

[polbear73]

Having seen both teams play, albeit against a Bowdoin team with many flaws this year, I'm inclined to agree with midhoops' analysis, even though Amherst is well down the depth chart at QB.  Amherst seems to me to be a much more complete team and, while both coaches are amongst the league's best, I would give the edge to Coach Mills over Coach Ritter.  Coach Mills always finds a way to win close games against the big boys, even on the road.  Amherst, buy a touchdown. 

[westcoastDad]

I'm doubting those 4 sacks after giving up 10 TD passes had much effect on Lebowitz?  Especially when they probably throw 80% of the time.  Especially when a few of those sacks could have been just 1 yard losses when coverage broke down.

Dumb penalties are all over the nation when it comes to collegiate football.  Kids are just 17-23 in most venues.

And, lastly, we don't know just how good Amherst is yet.  Hamilton and Bowdoin are both not good barometers to measure by.

This game between these two teams should be awesome baby (in my Dick Vitale voice). 

I can read.  BUT, will only be watching one game (again).  If you guys can come up with a NESCAC RED ZONE........sign me up!

Funny perspective.  K's and P's practice all year, for less than 5 minutes playing time a game, and are expected to be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT every second they are on the field.  An OL can miss a block here and there, a WR can run a bad route, a QB can overthrow a wide open receiver, a LB can miss a tackle and few will notice.  But a P that pooches one 20 yards or a K that goes wide right when the game is on the line?  They own that.  Lots of players can't handle that type of pressure.

The ONLY player who was on Ellis Oval practicing 45 minutes before the Bates game was Willie Holmquist.  I'd love to see you tell Willie he's not a "real player".

Remind us all again: What position did you play in your career?

Ignore him PolarCat.  He can't even read a box score because if he could he'd know that Lebowitz was sacked 3 times by Colby and once by Bowdoin.  I doubt either of these two have even seen Middlebury play this season because if they had they'd have pointed out (with glee) that one weakness needing to be dealt with, when preparing to play a team as good as Amherst, is stupid penalties.  Then there's the age old wisdom that if you aren't a blue chipper you aren't a player.  Hmm.  So that's always been my problem.  Thanks for the heads up.  Any chance PC, that you were asking in that lame way of yours if he knew what it means to be a teammate?

[PBPOP20]

Well, I was at Middlebury to watch them dismantle Bowdoin, and at Bowdoin last week for Amherst.   Having seen them both, I'd say this will be a tighter game than many may expect.   Lebowitz is outstanding and his receivers (young/replacing studs as they may be) are excellent.  Two or three different recievers made outstanding catches.   I don't think the Panthers need 100 yds rushing to take this one.   

Amherst definitely more balanced and can pound the ball on the ground with a combination of backs.  #1 is tiny.. but boy does he have moves!    At WR  #17 was particularly impressive... big, strong, fast and supremely confident with the ball after the catch...   well balanced, but not as much big strike capability as Middlebury.

Defense was a little tougher to gauge in both games since Bowdoin was not able to muster much offense in either game.  But, I'd say they are fairly evenly matched in this area...  Amherst maybe a little tougher against the run.. but, that's an advantage I don't believe will come into play.   

It is all going to come down to Panthers OL  v. LJs  DL  IMO.    If Panthers get it done up front... It's Middlebury  31 -28.

[westcoastDad]

Excellent feedback PBPOP20! 

[Nescacman]

Make up your mind, will you?  First you said "you need to haver a decent signal caller to win."  Now you say "we are not commenting on the play calling".  Which is it?

I'm with polbear.  Sometimes the QB is the issue.  Sometimes it's a young porous OL.  Sometimes it's an OC who is so predictable the opposing DC has him locked down.

"Signal caller"=nickname for QB (not the person that actually calls the plays)

PolarCat=minus K for lack of football knowledge.

We think Polar is just bitter because he realizes Bowdoin would actually be BETTER if Mac Caputi was still around as the "signal caller" for the P'Bears.