FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[Scoops]

Charlie your visceral dislike of Civetti amuses me. Not sure what he did to you, but it must've been pretty personal .

The reality is that punting was the right and smart play in that moment given the situation. Tufts had a botched snap on the first offensive play of the game, which led to Bowdoin's first points. They were up 2 scores and had all of the momentum. Why run a play and risk another fluke fumble recovery for a TD or pick 6? Their defense was lights out, and Bowdoin could not drive the field on them. The punt itself was not a good one, which was not in Civetti's control. But even with the bad punt, they gave their defense field position. Say what you will about past special teams mistakes, and Berluti should certainly stick to playing QB, but you're argument in this case is pretty poor.

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

I think you are missing the big premise here. You are opponents 32 if that is accurate with 6 yards to go. Why risk any type of mishap. Your team has a veteran QB if you dont want to risk a turnover and battling the clock would you not have been better letting your QB shot gun  , drop back and potentially run for first down even if he is short of first down you have eaten some clock or if about to be sacked throw the ball away. When the opponent is expecting a possible trick play at minimum you kill some clock. Seems a great deal more conservative then this foolish play. Anyways just trying to show propensity for this Coach and bizarre Special Teams. Even if he pooches the ball and if he kicks out of endzone what did you gain 12 yards ?

[westcoastnescac]

Charlie your visceral dislike of Civetti amuses me. Not sure what he did to you, but it must've been pretty personal .

The reality is that punting was the right and smart play in that moment given the situation. Tufts had a botched snap on the first offensive play of the game, which led to Bowdoin's first points. They were up 2 scores and had all of the momentum. Why run a play and risk another fluke fumble recovery for a TD or pick 6? Their defense was lights out, and Bowdoin could not drive the field on them. The punt itself was not a good one, which was not in Civetti's control. But even with the bad punt, they gave their defense field position. Say what you will about past special teams mistakes, and Berluti should certainly stick to playing QB, but you're argument in this case is pretty poor.

that is incorrect the ball was stripped by Koy Price

Last we are going to say about "Jumbopuntgage"...So, we were at the game on Saturday...weather was really bad...the situation was as follows: Tufts had the ball at the Bowdoin 32 headed into a pretty fierce wind, it was 4th and 6 with about 5:20 left in the 4th quarter with Tufts leading 24-10...Berlutti was in a shotgun and tried to do a "pooch" punt...ball went about 9 yards in the air (might have gone off the side of his foot) and then bounced back 8 yards for a net 1 yard punt....IOHO, we think HCOF Jay probably should have gone for it but at the of of the day, it didn't matter...

And for the record, Berlutti's stats as a punter since 2021 (not including the 1 yard punt on Saturday):

        Average Number  Yards  Long  TB  FC  I20   50+  Block
2021  37.36         11          411     60     1     1     4       2       0
2022  36.83         6            221     49     1     1     4       0       0

Total  37.18         17          632     60     2     2     8       2       0

Not too shabby! BTW, with these stats, he would be the 6th best punter in the NESCAC in 2023.

I think you are missing the big premise here. You are opponents 32 if that is accurate with 6 yards to go. Why risk any type of mishap. Your team has a veteran QB if you dont want to risk a turnover and battling the clock would you not have been better letting your QB shot gun  , drop back and potentially run for first down even if he is short of first down you have eaten some clock or if about to be sacked throw the ball away. When the opponent is expecting a possible trick play at minimum you kill some clock. Seems a great deal more conservative then this foolish play. Anyways just trying to show propensity for this Coach and bizarre Special Teams. Even if he pooches the ball and if he kicks out of endzone what did you gain 12 yards ?

[Nescacman]

and, even though it failed it wasn't a critical error because neither team was putting together an 80 year drive in those conditions.

Especially the Polars offense which was absolutely horrendous in the second half. On their last drive (12 plays for 15 yards) they were sacked numerous times (3 plus a large run for loss that should have been called a sack) and Boel threw some really bad passes. Seriously, reminded us of the Bowdoin offense during the Caputi era. Worst I have seen that offense play in years (and it was not just due to the weather). In person, it was hard to watch. And it's not like Boel is coming from CA, FLA or TX and isn't used to playing in bad weather. NJ, where Boel played HS football, even with global warming, is definitely not tropical. We know that all too well. fugggeghtaboutit! 

[lumbercat]

Charlie- not piling on at this point friend but at that  point in the game with those circumstances  Civetti or any other Coach is playing not to lose.....the only way he loses that game is if he makes a critical error. With the pooch call he was safe, even with a 1 yard net punt.

[GroundandPound]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

[The Mole]

No. It means they have the best running and scrambling QB
Probably a high correlation to that, but how many sacks/TFLs have they surrendered, what are the total rushing yards the team has accumulated would be more indicative.

Yes, Tufts has a pretty good offensive line, but not best in the conference.

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

[Nescacman]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

OK, we'll take the bait. We think there is little direct correlation between having the best running/scrambling QB and having the best offensive line...actually may be a correlation between having a bad o-line and a good running QB.

A better correlation would be sacks against/TFL against, average yardS per offensive play, first downs, third down conversions (not enough fourth down conversions to be stat sig), and scoring. Let's not also forgot the "eyeball test"....just watching the guys play. Keeping in mind that this assessment is extremely subjective, we would rate the top three offensive lines in the NESCAC as follows for 2023:

1. Tufts
2. Hartford State
3. Wesleyan

Not even going to try to rate the rest in order...we'll let someone else try to do that.

[Bantam4life]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

Fetter Doesn't Scramble

[Scoops]

Wesleyan has given up the 4th most sacks, and they're 6th in rushing averaging 3.0 yards a carry. I get that you're a Cards fan, but there's no way you can seriously put them up there with Tufts and Trinity. The Bants and Jumbos are the clear #1 and #2 (who is #1 is debatable but I lean towards Trinity).

I would put Williams at #3. They're the best rushing offense, and I'm not going to knock their offensive line for the teams lack of legitimate weapons in the pass game.

1. Trinity/Tufts
2. Tufts/Trinity
3. Williams
4. Hamilton/Middlebury/Wesleyan
7. Bates
8. Bowdoin
9. Amherst
10. Colby

[Nescacman]

Wesleyan has given up the 4th most sacks, and they're 6th in rushing averaging 3.0 yards a carry. I get that you're a Cards fan, but there's no way you can seriously put them up there with Tufts and Trinity. The Bants and Jumbos are the clear #1 and #2 (who is #1 is debatable but I lean towards Trinity).

I would put Williams at #3. They're the best rushing offense, and I'm not going to knock their offensive line for the teams lack of legitimate weapons in the pass game.

1. Trinity/Tufts
2. Tufts/Trinity
3. Williams
4. Hamilton/Middlebury/Wesleyan
7. Bates
8. Bowdoin
9. Amherst
10. Colby

Not that we need to explain ourselves and justify our ranking of Wesleyan's o-line but a few facts (since we only deal in facts): Wes has attempted the most passes in the league this year (almost double the number of passes that the Ephs have attempted, btw) thus it makes sense that they have been sacked more, Wes is #3 in total offense, #5 (barely) in average yards gained per play, tied for 2nd in first downs per game, #3 in scoring per game, and #3 in third down conversions. All positive correlators of good o-line play. Not a reach to rank the Wes o-line #3 IOO. If you extrapolate the Williams sack against number and base it on a similar number of pass attempts to Wes, Williams would be #9 in the conference in sacks against (Ephs have allowed 8 sacks against in 79 attempts compared to Wes allowing 10 sacks in 153 attempts, FYI). We stand by our ranking.

[Nescacman]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

Fetter Doesn't Scramble

We know that some of the Hartford State lovers out there will take offense to this but we are not a fan of Spencer Fetter. Fetter clearly benefits from being surrounded year after year by the most offensive talent in the league and consistently one of the best o-lines in the league. We've said it before and we'll say it again. After watching him in person numerous times, we think he's "SAWFT", he does not like getting hit, and we don't appreciate the way he treats his teammates. We also don't appreciate public comments he has made towards the competition (go do a Google search if you want to see for yourself). Our opinion, put Fetter in Clinton, Lewiston, or Waterville, and he would be mediocre at best. Put Kenny Gray in Hartford and he would have been a legend. We'll take a tough SOB (and good teammate) like Maimaron, Estevez, Gray, Ollie, Coyne et al any day of the week over a guy like Fetter. Tough guy to root for if you ask us.

[Scoops]

Not that we need to explain ourselves and justify our ranking of Wesleyan's o-line but a few facts (since we only deal in facts): Wes has attempted the most passes in the league this year (almost double the number of passes that the Ephs have attempted, btw) thus it makes sense that they have been sacked more, Wes is #3 in total offense, #5 (barely) in average yards gained per play, tied for 2nd in first downs per game, #3 in scoring per game, and #3 in third down conversions. All positive correlators of good o-line play. Not a reach to rank the Wes o-line #3 IOO. If you extrapolate the Williams sack against number and base it on a similar number of pass attempts to Wes, Williams would be #9 in the conference in sacks against (Ephs have allowed 8 sacks against in 79 attempts compared to Wes allowing 10 sacks in 153 attempts, FYI). We stand by our ranking.

All great stats and everything Nescacman. But the fact remains that Wesleyan can't run the ball, and they've given up a lot of sacks. They have only had 2 players run for more than 50yds in a game (one of whom was the QB so those were scrambles). They have 1 rushing touchdown on the season. And they throw the ball more because they can't run it, which opens them up to having more sacks. None of those things is indicative of having a top tier offensive line IMO.

[Charlie]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

Fetter Doesn't Scramble

We know that some of the Hartford State lovers out there will take offense to this but we are not a fan of Spencer Fetter. Fetter clearly benefits from being surrounded year after year by the most offensive talent in the league and consistently one of the best o-lines in the league. We've said it before and we'll say it again. After watching him in person numerous times, we think he's "SAWFT", he does not like getting hit, and we don't appreciate the way he treats his teammates. We also don't appreciate public comments he has made towards the competition (go do a Google search if you want to see for yourself). Our opinion, put Fetter in Clinton, Lewiston, or Waterville, and he would be mediocre at best. Put Kenny Gray in Hartford and he would have been a legend. We'll take a tough SOB (and good teammate) like Maimaron, Estevez, Gray, Ollie, Coyne et al any day of the week over a guy like Fetter. Tough guy to root for if you ask us.

I think you are making several assumptions that are incorrect. First off you can't blame him for playing with talent. He is playing with the weapons around him. Any other school in NESCAC can get players and recruit better. I am not going into an admissions rant. If a school wants to invest in their football program they can simply stated. Trinity cares about their Football program and gets the best Coaches , players year after year.

Last year Fetter played wih his best receiver being Clapp. I wonder how he would have played if he played with Tomlinson. If you recall he had a great stretch with Girard when he was at Trinity. I think he has a great arm and accurate. In terms of how he treats his teammates name one QB college or Pro that does not yell at his players. Manning , Brady to name a few. From the concensus of past and present teamates all like him as a player and teammate. They have no problem with his desire to win and cocky bravado. By the way I am sorry since he has been QB they are 26-1 if they go undefeated this season. Ar you saying a marginal QB could do the same I think not.

[Charlie]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

Fetter Doesn't Scramble

We know that some of the Hartford State lovers out there will take offense to this but we are not a fan of Spencer Fetter. Fetter clearly benefits from being surrounded year after year by the most offensive talent in the league and consistently one of the best o-lines in the league. We've said it before and we'll say it again. After watching him in person numerous times, we think he's "SAWFT", he does not like getting hit, and we don't appreciate the way he treats his teammates. We also don't appreciate public comments he has made towards the competition (go do a Google search if you want to see for yourself). Our opinion, put Fetter in Clinton, Lewiston, or Waterville, and he would be mediocre at best. Put Kenny Gray in Hartford and he would have been a legend. We'll take a tough SOB (and good teammate) like Maimaron, Estevez, Gray, Ollie, Coyne et al any day of the week over a guy like Fetter. Tough guy to root for if you ask us.

I think you are making several assumptions that are incorrect. First off you can't blame him for playing with talent. He is playing with the weapons around him. Any other school in NESCAC can get players and recruit better. I am not going into an admissions rant. If a school wants to invest in their football program they can simply stated. Trinity cares about their Football program and gets the best Coaches , players year after year.

Last year Fetter played wih his best receiver being Clapp. I wonder how he would have played if he played with Tomlinson. If you recall he had a great stretch with Girard when he was at Trinity. I think he has a great arm and accurate. In terms of how he treats his teammates name one QB college or Pro that does not yell at his players. Manning , Brady to name a few. From the concensus of past and present teamates all like him as a player and teammate. They have no problem with his desire to win and cocky bravado. By the way I am sorry since he has been QB they are 26-1 if they go undefeated this season. Ar you saying a marginal QB could do the same I think not.

Next year will be the real parody in the League. Trinity looses 30 seniors do not know who has another eligible year but they are also loosing their QB. So will be a transition year perhaps. Fortunetely there is Spring ball so they can develop and plan for their future. However the ironic part is that for all the seniors graduating they have a great young crop of Freshman & Sophomores this year. Next year they should be solid on both DL/OL , RB , WR and LB. There Secondary & QB as always will be suspect. So if they can fill the void at QB and it would be hard things look promising in Hartford.

However I am sure they have something brewing in Hartford.

Next year and can't beleive I am saying this could be Tufts year in Berluti's last year In fact they play Trinity home first game so stars could be aligned?

[lumbercat]

Question: If a team has the best running and scrambling QB in the conference, does that mean they also have the best offensive line?

Fetter Doesn't Scramble

We know that some of the Hartford State lovers out there will take offense to this but we are not a fan of Spencer Fetter. Fetter clearly benefits from being surrounded year after year by the most offensive talent in the league and consistently one of the best o-lines in the league. We've said it before and we'll say it again. After watching him in person numerous times, we think he's "SAWFT", he does not like getting hit, and we don't appreciate the way he treats his teammates. We also don't appreciate public comments he has made towards the competition (go do a Google search if you want to see for yourself). Our opinion, put Fetter in Clinton, Lewiston, or Waterville, and he would be mediocre at best. Put Kenny Gray in Hartford and he would have been a legend. We'll take a tough SOB (and good teammate) like Maimaron, Estevez, Gray, Ollie, Coyne et al any day of the week over a guy like Fetter. Tough guy to root for if you ask us.

Agree NM but let me take the liberty of adding Brendan Costa to that list. As tough as they come, great teammate with D1 arm talent who would have been a legend in Hartford.