FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[amh63]

As the time of this post, Amherst roster for this season is not up.  Let us hope that rosters of the remaining schools ...the majority...will be up early this coming week.
Then there will be a stronger foundation for making speculative predictions .  Hope no one in any of the "scrimmages" was injured...causing possible roster changes.  I'm sure there is allowance for roster changes during the season.
This indeed will be an interesting season....just look at all the "upsets" among the top five conferences to date.   I see a more open race to the top of the conference.....no undefeated season....then what do I know.  This is based on no superstar led offense  like Foote at QB this season.  I see teams with the best defenses will lead the race to the top.  Teams that can minimize TOs and mistakes should prevail.  Stating the obvious.
Let the games begin!  Finally

[NothingButNESCAC]

We might take a shot at lines later in the week, but doing first week lines is going to be an exercise in futility in all likelihood. Sure that many of you have read our team previews and other articles so far. If you haven't, we put links to all of them in one place to make it a little easier.

http://nothingbutnescac.com/complete-preseason-coverage/

[amh63]

All Quiet On The CAC Front!    My memory is sputtering....but is it just me that feel roster info and previews are SLOW to emerge this year?  It is like SIDs are busy with the other sports....early starts, etc...and awaiting a gong or something to release info.  I guess I am like the techies awaiting info on the new IPhones to be announced
One thing I noticed this year in watching college games to date....is the surprising impact of some freshman at skilled positions....like the QB for Texas A&M...again!   Makes the waiting of roster info even harder for me.  Expect some Amherst players to have breakout years...at the skilled positions.

[gridiron]

Amher63--Regarding rosters, my guess is that many programs are faced with trying to whittle their rosters down to the 75 player limit, and while they do so, they are likely reluctant to post all data (pics, etc.) until they know who will be on the final list.  Likely more desirable than putting players on and then potentially having to remove some to meet the limit.

Just a guess, but seems logical to me.

[nescac1]

Williams posted its season preview.  Only a few new bits of information beyond what Nescac Insider included in its preview. 

http://ephsports.williams.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20140915hl1lba

Two sophomores who saw PT as frosh beat out more experienced guys in Gardner Fish at OG and Justin Davis at S.  Both should make an impact this year and in the future. 

The QB battle is not discussed at all, beyond listing the three candidates.  I imagine that the scrimmage against Amherst settled the issue, but Kelton is not tipping his hat in advance of the first game.  Perhaps we will see more than one guy play in week one, although the hope is that someone has stepped forward and seized the job.  The other big question is who will get carries beyond Scyocurka.  Given his history of injuries that lack of depth at TB is worrisome, but hopefully a player new to the program will emerge.  At least Williams has a solid fifth-year senior Qadir Forbes at FB, who, now healthy, should really help to create holes for the running game. 

A few guys to watch on Williams this season, some of this is guesswork (especially the break-out players):

Top five defensive players: 1. James Howe, 2. Tom Cabarle, 3. Adam Datema, 4. Tae Scott, 5. James O'Grady.  Mike Flynn, Justin Harris, and Johnny Bond are also guys to watch.  The top three guys on the defense are all potentially elite players in NESCAC this year, and Scott might join them as well. 

Top five offensive players: 1. Alan Felix, 2. Alex Scyocurka, 3. Darris Sime, 4. Steven Kiesel, 5. Alex Way.  A lot more question marks on offense than defense for the Ephs.  Scyocurka absolutely needs to stay healthy.  The Ephs could have a nasty receiving core if a QB emergers.  How about this for a jumbo red-zone line-up: 6'4 Lewis Hayes, 6'4 Darrias Sime, 6'5 Colin Brown at WR, plus 6'3 Alex Way and 6'5 Ryan Prokesh at TE.  Good luck matching up with that group, most of whom are not just big, but also athletic. 

Top five breakout underclassmen: 1. Austin Lommen (I hope!!), 2. Lewis Hayes (should have a chance to make some big plays as a sophomore, 3. Justin Harris, 4. Gardner Fish, 5. Brian Pederson

Top five question marks that will determine whether the Ephs can return to winning ways: 1. Who is the QB, and will he produce more consistent results than the hodgepodge at that position over the past three years?  2.  Will the FAR more experienced OL open bigger holes and protect the QB better?  The Ephs have two tackles who are now heading into their third year as starters.  Williams needs them to be dominating bookends to contend.  3.  Will the more experienced LB core create more turnovers and negative plays, after an uncharacteristically quiet year (by Williams standards) for that unit?  4.  Who backs up Scyocurka??  One dark-horse to keep on eye on, Josh Gilkenson, who transferred in mid-year last year from UConn (did not play football there), and who could be a change-of-pace back, and 5. Can Sime and Hayes use their size and athleticism to consistently create big plays down the field in the passing game?

[amh63]

Good sign!  Middlebury has posted it's preview...though we have seen the NothingBN previews, which are great....finally read them.
Hamilton has posted it's roster....24 freshmen ...at 70 plus players listed, it is the largest in years. With the new coaching staff, expect the roster to be 75 next year.
Maybe...just maybe later in the day Amherst will show up with some info.
Interesting to note that the Pathers' preview was written on Sunday and has a Monday posted date.

[Trin9-0]

Trinity has posted their Colby game preview:
http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20140916yo8rcy

Looking forward to some tailgating and stretching the home win streak to #52 this weekend in The Coop!

[AUPepBand]

Good sign!  Middlebury has posted it's preview...though we have seen the NothingBN previews, which are great....finally read them.
Hamilton has posted it's roster....24 freshmen ...at 70 plus players listed, it is the largest in years. With the new coaching staff, expect the roster to be 75 next year.
Maybe...just maybe later in the day Amherst will show up with some info.
Interesting to note that the Pathers' preview was written on Sunday and has a Monday posted date.

Let's go Continentals!

[Trin9-0]

Nice article from the Hartford Courant previewing the "Broad Street Bullies":
http://www.courant.com/sports/college/hc-trinity-football-0918-20140916,0,3686081.story

[nescac1]

Trinity sounds absolutely loaded at the OL position, and as always on defense, especially LB, where they just have an embarassment of riches.  The only question is how fast the new skill position guys will step up.  Lots of teams have really strong DL talent coming back, in particular, Williams, Amherst and Wesleyan, so it will be fun to watch those groups match up against the behemoths that Trinity has up front. 

Nice preview of the Williams football team, written by a former player, in the student paper:  http://williamsrecord.com/2014/09/17/ephs-look-to-rebound-from-disappointing-2013-campaign/

A bit more illuminating than Coach Kelton's likely purposefully-vague comments.  First, it sounds like Austin Lommen has seized control the QB position, which is a good sign for the Ephs.  Sounds like the team has a lot of confidence in him. HOpefully he backs it up!

Second, I was happy to see LB Jack Ryan highlighted.  He flashed like a future star as a frosh and had a strong HS pedigree, but was very quiet last season (perhaps injuries?) and did not seem to play much.  As stated earlier Williams needs more impact plays out of the LB position and hopefully Ryan can help in that regard, he is a great athlete.  Third, three frosh are mentioned who may get PT up front on defense, including a DT and previously-discussed DE.  Williams has a ton of talent and depth on the DL, likely the best unit on the team and one I expect to dominate at times.  Finally, the preview mentioned the three RBs in the running to back up Scyocurka.  Two of the three are frosh, and I'm particularly curious to see what Connor Harris can provide as a small, quick change of pace back from a very strong high school program.   Still at this point a total unknown quantity what Williams has at TB behind Scyocurka, and they could really use some speed and playmaking out of that position to compliment his more physical, straight-ahead style. 

There is certainly some reason for optimism for the Ephs, but so much depends on a total unknown at the QB spot that it's hard to know what to expect. 

[Trin9-0]

Trinity sounds absolutely loaded at the OL position, and as always on defense, especially LB, where they just have an embarassment of riches.  The only question is how fast the new skill position guys will step up.  Lots of teams have really strong DL talent coming back, in particular, Williams, Amherst and Wesleyan, so it will be fun to watch those groups match up against the behemoths that Trinity has up front.   

Indeed, nescac1, there is some serious beef up front for Trinity. They'll AVERAGE 300lbs if we assume the other starting tackle, Will Lynner, put on at least 5-10lbs between his sophomore and junior year. That should help ease the transition for whoever becomes the starting QB and help create holes for Iregbelum and Rivers out of the backfield.

[amh63]

Trinity8-0 & Nescac1...thanks for the links and helping to fill the info bin.
The Courant article discussion of the OL brought back some memories....back from the time when Trinity had their great teams....undefeated seasons.
Remember watching one of those Trinity teams at Amherst, I believe.  One or more parent of players would shake their head and remark about the size of the linemen.....those 300 lb players that could open up the holes, etc.  A team can adjust...but the pounding does impact the play late in the game.....so it goes.  Remember one parent stating that Amherst  needs to counter by recruiting their own jumbo size linemen.  Amherst has moved in that direction but has never had many 300 # OL, if any, that started.  Average starting OL last season was about 270-275. 
I know, the posts have been somewhat thin on my part...but previews and rosters should appear on Thursday.

[amh63]

Amherst preview is up and posted on the website.....with links to video and photos.  Done while I was posting.  No roster.  Expect it will be poster on late Thursday or Friday when a preview of the game on Sat. is provided.

[lumbercat]

I was hoping Al Davis would be out of hibernation by now to add a little color to the board. As I recall Al's  son was a FY last year so Al may be sweating out the final cut in Middletown where the Cards need to cut down from a pre season roster of 90+ to 75 (or close).

As a point of reference Coach Whelan is strongly opposed to the 75 man roster limit and has stated publicly that he is "working to get that changed in the NESCAC". He has been very open in expressing his feelings that this roster limitation is a contradiction to the spirit of D3 athletics when student athletes who would normally be included on the varsity roster cannot participate due to the 75 man limit.

Can't blame the Whale- when in Purple, during his glory days at Williams, he always acknowledged the significant advantage he had over the NESCAC lower tier in terms of depth. In those days The Ephs would carry 80-90 on their roster vs. 60 at the lower tier schools. He knew with numbers he could wear those smaller programs down even in they had some talent in their starting 22.

No question that Williams had superior talent all around in those days but the edge in depth and numbers was always the Whale's trump card and he is trying to play that card again today.....can't blame the big guy- he knows what it takes to win in this league.

[ContinentalsMan]

While Hamilton is a few years away from having a real chance of being competitive in this league, the attitude on The Hill is changing. The new coaching staff has brought not only a breath of fresh air into the school but a new discipline both on and off the field. Look for some improvement this year.