FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[lumbercat]

Delayed response to IM Hughes observations on tha Tufts- Bates game.
Couldn't agree more. A great effort by Tufts who will end their losing streak this week at home against the Black and Whiite.

Bates came out with their dominant running game and put up 2 early scores. Looked like it was going to be a blowout but Tufts wasn't laying down. A credit to their coaching and preparation. No quit in them, they just kept throwing and maintained a high intensity level until they found themselves back in the game.
At the end of the day it was the Bates running game that took control in the final drive. Bates pounds it behind 2 of the best offensive lineman in the NESCAC who line up on the right side of the Bates line. All conference tackle Liam O'Neil and guard Mike Bernstein are 300+ pounders who are keys to the Bates ground attack. Bernstein has been overshadowed by all conference O'Neil but he is in the same class---dominant.

Tufts QB Doll can sling it and will inflict some pain on opponents this year. He has a great group of big receivers but don't understand why they don't attempt to run it a bit more. Trause and Brady look like very solid backs.

Bates slot back Doherty has been a great back at Bates following a Sophomore year lost to injury and emerged on Saturday as one of the elite backs in the league.

Bates' Kukesh again this week just a monster game for Bates-- while Tufts threw at will Bates kept the pass completions in front of them and didn't give up any big pass plays while shutting down the Tufts aerial attack completely in the red zone.

Tufts 6'6" TE Kenyon one of best in the league.

Tufts coach Civetti won't be in the losing ranks for much longer.

[AlDavis]

Howz everyone doing.....are we all excited about Wesleyan going 8 - 0......easy money on these Nescac games.

Colby            51
Wesleyan   - 20 1/2

Bowdoin      -  2
Tufts             47

Hamilton        47 1/2
Trinity          - 27 1/2

Bates            50 1/2
Williams       - 3

Middlebury      52
Amherst        - 4

[AlDavis]

wow....very slow ovaaaah here.. ...I do sense some hating going on....I am a holding a ticket for the 8- 0 / 8 - 0  and 0 -8 / 0 - 8 daily double quinella ....I will be rooting for Amherst to beat Middlebury to set up an epic game with Amherst in a couple weeks ....if both Middlebury and Wesleyan go 8 - 0 then that's ok too....all things are coming to roost this year....Williams at Wesleyan , ooooooh man that's going to be off the charts sweeeeet.....Happy Wednesday everybody.

[fulbakdad]

Al, loving your posts from a distance! LOL

Hey, say hi to Ibraheem Khadar for me!  Great kid!

[amh63]

FYI...the preview of the battle between Amherst and Middlebury has been posted on the Amherst website...athletics section.  The is another podcast of the coach's thoughts on the upcoming game.  There is also a video of the Bowdoin game and a feature on OLB Chun '14.  Enjoy!

[iamhuge]

Delayed response to IM Hughes observations on tha Tufts- Bates game.
Couldn't agree more. A great effort by Tufts who will end their losing streak this week at home against the Black and Whiite.

Bates came out with their dominant running game and put up 2 early scores. Looked like it was going to be a blowout but Tufts wasn't laying down. A credit to their coaching and preparation. No quit in them, they just kept throwing and maintained a high intensity level until they found themselves back in the game.
At the end of the day it was the Bates running game that took control in the final drive. Bates pounds it behind 2 of the best offensive lineman in the NESCAC who line up on the right side of the Bates line. All conference tackle Liam O'Neil and guard Mike Bernstein are 300+ pounders who are keys to the Bates ground attack. Bernstein has been overshadowed by all conference O'Neil but he is in the same class---dominant.

Tufts QB Doll can sling it and will inflict some pain on opponents this year. He has a great group of big receivers but don't understand why they don't attempt to run it a bit more. Trause and Brady look like very solid backs.

Bates slot back Doherty has been a great back at Bates following a Sophomore year lost to injury and emerged on Saturday as one of the elite backs in the league.

Bates' Kukesh again this week just a monster game for Bates-- while Tufts threw at will Bates kept the pass completions in front of them and didn't give up any big pass plays while shutting down the Tufts aerial attack completely in the red zone.

Tufts 6'6" TE Kenyon one of best in the league.

Tufts coach Civetti won't be in the losing ranks for much longer.

Tufts used a very interesting defensive scheme to try to slow down the Bates rushing attack.  It was very obvious from the video and the premise was based  on making at least one big defensive play to get Bates into 3rd and long which they don't like to do at all.    All it takes is one 3rd and long to stop a drive.  Having said all that, it was a huge Bates pass play which saved the game for them on the last drive..go figure.

The Tufts offense really doesn't care about field position as they find openings in the middle of the field all of the time.  The tough part is down in the red zone when the zones get compacted.    Tufts has a lot of youth on the O-Line so it's tough to consistently create running lanes.  Obviously pass catching skill out of the backfield is a must for them.  Like I said earlier, Doll is very good.

Should be a great game Saturday between Tufts and Bowdoin. 

[lumbercat]

IM Huge-

Tufts' defensive scheme last week was not "interesting" at all but instead a very predicable approach to defend a strong option running game-It's basically "8 in the box" commonly deployed against a running team like Bates with questionable passing ability. The jumbos executed it well but the "huge" Bates pass completions are part of that scheme. When you throw 8 or 10 times a game the opportunity to complete a pass will be there when you go to the well and that's what Bates did in terms of pass completions at 2 or 3 key times during the  game. Bates also had a drop of a good ball on a fly pattern mid way through the 4th which would have been 6 but that's coulda- woulda.

Tufts completed a lot of passes to Doll's credit but not one of his completions was vertical behind Bates coverage- every Tufts completion was underneath and that's why they couldn't produce in the red zone.

I believe Civetti will curtail the Jumbo passing attack abit this week to 40 or less passing attempts and let Trause and Brady lug the pigskin a bit--Bowdoin is fast but small on D--the Jumbos may benefit from some success on the ground which will secure a great day for Doll and that fine fleet of receivers.

The Brown and Blue will get their win in spades on Saturday and I plan on being in Medford for their big win.

Tufts 31 Bowdoin 17

[Nescacman]

NESCAC Week 3 Preview

Welcome to the week 3 NESCAC preview. This week promises to be another exciting week of D3 football in New England highlighted by the big battle of the unbeatens when Amherst welcomes Middlebury to Pratt Field. Here we go....

Bowdoin College at Toughs University: An interesting game, for football masochists. Lots of questions here... Will Bowdoin's offense finally show-up? Will Coach Caputi finally bench QB Caputi for QB Romero? Will Tufts win it's first game in 26 tries over the last 3 years plus? Will Tufts QB Doll throw less than 60 passes? My "Magic 8 Ball" tells me the answers to these questions are: No, Yes, Yes, No. The reality here is Tufts offense WILL score on Bowdoin's defense and even Tufts defense will be able to stop the inept Polar Bears offense (they have scored a grand total on one TD thus far this year). Congratulations Jumbos! Bowdoin should circle October 12th on the calendar; that's when they play Hamilton and they might have a chance for a win.
Tufts University 17 Bowdoin College 7
Weather: Not a factor.

Bates College at Williams College: The Kelton watch is on. Over/under holding at Thanksgiving. Fact: Bates can run the ball as well as anyone in the NESCAC. Fact: Bates throws the ball worse than anyone in NESCAC south of Brunswick. Fact: Williams will put 8 or 9 in the box and try to force the Bearcats to pass the ball. Fact: Bates offensive line will open up holes and allow them to run anyway. Fact: Williams can't run the ball, convert third downs or score. We watched the Trinity-Williams game. Our belief is Trinity is better than they played and Williams is worse than they played in that game. However, Williams is better than they played against Colby in week 1. The last time The Ephs were 0-2...2007. Need to do some research as far as when the last time they were 0-3. Our gut tells us it was a long time ago. I want to pick Bates here. I really do. I just can't.
Williams College 14 Bates College 13
Weather: Not a factor.

Hamilton College at Trinity College: Let's face it. The Continentals are not good at all. Their offense is actually worse than Bowdoin's (statistically anyway). Let's hope that they wake up and play Pastorella at QB instead of Rosenberg. At least he can throw the ball. Trinity looked very sluggish on Saturday as Williams did everything they could to hand the Bantams the victory and allow them to continue their long home winning streak. Trinity will get it going and win going away easily. The streak continues....make it 49.
Trinity College 35 Hamilton College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

Colby College at Wesleyan University: This will the first real test for Wesleyan. Although you can only deal the "Cards" that you are dealt, you could not ask more from them beating two weak opponents handedly in the first two,weeks. This week the competition level steps up significantly as Colby comes to Middletown. Cardinal QB Jesse Warren is hot right now leading the NESCAC in passing. The Cardinals have three runners in the Top 7 in rushing including Drew and Gibson at #2 and #4, respectively. The Cardinals offense has been very balanced with 6 TDs on the ground and 6 though the air. Colby has done one thing well in crushing Williams and playing well against a very good Middlebury. What is that you ask? They are number one in the league in stopping the run, albeit they have done so against two teams that don't run the ball (one can't-Williams and one chooses not to-Middlebury). We will find out this week if Colby's run D is for real against Wes. I think Wes survives the test at home, but not as easily as some would think. They just have two many weapons for the Mules to stop.
Wesleyan University 28 Colby College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC GAME OF THE WEEK

Amherst College at Middlebury College: By far the best game on the schedule this week. This game pits Amherst's league best passing D against the best passing offense in the league. What has gone unnoticed here is that Middlebury is playing very good defense and Amherst's offense has been very mediocre. I think Middlebury just has too much offense and their defense will shut down the Amherst offense.
Middlebury College 24 Amherst College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC Man's Picks

Last week: 5 wins 0 losses
Season (through two weeks): 9 wins 1 loss (thanks Ephs)

Enjoy the games

[Nescacman]

NESCAC Week 3 Preview

Welcome to the week 3 NESCAC preview. This week promises to be another exciting week of D3 football in New England highlighted by the big battle of the unbeatens when Amherst welcomes Middlebury to Pratt Field. Here we go....

Bowdoin College at Toughs University: An interesting game, for football masochists. Lots of questions here... Will Bowdoin's offense finally show-up? Will Coach Caputi finally bench QB Caputi for QB Romero? Will Tufts win it's first game in 26 tries over the last 3 years plus? Will Tufts QB Doll throw less than 60 passes? My "Magic 8 Ball" tells me the answers to these questions are: No, Yes, Yes, No. The reality here is Tufts offense WILL score on Bowdoin's defense and even Tufts defense will be able to stop the inept Polar Bears offense (they have scored a grand total on one TD thus far this year). Congratulations Jumbos! Bowdoin should circle October 12th on the calendar; that's when they play Hamilton and they might have a chance for a win.
Tufts University 17 Bowdoin College 7
Weather: Not a factor.

Bates College at Williams College: The Kelton watch is on. Over/under holding at Thanksgiving. Fact: Bates can run the ball as well as anyone in the NESCAC. Fact: Bates throws the ball worse than anyone in NESCAC south of Brunswick. Fact: Williams will put 8 or 9 in the box and try to force the Bearcats to pass the ball. Fact: Bates offensive line will open up holes and allow them to run anyway. Fact: Williams can't run the ball, convert third downs or score. We watched the Trinity-Williams game. Our belief is Trinity is better than they played and Williams is worse than they played in that game. However, Williams is better than they played against Colby in week 1. The last time The Ephs were 0-2...2007. Need to do some research as far as when the last time they were 0-3. Our gut tells us it was a long time ago. I want to pick Bates here. I really do. I just can't.
Williams College 14 Bates College 13
Weather: Not a factor.

Hamilton College at Trinity College: Let's face it. The Continentals are not good at all. Their offense is actually worse than Bowdoin's (statistically anyway). Let's hope that they wake up and play Pastorella at QB instead of Rosenberg. At least he can throw the ball. Trinity looked very sluggish on Saturday as Williams did everything they could to hand the Bantams the victory and allow them to continue their long home winning streak. Trinity will get it going and win going away easily. The streak continues....make it 49.
Trinity College 35 Hamilton College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

Colby College at Wesleyan University: This will the first real test for Wesleyan. Although you can only deal the "Cards" that you are dealt, you could not ask more from them beating two weak opponents handedly in the first two,weeks. This week the competition level steps up significantly as Colby comes to Middletown. Cardinal QB Jesse Warren is hot right now leading the NESCAC in passing. The Cardinals have three runners in the Top 7 in rushing including Drew and Gibson at #2 and #4, respectively. The Cardinals offense has been very balanced with 6 TDs on the ground and 6 though the air. Colby has done one thing well in crushing Williams and playing well against a very good Middlebury. What is that you ask? They are number one in the league in stopping the run, albeit they have done so against two teams that don't run the ball (one can't-Williams and one chooses not to-Middlebury). We will find out this week if Colby's run D is for real against Wes. I think Wes survives the test at home, but not as easily as some would think. They just have two many weapons for the Mules to stop.
Wesleyan University 28 Colby College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC GAME OF THE WEEK

Amherst College at Middlebury College: By far the best game on the schedule this week. This game pits Amherst's league best passing D against the best passing offense in the league. What has gone unnoticed here is that Middlebury is playing very good defense and Amherst's offense has been very mediocre. I think Middlebury just has too much offense and their defense will shut down the Amherst offense.
Middlebury College 24 Amherst College 14
Weather: Not a factor.

NESCAC Man's Picks

Last week: 5 wins 0 losses
Season (through two weeks): 9 wins 1 loss (thanks Ephs)

Enjoy the games

Make that "play" the Cards you are dealt under Wes v. Colby...it's late!

[lumbercat]

NESCACMan-
Great preview, many good observations- very enjoyable, thanks for posting.

[gridiron]

Great observations NESCACman.  Entertaining and accurate from this vantage point.  In addition to your 5 0 last week, you almost called the upset of the week with Middlebury Colby being tied 10 to 10 in the fourth period. 

Keep up the good work.  Let's see how you do this week and whether your following will grow!

[AlDavis]

Nescacman is a human God!!!

[AlDavis]

IM Huge-

Tufts' defensive scheme last week was not "interesting" at all but instead a very predicable approach to defend a strong option running game-It's basically "8 in the box" commonly deployed against a running team like Bates with questionable passing ability. The jumbos executed it well but the "huge" Bates pass completions are part of that scheme. When you throw 8 or 10 times a game the opportunity to complete a pass will be there when you go to the well and that's what Bates did in terms of pass completions at 2 or 3 key times during the  game. Bates also had a drop of a good ball on a fly pattern mid way through the 4th which would have been 6 but that's coulda- woulda.

Tufts completed a lot of passes to Doll's credit but not one of his completions was vertical behind Bates coverage- every Tufts completion was underneath and that's why they couldn't produce in the red zone.

I believe Civetti will curtail the Jumbo passing attack abit this week to 40 or less passing attempts and let Trause and Brady lug the pigskin a bit--Bowdoin is fast but small on D--the Jumbos may benefit from some success on the ground which will secure a great day for Doll and that fine fleet of receivers.

The Brown and Blue will get their win in spades on Saturday and I plan on being in Medford for their big win.

Tufts 31 Bowdoin 17

great points lumbercat.....and all things being said of great effort by Tufts , even against Wesleyan and Coaches staying strong with resolve .....it really doesn't matter because these games are won in the off-season with recruiting and recruiting efforts ....how many midgets can you have on a roster , put some effort and requirements in recruiting some student- athletes that are 6 feet and more .

[amh63]

Nescacman....as always an interesting entertaining post.  Again, another noticeable error.....the Panthers come to Pratt Field.  Even Panthernation pointed out that Amherst's defense is behind Amherst!  Oh well, it should be a good game...not the blow out of several seasons ago with a score of 70-49, Amherst.  Last season, Midd blew the game open in the 2nd quarter and played Amherst even the rest of the game...at home.  Does Foote travel well with fewer weapons and an less talented offensive line?  As you are wrong on the location,  so is your game outcome.
Anyone know why there are different start times in the conference games.  Midd has been getting most of the 1:30 starts.  Thought it was due to broadcast demands by NCN.
There must be a story behind the fact that Foote ended up at Middlebury when his parents and siblings are all Amherst people. 

[AlDavis]

Nescacman....as always an interesting entertaining post.  Again, another noticeable error.....the Panthers come to Pratt Field.  Even Panthernation pointed out that Amherst's defense is behind Amherst!  Oh well, it should be a good game...not the blow out of several seasons ago with a score of 70-49, Amherst.  Last season, Midd blew the game open in the 2nd quarter and played Amherst even the rest of the game...at home.  Does Foote travel well with fewer weapons and an less talented offensive line?  As you are wrong on the location,  so is your game outcome.
Anyone know why there are different start times in the conference games.  Midd has been getting most of the 1:30 starts.  Thought it was due to broadcast demands by NCN.
There must be a story behind the fact that Foote ended up at Middlebury when his parents and siblings are all Amherst people.

yes there is a story behind why Foote went to Middlebury and I am sure you know....Foote's father Mr. Foote is a well known legend from down the street and you know that....and Mr. Foote actually hates Amherst now with a hating passion......Make sure you root in this win to hang an L on Middlebury and be very afraid when Wesleyan rolls into town in 2 weeks , I will come over to the sunny side and give you a manly handshake but no kiss on the lips like you do with Frank.