FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[polbear73]

The problem with the CBB is the historical fact that all three teams have brought up the rear of NESCAC (except for Bates' recent strong resurgence) and, by the time the series rolls around, it becomes a consolation prize.  As the Bowdoin Orient  indelicately put it a couple of years ago:" it's like crowning the world's tallest midget". 

[RetiredMule]

So I am finally back to chime in about an obviously disappointing game for the Mules this weekend.  I will obviously try to temper my comments from being too overwhelmingly negative. So let's jump by positional group.

QB - Harrington obviously did not have a banner day going 14-26 for 97 yards and 3 interceptions one a pick 6.  Harrington did not look as poor as this stat line would suggest.  He had minimal time to stand in the pocket and dealt with near constant pressure.  Sparacio came in at a Wildcat formation on a fairly consistent basis.  This takes advantage of his natural bulk and running ability.  He also passed out of this formation, but as a pure QB, still did look a second to Harrington. Ecke saw time as a returner.  Grade: B-

RB - The running backs did not have a great day either.  An experienced group led by Carl Lipani and Jabari Hurdle-Price, they struggled behind the line play. This contributed to limited rushes and more limited yardage.  Grade: B-

WR - The wide receivers played well at times mostly utilized in a short to medium route game.  This seems to be the game plan going forward. This unit is younger and trying to gain experience quickly, mostly rounded out by sophomores and juniors.  Blocking did seem to be an issue at times. Grade: B

OL - I have been alluding to it, but the oline struggled Saturday.  They appear to have had a tough time replacing the three multi year starters from the right side who graduated this spring.  But that being said, a lot of growing can be done following week 1.  I still have a positive outlook for them if they can solidify.  3 sacks and 8 TFLs is too high though.  Grade: C-

DL - The dline played passably well.  At times they appeared quick on the pass rush generating a sack and some quarterback contact.  They were notably looser in the run game where we have come to expect a stout defense in Waterville.  Allowing 161 yards in a game is close to double the YPG two seasons ago.  At times inconsistent, they can be tightened up quickly. Grade: B+

LB - A unit with a mix of experience and youth.  O'Grady looked like the vet that he is but the unit didn't look cohesive at times.  Again, the rushing yardage against is a reflection of the play.  The hope here is that more time brings them together within the scheme. Grade: B-

DB - Young unit, young play.  Puzzo threw for 278 while going 14-22.  That is almost 20 yards per completion and over 12 per attempt.  A freshman, two sophomores and a junior looked like it at times. But there is no need to hit the panic button yet.  As I said with the oline, a lot of growing up can happen after week one. Look for this unit to grow. Only one of the players has had significant playing experience. Grade: C

Overall, it was obviously a disappointing day for the Mules, but I am not writing the season off after week one.  Some young units showed it at times, but there were glimpses to be positive about.  Is it a tough road trip next week to Midd? Sure.  But a lot of younger players act shocked in their first start only to play like wily vets in later weeks.  Look for this team to grow and rebound.

[amh63]

polbear73.....that has to be one of the best posts in a long time . Plus K.  Will you be at Pratt field on Sat?
Lumbercat..thanks for the Hickey kid info.  Was going to check on him.  There is an Amherst football runner in my day from the same part of Ma......we referred to him as the Wakefield Flash or something like that.  Same height and speed...the big back to go with the "pony backs".  Do not think he was over 200 lbs.  everybody was lighter in the 60's.  Must be the menu selection in the schools these days.  The Bates announcers even mention the fine meals for 7.50.  Unfortunely, he has Not tasted the PolarCat led tailgate food.
In any case...now the Bobcats fans know how the Jeffs fans felt when the Foote era at Middlebury was underway.
In reflection on the start times of CAC football.  It is hard to watch several games at the same time.  Had a good experience with today's tech.  I threw the Amherst game on my big flat screen to watch and kept watch on the Midd game....when it was up on Wescast....on my laptop.  It would be nice to get an app that duplicates the NFL/DirectTV arrangement of multi games on a single screen.  Would drive my wife a little crazy, I think .  Could have used it this past weekend when there were multiple Clashes with Williams teams going on at the same time.

[polbear73]

amh63, thank you for your kind words.  I will not be at Pratt on Saturday but will catch some of the streaming.  I just hope the Bears can be more effective offensively and defensively than they were against Williams.

[NewtoNescac]

The forecast is for very wet weather for all games this weekend. Any thoughts on which games may be most impacted?

[AUPepBand]

The forecast is for very wet weather for all games this weekend. Any thoughts on which games may be most impacted?

[PolarCat]

The forecast is for very wet weather for all games this weekend. Any thoughts on which games may be most impacted?

Thank God the Polar Bears are at Pratt instead of Whittier Field on Saturday.  It's too early in the season for a proper Mud Bowl.

I'd expect the teams who are airing it out the most to be impacted the hardest.  Midd?  Hamilton?  Maybe even Amherst?  (Foy was impressive last week, but he looks smaller than the 5' 11" listed on the roster.  If his hands are small, that might affect his grip and control.  Then again, he's playing Bowdoin, and unless a different Polar Bear team shows up this Saturday, he could go 10 for 30 and still beat them by 4 TD's).

And it seems like many of the NESCAC kickers missed last Saturday in perfect conditions.  Amherst, Wes and Hamilton all fall into that category, maybe others did, too.  Unless the snapper, holder and kicker are all on top of their game, I'd expect more missed FG's and more attempts at 2 point conversions by those teams.

[PolarCat]

Bates has posted its preview of the upcoming Tufts game: http://athletics.bates.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20150929ifrl2h

[amh63]

Ugh...may have to make a wardrobe revaluation for this weekend.
Several tidbits of Amherst football gleamed from the website.  Photos of the Williams scrimmage shows game conditions, IMO.  QBs show no color jerseys to identify the QBs as someone not to hit.
In the podcast interview, Coach Mills stated that the Williams team at the scrimmage will be very different latter in the season....in Willytown. 
PolarCat....sharp eyes wrt to height.  Foy was listed an inch shorter last season.  If he does have small hands, maybe the balls need to be adjusted a bit .  Actually, I think he has played in wet weather before.  In the QB position, the Most important quality needed is mental judgement/ decision making in game conditions.  Someone pointed out to me that he thought Foy looked comfortable in the pocket as pressure to avoid tacklers increased....he is the better runner, methinks.  He did take a 10 yd. sack when Amherst was near the Bates goal line...and avoided a TO.  Too bad Amherst missed the FG??
Height does matter in offensive schemes.  Last year, Lippe...all 6'6" of him, chose to throw to his slot receivers as they made crossing patterns.  Foy had several of his passes across the middle to his slots tipped by the fine Bates players.  Such passes were removed from his options and the OC made adjustments.  This year, Amherst has a slew of tall WRs/TEs....6'-3" to 6'6" starting.
The HC Mills wants a balanced attack this season....the Bates game indicate Amherst is building such an offense.  Still, it's only one game.....but according to nescac1, Williams exploited Bowdoin's small secondary.  I do not think Amherst will close down its passing attack because of weather conditions.

[RetiredMule]

I will chime in on the weather possibly helping my Mules.  Middlebury tends to rely on throwing the ball aka 337 of their 347 yards last weekend.  Rain does make this whole situation more difficult and prone to drops.  This should help Colby's young secondary keep up and break up a few more passes.  Also, Colby (while not great last week) is better against the run.  The rain may force Midd to try and run some more maybe helping Colby.

On the flipside the rain does not help a Colby offense that already struggled. These rain games almost always play into the defenses' hands.  Either way, it is a tough game for Colby this week.

Open question: Are any games on Natural fields this weekend?

[Eagle322]

@RetiredMule -- all games on turf this week.

Could see the rainy weather playing a role in the Bates/Tufts tilt in Lewiston this weekend. Tufts' gameplan against Bates for the past few years has been to pass, pass, and then pass but the rain could force them to run the ball more than planned. On the other other side of the match-up, the rain could present some problems to the always dicey triple option reads/gives/pitches.

[ContinentalsMan]

The atmosphere at the Hamilton-Tufts game was from what I am told the best in years at Steuben Field. While head coach Dave Murray started turning around the program last season, this was a huge lift for parents, alumni and, most importantly, a good group of students which came out and were ready to rush the field had they won. The new uniforms and helmets reminded those of what Alabama wears but in blue and the team a good decision to move their sideline across the field, away from the parents and fans as Steuben only has stands on one side. While Hamilton has a long ways to go, many of the parents afterwards including first-year parents felt like despite the loss a breath of fresh air has been blown into the program. The other standout was there were a handful of freshman that were able to contribute. The next day, Hamilton hosted Union College for a JV game where we got a chance to see this freshman class, Murray's first at Hamilton, and they looked good. I hope some of the administration was on hand Saturday to see what competitive football can bring to the school and how exciting it can be in Clinton on Saturday afternoons.

[PolarCat]

I'm wondering how the "liquid sunshine" will affect the crowd at Garcellon Field.  Someone at Bates had the goofy idea to schedule both Parents Weekend and Homecoming for the same weekend.  The result (which should have been predictable) is that hotel rooms and dinner reservations are impossible to come by anywhere within an hour drive of Lewiston. 

Bates had a great turnout for the Amherst game (on a drop-dead gorgeous New England Fall day), and I was hoping the influx of parents and alumni would help replicate that this Saturday.  But maybe the raindrops will chase everyone indoors to the poetry slams, a capella concerts, debate team performances, and all the other "entertainment" beloved by liberal arts colleges.

To their credit, Bates does have a couple of interesting sessions lined up, like the Bates Brew Fest "celebrating local favorites and Bates-inspired beverages" (try pulling that off in Willytown) an improv comedy show, and a jazz dance concert.  And the Bates Debate team were National Champions last year, so much as I find the idea of sitting through a debate on Parents Weekend cringe-worthy, at least it will be good debating.  And props to the College for scheduling a needle-less bone marrow drive on Saturday.

I may even have to sneak into and out of the Brew Fest myself, to get some inner "liquid sunshine".

[gridiron]

Retiredmule--always enjoy your perspective.  As the poster with the most recent experience as a NESCAC football player, your views are particularly relevant to we armchair QBs.

Hoping your Mules can regroup after last week's Bantam beatdown as they continue the grueling Middlebury/Wesleyan/Amherst consecutive weekend stretch.  I know the team has worked hard preparing for the season and believe there will be better results going forward.  Strong senior leadership will be the key to keeping the young team moving in the right direction.

[fulbakdad]

Hey, I have a question for any Bowdoin followers.  How is that BC transfer we talked about back in August doing?  Tevon Montgomery?