FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[AmherstStudent05]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-FINAL


3). Wesleyan (2021 Record: 6-3; NESCACMAN Predicted 2021 Record: 8-1; LW Rank: 3): 2021 Grade: B+...9 points from an 8-1 season and matching our predicted record....definitely should have beaten Lord Jeffrey and probably should have beaten "big bad" Hartford State...Early 2022 Thoughts: Wes will return 18-19 of their 22 starters plus many others who saw substantial playing time in '21 due to injury as well as get back a number of skill players from injury including all-league WR Matt Simco and all-league kicker Mason Von Jess...throw in some youngsters who impressed in JV action and an already strong '22 recruiting class and you have the makings of a team that should contend in '22. ...

Interestingly, it seems Wes was also 10 points away from a 3-6 season.

[nescac1]

Wes had an average 3.5 point differential, which is pretty much what you'd expect for a 6-3 team.  By the way, 7/10 teams had a negative point differential - Williams and Trinity were so dominant that they skewed the entire league's stats, without an equivalent basement dweller to balance it out. 

[lumbercat]

Big Kat

Thats the million dollar QB question. I agree.

I watched Polar Bear QB Boel very closely in the big Bowdoin win against Amherst. I noted at that time that he has a very unorthodox throwing motion and release. Despite the awkward mechanics the kid delivered the ball extremely well and had a fantastic day throwing the ball against the Mammoths. A big reason for this was Amherts's refusal to do anything to try to pressure or rattle the kid. EJ sat in that soft cover 2 zone all day with a 3 man rush most of the time essentially saying "ok kid, I don't think you can beat us". Boel proceeded to take them apart.

Everybody saw that tape which essentially provided the blueprint for every Defense Boel would face. Pressure the kid. As the season went on the young QB saw more and more pressure and things got a lot more difficult. The throwing mechanics became more of a factor with people in his face and less time to set his feet and step into throws. The game got faster for him and he encountered difficulties as the season went on. Nobody else sat back in a soft zone.

My point is it takes time to evaluate these young QBs.

As for running the ball Boel definitely has the quickness and ability but I question if Polar Bear staff will include a lot of called running plays for him in their scheme. He's not a big kid , believe he may be 170 or less so  probably not a guy you want to sustain a lot of interior contact over the long term.

I think there will be another healthy QB competition in the Bowdoin camp next which will include southpaw Robbie Long and NJ QB Hale.

As for Bosseleit at Bates he will face the same test. Last week Hamilton brought no pressure with a terrible, weak  pass rush. They blitzed only once (sack) and sat back in coverage all day and the young QB had a great day.

Like Boel, Bsseleit wil see that pressure next year so lets see how he develops.
In terms of running the ball Bosseleit looks like a tough kid with some size who will be a legit double threat QB.

However no comparison whatsoever, at this point, between Bosseleit and Costa in terms of arm talent or running ability.

Should be an interesting QB year in a lot of places next fall.

Good analysis and thoughts on Boel.

As far as the UBates FY QB playing against Hamilton, Hamilton's DL and defense as a whole are not a good indicator to determine if the UBates rookie QB is any good...

NM- Is there an echo in here?

All kidding aside, really good year end analysis. I'll say it again, your work keeps this board going and makes it interesting and fun. Really enjoyed your post today and the others recently.

[Nescacman]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-FINAL


3). Wesleyan (2021 Record: 6-3; NESCACMAN Predicted 2021 Record: 8-1; LW Rank: 3): 2021 Grade: B+...9 points from an 8-1 season and matching our predicted record....definitely should have beaten Lord Jeffrey and probably should have beaten "big bad" Hartford State...Early 2022 Thoughts: Wes will return 18-19 of their 22 starters plus many others who saw substantial playing time in '21 due to injury as well as get back a number of skill players from injury including all-league WR Matt Simco and all-league kicker Mason Von Jess...throw in some youngsters who impressed in JV action and an already strong '22 recruiting class and you have the makings of a team that should contend in '22. ...

Interestingly, it seems Wes was also 10 points away from a 3-6 season.

LJStudent05, we're setting Lord Jeffrey's 2022 over/under for wins at 4.5...we'll take the under....you in for some action?!?

[AmherstStudent05]

2021 NESCACMAN Weekly Power Rankings-FINAL


3). Wesleyan (2021 Record: 6-3; NESCACMAN Predicted 2021 Record: 8-1; LW Rank: 3): 2021 Grade: B+...9 points from an 8-1 season and matching our predicted record....definitely should have beaten Lord Jeffrey and probably should have beaten "big bad" Hartford State...Early 2022 Thoughts: Wes will return 18-19 of their 22 starters plus many others who saw substantial playing time in '21 due to injury as well as get back a number of skill players from injury including all-league WR Matt Simco and all-league kicker Mason Von Jess...throw in some youngsters who impressed in JV action and an already strong '22 recruiting class and you have the makings of a team that should contend in '22. ...

Interestingly, it seems Wes was also 10 points away from a 3-6 season.

LJStudent05, we're setting Lord Jeffrey's 2022 over/under for wins at 4.5...we'll take the under....you in for some action?!?

Unfortunately I'm not sure how I could possibly take on the counterparty risk as it relates to a vast, unknown, consortium of individuals across each and every NESCAC school (but mostly concentrated at WesTech). That is a reasonable line I suppose but I am tempted by the over. Just hard to see a world where a Mills-led team falls below 4 wins in any year.

[polbear73]

Biddy may have taken care of that.

[BigKat]

I think that's a super fair O/U for the Wooly Mamm's. Beat the 3 Maine teams( sorry not buying what most of you are selling on Colby) and Hamilton and then pick one of the others off. I can't predict what they have coming in at the skill positions but right now, the cabinet is pretty bare. Could just as easily by 3-6.

[JEFFFAN]

I have been the doomsday Amherst guy but since someone discussed Wesleyan being ten points from a worse record this year ... Amherst was 15 points from 8-1.   Any semblance of an offense and this might've been EJ's best coaching given the talent level.

I do think that 4.5 is a reasonable number for next year.   Not seeing enough from the underclassmen to go much higher than that.

[SpringSt7]

Which team outside of Williams/Trinity/Wesleyan has the best shot at challenging for the title next year?

[nescac1]

I think that has to be Tufts.  Everyone is back on O including Woodson who can move to WR potentially.  Berluti will have lots more experience.  D could have everyone back too as the top six guys are seniors with eligibility left.  If most of those guys return they can only get better on D, right?   If they can find a kicker, that alone is probably worth two more wins!  I don't see anyone else remotely close on paper.

[Nescacman]

I think that has to be Tufts.  Everyone is back on O including Woodson who can move to WR potentially.  Berluti will have lots more experience.  D could have everyone back too as the top six guys are seniors with eligibility left.  If most of those guys return they can only get better on D, right?   If they can find a kicker, that alone is probably worth two more wins!  I don't see anyone else remotely close on paper.

We concur...Tufts the is most likely Team in the next group to break into the top tier...we agree that they are going to have to get a lot better on defense and in the kicking game (3-13 on FGs isn't cutting it at any level) but they're offense will be dynamic with Berlutti and Crowley potentially rotating at QB, Woodson playing a slash role like Estevez, and Lutz and Johnson back...Dumbo's are loaded on offense...too many questions with the other teams in the middle tier...MID will have a new QB and they lose a bunch of other starters...Lord Jeffs have a lot of question marks on offense and have to replace their better players on D...Colby needs to get much better on offense...

[Nescacman]

Let's hypothetically say that Eden is eligible for offensive rookie of the year, who do you select? Eden or Berlutti?

And what about all-league at QB where there are probably only 5 QBs really in consideration (Maimaron, Fetter, Estevez, Costa, Berlutti)...who do you name to the first and second team? Is it possible the coaches name all 5? What if they pick 2 for the first team and 2 for the second team? What if they only pick 1 for each team? Who do you leave off? Is it possible that Berlutti doesn't get named rookie of the year or all-NESCAC?

[JEFFFAN]

Let's get real here.  To the victor goes the spoils.  Williams was undefeated and this class had a great four year run led by the quarterback.    Maimaron wins without anyone else close.  Also, the kid from Trinity had his chance to knock Goliath off and came up really, really small.  This is an easy one.

[Charlie]

Which team outside of Williams/Trinity/Wesleyan has the best shot at challenging for the title next year?

I think Trinity would be the best just reading about the commits and the fact that they have one of the top DL in UA rankings makes this an incredible recruiting class. The major question and anyone can chime in when do rosters get put back to normal ?

[SpringSt7]

I hate the way the NESCAC does positions for All-League so this is just how I would rank them and they can do whatever they want with it:

1. Maimaron - duh.
2. Fetter - absurd numbers and they still went 8-1
3. Estevez - carried his team but the other two were ultimately better + head to head
4. UNPOPULAR OPINION: Jernigan - massive disappointment from POTY in 2019 and his Midd team but put up some absurd numbers rushing after we all forgot about them. I like Costa but I just can't get over the 2-7 record and don't think it's right to do pity votes.
5. Costa
6. Berluti

If I was the NESCAC now that I think about it, I would do Maimaron 1st team and Fetter/Estevez 2nd team, it's what they did in 2019 with Jernigan and then Scott/Maimaron. I can't do Estevez as AP again, he played too much QB this year to be any other position.