FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[TheLegend]

All interesting points of view. On this weekend for Trinity/Amherst, let me make a few comments on some insider information I have. Now, all information excludes Wesleyan ... because they suck something terrible.

Other than the Wes game, amherst has only had 4 sacks in 5 games, not something to go bragging about. I'd say more than anything, amherst just plays sounds football. Hamilton put 139 yards on the ground against them. They just dont allow big plays. And just to be a stickler, Amherst doesnt run a 50 front, they run a 3-4, much like the bantams. A 50 is similar to what Williams runs. The only difference being the two outside "end"s are actually OLB's walked down. Thats just me being a stickler, sorry.

I'd also say there is one more thing to disccuss. In all, the head honcho's at Trinity are much better football coaches than any other in the league. Now, I'm not saying they teach technique any better, but their schemes are far more effective. For example, what is the most effective offensive formation to run the ball against an ODD front team? Double Tight end sets. How many run double tights? Tufts, and they didnt for some reason. I would expect, if nothing else, just a better game plan from Trinity than for Tufts.

And my source also tells me that Amherst, while well equiped with their respective starting 11, is shallow, or just prefers not to substitute. It is supposed to be 70 tommorow, this could also cause a problem.

[formerbant10]

Legend, thanks for the info.....ur name says it all.  PatFan, I don't doubt that the Amherst QB is good, but I think Pitcher is the most underrated player in the NESCAC, he doesn't lose!  Amherst hasn't faced a Defense nearly as tough as Trin's and that might be a little scary for the QB, I know I would never want to be hit by Blair.  The Trinity D makes a big play every game, I think they will do it again this week.  Too much pride on the line for those seniors on the field.  They have already lost once and don't want to do it again now. 
Other picks....

Colby 21.....Tufts14......Home team wins it.
Middlebury 100.....Hamilton 10......no explanation needed.
Williams 200......Wesleyan -6......see above
Bowdoin 24.....Bates 14.....Solid Bowdoin team this year.

PatFan, I won't be at the game to see the Amherst QB, I hope he steps up and makes it a ball game, something the kids from Trin haven't seen in a while.  If they can keep it close, they might upset them.  The Bants haven't played in a close game lately and may have forgotten how....similar to the Soviets in 1980.

[dirtybirds8-0]

Agreed about the Mike Blair comments...kid is a stud.  Also, my senior year we had from LT to RT: 6'3" 275, 6'5" 320, 6"2" 260, 6'3" 300, and 6'4" 280.  That is a pretty big line...who by the way were pretty athletic across the board.  I am nervous about tommorows game and was recalling the 2003 game @ Amherst, where a studly young man returned a punt that Amherst forgot to down, which basically salvaged the first 8-0 season.  Amherst plays very well at home...and they love to play the role of the upset.  I remember before the game in 2003 a player had left a pamphlet in our locker room, the Amherst coaches had written it....and it basically said something along the lines of loseing is an embarressment in front of your families, beating the un-beaten is the ultimate challenge, memories for a life time....etc....The only thing that did was fire us up more, so shame on them for leaving it in there, but the point is...they have a different mentality when the play big games...and that is unsettling.

[First6Ws]

HEY ONE-THREE WHAT DAY IS IT?!

[nescacdad]

Amherst has the number 1 rusher in NESCAC in Otieno.  They have the number 3 passer, and their D line averages 2 yards per carry against, the lowest in the NESCAC.  I'm definitely going up tomorrow to watch this game.  No flyers this year.  Don't need 'em. It will be a great contest.  With Trinity and Williams as opponents for the last two games, Amherst really knows how to cap off a season with two great games.

[Jonny Utah]

trincoll, blair could probably play 1-aa theres not doubt in my mind about that.  Trinitys oline is big but they dont look like sjfs, ithaca or springfields oline.  and size doesnt really mean anything.  At ithaca we played mansfield, this d2 PAC team whose oline averaged about 6-6 300 and we were up something like 35-0 at the end of the first quarter.  That oline stunk.  Sure they won 1 or 2 games in a good d2 penn conference but the size of their line didnt mean they were good.

[Roonyhufsfarts]

utah, i totally agree with yourt general assesment that size doesnt necessarily mean being a good olineman.  i was a dlinemen and LOVED palying against those horrendously fat clowns because you knew exactly how they were gunna play.
as my crusty old coach said in higschool, "You can look like Tarzan, but play like Jane. I don't care if you look like Jane, as long as you play like Tarzan."

But Trinity's line the past 2 years has been DOMINANT and for good reason.  They have the best position coach in the conference, Chuck Priore and they play like tarzan.  I played dline all 4 years I was at Trin.  The only oline I faced my entire career that was comperable to Trins oline the past 2 years was Williams my sophmore year (2002 season).  They were good and they also had a guy that got serious looks from PRO teams (but didnt make it).  Am i sayin they could beat up on some fo the top d-III dilines, maybe probably not, but they were good, and we got a good young group comin up now

[frank uible]

Wait a very few hours and the answers to many of these questions and disagreements will become readily apparent!

[Trin9-0]

First6:

"HEY NOW BANTS IT'S A LORD JEFF FRIDAY!"

(only it's actually Saturday, sorry I'm a little late)

dirty: I remember that game... what a heads up play!
Heading up to Amherst to watch the best NESCAC game of the season.

GO BANTS!!

[bant551]

Let us all not forget that Trinity spreads the ball around a ton and doens't let its players rack up statistics.  I don't think its a stretch to say that Trinity would lead the NESCAC in most individual stat categories if they decided to run up the score on teams in games that they know they are going to win before they even start.

[Roonyhufsfarts]

Great game happen at Pratt Field right now, Trin up 16-13

[Roonyhufsfarts]

WOW! what a game.  ive never been so excited listening to the radio my whole life.  Hats off to Amherst, an amazing effort and they obviosly proved they are the 2nd best eamn in the NESCAC.  The only reason they lost in my opinion was lack of depth, good call whoever noted that earlier.  It sounded as if they just got worn down in the trenches.  Kehoe is obviously very good. 

Amherst is going tobe very dangerous the coming years as this freshman class of theres matures.  Obviusly the amherst staff went out with a purpose the past recruiting season.  Its games like these that stay in themind of a freshman that define their mentality the rest of their careers.  Hell of a game.  Bants proved they can win the close ones and really showed off their strengths.

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH how I pity Wesh Tech.

[cruiser]

colby went into halftime down 9 but really came out and stuck it to tufts, cramming the ball down the jumbos throats and completely shutting them out second half. watch out bowdoin

[nescac1]

I was in the area so I checked out the Trin-Amherst game.  Great game, two contrasting styles.  Pretty even except for the special teams, that and Trinity's d-line, which did eventually wear out the Amherst o-line, were the difference.

Amherst had a blocked extra point which led to a two point conversion for Trinity, and also missed a couple of gimme kicks, I think one field goal and one was either another extra point or field goal.  Also, Trinity scored one touchdown off of a fluke botched field goal, and got a huge play from the punter after a botched snap where he made the recovery and got off a monster punt.  Except for special teams, it was totally even.  Amherst's receivers were wide open all day, Trinity had one d-back in particular who just could not cover.  Trinity's d-line was dominant against the rush, Amherst could do nothing, and as the game wore on, they generated more and more pressure.  But when Kehoe had time to throw, the Trinity d-backs were very outmatched.  He is an outstanding pocket passer, with three very fast, capable receivers to throw to. 

Trinity's front seven is flat-out nasty.  Blair is as good as advertised, he made one paly in particular where he ran down from behind a speedy, small back and tackled him with one hand on a big play.  Amherst's RB's were just too small to deal with Trinity's size and strength.  All their d-lineman are big and very fast.  Best defensive line in NESCAC since Ethan Brooks was in the league.  But like I said, their secondary was torched all day.

ON the other side of the ball, Trinity was just bigger and more physical and patient.  They did nothing fancy, were very predictable and basically, except for one big play, allowed Amherst to put 8 and 9 in the box, but still were able to run.  Their backs are very strong runners, but except for Barnard, nohting spectacular.  Barnard has to be all league something, he was the biggest difference maker for Trinity on o, he will terrorize the league for two more year.  Amherst D played well, but Trinity dink and dimed them to death with the run.

Next week's Williams/Amherst game should be fantastic.  Williams has a better secondary than Trinity, and will lock down on Amherst's receivers better.  Then  again, Amherst will be able to run the ball against Williams' front seven, which is much smaller, less athletic, and less experienced than Trinity's.  Williams receivers and qb's, who are outstanding, against Amherst's d-backs, who are equally talented, will be a fantastic match-up.  Amherst is probably a little better than Williams on defense (particularly up front), the teams are even on offense, and Williams has stronger special teams, so it should be a war. 

[Trin9-0]

Congrats to Trinity on another perfect season. Also, hats off to the Jeffs. I was very impressed with the way they played, especially Kehoe. I couldn't have been more wrong with my prediction of how the game would play out. My "close game" turned into a shoot-out, with Amherst scoring a very suprising 20 points and the Bantams failed to force a single turn-over. And though special teams did play a HUGE role in the game (missed fieldgoals, extra point block returned by Trin for 2 points, botched snaps that Trinity was able to recover from, etc.) the field position wasn't that important as most of the scoring happened on long plays.

I was actually more comfortable when Amherst had a short field to work with, because they only burned Trinity with big pass plays. The Jeffs had a 1st and goal from the 5 yard line after a turnover and came away with zero points.

The most important thing though is that Trin got the "W", #29 in a row and 500th victory in the history of the program.

former you said it best: All Josh Pitcher does is win football games. He came in off the bench again and bailed out the Bants for the second week in a row.

(5-0 this week with my picks)