FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Desertraider]

How can Wesley win this game?  It does not seem likely, but if the following things happen just maybe.
No turnovers
Limit sacks to 6, sounds like a lot, but Mount has 23 in the last 2 weeks
Baynard runs for 80+ yards, allows Wesley to control the clock and keep Mounts offense off the field
Callahan runs for 40+ yards and keeps plays alive by sliding around the pocket like 2 years ago
Callahan throws for 400+ yards and 5 or 6 TDs
Kyle George has 6+ catches making the linebackers and safeties cover the middle of the field
No mental mistakes like poor decisions on kickoff/punt returns
Limit penalties to physical ones, no personal fouls
Mount has 3 or more turnovers
Mount scores less than 50

I hope that Wesley shows better than they did last year.  This team has been baffling on defense all year so keeping Mount under 50 will be a tall order.  They have a punchers chance and in the end that is all you need.  Final 8 again this year is something to be proud of.  Show up and let it fly and see what happens.

Mounts secondary is good. They are athletic. They hit. However, they give up yards in chunks and have had a few PI penalties (granted some ticky-tack ones) that have extended drives in the past 2 weeks leading to scores. I think it is easier to throw on Mount with short yardage passes between LBs and DL. However it is debatable. As far as your list - if all those things happen then Wesley will have a great shot. However, Baynard is going to struggle getting 80. If he gets it then it will be because of one long run (which has happened) for 15-20, or he has 30 carries. Mount held Magazine from ONU to 30 yards on 15 carries, Lacey from Berg to 60 (mostly 4th qtr), Blake and Moeglin from BW to 42 and 26, and Golphin from JCU to 32. All of these are 1000 yard rushers (maybe not Blake). The Dline is nasty and they seem to take giving up rushing yards personally. Callahan is a great QB - the best Mount has seen - but your oline had better be able to give him some time. Every QB Mount has faced this year has been running for their life. The front 4 pressure on every play and the LBs cause havoc. This is where the secondary comes in. I think they have been hurt by the dominance of the dline. They have not had to cover much or for very long. Should be  a great game.

[thewaterboy]

How can Wesley win this game?  It does not seem likely, but if the following things happen just maybe.
No turnovers
Limit sacks to 6, sounds like a lot, but Mount has 23 in the last 2 weeks
Baynard runs for 80+ yards, allows Wesley to control the clock and keep Mounts offense off the field
Callahan runs for 40+ yards and keeps plays alive by sliding around the pocket like 2 years ago
Callahan throws for 400+ yards and 5 or 6 TDs
Kyle George has 6+ catches making the linebackers and safeties cover the middle of the field
No mental mistakes like poor decisions on kickoff/punt returns
Limit penalties to physical ones, no personal fouls
Mount has 3 or more turnovers
Mount scores less than 50

I hope that Wesley shows better than they did last year.  This team has been baffling on defense all year so keeping Mount under 50 will be a tall order.  They have a punchers chance and in the end that is all you need.  Final 8 again this year is something to be proud of.  Show up and let it fly and see what happens.

Mounts secondary is good. They are athletic. They hit. However, they give up yards in chunks and have had a few PI penalties (granted some ticky-tack ones) that have extended drives in the past 2 weeks leading to scores. I think it is easier to throw on Mount with short yardage passes between LBs and DL. However it is debatable. As far as your list - if all those things happen then Wesley will have a great shot. However, Baynard is going to struggle getting 80. If he gets it then it will be because of one long run (which has happened) for 15-20, or he has 30 carries. Mount held Magazine from ONU to 30 yards on 15 carries, Lacey from Berg to 60 (mostly 4th qtr), Blake and Moeglin from BW to 42 and 26, and Golphin from JCU to 32. All of these are 1000 yard rushers (maybe not Blake). The Dline is nasty and they seem to take giving up rushing yards personally. Callahan is a great QB - the best Mount has seen - but your oline had better be able to give him some time. Every QB Mount has faced this year has been running for their life. The front 4 pressure on every play and the LBs cause havoc. This is where the secondary comes in. I think they have been hurt by the dominance of the dline. They have not had to cover much or for very long. Should be  a great game.

Wesley's o line and Baynard are not comparable to the OAC backs from ONU, BW, JCU and Berg. That comparison doesn't make sense. Those teams were down this year and Wesley's O is literally the tops in the nation. Offensively, I think Wesley will be able to move the ball. If Baynard gets to 80, things will be looking pretty solid for the rest of the Wesley offense.

[stonecold84]

The coaches and players from Wesley cannot worry about the name on its opponents jersey like they were last year.  They need to play their game, rely on their athleticism and speed which was and I still believe is better than Mount Union's.  Take notes from what John Carroll did to Mount Union last year and it will be competitive, like playing man-to-man throughout the game and not deep zones like what Wesley did in the Semis.

[Teamski]

One key is to go back and find what allowed Wesley to hang 59 points on Mount Union two years ago.  Scrap last year.  It didn't happen.  Callahan will be running each play, so work with that and set up the playbook that moves the offense.  It will be tough going, no doubt.  But if you think outside the box a bit, you can compensate for the differences to a point.  The big thing is not to get bogged down early.  Wesley will need to keep that ball going down the field.  No doubt, they will have to slow the clock down as they did at JHU.  Rocketing 3 and out is a surefire way to disappointment.

I know Joe Callahan will be one player that won't be intimidated.  Period.

-Ski

[wesleydad]

How can Wesley win this game?  It does not seem likely, but if the following things happen just maybe.
No turnovers
Limit sacks to 6, sounds like a lot, but Mount has 23 in the last 2 weeks
Baynard runs for 80+ yards, allows Wesley to control the clock and keep Mounts offense off the field
Callahan runs for 40+ yards and keeps plays alive by sliding around the pocket like 2 years ago
Callahan throws for 400+ yards and 5 or 6 TDs
Kyle George has 6+ catches making the linebackers and safeties cover the middle of the field
No mental mistakes like poor decisions on kickoff/punt returns
Limit penalties to physical ones, no personal fouls
Mount has 3 or more turnovers
Mount scores less than 50

I hope that Wesley shows better than they did last year.  This team has been baffling on defense all year so keeping Mount under 50 will be a tall order.  They have a punchers chance and in the end that is all you need.  Final 8 again this year is something to be proud of.  Show up and let it fly and see what happens.

Mounts secondary is good. They are athletic. They hit. However, they give up yards in chunks and have had a few PI penalties (granted some ticky-tack ones) that have extended drives in the past 2 weeks leading to scores. I think it is easier to throw on Mount with short yardage passes between LBs and DL. However it is debatable. As far as your list - if all those things happen then Wesley will have a great shot. However, Baynard is going to struggle getting 80. If he gets it then it will be because of one long run (which has happened) for 15-20, or he has 30 carries. Mount held Magazine from ONU to 30 yards on 15 carries, Lacey from Berg to 60 (mostly 4th qtr), Blake and Moeglin from BW to 42 and 26, and Golphin from JCU to 32. All of these are 1000 yard rushers (maybe not Blake). The Dline is nasty and they seem to take giving up rushing yards personally. Callahan is a great QB - the best Mount has seen - but your oline had better be able to give him some time. Every QB Mount has faced this year has been running for their life. The front 4 pressure on every play and the LBs cause havoc. This is where the secondary comes in. I think they have been hurt by the dominance of the dline. They have not had to cover much or for very long. Should be  a great game.

desert, where those OAC teams one dimensional with little fear of the pass?  If so then taking away the run makes sense.  I think it is safe to say that they did not have a passing game like the one Wesley has.  I am ok if you think short passes are what will make a difference since Wesley has no trouble throwing them.  They generally use the short pass to set up the over the top stuff or most of the over the top stuff happens as it did 2 years ago against Mount when Callahan extended the play and the receivers had little trouble getting open deep.  Your description does sound a little like 2 years ago when the d line dominated early and Mount built the big lead and then when the d line failed to keep getting to Callahan the secondary got exposed.  After last year I am surprised to hear that they have seemed to revert back to that form.  Last year they made the difference early in the game and it was over.  I want Baynard to be used so that the backers have to delay dropping into coverage.  Last year, Wesley opened the game running the ball between the tackles and had some success and then went away from it.  Then the game got away and it was no use running at that point.  I would hope that if Wesley can do everything I listed that it would be a close game with Wesley having a chance to win.  If they get all of that and still are no match then oh well.  Quarters and Semis will have to be the ceiling as they will not be able to beat Mount or the other top 1 or 2 teams.  They can compete with anyone else in the country and in the end that is better than most teams can say. 

[jete2]

The coaches and players from Wesley cannot worry about the name on its opponents jersey like they were last year.  They need to play their game, rely on their athleticism and speed which was and I still believe is better than Mount Union's.  Take notes from what John Carroll did to Mount Union last year and it will be competitive, like playing man-to-man throughout the game and not deep zones like what Wesley did in the Semis.

Bingo! Wesley must play man to man like you say and bring pressure or they will get shredded, especially on the crossing patterns.

[Desertraider]

How can Wesley win this game?  It does not seem likely, but if the following things happen just maybe.
No turnovers
Limit sacks to 6, sounds like a lot, but Mount has 23 in the last 2 weeks
Baynard runs for 80+ yards, allows Wesley to control the clock and keep Mounts offense off the field
Callahan runs for 40+ yards and keeps plays alive by sliding around the pocket like 2 years ago
Callahan throws for 400+ yards and 5 or 6 TDs
Kyle George has 6+ catches making the linebackers and safeties cover the middle of the field
No mental mistakes like poor decisions on kickoff/punt returns
Limit penalties to physical ones, no personal fouls
Mount has 3 or more turnovers
Mount scores less than 50

I hope that Wesley shows better than they did last year.  This team has been baffling on defense all year so keeping Mount under 50 will be a tall order.  They have a punchers chance and in the end that is all you need.  Final 8 again this year is something to be proud of.  Show up and let it fly and see what happens.

Mounts secondary is good. They are athletic. They hit. However, they give up yards in chunks and have had a few PI penalties (granted some ticky-tack ones) that have extended drives in the past 2 weeks leading to scores. I think it is easier to throw on Mount with short yardage passes between LBs and DL. However it is debatable. As far as your list - if all those things happen then Wesley will have a great shot. However, Baynard is going to struggle getting 80. If he gets it then it will be because of one long run (which has happened) for 15-20, or he has 30 carries. Mount held Magazine from ONU to 30 yards on 15 carries, Lacey from Berg to 60 (mostly 4th qtr), Blake and Moeglin from BW to 42 and 26, and Golphin from JCU to 32. All of these are 1000 yard rushers (maybe not Blake). The Dline is nasty and they seem to take giving up rushing yards personally. Callahan is a great QB - the best Mount has seen - but your oline had better be able to give him some time. Every QB Mount has faced this year has been running for their life. The front 4 pressure on every play and the LBs cause havoc. This is where the secondary comes in. I think they have been hurt by the dominance of the dline. They have not had to cover much or for very long. Should be  a great game.

desert, where those OAC teams one dimensional with little fear of the pass?  If so then taking away the run makes sense.  I think it is safe to say that they did not have a passing game like the one Wesley has.  I am ok if you think short passes are what will make a difference since Wesley has no trouble throwing them.  They generally use the short pass to set up the over the top stuff or most of the over the top stuff happens as it did 2 years ago against Mount when Callahan extended the play and the receivers had little trouble getting open deep.  Your description does sound a little like 2 years ago when the d line dominated early and Mount built the big lead and then when the d line failed to keep getting to Callahan the secondary got exposed.  After last year I am surprised to hear that they have seemed to revert back to that form.  Last year they made the difference early in the game and it was over.  I want Baynard to be used so that the backers have to delay dropping into coverage.  Last year, Wesley opened the game running the ball between the tackles and had some success and then went away from it.  Then the game got away and it was no use running at that point.  I would hope that if Wesley can do everything I listed that it would be a close game with Wesley having a chance to win.  If they get all of that and still are no match then oh well.  Quarters and Semis will have to be the ceiling as they will not be able to beat Mount or the other top 1 or 2 teams.  They can compete with anyone else in the country and in the end that is better than most teams can say.

A bit of a loaded question. Mount has a way of making teams one dimensional by putting them behind early. I hate the statement that "those teams were down this year". Bottomline is that ONU made the playoffs and won the first round game. If that's down - then fine. Of JCU, BW, ONU, and Berg only BW really didn't throw the ball (12 attempts while running 42). ONU threw 38 times, Berg 36, and JCU 43. All 3 got yards throwing (not a lot) but could not run at all. ONU had 38 attempts for 171 yds, Berg 36 for 188, JCU 43 for 150, and BW ran it 42 times for for 87 yards. The thing that Mount does is pressure. I have been saying for a while that short routes are better. I stand by it. Teams have completed more underneath before the rush can get to the QB. 5 yard crossing patterns with the slot running off a LB, slot over the middle or 10 yard outs. When teams have gone deep - and some have - the pressure gets to them (9x out of 10). Now none of the teams I have mentioned throw it like Callahan (who else does???) so no comparison is going to be perfect. But Wesley is the 62nd ranked rush offense. That compares with ONU (#67), BW (#48) and Berg (#65). Combined those 3 teams had 156 rushing yards on 95 attempts and none gained more than 87 yards (BW with 48 attempts). Capital (#6 rushing) had the most success in getting 172 but that was on 54 attempts out of 59 plays (triple option). If Wesley can't run then they will become one dimensional and that will be advantage Mount - even with Callahan (don't forget he has thrown 8 ints in his last 2 visits to Alliance........along with 8 tds granted).

[Desertraider]

The coaches and players from Wesley cannot worry about the name on its opponents jersey like they were last year.  They need to play their game, rely on their athleticism and speed which was and I still believe is better than Mount Union's.  Take notes from what John Carroll did to Mount Union last year and it will be competitive, like playing man-to-man throughout the game and not deep zones like what Wesley did in the Semis.

Bingo! Wesley must play man to man like you say and bring pressure or they will get shredded, especially on the crossing patterns.

They can take as many notes from last years JCU game as they want. That JCU team was loaded, had a strong run game, great QB and a wicked fast defense. Nothing against Wesley - great team and nothing but respect from this Raider - but I don't think they match up to last years JCU team.

[wally_wabash]

A bit of a loaded question. Mount has a way of making teams one dimensional by putting them behind early. I hate the statement that "those teams were down this year". Bottomline is that ONU made the playoffs and won the first round game. If that's down - then fine.

I don't think we should use ONU having won the first round game as evidence that OAC was deep and/or particularly good this year.  ONU's selection was questionable.  Then they got probably the absolute best case scenario for a first round draw.  ONU could have easily and justifiably wound up at places like Thomas More, Wabash, Wheaton, Wesley- all would have dispatched ONU comfortably.  ONU hit the lottery on Selection Sunday to be honest. 

[Desertraider]

A bit of a loaded question. Mount has a way of making teams one dimensional by putting them behind early. I hate the statement that "those teams were down this year". Bottomline is that ONU made the playoffs and won the first round game. If that's down - then fine.

I don't think we should use ONU having won the first round game as evidence that OAC was deep and/or particularly good this year.  ONU's selection was questionable.  Then they got probably the absolute best case scenario for a first round draw.  ONU could have easily and justifiably wound up at places like Thomas More, Wabash, Wheaton, Wesley- all would have dispatched ONU comfortably.  ONU hit the lottery on Selection Sunday to be honest.

No offense Wally - but I never said they were deep or particularly good. I just said they made the playoffs and won a first round game. Was the selection questionable - yes (I had UWP). Did they get the best scenario in the draw - yes (or at least a very good one). Could they have ended up elsewhere - yes. So what? They made it and they won. It isn't evidence of anything more. I am saying I hate the statement that "those teams were down this year" because: 1. One made playoffs (for whatever reason) and won. 2. The others compare to Wesley in terms of rushing offense per game. Is it apples to apples - nope. But its what I have.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

Have a hard time believing Wesley won't get down early by 21, become one dimensional on offense, and end up losing by 50. Their D didn't seem cohesive versus JHU. At least not at the level to play with MUC. Going to be ugly on Saturday in Alliance. At least this year the game is in the Quarters.

[Teamski]

All you naysayers.....  Wesley will play as best they can.  I have a feeling that they will give MU a better game this year.  It is too easy to forget what Wesley was able to do just two years ago offensively against MU.  If the Wesley offense can find that rhythm, then we will have a game.....

Here is an article on Joe Callahan's incredible year.  I didn't know that he is the all-college yardage and TD total leader this year.  Incredible!  It's got Gagliardi written all over it.

http://athletics.wesley.edu/sports/fball/2015-16/releases/20151201fzoecl

-Ski

[dlippiel]

dlip is HEAVILY rooting for the Wolverines this weekend. He has a tremendous amount of respect for Mighty Mount but has had enough of the 2 purples (Udub dub dub dub and Mount) to last him a life time. With that being said he feels this weekends contest is going to be very straight forward. Mount will come out and overwhelm the underperforming Wesley defense early and score at least three times in the 1st quarter before Wesley knows what hit them. The potent and impressive Wesley O will never be able to catch that early Mount explosion and the game will never be close.

dlip just doesn't think the Wolverine D will be up to the task and their miscues/miscommunications/not being on the same page will certainly glare like neon against a fantastic Mount team. dlip hopes he's wrong...really hopes he's wrong...but he thinks he is right.

[HScoach]

I won't claim to predict what will happen, but a few things of note regarding the '15 Mount squad.

1.  rushing offense is better than the last couple years with Nemeth at TB instead of Mitchell.   Harder runner less likely to hit the home run, but also less likely to lose big yardage like Mitchell was prone to do.

2.  QB is more elusive as a runner, but not the passer that Burke was.   Think 6' tall, D3 version of Braxton Miller.   Crazy legs, live arm, but uncertain accuracy and decision making.

3.  Defense as a whole is better because of the D-line.   Tom Lally is a beast at DT.   Leads the team in tackles which is crazy for an interior lineman in a league where most teams pass the ball.   Career sack leader in Mount history.   I won't go as far to say he's the best D-lineman Mount has ever had because they've had real studs (Mike Hallett, Matt Campbell, etc.), but Lally is in the conversation.

4.  Secondary's stats are better because of the D-line pressure.   Still don't think they're great, but they're athletic and will hit you.   Huge benefactors of a better D-line rushing the passer.   The question is whether the D-line can get pressure against a good O-line or if it's dominated average teams.   

[wesleydad]

I won't claim to predict what will happen, but a few things of note regarding the '15 Mount squad.

1.  rushing offense is better than the last couple years with Nemeth at TB instead of Mitchell.   Harder runner less likely to hit the home run, but also less likely to lose big yardage like Mitchell was prone to do.

2.  QB is more elusive as a runner, but not the passer that Burke was.   Think 6' tall, D3 version of Braxton Miller.   Crazy legs, live arm, but uncertain accuracy and decision making.

3.  Defense as a whole is better because of the D-line.   Tom Lally is a beast at DT.   Leads the team in tackles which is crazy for an interior lineman in a league where most teams pass the ball.   Career sack leader in Mount history.   I won't go as far to say he's the best D-lineman Mount has ever had because they've had real studs (Mike Hallett, Matt Campbell, etc.), but Lally is in the conversation.

4.  Secondary's stats are better because of the D-line pressure.   Still don't think they're great, but they're athletic and will hit you.   Huge benefactors of a better D-line rushing the passer.   The question is whether the D-line can get pressure against a good O-line or if it's dominated average teams.

HSCoach, always good to get you insights into Mount.  Always clear and concise with little bravado.  I agree, the fact that a DT leads a team in tackles is crazy.  How do the handle the read option?  If Wesley goes 4 or 5 wide what will that do to the Mount defense?  Do you agree that short passes may be the weakness of the Mount D?  If Wesley does not turn the ball over, killer early the last 2 games, can they stay in the game long enough to make Mount think?  If the game is close mid to late 3 what do you see happening?  What about turnovers?  Does Mount ever turn it over more than the opponent?  I am trying to find a silver lining it all of this.  Will you be at the game?  I have not decided yet, still 50/50 if I am heading out or not.