FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

XREDDRAGON77 · October 03, 2006, 07:32:08 PM

I am pretty confident the Dragons will take care of business this weekend, but my last days were 6 years ago. With that being said I am sure the Red Dragons are a bit more humble than us overly excited posters.
Taste It

John McGraw · October 03, 2006, 08:23:31 PM

Recent history suggests that Cortland will be notching another victory on Saturday. The last time Kean came to the Stadium Complex, the final score was along the lines of 49-14. I really like AJ Roque and think he's the best quarterback in the conference behind Oriehl, but he gets no blocking or doesn't have a lot of time to throw the ball. It's been the same story for him the last two years against Cortland. He tries to throw and gets hammered by the Cortland front seven.

But, I give Kean credit. They stymied Cortland last year in the first half on the road. Then Cortland flipped a switch in the second half, and it ended up 27-6. This will probably end somewhere along those lines. Kean's offense will struggle against the Cortland defense and Cortland's offense, well, I'm still not sold on them. Bowser and Rickert are a great combination but receiving is still Cortland's trouble spot on offense. Still, Smith should have a good day.

Cortland's biggest enemy is probably itself. It's been said on this board, and I agree with it - that Cortland plays to the level of their competition. Obviously there are exceptions but to the large part, that's valid. They need to execute and play like it was just any other game. Watch the penalties, make smart decisions and not go in thinking they're going to walk over a lesser foe. The biggest examples I can think of from the last two years are the Buffalo State loss at home and the near loss two seasons ago to Paterson (Drew Lascari came off the bench to get Cortland the win).

The real tests for Cortland start after this week. The Brockport win is a good indicator, but how will they do in conference, away from home. I think this year is their chance to make a big statement. A senior laden defense, a decent amount of offensive firepower and good upperclass leaders.

RU Fan · October 03, 2006, 10:59:26 PM

4merprof

I agree with you totally. If you look at the quality athletes that populate the RU roster, its hard to believe that the coaches can't come up with someone who can get the job done.

With the wide open spread offense that RU can offer a WR, its absolutely unbelievable that the coaches didn't come up with a boatload of WRs (transfers and/or freshmen) who wanted to come to Rowan this year. You just can't sit back and wait for quality players to walk in your front door!

I also agree with rowanlb that short passes .... working your way down the field, with some good yards after catch, can also get you where you want to be. Orihel is accurate as hell, certainly has the velocity, has good feet and is not afraid to force the ball in if he has to. We've also got to start using the middle of the field and throwing to the RBs and TEs. The RBs are quick, make good cuts and, at this point, appear that they can catch the ball.

But, everything I've said so far in this post is a mute point if we don't throw the ball. For whatever reason we set forth on this "we have to run the ball" campaign, I think we've proven our point. When we have to run, we can. Getting back to throwing the ball will make it easier to do both ...throw and run. This is Orihel's last year, so you might as well take advantage of what he does best. By not using Orihel to the fullest, the RU coaches are making the opposing Defensive Coordinators ecstatic. Having a 6'4", 220lb. All-American QB with Orihel's proven throwing ability handing the ball off to RBs must bring smiles to their faces.

Work with the WRs in practice as much as possible. Give them reps in games and play the guys who show the most. Every game in conference is important and almost a "must win" situation. The time to rectify the situation is now ........ not when we are 2-2 or worse.

4merprof · October 04, 2006, 06:38:43 AM

RU Fan,

I agree with most of your post, except the 2-2 part at the end. I think if we just omitted playing offense this Friday night and just punted on 1st down, our defense will probably score enough points to win. Sorry Phil...

JT,

If RU doesn't make some changes to the offense, you won't have to worry about taking Mrs. JT to Salem this year, unless you want to cover the game for D3football.com...but I did hear Virginia is for lovers.

For everyone else, I think that we have beaten a dead horse about the Prof's offense, and from this point, it is what it is. If we don't have the WR's and if Acorsi can't come up with any play makers, then we have to start throwing short to our RB's out of the back field, similar to what McNabb does to Westbrook. How many times do the Eagles have Westbrook line up in the slot and run patterns downfield. If our WR's can't get it done, and we are not going to try out any DB's, have some of our RB's line up and run patterns downfield. We have great depth at that position, and I'm sure those kids who split time would love to get on the field more, and they for the most part are rather athletic.

See everyone in beautiful Ewing on Friday night, that is if I don't hit traffic coming down from up North.

cstate19 · October 04, 2006, 11:18:45 AM

X is right........i am nothing but a fan...i doubt the cortland players are taking the same attitude I am.....Kean (as long as Ive seen them) has always had good skill players at WR and QB....from what I remember in that 49-14 game the O-line gave up somewhere around 10 sacks as the QB ran for his life.........lets not confuse my attitude with the teams

XREDDRAGON77 · October 04, 2006, 11:38:45 AM

Anybody catch Friday Night Lights the series last night. As I was flipping channels, I can't recall if that was Odessa Permian HS from the movie, or another school. Same logo and mascot but the colors were swapped from balck to blue. Anybody want to add and enlighten me.
Tasate It

cstate19 · October 04, 2006, 04:06:16 PM

oh no....in around the east Adam Samrov just did it........he went and ticked off roawn.....

JT · October 04, 2006, 04:14:47 PM

TCNJ pregame ready: http://www.rowanfootball.com

4merprof · October 04, 2006, 04:50:04 PM

cstate,

I'm not sure if Adam completely knows what he is talking about. I have read the around the east for the last couple of weeks, and his opinions are as about as reliable as the "credible newspapers" my wife picks up at the check-out line at the supermarket.

Rowan will beat Cortland and MSU this year again, with or without a passing game. I believe Mr. Samrov is trying to stir the pot, but should probably not be smoking it, prior to writing his articles.

JT · October 04, 2006, 07:24:54 PM

Quote from: 4merprof on October 04, 2006, 04:50:04 PM
cstate,

I'm not sure if Adam completely knows what he is talking about. I have read the around the east for the last couple of weeks, and his opinions are as about as reliable as the "credible newspapers" my wife picks up at the check-out line at the supermarket.

Rowan will beat Cortland and MSU this year again, with or without a passing game. I believe Mr. Samrov is trying to stir the pot, but should probably not be smoking it, prior to writing his articles.

After doing the ATR myself for three years, there is a learning curve. I wrote first what I was familar with, the NJAC. I got a lot of criticism. I read post patterns, online newspapers, press releases, etc. Towards the end of year one, I became more comfortable with the E8, LL, ACFC.

Naturally, there's going to be some bias leaking through on occasion. My advice is to give the guy knowledge. Email him about the Montclair/TCNJ being the longest continuous NJ college rivalry etc. Help him get better at a gig he does for free. In my first year, the LL alumni blasted me for not writing anything about the Shoes trophy game (Union/RPI). Its in like the 103/104 year that the game is being played. In year's 2 and 3 I was all over the Shoes game as well as the 100 other trophy games in the LL & E8.

I thought about a top 10 too, but sticking the Profs at number one, would have been subject to a lot of backlash. So I never did it.

Speaking of trophy games, my Dad threw out an idea today. He's a Pennsylvania Military grad now Widener. Since Rowan and Widener will start playing each other next year (about 18 miles apart) and both schools have Rt 322 running through or near each school, there should be a trophy (the 322 cup or something like that).

Hey Bman whaddya think? Can we make this happen?

cstate19 · October 04, 2006, 11:40:40 PM

Quote from: 4merprof on October 04, 2006, 04:50:04 PM
cstate,

I'm not sure if Adam completely knows what he is talking about. I have read the around the east for the last couple of weeks, and his opinions are as about as reliable as the "credible newspapers" my wife picks up at the check-out line at the supermarket.

Rowan will beat Cortland and MSU this year again, with or without a passing game. I believe Mr. Samrov is trying to stir the pot, but should probably not be smoking it, prior to writing his articles.

cstate19 · October 04, 2006, 11:41:12 PM

bold statement........not picking a team yet....im just gonna say its gonna be a good game

4merprof · October 05, 2006, 06:44:03 AM

cstate,

I thought I would get a response from you on that... I would agree that if the Profs don't start getting their offense up to their potential, you could be very possibly correct. But with the defense we have with Tosh, Heimrl, Garret, Bailey, Whettstone, Bellamy, and fill in the other 15 guys that contribute, no offense in the NJAC is going to put up big numbers. I would have loved to have seen an actual 60 minute game between the Prof offense from last year, and this year's defense. I guess I will have to wait until Madden comes out with a college D3 football game for playstation, but I'm not sure if my daughter will let me use it.

I believe that the Prof's Defense will win the NJAC this year, and what Hendrick's has done with the defense over the past few years has been awesome. I would love to see us pressure and blitz more because of the athletes we have, but that's why I'm not in his shoes. I understand when you blitz, you are more vulnerable, but I would blitz on almost everydown from a fan perspective... It just makes the game more exciting from a fan standpoint, but I know he can't do that. Us old fans need something to cheer about when our offense is like watching the Cranberry bogs get flooded down in the boro.

Anyway, good luck Profs this week verse TCNJ, and I just found out that I will not be making the trip down to beautiful Ewing tomorrow, as my daughter is going to a Pumpkin festival with her friends, and my wife has to work out of town, so that leaves me as the chauffeur. Lucky 4mer!!!

rams1102 · October 05, 2006, 09:00:10 AM

Pick Em's For Week #6 Posted. Deadline Friday 7:00PM.

cstate19 · October 05, 2006, 11:49:53 AM

4mer,

i still agree that Rowan is the team to beat.......and i will also agree that last years game did not get close until we knocked your QB (i hate spelling that name and im not gonna spell it wrong and get hammered for it) out....if our D does show up however and your WR's dont get their act together we may not need to put up big numbers to pull out a W.....