FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[bman]

I don't know that I see Wesley losing this year, although I think a few games will be close.  I feel that it's going to take a year for the league to catch up with talent and game planning to beat them.   
I haven't read the NJAC preview yet, but I'd be surprised if Salisbury isn't also right in the mix (everyone seems to be mentioning Rowan and Monteclaire...
I still feel this will be the most fun league to follow this year.

[wesleydad]

Have not gotten Kickoff yet, but there will have to be major changes on both teams for Rowan to change the result.  Wesley held them to no first downs until mid way through the 3rd quarter.  It was one of the most decisive wins I have seen Wesley have against a good team.  I know the faces have changed some and the game will likely be more competitive but I will be really surprised if Rowan beats them.  Wesley seems to stumble early in the season and the schedule looks like they should be able to avoid that, but maybe that will be the slip up again.  Being in a conference will allow the team to focus on the task at hand each week knowing that if they keep winning the keep playing and dont have to worry about getting selected.  I am going to the Rowan/Widener game week 1 so I will have a report for the NJAC on how Rowan looks this year.

[rams1102]

The NJAC is now a powerhouse league. We have 5 real good teams. Wesley should win the conference, but there are 4 other teams that could beat Wesley on any given day. That being said there has always been bad blood between Montclair, Rowan and TCNJ. We just don't like each other. Kean recently moved in as bad blood since Garrett became the coach. Right now Kean, TCNJ, Willy P, Frostburg are second tier NJAC but anything can happen. Ask Ithaca about Frostburg. The NJAC is now the 4th best conference in D3. It's time to strap e'm up and get ready for a great season. I can't wait.

LET'S  DO  MIGHTY  RED  HAWKS  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Red Hawks Pride]

This has to be literally one of the top conferences in the Country this year, I will say whomever wins is going to battle tested and perhaps a bit of the walking wounded going into the playoffs, it's going to be a dogfight each week. Obviously the success of Wesley in recent years has them pegged as the team to beat, that said, being a former player in this conference and for the Red Hawks, I really hope they don't think this conference is going to lay down for them! MSU, Rowan, TCNJ, Kean, all very well coached teams with some extremely athletic and tough football players, who are probably chomping at the bit ready, to test Wesley.

Rams hope all is well my friend, looking forward to quite a good season! Lots of returners on both sides of the ball at MSU, sky is the limit!

[thewaterboy]

One thing I think the coaches at Wesley do really well is focusing the team week in and week out on their next opponent. Right now the only goal is to beat Frostburg. I dont think Wesley expects every team to lay down in front of them either.

wesleydad, what is your D3 schedule looking like this fall? Will you be going out to Chicago for the Wesley-NCC game?

[wesleydad]

One thing I think the coaches at Wesley do really well is focusing the team week in and week out on their next opponent. Right now the only goal is to beat Frostburg. I dont think Wesley expects every team to lay down in front of them either.

wesleydad, what is your D3 schedule looking like this fall? Will you be going out to Chicago for the Wesley-NCC game?

Yes, already have plane tickets.  My dad is going with me.  We are flying out in the morning and flying back in the evening.  Got a great rate, $100 round trip each.  I am not likely making the drive to Frostburg because I dont expect it to be much of a game.  I will be hitting most Wesley games because they are now in a league and within 2 hours.  I have not seen a couple of the teams so that will be fun too.

I am not sure where the Wesley expects teams to lay down for them is coming from, none of us have said that.  The NJAC is a good league, made better by the addition of Wesley, Salisbury, and CNU.  It will be fun to watch each week how it plays out.  Since I travel more than most when it comes to D3 football and saw many of the NJAC teams play last year, I did not see any of them that close to Wesley at the end of last year.  Now, how much the others have improved compared to how much Wesley has regressed will determine if anyone can beat them.  I just think the gap was pretty wide.  It will make it fun to travel to the games this year, that is for sure.

[TheOsprey]

Looking forward to NJAC this season.  Rowan's road schedule is daunting--  Widener, CNU, Salisbury, and Wesley . 

Rams--  pick ems will be very interesting this year.

Sept. Yet?? Go Profs!!

[rams1102]

NJAC  Pick-Em's  Are  Poster  On  The  NJAC   Pick-Em's  Board  For  Week  #1.  Time To Get This Season Started.

[wesleydad]

Finally had the time to get Kickoff.  Good read for the NJAC teams.  Will get a good look at Rowan this weekend at Widener to see if the running back can carry the offense.  Salisbury may give teams trouble with their offense.  They got sloppy last year but with the QB back and several running backs they are going to be tough, you may have to outscore them.  Montclair will have to improve on offense to battle for the title, the defense will keep them in games and make them a tough out for anyone.  CNU will show up to play and give everyone a good game.  If you have never traveled to CNU, do so, one of the nicest facilities in D3.  Finally a weekend to look forward to since December.

[thewaterboy]

Finally had the time to get Kickoff.  Good read for the NJAC teams.  Will get a good look at Rowan this weekend at Widener to see if the running back can carry the offense.  Salisbury may give teams trouble with their offense.  They got sloppy last year but with the QB back and several running backs they are going to be tough, you may have to outscore them.  Montclair will have to improve on offense to battle for the title, the defense will keep them in games and make them a tough out for anyone.  CNU will show up to play and give everyone a good game.  If you have never traveled to CNU, do so, one of the nicest facilities in D3.  Finally a weekend to look forward to since December.

Salisbury will be an interesting team to watch. Their offense can give teams headaches to teams that are unfamiliar with it. The league change has to help them. Outside of Wesley, Frostburg and CNU, the rest of the NJAC has not played Salisbury much. I think their run when they started in the E8 was helped by teams not being familiar with Salisbury's offense.

[Knightstalker]

The NJAC is now a powerhouse league. We have 5 real good teams. Wesley should win the conference, but there are 4 other teams that could beat Wesley on any given day. That being said there has always been bad blood between Montclair, Rowan and TCNJ. We just don't like each other. Kean recently moved in as bad blood since Garrett became the coach. Right now Kean, TCNJ, Willy P, Frostburg are second tier NJAC but anything can happen. Ask Ithaca about Frostburg. The NJAC is now the 4th best conference in D3. It's time to strap e'm up and get ready for a great season. I can't wait.

LET'S  DO  MIGHTY  RED  HAWKS  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate all you guys.     JCSC, JCSC, JCSC, oh yeah they are NJCU and no team.  I still hate all you guys.

[CNU85]

Finally had the time to get Kickoff.  Good read for the NJAC teams.  Will get a good look at Rowan this weekend at Widener to see if the running back can carry the offense.  Salisbury may give teams trouble with their offense.  They got sloppy last year but with the QB back and several running backs they are going to be tough, you may have to outscore them.  Montclair will have to improve on offense to battle for the title, the defense will keep them in games and make them a tough out for anyone.  CNU will show up to play and give everyone a good game.  If you have never traveled to CNU, do so, one of the nicest facilities in D3.  Finally a weekend to look forward to since December.

Salisbury will be an interesting team to watch. Their offense can give teams headaches to teams that are unfamiliar with it. The league change has to help them. Outside of Wesley, Frostburg and CNU, the rest of the NJAC has not played Salisbury much. I think their run when they started in the E8 was helped by teams not being familiar with Salisbury's offense.

You need speed on D to match up against SU offense.

[CNU85]

cool stuff...on CNU campus

http://www.nfl.com/videos/back-to-football/0ap3000000504325/Tomlin-making-an-impact-on-youth

[AUPepBand]

Finally had the time to get Kickoff.  Good read for the NJAC teams.  Will get a good look at Rowan this weekend at Widener to see if the running back can carry the offense.  Salisbury may give teams trouble with their offense.  They got sloppy last year but with the QB back and several running backs they are going to be tough, you may have to outscore them.  Montclair will have to improve on offense to battle for the title, the defense will keep them in games and make them a tough out for anyone.  CNU will show up to play and give everyone a good game.  If you have never traveled to CNU, do so, one of the nicest facilities in D3.  Finally a weekend to look forward to since December.

Salisbury will be an interesting team to watch. Their offense can give teams headaches to teams that are unfamiliar with it. The league change has to help them. Outside of Wesley, Frostburg and CNU, the rest of the NJAC has not played Salisbury much. I think their run when they started in the E8 was helped by teams not being familiar with Salisbury's offense.

You need speed on D to match up against SU offense.

Sure, speed helps but the key to stopping that vaunted running attack is perfect execution of an "assignment" approach to defending, rather than following instincts. When the Saxons were playing Salisbury (and Springfield, for that matter), it often took a couple series of getting burned before the AU defenders bought into their assignments and shut down that attack.

On Saxon Warriors!

[bman]

Finally had the time to get Kickoff.  Good read for the NJAC teams.  Will get a good look at Rowan this weekend at Widener to see if the running back can carry the offense.  Salisbury may give teams trouble with their offense.  They got sloppy last year but with the QB back and several running backs they are going to be tough, you may have to outscore them.  Montclair will have to improve on offense to battle for the title, the defense will keep them in games and make them a tough out for anyone.  CNU will show up to play and give everyone a good game.  If you have never traveled to CNU, do so, one of the nicest facilities in D3.  Finally a weekend to look forward to since December.

Salisbury will be an interesting team to watch. Their offense can give teams headaches to teams that are unfamiliar with it. The league change has to help them. Outside of Wesley, Frostburg and CNU, the rest of the NJAC has not played Salisbury much. I think their run when they started in the E8 was helped by teams not being familiar with Salisbury's offense.

You need speed on D to match up against SU offense.

Sure, speed helps but the key to stopping that vaunted running attack is perfect execution of an "assignment" approach to defending, rather than following instincts. When the Saxons were playing Salisbury (and Springfield, for that matter), it often took a couple series of getting burned before the AU defenders bought into their assignments and shut down that attack.

On Saxon Warriors!

I went to the SU/Widener playoff game a few years ago in Chester.  WU completely shut down the offense by completely stuffing the A gap.  There was noting there at all the entire game.   They also blew up the guard tackle gaps with pressure.   That offense became one dimensional and easy to stop.  We basically forced they to pass, which they couldn't do well.  The key is that you need personnel that can eliminate the first option inside...