FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[RowanPhan]

I guess it's that time of the week, again expecting cloudy skies for our game against the team up 13. This is a very interesting game as Salisbury finally appeared to be clicking offensively (although have room to grow), the defense held strong and played lights out the whole game (except last 2 mins, grrr) last week. However, this week we are facing  a team that is going to be the most skilled teamed offensively that we have faced, although I'm not sure the best quarterback. I think if we can get the running game going with the fullback, it will help us offensively and adjust from there. Defensively we can't give up big explosive plays and be sure tacklers, everyone to the ball (haven't had issues all year why start now). With this game being a rivalry game, you never know what to expect. With Wesley being 5-3, not sure if we will have a sold out affair (hopefully), but I do expect Salisbury sideline will be filled. I project the game to be either a 31-23 or 21-16 game in favor of the Gulls. Why not keep your bitter rival down, Why not. In other NJAC games, I expect Frostburg to dominate Kean and get some of their younger guys experience as they prepare for Regents cup and playoffs with the limited roster. I like Montclair over Rowan, I can see 28-13 type game. I think CNU will continue to finish strong with a big showing against TCNJ. I think Southern VA gets another W in their column against William Paterson.

I'm curious why more D3 schools don't go with the triple option.

[wesleydad]

I guess it's that time of the week, again expecting cloudy skies for our game against the team up 13. This is a very interesting game as Salisbury finally appeared to be clicking offensively (although have room to grow), the defense held strong and played lights out the whole game (except last 2 mins, grrr) last week. However, this week we are facing  a team that is going to be the most skilled teamed offensively that we have faced, although I'm not sure the best quarterback. I think if we can get the running game going with the fullback, it will help us offensively and adjust from there. Defensively we can't give up big explosive plays and be sure tacklers, everyone to the ball (haven't had issues all year why start now). With this game being a rivalry game, you never know what to expect. With Wesley being 5-3, not sure if we will have a sold out affair (hopefully), but I do expect Salisbury sideline will be filled. I project the game to be either a 31-23 or 21-16 game in favor of the Gulls. Why not keep your bitter rival down, Why not. In other NJAC games, I expect Frostburg to dominate Kean and get some of their younger guys experience as they prepare for Regents cup and playoffs with the limited roster. I like Montclair over Rowan, I can see 28-13 type game. I think CNU will continue to finish strong with a big showing against TCNJ. I think Southern VA gets another W in their column against William Paterson.

Wesley has shown the inability to stop the run this year, see Frostburg and Rowan games for time of possession differential.  If Wesley can not stop the run this will be a long game for them.  They will score points, probably miss an extra point, and in the end probably lose a close game.  Now, if they can stop the run, which they have been able to do against Salisbury is prior years then this game may not be close.  Something is missing this year, not sure what, but it seems to me that the players have just expected to be able to press a button and take over.  That did not work this year. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

I guess it's that time of the week, again expecting cloudy skies for our game against the team up 13. This is a very interesting game as Salisbury finally appeared to be clicking offensively (although have room to grow), the defense held strong and played lights out the whole game (except last 2 mins, grrr) last week. However, this week we are facing  a team that is going to be the most skilled teamed offensively that we have faced, although I'm not sure the best quarterback. I think if we can get the running game going with the fullback, it will help us offensively and adjust from there. Defensively we can't give up big explosive plays and be sure tacklers, everyone to the ball (haven't had issues all year why start now). With this game being a rivalry game, you never know what to expect. With Wesley being 5-3, not sure if we will have a sold out affair (hopefully), but I do expect Salisbury sideline will be filled. I project the game to be either a 31-23 or 21-16 game in favor of the Gulls. Why not keep your bitter rival down, Why not. In other NJAC games, I expect Frostburg to dominate Kean and get some of their younger guys experience as they prepare for Regents cup and playoffs with the limited roster. I like Montclair over Rowan, I can see 28-13 type game. I think CNU will continue to finish strong with a big showing against TCNJ. I think Southern VA gets another W in their column against William Paterson.

I'm curious why more D3 schools don't go with the triple option.

RowanPhan, I know you have good history with watching option teams and Salisbury did perform well last week against your Profs. However, with all option teams comes the curse of not being able to throw the ball when their down, they look like high school teams on their attempts, this translates up to Navy and Georgia Tech. Running the option can help you win a few games when you may be just as talented or somewhat less, but IMHO, it's hard for me to say that an option team can win the "BIG" game. This is from personal experience of running it throughout my whole life. I love it when its working, but when we are faced with 3rd and long or down by multiple tds with 5 mins remaining, I usually pack it up. Granted I would love for Salisbury to run the table and surprise many of these other teams with the option, but I think the best Salisbury team that ran the option was back in 2011 and they faced UWW (eventual national champion) and we barely scored 14 points, we did miss on a few opportunities, but when we were down, we chewed to much clock to make a viable comeback. Now if you have an all world defense, you will always be in games, you just may need to take quite of bit of antacids through the year.

[thewaterboy]

I guess it's that time of the week, again expecting cloudy skies for our game against the team up 13. This is a very interesting game as Salisbury finally appeared to be clicking offensively (although have room to grow), the defense held strong and played lights out the whole game (except last 2 mins, grrr) last week. However, this week we are facing  a team that is going to be the most skilled teamed offensively that we have faced, although I'm not sure the best quarterback. I think if we can get the running game going with the fullback, it will help us offensively and adjust from there. Defensively we can't give up big explosive plays and be sure tacklers, everyone to the ball (haven't had issues all year why start now). With this game being a rivalry game, you never know what to expect. With Wesley being 5-3, not sure if we will have a sold out affair (hopefully), but I do expect Salisbury sideline will be filled. I project the game to be either a 31-23 or 21-16 game in favor of the Gulls. Why not keep your bitter rival down, Why not. In other NJAC games, I expect Frostburg to dominate Kean and get some of their younger guys experience as they prepare for Regents cup and playoffs with the limited roster. I like Montclair over Rowan, I can see 28-13 type game. I think CNU will continue to finish strong with a big showing against TCNJ. I think Southern VA gets another W in their column against William Paterson.

Wesley has shown the inability to stop the run this year, see Frostburg and Rowan games for time of possession differential.  If Wesley can not stop the run this will be a long game for them.  They will score points, probably miss an extra point, and in the end probably lose a close game.  Now, if they can stop the run, which they have been able to do against Salisbury is prior years then this game may not be close.  Something is missing this year, not sure what, but it seems to me that the players have just expected to be able to press a button and take over.  That did not work this year.

IMO it's line play.... and QB play.

[Bobcats47]

I guess it's that time of the week, again expecting cloudy skies for our game against the team up 13. This is a very interesting game as Salisbury finally appeared to be clicking offensively (although have room to grow), the defense held strong and played lights out the whole game (except last 2 mins, grrr) last week. However, this week we are facing  a team that is going to be the most skilled teamed offensively that we have faced, although I'm not sure the best quarterback. I think if we can get the running game going with the fullback, it will help us offensively and adjust from there. Defensively we can't give up big explosive plays and be sure tacklers, everyone to the ball (haven't had issues all year why start now). With this game being a rivalry game, you never know what to expect. With Wesley being 5-3, not sure if we will have a sold out affair (hopefully), but I do expect Salisbury sideline will be filled. I project the game to be either a 31-23 or 21-16 game in favor of the Gulls. Why not keep your bitter rival down, Why not. In other NJAC games, I expect Frostburg to dominate Kean and get some of their younger guys experience as they prepare for Regents cup and playoffs with the limited roster. I like Montclair over Rowan, I can see 28-13 type game. I think CNU will continue to finish strong with a big showing against TCNJ. I think Southern VA gets another W in their column against William Paterson.

Wesley has shown the inability to stop the run this year, see Frostburg and Rowan games for time of possession differential.  If Wesley can not stop the run this will be a long game for them.  They will score points, probably miss an extra point, and in the end probably lose a close game.  Now, if they can stop the run, which they have been able to do against Salisbury is prior years then this game may not be close.  Something is missing this year, not sure what, but it seems to me that the players have just expected to be able to press a button and take over.  That did not work this year.

Wesley also has the Athletes for the perimeter run game as long as they can stop the Superback.

[CNU85]

I just looked up some NCAA stats. At first glance, it appears the NJAC is a defensive powerhouse conference with the following rankings in total defense (yards allowed per game):

#4 - Salisbury
#5 - CNU
#8- Frostburg
#19 - Montclair
#28 - Wesley

Then I remembered we only play 1 non conference game per year. So I looked at total offense stat:

#28 - Wesley

That's it. Nobody else in top 50. So---  after further review -- our offenses suck! 

[wesleydad]

not sure why you try the field goal.  windy and kicker has no confidence.  no shot at end zone from inside the 15.  o line getting no push on the inside runs.  nice drive ends with no points.  story of the season for wesley.

[thewaterboy]

not sure why you try the field goal.  windy and kicker has no confidence.  no shot at end zone from inside the 15.  o line getting no push on the inside runs.  nice drive ends with no points.  story of the season for wesley.

Salisbury gets 6. Not sure there is a right answer on that drive. No push like you said, but you want points.

[wesleydad]

well that was not a good pass.  looked at the receiver the whole way.  deep over the middle into double coverage.  offense not getting it done.

[thewaterboy]

INT into double coverage.

[wesleydad]

just not good.  move the ball easily down the field then come to a halt.  stupid penalties and then a bad decision and gulls looking to score again.  missed field goal.  as bad as wesley has played they only trail 13-0.

[wesleydad]

may be time to change QB's.  just not getting it done.  time to see if someone else can make plays.

[wesleydad]

nice defensive stand stops the gulls again.  wesley finally completes a pass and goes 80 or so for the TD.  down 13-7 with 6 to go in the third.  maybe they win a game due to a missed field goal and extra point.

[thewaterboy]

4th interception for Burroughs. Geez. Had a slant open

[wesleydad]

not sure what that was.  4th and 5, go to a quick pass.  instead o line does not protect long enough and burroughs makes a scramble bad pass int and wesley comes up empty.  now into the wind for the 4th quarter.  still 13-7 gulls.