FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[thewaterboy]

Wesley is up 24 - 7 in the 4th qtr but this team has been sleep walking through this game.

They should be playing with urgency. The only way you get to the playoffs is if you win out and go 9-1. Mullin had a horrid first half. IF this team does make the playoffs, the first game will be a fight, but perhaps so will Kean and CNU.

[Teamski]

Wesley isn't the only team getting stung.  St John's and Ithaca lost today reminding everybody that you have to play your best game every game.  Kean tore up WP today so Wesley better be playing some good ball or they will get their season snipped.

-Ski

p.s..  The playoff committee better remember that Wesley lost to a ranked opponent!

[MRMIKESMITH]

Aside from an interesting 1st quarter, it was all Salisbury in dominating fashion against CNU for Senior Day. Kudos to CNU for keeping it interesting the 1st quarter. They really did throw the playbook at Salisbury early on and did some things that they haven't seen all year. I think Salisbury adjusted well and will use that as a learning tool as they continue on their way to winning the NJAC and possible playoff bid. Salisbury Defense was dominant all game with the exception of a few plays early on, but the defense adjusted and made some great plays. I was very impressed with the secondary today, they thwarted any chance of CNU game plan to go 4 or 5 wide and throw the ball around. Early on it looked as if CNU was going to be able to that, but quick adjustments ended any hope for that. Kudos to the Secondary and Defensive Coordinator for making the quick adjustments to stop the 4 and 5 wide plays and RPO activity. Offensively, Salisbury started off very shaky, it appeared that CNU stacked the A gaps and were penetrating the A gaps early and oftern, which threw off the timing of the offense. It was very effective. However, after one quarter of that Salisbury adjusted very well by moving the mesh point and allowing the FB/RB to be able to run effectively. In addition, opening the playbook with the various passing plays. Although it almost a quarter to get the offense going, you felt the tide turning after fg late in the 1st quarter. I was impressed with the coverage unit this week as players were excited to play on the unit and made big plays. The kicking team was able to get on the field and attempt a decent distance field goal. Overall, Salisbury was very dominant, not allowing a 3rd down conversion, allowing less than 150 yards on the day and mixing up the run and pass. With the "upsets" around the East region, I expect Salisbury to be rank either #1 as UW-Oshkosh beat UW-Platteville today. Nevertheless, enjoy the night, prepare for a good TCNJ team next week that will be playing their last home game on Senior Day.

[WesleyFB_8]

Wesley is up 24 - 7 in the 4th qtr but this team has been sleep walking through this game.

They should be playing with urgency. The only way you get to the playoffs is if you win out and go 9-1. Mullin had a horrid first half. IF this team does make the playoffs, the first game will be a fight, but perhaps so will Kean and CNU.

Very lack luster performance today. I've only been to a couple of games this year so I made sure to get to this one. TCNJ was definitely in spoiler mode and it wasn't until they scored that Wesley woke up somewhat. I went as far to tell my son that if you guys played like this against Del Val or Endicott you lose both of those games. Also mentioned about Coach Knapp clapping his hands and yelling Let's Go!! For the team to take the field. I don't care if the team they're playing is 2-5 or 7-0 you bring that same intensity for every game. Right now Wesley shouldn't even think about playoffs, Kean is next then CNU. Anything can happen in these next 2 games especially with a team playing spoiler.

[wesleydad]

I watched a little of the game yesterday and it was as I expected it to be, lackluster.  Started with the punt return called back by a penalty, too many of them again in big situations.  There is something missing, not sure what, but this team looks mediocre.  They keep winning and with the mess around D3 they will move up in the rankings, but this is not a top 15 team or at least not compared to teams in the past.  Or maybe I am wrong and the teams they are playing are better than I think they are and Wesley is better than I think they are.  Poll C just got really crowded with some good teams.  Wesley is hurt by Endicott losing yesterday, takes away a RR win.  The SOS will be ok and 1-1 against RR opponents, but how they are ranked by the committee will determine if they get in, winning out is necessary of course.  Ithaca and Cortland losing makes it interesting.  The first RR come out this week and will tell plenty.

[Teamski]

I agree that Endicott losing didn't help....

-Ski

[thewaterboy]

I watched a little of the game yesterday and it was as I expected it to be, lackluster.  Started with the punt return called back by a penalty, too many of them again in big situations.  There is something missing, not sure what, but this team looks mediocre.  They keep winning and with the mess around D3 they will move up in the rankings, but this is not a top 15 team or at least not compared to teams in the past.  Or maybe I am wrong and the teams they are playing are better than I think they are and Wesley is better than I think they are.  Poll C just got really crowded with some good teams.  Wesley is hurt by Endicott losing yesterday, takes away a RR win.  The SOS will be ok and 1-1 against RR opponents, but how they are ranked by the committee will determine if they get in, winning out is necessary of course.  Ithaca and Cortland losing makes it interesting.  The first RR come out this week and will tell plenty.

I think it is QB play at the end of the day. Very inconsistent with downfield passes. That forces Wesley to lean more on the running game and the short completions. There really is no deep threat on this team for whatever reason. I thought they had the speed for it (Halsey), but maybe not... also losing EJ Lee doesn't help.

I think Wesley should have a pretty decent resume so long as they go 9-1. Endicott losing does hurt, and their SOS will drop over the next two weeks, however I think it'll still be strong enough comparatively with the other Pool C teams. Platteville losing helps as it looks as there is no Pool C bid for the WIAC this year.

Other Pool C teams the rest of the way:
- Bethel still has St. Thomas.
- Ithaca has RPI and Cortland left. If both teams get to Cortaca at 9-1, the loser goes home. (Cortland has Hartwick last week).
- North Central has a somewhat easy path.... they have 5-3 Illinois Wesleyan next week, and Millikin the week after.
- Susquehanna should win out.
- The OAC has B-W and John Carroll still in contention for that 2nd place spot, with both teams squaring off in the final week of the season. JCU has 6-2 Heidelberg next week, while B-W travels to 4-4 Ohio Northern.

Still a lot of dust to settle before we get to the playoff picture for pool C.

[MRMIKESMITH]

I watched a little of the game yesterday and it was as I expected it to be, lackluster.  Started with the punt return called back by a penalty, too many of them again in big situations.  There is something missing, not sure what, but this team looks mediocre.  They keep winning and with the mess around D3 they will move up in the rankings, but this is not a top 15 team or at least not compared to teams in the past.  Or maybe I am wrong and the teams they are playing are better than I think they are and Wesley is better than I think they are.  Poll C just got really crowded with some good teams.  Wesley is hurt by Endicott losing yesterday, takes away a RR win.  The SOS will be ok and 1-1 against RR opponents, but how they are ranked by the committee will determine if they get in, winning out is necessary of course.  Ithaca and Cortland losing makes it interesting.  The first RR come out this week and will tell plenty.

I think you may be a little harsh on Wesley. Regarding ranking, you can make that argument with many of the Top 15 teams, excluding the Top 3 or 4. Not saying they are on the level of the year's where they were pushing the Top 3 to 4 teams in the county, but I think they are where they need to be somewhere in the mid 2000s teams.

[thewaterboy]

I watched a little of the game yesterday and it was as I expected it to be, lackluster.  Started with the punt return called back by a penalty, too many of them again in big situations.  There is something missing, not sure what, but this team looks mediocre.  They keep winning and with the mess around D3 they will move up in the rankings, but this is not a top 15 team or at least not compared to teams in the past.  Or maybe I am wrong and the teams they are playing are better than I think they are and Wesley is better than I think they are.  Poll C just got really crowded with some good teams.  Wesley is hurt by Endicott losing yesterday, takes away a RR win.  The SOS will be ok and 1-1 against RR opponents, but how they are ranked by the committee will determine if they get in, winning out is necessary of course.  Ithaca and Cortland losing makes it interesting.  The first RR come out this week and will tell plenty.

I think you may be a little harsh on Wesley. Regarding ranking, you can make that argument with many of the Top 15 teams, excluding the Top 3 or 4. Not saying they are on the level of the year's where they were pushing the Top 3 to 4 teams in the county, but I think they are where they need to be somewhere in the mid 2000s teams.

Agree partially.... they are finding ways to win games, unlike last year, but I also think this team is missing something. I would compare them to maybe like the 03 or 04 teams.... because 05 and 06 were awesome teams that eventually reached the semifinals. This team does not seem to be on that level. In fact, I'd consider them just a little bit better than last year, which was the lowest the team had been since 2008. We definitely do not see the usual Wesley production on offense. If you discount overtimes and the game against Franklin Pierce, this team is averaging just 24 points per game.

[PA_wesleyfan]

  Just a few observations about this Wesley team. i don't think we can overlook some of cardiac finishes that we have seen over the years. There are just a few more than usual. We know what Mullins is capable of. He just seems to be out of sorts a little lately. He doesn't have quite the number of game breakers that we have gotten used to. Joe Callahan had 2 above average wideouts, a go to tight end and a few backs that could catch the ball as well as run. Joe was in his own right a weapon.. Mullins is starting his 6th game of his career this week. He had started to get into a grove and then for whatever reason had to sit out the 1st quarter of the game after his best game.  All that being said the offense was down to the 3rd running back. I don't think that Drummond is all the way back from his torn ACL from last year yet. I can tell you that it takes more people 2 yrs to come back fully from that injury.. and be 100%.  If nothing else we have seen lately what
we hopefully have to look forward to with Pendleton. Size and speed!  So if you are going to grind it out on the ground the points per game will be down.
  After the next two games we find out if the playoffs are in the cards.. Then it's one game at a time and we'll see where the journey takes the team

[wdelsean]

Played with the possible East Regional Ranking just for fun, and more importantly looked ahead to what's left. Not perfect since trying to break out Opponent's Opponents records is best left for Pat's SOS page when the results happen.

1) Union 8-0 (2-0) - .487 / Utica (4-6), RPI (5-3) -- Thinking is the second regional ranked win overcomes the .022 SOS difference. SOS may get them there, anyway.
2) Salisbury 7-0 (1-0) - .509 / TCNJ (2-6), W. Paterson (2-6) -- If 6-2 Oshkosh is ranked in the west, they're No. 1. May need UW-O to defeat UW-W to have it happen.
3) Wesley 6-1 (2-1) - .577 / Kean (3-5), C. Newport (2-6) - Putting SOS & RR win over WNE's record, but if Endicott isn't ranked, the argument gets much harder.
4) W. New England 7-0 (0-0) - .532 / Becker (2-6), Husson (3-5) - Where will the committee draw the line between undefeated and a loss to a RR opponent? SOS will stay on par with those above
5) Brockport 7-1 (1-1) - .539 / Alfred (5-3), Morrisville St. (4-4) - Better SOS (current and future) than WNE, if Framingham sneaks in, they could surge to 3rd.
6) Delaware Valley 8-1 (0-1) - .536 / Widener (4-4) - Can Stevenson/Wilkes get ranked and get them a RR win? Would likely stay behind Brockport if both win out.
7) Hobart 6-2 (1-2) - .623 / Buff State (1-7), Rochester (0-8) - That's an amazing SOS that's going to sink like a stone down the stretch. Union needs them to be/stay ranked.
8) Ithaca 7-1 (0-1) - .520 / RPI (5-3), Cortland (7-1) - Wild Card 1. Future SOS is 12-4 vs. Wesley's 5-11. Could make up gap and have RR win vs. Cortland. Could be 1st on table at end.
9) Cortland 7-1 (0-1) - .504 / Hartwick (1-7), Ithaca (7-1) - On the other hand, Cortland would have the harder road to jumping Wesley. .073 is a lot to overcome with just a 4 win difference.
10) Endicott 6-2 (0-2) - .523 / UNE (3-5), Nicols (5-3) - Wild Card 2. Lower SOS than Fram State, but if it comes down to the 2 for No. 10 - Endicott 55, Fram State 27.
UR1) Fram State 6-2 (0-2) - .586 / BWater St (5-3), WorcesterSt (0-8) - Probably won't make up the difference to Hobart, could easily be ahead of Endicott, even with the H2H result.
UR2) Stevenson 6-2 (0-1) - .511 / Wilkes (7-1), Lycoming (3-5) - SOS will likely stay over .500, and could get very close to Endicott's.
UR3) WPI 7-1 (0-0) - .457 / Coast Guard (5-3), Norwich (5-3) - Can't find them jumping the 1-loss teams above, if all stay with 1 loss.
UR4) Wilkes 7-1 (0-1) - .437  / Stevenson (6-2), King's (5-3) - Dreadful SOS should keep them behind the 2-loss teams, but they'll get a nice jolt down the stretch, but not to .500?

Simply put: What they do with No. 10 could be everything for determining who is on the board first, and who would have home game priority in potential east-based match-ups.
Endicott - Helps Wesley
Framingham State - Helps Brockport
Stevenson - Helps DelVal
Wilkes - Helps all teams not named Wesley/Brockport/DelVal

Future: Avoiding upsets, and having to pick Cortica...
Hobart will likely slide back behind Ithaca and Cortland as that SOS dips below .600 the next two weeks
Will the committee favor SOS over 2 vs. 1 regionally ranked wins? Union will close the gap with Salisbury, but will likely stay below their SOS.
How exactly will the committee handle a D3 undefeated Western New England?
Will Ithaca/Cortland winner get past Wesley's SOS? It seems like Ithaca has a real chance.

[CNU85]

well that was ugly, as predicted. I predicted 56-3. Close.

I just don;t get the CNU play calling. I know it happened more than twice but I clearly remember a 3rd and 7 and a 3rd and 13 and CNU runs the ball up the middle. CNU is ranked 226th in the nation in rushing offense. Clearly not a strength. Is running up the middle a "trick play"? Why don't you just give Salisbury the ball if you're going to do that nonsense?

[RowanPhan]

Tough loss for the Profs this weekend.  They played well in the 1st half, and could have put a nail in the coffin against the Montclair with an early second half score, but they couldn't muster any offense in the final 2 quarters.

Against Montclair State, the Profs had a perfect opportunity to score a late touchdown for OT, but Rowan didn't even try one play in the end-zone (they ran a pitch which the RB fumbled, and they threw a pass to the TE in the flat several yards ahead of the goaline, then the QB was sacked on a horribily busted pass attempt).

Similar to the CNU struggles, Rowan has a limited offensive playbook which has hurt them especially in the red zone. Both their QB's ran high-octane offenses in high school so they have the overall talent to sling the pigskin, but they prefer to play smash-mouth football which hasn't lead to success in the last 4 years. It's really hard for me to play armchair QB since the Rowan coaching staff has decades of experience and I know they want to win more than anyone... but the offense they run is not leading to wins.

[CNU85]

Interesting info.

Take out Salisbury and Wesley....

Nobody else in NJAC has a winning record. So, I was thinking that's because the NJAC beats up on each other......HOWEVER.......
The only other team with a winning non-conf record is Willy Pat at 2-1. So that means the NJAC, other than SU, WC and WP has a non conf record of 2-13

hmmmmmmm

[wesleydad]

Interesting info.

Take out Salisbury and Wesley....

Nobody else in NJAC has a winning record. So, I was thinking that's because the NJAC beats up on each other......HOWEVER.......
The only other team with a winning non-conf record is Willy Pat at 2-1. So that means the NJAC, other than SU, WC and WP has a non conf record of 2-13

hmmmmmmm

Overall the league is not very good this year.  Some of the teams have had tough loses, but they are loses.