FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[jmcozenlaw]

Now that I live in SW Ohio, catching Mount Union on the road is more likely than seeing a Rowan game. The Profs played well on both sides of the ball this week, so that was nice... caught the game on the web.

After all these years, ironically, I have a daughter attending college and playing softball in northeast Ohio.

Wife got promoted and transferred. I do marketing from home. My son will be 8 in November. We visted the Cincinnati area a few times because her boss wanted to see if we'd like it. The people are so nice and the city is so clean. There's plenty to do. Tennessee is on the potential retirement living list. My son is still young enough that he hasn't developed those life long relationships. So we decided to go for it. And for a bourbon drinker like me, the good small batch KY and TN stuff is significantly cheaper.

We are living in between Dayton and Cincinnati. Son is getting busy... he's got BJJ, drum lessons, and catechism.  There's indoor kiddie flag fb in January, if he's interested.

I haven't touched a golf club in about 20 years. Got a nice public 9 hole executive course 3 miles from the house, and a 36 hole 5 miles from the house. Feeling the tingle. Gonna work at the indoor and outdoor ranges in the offseason.

Homecoming at the high school is on Oct 6. The locals have told me that on Friday night, the town basically stops for football, and homecoming is even larger. Planning on taking the kid and the wife to feel the energy.

Catechism..................love it. Churches are so devoid of young people these days. You are doing a great job and teaching him, by far, what is the most important in the very brief time that we are here. God Bless you for it!!

I'm been very fortunate to be an older Dad with a 7-8 year old. I am able to experience all these great things as my son goes through them for the first time. I did my 14 hr work days before he came around. Bus stop waiting in the AM is great. Yesterday, he explained to me why farts make noise. Good times. Every morning it's something interesting.

Farts are fun. While drum lessons are promising, a good pep band, in addition to a kazoo, needs a trumpet. Air being pumped through a narrow opening results in a glorious sound! Let me be the first Pep Band recruiter to reach out to JT2 Jr. He would be most welcome at Alfred University....an easy 8 hour drive from Cincy...to add to our amazing glorified flatulence.

On Saxon Warriors!

My son has been exposed to music very early on... blues, pop, rock, and country and when Mom isn't around we listen to the good stuff AC/DC, Kiss, Metallica, Motley Crue, etc. He's never really been into kiddie songs, has his own playlists. He mentioned he wanted to play in a rock band. I said there are three main instruments, guitar, piano, and drums. He picked drums. I said fine, but he must commit to 30 weekly lessons, and he can't quit before 30 lessons.

Echos of my Father... I was never allowed to quit any sport mid-season, and any lessons had to be for a minimum of six months.

God first...............all else second.

I wish that I had never given up on the guitar and piano. My nastiest looking friends dated all of the hottest girls. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.......need I say more.

[CNU85]

Now that I live in SW Ohio, catching Mount Union on the road is more likely than seeing a Rowan game. The Profs played well on both sides of the ball this week, so that was nice... caught the game on the web.

After all these years, ironically, I have a daughter attending college and playing softball in northeast Ohio.

Wife got promoted and transferred. I do marketing from home. My son will be 8 in November. We visted the Cincinnati area a few times because her boss wanted to see if we'd like it. The people are so nice and the city is so clean. There's plenty to do. Tennessee is on the potential retirement living list. My son is still young enough that he hasn't developed those life long relationships. So we decided to go for it. And for a bourbon drinker like me, the good small batch KY and TN stuff is significantly cheaper.

We are living in between Dayton and Cincinnati. Son is getting busy... he's got BJJ, drum lessons, and catechism.  There's indoor kiddie flag fb in January, if he's interested.

I haven't touched a golf club in about 20 years. Got a nice public 9 hole executive course 3 miles from the house, and a 36 hole 5 miles from the house. Feeling the tingle. Gonna work at the indoor and outdoor ranges in the offseason.

Homecoming at the high school is on Oct 6. The locals have told me that on Friday night, the town basically stops for football, and homecoming is even larger. Planning on taking the kid and the wife to feel the energy.

Catechism..................love it. Churches are so devoid of young people these days. You are doing a great job and teaching him, by far, what is the most important in the very brief time that we are here. God Bless you for it!!

I'm been very fortunate to be an older Dad with a 7-8 year old. I am able to experience all these great things as my son goes through them for the first time. I did my 14 hr work days before he came around. Bus stop waiting in the AM is great. Yesterday, he explained to me why farts make noise. Good times. Every morning it's something interesting.

Farts are fun. While drum lessons are promising, a good pep band, in addition to a kazoo, needs a trumpet. Air being pumped through a narrow opening results in a glorious sound! Let me be the first Pep Band recruiter to reach out to JT2 Jr. He would be most welcome at Alfred University....an easy 8 hour drive from Cincy...to add to our amazing glorified flatulence.

On Saxon Warriors!

My son has been exposed to music very early on... blues, pop, rock, and country and when Mom isn't around we listen to the good stuff AC/DC, Kiss, Metallica, Motley Crue, etc. He's never really been into kiddie songs, has his own playlists. He mentioned he wanted to play in a rock band. I said there are three main instruments, guitar, piano, and drums. He picked drums. I said fine, but he must commit to 30 weekly lessons, and he can't quit before 30 lessons.

Echos of my Father... I was never allowed to quit any sport mid-season, and any lessons had to be for a minimum of six months.

God first...............all else second.

I wish that I had never given up on the guitar and piano. My nastiest looking friends dated all of the hottest girls. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.......need I say more.

Hahaha. That's funny. I am just learning to play the guitar. My daughter and son-in-law bought me a guitar last year for my birthday and my wife bought lessons. Now I need to practice more. My son-in-law is a professional musician and my daughter is a professional dancer (before she started having children. Now she teaches and choreographs). I want to be able to sit around and jam with my grandchildren as I am sure they will be musically talented.

[MRMIKESMITH]

With many alum, former, and new fans in the stands, Salisbury was not prepared for what Johns Hopkins had in store. This game was worst than the playoff game a few years back. Salisbury looked like a D level squad for the entirety of the game. Although the game appeared close early on, Johns Hopkins dictated the flow of the offense and defense for the entirety of the game and the game was never in question for them. Salisbury fans left the game very disappointed in the what was displayed. Many parents left the game distested with the product of the both the offense and defense, some questioned if their son's made the right decision. With the bye-week, I do expect for some players to heal up and some younger players gain some reps. However, the root issue will not be solved during this bye-week. If Salisbury were Division I, you would expect to see some extensive changes.   Here is my Good, Bad, and Ugly:

Good: Players played well with what the coaches had allowed them to do.

Bad: Both Offensive and Defensive 3rd Down. Salisbury both offensively and defensively looked incompetent and was severely outclassed from schematic standpoint, especially 3rd down play. Defensively there were no adjustments, pre-snap movements to create confusion, Salisbury athletes were left out and dry with poor alignment. Hopkins offensively was able to do any play the offensive coordinator had in its playbook. Salisbury had no answer. Offensively, with the exception of the Hopkins blown assignment, Salisbury couldn't muster up on a consistent basis, 2-4 yards, which left them in 3rd and long situations all game. As such, the offensive struggled mightily to come up with competent play calling on third and long situations that would allow them to convert 1st downs. Hopkins defense had an answer for every play that the coordinator had in his arsenal.

Ugly: Missed fgs, players appeared to give up by late 3rd quarter, there was no sense of pride from both the players and coaches. It felt as if the program had taken 10 steps backwards in regards to putting out a playoff type product. The arrogance and/or incompetence by the DC & OC in regards to preparing the players to succeed was appalling, this was not the Salisbury product that the country knows or expects to see.

With the new NCAA rules that does not allow RBS & Oline to cut block, I don't think Salisbury has the talent to just run the flexbone triple option scheme at a high level. Salisbury has been around the block over the past 20 years, many defensive coordinators have played against the flexbone triple option and have answers for it. Even teams that don't see it regularly are well prepared to limit the explosive plays. I think it's time for a big change, Salisbury is in the need of revitalization, especially with the new cut block rules. Defensively, Salisbury is not talented enough to sit in a base defense, even Alabama as of late have been struggling with its based defense concept. Teams that are very successful as of late from both an offensive and defensive standpoint are very multiple and adjust to its players. Many good teams do not force players into a limited scheme. Overall, I'm so disappointed in what I saw. The players deserve better that was shown on the field. I expected so much more from this team with so many returning players. I can't honestly say that Salisbury will win the NJAC, even with the returning talent. The players do not look better than last year and that's not on the players IMHO.


Hopkins did not outmatched Salisbury from a talent standpoint, but Salisbury was outclassed from coaching standpoint. It was decrepitly bad. 

[jmcozenlaw]

I'm stunned by the Ursinus vs. Rowan score. Ursinus lost a motherlode to graduation and is playing a lot of new players. What is going on in Glassboro and is this the year the NJAC bottoms out?

[mikefln]

With the new NCAA rules that does not allow RBS & Oline to cut block, I don't think Salisbury has the talent to just run the flexbone triple option scheme at a high level. Salisbury has been around the block over the past 20 years, many defensive coordinators have played against the flexbone triple option and have answers for it. Even teams that don't see it regularly are well prepared to limit the explosive plays. I think it's time for a big change, Salisbury is in the need of revitalization, especially with the new cut block rules. Defensively, Salisbury is not talented enough to sit in a base defense, even Alabama as of late have been struggling with its based defense concept. Teams that are very successful as of late from both an offensive and defensive standpoint are very multiple and adjust to its players. Many good teams do not force players into a limited scheme. Overall, I'm so disappointed in what I saw. The players deserve better that was shown on the field. I expected so much more from this team with so many returning players. I can't honestly say that Salisbury will win the NJAC, even with the returning talent. The players do not look better than last year and that's not on the players IMHO.

Before the rule change, the flexbone was still a great offense to run.  It is not about defensive coordinators having answers for it, they have answers for anything an offense throws at them.  It was about a defensive UNIT, being disciplined all game long.  That is not easy to do with a bunch of college kids especially at the D3 level were going to class is the rule and not the exception.   

The issue with the flexbone now, is the NCAA not allowing cut blocks in the 2nd level.  That really limits the ability for the TO to shine. Especially if you do not have the athletes.  The good news is we will have our answer this year, as Army moved away from the TO while Navy and AF have not.  At the end of the year, we will see if a move from the TO is smart or not. 

[MRMIKESMITH]

With the new NCAA rules that does not allow RBS & Oline to cut block, I don't think Salisbury has the talent to just run the flexbone triple option scheme at a high level. Salisbury has been around the block over the past 20 years, many defensive coordinators have played against the flexbone triple option and have answers for it. Even teams that don't see it regularly are well prepared to limit the explosive plays. I think it's time for a big change, Salisbury is in the need of revitalization, especially with the new cut block rules. Defensively, Salisbury is not talented enough to sit in a base defense, even Alabama as of late have been struggling with its based defense concept. Teams that are very successful as of late from both an offensive and defensive standpoint are very multiple and adjust to its players. Many good teams do not force players into a limited scheme. Overall, I'm so disappointed in what I saw. The players deserve better that was shown on the field. I expected so much more from this team with so many returning players. I can't honestly say that Salisbury will win the NJAC, even with the returning talent. The players do not look better than last year and that's not on the players IMHO.

Before the rule change, the flexbone was still a great offense to run.  It is not about defensive coordinators having answers for it, they have answers for anything an offense throws at them.  It was about a defensive UNIT, being disciplined all game long.  That is not easy to do with a bunch of college kids especially at the D3 level were going to class is the rule and not the exception.   

The issue with the flexbone now, is the NCAA not allowing cut blocks in the 2nd level.  That really limits the ability for the TO to shine. Especially if you do not have the athletes.  The good news is we will have our answer this year, as Army moved away from the TO while Navy and AF have not.  At the end of the year, we will see if a move from the TO is smart or not.

It is not about abandoning the TO, I couldn't care less about what the academies outlook are with their schemes, it is about Salisbury being multiple and being efficient at both running the TO out of multiple formations aside from the traditional flexbone. Running the TO out of multiple formations (the concepts are the same), especially out of shot-gun, which they have done successfully on a few occasions this season and in the past allows for more plays to be run that aren't TO scheme, such as simple GT counters, QB power, inside zone, RPOs. I just believe that it's been nearly 25+ years and we haven't evolved to that level. I understand 25+ years ago, Salisbury was struggling after a good stint in the 80s, so running the TO with the talent in the early 90s was a valuable "Option". However, we aren't truly limited like the academies, which makes sense for them. Salisbury is the largest DIV III school in the state of MD, can recruit the DMV, Eastern/Mid PA, and NJ. There is no excuse for the product to continually struggle against teams that aren't on the talent level of the Mount Unions/UWW as far as Oline/Dline size. There have been years when the team was very talented and could line up and run the most basic of TO plays out of the Flexbone and be highly successful. However, as with many of those teams, the inability to adjust in-game when facing a formidable defense that are discipline and maybe bigger (i.e UWW), we go from looking like a Ferrari version of TO to Aixam Coupe. Watching football for almost 35+ years with watching a good amount of DIII football, you understand that many teams today still use TO concepts, but use multiple formations to run it. Having other formations also allows for adequate passing concepts that allow you to complete 3rd & 10+ without having to come out in the flexbone and run a play action, just to run a wheel/post/backside dig, that has happened far to many times IMHO. To be honest, the inability to have true passing concepts for those 3rd and long (not out of flexbone) has been something that is truly needed. We all love the TO concepts, even out of the Flexbone. However, we've seen many CFB teams (Oklahoma, Mary-Hardin Baylor, Oregon, etc.) utilize TO schemes, but they don't go all in on it, limiting themselves for when they face those discipline front 7s, sometimes the teams that need to get over the hump have to be able to beat teams passing the ball with adequate passing schemes and this includes allowing the offensive line to understand stunts, rbs/fbs knowing when to chip DEs and release. I just haven't seen that level of sophistication from Salisbury in regards to passing the ball. I can count on one hand the number of pass route combinations over the last 25+ years.

Now the same can be said regarding the defensive scheme. There have been talented teams that could just sit in base defense and play the read and react game, which on paper/white board may/should work. However, what I don't like is that we have run many defenses over the years going from 4-3 to 335 to 3-4 to 3-4 (Cover 4) styles. I've seen the DC adjust and implement new schemes over the past 25+ years, I commend him on that, he continuously tries to find a scheme that benefits the style of recruited players. As such, with that is the weakness, the DC picks the scheme and expects players to be able to read and react, which again on paper/white board in theory should work, but the play calling is very conservative, we only blitz on 3rd down and the blitz scheme is the same and can easily be read by competent OCs (i.e. Cortland State, UWW, Johns Hopkins), sometimes you have to be the aggressor and trust your players athleticism and not their brain. What may be a talent issues or players lack of awareness that restricts the DC from being multiple, but those are the players you recruit, so I still expect to see much more. What I don't like currently is the CBs being at 8-10 yards off and backpedaling in this Cover 4 scheme, it puts pressure on the secondary to read route combinations and gives up too many yards, especially comeback routes and deep corner/post combinations. Also, the lbs are at a disadvantage in the passing game as they are expected to react to curl flat area routes. The defense reminds me of Alabama, they run a similar cover 4 scheme, but like them Salisbury struggles against varying route combinations, which means the offensive routes are choice routes or the play with the eyes of the secondary. What I want is to see more man-to-man alignment  and more disguised coverages that transition to basic Cover 3, Zone blitzing Cover 5. I watch too many games when the team drops 8 in coverage and gives up a 6+ yardage for first downs. I don't think we have had the talent to consistenly rush with 3 down lineman with the occasional olb rush (which) eliminates the curl/flat protection because CB is 9/10 yards off. I just want to see multiple disguises, you can keep your base, but statistics show that we haven't been great against the teams that have similar to better talent than them. That's when creativity to raise your ceiling/floor comes into play.

Overall, players have to be both discipline on offense and defense and execute, but sometimes executing a scheme doesn't always result in successful plays, sometimes the opposing team have adjustments for that and that's when you have to be able to have plan b/c and adjustments available in-game to counter it. Yes, sometimes players have to recognize what the opposing team is doing and adjust and then execute, but what I find is that during those games where both teams are comparable athletically, Salisbury both offensively and defensively are more of reactors than the aggressors, which speaks to the respect the opposing OCs and DCs have for Salisbury, but also speaks preparedness and having plans when Plan A is not working, Plan B needs to be more Plan 2A.

I expect the staff to get the players to start executing better over the bye-week and understand what opposing teams are doing, but that hasn't been the achilles heel for Salisbury in the games against the likes of Delaware Valley, Cortland State, Hopkins, UW-W, etc. it has been not having a Plan 2A/B scheme that makes the opposing OC/DC adjust.

[jmcozenlaw]

With the new NCAA rules that does not allow RBS & Oline to cut block, I don't think Salisbury has the talent to just run the flexbone triple option scheme at a high level. Salisbury has been around the block over the past 20 years, many defensive coordinators have played against the flexbone triple option and have answers for it. Even teams that don't see it regularly are well prepared to limit the explosive plays. I think it's time for a big change, Salisbury is in the need of revitalization, especially with the new cut block rules. Defensively, Salisbury is not talented enough to sit in a base defense, even Alabama as of late have been struggling with its based defense concept. Teams that are very successful as of late from both an offensive and defensive standpoint are very multiple and adjust to its players. Many good teams do not force players into a limited scheme. Overall, I'm so disappointed in what I saw. The players deserve better that was shown on the field. I expected so much more from this team with so many returning players. I can't honestly say that Salisbury will win the NJAC, even with the returning talent. The players do not look better than last year and that's not on the players IMHO.

Before the rule change, the flexbone was still a great offense to run.  It is not about defensive coordinators having answers for it, they have answers for anything an offense throws at them.  It was about a defensive UNIT, being disciplined all game long.  That is not easy to do with a bunch of college kids especially at the D3 level were going to class is the rule and not the exception.   

The issue with the flexbone now, is the NCAA not allowing cut blocks in the 2nd level.  That really limits the ability for the TO to shine. Especially if you do not have the athletes.  The good news is we will have our answer this year, as Army moved away from the TO while Navy and AF have not.  At the end of the year, we will see if a move from the TO is smart or not.

It is not about abandoning the TO, I couldn't care less about what the academies outlook are with their schemes, it is about Salisbury being multiple and being efficient at both running the TO out of multiple formations aside from the traditional flexbone. Running the TO out of multiple formations (the concepts are the same), especially out of shot-gun, which they have done successfully on a few occasions this season and in the past allows for more plays to be run that aren't TO scheme, such as simple GT counters, QB power, inside zone, RPOs. I just believe that it's been nearly 25+ years and we haven't evolved to that level. I understand 25+ years ago, Salisbury was struggling after a good stint in the 80s, so running the TO with the talent in the early 90s was a valuable "Option". However, we aren't truly limited like the academies, which makes sense for them. Salisbury is the largest DIV III school in the state of MD, can recruit the DMV, Eastern/Mid PA, and NJ. There is no excuse for the product to continually struggle against teams that aren't on the talent level of the Mount Unions/UWW as far as Oline/Dline size. There have been years when the team was very talented and could line up and run the most basic of TO plays out of the Flexbone and be highly successful. However, as with many of those teams, the inability to adjust in-game when facing a formidable defense that are discipline and maybe bigger (i.e UWW), we go from looking like a Ferrari version of TO to Aixam Coupe. Watching football for almost 35+ years with watching a good amount of DIII football, you understand that many teams today still use TO concepts, but use multiple formations to run it. Having other formations also allows for adequate passing concepts that allow you to complete 3rd & 10+ without having to come out in the flexbone and run a play action, just to run a wheel/post/backside dig, that has happened far to many times IMHO. To be honest, the inability to have true passing concepts for those 3rd and long (not out of flexbone) has been something that is truly needed. We all love the TO concepts, even out of the Flexbone. However, we've seen many CFB teams (Oklahoma, Mary-Hardin Baylor, Oregon, etc.) utilize TO schemes, but they don't go all in on it, limiting themselves for when they face those discipline front 7s, sometimes the teams that need to get over the hump have to be able to beat teams passing the ball with adequate passing schemes and this includes allowing the offensive line to understand stunts, rbs/fbs knowing when to chip DEs and release. I just haven't seen that level of sophistication from Salisbury in regards to passing the ball. I can count on one hand the number of pass route combinations over the last 25+ years.

Now the same can be said regarding the defensive scheme. There have been talented teams that could just sit in base defense and play the read and react game, which on paper/white board may/should work. However, what I don't like is that we have run many defenses over the years going from 4-3 to 335 to 3-4 to 3-4 (Cover 4) styles. I've seen the DC adjust and implement new schemes over the past 25+ years, I commend him on that, he continuously tries to find a scheme that benefits the style of recruited players. As such, with that is the weakness, the DC picks the scheme and expects players to be able to read and react, which again on paper/white board in theory should work, but the play calling is very conservative, we only blitz on 3rd down and the blitz scheme is the same and can easily be read by competent OCs (i.e. Cortland State, UWW, Johns Hopkins), sometimes you have to be the aggressor and trust your players athleticism and not their brain. What may be a talent issues or players lack of awareness that restricts the DC from being multiple, but those are the players you recruit, so I still expect to see much more. What I don't like currently is the CBs being at 8-10 yards off and backpedaling in this Cover 4 scheme, it puts pressure on the secondary to read route combinations and gives up too many yards, especially comeback routes and deep corner/post combinations. Also, the lbs are at a disadvantage in the passing game as they are expected to react to curl flat area routes. The defense reminds me of Alabama, they run a similar cover 4 scheme, but like them Salisbury struggles against varying route combinations, which means the offensive routes are choice routes or the play with the eyes of the secondary. What I want is to see more man-to-man alignment  and more disguised coverages that transition to basic Cover 3, Zone blitzing Cover 5. I watch too many games when the team drops 8 in coverage and gives up a 6+ yardage for first downs. I don't think we have had the talent to consistenly rush with 3 down lineman with the occasional olb rush (which) eliminates the curl/flat protection because CB is 9/10 yards off. I just want to see multiple disguises, you can keep your base, but statistics show that we haven't been great against the teams that have similar to better talent than them. That's when creativity to raise your ceiling/floor comes into play.

Overall, players have to be both discipline on offense and defense and execute, but sometimes executing a scheme doesn't always result in successful plays, sometimes the opposing team have adjustments for that and that's when you have to be able to have plan b/c and adjustments available in-game to counter it. Yes, sometimes players have to recognize what the opposing team is doing and adjust and then execute, but what I find is that during those games where both teams are comparable athletically, Salisbury both offensively and defensively are more of reactors than the aggressors, which speaks to the respect the opposing OCs and DCs have for Salisbury, but also speaks preparedness and having plans when Plan A is not working, Plan B needs to be more Plan 2A.

I expect the staff to get the players to start executing better over the bye-week and understand what opposing teams are doing, but that hasn't been the achilles heel for Salisbury in the games against the likes of Delaware Valley, Cortland State, Hopkins, UW-W, etc. it has been not having a Plan 2A/B scheme that makes the opposing OC/DC adjust.

"I couldn't care less about what the academies outlook are with their schemes"

Mike left out the following.............."BUT, I do want their brave, heroic, intelligent, professional azzes saving my azz if called to do so"!!

[mikefln]

It is not about abandoning the TO, I couldn't care less about what the academies outlook are with their schemes, it is about Salisbury being multiple and being efficient at both running the TO out of multiple formations aside from the traditional flexbone. Running the TO out of multiple formations (the concepts are the same), especially out of shot-gun, which they have done successfully on a few occasions this season and in the past allows for more plays to be run that aren't TO scheme, such as simple GT counters, QB power, inside zone, RPOs. I just believe that it's been nearly 25+ years and we haven't evolved to that level. I understand 25+ years ago, Salisbury was struggling after a good stint in the 80s, so running the TO with the talent in the early 90s was a valuable "Option". However, we aren't truly limited like the academies, which makes sense for them. Salisbury is the largest DIV III school in the state of MD, can recruit the DMV, Eastern/Mid PA, and NJ. There is no excuse for the product to continually struggle against teams that aren't on the talent level of the Mount Unions/UWW as far as Oline/Dline size. There have been years when the team was very talented and could line up and run the most basic of TO plays out of the Flexbone and be highly successful. However, as with many of those teams, the inability to adjust in-game when facing a formidable defense that are discipline and maybe bigger (i.e UWW), we go from looking like a Ferrari version of TO to Aixam Coupe. Watching football for almost 35+ years with watching a good amount of DIII football, you understand that many teams today still use TO concepts, but use multiple formations to run it. Having other formations also allows for adequate passing concepts that allow you to complete 3rd & 10+ without having to come out in the flexbone and run a play action, just to run a wheel/post/backside dig, that has happened far to many times IMHO. To be honest, the inability to have true passing concepts for those 3rd and long (not out of flexbone) has been something that is truly needed. We all love the TO concepts, even out of the Flexbone. However, we've seen many CFB teams (Oklahoma, Mary-Hardin Baylor, Oregon, etc.) utilize TO schemes, but they don't go all in on it, limiting themselves for when they face those discipline front 7s, sometimes the teams that need to get over the hump have to be able to beat teams passing the ball with adequate passing schemes and this includes allowing the offensive line to understand stunts, rbs/fbs knowing when to chip DEs and release. I just haven't seen that level of sophistication from Salisbury in regards to passing the ball. I can count on one hand the number of pass route combinations over the last 25+ years.

Now the same can be said regarding the defensive scheme. There have been talented teams that could just sit in base defense and play the read and react game, which on paper/white board may/should work. However, what I don't like is that we have run many defenses over the years going from 4-3 to 335 to 3-4 to 3-4 (Cover 4) styles. I've seen the DC adjust and implement new schemes over the past 25+ years, I commend him on that, he continuously tries to find a scheme that benefits the style of recruited players. As such, with that is the weakness, the DC picks the scheme and expects players to be able to read and react, which again on paper/white board in theory should work, but the play calling is very conservative, we only blitz on 3rd down and the blitz scheme is the same and can easily be read by competent OCs (i.e. Cortland State, UWW, Johns Hopkins), sometimes you have to be the aggressor and trust your players athleticism and not their brain. What may be a talent issues or players lack of awareness that restricts the DC from being multiple, but those are the players you recruit, so I still expect to see much more. What I don't like currently is the CBs being at 8-10 yards off and backpedaling in this Cover 4 scheme, it puts pressure on the secondary to read route combinations and gives up too many yards, especially comeback routes and deep corner/post combinations. Also, the lbs are at a disadvantage in the passing game as they are expected to react to curl flat area routes. The defense reminds me of Alabama, they run a similar cover 4 scheme, but like them Salisbury struggles against varying route combinations, which means the offensive routes are choice routes or the play with the eyes of the secondary. What I want is to see more man-to-man alignment  and more disguised coverages that transition to basic Cover 3, Zone blitzing Cover 5. I watch too many games when the team drops 8 in coverage and gives up a 6+ yardage for first downs. I don't think we have had the talent to consistenly rush with 3 down lineman with the occasional olb rush (which) eliminates the curl/flat protection because CB is 9/10 yards off. I just want to see multiple disguises, you can keep your base, but statistics show that we haven't been great against the teams that have similar to better talent than them. That's when creativity to raise your ceiling/floor comes into play.

Overall, players have to be both discipline on offense and defense and execute, but sometimes executing a scheme doesn't always result in successful plays, sometimes the opposing team have adjustments for that and that's when you have to be able to have plan b/c and adjustments available in-game to counter it. Yes, sometimes players have to recognize what the opposing team is doing and adjust and then execute, but what I find is that during those games where both teams are comparable athletically, Salisbury both offensively and defensively are more of reactors than the aggressors, which speaks to the respect the opposing OCs and DCs have for Salisbury, but also speaks preparedness and having plans when Plan A is not working, Plan B needs to be more Plan 2A.

I expect the staff to get the players to start executing better over the bye-week and understand what opposing teams are doing, but that hasn't been the achilles heel for Salisbury in the games against the likes of Delaware Valley, Cortland State, Hopkins, UW-W, etc. it has been not having a Plan 2A/B scheme that makes the opposing OC/DC adjust.

Fair enough and a solid assessment.  I never saw Salisbury play, i do not know their talent level compared to their opposition and I do not know what type of offense or defense they run. I understand what you want for Salisbury going forward. 

I was not necessarily talking about Salisbury I was talking about strictly flexbone TO as a scheme and how viable it is today with the rule changes.  If a team builds off the flexbone like you mentioned, then yes you do not need to be concerned with the outcomes of the academies compared to prior results. The academies do not do that, they generally run flexbone TO (at least a version of it anyways) all game.  But if you are talking about staying in the flexbone TO all game like the academies do, then yes, seeing how the academies do this year will be very telling on how the rule change effected the flexbone TO as being a full viable game scheme. 

[RowanPhan]

Big game for the Profs coming up this Saturday against Johns Hopkins football.  Clearly JH is the huge favorite heading into the game.  We'll see how the Profs match-up against a top 25 opponent.

[BallGuy145]

Big game for the Profs coming up this Saturday against Johns Hopkins football.  Clearly JH is the huge favorite heading into the game.  We'll see how the Profs match-up against a top 25 opponent.

Hopkins is 2-0 vs NJAC opponents so far this year. Walking the dog with Salisbury last week before the bye and then beating Christopher Newport pretty close the week before that. Excited to see an NJAC team compete against the top 25 though.

Saw online that CNU has already sold out of tickets this weekend for the matchup against Salisbury.

[CNU85]

Hopefully it is a little more exciting than the last time SU came to town

https://www.cnusports.com/news/2023/9/21/cnu-football-versus-salisbury-sold-out-standing-room-only-tickets-available-on-game-day.aspx

[thewaterboy]

Here's my list of remnants of those who still have eligibility that once upon a time suited up for the Wesley Wolverines... the ones I could find at least. This list is going to get a lot smaller next season.

Mike Brewer - Gr. - Shippensburg
Derrico Poston - R-Jr. - Delaware State
Darrin Matthews - Gr. - Alvernia
Jemuel Cypress - Jr? - Waynesburg
Tazmire Burton - Sr. - William Paterson
Daquan Knight - Sr. - William Paterson
Will Valentine - Sr. - William Paterson
Eric Bryant - Jr. - Rowan
Jay Holmes - Sr. - IUP
Odion Okojie - Jr. - Bowie State
Deshawn Wiggins - Jr. - Del Val (listed as injured).

[CNU85]

Nice win by CNU today!! The defense played lights out.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Good win by CNU, the game went as expected based upon the previous games results. As such, here is my Good, Bad, and Ugly.

Good: Defense played considerably well with what hand they was dealt. Defense got a defensive score, held CNU scoreless multiple times in the redzone as their back was against the wall on multiple occasions first half. Salisbury has given up an avg of over 200 yards rushing, but played much better against CNU. Secondary still has some work to do with limiting big plays and getting pressure with base defense.

Bad: Salisbury continues to struggle on third down conversions, Salisbury still haven't found its groove on being successful in its offense. 3rd and long is definitely something that needs to improve and I'm sure it will improve as Salisbury will play much weaker defense from hear on out.

Ugly: Fumbles and Missed opportunities. Running the triple-option can be both a blessing and curse, depending on your interior lineman and QB play, can set you up and propel you into dominating an opponent or as we seen the last few weeks against tough defenses, make the offense look very rudimentary. I was impressed with QB2 stepping up and showing his athleticism, however Salisbury biggest success is when the QB can control the offense and hit open receivers. At this point, I don't think Salisbury has a QB that can consistently hit the open receiver and offensive pass blocking to execute the most basic passing concepts. QB at times, only have 1 to 2 seconds of clean pocket (this can't be fixed during the season). 

Overall, Salisbury falls to 1-3 on the season, losing all the toss up games. The offense hasn't showed up in the last 10 quarters. The triple option offense has been struggling, especially in obvious short yard running situations and 3rd and longs. Salisbury has faced it's toughest opponents of the season. I'm disappointed that a team that returned a considerable amount on defense  and a considerable amount on offense has given up an average 32 ppg, while only gaining 15 ppg. I'm sure there is going to be some evaluation going on and young players seeing more action throughout the remaining part of the season, but there is still much to play for. However, what this season tells me with playing both of the CC juggernauts and a rising and talented CNU program, which seems to be getting back to being regionally and nationally respectable is that Salisbury success is predicated on having elite interior lineman and a QB that can both run TO while making the simple throws. My expectation for the program was to reload and not rebuild, yet it appears Salisbury is in a rebuild in regards to offense. I think that Salisbury plays the 4-6 year game, where it goes through peaks and valleys in terms of offensive success (That's the nature of the scheme). 

I still expect Salisbury to be favorite the rest of the way as they will play much weaker defenses and less potent offenses, setting themselves up for an ECAC bowl. A lot of teams would love this opportunity for their program, however I'm sure the Salisbury faithful would tell you their expectation for the program was to win NJAC and make runs in the playoff. Right now, we aren't trending in the right direction and has not met that standard the last 3 seasons.

[CNU85]

I like your game recaps.  I'm puzzled by SU as well. You have more insight so I enjoy reading your take on things.

On the post game show, the CNU coach had huge praise for SU coach. A lot of respect for SU.