FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wm4]

<<Penalties, penalties and more penalties. 13 for 157 yards. So many plays negated by a holding. Also, I think there were 3 penalties by UST on kickoffs that went out of the back of the endzone, I honestly have no idea how or why you'd get a penalty in that situation, the ball is clearly not going to be returned. I can't recall exactly but I think there were 3 or 4 personal fouls by UST, which I have never seen.>>

No kidding!  I watched the game via the web stream and couldn't get a sense of the chippy-ness you cited.  UST has to clean the penalites up if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.  I also feel they're getting a little out of balance with carries for Roberts.  He's a stud but some playoff team is going to absolutely stack the box and force the game into Gould's hands.  Plus, why use all the mileage on Roberts now when you're going to need him in late November/early December?

Over the course of a full season, stuff like this is going to happen, so really not overly concerned about things.  Two games to go, two games to set the tone for the playoffs. 

[wif]

Long time lurker, infrequent poster here. Thought I would chime in with some thoughts ahead of a huge game for SJU. This one really is a playoff game.

SJU offense - hats off to Nick Martin. For a couple of years, the coaches have been saying Nick, due to becoming a QB relatively late in his HS career, was still developing as a QB. Well, over the last several games, it appears his maturation has a QB has started to be on full display. Couple this with the talents of Sura and Bungum, and the Johnnies have a much more dynamic offense than they had in the first half of the year.

SJU defense - this group will face a stiff test against BU this week. After doing an excellent job against a couple of high flying, throw it around the yard type offenses (Augsburg and GAC), will they hold up against a team that can implement a power rushing attack like BU? We all remember the 2nd half of the UST game.

Over-all: At the beginning of the year, I thought this team had an outside shot at Salem. Those thoughts were certainly tempered against UST. However, based on the improvement in the offensive performance I've seen, I am really hoping they get a shot in the playoffs. That is why I am so excited about this match up with Bethel. In just about every way, in week 9 of the season, we will find out what the 2015 Johnnies are truly capable of. They will have to overcome several issues all wrapped in one package - defending the power run game, the ability to execute their dynamic offense against a tough defense on a slow track, win at Arden Hills for the first time in a decade - all while playing for their playoff lives. 

Will this game be a launching pad to a potential playoff run, or will we end up being a good 8-2 team that had a nice season?

[DuffMan]

SJU offense - hats off to Nick Martin.

Nick really has stepped up his game.  He's not perfect, but he's made some big strides this season.

2014 (11 games):  83-144-3 (Amp-Att-Int), 1135 yards, 103.2 ypg, 151.8 efficiency rating
2015 (8 games):  104-144-2 (Amp-Att-Int), 1459 yards, 182.4 ypg, 188.9 efficiency rating

[Boys of Fall]

SJU offense - hats off to Nick Martin.

Nick really has stepped up his game.  He's not perfect, but he's made some big strides this season.

2014 (11 games):  83-144-3 (Amp-Att-Int), 1135 yards, 103.2 ypg, 151.8 efficiency rating
2015 (8 games):  104-144-2 (Amp-Att-Int), 1459 yards, 182.4 ypg, 188.9 efficiency rating

I think the Johnnies may have drank their own Kool-Aid on how good their running game was earlier in the season.  Unfortunately for them it took a loss against a good defense to learn they had to diversify.  Don't know if it would have made a difference in that game, but we should see Saturday if it makes a difference against a better defense than they've faced the last few weeks.

[DuffMan]

I think the Johnnies may have drank their own Kool-Aid...

Finsleft makes the best Johnnie Kool-aid.  It's been known to raise the near-dead. 

[Boys of Fall]

I think the Johnnies may have drank their own Kool-Aid...

Finsleft makes the best Johnnie Kool-aid.  It's been known to raise the near-dead. 

As long as it's in a red solo cup.

[SJUrube]

Outside of that, Gould's 248 yards passing is a bit deceiving because he hit Roberts on a swing pass and Roberts broke about 900 tackles to take it to the house for a 68 yard score. Gould made some poor decisions when he got flushed out of the pocket, tried forcing a few things and ended up getting picked off a few times when he should have just thrown it out of bounds. Really tried fitting the ball in some tight spots throwing back across his body. No bueno.

Certainly not calling for Fenske to start over Gould because I'm sure there's a good reason for the arrangement, but he really just needs to take what the D gives him and be a game manager.

Ummm, yeah, Gould only threw for 293 of UST's 332 passing yds today. He's definitely trending towards a benching.

Careful...

[USTBench]

Outside of that, Gould's 248 yards passing is a bit deceiving because he hit Roberts on a swing pass and Roberts broke about 900 tackles to take it to the house for a 68 yard score. Gould made some poor decisions when he got flushed out of the pocket, tried forcing a few things and ended up getting picked off a few times when he should have just thrown it out of bounds. Really tried fitting the ball in some tight spots throwing back across his body. No bueno.

Certainly not calling for Fenske to start over Gould because I'm sure there's a good reason for the arrangement, but he really just needs to take what the D gives him and be a game manager.

Ummm, yeah, Gould only threw for 293 of UST's 332 passing yds today. He's definitely trending towards a benching.

Careful...

Would probably be more ripe for discussion if anyone in the MIAC has gotten within 3 scores of Gould and his offense.

[MadRedFan]

SJU offense - hats off to Nick Martin.

Nick really has stepped up his game.  He's not perfect, but he's made some big strides this season.

2014 (11 games):  83-144-3 (Amp-Att-Int), 1135 yards, 103.2 ypg, 151.8 efficiency rating
2015 (8 games):  104-144-2 (Amp-Att-Int), 1459 yards, 182.4 ypg, 188.9 efficiency rating

I think the Johnnies may have drank their own Kool-Aid on how good their running game was earlier in the season.  Unfortunately for them it took a loss against a good defense to learn they had to diversify.  Don't know if it would have made a difference in that game, but we should see Saturday if it makes a difference against a better defense than they've faced the last few weeks.

I'm not so sure the Johnnie's OD'd on Kool-Aid as much as they just rode the tiger as long as it carried them.  Fasching has been saying all along that they needed to improve the passing game, so I'm not sure they learned that from the Tommie game.  The new TE has made some strides, he and Martin got comfortable together, etc.  They figgered out how to get Bungum the ball in places where he could do some damage.  Martin has overcome his injuries and seems to have more confidence.

As for Martin, I've commented on his performance before, critically, and I'm reluctant to get too critical of any individual DIII player.  Martin is playing better.  He sometimes still can't hit the long one.  Seems to me he has never developed that "knack" for hearing the footsteps from behind.  He's probably never going to hoist the Johnnies on his back and lead them to victory.  But he's been at the helm for two pretty damn good seasons no matter what happens in the next couple weeks.

So let that give me an opportunity to complain one more time about SJU not getting Gunnar Anderson or any other potential QB for 2016 any meaningful PT this year.  Gunnar's only played in 2 games, in a 7-1 season, where the average score is SJU 41 other guys 16.  I have no problem giving your senior backup some PT, Benson has earned it.  But I worry about next year, with basically no one with meaningful playing time having to take over.  Guess Alex Kofoed came in that way and it all worked out!

[AO]

MIAC PICK-EM'S
WEEK 9 STANDINGS


WEEK 10 Nov. 7

Conference: 3pts
#23 Concordia @ Gustavus (+10.5)
#13 St. John's @ Bethel (+10.5)
Augsburg @ Hamline (+14.5)
Carleton (+60.5) @ #5 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
Puget Sound (+48.5) @ #2 Linfield

National: 1pt
#7 Wheaton @ #22 Illinois Wesleyan

[OA]

WEEK 10 Nov. 7

Conference: 3pts
#23 Concordia @ Gustavus (+10.5)
#13 St. John's @ Bethel (+10.5)
Augsburg @ Hamline (+14.5)
Carleton (+60.5) @ #5 St. Thomas

West Region: 1pt
Puget Sound (+48.5) @ #2 Linfield

National: 1pt
#7 Wheaton @ #22 Illinois Wesleyan

[Boys of Fall]

SJU offense - hats off to Nick Martin.

Nick really has stepped up his game.  He's not perfect, but he's made some big strides this season.

2014 (11 games):  83-144-3 (Amp-Att-Int), 1135 yards, 103.2 ypg, 151.8 efficiency rating
2015 (8 games):  104-144-2 (Amp-Att-Int), 1459 yards, 182.4 ypg, 188.9 efficiency rating

I think the Johnnies may have drank their own Kool-Aid on how good their running game was earlier in the season.  Unfortunately for them it took a loss against a good defense to learn they had to diversify.  Don't know if it would have made a difference in that game, but we should see Saturday if it makes a difference against a better defense than they've faced the last few weeks.

So let that give me an opportunity to complain one more time about SJU not getting Gunnar Anderson or any other potential QB for 2016 any meaningful PT this year.  Gunnar's only played in 2 games, in a 7-1 season, where the average score is SJU 41 other guys 16.  I have no problem giving your senior backup some PT, Benson has earned it.  But I worry about next year, with basically no one with meaningful playing time having to take over.  Guess Alex Kofoed came in that way and it all worked out!

Doubt if there will be time for a back-up to come in the Saturday against Bethel, maybe the following week against the Oles, but that hasn't been their style this year.  With that said they have had some JV games this year to gets looks at younger QB's, which I've heard also has Miedtke and Brandecker in the mix.  Still, that leaves a big decision to be made during the spring practices and the spring trip next year.

[OzJohnnie]

Don't forget the JV games. The seconds play five now which is different than even three years ago.  No box scores are posted (as far as I could find) but I bet next year's QB is seeing plenty of game time there.

Fasching has changed a few things. We'll have to let enough time go by to see how they work.

http://www.gojohnnies.com/sports/2013/8/29/FOOTBALL_0829135429.aspx

[MadRedFan]

Don't forget the JV games. The seconds play five now which is different than even three years ago.  No box scores are posted (as far as I could find) but I bet next year's QB is seeing plenty of game time there.

Fasching has changed a few things. We'll have to let enough time go by to see how they work.

http://www.gojohnnies.com/sports/2013/8/29/FOOTBALL_0829135429.aspx

Well, not to beat this to death, but I don't get the sense Gunnar is playing JV ball.  In various places have read about other QB's doing well in JV, but Gunnar hasn't been mentioned.  Hard for me to believe he's the 3rd string varsity QB but getting shown up in JV.  Whatever, I'm not Gunnar's uncle or mom or anything, if someone else emerges as the #1 QB next year due at least in part to JV experience, I'm fine with that.

[OzJohnnie]

I guess I was thinking that the JV team was a development squad and not just a second team for more guys.  We'll see soon enough.