FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SagatagSam]

Honest question:  With U$T missing the playoffs, do they start the search to replace Caruso?

KSTP has a good highlight video from BU - UST. 

https://kstp.com/sports/bethel-beats-st-thomas-to-likely-earn-diii-playoff-appearance/5140497/?cat=81

I like the highlight videos KSTP puts on the website. You get all of the big plays and then some--way better than what you get on the actual news broadcast.

I had no idea the block punt TD came off a Perra quick kick.  The way that ball kept bouncing toward the end zone, it made me think there was someone in blue and gold pulling that ball with a string.

[USTBench]

Honest question:  With U$T missing the playoffs, do they start the search to replace Caruso?

Yes.

As offensive playcaller. How much of that sweet sweet Tommie$ $$$$ would it take to hire Heckendorf away?

They need to do something there, and I wouldn't hesitate to call Heckendorf. The offense against Bethel Saturday reminded me of the Bethel playoff game years ago went Waldvogel went down. It was a game plan doomed to fail from the start. WH development has regressed too. Fenske elevates his game whereas Perra regressed. An autonomous O coordinator / QB coach much like Killian was is absolutely necessary.

Furthermore the secondary may need some coaching adjustments. The upperclassmen secondary were the weak links on the defense. They were fairly unathletic and frequently out of position. These positions have had changes in coaching recently with a relatively young UST grad that played scout LB responsible for them. They may need more experience coaching there as well, given how poor the performance was and how strong the next wave talent that got playing time this year could be.

I agree with the first part of that sentence as it pertains to one individual, as he was exploited numerous times throughout the year, and not just against SJU. However, I think he was in the right position for the most part.

As far as the UST postmortem goes, I think everyone should just take a deep breath. I believe the reason why Bethel was able to make the jump this year as that they were a team used to playing in uncomfortable situations. I think there were certain individuals in leadership roles on UST this year that folded like a cheap table when their backs were against the wall, or when meeting their match athletically. There was nobody on UST's offense that could match the edge Kilgore was playing with on Saturday. Kilgore's the type of player that raises everyone else's level of play, he's contagious. UST needs a few more guys like that, probably on their o-line, which used to be NASTY and one of, if not the first thing, people talked about. I didn't get that sense this year.

This year, it was an attitude thing. UST slept-walked their way through 7 games on their schedule this year, as usual, but did not develop the swagger required to beat a top 5 SJU team and top 10 Bethel team. UST was a bit, dare-I-say, Roneyesque, this year. I don't think UST needs to overhaul much, bring in a ton of new coaches (unless they're milquetoast and the players aren't motivated by them), or reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it's as difficult as graduating an attitude and promoting a few wildmen to captain.

[MiacMan]

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

It's also quite possible that I will stay perfectly warm during the entire game tomorrow, but I don't see either of those happening in the real world.

Yes, I am prepared to eat crow if this somehow happens. Folks, let's just consider the GAC and SJU games an outlier blip for St Thomas and disregard them, ok? Onward to the playoffs, championship ahoy!

I'll take it a step further and say I think it's more likely that Bethel gets shut out than UST.
But I don't think either will happen.

Bethel has developed a very good defense, St. Thomas Oline and Dline are not nearly as good as they have been in past years.  I don't think it matters much if Perra steps up or not.  St. Thomas won't be able to run up the middle (which they like to do) and Bethel is very good at contain and shutting down the corners on the run so what's left is the pass and Bethel is good at defending that and St. Thomas isn't particularly good this year at executing an unbalanced, pass happy offense.  Toss in the home field, natural turf, advantage and it's not a good situation for St. Thomas.  Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?  I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

Sowilson, the Profit!

Wow, this prediction was spot on! I was at the game and the best team definitely won the game. It was interesting to me in that I hadn't seen either the SJU game or the GAC game but having seen the game on Saturday would say this year's UST team was overrated by most people certainly myself. I think we may have put too much stock in the "return of 17 starters" I thought UST's secondary was fine, but they can't cover for 6-7 seconds every play. I watched Bethel block 1-1 all afternoon and pick up stunts. When UST would bring more than they had to block they were able to throw hot with exceptional success. Bottom line the loss of Jocum and Harrell on D was huge. If you don't have at least one d-lineman that commands a double team you're going to have trouble getting to the QB. Couple this with Perra having lost all confidence (it appears) and losing those two All-American TE's and they probably just weren't that good (meaning top 10, but still pretty good). Good luck to both the Johnnies and the Royals. I will be pulling for both or I wouldn't be the MIACMan.

Side note: Kyle Kilgore is an animal! I think he might of got blocked effectively once or twice the entire game! and No. 7, that safety he was all over the field he can really play too! He was absolutely the best guy on the field!

[DuffMan]

If you don't have at least one d-lineman that commands a double team you're going to have trouble getting to the QB.

That's the truth.  Brinker sat out this weekend to nurse a few injuries, and the Johnnie's pass rush definitely wasn't as ferocious as it is with him in there.  Even if "that guy" isn't the one getting the sack, he's causing match-up issues that free others up.

[DuffMan]

It was kind of funny to see pics from Bethel with green grass where we were in near whiteout conditions at SJU.

[AO]

It was kind of funny to see pics from Bethel with green grass where we were in near whiteout conditions at SJU.

Bethel grounds crew must have covered the field with a tarp, we had a thin layer of frost on the field a mile south at Northwestern.

[MiacMan]

If you don't have at least one d-lineman that commands a double team you're going to have trouble getting to the QB.

That's the truth.  Brinker sat out this weekend to nurse a few injuries, and the Johnnie's pass rush definitely wasn't as ferocious as it is with him in there.  Even if "that guy" isn't the one getting the sack, he's causing match-up issues that free others up.

Exactly! Both SJU and Bethel will want to take notice so they don't suffer the same fate as the Tommies did this year. Both Brinker and Kilgore are seniors I believe and both teams return nearly everyone else. Sound familiar?

[wm4]

This year, it was an attitude thing. UST slept-walked their way through 7 games on their schedule this year, as usual, but did not develop the swagger required to beat a top 5 SJU team and top 10 Bethel team. UST was a bit, dare-I-say, Roneyesque, this year. I don't think UST needs to overhaul much, bring in a ton of new coaches (unless they're milquetoast and the players aren't motivated by them), or reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it's as difficult as graduating an attitude and promoting a few wildmen to captain.

Well stated, had the same observations.  Earlier in the year, on the student run podcast, one of the hosts tactfully asked Caruso if the team really got anything out of continually pounding MIAC teams not names St John's or Bethel.  He also referred to being untested as a result, if I recall correctly.  Caruso jumped on him pretty good, essentially calling it a dumb questions.  I get coach speak and how you have to answer certain questions the right way, but in retrospect, it was a great question and really something that played out as the year went on. 

[hazzben]

As far as the UST postmortem goes, I think everyone should just take a deep breath. I believe the reason why Bethel was able to make the jump this year as that they were a team used to playing in uncomfortable situations. I think there were certain individuals in leadership roles on UST this year that folded like a cheap table when their backs were against the wall, or when meeting their match athletically. There was nobody on UST's offense that could match the edge Kilgore was playing with on Saturday. Kilgore's the type of player that raises everyone else's level of play, he's contagious. UST needs a few more guys like that, probably on their o-line, which used to be NASTY and one of, if not the first thing, people talked about. I didn't get that sense this year.

This year, it was an attitude thing. UST slept-walked their way through 7 games on their schedule this year, as usual, but did not develop the swagger required to beat a top 5 SJU team and top 10 Bethel team. UST was a bit, dare-I-say, Roneyesque, this year. I don't think UST needs to overhaul much, bring in a ton of new coaches (unless they're milquetoast and the players aren't motivated by them), or reinvent the wheel. Sometimes it's as difficult as graduating an attitude and promoting a few wildmen to captain.

Secondary on both sides was affected by the field conditions. Major advantage to WR's, it's really hard to react to someone else's break when footing is poor.

Bench has a point here, UST didn't play a meaningful game for the first half of the season. Whereas BU didn't play Roste until deep into the 2nd quarter against Simpson, and then he needed to settle into a new offense. They learned @Simpson, UWRF, and SJU how to play in tight and/or big games.

I think UST lost their edge a bit. Once SJU took them out, the mystique was gone and everyone smelled blood. GAC almost took advantage of it, and Bethel was dripping with confidence on Saturday. When they went right down the field on the first drive, D got a 3 and out, and then ripped off the 93 yd scamper, you could feel UST's sphincters tighten.

Roneyesque might be an apt description. In general though, I think they just lacked some of the elite playmakers they've had in the past. They weren't the same Oline, and without a game changer outside, Bethel was able to punch Parks in the mouth and force Perra to beat them.

One thing to note, Perra's quick kicks (and a few of Roste's) were one of the most significant features of the game. They flipped the field on BU several times in the first half, and then converted a 4th down (but the drive still stalled), before it finally came back to bite them with Kilgore getting his paw on the punt. It was a feast or famine play. I think Caruso misplayed it in two ways. First, he went for it on 4th from that formation too early, and they failed to score. Later in the 2nd half, when they needed to get that play on 4th and medium, Bethel wasn't falling for it again. And then that block was the result of going to that well one too many times. That said, it's a formidable weapon if you use it sparingly, and in the right spots.

[MiacMan]

Yep, I just looked up #7 on Bethel, Dawson Brown Sr. from Becker. So between Kilgore and Brown and Brinker and Jackson both Bethel and SJU will lose a ton of defensive playmaking. Good news, the playoffs are now and you have them both ready to roll! I think I may have said this before, but I think Max Jackson is probably the best athlete in the conference.

I think both teams got pretty good draws simply because you're both on the opposite side of Mount. Everyone else appears doable for both teams, even UMHB. I hate it when they leave the East alone, ugh!

[hazzben]

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

It's also quite possible that I will stay perfectly warm during the entire game tomorrow, but I don't see either of those happening in the real world.

Yes, I am prepared to eat crow if this somehow happens. Folks, let's just consider the GAC and SJU games an outlier blip for St Thomas and disregard them, ok? Onward to the playoffs, championship ahoy!

I'll take it a step further and say I think it's more likely that Bethel gets shut out than UST.
But I don't think either will happen.

Bethel has developed a very good defense, St. Thomas Oline and Dline are not nearly as good as they have been in past years.  I don't think it matters much if Perra steps up or not.  St. Thomas won't be able to run up the middle (which they like to do) and Bethel is very good at contain and shutting down the corners on the run so what's left is the pass and Bethel is good at defending that and St. Thomas isn't particularly good this year at executing an unbalanced, pass happy offense.  Toss in the home field, natural turf, advantage and it's not a good situation for St. Thomas.  Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?  I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

Sowilson, the Profit!

Wow, this prediction was spot on! I was at the game and the best team definitely won the game. It was interesting to me in that I hadn't seen either the SJU game or the GAC game but having seen the game on Saturday would say this year's UST team was overrated by most people certainly myself. I think we may have put too much stock in the "return of 17 starters" I thought UST's secondary was fine, but they can't cover for 6-7 seconds every play. I watched Bethel block 1-1 all afternoon and pick up stunts. When UST would bring more than they had to block they were able to throw hot with exceptional success. Bottom line the loss of Jocum and Harrell on D was huge. If you don't have at least one d-lineman that commands a double team you're going to have trouble getting to the QB. Couple this with Perra having lost all confidence (it appears) and losing those two All-American TE's and they probably just weren't that good (meaning top 10, but still pretty good). Good luck to both the Johnnies and the Royals. I will be pulling for both or I wouldn't be the MIACMan.

Side note: Kyle Kilgore is an animal! I think he might of got blocked effectively once or twice the entire game! and No. 7, that safety he was all over the field he can really play too! He was absolutely the best guy on the field!

This was just downright prophetic by Sowilson. He had the advantage of seeing them play GAC (I'm assuming), so he clearly saw something. Dead on prediction that UST wouldn't be able to open up anything inside. BU's speed at LB and especially the secondary made it impossible to run outside. They tried to go off tackle a few times, but could never make the edge. We only had 1 TFL, but there must have been a dozen plays for no gain or less than a yd. We were great on 1st and 3rd down all game (and season).

Oline did a really great job. Gave up one sack and a few TFL's, but with the way UST brings heat, that's inevitable. If you can pick it up it means you're gonna spring some big plays the other way too, which we did.

Kilgore and Dawson Brown (#7) are legit AA players. Brown will be 4x All MIAC when it's said and done and is the best defender in the MIAC IMO (and that of a few MIAC coaches fwiw). He's had a Kirby Carr type impact from Day 1.

A few unsung guys, Dunnick #45 at Nose played great all year. He absorbed multiple double teams inside Saturday. On one TFL in the redzone for Kilgore, Dunnick took on the double and stonewalled it (he's 5'10" and listed at 205 but that looks about 10-15 lbs understated), allowing Kilgore to knife in and blow up Parks at the knees.

Also, Trey Anderson (#2) played a great game at corner. Multiple (3?) PBU, and an INT. A few of those breakups he had phenomenal position and then just effortlessly made a clutch play on the ball. This is a really unusually big, fast, and physical secondary for the d3 level. Brown is 6'3", Anderson 6'2", Whalen at 6'1".

Final shoutout to the WR's they made some clutch catches when it counted. Several Theilen type 50/50 balls that we came down with or hung on to after taking a huge hit.

[hazzben]

Brinker has had a Good type of career at SJU. Very good players, but what might have been had they been healthy??

[Pat Coleman]

Phil Esten will be new AD at UST:
https://www.tommiesports.com/general/2018-19/releases/20181112i7dts6

[MiacMan]

I believe it is quite possible for Bethel to shut out St. Thomas tomorrow.

It's also quite possible that I will stay perfectly warm during the entire game tomorrow, but I don't see either of those happening in the real world.

Yes, I am prepared to eat crow if this somehow happens. Folks, let's just consider the GAC and SJU games an outlier blip for St Thomas and disregard them, ok? Onward to the playoffs, championship ahoy!

I'll take it a step further and say I think it's more likely that Bethel gets shut out than UST.
But I don't think either will happen.

Bethel has developed a very good defense, St. Thomas Oline and Dline are not nearly as good as they have been in past years.  I don't think it matters much if Perra steps up or not.  St. Thomas won't be able to run up the middle (which they like to do) and Bethel is very good at contain and shutting down the corners on the run so what's left is the pass and Bethel is good at defending that and St. Thomas isn't particularly good this year at executing an unbalanced, pass happy offense.  Toss in the home field, natural turf, advantage and it's not a good situation for St. Thomas.  Do St. Thomas linemen even have a pair of non-TPU cleats that work on well on grass?  I'm not predicting a shutout for Bethel but I wouldn't be surprised if it happens.  I'm betting Bethel will beat the spread though 

Sowilson, the Profit!

Wow, this prediction was spot on! I was at the game and the best team definitely won the game. It was interesting to me in that I hadn't seen either the SJU game or the GAC game but having seen the game on Saturday would say this year's UST team was overrated by most people certainly myself. I think we may have put too much stock in the "return of 17 starters" I thought UST's secondary was fine, but they can't cover for 6-7 seconds every play. I watched Bethel block 1-1 all afternoon and pick up stunts. When UST would bring more than they had to block they were able to throw hot with exceptional success. Bottom line the loss of Jocum and Harrell on D was huge. If you don't have at least one d-lineman that commands a double team you're going to have trouble getting to the QB. Couple this with Perra having lost all confidence (it appears) and losing those two All-American TE's and they probably just weren't that good (meaning top 10, but still pretty good). Good luck to both the Johnnies and the Royals. I will be pulling for both or I wouldn't be the MIACMan.

Side note: Kyle Kilgore is an animal! I think he might of got blocked effectively once or twice the entire game! and No. 7, that safety he was all over the field he can really play too! He was absolutely the best guy on the field!

This was just downright prophetic by Sowilson. He had the advantage of seeing them play GAC (I'm assuming), so he clearly saw something. Dead on prediction that UST wouldn't be able to open up anything inside. BU's speed at LB and especially the secondary made it impossible to run outside. They tried to go off tackle a few times, but could never make the edge. We only had 1 TFL, but there must have been a dozen plays for no gain or less than a yd. We were great on 1st and 3rd down all game (and season).

Oline did a really great job. Gave up one sack and a few TFL's, but with the way UST brings heat, that's inevitable. If you can pick it up it means you're gonna spring some big plays the other way too, which we did.

Kilgore and Dawson Brown (#7) are legit AA players. Brown will be 4x All MIAC when it's said and done and is the best defender in the MIAC IMO (and that of a few MIAC coaches fwiw). He's had a Kirby Carr type impact from Day 1.

A few unsung guys, Dunnick #45 at Nose played great all year. He absorbed multiple double teams inside Saturday. On one TFL in the redzone for Kilgore, Dunnick took on the double and stonewalled it (he's 5'10" and listed at 205 but that looks about 10-15 lbs understated), allowing Kilgore to knife in and blow up Parks at the knees.

Also, Trey Anderson (#2) played a great game at corner. Multiple (3?) PBU, and an INT. A few of those breakups he had phenomenal position and then just effortlessly made a clutch play on the ball. This is a really unusually big, fast, and physical secondary for the d3 level. Brown is 6'3", Anderson 6'2", Whalen at 6'1".

Final shoutout to the WR's they made some clutch catches when it counted. Several Theilen type 50/50 balls that we came down with or hung on to after taking a huge hit.

Funny, I was going to compare him (Brown) to Kirk Midthun. Sowilson was scary prophetic in that entire post. Amazing!

[USTBench]

Phil Esten will be new AD at UST:
https://www.tommiesports.com/general/2018-19/releases/20181112i7dts6

Lots of D1 experience there. Without as many NCAA compliance and scholarship headaches to worry about this gig should be a breeze. Unless...you don't think...naaaaaaaah