FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

Forest for the trees- Imo.

I get having some concern, but I completely disagree that Aurora is like GAC or Concordia.
Aurora is like no team St. John's has seen, and for the most part, very few teams in the country have seen. Their QB threw for more than 50 TD's, and you saw with your own eyes their success wasn't smoke and mirrors. That Aurora team was building toward the playoffs all season long, and they executed an incredible game plan.

If the Johnnies win this weekend, I'd give way more credit to Aurora than I would the MIAC schedule for preparing them.

[Boys of Fall]

What I've heard about the Jays this year is that they aren't a good practice team.  This does seem to bear out in that they often start out slow, or fall behind.  Fortunately, except for the CC game, they have been good enough over the course of the game to overcome this.  Aurora jumped out to a nice lead, kept their confidence, and with that passing attack would have been in the game against anyone.  I actually give the Johnnies credit for staying in the battle and pulling it out.  I see Chapman trying more to grind it out.  If they can move the ball and take time off the clock it may be a close game, otherwise I see the Johnnie offense continuing to put up decent points and winning by 2-3 touchdowns.

[MiacMan]

Forest for the trees- Imo.

I get having some concern, but I completely disagree that Aurora is like GAC or Concordia.
Aurora is like no team St. John's has seen, and for the most part, very few teams in the country have seen. Their QB threw for more than 50 TD's, and you saw with your own eyes their success wasn't smoke and mirrors. That Aurora team was building toward the playoffs all season long, and they executed an incredible game plan.

If the Johnnies win this weekend, I'd give way more credit to Aurora than I would the MIAC schedule for preparing them.

They lost to Hope (who got drilled by Wartburg) they barely beat Benedictine. At best they are like GAC or Concordia. Which is not a rip, I might add. Yes, they are well coached and yes, they have a great QB which is why they are comparable to the two very good programs I mentioned. They were unranked for a reason.

[DuffMan]

Concerned that they peaked?  Yes.
Aurora was notably better than GAC and Concordia.  Their team speed was outstanding, and their QB, well, his stats speak for themselves.  Veldman is good, but Zimbleman was hands-down better and was a helluva scrambler.
I don't know how far this Johnnie squad will go.  I think they have the ability to play with anyone, but they have struggled with a complete game.
One game at a time...

[sjusection105]

They lost to Hope (who got drilled by Wartburg) they barely beat Benedictine. At best they are like GAC or Concordia. Which is not a rip, I might add. Yes, they are well coached and yes, they have a great QB which is why they are comparable to the two very good programs I mentioned. They were unranked for a reason.

Great QB & 2019 Concordia Cobbers don't belong in the same sentence....

[OzJohnnie]

I'm not worried they have peaked, I'm worried they won't peak. If you talk about crisp execution and a four quarter effort that only happened against AUG. Possibly BU.  But... Erdmann has passed for over 400 yards four or five times this year and three times in the last four weeks (from memory, someone can double check if they like). He personally is peaking.  Ravi is breaking out.  Hodge is the breakaway number one WR on any team that doesn't have Ravi. Barber is super clutch.  And even with all that we still know they can go higher. Will they?  Dunno, but I reckon yes.

Against that Johnnie squad you have only one chance: pass.  Or hope they are asleep.  And boy did that AU QB play the game of his life!  Scrambles that were good enough to avoid a Russian jail. Passes on a dime. In fact, it wasn't until the last quarter to where the pressure seemed to get to him and he missed a few clutch throws. Before that he was nailing everything. If this is his new plateau then his season next year will be outrageous.

If the Johnnie defense has seemed suspect I reckon it's only because opponents must play high risk - high reward ball to keep in the contest against the Johnnie offense (unless they are asleep, something I'm sure won't happen again).  That's why the score against us so much better than the yardage against. Playing high risk ball can gain yards but doesn't creat the sustained drives that score. (Unless you're an insanely hit QB hitting everything on every risk).

So, no, not worried they have peaked. I'm worried they may not.  Leave it all on the field, Johnnies, like you did against AU.

[OzJohnnie]

In fact, I'll say the only thing that stopped AU from winning that game was they found they had the second best QB in D3.  They played a phenomenal game.  With two minutes to play in the second quarter AU went up 28-14. The Johnnies our scored them 37 - 19 from there.  Both the defense and the offense rose to the occasion of an incredible challenge.

I've got great confidence in this Johnnie squad.

[OzJohnnie]

Chapman game notes.

https://gojohnnies.com/news/2019/11/27/sju-footballs-ncaa-playoff-game-notes-vs-chapman.aspx

[OzJohnnie]

Where are the posts?  Four in a row?  Well I woke up with lots to say.  I've also found it funny this year how Erdmann has been having a season that puts last year in the dust but the hype around him is so much less.  This is his MIAC stats.  Add in the three other games and it's crazy good.

Year   GM   Effic      C-A-I      Pct    Yds      TD
2018   8    185.43   125-192-4    .651    1,942   23
2019   8    190.14   165-249-5    .663   2,809   25


I think the expectations on the Johnnies are so high that what is normally an insane season is in many respects being greeted with a yawn.  I hope the hammer comes down in the post-season.

[DuffMan]

Oz, I'm baking pumpkin pies here!

[emma17]

Concerned that they peaked?  Yes.
Aurora was notably better than GAC and Concordia.  Their team speed was outstanding, and their QB, well, his stats speak for themselves.  Veldman is good, but Zimbleman was hands-down better and was a helluva scrambler.
I don't know how far this Johnnie squad will go.  I think they have the ability to play with anyone, but they have struggled with a complete game.
One game at a time...

I think most top 10 teams have shown this to be the case this year. UWW is the poster child for struggling to play a complete game. Perhaps Wheaton and Mt are the two that haven't struggled as much.
Like you said, it's one game at a time now. The Johnnies have the guy that can pull a game out of chaor, most teams don't have that luxury.

I may be off, but I see Chapman closer to Aurora then they are a MIAC team. They can pass, they have quick and talented receivers, but they have a tougher running back. They don't have the QB Aurora had. I believe St. John's had the perfect warm up for this challenge.

   

[MiacMan]

Chapman game notes.

https://gojohnnies.com/news/2019/11/27/sju-footballs-ncaa-playoff-game-notes-vs-chapman.aspx

OZ
I live ya man and you're a great poster, a loyal and super fan,  but I have to discount your opinion when talking anything Johnnie. Your glasses are so fogged red it's like CNN talking about the progressive movement. I wish the Vikings, Gophers  and Tommies had fans like you. Now,  Duff on the other hand doesn't seem to bet with his heart. He seems to be able look at it with less slant. If you guys are sticking to that was a great win, I'll trust you. I want the Jays to go all the way. It'll prove just how good the MIAC really was this year.

[art76]

I want the Jays to go all the way. It'll prove just how good the MIAC really was this year.

Hear, here!

[DuffMan]

MM, I'm a guy that nearly left the Aurora game at the half.  Before half, I looked at the wife and said, "I'm going to take a walk." 

Trust my viewpoint. 

[SJU13]

I find it mildly amusing that we're basing concern level on the two outliers this season .

Chapman seems like a team that will want to establish a run and be physical in the trenches. I think that SJU is better built for that, and our players prefer it, than the track meet that was the Aurora game.

I imagine most teams still playing have coaches talking about the concern of playing a complete game and the potential perils if you don't. SJU is 10-1 playing less than best most of the season (according to recent responses here). Think of how scary SJU would look if they hit on all phases of the game. Hopefully it happens on Saturday.