FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

So Where did St. John's help themselves in the off season and where will St. John's struggle come fall?  What positions of senior leadership will be missing?

The first way I'll approach this is in terms of skills and performance:

There is the big elephant in the room of the O-line primarily.  It didn't perform well last year, but it was pretty young and inexperienced.  Only one senior lineman left the team so the line will be looking to improve (we hope).

From that issue a few more flowed (maybe; it's kind of what many think, but don't really know for sure).  First is the QB, which seems to have sorted itself out now.  No one settled or performed consistently and three were tried.   Of course, it's hard to be a good QB when the line is under performing and you're getting dropped every two series.  Two of the three are not playing next year, so the issue of who is the man seems to be sorted and if the line is improved then the QB should go up with it.  RB looks strong talent-wise, but again with the line breakdown it was hard for the RB position to really shine.  WR seems a bit more troublesome as it isn't clear who the catching corp will be, but then that always seems to sort itself out.

On the D side of the line, I think we are pretty strong.  Maybe the CB's and Safeties are a bit suspect (I can't remember, honestly, so I don't want to unfairly malign anyone), but overall the reasonable expectation is for another strong Johnnie performance on that side of the scrimmage line.

The second way to address this question is in terms of charismatic leadership:

As per usual, the D has many leaders and pace setters.  No questions there.  On the O side, however, it's fair to say that the QB swapping and such had quite a dampening effect on chemistry.  At least it did from the perspective of a distant observer.  Now, that is a pretty rare occurrence for the Johnnies, so it would be very unexpected to see a similar situation two years in a row.  Who the leaders will be though, I've got no idea.

[Red Dawg]

So Where did St. John's help themselves in the off season and where will St. John's struggle come fall?  What positions of senior leadership will be missing?

The first way I'll approach this is in terms of skills and performance:

There is the big elephant in the room of the O-line primarily.  It didn't perform well last year, but it was pretty young and inexperienced.  Only one senior lineman left the team so the line will be looking to improve (we hope).

From that issue a few more flowed (maybe; it's kind of what many think, but don't really know for sure).  First is the QB, which seems to have sorted itself out now.  No one settled or performed consistently and three were tried.   Of course, it's hard to be a good QB when the line is under performing and you're getting dropped every two series.  Two of the three are not playing next year, so the issue of who is the man seems to be sorted and if the line is improved then the QB should go up with it.  RB looks strong talent-wise, but again with the line breakdown it was hard for the RB position to really shine.  WR seems a bit more troublesome as it isn't clear who the catching corp will be, but then that always seems to sort itself out.

On the D side of the line, I think we are pretty strong.  Maybe the CB's and Safeties are a bit suspect (I can't remember, honestly, so I don't want to unfairly malign anyone), but overall the reasonable expectation is for another strong Johnnie performance on that side of the scrimmage line.

The second way to address this question is in terms of charismatic leadership:

As per usual, the D has many leaders and pace setters.  No questions there.  On the O side, however, it's fair to say that the QB swapping and such had quite a dampening effect on chemistry.  At least it did from the perspective of a distant observer.  Now, that is a pretty rare occurrence for the Johnnies, so it would be very unexpected to see a similar situation two years in a row.  Who the leaders will be though, I've got no idea.


OzJohnnie, thanks for the in depth analysis.  What about special teams, in terms kick and punt returners as well as the place kicking and punting situation?  Will there be a lot of experience in these areas as well?

[OzJohnnie]

What about special teams, in terms kick and punt returners as well as the place kicking and punting situation?  Will there be a lot of experience in these areas as well?

Ahhh.... kicking.  Yes.  We are always looking for kickers and punters.  With special teamers we're always pretty strong, but the kicking and punting...  It's a tough skill.

[OzJohnnie]

"Man's gun bravado a half-cocked stunt"

A MAN trying to impress his friends stuffed a loaded gun into his trouser pocket and pulled the trigger thinking the safety catch was on.

Lukas Neuhardt, 27, blew his manhood apart during the ill-conceived stunt in Saarbruecken, Germany.

[Red Dawg]

What about special teams, in terms kick and punt returners as well as the place kicking and punting situation?  Will there be a lot of experience in these areas as well?

Ahhh.... kicking.  Yes.  We are always looking for kickers and punters.  With special teamers we're always pretty strong, but the kicking and punting...  It's a tough skill.

OzJohnnie, you are not painting a picture of confidence with this kicking and punting thing.  Will there be senior leadership in this area in the fall? 

[Kira & Jaxon's Dad]

What about special teams, in terms kick and punt returners as well as the place kicking and punting situation?  Will there be a lot of experience in these areas as well?

Ahhh.... kicking.  Yes.  We are always looking for kickers and punters.  With special teamers we're always pretty strong, but the kicking and punting...  It's a tough skill.

OzJohnnie, you are not painting a picture of confidence with this kicking and punting thing.  Will there be senior leadership in this area in the fall? 

Oh No, The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling!  The Johnnies won't have a good kicker or punter!!!!

IMHO, GREAT punters and kickers at the DIII level are few and far between.  You need dependability, but not someone who can boot the ball out of the stadium.

[57Johnnie]

What about special teams, in terms kick and punt returners as well as the place kicking and punting situation?  Will there be a lot of experience in these areas as well?

Ahhh.... kicking.  Yes.  We are always looking for kickers and punters.  With special teamers we're always pretty strong, but the kicking and punting...  It's a tough skill.

OzJohnnie, you are not painting a picture of confidence with this kicking and punting thing.  Will there be senior leadership in this area in the fall? 

Oh No, The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling!  The Johnnies won't have a good kicker or punter!!!!

IMHO, GREAT punters and kickers at the DIII level are few and far between.  You need dependability, but not someone who can boot the ball out of the stadium.

I've been a JOHNNIE for a long time and my memory isn't that good anymore but, my recollection is that great JOHNNIE kickers are 'almost' as rare as a loss to the Tommies.  8)

[OleHog74]

I have learned painfully, starting with the last game of my senior year of HS ball and through the Johnny/Ole games the past two years that you can never underestimate the importance of a good kicker.  You don't really need a guy who can boot 50 yarders in D3, but someone who can consistently get it high and straight for extra points and short range FGs is a necessity for an upper level team.

[onearmedscot]

For those of you in the cities looking for Summit Beer, food from Saint Paul restaurants and the opportunity to win fun prizes from Saint Paul busineses, come over to the Summit Brewery tonight for my benefit event for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  $25 donation at the door.  Rumor has it TDT will be lurking looking for easy prey!

Details at www.HelpAdamCureCancer.com  If you can't attend and want to make a contribution, you can do so at the website as well!

oAs

[Retired Old Rat]

Not football related, but a pretty big deal:

Obama picks St. John's prof as ambassador to Vatican

[tmerton]

I have learned painfully, starting with the last game of my senior year of HS ball and through the Johnny/Ole games the past two years that you can never underestimate the importance of a good kicker.  You don't really need a guy who can boot 50 yarders in D3, but someone who can consistently get it high and straight for extra points and short range FGs is a necessity for an upper level team.

I remember well the FG 'attempt' that went low and into the butt of one of your o-line teammates in last year's SJU game, but don't remember issues with the Ole kicking in the 07 game.  Game stats show you were 3 for 3 on FG attempts in 07.

Re last year's game, the SJU stats give credit for the block to one of my son's roommates; the Ole stats more appropriately say "blocked by TEAM." 

[DuffMan]

Funny story from the good old days.  My sophomore year (2000), we had just graduated Phil Barry, who was probably one of the best D3 punters of all time.  Recruiting efforts at SJU aren't really focused on punters, so one day, John had everyone that thought they could punt line up on an end line, and we basically had a punt-off to find our new punter.

And that, my friends, was the beginning of Wooderson's illustrious career

[Johnnie Red]

ROR, I would imagine that the only reason the SJU prof is going to be named as ambassador to the Vatican is because of the St. John's connection. We all know that if they would have considered his undergraduate degree from UST, he might have been able to obtain the ambassador to Bethel position.

[bennie]

Last night I saw this rather disturbing Danica Patrick commercial. Way too much flesh being exposed!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOHTCLzS4nw

When I looked for the above commercial on Youtube, I also came across this equally frightening clip!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lGA0VTRNhI

It's not quite Anna Friday!

Enjoy!

[raiderguy]

I say the first commercial on TV last night and nearly fell out of my chair. Thanks for sharing bennie! +K to you too.

There was also one listed for internet only that was pretty bizarre.