FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[SJUrube]

Nice win for the Johnnies. I had family HS football obligations so I was unable to make the game. Followed along via Twitter through the first half.

The trip to Auggie Tech looms large. They've been a thorn in SJU's side a bit lately but if consecutive wins over UST and righting the ship against GAC are any indications the Johnnies may be moving forward to winning these games. I imagine a healthy dose of Sura will be in the game plan to keep Scott & the Auggie offense off the field. Sura is the real deal and has proven he can be counted on to carry the load in big games. Being able to develop and find a rhythm in the passing game over the next two weeks of practice and one game will be HUGE for the matchup with Bethel. Finding a way to throw for 100-150 yards, similar to what occurred against UST, will provide some balance and keep Bethel honest. (Yes I'm looking a week ahead - I don't play so I'm allowed to).

While the passing game continues to come together Gary & Jimmy & crew appear to be making a conscious effort to get Bungum the ball more. He's had 4 carries each of the last two weeks. I wasn't able to attend or watch either game online. I'm interested in hearing what those running plays have been - reverses, sweeps, lining up in the backfield, swing passes thrown backwards? Anyone care to weigh in?

[sjusection105]

While the passing game continues to come together Gary & Jimmy & crew appear to be making a conscious effort to get Bungum the ball more. He's had 4 carries each of the last two weeks. I wasn't able to attend or watch either game online. I'm interested in hearing what those running plays have been - reverses, sweeps, lining up in the backfield, swing passes thrown backwards? Anyone care to weigh in?

Typically he comes in motion, then gets a handoff & runs inside. He could be used in a sweep set up,but recently they have been running this inside play. Last week GAC bit pretty hard on this & the fake to Bungum on the inside handoff opened up a nice pass play.

[Robert Zimmerman]

For those in attendance in Arden Hills yesterday did Caruso have any meltdowns on the sidelines?
Are the Tommies at a tipping point? Is the bloom off the rose? Is this the point where recruits,who 5 or 6 years ago, would choose UST over another MIAC school,and Caruso was the X Factor-are the current recruits  opting for other MIAC schools because of the coaching style of Caruso? I have no idea, I'm asking the question. It seems that the Tommies are good but not great as in years past. Let's open the floor to discuss and give viewpoints for and against the Caruso coaching style model.

For those who don't know what "coaching style model" I am referencing it's the model of getting into the face of a player or assistant coach and screaming for 3-5 minutes, then going to the rest of the group and start talking schemes,then stopping to get back into the face of said player or assistant coach and screaming again for another 3-5 minutes.

It's pretty impressive when you are hosting 50+ high school recruits as was the case during the SJU-UST the past 2 years.

I think as Caruso has gotten older, the game has passed him by.

[MadRedFan]

While the passing game continues to come together Gary & Jimmy & crew appear to be making a conscious effort to get Bungum the ball more. He's had 4 carries each of the last two weeks. I wasn't able to attend or watch either game online. I'm interested in hearing what those running plays have been - reverses, sweeps, lining up in the backfield, swing passes thrown backwards? Anyone care to weigh in?

Typically he comes in motion, then gets a handoff & runs inside. He could be used in a sweep set up,but recently they have been running this inside play. Last week GAC bit pretty hard on this & the fake to Bungum on the inside handoff opened up a nice pass play.

Mrs. MadRedFan and I had some "in-game analysis" of the Bungum carries yesterday while enjoying the sunshine in Collegeville, and my first thought was, why show Bethel these plays??   Don't use them until you need them.   My "next door" seatmate on the other side said "give Bethel something to think about".  So, I guess there's a couple philosophies, and I understand the "give them something to think about" theory.

I think overall, beyond just getting the ball into Bungum's hands more, they've passed to the running backs more in the last few games.  I'm sure it depends some on what the D is giving them.

I've been fascinated by the "evolution" of the offense this year.  If you believe things had dropped off some the last couple years (and I would say that), not that Ramler fixed it all that much last year, what has Jimmy learned?  How is it different?  Seems to be less passing, part of that is having Sura surely, and a line that seems to excel at run blocking.  Maybe the wide outs overall aren't quite as skilled as "before".  I don't have a problem with Martin at QB, and I think he's prolly equal to or better than Connor Bruns, John Ries, Joe Boyle, etc.  but maybe the QB passing skills aren't what they used to be?

Anyway, been a pretty good Johnnie season so far.

[OzJohnnie]

Good God, the Vikings suck!  If I still lived in Minnesota I would struggle as a pro sports tragic. Unbelievable.

EDIT: I fully expect a complete collapse in over time.

EDT II: impossible. The fifth sign of the Apocalypse: The Vikings come through in a clutch situation.

[sjusection105]

My "next door" seatmate on the other side said "give Bethel something to think about".  So, I guess there's a couple philosophies, and I understand the "give them something to think about" theory.

And BU plays GAC Nov. 1, so if the Johnnies can get a lead at AUG, they may put in some other wrinkles to give BU more to think about & waste practice time preparing for.

[CobberHawkeye]

Good God, the Vikings suck!  If I still lived in Minnesota I would struggle as a pro sports tragic. Unbelievable.

EDIT: I fully expect a complete collapse in over time.

EDT II: impossible. The fifth sign of the Apocalypse: The Vikings come through in a clutch situation.

With the Vikings win, I get a rare sweep this week by teams I cheer for (Vikings, Cobbers, any team playing Minnesota).

[RoyalsFan]

Good God, the Vikings suck!  If I still lived in Minnesota I would struggle as a pro sports tragic. Unbelievable.

EDIT: I fully expect a complete collapse in over time.

EDT II: impossible. The fifth sign of the Apocalypse: The Vikings come through in a clutch situation.

With the Vikings win, I get a rare sweep this week by teams I cheer for (Vikings, Cobbers, any team playing Minnesota).

Please elaborate. 

[OzJohnnie]

Good God, the Vikings suck!  If I still lived in Minnesota I would struggle as a pro sports tragic. Unbelievable.

EDIT: I fully expect a complete collapse in over time.

EDT II: impossible. The fifth sign of the Apocalypse: The Vikings come through in a clutch situation.

With the Vikings win, I get a rare sweep this week by teams I cheer for (Vikings, Cobbers, any team playing Minnesota).

Please elaborate. 

A NDSU tragic?

[OzJohnnie]

The DIII poll is out.  Bethel rains in 11th as the top ranked one loss team while CON moves to 18th and SJU is up to 19th.  The Toms have dropped out of the top 25 with their loss on the weekend.

[OzJohnnie]

The top 10 unusual moments. The miracle bounce of #2 and commentary on #1 make it worthwhile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXLr2_tGSpo

[SJUrube]

The DIII poll is out. SJU is up to 19th.  The Toms have dropped out of the top 25 with their loss on the weekend.

It read so well I wanted to read it again.

[RoyalsFan]

With the Vikings win, I get a rare sweep this week by teams I cheer for (Vikings, Cobbers, any team playing Minnesota).

Please elaborate. 

A NDSU tragic?

I guess if you root for the Vikings and any team that plays against the Minnesota Vikings then you can't lose. 

[Mr.MIAC]

For those in attendance in Arden Hills yesterday did Caruso have any meltdowns on the sidelines?
Are the Tommies at a tipping point? Is the bloom off the rose? Is this the point where recruits,who 5 or 6 years ago, would choose UST over another MIAC school,and Caruso was the X Factor-are the current recruits  opting for other MIAC schools because of the coaching style of Caruso? I have no idea, I'm asking the question. It seems that the Tommies are good but not great as in years past. Let's open the floor to discuss and give viewpoints for and against the Caruso coaching style model.

For those who don't know what "coaching style model" I am referencing it's the model of getting into the face of a player or assistant coach and screaming for 3-5 minutes, then going to the rest of the group and start talking schemes,then stopping to get back into the face of said player or assistant coach and screaming again for another 3-5 minutes.

It's pretty impressive when you are hosting 50+ high school recruits as was the case during the SJU-UST the past 2 years.

Didn't notice any major blow ups out of GC.  Normal stuff when he wanted a penalty a couple of times, but nothing that you don't see out of most coaches.

I was wondering the same in regard to the direction of UST...next week vs CORD will tell a lot since ust is effectively out of the playoffs, and Concordia is likely in as a 1 loss team if they win out.

I remember when rev MIAC would come on here and post questions about the dominance of UST...I'd be curious to ask him what he thinks has led to the recent decline.  They seem to be getting quality recruits...lots of very good athletes on the field, fancy facilities, and lots of "need based" money to throw around.  So is Caruso just an inferior coach?  He left 6 points off the board yesterday by going for it on 4th down in situations where they could've taken a field goal.  No telling how that could have effected the game, but it was on him. 

Is the average UST player going into the game with the expectation that they deserve to win, then when they face a quality team like SJU or BU, they don't know how to handle themselves?

It's kind of shocking how this team was in the national championship two years ago, same qb, lots of young players on the field, and now they'll miss the playoffs two seasons straight.

To be honest, I don't really know what's going on. I'm out here in DC so someone in closer proximity to Cretin and Summit probably has a better vantage point from which to opine. That being said, four things jump out at me (and some of the other area alumni) this season: 1) we seem to lack discipline, as evidenced by all the sloppy penalties; 2) O'Connell is either totally off his game post-injury or he's simply not that good, as evidenced most recently by the first half meltdown and UST's comeback under Gould in the second half; 3) I don't see as many natural leaders on the team as in years past; and 4) perhaps we suffer from a bit too much hubris. You asked about SJU and BU. I helped out with some alumni mentoring recently and can tell you that a few young alumni openly characterized other MIAC schools, with the exception of Macalester and Carleton, as "second-tier" safety schools. I was a little surprised they were so forthright with these opinions. Maybe UST's institutional success, it's push toward national prominence, over the past few decades is coloring these students' attitudes. I'm not sure if the same views are held amongst football players, but if so, it isn't a good thing to go into games with little respect for your opponents. Just my two cents...     

[CobberHawkeye]

Good God, the Vikings suck!  If I still lived in Minnesota I would struggle as a pro sports tragic. Unbelievable.

EDIT: I fully expect a complete collapse in over time.

EDT II: impossible. The fifth sign of the Apocalypse: The Vikings come through in a clutch situation.

With the Vikings win, I get a rare sweep this week by teams I cheer for (Vikings, Cobbers, any team playing Minnesota).

Please elaborate. 

Well, this weekend I was an Illinois fan.