FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr.MIAC]

When Caruso first came on board he was able to bring in some impact players with the lure of being able to play, and perhaps start, for three of four years.  Now that the UST program is stronger that isn't the case and he doesn't have the talent advantage he might have had a few years ago.  It appears now he's simply being outcoached by Johnson and Fasching.

I agree with this and that NC year they had a center who had transferred from the U of MN. He was a leader (can't recall his name) for sure and he was a good player. They ran the ball well that year and when I saw that kid come up to the line for the first time I thought he looked like a D1 player. You can talk about the skill guys all you want but the offensive line has to have a leader as well. He was that guy and I am glad he graduated and is off to the real world. Someone here will recall his name. He was a very mature kid and was a speech teacher at Edina if I recall correctly

Curtis James.

[AO]

When Caruso first came on board he was able to bring in some impact players with the lure of being able to play, and perhaps start, for three of four years.  Now that the UST program is stronger that isn't the case and he doesn't have the talent advantage he might have had a few years ago.  It appears now he's simply being outcoached by Johnson and Fasching.

I agree with this and that NC year they had a center who had transferred from the U of MN. He was a leader (can't recall his name) for sure and he was a good player. They ran the ball well that year and when I saw that kid come up to the line for the first time I thought he looked like a D1 player. You can talk about the skill guys all you want but the offensive line has to have a leader as well. He was that guy and I am glad he graduated and is off to the real world. Someone here will recall his name. He was a very mature kid and was a speech teacher at Edina if I recall correctly

Curtis James.

Close.  It was actually Rick James. 

[CobberHawkeye]

When Caruso first came on board he was able to bring in some impact players with the lure of being able to play, and perhaps start, for three of four years.  Now that the UST program is stronger that isn't the case and he doesn't have the talent advantage he might have had a few years ago.  It appears now he's simply being outcoached by Johnson and Fasching.

I agree with this and that NC year they had a center who had transferred from the U of MN. He was a leader (can't recall his name) for sure and he was a good player. They ran the ball well that year and when I saw that kid come up to the line for the first time I thought he looked like a D1 player. You can talk about the skill guys all you want but the offensive line has to have a leader as well. He was that guy and I am glad he graduated and is off to the real world. Someone here will recall his name. He was a very mature kid and was a speech teacher at Edina if I recall correctly

Curtis James.

Close.  It was actually Rick James. 

[hazzben]

When Caruso first came on board he was able to bring in some impact players with the lure of being able to play, and perhaps start, for three of four years.  Now that the UST program is stronger that isn't the case and he doesn't have the talent advantage he might have had a few years ago.  It appears now he's simply being outcoached by Johnson and Fasching.

I agree with this and that NC year they had a center who had transferred from the U of MN. He was a leader (can't recall his name) for sure and he was a good player. They ran the ball well that year and when I saw that kid come up to the line for the first time I thought he looked like a D1 player. You can talk about the skill guys all you want but the offensive line has to have a leader as well. He was that guy and I am glad he graduated and is off to the real world. Someone here will recall his name. He was a very mature kid and was a speech teacher at Edina if I recall correctly

Curtis James.

This was another area that jumped out Saturday. UST had big boys up front on both sides, but they weren't nearly as physical as they've been in the past.

I mentioned to another Bethel alum during the game that I was surprised how out schemed UST seemed to be on Saturday. Aside from the onside kick and another quirky play in the 3rd Q, Bethel seemed to have the upper hand in X's and O's and play calling. I wondered if there'd been assistant turnover at UST that I wasn't aware of.

The more I thought about this though, I'm not sure that was the case. UST under Caruso has actually been pretty predictable and conservative in terms of play calling. Outside of the occasional trick play, they tend to max protect, use TE and double TE sets and/or roll their QB's out on bootlegs for a run/pass option. You usually have a pretty good idea what's coming. I think the difference is that in the past, as we just alluded to, they had the horses where this didn't matter. It got exposed in the title game versus Mount because they were facing greater talent and greater experience (e.g. I was surprised how much James struggled against Mount in the title game that year). Suddenly generally conservative play calling didn't work against an equally matched or superior opponent. I think the same can be said for the 2010 games v. Bethel.

I think Caruso's play calling style against strong teams is really a lot like Tressel-ball. Generally risk averse and predictable, relying on a talent gap & mistake free football to win the day against quality opponents. It's when they are playing a significantly overmatched team that Caruso tends to get creative and wide open with the offense. Hence, historically why UST will have ridiculous scores against the likes of Hamline, Carleton, et. al. (some of this is probably strategic, trying to get stuff on film to force the other team to game plan for it. Maybe even psychological, both to promote your teams sense of significance and intimidate a future opponent). I don't tend to watch those games, because they aren't competitive. You see the scores and marvel a bit. Then you watch the Tommie offense against a good D and wonder how they managed to lead the MIAC in scoring.

[OzJohnnie]

OzJohnnie fronted me some cash so I didn't need to talk my way in.

I almost forgot about that.  The guy travels from "Melbun" to Collegeville and ends up fronting you some cash.  I had to laugh. 

I jumped at the chance. ROR can never live that down

OzJohnnie fronted me some cash so I didn't need to talk my way in.

I almost forgot about that.  The guy travels from "Melbun" to Collegeville and ends up fronting you some cash.  I had to laugh. 

That was embarrassing.  I'd have laughed if it wasn't me.  And probably made a sarcastic comment.  Now I need to get to "Melbun" to pay off my debt.

Damn straight. I've got a memory like an elephant.

[OzJohnnie]

When Caruso first came on board he was able to bring in some impact players with the lure of being able to play, and perhaps start, for three of four years.  Now that the UST program is stronger that isn't the case and he doesn't have the talent advantage he might have had a few years ago.  It appears now he's simply being outcoached by Johnson and Fasching.

I agree with this and that NC year they had a center who had transferred from the U of MN. He was a leader (can't recall his name) for sure and he was a good player. They ran the ball well that year and when I saw that kid come up to the line for the first time I thought he looked like a D1 player. You can talk about the skill guys all you want but the offensive line has to have a leader as well. He was that guy and I am glad he graduated and is off to the real world. Someone here will recall his name. He was a very mature kid and was a speech teacher at Edina if I recall correctly

Curtis James.

Close.  It was actually Rick James. 

Ha!  Who's ghost writing your posts?

[sjusection105]

I mentioned to another Bethel alum during the game that I was surprised how out schemed UST seemed to be on Saturday. Aside from the onside kick and another quirky play in the 3rd Q, Bethel seemed to have the upper hand in X's and O's and play calling. I wondered if there'd been assistant turnover at UST that I wasn't aware of.

I don't know how Johnson played them,but Fasching had the "hands team" out on every kick-off. Caruso is becoming so predictable, during the SJU game,everyone in the stadium knew he was going to fake the FG in the 1st half and it was stopped. The Cobbers will be prepared and even though it pains me to say it, SJU needs the Toms to beat the Cobbs. I believe Horan & the Cobbs will come out on top in this one. Oh well, SJU should be a strong Pool C team after knocking off the Auggies,Bethel & Olaf to round out the schedule.

[sjusection105]

I'm not sure if anyone else saw this, but Daerek Wilson (6-0, 200, Fr., San Antonio, Texas/Reagan) made one hell of a play on a 4th quarter kickoff after an SJU field goal, almost knocking a Gustavus player unconscious. He pretty much blew up the Gustie kick return by himself.

He's a guy I'm going to be keeping my eye on.

Footage of the hit can be found at 2:32:50 of the Gustavus webcast.

Sam,the kid is Special Teams Player of the Week!
http://www.gojohnnies.com/news/2014/10/27/FOOTBALL_1027145416.aspx

[ChicagoTommie]

Don't sweat it Rev, we are all delusional to the Johnnies on this board but one positive can come out of this, is to light a fire under the program and add a since of urgency for UST for this weeks game! I can't wait to see what transpires this week at practice and especially the game!!!

Chi-town Tommie, are you in town this week or just get a report on practice from your son? It would be interesting to find out what happens in practice. Please share.

I will be in town this weekend...I will be happy to share what my son is willing to share, I bet they are still running😄

[ChicagoTommie]

Don't sweat it Rev, we are all delusional to the Johnnies on this board but one positive can come out of this, is to light a fire under the program and add a since of urgency for UST for this weeks game! I can't wait to see what transpires this week at practice and especially the game!!!

Agreed. I think we need more than a sense of urgency, though. We were moving with urgency second half of the Bethel game. O'Connell is looking really shaky and maybe it would be better for us to focus on developing players for next year these remaining games.

PS: We'll be doing a little tailgating Saturday before the All Blacks match. Let me know if you want to join. Also, there are still some tickets left for purchase via resellers if you're looking to attend.

Sorry man!!! I was planning to meet you guys but my son has a chance to play this weekend...he was cleared to play after returning from an injury😄 can't miss that!

[DuffMan]

Ha!  Who's ghost writing your posts?

Shoot!  You finally figured out that AO and DuffMan are one-in-the-same. 

[sjusection105]

You finally figured out that AO and DuffMan are one-in-the-same.

Trust me... you're going to wish you hadn't posted that 

[ChicagoTommie]

Don't sweat it Rev, we are all delusional to the Johnnies on this board but one positive can come out of this, is to light a fire under the program and add a since of urgency for UST for this weeks game! I can't wait to see what transpires this week at practice and especially the game!!!

ChicagoTommie's consistently exceptional grammar is probably the strongest case to be made for U$T's academic superiority. 

Aren't they calling UST the Harvard of the Midwest Cretin & Summit?  Or maybe that's just the scuttlebutt in the beltway.

Haz,

blow it out your a$$😜 never went to UST...I wish I would of had the opportunity to go, but not in the cards for me😣 But I worked my A$$ off so all my children will never have to worry about going or paying to attend any school of their choice!  I am ecstatic of my kids choices of schools! Especially UST so I am just a rabid fan of the school so stop insultingly the UST alums on behalf of my crappy grammar! Talk about UST ALUMS being an elite snob and and a self righteous jerk look in the mirror!

[ChicagoTommie]

Woops! Just read what I posted sorry Haz that was a little to harsh! Just letting of some steam...😄 I bet a dime on the Bears this weekend and lost...stupid stupid😡

[BDB]

Woops! Just read what I posted sorry Haz that was a little to harsh! Just letting of some steam...😄 I bet a dime on the Bears this weekend and lost...stupid stupid😡

You don't owe anyone here an apology ChicagoTommie. Your wife, maybe, but nobody here. 

You are an original and you make no pretense to be anything else. And you sound like a hard working American dad as well.

Good on you for supporting your family and your team no matter what.

Betting on the Bears however, might be a little dicey.