FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

The interesting thing on Erdmann is that his whole receiving core turned over and the production is equal or better. Some of that can be attributed to the OC's playcalling (if SJU loses him and Erdmann, watch out, Heckendorf is a keeper). And some of it is the superb pass protection from the O-line. But, Jackson has lit up defenses in the top 10 of Division III pretty consistently now when a scheme is being built around stopping him. I assume its a goal of his to give this a shot. He passed up a Fulbright opportunity to pursue it.

That has stood out in my mind as noteworthy.  Through SJU's first couple of games, it sort of seemed like (from my outsider perspective), that the offense had been set back a bit with all of the receiver graduation...but they sure seem to have gained some sort of sync / groove. 

My guess is that if SJU played Stout and GAC again now, the scores would not be as close.

Not just turned over but turned over to pack of green sophomores. Ravi Alston, who has hearts all a flutter, caught his first TD this year since the 8th grade.  These catchers are good, no doubt, but Erdmann should get a lot of credit for helping them mature so quickly from so far back.  Consider the 92 yard TD pass to Mohr last weekend. That was 30 yards in the air across the field to hit the fastest Johnnie perfectly in full stride.  That was only Mohr's 10th catch this season and 11th touch this year (he had one rush). In fact, he's only touched the ball 12 times total at SJU with one rush last season.  Last year Alston had no touches. Hodge had one kick return. These sophomores are becoming so dangerous so fast because Erdmann is helping them mature at an extraordinary pace.

This time last year we sat in awe as we watched Erdmann advance in leaps and bounds. This years it's awe at a bunch of green receivers. I reckon the Johnnie squad has huge development upside over the next three weeks. More time to work on decision making and new options. More no-huddle work.

And that doesn't even consider the defense which quietly delivered the 9th best scores against record in the country and the best in that aspect in the MIAC by quite some margin when both the Tommies and BU still face some scoring sides to face.

If these boys stay focussed and keep working hard they will (somehow) surprise some non-familiar observers with how good they are. I think Erdmann distracts people from noticing that the rest of the team is very strong as well.  Gonna be bad news for them.

[DuffMan]

I think Oz needs a cold shower!

[OzJohnnie]

I think Oz needs a cold shower!

Or a cigarette.

[desertcat1]

I think Oz needs a cold shower!

Or a cigarette.

Or Maybe one of old bluenotes top shelf stuff? 

[SagatagSam]

Also worth nothing how these past two games have added almost another thousand yards passing for Erdmann.

When I looked at at the beginning of the season at the distance between Erdmann and Kofoed in the SJU all-time passing yards category, I thought Erdmann getting close to Kofoed's 10,737 yards would be a pipe dream. Kofoed was just too far ahead.  Erdmann would have needed to average something ridiculous like over 300 yards per game to get there.

Erdmann is at 9,031 right now (1,706 behind Kofoed) with three regular season games to go. I'm thinking by the time the playoffs roll around he could have the gap trimmed to under a thousand yards. If the Johnnies can make a deep run, he just might catch Kofoed!

Here's a breakdown of what Erdmann would need to average based on length of playoff run to pass Kofoed:
First Round (4 more games): 426.5 ypg
Second Round (5 more games): 341.2 ypg
Quarterfinal (6 more games): 284.3 ypg
Semifinal (7 more games): 243.7 ypg
National Championship appearance (8 more games): 213.3 ypg

I think there's an outside chance if they make the quarterfinal, likely if they make the semifinal, and very likely if they make it to the Stagg Bowl.

[SUMMIT!!!!!]

I think Oz needs a cold shower!

Or a cigarette.

I
or both 

[repete]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

[hazzben]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

Good over under. We are a long way from UWW and Lax games. They brought a quirky offense into games against opponents that haven't been scheming to defend that year in and year out. Also, people assumed early in the year that throwing the ball was within the realm of possibility for the Cobbers. The book is out on them now. If they score more than 10 it's because SJU doesn't come out with intensity or calls of the dogs and has second string guys playing early in the second half. Way too much team speed and discipline up front for SJU.

Double Monkey stomp is not out of the question.

[TheChucker]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

Good over under. We are a long way from UWW and Lax games. They brought a quirky offense into games against opponents that haven't been scheming to defend that year in and year out. Also, people assumed early in the year that throwing the ball was within the realm of possibility for the Cobbers. The book is out on them now. If they score more than 10 it's because SJU doesn't come out with intensity or calls of the dogs and has second string guys playing early in the second half. Way too much team speed and discipline up front for SJU.

Double Monkey stomp is not out of the question.

Cobbers have the 2nd worst pass defense in the MIAC, so....

[Retired Old Rat]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

Good over under. We are a long way from UWW and Lax games. They brought a quirky offense into games against opponents that haven't been scheming to defend that year in and year out. Also, people assumed early in the year that throwing the ball was within the realm of possibility for the Cobbers. The book is out on them now. If they score more than 10 it's because SJU doesn't come out with intensity or calls of the dogs and has second string guys playing early in the second half. Way too much team speed and discipline up front for SJU.

Double Monkey stomp is not out of the question.

Cobbers have the 2nd worst pass defense in the MIAC, so....

Maybe Eardmann can break 500 yards.

[OzJohnnie]

I reckon the Cobbers are trouble.  They have a lot of pride in Morehead and won't roll over.  I don't think they have either the firepower to score enough or the defense to hold the Johnnies back, but they will play a hard and bruising football. So there's always a chance. The Jays would be a huge scalp for the season.

[OzJohnnie]

Maybe Eardmann can break 500 yards.

Yeah, it's a bit much but they're very good.  I bet he's out at four TD's or 350 yards, whichever comes first.

[SJUrube]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

If this team is going to go where we think they can Saturday shouldn't be an issue. The Cobbers lost by approximately 100-7 combined to UST and Bethel.

And I'll take the under. The score margin will be high but it will get ugly quickly so Cobbers will continue to run to move the game along.

[DuffMan]

I'm setting the Cobber pass attempt over/under at 20.

I had to go and look at the Cobber passing stats for 2019:

Loss to UW-Lax, 6 for 22
Loss to UW-W, 9 for 18
Win over Auggie, 4 for 9
Win over Hamline, 5 for 13
Loss to U$T, 3 for 7
Loss to GAC, 0 for 3
Loss to Bethel, 5 for 13

[DuffMan]

Not to be a buzz kill, but do the Cobs' strong games vs. UWW and Lax make folks a bit nervous? Traditional rival heads to 56321 with nothing to lose? ...

The Cobbers always play us tough, but I am cautiously optimistic.