FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[OzJohnnie]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I have some friends here who get hyped for SJU every year and join in the post-season celebrations.  I was telling them that SJU is a second round team, perhaps, if they make the finals.  They'll need to beat BU in the championship game to get there, I think.  And while I do think the Johnnies will have a very good shot playing at Clemens, this BU team is 80% two or three year starting seniors.   It's very strong.

[faunch]

Very happy with how things went on Saturday, a gorgeous fall afternoon and SJU won. The halftime adjustments worked for the most part and other than a mistake fielding a punt, the defense played much better in the 2nd half. GAC is good, but too many mistakes on Saturday.

I know I am going to sound like a crotchety old curmudgeon, but the music at Clemens is out of control (and I love music!). It's like the person playing the music has no communication with the person who is making announcements about the game. I actually want to hear the ref explain what the penalty is and SJU is blaring music while the ref is talking. The PA guy is trying to announce who made the tackle and it gets drown out by the music. I don't mind hype music at all, but can we only play it during timeouts, quarter breaks, and after touchdowns? Are we trying to play music when the opposition is on offense to make it more difficult for them to communicate, like home field advantage crowd noise? Is this a strategy? If so, yuck. With all the up-tempo offense now, it just looks/sounds stupid. It is also really loud if you are sitting on the South end, makes it tough to even talk to the person next to you. End of crotchety old curmudgeon rant.

Since I run the PA and the music at Northwestern, I guess I get to decide when I want to talk over the music.  Definitely no music when the ref is talking.  I try to pick my spots with the 3rd down/4th down music, maybe 6 or 7 times a game in a close game or less in a blowout.  If the other team runs uptempo I'm waiting for an incomplete pass or a sack that makes them take a little more time leading into 3rd down.  Also, it is surprising how many fields don't have a balanced sound system that sounds more or less the same volume regardless of where you are.  Many places are just putting the speakers in one spot and playing it loud enough so it can be heard across the field.

Well the ref at UNLV had enough of the band playing music while Air Force had the ball on Saturday.
https://twitter.com/TonyDasco/status/1581549764201414656?s=20&t=b4wa_T6A0HaAhqJIAzdM6A

[RoyalsFan]

Very happy with how things went on Saturday, a gorgeous fall afternoon and SJU won. The halftime adjustments worked for the most part and other than a mistake fielding a punt, the defense played much better in the 2nd half. GAC is good, but too many mistakes on Saturday.

I know I am going to sound like a crotchety old curmudgeon, but the music at Clemens is out of control (and I love music!). It's like the person playing the music has no communication with the person who is making announcements about the game. I actually want to hear the ref explain what the penalty is and SJU is blaring music while the ref is talking. The PA guy is trying to announce who made the tackle and it gets drown out by the music. I don't mind hype music at all, but can we only play it during timeouts, quarter breaks, and after touchdowns? Are we trying to play music when the opposition is on offense to make it more difficult for them to communicate, like home field advantage crowd noise? Is this a strategy? If so, yuck. With all the up-tempo offense now, it just looks/sounds stupid. It is also really loud if you are sitting on the South end, makes it tough to even talk to the person next to you. End of crotchety old curmudgeon rant.

I guess that makes me a curmudgeon as well since I agree with you 100%. A lot of times they don't turn off the music until just before the ball is snapped and I would think that would be a disadvantage for the offense to be able to hear the snap count. Wish they would limit when they play the music, especially between downs.

[RoyalsFan]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I have some friends here who get hyped for SJU every year and join in the post-season celebrations.  I was telling them that SJU is a second round team, perhaps, if they make the finals.  They'll need to beat BU in the championship game to get there, I think.  And while I do think the Johnnies will have a very good shot playing at Clemens, this BU team is 80% two or three year starting seniors.   It's very strong.

Not sure where you are getting the 80% starting seniors from. I looked at the starting lineups for this last week's game and on offense, out of the 11 starting players only 4 were seniors, Roste and 3 linemen. On defense, only 3 were seniors. 7 out of 22 starting players were seniors which is no where near 80%, more like 30%.  Granted, I'm not that familiar with the starting defense so maybe they gave some underclassmen a start against MAC, but this team is no where near 80% starting seniors.

[OzJohnnie]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I have some friends here who get hyped for SJU every year and join in the post-season celebrations.  I was telling them that SJU is a second round team, perhaps, if they make the finals.  They'll need to beat BU in the championship game to get there, I think.  And while I do think the Johnnies will have a very good shot playing at Clemens, this BU team is 80% two or three year starting seniors.   It's very strong.

Not sure where you are getting the 80% starting seniors from. I looked at the starting lineups for this last week's game and on offense, out of the 11 starting players only 4 were seniors, Roste and 3 linemen. On defense, only 3 were seniors. 7 out of 22 starting players were seniors which is no where near 80%, more like 30%.  Granted, I'm not that familiar with the starting defense so maybe they gave some underclassmen a start against MAC, but this team is no where near 80% starting seniors.

20 of 22 starters returned.  91%.  I had both toned it down to 80% so as to not overestimate and assumed most were seniors so as to avoid looking it up, but then I forgot who may respond to my post.  I beg your forgiveness for the inaccuracies in making a point about BU's strength.  I will endeavour not to repeat them (most simply by never posting anything about BU.  Seems the easiest route, no?).

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2022/7/26/football-ranked-no-13-in-d3football-com-preseason-top-25.aspx

(I can't even remember what had your knickers in such a tight knot earlier this year but please accept my apology and commitment to no longer mention BU.  Just let it go.)

[hazzben]

I'm disoriented by these Johnnie compliments. Seems like something nefarious is going on. I don't know what you're up to Oz and Co, but I'm on to you. 

[retagent]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I've only seen the UWW game live and the Auggie game on TV. Was the O line a bit better against Gustavus. They did seem to run better, and as I remember Syverson had more time than in other recent games. I'm asking if maybe the O Line is gelling.?

[RoyalsFan]

20 of 22 starters returned.  91%.  I had both toned it down to 80% so as to not overestimate and assumed most were seniors so as to avoid looking it up, but then I forgot who may respond to my post.  I beg your forgiveness for the inaccuracies in making a point about BU's strength.  I will endeavour not to repeat them (most simply by never posting anything about BU.  Seems the easiest route, no?).

https://athletics.bethel.edu/news/2022/7/26/football-ranked-no-13-in-d3football-com-preseason-top-25.aspx

(I can't even remember what had your knickers in such a tight knot earlier this year but please accept my apology and commitment to no longer mention BU.  Just let it go.)

I think you got things backwards, it wasn't me who had my knickers in a knot, it was people that were upset with me for wondering why a penalty wasn't called on a fair catch.

Maybe 20 of 22 starters from last year returned, but not all those that have returned are starting now. The current starting lineups do not have 80% seniors, as your post indicated. I have no problem with people mentioning BU, just get the facts right.

[RoyalsFan]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I've only seen the UWW game live and the Auggie game on TV. Was the O line a bit better against Gustavus. They did seem to run better, and as I remember Syverson had more time than in other recent games. I'm asking if maybe the O Line is gelling.?

At the risk of upsetting some other SJU posters here, I will throw in my 2 cents. Yes, they did run better, but if you take away a 30 yard Trost run, they only averaged 2.3 yards the rest of the game, so not a whole lot better. Syverson was able to get more time mainly because after his early fumble while in the pocket, they had him roll out quite a bit to get away from the rush, which was a great adjustment, so I'm not sure that means the line is gelling. Again, strictly my opinion.

[SJU13]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I've only seen the UWW game live and the Auggie game on TV. Was the O line a bit better against Gustavus. They did seem to run better, and as I remember Syverson had more time than in other recent games. I'm asking if maybe the O Line is gelling.?

At the risk of upsetting some other SJU posters here, I will throw in my 2 cents. Yes, they did run better, but if you take away a 30 yard Trost run, they only averaged 2.3 yards the rest of the game, so not a whole lot better. Syverson was able to get more time mainly because after his early fumble while in the pocket, they had him roll out quite a bit to get away from the rush, which was a great adjustment, so I'm not sure that means the line is gelling. Again, strictly my opinion.

I'd agree with this assessment. I also think we'd want to see the same 5 guys without one of them getting yanked at least a couple of games in a row to be considered gelled.

As for the music last weekend I think they were just trying to get in as many tunes as they could for family weekend. The new video board also gives you the opportunity to dance along with a squirrel or super Mario if you want.

[jakeMN91]

2 Oles, a Johnnie, and a Cobber made Team of the Week : https://www.d3football.com/awards/tow/2022/week8

[faunch]

GAC is good.

GAC is solid.  I was impressed by their offense.  Their defense was decent, too.

I just don't see that the '22 Johnnies have the ability to make a playoff run.  Their o-line play has been inconsistent, I've seen too many dropped balls by receivers, and their defensive secondary is soft.  They're good, yes, but they have a long way to go to be great.

I've only seen the UWW game live and the Auggie game on TV. Was the O line a bit better against Gustavus. They did seem to run better, and as I remember Syverson had more time than in other recent games. I'm asking if maybe the O Line is gelling.?

And from what I observed we couldn't get any yards on the ground in the fourth quarter. I was watching from my phone at Camp Randall and I'm pretty sure we brought in the #2 quarterback at the end as he's more of a runner and tried to gain some yards and kill clock with him. Somethings not happening and my opinion is that our o-line just isn't able to move the opponent and create any space for our backs.

[DuffMan]

The new video board also gives you the opportunity to dance along with a squirrel or super Mario if you want.

My kids love the squirrel. 

[DuffMan]

At the risk of upsetting some other SJU posters here, I will throw in my 2 cents. Yes, they did run better, but if you take away a 30 yard Trost run, they only averaged 2.3 yards the rest of the game, so not a whole lot better. Syverson was able to get more time mainly because after his early fumble while in the pocket, they had him roll out quite a bit to get away from the rush, which was a great adjustment, so I'm not sure that means the line is gelling. Again, strictly my opinion.

This is a fair assessment (though I am unsure why you, as a Bethel fan, spend so much time watching SJU games).  To be honest, I think Syverson is better rolling out than sitting in the pocket, so it was nice to see them get success rolling him out.

This obviously isn't going to be a SJU team that pounds the ball between the tackles.  Trost is that kind of back, but they have not been able to get that type of offense rolling with this group.  So, they're going to have to get creative and take rushing yards where they can.

As mentioned, Zander Dittbenner finished the 4th Q at QB--he appears to be a threat with his legs--I wonder if he can throw the ball? 

Remember the days of Sam Sura (2014, 2015) when SJU threw the ball 15 times per game? 

I had to browse some old stats, but 2015 SJU/Bethel:
SJU rushing:  55 rushes for 183 yards (35 for 122 for Sura)
SJU passing:  7 of 14 for 99 yards
Final score:  21-0 SJU

[SJU13]

He got a few pass attempts in against Augsburg. Not sure there was much to judge since it was a 2-4 outing. Threw me off a bit to see a left handed QB though. I suspect he might be the leading rusher this weekend or perhaps the RB Wheeler.