FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[ritz72]

Now that I have had two days to digest Saturday's game, my thoughts.

1.  Juba should be the player of the game.  We have discussed the 3 QB dabacle ad nauseum, but one point we do not note is the fact you have a center who is snapping the ball to 3 different QBs over the course of the game;  1 being left handed.  Every QB is anal retentive in how they want the ball delivered on a snap, and by switching QBs so often (Great spot to put Hensel in in the 4th...3 and 22), you really mess with the center.

2.  As a OT, I can do little to defend the poor play of our tackles on Saturday.  The single reason we could not attack their secondary was the fact we could not throw 5 or 7 step routes.  Both their D-ends were very good, but from my vantage point, they only sped rush off the edge.  Two ways to counter that are chipping with the RB's or changing your blocking scheme.  #73 for us looked goofy all day and the number twin #72 had his issues as well.

3.  Search the roster for speed.  We had to run 10's and 20's in camp and fast kids found their way into the 2 deeps.  I know its there...

4.  It is hard for the QB to call the game on his own when he is not out there to get a feel of what is working and what the D-is giving.  Not to beat a dead horse, but we need to pick one and go with it.  So much of the effectiveness of the offense is in knowing all 11 guys are in sync with most of that sync coming from running play after play in practice against any possible formation the opposing team has used in the past 5 years.  The revolving door failure on Saturday is a direct result of the lack of sync developed during the week.

5.  Aside from QBs rotating, I actually think situational subsitutions the Johnnies are starting to use are good, as long as there is a game plan for it.

6.  Our defense is nails right now.  Concordia's only score was on a great play by Nelson, turning a 6 yard loss into a TD.  That being said, it is all the most frustrating as I believe the O only has to come up with 20 points a game to win most if not all the remaining games.

A few other comments:

-I would have flagged the Johnnies for roughing the punter. I was looking right at the play from the stands, and the Johnnie took out the non kicking leg of the CON punter; no way was anything established.

-On the PI call..looked to be like there was an intermingling of feet, and by rule that is not PI.

-Is there any Zapruder film on the face mask? 

-Loved when the SJU Gestapo ( I mean Life Safety) was telling the Rat Pack to settle down.  The short lady with sun glasses needs to realize she is NOT A REAL COP!  FOR CHRIST SAKE....IT IS THE RAT PACK  LEAVE THEM ALONE!

-I actually counted on Saturday.....43 "Open you Johnnie Game day program...."'s  GIVE ME A FRIGGIN BREAK!  I could care less if I won a cooler, a $10 gift ceretificatte, or anything else.  A saturday in Collegeville is beginning to turn into a Blue Light Special at K-Mart--Please Tom Stock, appeal to alumni donors.....I'd like to know how much revenue is generated from the Game Day stamp annoyances, because I guarantee more money would be raised by people willing to donate to stop the annoyance!

-Move the damn bleachers from in front of the "hill"...PERIOD!

Okay...I'm done for now

[tmerton]

Speaking of the qb's, why was Crees pulled so quickly?  He was 3 for 3 passing - was it the fumble he lost?  Probably so; he was pulled immediately after that.  However, Boyle fumbled twice, though he didn't lose either, and Hansell fumbled and lost the ball once. 

I agree that the constant substitution of quarterbacks is not helping things, but are all 3 quarterbacks so even that we don't care who they go with so long as they settle on one of them?  And Hansell can't be a spec over 5'9" regardless of what the program says.  He had to be the shortest guy on the field when he was out there.   If he doesn't clearly stand out over the other two, I'd put him at #3 on height alone and make my pick between Crees and Boyle.

[johnnie_esq]

Speaking of the qb's, why was Crees pulled so quickly?  He was 3 for 3 passing - was it the fumble he lost?  Probably so; he was pulled immediately after that.  However, Boyle fumbled twice, though he didn't lose either, and Hansell fumbled and lost the ball once. 

I agree that the constant substitution of quarterbacks is not helping things, but are all 3 quarterbacks so even that we don't care who they go with so long as they settle on one of them?  And Hansell can't be a spec over 5'9" regardless of what the program says.  He had to be the shortest guy on the field when he was out there.   If he doesn't clearly stand out over the other two, I'd put him at #3 on height alone and make my pick between Crees and Boyle.

But tmert, Hansel is from St. Cloud.  That has to count for something.

I assumed Crees was injured-- as keeping a senior QB off the field in the waning moments of a game you're losing is not good policy.  Maybe he was starting to call his own plays in the huddle and the coaching staff didn't like that?

All in all, disappointing-- from being way too predictable offensively (note to the rest of the MIAC: in case you haven't figured it out, on fourth and short we ALWAYS run option to the short side of the field)  to just plain being not tough enough to run it and not quick enough to throw it, we need to be way more deceptive on offensive.  Gone are the days that we can just line it up and succeed on talent alone (and whose responsibility is it to locate and bring in talent?) so we may need to actually bring back the quadruple option!

Congrats to the Cobbers for coming into Collegeville and kicking us around a bit.  I told one of our assistant coaches that Concordia was the team to beat this year...and I am afraid I was right!

[chewey]

As I've said, the lack of luster for the offense during the last 4 years is because Jimmy has been calling the vast majority of the plays.  Kofoed needed to tell him to go hop.  Any new QB should do the same thing.  As far as Life Safety Sevices is concerned, they are way too out of line with the parking issues too.  They tried to flag Brice down as he was driving in on Stearns Co. 159 and he just waved and drove right past and proceeded to park where he wanted.  I sure as hell am not going to park down by I-94 and take a bus ride in.  Brice got a note from LSS indicating that he'd be receiving a ticket via campus mail. 

[tmerton]

When we made our visit in the spring of '06 we were told by a player that the qb's called their own plays.  When we later met with John I asked him about this; he said the coaching staff sent in "suggestions" about 50% of the time (he smiled when he used the word "suggestion" but he did say it was just half the time).  Now I get the sense that Jimmy is calling every play.

[Pat Coleman]

Does he have to call every single damn play?    What's that all about?     Is his ego getting in the way?   

I know it doesn't always happen this way at St. John's but it happens that way at easily 99% of the rest of Division III.

[Touchdown Tommy]

The Natives are Restless Tonight...

[DuffMan]

Does he have to call every single damn play?    What's that all about?     Is his ego getting in the way?   

I know it doesn't always happen this way at St. John's but it happens that way at easily 99% of the rest of Division III.

Can't you just let us gripe for a bit? 

[DutchFan2004]

Does he have to call every single damn play?    What's that all about?     Is his ego getting in the way?   

I know it doesn't always happen this way at St. John's but it happens that way at easily 99% of the rest of Division III.

Can't you just let us gripe for a bit? 

I understand the disapointment from defeat, but I have to ask this no disrespect intended. Why are you so hard on the OC when you have the utmost respect for the HC.  Should not he be getting the blame?  You all go off on posters who maline Coach G for being a figure head.  I am not saying he is.  So does he not get the blame for allowing this to happen? 

[sjusection105]

DF2004,

Some of this is frustration of the loss on Saturday. Part is frustration of the changes on & off the field in the past 5 years that have many posters upset.

We understand we have no voice in anything on or off (think our tailgate party and  constent commercials during the game) but feel that some changes make no sense.

Just my take on the situation it may be off base- I'll let the others chime in.

How are the Dutch fans handling their upset on Saturday? I haven't ventured to the IIAC board lately.

[DutchFan2004]

DF2004,

Some of this is frustration of the loss on Saturday. Part is frustration of the changes on & off the field in the past 5 years that have many posters upset.

We understand we have no voice in anything on or off (think our tailgate party and  constent commercials during the game) but feel that some changes make no sense.

Just my take on the situation it may be off base- I'll let the others chime in.

How are the Dutch fans handling their upset on Saturday? I haven't ventured to the IIAC board lately.

I would not call it an upset.  I thought Wartburg would win the game, was hoping that the Dutch could find a way and we almost did.  With all that we lost from graduation Wartburg was the favorite IMHO.  Even with the loss to Augsburg I think Wartburg was the favorite.  I am not taking anything away from Augsburg as I have no knowledge about them and this is not a slap at them.  I think that if the Dutch mature they can run the table in the IIAC.  (will that happen I don't know, if I did bookies would be crying  )
I guess I am more a realist than a fan that sees only red.  You can not win every game.  28 in a row is a great record but sooner or later teams will get you.  Like one of the posters said time to start a new streak.  I hope we can make it go to 29 now.   

[TC]

Does he have to call every single damn play?    What's that all about?     Is his ego getting in the way?   

I know it doesn't always happen this way at St. John's but it happens that way at easily 99% of the rest of Division III.

Can't you just let us gripe for a bit? 

You've got to admit, the occassional Johnnie loss makes things much more interesting here come Monday morning.

[sfury]

As I've said, the lack of luster for the offense during the last 4 years is because Jimmy has been calling the vast majority of the plays.

Obviously the seasons ended in slightly different ways, but the 2005 team did average 42 points per game. The 2003 team averaged 39.3 in its first 12 games. And last year they managed to scratch out 35.7 per game (which is terrible, unacceptabe, I know, and is also what the 1996 team, a really, really good team, led by calling-his-own plays Ramler, averaged).

Maybe this will have to be like 1999, when they averaged 28 points, including just seven against...Concordia (Linnemann was hurt early in the season, of course), but relied on the defense. It was the three-and-out offense, as Austin Murphy called it. Yet they managed to get to the West finals, and were up 9-6 in the fourth and driving before losing to Pacific.

And in the same way people still cling to the idea of Blake Elliott (AND WHY CAN'T THEY FIND SOMEONE LIKE HIM?!), I think many St. John's fans still can't get past 1993 and the point-a-minute offense. In 50 years St. John's still won't have seen anyone like Elliott, and still won't have seen an offense like 1993. Doesn't mean they can't compete on a national stage.

[Pat Coleman]

Does he have to call every single damn play?    What's that all about?     Is his ego getting in the way?   

I know it doesn't always happen this way at St. John's but it happens that way at easily 99% of the rest of Division III.

Can't you just let us gripe for a bit? 

I gave you two hours.

Just a reminder, that's all.

[D O.C.]

Ah - ooo! There it is....