FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Sagecock]

I've got a few thoughts that this board might appreciate regarding Oxy, Cal Lu and the rest of SCIAC.

1)  Oxy's defense is far weaker then it was last year.  The loss of McNeil and Williams in the middle has not been filled.  While the linebacking core is extremely fast and flows sideline to sideline, they do not have the same hard-nosed intensity of those two players.  Pursuit speed is no issue whatsoever, so expect lots of pressure from the backside of plays, however, if Linfield's team speed is all it is vaunted to be (which I don't doubt it is, having played against Trinity the year they competed in the Stagg Bowl I know what level Linfield is at) this may not be the issue.  Essentially, Oxys run defense is not nearly as good as its 160 yard avg would suggest.  If a team like Whittier can stay within a touchdown by chewing up the clock and running the ball hard, I'd expect Linfield to absolutely dominate.  On a slightly more personal note, McNeil was the consistently the best linebacker on the Oxy squad the last 3 seasons.  Bryant may be fast and put of gaudy numbers, but he is not nearly as tough as McNeil was and I'd wager that the majority of his tackles come from the backside, not when he is being run at.

2)  It's been said before and I'll say it again: Oxy's O runs through Collins.  Unless you have watched them play you can't really realize how much of a difference maker he is.  While he is a very competent pocket passer, he is most dangerous when flushed from the pocket due to pressure.  His speed and mobility forces defenders to step up to stop the run, while allowing the recievers to break off their routes and go to scramble rules.  These two factors combined allow for alot of Oxys big plays.  I fully expect the Linfield D-line to destroy Oxy's O-line (see the effect of Cal Lu's D-line for example..more on that later), the difference will be if they have the additional speed to bring down Collins in the open field, something no team in SCIAC managed this year.

3)  Oxy's defensive backfield is extremely vulnerable.  Since their defensive front does not produce much pressure, Elliot should have all day to throw on a unit that gave up 326 yards in the air to Pomona-Pitzer, a team not exactly known for its team speed.  There is no way the manage to stop Elliot.

4)  I'll expect Oxy to try to generate pressure off the outside with their backers, since their two inside players Tanous and Zachary are both ineffective pass rushers.  However, the only way I forsee them generating pressure is by bringing more then Linfield can block from one side which will leave the hot route open all day, something I bet Elliot can throw.  Look for Ostland to be the most effective in this role, as Bryant is a fairly weak pass-rusher (shut down by a tackle playing for the first time in 6 weeks on a torn up knee against Pomona...even if he was all-sciac the year before).

My prediction then is Linfield in a blow-out, 52-28.

5)  Cal Lutheran's defensive front 7 was the best in SCIAC this year.  #99 Alex Williams on the d-line was by far the best d-lineman in SCIAC and the rest of the squad was just as good.  If you watched the Cal-Lu Oxy game you would realize the extent to which the Cal-Lu d-line penetrated and created pressure against Oxy.  However, time and time again, Collins scrambled and found a reciever open downfield (Cal Lu's corners were not very strong this year).  Cal-Lu plays physical ball on defense, and definitely schemed well all year.

6)  This may sound a little bit baised, but the best linebacker in SCIAC is #34 Matt Barbour of Pomona-Pitzer.  He's number 1 in total tackles, should be # 1 in solo tackles (Davis from CMC plays safety and is nowhere even close to as good as Barbour), has 9 official TFL's from middle backer (I'd bet there were more) and plainly put, is the biggest pain in the ass to block you will find in SCIAC.  LaRussa from Redlands reads well and flows, but is extremely soft when taken on one-on-one.  Bryant as I said above is extremely vulnerable when physically attacked, and Garza is also suceptible to overflow and direct attack.

7)  An award for the least classy move of the year has to go to Redlands for choosing to attempt to score instead of taking a knee with under 1:30 left to go in the Pomona game.  For a program that prides itself on "knowing how to win" and "playing like they've been there before," it showed a complete lack of class last Saturday.  Who knows, maybe they were still embarrased by their loss last year?  Whittier College, home of cheap shots and late hits, takes home the prize for having the dirtiest team in SCIAC this year, know one knows how to do it like the Poets.  Play with pride guys!

8)  Roger Caron was the best coach in SCIAC hands down during his tenure.  No coach did more with less, nor created more headaches scheme wise week-in, week-out for opponents.  Not only that, but he left having beaten every team in SCIAC over the last 3 seasons.

Enjoy, and have a safe flight Oxy...you'll be home for thanksgiving.

A quick side note Bulldogfan:  Oxy may have had all day to throw against Redlands, but it sure wasn't due to excellent pass protection, I would attribute it to the complete lack of a pass rush generated by Redlands d-line.  By far the weakest group I've seen out of Redlands over the last 4 years.  Both nose tackles are ineffective, and the ends are WAY down from the St. Mary's transfer who was out there last year. 

[Pat Coleman]

This may sound a little bit baised, but the best linebacker in SCIAC is #34 Matt Barbour of Pomona-Pitzer.  He's number 1 in total tackles, should be # 1 in solo tackles (Davis from CMC plays safety and is nowhere even close to as good as Barbour), has 9 official TFL's from middle backer (I'd bet there were more)

Statistically it's hard to miss TFLs. As long as the ball is spotted correctly by the officials and then in the software, the recording of a TFL is automatic.

[Gig Harbor Cat]

The Butcher welcomes you to the Catdome.  You could just let us pick a score and Phone It In, in case your boys are thinking of no showing the Cats

[RFB]

Roger Caron the best coach in the SCIAC? How many SCIAC titles does Pomona have? Zero is the answer. Sounds like you're just a little bitter you played or coached on a middle of the road bad program for four years. I will say that Roger Caron was a good, organized coach. But to say that he is better then Maynard, Squires, or Widolff is a major stretch.

[scandihoovian]

Is it time to play where's Roger Caron?

Does anyone know if he's coming back from Cheshire?

[frank uible]

I believe that in 2005 Caron has been 3-4 at Cheshire with one game to go on 11/12. Not that that information casts any light on his possible return to Pomona.

[KennethK]

Sounds like Collins will need to play the game of his life..both running and passing.  Whitworths Joel Clark passed for 400 yds against the Cats Oct 8th.  Perhaps Collins can come close to duplicating that accomplishment.

[Tom Brady]

Well, although I am about 2 days late on this.  Oh well.
First off, congrats to OXY for the SCIAC title, although they got a pretty tough draw in the first round.  I would have loved for Cal Lu to make it to the playoffs for the first time, but they can hang their hat on a great season.  I won't sit here and piss and moan about Cal Lu not making it because the NCAA has their reasons, but it must be very dissapointing for the Kingsmen.  Best of luck to OXY up in Oregon.  You have to beat the best to be the best.

[Tom Brady]

One more thing about the previous posts I have been reading.  I think people getting into a pissing match about who's school is better is just plain stupid.  All of the schools in the SCIAC are very good schools.  Everyone on here that went to a SCIAC school should be proud of their education and should be happy with the fact that they got a good education.  Thats it from me.

[downtown48]

Kenneth-

He might throw for 400...That managed to get Clark almost within two touchdowns...

[beancounter]

Kenneth my man....as you have all year wrong, you're looking at the wrong side of the ball.  Oxy has to figure out a way to slow Linfield down.    Collins had a nice day statistically (much of it in garbage time) last season in the playoffs....but his team still lost by four touchdowns.

[csnarnia]

OxyBob
It's great you know some scripture...but Beancounter is right...I don't think any of use can claim God is going to choose which team to win...and besides you're quote is way out of context...we are not Philistines and you are not David.  One last note...God does care about the game and the people he created.  As to the outcome...I believe he is mainly interested in how it is going to impact our lives in order to know him better.

[Bulldogfan]

To Sagecock:

Regarding Redlands lack of class, as you say, normally they would have taken a knee as would any team with this lead. However, there were several seniors (running backs and receivers) who had not seen any playing time all year. They
were being substituted most of the fourth quarter. It wasn't an attempt to stick it in Pomona's face but to try and get playing time for the backup seniors. Last week against Clairmont the same thing happened. These were the only two games all year where the backup players received time on the field.

Back to Oxy's pass blocking, call it the way you want. If you feel Redlands' LACK OF rushing was the key, it sure doesn't say much for Oxy's o-line. Yes Redland's rushing success was lacking but anyone watching the game would credit great blocking.

[xfactor82]

Kenneth my man....as you have all year wrong, you're looking at the wrong side of the ball.  Oxy has to figure out a way to slow Linfield down.    Collins had a nice day statistically (much of it in garbage time) last season in the playoffs....but his team still lost by four touchdowns.

What are you talking about?  Collins was building those stats when Oxy built a 17-7 lead against Linfield.  Linfield responded well, but I believe I'm correct in saying that Oxy was the only team in the playoffs to build a 10 point lead against Linfield -- and it wasn't done in garbage time.

[OxyFan21]

SCIAC fans (not Linfield fans),

If Oxy is as bad as all of you are saying they are now that the regular season is over (and we drew Linfield), then the other teams in the league must be...what...? 

Oxy has lost one game in the last two years, and none within the conference.  So, from an internal perspective within our own conference, we can't possibly be that bad...

What do you say that Redlands and Oxy BOTH aim to qualify next year?

As far as what the Linfield faithful is saying on this board...I, like TigerSports, can hope they are wrong.