FB: Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wildcat11]

People talk about offense/defense but where Willamette has really made hay and made teams pay is the play of their special teams.  They have consistantly made a play or plays during each big game that has turned the tide in their favor or has been a backbreaker.  If Oxy loses the special teams battle then they're going to lose without question.

The Bearcats defesne isn't that special and can be scored on and have the ball moved on them.

However what others have said is very accurate.  The Offensive line is very good for Willamette and allows Speckman to adjust the game plan as the contest goes on.  The Bearcats have been an outstanding 2nd half team so Oxy better be good early or it's going to be too late.

[OxyCenter63]

Oxy's special teams department is run by Widolff himself who does a superb job. Not to mention that the tigers have one of the best punters in the nation in Alex Groh. I wouldn't count on Willamette out performing oxy on the Special teams department.

[MonroviaCat]

You may be right about the up the middle stuff but they were able to break some very big runs up the middle against a Linfield D that was pretty good at the line and LB positions.  The Big plays seem to be Willamette's biggest weapon.

Looking at Willamette's season stats, it appears that the only game where the Bearcats broke off numerous long 50+-yard runs was against Linfield.

OxyBob

Fair enough Bob, but about half of their offensive TD's came from outside of the redzone.  In otherwords, they had a lot of 20+ yd scores.  They did certainly beat Linfield with the big play though.  And as 11 stated--special teams.  What can you guys tell us about Oxy--I haven't paid very close attention to the Tigers (other than scores) this year.

[MonroviaCat]

Oxy's special teams department is run by Widolff himself who does a superb job. Not to mention that the tigers have one of the best punters in the nation in Alex Groh. I wouldn't count on Willamette out performing oxy on the Special teams department.

Looking at the stats it would appear that Oxy has a better punter (though Willamette's is pretty good, too) and that Willamette has done better with returns.  I know Willamette has blocked some kicks as well but am not sure what kind of pressure Oxy gets on kickers.....I'd guess that special teams will be solid on both sides.

[Growler]

Oxy's special teams department is run by Widolff himself who does a superb job. Not to mention that the tigers have one of the best punters in the nation in Alex Groh. I wouldn't count on Willamette out performing oxy on the Special teams department.

Looking at the stats it would appear that Oxy has a better punter (though Willamette's is pretty good, too) and that Willamette has done better with returns.  I know Willamette has blocked some kicks as well but am not sure what kind of pressure Oxy gets on kickers.....I'd guess that special teams will be solid on both sides.

As easy as it is to say and difficult to do.......fundamentals and mistakes. Both teams are well coached and have solid fronts.
Breaking down, tackling and ball security will be the deciding factors. Both teams have high scoring potential and can play defense. Who will make the least amount of mistakes??

[bbaddict]

People talk about offense/defense but where Willamette has really made hay and made teams pay is the play of their special teams.  They have consistantly made a play or plays during each big game that has turned the tide in their favor or has been a backbreaker.  If Oxy loses the special teams battle then they're going to lose without question.

The Bearcats defesne isn't that special and can be scored on and have the ball moved on them.

Actually, a lot of the scoring this year has been done by Special teams & Defense -- so, I'm not sure why you don't think that's special.   I love it when the Defense scores!

[OxyBob]

Fair enough Bob, but about half of their offensive TD's came from outside of the redzone.

You're right. Willamette scored 58 TDs, and was 29-for-41 red zone TDs (71%), 33-for-41 red zone scores (80%). By contrast, Oxy scored 46 TDs, and was 30-for-48 red zone TDs (63%), 39-for-48 red zone scores (81%).

OxyBob

[D O.C.]

Then you, your honor, did not read my gag about somebody in the USB office at Occidental getting the bright idea to manufacture SALEM TO SALEM ribbons.

I'm not familliar with how sucessfull Willamette's passing game is...could someone elighten me?

LaVerne got fooled big time.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Missed that one Dens . . . sorry.

[Sabretooth Tiger]

Hmmm . . . so what you're saying is that Oxy needs to not give up big plays to Willamette?

Man I hope the Oxy coaching staff has thought of that.   

Of course that strategy didn't work so well on that freaking Whitworth hail mary in the playoffs two years ago.
Not that I'm bitter or anything.

TOS:  "Football is just the warm up.  Oxy is a rugby school anyway."

Nice signature line!

[OXY Oswald]

With Oxy's powerful and fast D-ends in Worthheimer and Fisher, I think that any Willamette rushing will be done inbetween the tackles. An up the gut attach strategy has traditionally been Oxy's weak point in rushing D-fence, but with the verteran Antohony Ostland and yound star Pat Sarkissian in the middle it will be interesting to see what the bearcats try to do.
As far as Oxy coaching goes, EJ Johnson is a brilliant defensive coordinator that will come up with an complicated yet sucessful strategy to shut the bearcats down. Knowing coach EJ, he'll probably be living in his office and will be running on only a few nights sleep once they reach Salem.
I think the big question will be how Oxy's secondary holds up. You can always count on Ciasulli and Tromello coming up with big plays, but the overall function of this group can be questionable. I'm not familliar with how sucessfull Willamette's passing game is...could someone elighten me?
All and all I'll be hoping for a 2004 repeat.

I believe our defense will be our strong point coming into Wilamette this week.  EJ (btw I believe the J in EJ stands for Johnson.... stupid O linemen  ) has a great game plan and our offense has been strong all season.  Groh will give Oxy the edge in the kicking game and the battle for field position.  Should be a great game, one that will be a battle for home field in the 2nd round.  

GO TIGERS!  PLAYOFFS... !

[bbaddict]

I keep reading about the tough Oxy defense, but can't help but notice that WU & Oxy have played 3 common opponents this year.

Menlo:   Oxy W 38-28    WU W 28-3
Cal Lu:  Oxy W-24-21     WU  W 31-17
LaVerne:  Oxy W 40-27  WU W 44-0

The points scored by Oxy & Wu are about the same.  The interesting numbers are points scored by their common opponents -- Oxy 76, WU 20

Did you beef up your defense since those games?

[Sabretooth Tiger]

"Bend don't break" defense.

Everyone played against LaVerne . . . injuries to starters that may or may not be at play this weekend.

Oxy's defensive strength is against the run (look at the stats on rushing vs. passing yards against Oxy by those common foes) . . . Willamette's offense is the run . . . I like the matchup.

[OXY Oswald]

I keep reading about the tough Oxy defense, but can't help but notice that WU & Oxy have played 3 common opponents this year.

Menlo:   Oxy W 38-28    WU W 28-3
Cal Lu:  Oxy W-24-21     WU  W 31-17
LaVerne:  Oxy W 40-27  WU W 44-0

The points scored by Oxy & Wu are about the same.  The interesting numbers are points scored by their common opponents -- Oxy 76, WU 20

Did you beef up your defense since those games?

No but WU's starters appear to be playing a bit longer than the Oxy starters.  

In the Menlo game they were in through the last drive which ran out the clock, this included a scoring drive while up 21-3.  In the La Verne game the starters scored on two possessions in the fourth quarter to go from 23-0 to 37-0.  The backups appear to come in for WU's last possesion and scored as well by going for it on 4-2 at the ULV 45 yard line, to push the score to 44-0.

Oxy's starters were out by the end of the third against La Verne and seemed content to run out the clock and pin Menlo deep with a 10 point lead in the fourth.  

[OxyBob]

Menlo:   Oxy W 38-28    WU W 28-3
Cal Lu:  Oxy W-24-21     WU  W 31-17
LaVerne:  Oxy W 40-27  WU W 44-0

What I see is that Oxy and Willamette were each 3-0 against common opponents.

OxyBob