FB: Empire 8

[AUKaz00]

Is it Saterday yet?

I've been wondering this since Sunday night...

[RedDragonFan]

My post-Cortaca thoughts on Ithaca's season...

1) Starting with the offense, A+ on the season for Rob Zappia. He fought for the starting job, won it, and had a heck of a season. Yes, his INT in the Jug may have been a killer, but for a guy with no help from his running game at all to put up 2,500 yards and 19/8 TD's INTS in his first season is impressive.

Congratulations to Thomas Vossler on a heck of a career. Enjoy your (short-lived) receptions record!

If the Bombers don't fix their running game, they're going to be in major trouble. Even removing sack/punt snap negativity, the team "ran" a mere 757 yards, which is simply awful. Blame the line, blame the runners, blame the injuries, but if not for a loaded WR crew and above-average QB, the offense would have been a disaster

2) Defensively...well, frankly, I think the team plays soft on the road. The team allowed twice as many points on the road as they did at home, and while yes, the competition on the road was much tougher, the Bombers allowed Dwyer and Autera to run for 509 yards in two games, and that's an embarrassing number. The difference in the team at home and on the road was not only noticeable, it went beyond the traditional "Almost everyone plays better at home" issues

3) For the first time in the 20+ years I've been following the Bombers, special teams was a negative. And frankly, this can't be overstated enough.

I don't want to take anything away from Cortland and Autera, but the fact is, the Jug swung on the punt screw-up. To that point, Cortland had 3 points and hadn't shown the ability to finish a drive against the Bombers. That, coupled with the fumble on the kick return, and 14 of Cortland's 20 points are attributable to Ithaca special teams mistakes. I know Jameson took a hit on it, but the momentum had already started to swing in Cortland's favor, and that made it much worse.

In the Lycoming loss, the Bombers were killed when Rogowski's final punt netted a mere 23 yards. Yes, punting is always dodgy on the D3 level, but with a mere two minutes to go, to give Lycoming the ball at midfield was a killer.

So where does the team go from here? In theory, the defense should be good next year, with most of the key players returning, including both corners, four linebackers, a safety and a pair of good lineman (presumably) back.

Offense is a different story. Thank God Ruffrage is back, but Vossler, Higgins and Crandall all need to be replaced, as does Zappia--although that one should be simple. As for the offensive line, the returning starters include Hemingway, Peck and Joyce, none of whom weigh more than 240 pounds. I'm not sure that the Bombers have  size in the pipeline either. A pair of freshman weigh 280 and 285, but no other returning lineman are above 250. Fisher, by comparison, has eight such linemen, with three freshman who weigh over 300. Now, I know there's more to the position than sheer size, but the Bombers have to be concerned.

I don't know what they have at RB, but Ardoin doesn't look like a game-changer/feature back to me. A nice complimentary back, ok sure. But is he going to be a guy you want getting 20-25 carries a game? A friend of mine suggested putting Will Carter at RB, which sounds insane, but his logic was, the Bombers are loaded at LB anyway--they always are--and if you stick Carter there, at least you've got someone with speed and athleticism back there, which the Bombers need, since running off tackle is useless with their lack of size up front. Not my idea, and I don't know if it is even feasible, but 200 carries for 700 yards from your RB's last season, how much worse can it get?

Finding a competent long-snapper would also be a plus...

I met someone at the Guiliano's tailgate after the game Saturday who knows Carters family.  He said that Carter actually did run the ball in High School in addition to playing LB so interesting that you throw that out.  What he lacks in size he certainly makes up for with athleticism and heart. Might not be a bad idea depending on how well they recruit.

[AUKaz00]

While reading the Kickoff entry on SUNY-Maritime, I realized this game will be more difficult on me than I first realized.  How can I root against a fellow descendant of Gillean the Battleaxe?!?

[AUPepBand]

While reading the Kickoff entry on SUNY-Maritime, I realized this game will be more difficult on me than I first realized.  How can I root against a fellow descendant of Gillean the Battleaxe?!?

Hey 'Kaz00...are you facebook friends yet with your long lost cousin? Looks like he's a starter for the Privateers...and the QB thinks he's the funniest guy on the team!

Your loyalties are being tested....

On Saxon Warriors!

[sjfcards]

So what is AU looking at this weekend? I am pulling for an AU win since they will play Cortland (I assume) next weekend about 2 minutes from my house.

[AUPepBand]

So what is AU looking at this weekend? I am pulling for an AU win since they will play Cortland (I assume) next weekend about 2 minutes from my house.

Looks like mostly cloudy with high in the mid-40s. Perfect football weather.

Pep was checking into NCAA Stats and, coincidentally, the stats page for SUNY-Maritime would not load. So, Pep will go with what he does know.

In New York State, higher education is at its highest at Alfred University (elevation 1700+ ft.). SUNY-Maritime, in the Privateers' perfect 10-0 season, never ventured any higher than 1132 feet above sea level when they played at the winless program at Anna Maria (0-19 in its first two seasons). Maritime outdistanced the AMcats 379 to 272 in total yardage but both teams had 19 first downs. Pep believes the altitude affected the Privateers then, and they will struggle at a sky-high Alfred. Maritime is a seafaring foe and while Alfred comprises TWO watersheds, the Kanakadea (Seneca for "where the earth meets the sky") is hardly navigable.

Pep is thinking the Saxons will put 35 points on the board and, in a reversal score of last year's Saxon loss to Albright, Maritime will score a late TD to put 25 points on the board. AU 35, Maritime 25.

On Saxon Warriors!

[maxpower]

Although I'm a Yankee fan, how about a shout out to King Felix for taking the AL Cy Young.... maybe writers are finally realizing that "best pitcher on the team with the best hitting" is a stupid way to give out this award...

[Doid23]

Although I'm a Yankee fan, how about a shout out to King Felix for taking the AL Cy Young.... maybe writers are finally realizing that "best pitcher on the team with the best hitting" is a stupid way to give out this award...

I thought they've been doing that for a while (the writers). I mean, the Yankees have won 1 Cy Young award in 30 years...

[maxpower]

Well, a win discrepancy like this (between Felix and Price/Sabathia) has rarely come down on the side of the ERA king. I was just using the Yankees as an example.


EDIT: And maybe I'm super sensitive about this because this year there was a lot of chirping from Joe Morgan types about how Felix couldn't "win games" like Sabathia could...

[AUKaz00]

Well, a win discrepancy like this (between Felix and Price/Sabathia) has rarely come down on the side of the ERA king. I was just using the Yankees as an example.


EDIT: And maybe I'm super sensitive about this because this year there was a lot of chirping from Joe Morgan types about how Felix couldn't "win games" like Sabathia could...

I was glad to hear it as well.  And what is Joe Morgan doing again?

[Doid23]

Well, a win discrepancy like this (between Felix and Price/Sabathia) has rarely come down on the side of the ERA king. I was just using the Yankees as an example.


EDIT: And maybe I'm super sensitive about this because this year there was a lot of chirping from Joe Morgan types about how Felix couldn't "win games" like Sabathia could...

Agreed, that was getting old. I dig CC, but Felix was on another level this year.

[dlippiel]

Well, a win discrepancy like this (between Felix and Price/Sabathia) has rarely come down on the side of the ERA king. I was just using the Yankees as an example.


EDIT: And maybe I'm super sensitive about this because this year there was a lot of chirping from Joe Morgan types about how Felix couldn't "win games" like Sabathia could...

Agreed, that was getting old. I dig CC, but Felix was on another level this year.

dlip is extremely happy for Felix, to dlip he is the clear choice.

[AUPepBand]

And turning to football, Pep was amused by Pat Coleman's take on AU's "turning point of the season" in the playoff team capsule:

This season's turning point: Could be an hour after the bracket was announced, when Alfred finally figured out what we knew all along and posted, that they were hosting SUNY-Maritime in the first round.

Pep was not alone in his delight in Alfred's first round draw and, as a result, overlooking the location. Perhaps it's that prevalent Rodney Dangerfield personae that resulted in AU fully expecting to travel this year.

On Saxon Warriors!

[maxpower]

Well, let's be careful not to chalk up Alfred's hosting to their seeding...

[AUPepBand]

Well, let's be careful not to chalk up Alfred's hosting to their seeding...

How true....likely the reason the hosting went undetected for at least an hour....