FB: Empire 8

[Bombers798891]

Ithaca's offense is staggeringly bad. Like, if middlerelief was talking about Ithaca's offense the way he does Fisher's defense, he would actually be right. We're now at 27 points scored by the offense in their last six games. It's kind of sad to watch, because it doesn't seem like they have any idea how to fix it. Excluding penalty yardage, Ithaca's first three quarters last week were as follows:

40 plays, 56 yards, 3 first downs, 3 turnovers.

Alfred's got a solid defense, after all, they are 4-0. But I mean, that's a complete zero on offense. I mean, how does this happen?

[dlippiel]

Ithaca's offense is staggeringly bad. Like, if middlerelief was talking about Ithaca's offense the way he does Fisher's defense, he would actually be right. We're now at 27 points scored by the offense in their last six games. It's kind of sad to watch, because it doesn't seem like they have any idea how to fix it. Excluding penalty yardage, Ithaca's first three quarters last week were as follows:

40 plays, 56 yards, 3 first downs, 3 turnovers.

Alfred's got a solid defense, after all, they are 4-0. But I mean, that's a complete zero on offense. I mean, how does this happen?

Bombers what is going on with the O? Is it personnel? Coaching? dlip just has so much respect and admiration for the Bomber program and the fact that their D and special teams are ALWAYS as good as they are he is just wondering what is going on with the O IYHO?

[Bartman]

Ithaca's offense is staggeringly bad. Like, if middlerelief was talking about Ithaca's offense the way he does Fisher's defense, he would actually be right. We're now at 27 points scored by the offense in their last six games. It's kind of sad to watch, because it doesn't seem like they have any idea how to fix it. Excluding penalty yardage, Ithaca's first three quarters last week were as follows:

40 plays, 56 yards, 3 first downs, 3 turnovers.

Alfred's got a solid defense, after all, they are 4-0. But I mean, that's a complete zero on offense. I mean, how does this happen?

Bombers ... it is unfortunate for such a great historic program....+k for support to get Bomber fans through it. Big changes are needed, for sure

[Upstate]

As a team they only allowed 10 points and 182 yards of offense in the 2nd half, a huge improvement over the 28 points and 300 yards allowed in the first half...

They got ripped but made adjustments and I don't think you can ask for more than that...

Also going into yesterday Fisher safety DJ Logory had 26 tackles in 3 games...

Today he has 49 tackles...

23 tackles in a game ties the Fisher record for tackles on a game...

[D3MAFAN]

As a team they only allowed 10 points and 182 yards of offense in the 2nd half, a huge improvement over the 28 points and 300 yards allowed in the first half...

They got ripped but made adjustments and I don't think you can ask for more than that...

Also going into yesterday Fisher safety DJ Logory had 26 tackles in 3 games...

Today he has 49 tackles...

23 tackles in a game ties the Fisher record for tackles on a game...

I am not really a fan a secondary players leading teams in tackles, which usually indicate that the LB core are not shedding blocks and filling gaps or there are gaps in coverage that the secondary haven't adjusted for. However, for a safety to have that many, really means that he was everywhere supporting...

[boobyhasgameyo]

Updated top 25:

Fisher up to #14
Cortland dropped out and received no votes
Utica and Alfred in the shout outs section. 

[Saxon73]

So, the E8 could possibly have three teams in the top 25 after next week. That is almost scarry. 

[middlerelief]

So, the E8 could possibly have three teams in the top 25 after next week. That is almost scarry. 

And they should!!  - If the Liberty League has two teams, 4-0 E8s should be in there as well

While I do believe SJF may be a tad overrated, Utica has played and beaten two teams that at the time were top 25 and beaten them both.  They should be in, as should AU. 

Big in conference show downs coming.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Sort of off topic but still about the top 25 - Johns Hopkins.  I feel like that team is so consistently overrated.  Largely because they play in a weak conference and never lose in it.  But once they are in the playoffs you can bet the house they aren't making it out of the second round of the playoffs, that's if they even manage to escape the 1st.  They're currently ranked 9th.  Let's watch in anticipation to see what becomes of them this year.  I'm going to go ahead and guess more of the same. 

Also, I was wondering if Wheaton would drop and they did.  I watched them play Elmhurst yesterday since Elmhurst and Fisher had a common opponent in Olivet.  Olivet beat Elmhurst 27-13.  Wheaton beat them 10-6 in a game that was tight throughout.  Comparing scores is always kind of a pointless exercise (look at ONU vs Utica, Heidelberg vs Cortland, Heidelberg vs ONU and then Cortland vs Utica as a prime example of why)...but let's just say I was expecting more out of Wheaton than that.  I think the pollsters got that one right. 

[D3MAFAN]

Sort of off topic but still about the top 25 - Johns Hopkins.  I feel like that team is so consistently overrated.  Largely because they play in a weak conference and never lose in it.  But once they are in the playoffs you can bet the house they aren't making it out of the second round of the playoffs, that's if they even manage to escape the 1st.  They're currently ranked 9th.  Let's watch in anticipation to see what becomes of them this year.  I'm going to go ahead and guess more of the same. 

Also, I was wondering if Wheaton would drop and they did.  I watched them play Elmhurst yesterday since Elmhurst and Fisher had a common opponent in Olivet.  Olivet beat Elmhurst 27-13.  Wheaton beat them 10-6 in a game that was tight throughout.  Comparing scores is always kind of a pointless exercise (look at ONU vs Utica, Heidelberg vs Cortland, Heidelberg vs ONU and then Cortland vs Utica as a prime example of why)...but let's just say I was expecting more out of Wheaton than that.  I think the pollsters got that one right.

Playing a little devil's advocate here. Johns Hopkins has lost to Wesley, Hobart (Who beat Ithaca that same year), Wesley, Mount Union, and St. John Fisher, respectively over the last five year's. Each of those teams Hopkins loss to were at least Top 8 teams in the country. Having them rank around 9-11 range is adequate for them. One think, I would like to see Johns Hopkins do is schedule tougher out of conference games (but I believe that is a conference move). I didn't like his responses to Pat's questions earlier in the year, but I believe they have a good program and can easily compete in any of the "East Region" conferences and win.

[Jonny Utah]

Ithaca's offense is staggeringly bad. Like, if middlerelief was talking about Ithaca's offense the way he does Fisher's defense, he would actually be right. We're now at 27 points scored by the offense in their last six games. It's kind of sad to watch, because it doesn't seem like they have any idea how to fix it. Excluding penalty yardage, Ithaca's first three quarters last week were as follows:

40 plays, 56 yards, 3 first downs, 3 turnovers.

Alfred's got a solid defense, after all, they are 4-0. But I mean, that's a complete zero on offense. I mean, how does this happen?

Bombers what is going on with the O? Is it personnel? Coaching? dlip just has so much respect and admiration for the Bomber program and the fact that their D and special teams are ALWAYS as good as they are he is just wondering what is going on with the O IYHO?

It's a little bit of everything.  You saw the Union game.  Pretty much the same offense as Union, except Union did about 4-5 extra plays that Ithaca never tries (different formation like the bunch, WR screen, RB screen, etc).  Ithaca has run a trick play here or there but the offense is predictible. 

It will be interesting to see what they do with the coaching job next year.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Sort of off topic but still about the top 25 - Johns Hopkins.  I feel like that team is so consistently overrated.  Largely because they play in a weak conference and never lose in it.  But once they are in the playoffs you can bet the house they aren't making it out of the second round of the playoffs, that's if they even manage to escape the 1st.  They're currently ranked 9th.  Let's watch in anticipation to see what becomes of them this year.  I'm going to go ahead and guess more of the same. 

Also, I was wondering if Wheaton would drop and they did.  I watched them play Elmhurst yesterday since Elmhurst and Fisher had a common opponent in Olivet.  Olivet beat Elmhurst 27-13.  Wheaton beat them 10-6 in a game that was tight throughout.  Comparing scores is always kind of a pointless exercise (look at ONU vs Utica, Heidelberg vs Cortland, Heidelberg vs ONU and then Cortland vs Utica as a prime example of why)...but let's just say I was expecting more out of Wheaton than that.  I think the pollsters got that one right.

Playing a little devil's advocate here. Johns Hopkins has lost to Wesley, Hobart (Who beat Ithaca that same year), Wesley, Mount Union, and St. John Fisher, respectively over the last five year's. Each of those teams Hopkins loss to were at least Top 8 teams in the country. Having them rank around 9-11 range is adequate for them. One think, I would like to see Johns Hopkins do is schedule tougher out of conference games (but I believe that is a conference move). I didn't like his responses to Pat's questions earlier in the year, but I believe they have a good program and can easily compete in any of the "East Region" conferences and win.

To be clear I'm not saying they aren't a top 25 team in general.  I just feel like they naturally gravitate towards the top because they rarely ever lose in the regular season.  If they played in the E8 for example I have no doubt they'd be competing for the top position along with the other contenders.  But they are 44-1 in the CC in the last 5 years.  No way in hell that is happening in the E8.  They wouldn't even come close to sniffing that...and they would have to fight their way into the rankings on a yearly basis like the rest of us.   

[Bombers798891]

Wanted to weigh in on top 25 talk:

E8: This was exactly the kind of weekend that would have previously killed the E8. Fisher gets upset by Brockport, Utica can't take the next step, and we're left with one undefeated team four weeks into the season. But Fisher pulled it out, Utica continues to display a consistent toughness that had been absent in the program, and here we are with three 4-0 teams. I'm not exactly sure why Hobart's 4 wins (1-2 IC, 2-2 Brockport, 1-2 Union, 1-3 Endicott) are worth anything more than Utica's. At least the team's Utica beat were, at the time, highly regarded. None of the 4 teams Hobart beat had a winning record last year.

And consider next week's matchups. Utica's going up against the offensively inept Ithaca. Alfred has 0-3 Morrisville. Fisher/Buff State could be interesting, but let's remember, Buff State's had to play no road games yet. I think all three will win next week and be 5-0.

The thing about that is, that helps later in the year when they start playing each other because it's got the potential to be a top 25 matchup.

Hopkins: This is the problem with the way D-3 football works. We have around 6-8 elite teams in the division, which means, that if you make the 2nd round of the playoffs, that's who you'll wind up losing to. So how exactly do we judge these Hopkins-type teams? They may not have great wins, but losing to Wesley and Mount can't be held against you. Because conference play dominates so much of the regular season landscape, it's hard to get data to confirm if the 9th ranked team is really, say, the 17th best team, or if 21 should really be 13.

[ITH radio]

Cover highlights from Wk 4, including discussion about teams like Utica, Fisher and others in the 55 min mark post player interviews:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2016/09/26/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

[fisheralum91]

What a crazy ( but great ) weekend of football!
What did Keyes do/say/adjust to stop Brockport in the second half?
I did notice that they stacked the box a few times- but was there more to it?
I am nervous about Alumni weekend with Buff St.
I have no idea what they have on the table.
My 20year reunion was a bust as we got blasted by Hobart.
Lets hope that the 25th is not a similar circumstance!

That said- if we get thru this week unscathed, there is light at the end of the tunnel.....i think