FB: Empire 8

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  To the Bomber Faithful,
If IC wants to take this one, the key for them is ball control.  IC is a team that is explosive every year, just as the SC offense appears to be this year.  Rather than start a pissing match of TD for TD, and play the "who makes a mistake first game", just take a deep breath and relax.  It has been noted that SC is soft defensively, so If I was getting my kids ready I would just scheme  ball control power plays.  Iso, Power, Trap, Counter, and Sprint Out (mangle the corners reads).  3-4 yard a pop plays and eat the clock.  Limit their access to the ball!  More touches they get, the more chances thry have to break a big one.  If they send one big right of the bat, chew the clock on them so the O does not get on the field to get into a rhythm.  Just my 2c from a high school coach. I am sure the Bomber staff is thinking the same.
Taste It

I couldn't agree more. Fisher's defense was dog tired, and against an offense like SC that's eventually going to go in Springfield's favor. Granted, Fisher's offense is obviously an up tempo offense that typically doesn't have much of a problem moving the ball & scoring (minus 1H of Ithaca game) - But the gameplan should have been to pound them with Robinson & Reile all day long and work the clock. I'm sure IC's chances lie within ball control & clock mgt.

The more rest you give your defense the better in any game, but against a team that can turn a mistake into a touchdown in a matter of seconds - ball control and keeping Sharpe & Co. off the field is the key.

Best of luck.

[fisheralum91]

does this mean i am rooting for IC?

Wow- wonders never cease!!

Morning shift punching in!

['gro]

Re: Turf vs. Grass

There might be some psychological effects to playing on the "other" surface (depending on what you're used to). Gro never noticed a difference except the old school turf made my knees sore and miraculously (sp) removed the skin from my elbows and lower legs.

If springfields QB can run/cut/etc. better on turf... then so can the opposing linebackers. Same theory for grass. It could screw up the timing of receivers routes but that's not a problem for SC. Since the playing surface is going to have the same effect on both teams, it's not a factor (breaking out algebra in a football conversation, the degree is paying off).

sorry for the rant but this is from 4 years of coach king driving the thought that those outside factors do not matter.

p.s. GoB15, for soccer the grass is going to effect the speed of the ball and the whole flow of the game so I can agree with you there.

[fisheralum91]

gro and gb,
i agree on the soccer aspect...
Alfred and Hamilton were completely different games back in the day!!!

[maxpower]

Jose-

Fisher beat Springfield twice in the last two years, and I would say this year's Fisher team is better than those. Whether or not IC is used to the option by now, I think Sharpe is a force like Springfield hasn't had in awhile.

[fisheralum91]

Beside er, anybody else going to the UC Fisher game?
Hoping for better weather- looks like snow showers all week....

[boobyhasgameyo]

I want to go to the game, but alas I have to work 14 hours Saterday....ouch


Quick final note on Fisher's defense Saturday and may or may not be a factor as to why they were dismantled so efficiently.  I believe it was 4 defensive starters were out, lineman and co-captain Greg Piz, two starting corners including possibly the best defensive player Stepnick, and one of the safeties Micah Norton.  At the game I noticed the replacement cornerback whose name escapes me, I noticed him biting on a lot of fakes and getting burned frequently.  I would have to believe with Stepnicks experience and playing ability this wouldn't have happened, and they were some pretty crucial plays that resulted in breakout runs for touchdowns.  Oh well, live another day...



Take Sharpe off the front page, it's killing me lol

[Tlm]

I made this point on the Daily Dose, but it bears repeating here.  There is only one significant difference between last years Springfield team that went 4-6 and this years undefeated team, and that is Chris Sharpe.  I know that Sharpe got to play some towards the end of last season but this year he has developed into the best triple option QB that I have ever seen in D3.  He makes all the right reads, makes defenders miss, has explosive speed and on the rare occasion that Springfield throws the ball, he is not a bad passer.

As for grass or turf, I don't think it will make a big difference unless the weather is miserable and the field is in terrible shape.  If Ithaca can not contain Sharpe at the LOS, it will be a long day for the Bombers because they do not have the overall team speed on defense to run Sharpe down in the open field.

['gro]

can anyone who has seen springfield play the last few years compare this team to the 10-1 2003 team?

[JQV]

Jose-

Fisher beat Springfield twice in the last two years, and I would say this year's Fisher team is better than those. Whether or not IC is used to the option by now, I think Sharpe is a force like Springfield hasn't had in awhile.

Those last two Springfield teams are not good barometers.  They lost to Utica for crying out loud. (No offense budcrew). 

I think Sharpe is probably great.  But don't be so quick to write off the talent they have had in the past that is 3-13 all time at Butterfield.  I won't say Sharpe is the best they have ever had, because I haven't seen him, but even conceding that he is the best QB in SC history, he still isn't that much better than Sylvia and Judd.   That is not a knock on Sharpe either.  All the things being said in here and on the front page about Sharpe were said about Sylvia/Judd back then.  I think IC is a good matchup here.

Also, as to the 3-4, that is SC's base defense...right?  So presumably they face it in practice every day.  No real advantage there.  I suppose that cuts the other way.

Finally, didn't SC play at 'Port a few weeks ago?  This will be their second grass game of the year...right?

[AUKaz00]

Wow.  I got back from my trip to Jersey this weekend and did not expect to see THAT score for SJF-SC.  At least Alfred is back on the "Others receiving votes" section of the top 25. 

That brings me to a question: Is there any reason why Union is ranked #22 and Alfred only received 3 votes?  Just looking at their schedules they both lost to Springfield by a TD and really haven't had any other "real" challenges.  However, Alfred has had some big wins while Union has played a lot of close games.  I'm not saying that AU should be in the top 25, but I don't see how there can be that much disparity between Alfred and Union from this year's results.

Oh, and I'm looking forward to Hobart this Saterday at Merrill.  A Saxon win would make the lead up to the final two E8 games really exciting and we can still keep our streak of rain at home games alive with a little precipitation on the 28th!

[maxpower]

Jose-

Springfield hosted Brockport. This will be their first grass game of the year (and their second will come at Norwich).

[JQV]

That brings me to a question: Is there any reason why Union is ranked #22 and Alfred only received 3 votes?  Just looking at their schedules they both lost to Springfield by a TD and really haven't had any other "real" challenges.  However, Alfred has had some big wins while Union has played a lot of close games.  I'm not saying that AU should be in the top 25, but I don't see how there can be that much disparity between Alfred and Union from this year's results.

Union started the year ranked.  It is harder to fall out of the poll than to get into the poll.  Another reason polls are stupid.

[Tlm]

can anyone who has seen springfield play the last few years compare this team to the 10-1 2003 team?

Gro, in my humble opinion,

The '03 team was better up frunt.  Lutgens was a better FB and they were stronger with better overall team speed on defense.  Sylvia at QB was excellent running the offense but he was a mediocre passer with good speed.

Chris Sharpe is everything Sylvia was plus he can throw the ball and he has "gamebreaking" speed.  Whether this years team will ultimately be better than '03 remains to be seen.  Remember that in '03 Springfield played in the FFC, which was not nearly as strong as the E8.

Jose,

I have seen Springfield play over the past 6 years.  Sylvia was a heck of a QB and Judd was solid, but neither of them put as much pressure on a defense as Sharpe.  

[Bill McCabe]

What happened to Ithaca against SJF?  The comparable scores with SC are close.