FB: Empire 8

[msarge7]

Surprise from the Liberty League, SLU just beat Hobart, 24-21.

[Bombers798891]

Bombers win ugly 29-17...here are my thoughts.

1. This Bomber teams really lacks that killer instinct. You'd think a team which gets up 22-0 at home would cruise. Instead, they allow 17 straight points and take a spate of dumb penalties to keep Hartwick hanging around.

2. Offensively, Zappia still misses too many open receivers, but four touchdowns will get the job done. He threw a terrible pick on the opening drive and missed Ruffrage for a TD on a drive that got them nothing, but he made some good throws as well. The running game was better, for what it's worth. It's clear Ardion is the better running back (18 carries, 108 yards) but Ruggerio (8 carries, 29 yards) had to be helped off in the fourth, which makes it a no-brainer.

3. Defensively, the team is prone to giving up the big pass play, but five sacks is huge. The Bombers dropped a pair of interceptions, but they had three, and recovered a pair of fumbles. It's a much more aggressive defense. Does that make them better? Meh.

4. Special teams were a mixed bag. Bombers missed a FG and a XP, but they forced a fumble on a kickoff and Ruffrage nearly ran a punt back for a touchdown. They also downed a punt at the 3-yard line in the 4th quarter.

My overall impression hasn't changed. They seem to be a good, not great team. The only thing that gives me a slimmer of hope for the Fisher game is that the defense makes big plays. Maybe, they make enough for an upset. They've already got more sacks this season than they did last season (14-12) and the turnovers are more plentiful. Still looks 7-3 to me

[maxpower]

from Brian Delaney's in-game twitter:

"Ithaca must think Hartwicks trying to steal def. signs. 2 players shielding Fitzmaurice when he sends the call in."


interesting stuff. can't say enough about the job Delaney's been doing covering the team this year.

[Bombers798891]

from Brian Delaney's in-game twitter:

"Ithaca must think Hartwicks trying to steal def. signs. 2 players shielding Fitzmaurice when he sends the call in."


interesting stuff. can't say enough about the job Delaney's been doing covering the team this year.

Delaney is sharp. What's interesting is that, since he was a student, he's been around that team for 10 years, so he's got the background knowledge that you don't always get from guys his age at this level.

[theoriginalupstate]

from Brian Delaney's in-game twitter:

"Ithaca must think Hartwicks trying to steal def. signs. 2 players shielding Fitzmaurice when he sends the call in."


interesting stuff. can't say enough about the job Delaney's been doing covering the team this year.

Fisher does the same thing...

[maxpower]

I was commenting more on the quality of the reporting.

[theoriginalupstate]

I was commenting more on the quality of the reporting.

well you're no fun...

but yes I agree he does a very good job...

[maxpower]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

[theoriginalupstate]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

[Bombers798891]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

Look, if you're not going to let us do that, what's the point in even playing? You know we can't beat you fair and square

[theoriginalupstate]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

Look, if you're not going to let us do that, what's the point in even playing? You know we can't beat you fair and square

How about I stand on Ithaca's sidelines and relay the calls to the D then...

Gotta make it fair somehow...

[bomber3]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

A former Bomber player who now coaches Hartwick's line was stealing Ithaca's signs and changing defensive formations after the signs came in .  Dick move...

[theoriginalupstate]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

A former Bomber player who now coaches Hartwick's line was stealing Ithaca's signs and changing defensive formations after the signs came in .  Dick move...

Did they start doing it during the game (the towels)??

[lewdogg11]

What does SJF do? Steal signs, or try to stop others? 

They hold up towels over the people calling the plays...

Had too to keep IC from stealing signs a few years ago...

A former Bomber player who now coaches Hartwick's line was stealing Ithaca's signs and changing defensive formations after the signs came in .  Dick move...

I know people hate this, but it's not a dick move.  They should change signs.  Do you think baseball teams don't change signs probably daily?  People get traded, coaches go elsewhere, information gets exchanged...just roll with the punches.  If they are foolish enough to use the exact same signs as past years, shame on them.

[Bombers798891]

Random thought: One thing that sort of bugs me about this Bomber team is they seem easy to get off their game. After Hartwick had scored their 17 straight point, they went out for the kickoff and two things happened

Ruffrage went to the wrong side of the field, and had to go like, 60 yards in the other direction. I'm not talking a step in the wrong direction. Guys were lining up and he was still on the wrong side of the field.

In and of itself, not a big deal. But then, after Ruffrage gets set, everyone's lined up, and IC's only got 10 guys on the field. Someone finally comes sprinting on, but it was like, holy cow guys. I've honestly never seen a kick return team do such a poor job of getting on the field.

It's the kind of thing that's quirky in a blowout, and yeah, it probably stands out to me cause I have no life, but seeing it after your team goes from being up 22-0 to 22-17, it's like watching a team sleepwalk.

This, by the way, is not a shot at Ruffrage, who I really like.

Hartwick, BTW gets their plays in so late, it's astounding. I've never seen a team break a huddle with 9 seconds on the play clock so often