FB: Empire 8

[AlfredSaxon8]

I assume that Fisher has been favored in every AU game the last several years.  It just seems that sometimes we give you guys more than you bargained for.  You may wax us this year, but  I was really just curious about serious looks at this year's game.  There has been a lot of good input.  I thank all responders for the thoughts.  I think if we stop turning the ball over (a big if) we can make a game of it.

On Saxon Warriors

Special Teams, particularly Francis, will be the difference in this week's game between Fisher and Alfred.  It was the difference in last year's contest and it will be again this year.   Fisher loves to attack the perimeter on offense and it's no secret..... Alfred is a very disciplined football team, but if they think they can get away with a single high safety.....game over.  On the other hand, if Fisher can't get pressure on Secky with their front 4..... Put it in the books.   It will be a battle.... This is why we love college football.  

I wouldn't ever doubt Murrays defensive capablilites.  And in response to that, Alfred does not try to get away playing with a single high safety.  If they do have a single F/S, its generally not a traditional 4-4 Sky coverage.  It would most likely be a man under, 1 free or zone blitz combination.  Alfred predominantly is a 4-3 team.  They like to play Cloud, a 4-3 that rolls to a 4-4 combination at the snap of the ball but rarely do they line up with a single high safety and if they do, they don't expect to win that way. 

[fisher57]

Sax 8
you are very right about more hype about this team.
i remember listening to a game very early this season---might have even been the bport game and i remember both Pete and Gene saying that (on paper) this was the most talented team in Fisher history and that 10- 0 is feasible.
Now that it is within grasp- this team is showing that it is living up to the hype.
I know Hartwick isnt great- but they gave IC and others fits and while the O seemed to "sputter" they still dropped 41 on em.

P
Its a little harder for me lately to stay on top of all this. I used to watch films of every game and I would be able to see other teams offense.  (I would be watching Hartwick's D and it would be tape from the Fisher game etc.)  So I had a good idea of who was executing well and so on.  But its hard for me to just hear names of these players and match them up to the likes of Kramer, Stepnick,
Farenbach, Robinson etc... Cause to me, those were some incredible teams.  So it's a little bit of ignorance because I haven't gotten a chance to see these kids play yet.

Those Fisher teams were incredible teams, no doubt.  It was my opinion ( and still is ) that , collectively, this the most talent that Fisher has put on the field at the same time in the history of the program.   There is a swagger to this team that I have never seen; it is pretty palatable in pre-game.  Its definitely not cocky....it's confident.... Confident in their ability and they trust in each other.   Last year, Alfred had that same swagger prior to the Fisher game.  It's going to be a woodshed brawl Saturday.  

[AUKaz00]

Special Teams, particularly Francis, will be the difference in this week's game between Fisher and Alfred.  It was the difference in last year's contest and it will be again this year.

This could be very true, especially if Alfred punts like they have the past two weeks.  However, I've got a gut feeling this will look more like 2006 than 2008 and with my notoriously bad-luck roommate coming into town, I've got no reason to believe otherwise.

[fisheralum91]

?

[fisher57]

I assume that Fisher has been favored in every AU game the last several years.  It just seems that sometimes we give you guys more than you bargained for.  You may wax us this year, but  I was really just curious about serious looks at this year's game.  There has been a lot of good input.  I thank all responders for the thoughts.  I think if we stop turning the ball over (a big if) we can make a game of it.

On Saxon Warriors

Special Teams, particularly Francis, will be the difference in this week's game between Fisher and Alfred.  It was the difference in last year's contest and it will be again this year.   Fisher loves to attack the perimeter on offense and it's no secret..... Alfred is a very disciplined football team, but if they think they can get away with a single high safety.....game over.  On the other hand, if Fisher can't get pressure on Secky with their front 4..... Put it in the books.   It will be a battle.... This is why we love college football.  

I wouldn't ever doubt Murrays defensive capablilites.  And in response to that, Alfred does not try to get away playing with a single high safetyL.  If they do have a single F/S, its generally not a traditional 4-4 Sky coverage.  It would most likely be a man under, 1 free or zone blitz combination.  Alfred predominantly is a 4-3 team.  They like to play Cloud, a 4-3 that rolls to a 4-4 combination at the snap of the ball but rarely do they line up with a single high safety and if they do, they don't expect to win that way. 

He knows his stuff and I would never doubt him.   I was impressed with their D play the past two years and with their results when they brought pressure. And Manzer was thorn in Fisher's side when he was on D.   

[AlfredSaxon8]

Special Teams, particularly Francis, will be the difference in this week's game between Fisher and Alfred.  It was the difference in last year's contest and it will be again this year.

This could be very true, especially if Alfred punts like they have the past two weeks.  However, I've got a gut feeling this will look more like 2006 than 2008 and with my notoriously bad-luck roommate coming into town, I've got no reason to believe otherwise.

I feel like that's the token reason for why a game is won and lost.  I was a part of it in 06 when Fisher returned that put for a TD.  But I think any team that has the ability to control the line of scrimmage, ultimately controls special teams.  They wont be punting if they dont need to and in the reverse role, if Fisher forces them to punt, that's when special teams play a role...  Alfred will only be kicking off when they score and at half time and if that's the case, it will mean momentum is in their favor anyways.  Yes, special teams are a major part of it.  But whoever dominates the LOS will win the game.  

[AUKaz00]

?

Punting                No.  Yds   Avg Long In20   TB
----------------------------------------------------------
Matthew Girolmo    3   55  18.3   23    0    0
Eric Rockwood       3   78  26.0   32    1    0
Totals...               6  133  22.2   32    1    0

[fisheralum91]

sorry kazoo- was aiming that one at the newbie

[SJFF82]

This may sound 'canned', but the winner of the turnover battle is going to win this game...both teams should be able to move the ball and score on the other, so it will come down to that big turnover in the 4th quarter that disrupts a game-winning scoring drive.

I do not buy into the idea that this is the best team, talent wise, that Fisher has ever fielded.  I am still not sold on our running game as a means to win a game, nor do I trust this defense to prevent a top shelf offense (like AU) from coming through in the 4th quarter.  The 2006 team could score, at will, on the ground or in the air and the defense was nasty.  This team is very solid and capable of going 10-0.  I have yet to see the talent though that could beat a Rowan 31-0 in the Regional final, or be down 19-14 with minutes to go in Alliance.

[Bombers798891]

This may sound 'canned', but the winner of the turnover battle is going to win this game...both teams should be able to move the ball and score on the other, so it will come down to that big turnover in the 4th quarter that disrupts a game-winning scoring drive.

I do not buy into the idea that this is the best team, talent wise, that Fisher has ever fielded.  I am still not sold on our running game as a means to win a game, nor do I trust this defense to prevent a top shelf offense (like AU) from coming through in the 4th quarter.  The 2006 team could score, at will, on the ground or in the air and the defense was nasty.  This team is very solid and capable of going 10-0.  I have yet to see the talent though that could beat a Rowan 31-0 in the Regional final, or be down 19-14 with minutes to go in Alliance.

I'm going to agree. The 2006/2007 versions struck me as much more complete teams. I still think you can score on this Fisher team--let's not forget, for all the Bombers offensive ineptitude, in the second half, the Bombers had four drives in one half that had the following:

1st and goal at the 3
1st and goal at the 2
1st and goal at the 2
1st and goal at the 2

Any above-average offensive line/running game (like ones Fisher will see in the playoffs) would turn that into at least 17 points. The point totals aren't bad, and I know there were some garbage time drives, but they're still giving up 340 yards a game. The 2006 team gave up 270 yards a game, and that includes the debacle against Springfield when (so I'm told) Fisher's best defenders were out.

"Bend don't break" only works to a certain caliber of opponent. I think Fisher's D may run into trouble against better offenses in the postseason. That being said, their offense is really good and can cover up a lot. They don't have the running game they did back then, but the passing game is as good as you can get.

[theoriginalupstate]

Teams are averaging 37 pass attempts vs SJF this year compared to 27 in 2006...

Teams have to air it out because of SJF's offense this year and yards are going to be given up eventually no matter how good you are...

[sjfcards]

I am not too worried about the Fisher running game. Teams play to their strengths, and this teams strength is the passing game. The 2006 team tried to get the ball to Robby as much as possible because he was their best player. This team is better off with Bailey throwing to the great group of wr's Fisher has. Hartwick tried to take the pass away from Fisher and Borum and Kramer put up like 180 plus rushing yards. Offense is not the issue with this team. The D is not as good as 2006 however.

[Bombers798891]

Teams are averaging 37 pass attempts vs SJF this year compared to 27 in 2006...

Teams have to air it out because of SJF's offense this year and yards are going to be given up eventually no matter how good you are...

True, but some of the underlying pass numbers aren't as good. In 2006, teams averaged 9.5 yards per attempt and 5.3 yards a completion. This season it's 11.8 and 6.6. Not massive difference, but noticable. In 260 attempts this season they've allowed 7 passing TD's compared to six in 391 in 2006. The flip side is a drastic increase in interceptions, which is an excellent sign.

Again, I think Fisher's an excellent team, but I do think the 2006 defense was better. But not being as good as the 2006 defense is hardly something that should be perceived as an insult. That team had five shutouts. They were flat out nasty. This one strikes me as "very good"

[sjfcards]

Another thing the 2006 team has going for it is that playoff run. We know how good they were because we watched them go deep into the playoffs. This years team may do the same but they also may lose this weekend and not make the playoffs. I guess what I am saying is that is to early to start comparing this team to 2006
I guess a better question is who has been more impressive through their first 7 games?

[BoSox0322]

Sax 8
you are very right about more hype about this team.
i remember listening to a game very early this season---might have even been the bport game and i remember both Pete and Gene saying that (on paper) this was the most talented team in Fisher history and that 10- 0 is feasible.
Now that it is within grasp- this team is showing that it is living up to the hype.
I know Hartwick isnt great- but they gave IC fits and while the O seemed to "sputter" they still dropped 41 on em.

was is 24 to 14 late in the third in the SJF Hartwick game?  Before the five straight picks...