FB: Empire 8

[Craft_Beermeister]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Good luck Red Dragons.

[Bengalsrule]

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Red Dragons en route as we speak. Go C State!

Ditto. +k

[sjfcards]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Here's hoping C-State can pull off another surprise this weekend.

[Catville Commissioner Elect]

Just took a quick glance at the game notes. Linfield hit 70 spots 3 times this year.  I don't think they scored less than 40 points this season.  Not a warm fuzzy feeling when your defense has struggled.  Nothing to lose this week so who knows what we will have dialed up defensively!

Offensively we can score, but on the flip side those Cats have a knack at keeping people out of the end zone.  Hopefully we can hit our stride and put enough on the board to keep it competitive.  Only time will tell, but even so I'm just being an overly optimistic homer.

Happy Thanksgiving and good luck Red Dragons!

we only scored 24 in one game but we won it by 24....

I am sure Cortland will be ready and put up a fight.  You don't get this far by not doing it.  Although The Cats have put up big numbers, what is scary is that they doing it with the majority of their 1st string Offense and 1st string defense not playing in parts of the 3rd qtr and most of the 4th qtr.  I would hate to imagine how may points they would have hung on some of the teams they played if the starters were in the game more.  But then, that is not Linfield's style.  Once a game is in hand, let the rest of the team play.  Most of Linfields backups have more playing time than a lot of the other Northwest Conference starters.

really looking forward to meeting some of the Cland boosters.  See you on Saturday at the Catdome.

[pg04]

Happy Thanksgiving to my Empire 8 friends (and all people on the boards). Hope everyone had a good day. One thing I'm thankful for is this D3 Community!

[boobyhasgameyo]

Congratulations to the Red Dragons.

I really like the way that the NJAC and E8 have reconfigured. I think that there may be a little more shifting with the changes in the Liberty League, but I like having 3 Pool A bids in that part of the east region.

Best wishes and travel safely. I like the E8 versus NWC matchup to help us compare 2 quality conferences.

I don't know how much the game can be used to compare conferences.  The E8 doesn't have a team anywhere near Linfield's level right now.  Meanwhile Cortland lost a couple of games in conference and the argument could be made that they are just as easily the 4th best team in the Empire 8 as the best.  Almost every team in our conference played at a similar competitive level this season. 

The NWC looks like Linfield and nobody else this season judging by how badly they steamrolled everyone. 

[clandfan]

I've always been a fan of Linfield from afar. I think it's probably the year you finally face one of the other Purples in the final.

First we have to beat some Red Dragons this week....then perhaps the Purple Cru....and possibly the Purple Tommies and then probably the Purple Raiders......there are just so many good Purple Teams in D3.  I always chuckle a little bit when Mt. U and UWW are referred as THE Purple Powers....  Anybody want to give us Cat Fans a synopsis on Cortland St.?  They look to be a pass > run team with a big line and at east 3 good recievers.  Their defense looks pretty vulnerable to a good passing game.  What else can you guys tell us?

Your assessment is pretty accurate.  We have an excellent QB who does not make many mistakes.  Our strength is in our passing game but we have a couple strong backs who can bust it up the middle but are not going to beat anyone running east /west.  If our OL can hold up, we will score.  Problem is that I don't know if we can score enough.  Our secondary is vulnerable to big plays and with the points that the Cats have put up this year, I'm thinking they are a big play team.  I haven't done my homework on The Cats but I think the only way Cortland wins is if Linfield plays like pussy cats.  Cortland is going to hit you in the mouth but in the end, I don't think our defense can hang.  I hope I'm wrong.

[Ralph Turner]

We follow three indexes on the ASC Pick'ems board.

Bornpowerindex predicts Linfield by 31
Lazindex predicts Linfield by 20.
Atomic Football predicts Linfield by 37.

There is a frame of reference with which we can watch the game.

Safe travels.

[D O.C.]

clandfan...just a note and a share of Wildcat11's blog....

All 4 defensive backs for Linfield were 1st team All Conference.

http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/2015/11/2015-playoff-round-2-preview-linfield.html

[clandfan]

clandfan...just a note and a share of Wildcat11's blog....

All 4 defensive backs for Linfield were 1st team All Conference.

http://catdomealumni.blogspot.com/2015/11/2015-playoff-round-2-preview-linfield.html

Noted. thank you.  Not sure how telling all-conference is as Linfield was by far the class of the conference which is rated quite a bit below the E8.  Could be wrong but they may not have seen a passing attack at the level of Cortland.  Proof will be on the field.  I think Cortlands defense will be the issue.  Can we make a stop?  If not, could get ugly.

[bluenote]

I'd say Linfield by 10. But I'm usually conservative with this kind of talk.... Hope the Cortland team has a great experience visiting the NW.

[D O.C.]

Not sure how telling all-conference is as Linfield was by far the class of the conference which is rated quite a bit below the E8.  Could be wrong but they may not have seen a passing attack at the level of Cortland.

Truth.

(and that's why we rely on the All-Conferences defensive ends)   

[D O.C.]

Willamette Valley very much like New York. They won't be rubber necking.

[Div3Fan]

Lets go Cortland! I'm hoping for a competitive and injury-free game.

[MacQuiz]

Willamette Valley very much like New York. They won't be rubber necking.

As I went about my business yesterday I wondered what special things the Cortland guys might get to do while here?
The mountain was certainly out in its glory yesterday.  When Linfield has traveled to new places they schedule interesting
diversions and "Field Trips" for the guys.  Anyone know what our Empire State visitors did for fun?