FB: Liberty League

[pumkinattack]

Sadly, yes.  Alex Bell was in NFL camp(s) and well above 300lbs.  He had done that all year in short yardage.  My dad went to the game but I was living in DC at the time, but if I recall correctly we were up 7-0 about to go up 14-0 and that just totally flipped the script.

This team and staff has learned a lot since then and has played two top 3 teams the past two years in the playoffs (most of the starters have been around for both those years), so I hope it would be different if they beat SJF.

Thanks for bringing that up though.  I'm going to go get some wine now.

[Upstate]

Come on, it's not like I brought up the Hobart fake punt inside their own 20 vs SJF in the playoffs from a few years ago...

[pumkinattack]

Your killing me Smalls.

Two of the more tragic mistakes (although I've always been on with gambling a little on the road and/or as an underdog, both true in that 07 game). 

[AUPepBand]

doods, how has everyone been? Tags has been busy evidently.

Hope the old guard is well.

Tags, it's always good to see you back on the boards....as Pep appreciates your perpetuating a Pep post from the past. +K

On Saxon Warriors!

[ITH radio]

Lasts nights podcast with Duey Naatz, Coach Cragg and others

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2013/11/18/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

[mattvsmith]

ITH, Sorry I missed the live show again. I was getting an endoscopy. It wasn't fun.

As for this weekend, there's no talk about the Gallaudet game. Possibly because Hobart is the overwhelming favorite.

Question: JCU seems to be an animal. Real? Hype? Real with some hype to scare opponents? Hype based on reality? What's the deal?

From what I've been reading, it seems they may soundly beat SJF, meaning that Hobart will have to face them. Does this mean a 2nd round elimination or do the Statesmen stand a chance?

[pumkinattack]

Rev, Hobart looked poor vs Roch and Coach Cragg acknowledged they had a underwhelming week of practice.  If it's JCU/Bart in Round 2, let's just say they better have an airtight week of practice and be healthy (which hasn't been the case since Springfield).

The majority seems to have already penciled in JCU in the quarters, but there was also a lot of talk about Heidelberg going to the quarters last year and that ended up being short lives so well see.

[HScoach]

Looking thru my purple tinted glasses here is my 2 cents on JCU:

Mark Myers is an absolute stud at QB.   6'5" D1 transfer from Pitt.   He's the real deal.   Prototype pocket passer.   Quick release, very accurate, doesn't move.

Running game is only there to keep the defense honest.   Starting RB (Grobsmith) is a good pass receiver out of the backfield, but was injured in first half last week against Mount and didn't return in second half.   No idea of the severity.   Back-up RB (Michals) is a tougher runner between the tackles, but doesn't have the soft hands of the starter.

O-line is good in pass protection.   Not dominant, but very solid as a group.   Between Myers' quick release, spending 90% of the game in shotgun and their good O-line, Mount had ZERO pressure on Myers.   By mid-2nd quarter, Mount had given up rushing and was dropping 8 or 9 into coverage. 

WR corps is hard to figure out.   Last year they dropped 10+ passes in the Mount game and completely eliminated any chance of JCU being competitive, though we said at the time if they had any receivers they'd have easily scored 30 against Mount in 2012.   This past Saturday they caught EVERYTHING.   Especially Kline.   Every catch he made was a tough catch in traffic.   During the game we were very impressed by the hands of the JCU receivers and their toughness.   However in hindsight I think we missed the fact that there was always very tight coverage by Mount's inexperienced secondary that really struggled against Franklin and Heidelberg.   So I don't know if that means Mount played great in the secondary or whether JCU's are average athletically with great hands?  Will be curious to hear what you guys think if you get to see them.

Defensively JCU is very fundamentally sound.   Not dominant in any way, but no one area to exploit either.   JCU started the game against Mount playing a straight up 4-3 and got torched in the first half to the tune of 350 yards and 4 TD's.    Second half JCU started blitzing the crap out of Mount and really caused problems.   Mount moved the ball on JCU in the 2nd half primarily because QB Burke is very mobile and scrambled out of numerous sacks.   Their best defensive player appears to be OLB Krotz, but I wouldn't call him dominant or a difference makers.   Just very good and always around the ball making a sure tackle.   

Defensive stats are a little misleading as the bottom half of the OAC is terrible.   The top teams are good, but the bottom 5 should just stay on the bus.   So I think much like Mount's defense this season, JCU isn't as good as their top 5 numbers make them look.   But they're much better than Mount made them look this past Saturday.   Probably a solid Top 20 defensive unit. 

Overall this is a very good OAC team and before the brackets announced I though they should win a couple playoff games.   After seeing the pairings, I still think that is possible but SJF is a tough opener for a team that hasn't been in the playoffs since the head coach was the starting QB.   Don't know enough about Hobart to offer an opinion, but I've seen what SJF brings to the table.   And both SJF and JCU played Otterbein and both won by the exact 28-0 score.   

My primary concern with JCU is their entire offense is the arm of QB Mark Myers.   If he has an off day or the weather really sucks they'll be in trouble as their running game is a non-factor.   If they play offensively like they did against Heidelberg and Mount they're going to be a tough out.

[mattvsmith]

Great report, HScoach.

If I read you correctly, Hobart D needs to break the QB's arm so he can't pass. 

Seriously, it seems like they will be a daunting opponent. Hobart secondary needs to have the game of their lives, and the linebackers need to go after the quarterback to either force him out of his comfy pocket or sack him outright. It's going to be tough. I can only hope it's rainy.

[hobart16]

We have struggled with strong passing games of which the LL did not have many this year.  Kennedy looked very good against us but he did get picked and sacked a couple of times.  JCU could be the best passing team we have faced in a few years although RPI's guy last year was awfully good.  More mobile quarterbacks (like the St. Thomas kid last year) like Dean Kennedy seem to be more trouble for us as we have had a good pass rush over the past couple of years. 

One thing that can be tough about having a strong pass attack in the NCAAs is weather.  It could be nasty, and will likely be windy in Geneva come game day.  If you want to win in the playoffs you need to be weather proof. 

But hey we have to get by Gallaudet first and they seem like a team of destiny this year. 

[ITH radio]

They do, but their Cinderella season could unravel if their starting QB is out.

He left the SUNY game late in the 4th qtr.  Still think Hobart wins that game comfortably regardless.  2nd round is another story though.

BTW - LL awards coming out today around 1 pm.

[dlippiel]

They do, but their Cinderella season could unravel if their starting QB is out.

He left the SUNY game late in the 4th qtr.  Still think Hobart wins that game comfortably regardless.  2nd round is another story though.

BTW - LL awards coming out today around 1 pm.

Looking at Myer's numbers (even keeping the weakness of the bottom tier OAC teams in mind) and considering what Kennedy did against the Statesmen dlip thinks Hobart will be in serious trouble with JC if that game happens. In all honestness dlip has not been impressed with DK at all this season. Obviously he is good but when talking about November/December elite dlip does not consider him close, which means probably not in Myers area code. On top of this and seeing how JC gave the Mount D some fits the forecast is not looking good to dlip. He just jasn't been all that impressed with Bart this season and thinks they are not close to the team they were last season.

With that said dlip hopes he is as wrong as can be. If he were Hobart he would take it one game at a time. No looking over Gallaudet at all (even though he believes they should handle the Bison with relative ease) and keeping that "lack of eastern respect" chip on their shoulder at all times. dlip would love nothing more than to see the Statesmen go on a deep run here in 2013. He just doesn't think it will happen.

[pumkinattack]

The bigger issue really isn't the QB, it's our smaller DB's and our ILB's ability to cover the middle of the field (hook to curl) that can hurt us.  Most of the big play success against our secondary is just jump balls against 5'9" or so Fajri Jackson, Gabe Smith & Connor Garrett.  We may need to play Marcus Jemison a lot at CB should that game come up.  Same problem we had vs Wesley two years ago and UST last year.  We don't have the size to match up against bigger WR's so the front 4-6 has to win the LOS, get pressure and force early throws. 

I thought we absolutely look putrid against UofR, but a little context.  They (Roch) had one nice, long drive in the first half for a score.  They got their second score early in the 3rd on a 35yard drive post punt block.  That's it until its 42-14 in the 4th, so it's hard to say Kennedy tore us up.  He was good at scrambling and (though someone will get mad about me saying this) we're cutting the s**t out of our guys (which has happened all year and they should be used to) like Coleman and DW (and others).  DW is one of the more professional guys on the field and he couldn't help but directly address this with the refs at halftime (which he shouldn't but he's hardly a hothead).  I suspect this will be tightened up in the playoffs a little. 

The other thing is to tackle well.  Too many bs missle tackles.  UofR got a lot of extra yards after contact that should never have happened against this defence.  That may work against a typical 3-5 LL team, but it won't work against a top ten team.  Wrap it up!

[UfanBill]

First congratulations to Hobart for their dominate LL season.  I think as most that they will crush Gallaudet. After that the road will certainly toughen. I see a close game against JC but then MHB, yikes!  Good luck.  I'd be remiss as a Union fan if I didn't comment about last week's shoes game.  In keeping with what much of Union's season has been, it was bizarre Two, yes two, botched field goal snaps turned into Union TD's with the quick thinking of holder #80 Joe Vito.  Successive interceptions thrown by QB Nick Becker directly led to 14 RPI points.  Then as if in a potential dream scenario, injured and beleaguered  former starting QB Connor Eck comes in to save the day.  Union rallied behind Eck's inspired play to lead late but to RPI's credit they drove the field to reclaim the advantage.  With 1:58 left needing 3 to tie or a td to win, it was setting up for the most thrilling of finishes when...phfft!!...a fumble and it's over.  Union's 2013 season ended as it had played out all along, in frustration.   Both teams played extremely hard, RPI deserved the win.  Time Warner cable televised the game and it may be shown across NYS this week.  Look for it, it's worth the watch.

[Bartman]

If Hobart wins against Gallaudet and it's option offense(no assumptions here), they will have an incredible challenge in the tournament. Thanks for the scouting report on JCU, I saw the QB in action on video this year and he is the Rochester QB on steroids(just an expression). Our db's and LB's will be severely tested by a JCU passing game. The JCU defense looks stout, but Hobart will have a great measuring stick for evaluating the progress of the program regionally if that is the match up. I saw the St. Thomas game last year and after Worthington was hurt things seemed to unravel, especially since Strang was overthrowing that day. St. Thomas was the better team, but we had some athletes(Webb and Coleman) that surprised some people in Minnesota and on another day the score would have been more competitive. I can see Dlip's point in comparing this year's to last, but this team has not been tested this year as the LL games seemed to be over by the third quarter and there is quite the gap between the Hobart first and second strings(allowing for closer final scores). So we will find out how they stack up to last years when it counts. They will have to concentrate and perform on EVERY play in the playoffs , as this has not been the case in the regular season this year.
    I will be rooting for St. John Fisher against JCU, as I think this could be a great game, especially after SJF blowout against a very good Alfred team. A smashmouth New York SJF vs. Hobart battle after an exciting upset of JC by SJF could be a classic. Whether JCU wins or SJF can grind out an upset, the second round looks a lot tougher than last years Wittenberg match up.  If Hobart is fortunate enough to make it to the third round, it is probably a trip to Texas for the team I think is the #1 team in the tournament, which will be a Stagg bowl experience before even making the Stagg bowl(how exhausting is that!) . But this is way too far out to talk about.
  Hobart should already be extremely proud of achieving back to back undefeated regular seasons, but the team obviously wants more. If ever there was a "take one game at a time" bracket, this is it as there are some incredibly talented teams in this bracket.  If Hobart advances, they will have the opportunity to compete against teams that are physically superior and will have to play smart and take every opportunity that they are given to advance. One game at a time,though,  as Hobart must beat a strong Gallaudet team this week that will be trying to advance a dream season of their own.


  LET THE GAMES BEGIN. YOU GOTTA LOVE IT