FB: Liberty League

[Jonny Utah]

Hobart wins 24-21 in a game with a lot of mistakes, and big penalties which cost both teams.  JHU gets what is basically a game winning TD called back in what looked like one of those illegal pick plays.

That's exactly what it was. As a former def back, I saw it unfold and was happy with the call. Great game rant could have gone either way. Give credit to HOB for making a few extra plays and coming back yet again.

Yea, it's a good thing referees are looking for these calls now as well.  I coach a HS team that got beat on two of these "pick" plays last week.  The pick defender actually stood there and put up his arms like a basketball charge to show that he wasn't moving.  Kind of funny that these redzone plays are turning into basketball games.

As for this week, Hobart is going to need to get a game plan to stop Wesley's QB and passing attack.  From what I remember they run your standard spread offense, but Callahan is probably the best QB Hobart's defense will have faced in the past 4 years.  He doesn't make mistakes, and Hobart will have to mix up a great pass rush and disguised coverages to make something happen.  They will also need to tackle well.

"Utes",
   Enjoy reading your insights. Although the Hobart seniors played Wesley close in 2011 in the first round of the playoffs, this Wesley team does not look vulnerable on either side of the ball. I think aggressive defensive schemes by Hobart will need to be employed in order to disrupt the Wesley offensive machine as you suggest. Don't know how tough their defense really is, but Hobart will need to grind it out on every possession and be very careful of some opportunistic DB's that Conlan could fall prey . I know Hobart will pull any scheme out that they have not shown this year against Wesley. Although Hobart respected  Ithaca and JHU neither defense really caused Hobart to panic as the team felt confident in the match ups(although JHU Defense was formidable against the run). If you look at all the common opponents of opponents results , this could be a long day for Hobart, but this team has heart and never gives up. My head knows this is a daunting task for this team, and the offense will probably have to score 35+ points to win(even if we control the clock), but I know Cragg and his staff will get them prepared mentally and physically.
Do or die in Dover.

Yea, maybe you can say better than I can, but Hobarts 2011 team is probably better than the 2014 team?

As for defensive schemes, I think Hobart's chances rely on whether or not their DE/LB studs can make plays on their own.  Do what Ithaca did to Hobart in the first half and disguise some coverages and make Wesley earn the short stuff and hope for a mistake.  JHU was able to throw some deep comebacks on Hobarts deep cover 3, and I think Wesley will be able to do some more damage if given time against a loose cover 3 like that.  Hobart will need to play some man if they want to win as well too.

Hopefully they have enough stuff in that offensive playbook to keep Wesley off guard like they did with JHU (TB wheels, quick outs in the redzone, 20 yard comebacks out of that running pro formation, etc).

Hobart did make some key plays when it counted though.  That tells me that they can beat anyone.

[wcrosby]

Guys -- this Wesley team is deadly dangerous.  They make very few mistakes, and make you make many.  If you have even the slightest tipped ball, or a loose carry they will get the tip, or strip the ball, and they will turn it into 6.  Wish Hobart luck -- but I think you are going to find this a very tough team to handle.

[rlk]

Yea, maybe you can say better than I can, but Hobarts 2011 team is probably better than the 2014 team?

As for defensive schemes, I think Hobart's chances rely on whether or not their DE/LB studs can make plays on their own.  Do what Ithaca did to Hobart in the first half and disguise some coverages and make Wesley earn the short stuff and hope for a mistake.  JHU was able to throw some deep comebacks on Hobarts deep cover 3, and I think Wesley will be able to do some more damage if given time against a loose cover 3 like that.  Hobart will need to play some man if they want to win as well too.

Hopefully they have enough stuff in that offensive playbook to keep Wesley off guard like they did with JHU (TB wheels, quick outs in the redzone, 20 yard comebacks out of that running pro formation, etc).

Hobart did make some key plays when it counted though.  That tells me that they can beat anyone.

Rooting for Hobart this week, because MIT's coach Chad Martinovich hails from there, but I think it's going to be really tough.

MIT has a very strong offense with a power back who was recruited by some Ivy League schools and a couple of other multi-purpose weapons, but Wesley blanked us and forced 6(!) turnovers.  Defensively, well, they just plain put up a lot of points on us.

I'm much less knowledgeable about football than basketball, but I'd say your guys have to strike fast on offense and try to keep them off balance.  It looked like we had a bit more success passing than running from the numbers, but they were rushing aggressively so quick passes might be more effective.  The Wesley folks on their board seem to think that their offense looked a bit iffy, and they did give up 2 turnovers, so I'd venture that being aggressive on defense and trying to force turnovers might be your best bet on that side of the ball.

Good luck!

[wesleydad]

Greetings LL and Hobart fans.  We meet again.  Nice win against Hopkins this week.  Looking forward to this weeks game and hoping that it will be competitive, well at least for a little while.    I have seen some post that this team is not as good as the one that Wesley faced in 2011.  What is the difference?  As far as Wesley goes they are better than they were in 2011.  The defense is scary good.  Fast and shut down whatever anyone has tried all year.  The offense is pretty good.  The receivers are really fast and hard to cover.  They are used in the running game with sprint sweeps and bubble screens that went for east TD's the last couple of weeks.  I hope the forecast of showers for Saturday changes, not that it will matter on the field, it is turf.  I just don't want to watch a game in the rain.

[boobyhasgameyo]

Early prediction:

Wesley 45
Hobart 10

Hope that the Statesmen outperform my prediction though. 

[ITH radio]

I don't know if I'd say the 2011 is better than the 2014 team. They are different in some respects but similar in that there are a lot of players injured like there was in 11.

How banged up is Wesley? Or are they pretty much in tact bc other than uncc no ones challenged them?

[wesleydad]

I don't know if I'd say the 2011 is better than the 2014 team. They are different in some respects but similar in that there are a lot of players injured like there was in 11.

How banged up is Wesley? Or are they pretty much in tact bc other than uncc no ones challenged them?

I heard that a safety was injured and on crutches at the end of the game this week.  Other than that this is the healthiest team that Wesley has at this time of the year.  And yes, they have not been challenged by anyone other than the 1AA team they played.  They scored 33 and had over 500 yds of offense.  They also held UNC Charlotte under their season scoring avg of 45.

[Bartman]

I don't know if I'd say the 2011 is better than the 2014 team. They are different in some respects but similar in that there are a lot of players injured like there was in 11.

How banged up is Wesley? Or are they pretty much in tact bc other than uncc no ones challenged them?

I heard that a safety was injured and on crutches at the end of the game this week.  Other than that this is the healthiest team that Wesley has at this time of the year.  And yes, they have not been challenged by anyone other than the 1AA team they played.  They scored 33 and had over 500 yds of offense.  They also held UNC Charlotte under their season scoring avg of 45.

Wow, with those credentials, we may need the Bishop John H. Hobart to lend a helping hand from high above, sort of the twelfth man. In any event, the Hobart team is a competent grind it out offense led by tough senior QB Patrick Conlan and a very deep running attack( no one with the breakaway skills of Steven Webb but they are all tough,skilled and solid runners). Our OLine , anchored by Senior Ali Marpet, is as competent as 2011 and the receivers led by seniors Souffrant,Robinson,  Fusano and Berkowitz are also solid and have had velcro hands at the end of games lately. We hope the offense will find success and keep those track star receivers of Wesley off the field. The Hobart front 8 of the defense is perhaps stronger than 2011 and is trademark of this team(Tyre Coleman played on the 2011 team), but the DB's are banged up right now, so if you see a strange man in a tri-corned hat tying the Wesley receiver's shoelaces together, you'll know why. This Hobart team has a lot of HEART, and if they can keep it close into the fourth quarter, they will respond well to playing under pressure.  The hand of Bishop Hobart should also make his presence felt on Saturday.
          Do or die in Dover.

[lewdogg11]

So can we all agree now that Hobart's ranking was justified?  They just beat the E8 champ and the #7 ranked team and are in the final 8 again.  The ranked teams in the final 8 are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11.  I'd say d3football.com's rankings are pretty legit.

[bman]

So can we all agree now that Hobart's ranking was justified?  They just beat the E8 champ and the #7 ranked team and are in the final 8 again.  The ranked teams in the final 8 are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11.  I'd say d3football.com's rankings are pretty legit.

I'm still not convinced...

[ITH radio]

They clearly have been at Top 10 program for some time now. The SR class is 41-4 and those 3 of those 4 losses were to playoff teams that ended up in the final D3 rankings as 3, 2 and 9.

Only problem is that once you get above say Top 5, the divide is so pronounced it's hard to see competitive games sometimes. Hopefully Hobart will acquit themselves well no matter the outcome Saturday.

[lewdogg11]

They clearly have been at Top 10 program for some time now. The SR class is 41-4 and those 3 of those 4 losses were to playoff teams that ended up in the final D3 rankings as 3, 2 and 9.

Only problem is that once you get above say Top 5, the divide is so pronounced it's hard to see competitive games sometimes. Hopefully Hobart will acquit themselves well no matter the outcome Saturday.

I agree...The top 4-6 are pretty much so head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, that others can't seem to validate a team like Hobart in the top 10 especially coming out of the LL, but in this case, the jump from (being liberal here) 6 to 7 is kinda like a jump from 1-4 in Division 1 to 20-30.  Hobart is in the final eight 2 out of the last 3 years.  They definitely earned their ranking.  Hopefully they don't get mopped up by Wesley.  I watched some of the Wesley feed and it's unfair seeing them against MIT because it was like a Varsity team VS. a popwarner team, but they are fast and athletic and talented.  Hopefully Hobart can rattle their cage a little.  If i'm not mistaken, that has been an issue with Wesley in the past...not their talent but their inability to keep their cool under difficult circumstances. 

[thewaterboy]

They clearly have been at Top 10 program for some time now. The SR class is 41-4 and those 3 of those 4 losses were to playoff teams that ended up in the final D3 rankings as 3, 2 and 9.

Only problem is that once you get above say Top 5, the divide is so pronounced it's hard to see competitive games sometimes. Hopefully Hobart will acquit themselves well no matter the outcome Saturday.

I agree...The top 4-6 are pretty much so head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, that others can't seem to validate a team like Hobart in the top 10 especially coming out of the LL, but in this case, the jump from (being liberal here) 6 to 7 is kinda like a jump from 1-4 in Division 1 to 20-30.  Hobart is in the final eight 2 out of the last 3 years.  They definitely earned their ranking.  Hopefully they don't get mopped up by Wesley.  I watched some of the Wesley feed and it's unfair seeing them against MIT because it was like a Varsity team VS. a popwarner team, but they are fast and athletic and talented.  Hopefully Hobart can rattle their cage a little.  If i'm not mistaken, that has been an issue with Wesley in the past...not their talent but their inability to keep their cool under difficult circumstances.

Don't quite know what games you are referring to. IMO, Wesley is at their best when the pressure is on. Last year, you had the last second victory over Salisbury, scoring in less than a minute to avoid elimination v. JHU in the first round of the playoffs (29-24) and coming from behind to beat Charlotte 35-28. And they came very close to beating Mount after trailing 31-0 at the end of the first quarter. In 2012 there was the Salisbury and LC games. And in 2011, they kept their composure to survive through Hobart, Linfield (greatest comeback in school history), and MHB to come within 7 points of Mount Union.

[ExTartanPlayer]

They clearly have been at Top 10 program for some time now. The SR class is 41-4 and those 3 of those 4 losses were to playoff teams that ended up in the final D3 rankings as 3, 2 and 9.

Only problem is that once you get above say Top 5, the divide is so pronounced it's hard to see competitive games sometimes. Hopefully Hobart will acquit themselves well no matter the outcome Saturday.

I agree...The top 4-6 are pretty much so head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, that others can't seem to validate a team like Hobart in the top 10 especially coming out of the LL, but in this case, the jump from (being liberal here) 6 to 7 is kinda like a jump from 1-4 in Division 1 to 20-30.  Hobart is in the final eight 2 out of the last 3 years.  They definitely earned their ranking.  Hopefully they don't get mopped up by Wesley.  I watched some of the Wesley feed and it's unfair seeing them against MIT because it was like a Varsity team VS. a popwarner team, but they are fast and athletic and talented.  Hopefully Hobart can rattle their cage a little.  If i'm not mistaken, that has been an issue with Wesley in the past...not their talent but their inability to keep their cool under difficult circumstances.

Maybe in the long past, but last year's Wesley team got down 31-0 at Mount Union and nearly pulled the comeback win, among other pretty impressive games listed by thewaterboy just now.  I don't think that really applies to Wesley's last couple of seasons.

[wesleydad]

They clearly have been at Top 10 program for some time now. The SR class is 41-4 and those 3 of those 4 losses were to playoff teams that ended up in the final D3 rankings as 3, 2 and 9.

Only problem is that once you get above say Top 5, the divide is so pronounced it's hard to see competitive games sometimes. Hopefully Hobart will acquit themselves well no matter the outcome Saturday.

I agree...The top 4-6 are pretty much so head and shoulders above the rest of the pack, that others can't seem to validate a team like Hobart in the top 10 especially coming out of the LL, but in this case, the jump from (being liberal here) 6 to 7 is kinda like a jump from 1-4 in Division 1 to 20-30.  Hobart is in the final eight 2 out of the last 3 years.  They definitely earned their ranking.  Hopefully they don't get mopped up by Wesley.  I watched some of the Wesley feed and it's unfair seeing them against MIT because it was like a Varsity team VS. a popwarner team, but they are fast and athletic and talented.  Hopefully Hobart can rattle their cage a little.  If i'm not mistaken, that has been an issue with Wesley in the past...not their talent but their inability to keep their cool under difficult circumstances.

There was a time when Wesley would get caught up in some stupid personal foul crap, but that has been limited in recent years.  There is something about this team that started after the first quarter of the Mount game last year and has not stopped.  They have dominated every game they have played this year with the exception of the 1AA UNC Charlotte game which they put up over 500 yards of offense.  I have the utmost respect for Hobart and agree that they have earned their ranking this year.  I agree that there is a substantial drop off from the top 4 or 5 teams and the rest.  It will be interesting to see how this game plays out this weekend.  The weather may play a part in it as showers are forecast at this time.  I think that Hobart will have trouble running the ball and that will make it tough on them.  I don't see how they get to 20 without some turnovers or special teams scores.  I watched the end of the Hopkins game and until the last pass, Hopkins had little trouble moving down the field.  Nothing against Hopkins' offense but it is not nearly as good as Wesley's is.  If Hopkins gets into the 20's then Wesley gets into the 30's+.  Barring any major mistakes from Wesley I think they win by 20+.  I hope the game in competitive because it has been pretty boring watching Wesley play so far this year.  I like wins, but want to see good games.