FB: Liberty League

[Oline89]

Oline79, better check your predictions again.  You're forecasting that the conference will go 14-16 amongst themselves, which is obviously impossible.

You got me Ypsi, change Union to 3-2!

Sorry, but that doesn't work either.  If St. L and U of R are 0-3 against the top four, Union and RPI cannot both win against each other.  Your only solution (other than a drastic revamp) is to predict that either Ithaca or Hobart sweeps.

Sorry to disagree with an All American, Mr Ypsi....I drew this out too many times this morning   Sticking to my last prediction

[Bartman]

Preseason camp officially kicks off today, so here is my opinion regarding the enigmatic Hobart '19 team.  First off, IMO, the 2018 team vastly underperformed.   That being said, the difference between 3-2 in league and 5-0 was 8 points, and they beat eventual league champion RPI 30-0.   Coach Cragg and now Coach DeWall have had phenomenal recruiting years the past two seasons, and this year many Sophomores and probably a couple of freshman will get their chance. 
The offense has lost 2 All Americans, but I think they actually will be an improved group in 2019.  DeWall is back running the offensive scheme, which should be less complicated and less dependent on the big play to score.  We all know that the O Line wins games, and this year's group will be a force.  The left side of the line will feature a healthy/athletic John Devaney (6'5" 295) and powerful/experienced Alex Lanzana.  The right side will most likely consist of returning starter Micah Holloway (6'10") and very promising Sophomore Dillon Carey.  The center could easily become Freshman Ludner Mercy (6'2 300, check out his HUDL film).  The running back situation is outstanding, league rushing leader Dakota Harvey, Jr Brian Haeffner and So Alex Milliken (NJ standout with 27 rushing touchdowns as high school sr).  The receivers are fast with great hands, keep an eye on Ray Conley as the big play threat and Sr Captain Matt Woods at 6'6" will be very difficult for most OLB's to cover.  Admittedly QB is a huge question mark, since nobody saw much on field action last year with All American Sweeney taking almost every snap, but Jr Ryan Hoffman has great potential given a chance to play.
Things are also looking bright on the defensive side of the ball.  Clearly the defensive backfield struggled last year, but returning CB Sam Wheeler is healthy and will be joined by a great athlete in Sophomore Jared Leake.  The linebacking corps lost 2 big players from last year, but there several players ready to step in and help leading tackler, and captain Jayson Prince.  The D line is anchored by returning starter Sean Moore at DT, a mountain in Elijah Weiss (6'3 330) and keep your eye on several strong/athletic sophomores to step up at DT and DE. 

In summary, To (mis)quote Mark Twain, I feel the reports of the death of Hobart Football have been grossly exaggerated
My predictions for the year:
Ithaca: 4-1
Hobart 4-1
RPI: 3-2
Union: 2-3
St L: 1-4
U of R: 0-5

OLINE, I love your belief in this team and after reading your analysis I am revitalized by your Statesmen spirit and ready to run out on the field myself (this certainly would cause a downward revision in your forecast as well an NCAA violation). I hope you are right, but it will come down to three games for the men from Geneva after preparing for the LL season with the first four non league games as important preparation. A close game with Brockport(beware Brockport we will run right at you and keep the ball away from your potent offense....we actually have a coach in charge of the run game in ex All American OLineman Art Garvey) followed by three OOC wins (if we prepare and play well )against Mville, Shenandoah and Endicott...the boys will then be sky high for the grudge match, and first of the three big games with Union,  following last year's disappointing loss as Ali Marpet gives some Gameday locker room inspiration at the Boz with his weekend off from the NFL. For the RPI(in Troy) and IC (at the BOZ!)games we will likely be underdogs, but not by much, but those two games will be HUGE this year. I have given my "brain" forecast which is RPI and IC fighting for the title but my "heart" is with your forecast Oline. It should be a great October and November for the LL title race.

[D3viewer]

(beware Brockport we will run right at you and keep the ball away from your potent offense....we actually have a coach in charge of the run game in ex All American OLineman Art Garvey)

C'mon Bartman...don't you read Twitter ?  It's gonna be fun to watch.

https://twitter.com/HEROSportsD3FB/status/1027585837301723136

[Bartman]

(beware Brockport we will run right at you and keep the ball away from your potent offense....we actually have a coach in charge of the run game in ex All American OLineman Art Garvey)

C'mon Bartman...don't you read Twitter ?  It's gonna be fun to watch.

https://twitter.com/HEROSportsD3FB/status/1027585837301723136

Twitter, what's that?....BPort will be quite formidable, no doubt, and playing in Brockport will be an advantage, but Hobart will be ready and it will be a great measuring stick in a few weeks...total respect for the Brockport run in 2017 as I was on the wagon early after watching the opener against Hobart....

[Jonny Utah]

Not the most exciting video in the world, but Ithaca just renovated the Cerrache Center locker rooms....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhseYC_g2Sk

[dlippiel]

Not the most exciting video in the world, but Ithaca just renovated the Cerrache Center locker rooms....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhseYC_g2Sk

Very cool Utah! Hope all is well pal.

[Bombers798891]

Keys to Ithaca's season:

1. Who steps up at WR? Ithaca's got a formidable 1-2 punch in Will Gladney, who has a chance to be the school's first (postseason) AA since 1993, and could very well be the GOAT when it's all said and done. Andrew Vito also had an impressive first season, with 57 catches for 677 yards and three TDs. But the Bombers are going to need a solid 3rd option to emerge.

2. Who fills Tristan Brown's shoes? The stalwart back ran for 2,500 yards in his career, and you just can't replace that with anyone. IC has some promising backs, Isaiah D'Haiti among them, but someone needs to emerge.

3. Special teams has to get better. Ithaca was just 5-of-12 on FGs last season, with three kicks blocked. That contributed to some ugly red zone numbers early on. Likewise, Jordan Schemm averaged just 7.9 yards per punt return, and 22.3 per kick return, and the Bombers just didn't seem to have the big return game that they always seemed to these past few years. Schemm graduated, so someone else has to step in.

4. The defense was great, but big plays can help it take another leap. Ithaca allowed just 15.2 PPG and 284 YPG last season, so this is pretty much the epitome of focusing on minutae, but the Bombers had just 9 picks and 22 sacks last season, and improving both of those numbers could push them from excellent to dominating.

[ITH radio]

Interesting "conversation" w/ former SLU, IC and now Hobart Asst Coach:

http://gohobart.blogspot.com/2018/08/getting-to-know-coach-hadley.html

[Jonny Utah]

Keys to Ithaca's season:

1. Who steps up at WR? Ithaca's got a formidable 1-2 punch in Will Gladney, who has a chance to be the school's first (postseason) AA since 1993, and could very well be the GOAT when it's all said and done. Andrew Vito also had an impressive first season, with 57 catches for 677 yards and three TDs. But the Bombers are going to need a solid 3rd option to emerge.

2. Who fills Tristan Brown's shoes? The stalwart back ran for 2,500 yards in his career, and you just can't replace that with anyone. IC has some promising backs, Isaiah D'Haiti among them, but someone needs to emerge.

3. Special teams has to get better. Ithaca was just 5-of-12 on FGs last season, with three kicks blocked. That contributed to some ugly red zone numbers early on. Likewise, Jordan Schemm averaged just 7.9 yards per punt return, and 22.3 per kick return, and the Bombers just didn't seem to have the big return game that they always seemed to these past few years. Schemm graduated, so someone else has to step in.

4. The defense was great, but big plays can help it take another leap. Ithaca allowed just 15.2 PPG and 284 YPG last season, so this is pretty much the epitome of focusing on minutae, but the Bombers had just 9 picks and 22 sacks last season, and improving both of those numbers could push them from excellent to dominating.

1.  I wouldn't be surprised if this coaching staff brought in a frosh to see some playing time at WR.  Other than that they seem to do a good job with RPOs and getting guys into the offense that might not be "superstars" or even starters.  Year two of this offense (with an additional spring practice session) should be fun to watch.

2.  Like the WR, maybe they recruited a stud frosh that can step in right away? 

3.  Special teams were always a top priority for Welsh's teams and might not have been for this past years team.  Good return games at this level are really important I believe and I agree, they need to get better.

4.  I loved the defense last year.  It really seemed to me that they knew exactly what other teams were going to do and when they got beat, it wan't by much.  Like the offense, I see them improving with more experience and an additional spring session under their belts.

[Jonny Utah]

Not the most exciting video in the world, but Ithaca just renovated the Cerrache Center locker rooms....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhseYC_g2Sk

Very cool Utah! Hope all is well pal.

Things are good here dlip.  Still go to the Cape?  I go to Dennisport for a few weekends every summer, thought you went to that area?

[dlippiel]

Not the most exciting video in the world, but Ithaca just renovated the Cerrache Center locker rooms....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhseYC_g2Sk

Very cool Utah! Hope all is well pal.

Things are good here dlip.  Still go to the Cape?  I go to Dennisport for a few weekends every summer, thought you went to that area?

Good to hear you are well Utah. Yes dli and family are headed to Dennisport next week for the week. Really looking forward to it.

[Jonny Utah]

Not the most exciting video in the world, but Ithaca just renovated the Cerrache Center locker rooms....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhseYC_g2Sk

Very cool Utah! Hope all is well pal.

Things are good here dlip.  Still go to the Cape?  I go to Dennisport for a few weekends every summer, thought you went to that area?

Good to hear you are well Utah. Yes dli and family are headed to Dennisport next week for the week. Really looking forward to it.

Nice.  Ocean House, Sand Dollar, Wee Packet, Chapins, and the Three Seasons Tiki Bar were all part of my Cape shenanigans over the summer!

[Oline89]

I was just spending a little free time checking out the boards of some of the powerhouse leagues. I am still amazed that Mt Union and MHB bring in 225 players to camp every year.  I know that they expect a huge dropout rate from the first year class, but still.....

[UfanBill]

We've had this discussion before...why would 100+ student athletes choose to attend Mount Union with the intent of playing college football knowing that their chances of meaningful on field playing time is low? The answer of course is everyone loves a winner. It must be extremely frustrating to the other teams in the Ohio Athletic Conference. I do see that MTU plays a full JV schedule. Maybe a MTU poster will enlighten us on the rate of transfer/dropout, first year to sophomore year, you know after a kid sees himself buried 8 deep in the depth chart. 

[Bombers798891]

We've had this discussion before...why would 100+ student athletes choose to attend Mount Union with the intent of playing college football knowing that their chances of meaningful on field playing time is low? The answer of course is everyone loves a winner. It must be extremely frustrating to the other teams in the Ohio Athletic Conference. I do see that MTU plays a full JV schedule. Maybe a MTU poster will enlighten us on the rate of transfer/dropout, first year to sophomore year, you know after a kid sees himself buried 8 deep in the depth chart. 

They're talking about this on the OAC board.

Also, Mount's 2016 Freshman roster had 118 names on it. The 2017 roster had 52 sophomores listed on it. The 2018 roster has 43 juniors listed on it.