FB: Liberty League

[UfanBill]

UNION has released their 2022 Roster. https://unionathletics.com/sports/football/roster/2022?&sort=jersey... It's highlighted by the return of All Americans RB Ike Irabor(now wearing #0) LT Tim Driscoll and WR Andre Ross Jr. so the Offense is still loaded with play makers. It includes a stable of experienced hard running RBs including Joseph Ferreira, Conor McVey, Jonathan Anderson, Michael Fiore and John Rust. Add wide receivers Robbie Tolbert, Avery Turton, Sha'zir Sullivan and Kevin Rabacs to Ross Jr. and points should not be a problem IF a quarterback steps up to direct this talent. Of the eight QBs on the roster Srs. Donovan Picotte and Stratton Sherman are the front runners for the job. The O-line includes not only LT Driscoll but returning starters RG Kevin Dewing and RT Stan Koss. Plenty of talent and experience on that side of the ball.

What about the Defense?...The secondary returns intact with all four starters returning, led by the hard hitting S Austin St. Pierre. Starting linebacker Tommy Cavallo will need help to solidify that position group. The defensive front took the biggest hit with only starting DE Jack Flanigan returning. The punting and kicking job should remain solid with Andrew Lau returning.

Any new comers?..There are 31 first years on the 2022 roster with 10 of them coming from football rich New Jersey. I'll have comments on them after I see some practices and a scrimmage.  It shapes up to be an interesting year for the Dutchmen.

[UfanBill]

UNION set to scrimmage at Hartwick in their "cage" tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 pm. 

[Ice Bear]

UNION set to scrimmage at Hartwick in their "cage" tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 pm. 

Ice Bear says he was just about to text you this but decided to check on here this morning to see if you knew. Ice Bear says he unfortunately can't make it today. He says if you're going Bill Ice wishes you safe travels and please let him know what you see.

[UfanBill]

UNION set to scrimmage at Hartwick in their "cage" tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 pm. 

Ice Bear says he was just about to text you this but decided to check on here this morning to see if you knew. Ice Bear says he unfortunately can't make it today. He says if you're going Bill Ice wishes you safe travels and please let him know what you see.

I did not go to the scrimmage but I heard from some sources that the Dutchmen came out strong with Donovan Pacatte getting the starting nod at QB. He hit Andre Ross Jr. for a TD and RBs Mike Fiore and Jonathan Anderson scored (twice each?) as Union took an early 35-0 lead. Coach Behrman then emptied the bench giving everyone a look. Final score 42-14....Load the Cannon    

[Ice Bear]

UNION set to scrimmage at Hartwick in their "cage" tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00 pm. 

Ice Bear says he was just about to text you this but decided to check on here this morning to see if you knew. Ice Bear says he unfortunately can't make it today. He says if you're going Bill Ice wishes you safe travels and please let him know what you see.

I did not go to the scrimmage but I heard from some sources that the Dutchmen came out strong with Donovan Pacatte getting the starting nod at QB. He hit Andre Ross Jr. for a TD and RBs Mike Fiore and Jonathan Anderson scored (twice each?) as Union took an early 35-0 lead. Coach Behrman then emptied the bench giving everyone a look. Final score 42-14....Load the Cannon    

Ice Bear thanks UfanBill and sends some +k for the report. Ice Bear says he is happy to hear his beloved Dutch showed well. Ice feels the U will predominantly run the pigskin this season with their stellar O-line and impressive three deep line up of running backs. If Pacatte or Sherman (whomever wins the job) can deliver the ball to the talented receiving core with some level of consistency the U may be able to put some points up throughout the season.
The Bear is curious about the D-line and LB core as there was some real loss to graduation there. Ice Bear is excited for the season as some liquid runs down his leg.

[MRMIKESMITH]

Hi Pollster's, just wanted to extend an invitation to join the ERFP for this upcoming season. We will continue to do R1/R2. Feel free to DM or respond here if interested. I'll reach out to last year participants to gauge any interest as well.

[Jersey42]

Announced today:

2022 Liberty League Coaches Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points (First Place Votes)

   
• RPI, 33 (4)
• Ithaca, 30 (1)
• Hobart, 26
• Union, 25 (2)
• St. Lawrence, 15
• Rochester, 11
• Buffalo State, 7

Interesting that Union got two first place votes, but only finished fourth.  I think this demonstrates that any of the top four could end up winning the league. Plus,  @D3FBHuddle (Hobart graduate) likes UR as the surprise team.

[Jersey42]

RPI posted their 2022 roster today.  Seven starters return on offense (including the entire OL) and seven on defense.  All of their d3football.com all region players return. All of their first team All Liberty League players (except their punter) return. They also bring back a 2019 first team all Liberty League DL who missed the last two seasons due to COVID issues.

They also lost a lot of key people. Seven of the eight starters that are not returning were second team or honorable mention all Liberty League.  This includes a 4 year starting QB, their top WR and key defenders.

[IC798891]

For the Bombers, they return 8 starters on offense and defense (using Cortaca starting lineups as a guide). This includes the entire OL, and QB AJ Wingfield, and the entire defensive backfield.

They also return arguably the best kicker in D3.

Does any of that really matter? Not in the LL, where the Top 4 teams are all right there with each other. But it's a good problem to have.

[Ice Bear]

Ice Bear says he thinks you can shake a bottle and the top four may fall out in any order. Ice says however it ends up it's going to be exciting. He says RPI looks stacked with a question at QB, Ice's beloved Dutch also return a **** ton and will have a question at QB, while Hobart and IC have the QB position locked up with tons of talent around them.

Ice believes it's going to be a special year here in the LL and is really looking forward to all of it. The running games will be strong.

[res ipsa loquitur]

This is going to be fun.  Alternate LL one-man poll:

Ithaca, 1(A)
Hobart, 1 (B) - would be the field but: not getting IC at Butterfield, probably not gonna lose back to back games, 2 weeks to prep for RPI
RPI  1(C) - shoes game at home
Union 2 - shoes game away




The field

[IC798891]

If Ithaca is going to take the next step in their progression as a program, they must get better at scoring TDs in the RZ. It was not a strong suit for them under Swanstrom:

2021: 51%
2019: 68%
2018: 50%
2017: 52%

Obviously, the season where the Bombers had a grad transfer All-American candidate at QB might be seen as a bit of an outlier. But suffice to say, Ithaca needs to improve on that number.

I'm also interested to see how aggressive Toerper is this season. Swanstrom had a very big aggressive streak, perhaps to the point of predictability. The Cortaca Jug — and really the season — turned when he called for an onside kick on a kickoff from the 50 late in the 3rd quarter. The move makes sense in a lot of ways, but it's something he did frequently in those situations, and Cortland was ready for it. Mike Welch was pretty famously conservative. Will Toerper follow Swanstrom's style?

[Caz Bombers]

If Ithaca is going to take the next step in their progression as a program, they must get better at scoring TDs in the RZ. It was not a strong suit for them under Swanstrom:

2021: 51%
2019: 68%
2018: 50%
2017: 52%

Obviously, the season where the Bombers had a grad transfer All-American candidate at QB might be seen as a bit of an outlier. But suffice to say, Ithaca needs to improve on that number.

I'm also interested to see how aggressive Toerper is this season. Swanstrom had a very big aggressive streak, perhaps to the point of predictability. The Cortaca Jug — and really the season — turned when he called for an onside kick on a kickoff from the 50 late in the 3rd quarter. The move makes sense in a lot of ways, but it's something he did frequently in those situations, and Cortland was ready for it. Mike Welch was pretty famously conservative. Will Toerper follow Swanstrom's style?

god, I almost forgot what a tapioca-brained Scott Frost-ass dumbf*** Swanstrom was.

[Pat Coleman]

Whoa.

[Jonny Utah]

If Ithaca is going to take the next step in their progression as a program, they must get better at scoring TDs in the RZ. It was not a strong suit for them under Swanstrom:

2021: 51%
2019: 68%
2018: 50%
2017: 52%

Obviously, the season where the Bombers had a grad transfer All-American candidate at QB might be seen as a bit of an outlier. But suffice to say, Ithaca needs to improve on that number.

I'm also interested to see how aggressive Toerper is this season. Swanstrom had a very big aggressive streak, perhaps to the point of predictability. The Cortaca Jug — and really the season — turned when he called for an onside kick on a kickoff from the 50 late in the 3rd quarter. The move makes sense in a lot of ways, but it's something he did frequently in those situations, and Cortland was ready for it. Mike Welch was pretty famously conservative. Will Toerper follow Swanstrom's style?

god, I almost forgot what a tapioca-brained Scott Frost-ass dumbf*** Swanstrom was.

Cortland was 80% for red zone TDs in 2021 and finished 2nd in the country for overall red zone offense (94% TD/FG). 

Union was 25th overall (86%) RZO (67% TD in the RZ)
SLU was 60th overall (82%) RZO and (68% TD in the RZ)
Ithaca was 65th overall (81%) RZO  (48% TD in the RZ)
Hobart was 79th overall (80%) RZO and (66% TD in the RZ)
RPI was 135th overall (76%) RZO and (62% TD in the RZ)
Roch was 195th overall (63%) RZO and (59% TD in the RZ)
BSU was 200th overall (62%) RZO and (48% TD in the RZ)

I mean we aren't talking TOP here but red zone stats are still very important.  A good kicker helped Ithaca stay in the top tier for overall red zone stats, but a good team needs to be 60% (I think?).  2021 Oklahoma State finished first in overall RZ scoring (97%) with a 76% TD percentage

I couldn't find TD only red zone stats for colleges but the NFL has some stats online.  Buffalo finished first in TD RZ with 66% while the Giants were last at 45%