FB: Liberty League

[Senor RedTackle]

TheOriginalUpState's Eastern Regional Rankings:

RPI (3-2): Everyone wants to play their D, but NO ONE wants to play this O

nice analysis...RT read this and actually laughed out loud just because it sounded funny to RT for some reason. Then, after thinking about it from a coach's perspective, this is one of the more spot-on comments he's heard about the 2006 RPI squad. Which is disappointing because this was supposed to be the year for RPI with alot of high hopes in Troy. Branche and Bernardo back, a year under the belt for Robertson at QB....and a defense that supposedly was better on paper then 2005. Plus, look back to 2005 and the 2 close losses last year, including a chance to win the LL on the last week...all the pieces were in place.

Obviously, parity has reared its head in LL play this year w/ KP, UR, and StL all showing us more sack in 2006 then they have in years past. It's actually kind of nice to see some more competition from top to bottom in the league. Having said that, the fact is, these are games that RPI, Union, and Hobart are supposed to win at this stage of the game with the differential in talent between what  RT will call "the big 3 of the LL" versus everyone else in the league. RT bleeds cherry red but surrendering a 21 point lead to StL with less than a half to play is tough to take.....especially when it has, barring some miracle, ended this season's NCAA hopes. RT is hoping for said miracle but he expected to see these seniors in the dance again.

As a product of the fine institution and the program, RT agrees with some other RPI faithful in thinking that the team has a hard time being a favorite. RPI is lethal in the underdog role but seems to struggle when hype is cast their way. Perhaps RT is totally off base....he's been so many a time. It just seems like wearing the bulls-eye every week has taken its toll this season. Also, these other teams seem to be doing better in 2006 at game planning against RPI.

[Frank Rossi]

TheOriginalUpState's Eastern Regional Rankings:

6) Springfield (5-0): Option can take down anyone in the East

Having watched them, I'd implore you to reconsider and raise them to #1 or #2.  They will run the table this year.

[gobombers15]

TheOriginalUpState's Eastern Regional Rankings:

6) Springfield (5-0): Option can take down anyone in the East

Having watched them, I'd implore you to reconsider and raise them to #1 or #2.  They will run the table this year.

I respect your opinion, but the Pride ain't going 2-0 at Butterfield and at Fisher. Just not gonna happen. The Cards have the defense to go with the offense this year and Robinson will have every bit the field day with SC's defense as he's had against every other team so far. Basically, I think it comes down the fact that the offenses are pretty equal and Fisher has a better defense. Holding IC to 10 points, zero in the 2nd half was thoroughly impressive.

Springfield may win one of those, but it's a tall task to take both of them on the road, especially with a suspect defense. I don't care how good your offense is, if you don't have a defense it's going to be real difficult to beat good teams on the road.

[Regulator]

TheOriginalUpState's Eastern Regional Rankings:

RPI (3-2): Everyone wants to play their D, but NO ONE wants to play this O

As a product of the fine institution and the program, RT agrees with some other RPI faithful in thinking that the team has a hard time being a favorite. RPI is lethal in the underdog role but seems to struggle when hype is cast their way. Perhaps RT is totally off base....he's been so many a time. It just seems like wearing the bulls-eye every week has taken its toll this season. Also, these other teams seem to be doing better in 2006 at game planning against RPI.

RE: Hard time being a favorite.

Now that you mentioned this RT, I think back to my days at RPI....where we had one of the worst seasons of the decade after coming off a great season.

Before you think about anything else, think back to EVERY story and pep talk we ever heard at RPI.....were they ever about being the best and carrying on a winning tradition?.....no, they were always about being the underdog and asking are we frontrunners, telling us we having to work twice as hard as Team X bc they were better than us, and always digging deeper than the next guy to win.

I'm not complaining, just something that totally came to mind when when you mentioned the hard time winning as a favorite, thing.

[AUPepBand]

RE: Matchups you'd like to see.

Liking the idea of a D3football.com Kickoff Classic...but was thinking more about the possibility of a

'Bart-Simpson Game

Play it in Springfield so there's no Homers.

AUPepBand has music to "Itchy & Scratchy" theme song and could present the world-record shortest marching band halftime performance.

[Tlm]

....and a defense that supposedly was better on paper then 2005.

RT,

I am with you on RPI's offense, but I am not sure who thought their defense was better on paper then 2005.  At the beginning of the year, I offered up my own LL preseason analysis and picked RPI to win the conference, but at that time I felt that the offense was going to have to win some shootouts for that to happen because the defense had lost 5 or 6 starters and their two biggest playmakers, LB's Motskin and Cochran.  I felt that RPI would have trouble stopping some of the high-powered offenses that they would face, but figured that the two big games vs Bart and Union at home would give them the edge.

[Jonny Utah]

....and a defense that supposedly was better on paper then 2005.

RT,

I am with you on RPI's offense, but I am not sure who thought their defense was better on paper then 2005.  At the beginning of the year, I offered up my own LL preseason analysis and picked RPI to win the conference, but at that time I felt that the offense was going to have to win some shootouts for that to happen because the defense had lost 5 or 6 starters and their two biggest playmakers, LB's Motskin and Cochran.  I felt that RPI would have trouble stopping some of the high-powered offenses that they would face, but figured that the two big games vs Bart and Union at home would give them the edge.

Sometimes offenses have to shake things up again from year to year to keep fresh.  You know theres some Hobart  and Union asst. coach that watched thousands of hours of RPI tape in the offseason.  I think its always key to add new plays/schemes every year and then every 2-3 weeks to keep opponents off guard.  Im not saying that RPIs offense is stale, but you would think they would be scoring 50 poins a game in some of these matchups.

I remember seeing a Hobart coach a few years ago and he remebers playing Ithaca a year that we beat them pretty bad.  He was saying how we had run 3-4 plays that he had not seen the whole year and had not been prepared for at all.  And I dont even think the adjustments were that huge, just a few new patterns and a new screen play.

[Tlm]

I think tht it is fair to say that RPI, Hobart and Union's offenses have all performed below expectations this year.  Union lost 6 starters to graduation and then their all-American WR to injury so maybe there is an explanation.  RPI had 10/11 starters back and Hobart had 10, so it is a little more difficult to understand why their offenses are not rolling over teams.

However, I do agree that you cannot stand pat from one season to the next even if you do have a bunch of talent coming back.

[Senor RedTackle]

RT feels optimistic about Union matchup on 11/14 since RPI will be cast in the role of "home 'dog"....a very comfortable position for the men of Troy

[Jonny Utah]

I think tht it is fair to say that RPI, Hobart and Union's offenses have all performed below expectations this year.  Union lost 6 starters to graduation and then their all-American WR to injury so maybe there is an explanation.  RPI had 10/11 starters back and Hobart had 10, so it is a little more difficult to understand why their offenses are not rolling over teams.

However, I do agree that you cannot stand pat from one season to the next even if you do have a bunch of talent coming back.

Right, but I can understand why Union is struggling a little as I thought the oline last year was a huge part of the offense and the #1 WR is out.

[dewcrew88]

If anyone cares, budcrew08's ATR column has been posted.

[Senor RedTackle]

If anyone cares, budcrew08's ATR column has been posted.

no one cares




.............JUST KIDDING. RT can see the coaches cringing when reading this

Team that has fallen over the edge, smashing into trees on the way down
RPI.
Talk about collapse. Up 17 with 10 minutes left only to lose in the final minutes is heartbreaking. Combining their loss with Hobart, RPI is now 3-2, but more importantly, 0-2 in conference, which unfortunately for Engineer fans may "kill" their playoff chances.

[labart96]

Budcrew -

Disagree with Bart coming out flat after the bye week and losing to the M&M's.

As for home prices, TGP has lived in LA going on 7 years.  Fairfield County is up there, but 9 of the 10 most expensive areas in the country are in (insert Ahhnold accent) da great state ohf Kalifornya.

Good thing TGP has a liberal arts degree!

[Regulator]

TGP,

Don't you live in Compton?  Represent bre!

[Jonny Utah]

Its the WTF! video of the day......

http://www.break.com/index/biff_sings.html