FB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[muchacho]

One thing about W&L's passing defense is they held Ricca and HSC way below what they have been averaging. I think W&L's defense is the best in the conference, until somebody else proves otherwise.

[Llamaguy]

One thing about W&L's passing defense is they held Ricca and HSC way below what they have been averaging. I think W&L's defense is the best in the conference, until somebody else proves otherwise.

Ah but when they play BC it will be the first time in ODAC play that they get to defend the run and the pass. Everyone knows HSC is going to throw the ball, so congrats on keeping them below their average. Bottomline you won the game and it will take an equally good effort to beat BC. It is possible, thats why they play the games. May the best team win on the 29th. Now concentrate on Guilford's pass game because it may suprise you.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

One thing about W&L's passing defense is they held Ricca and HSC way below what they have been averaging. I think W&L's defense is the best in the conference, until somebody else proves otherwise.

Saying W&L's defense is the best in the ODAC is like saying Gettysburg's offense is the best in the Centennial ( they average the most total offense a game; 337.8 ).

If I may, I want to copy-and-paste my "Kid's Korner" column from last year's gameday program for the BC-W&L game regarding the Generals defense coming into that contest:

Washington & Lee's 'impressive' defense put into perspective...
Let me start by hyping it up. The Generals are ranked fifth in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (58.0), 18th in points allowed (13.7) and 23rd in total yards allowed (252.1). The Generals have forced 19 turnovers this season (10 fumbles, nine interceptions) for an ODAC best +0.86 turnover margin. Scared yet? There is more. They have an ODAC-best 34 sacks, which is more than Randolph-Macon, Catholic, and Guilford combined. Their 6-3 sophomore linebacker, Robert Foster, is ranked 18th in sacks per game (1.1). Their 6-1 junior defensive end, Liam Murray, ranks 32nd in tackles for a loss per contest (1.7). They are number one in the ODAC in red zone defense, allowing opponents to only score 11 times inside the 20-yard line. And finally, they've shut out three of their opponents this year. Pretty impressive, huh? Consider the following...
 
Their rushing defense...
They've only played three teams with good running attacks. They lost all three games. And in all three, they couldn't hold any of the premier backs under their average. They allowed H-SC's C.W. Clemmons to gain 118 yards and one TD. Clemmons averages 116.1 a game. Centre's Nick Warren racked up 90 yards on the ground and one TD, and he averages considerably less; 65.0 a game. Finally, Alfred's Chaz Bruce rushed for 112 yards and two TDs. Bruce averages 108.9 yards a game.
 
Their scoring defense...
There is no question their 13.7 points allowed per game is attributed to their three shutouts this season. So how can they have lost three games already this season with that kind of defense? Well, in their three losses, they pretty much allowed their opponents to score what they average. W&L gave up 27.3 points per game versus Alfred, Centre, and H-SC ... and those three teams average a combined 33.2 points per game on the season. Impressed by the six-point difference? Well, in Bridgewater's two losses this season, we gave up 17.5 points a game to McDaniel and CNU. Those two teams are averaging 26.8 points a game (a nine-point difference).
 
Their turnover margin...
Their turnover margin isn't as impressive against the three quality opponents they've faced this season. Versus Alfred, Centre, and H-SC, they have forced as many turnovers as they have coughed up themselves. And W&L only scored 10 points following the eight turnovers they forced. Which means they've really beat up on their other four opponents, with a +1.5 turnover margin per game, scoring 38 points off of 11 turnovers forced.
 
Their sacking...
They do a lot of it, sure. They have as many as mighty Mount Union (34), and more than other top ranked defenses like Muhlenberg (27), Trinity, Conn. (19), and UW-Whitewater (14). W&L averages nearly five sacks a game, but has done most of their sacking against the weaker competition. They average 6.3 sacks a game against Catholic, Sewanee, Randolph-Macon, and Guilford, averaging considerably less in their three losses, at 3.0 a game. In those three loses, they were outsacked 10-9. And when you compare the sacks W&L and BC have had versus the two schools they've both played (Guilford and H-SC), BC holds the edge with seven sacks, compared to W&L's four.
 
Their red zone defense...
Continuing with the theme of W&L not stopping decent opponents, but stopping the poor ones ... of the 11 scores they've given up in the red zone, nine were to Alfred, Centre, and H-SC. That means they allowed their other four opponents, who have a combined record of 4-25, only two scores inside the 20-yard line. Now that's impressive.
 
Their three shutouts...
Anytime you give up zero points in a game, it's extraordinary, right? Well, their three shutouts came against opponents who have combined to go 4-18. The four wins those opponents have were against opponents with a combined record of 8-21. W&L scored 17.0 points per game in those three shutouts, even though its opponents are giving up a combined average of 26 points a contest.
 
I've provided the statistical information and analytical spin ... what do you think?  Is W&L's defense impressive? Guess we will see come kickoff.


And you probably don't need the reminding, but the Eagles won that game 34-7.  Granted, the Generals "held" the Eagles to 412 yards of total offense, but the Generals didn't force any turnovers, nor did they have any sacks.

So I think you are looking at the wrong reason why W&L might beat BC in two weeks (having the best statistical defense in the ODAC).  The reason why W&L might win will be their offense playing a lot better and BC's defense looking a bit worse.

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

Oh, and the other advantage W&L has is playing at home.

I posted the following on the Toughest Place to Play in Your Conference thread under General Football before the season started:

[...] Washington & Lee.  Considering they've gone 29-31 overall over the past six seasons, their home record of 19-10 over that time is pretty impressive (7-2 over the last two seasons).  And over that span, they've always had a winning record each year at home.

And of the 10 losses, five were pretty "impressive":

- Last year, lost 31-28 to 8-2 Hampden-Sydney
- Were down only 7-3 at the half to 12-2 Bridgewater in 2003 before they lost 28-3 to the national semi-finalists.
- Only lost 21-14 to 9-2 Hopkins in 2002.
- Lost in overtime (34-28) to 12-1 Bridgewater in 2001 (national runner-up)
- In 2000, they were down 14-10 at the half to 8-3 Emory & Henry before losing 24-10 to the eventual ODAC champions.

[Llamaguy]

Here is another tidbit on the W&L rushing defense:
In W&L's only loss at home this year, Centre rushed for 260 yrds (42 yrds over their season average) and only passed 15 times.

Sounds alot like the way another ODAC school grinds out victories. I believe W&L will put 8 or 9 in the box to stop the run and Lewis will take advantage and have a big passing day.

[Outsider14]

pick your poison

[wrighthall220]

I just hope W&L fans and players over look Guilford this week as they look towards the BC matchup.. they will without a doubt lose this week if they don't keep their minds on the present.  Is it me or does it seem as if Guilford may be the 2nd most talented team that W&L's faced this year?  I wouldn't be suprised to see GC winning this week. 


Like HSC,  it seems like W&L is developing a "it's our year" complex.. I'm glad BC will have the chance to prove them wrong.. well ok as long as GC doesn't do it first!

[Matt Barnhart (kid)]

W&L's scoring defense ranks #1 in the ODAC allowing only 21.5 points per game.  That ranks them 92nd in the country.

W&L's pass efficiency defense ranks #1 in the ODAC holding opposing QBs to a 111.5 pass efficiency rating (with 11 interceptions).  That ranks them 89th in the country.

Albeit better than any other ODAC team, will that defense (along with the 52nd-ranked rushing defense) stop the #4-ranked scoring offense and total offense in the country?

Guess we will see in 11 days.

First let's see how the Generals defense does against the 13th-ranked passing offense this weekend.  As one-dimensional as they were against Bridgewater (the Quakers only had 31 yards on 22 carries), I can see W&L "learning" from the BC-GC film and defending Vogelbach and Co. better than the Eagles did.

[amused]

Thank goodness that all these "discussions" about team performance are ultimately settled between the lines. As to deciding who is the best player ... gee. I dunno ... was it Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio? ... there is a wealth of spectacular talent in the ODAC this season ... shouldn't we all just sit back and enjoy their gifts and the spectacular manner in which they share them with us? ... after all, might it not be possible that the "best" player in the conference is some right tackle we've never heard of?

[wrighthall220]

aBused,
This is a discussion board so we discuss freely, we all enjoy the talent but what sports be without discussions and debates.. actually I know what that would be.. boring.     You may be right about some unknown O-lineman being the best player in the league but I have two problems with that statement. 1) you can't give the entire BC AND HSC  heck even the CUA  O-lines a individual award.  2) Those of us that played O-line growing up and in college don't look for awards, we all know that when our skill players win awards it reflects on us a unit.     At least at BC the O-line has a coach that understands and appreciates his players! 

[amused]

Gosh ...only 1:51 to garner my first insult ... must be a slow day at the U

[amused]

There is no doubt that linemen are my heroes

[wrighthall220]

aBused,
If you think that's an insult you've got a lot of growing up to do around here!    Besides you picked the easy name to pick on.. it's akin to parents naming their sons BJ or Gaylord.. Just don't mock our "discussions"  you'll find that everyone (well ok most people) here knows a little something about football so our opinons as skewed as they may be are somewhat legit.

[amused]

yes, sir ... duly noted

[amused]

Mr. Hall220:

All insultsa aside ... what is the scoop on the Quaker QB? As well as the rest of the Guilford crew???