East Region Playoff Discussion

[theoriginalupstate]

Nice effort today by Hobart...

They made the OSU JV  work for their scores with their defensive effort...

OSU's JV had to execute to beat Hobart today and anytime you make them work for it its a good day, too bad the Hobart offense couldnt get it going...

Next up for the OSU JV Team is the Chemically Enhanced Cavemen of Cortland...

If the CEC can get it going on offense it should be a good game, I like the CEC run defense to put up a good fight vs the OSU JV Team (in no way am I saying they are going to shut down Kmic)...

Come out fighting CEC and make those JR Buckeyes work for it...

[seventiesraider]

Holy Crap!  Mount union is punting!!!

I hear the poster 70's raider is also the punter.

Actually 2nd string 42 years ago. I still hold my high school record for the shortest (negative yards) punt.

Nothing but great things to say about Hobart as a team and their fans. A strong, focused, well disiplined team and friendly supportive fans/parents. Be proud Hobart. It was a great game to the end. Kudos to Coach Kehres for not pushing in another score.

[theaprof]

I would like to add my congratulations to Hobart--great game today--I loved the many different looks on the punts.  Kept MUC on their toes.  I would have liked to have seen what you could do with all of your players healthy.  Hope to see a home and away in the not too distant future.

[cstate19]

Just got in after a long day of traveling.  Will have more to say tomorrow but for now good job Dragons and let's work hard this week.  Also, I told you guys to jump on the Dragon secondary bandwagon last week as it was lonely and now filling up.  You can scroll back and check for cstate's predictions on how many picks we would have. 

[XREDDRAGON77]

Earlier today I checked the NCAA page and it had the Stagg bracket listed for the upcoming quaterfinals.  They had Cortland listed as 12-1 v Mount Union 12-0.  Cortland is 11-1 while Mount is 12-0.   I will take this as an Omen to an upset.  I might have to make the 7.5 hour ride out to Aliance to see this happen. 

[Senor RedTackle]

Make sure everyone tunes in tonight for the last episode of "In The Huddle"  on www.blogtalkradio.com/LLrecap  ....we'll be taking calls tonight. Show starts at 7:30pm....tune in!!

[K-Mack]

Working, or I'd check you guys out.

Can I be the first to go on record (actually already have recorded our podcast) to say that Cortland will physically be able to match up with Mount Union, but can only win if they play a really sharp game and tackle well on Kmic. (They should be able to get guys to him on a lot of plays)

(OK, nothing groundbreaking there)

East posters ever-so-wise:

What will be the East Region Final?
Mount Union vs. Curry   10 (19.2%)
Mount Union vs. Cortland   37 (71.2%)
Hobart vs.  Curry   3 (5.8%)
Hobart vs. Cortland   2 (3.8%)

Or was that just a layup?

[XREDDRAGON77]

Thats nice to know.  I have seen Cortland a few times this year, and know IC was the best team they played on the season at that point.....but that game was a disaster.  They appear to be peaking at the moment.  I would like to think that they could have beaten IC if they came to play as they clearly did not.  That beat down has provided a reality check and it looks like the Dragons are playing their best football.  Hopefully they can give MUC a decent game!

[Frank Rossi]

Thats nice to know.  I have scene Cortland a few times this year, and know IC was the best team they played on the season at that point.....but that game was a disaster.  They appear to be peaking at the moment.  I would like to think that they could have beaten IC if they came to play as they clearly did not.  That beat down has provided a reality check and it looks like the Dragons are playing their best football.  Hopefully they can give MUC a decent game!

I brought this up on "In the HuddLLe" last night (http://blogtalkradio.com/LLRecap for the archive), but I'll bring it up again briefly here.

In calling the game on Saturday, my biggest concern about Cortland is their rush offense.  In order to beat Mount Union, you need a really good balance on offense that will allow you to potentially take an early lead on the Raiders -- and then hold them off for the remainder of the game.  When looking at the Cortland statistics, they represent Saturday's scenarios well -- Cortland yards were about 80/20 in favor of the passing game.  Curry's defensive line, while large and somewhat imposing, should not have had the success they had (especially early) in beating down the running game up the gut if Cortland's run offense was a real highlight.

This proves problematic -- we all focus on the offensive highlights of Mount Union, but their defense may be the true show-stopper this year, averaging just under 2 points per first half in points allowed this year.  The balanced offense with the ability to take a lead on Mount Union is how UW-Whitewater beat Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl last year (yes, Beaver was a force as running back -- but without balance with a decent passing attack, Beaver's performance would've been muted).  Hobart proved that a decent defense can quell the offensive attack of Mount Union for some period of time.  So, to me, it becomes a major question of the opponent's OFFENSE and their capabilities of breaking down the 800-pound gorilla the Raiders' defense has become.

While I appreciate the 42-0 win by Cortland this past weekend, I didn't see much that would make me believe that Cortland will be able to shock Mount Union unless the team plays a perfect game while the Raiders have an extremely off day.  However, this is why we play the games.  Good luck to both teams.

[XREDDRAGON77]

Frank,
Cortland favored the pass against IC in the Cortaca game as well.  They avaeraged 7yds a rush but insisted on going back to the air.  They run a multiple offense rather than a multiple I....so rather than having a fullback somehwere on the field, they have other skill guys all over the field spreading you out. I know the coaches know what they are doing and with running the ball leass than 50% of the time, they have still broken their single season rushing records with Andrew Guiliano.  That kid is a horse and I am not sure if his success has come from teams preparing to play the pass and getting caught off guard, or Cortland just being able to pound it?

[cstate19]

Thats nice to know.  I have scene Cortland a few times this year, and know IC was the best team they played on the season at that point.....but that game was a disaster.  They appear to be peaking at the moment.  I would like to think that they could have beaten IC if they came to play as they clearly did not.  That beat down has provided a reality check and it looks like the Dragons are playing their best football.  Hopefully they can give MUC a decent game!

I brought this up on "In the HuddLLe" last night (http://blogtalkradio.com/LLRecap for the archive), but I'll bring it up again briefly here.

In calling the game on Saturday, my biggest concern about Cortland is their rush offense.  In order to beat Mount Union, you need a really good balance on offense that will allow you to potentially take an early lead on the Raiders -- and then hold them off for the remainder of the game.  When looking at the Cortland statistics, they represent Saturday's scenarios well -- Cortland yards were about 80/20 in favor of the passing game.  Curry's defensive line, while large and somewhat imposing, should not have had the success they had (especially early) in beating down the running game up the gut if Cortland's run offense was a real highlight.

This proves problematic -- we all focus on the offensive highlights of Mount Union, but their defense may be the true show-stopper this year, averaging just under 2 points per first half in points allowed this year.  The balanced offense with the ability to take a lead on Mount Union is how UW-Whitewater beat Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl last year (yes, Beaver was a force as running back -- but without balance with a decent passing attack, Beaver's performance would've been muted).  Hobart proved that a decent defense can quell the offensive attack of Mount Union for some period of time.  So, to me, it becomes a major question of the opponent's OFFENSE and their capabilities of breaking down the 800-pound gorilla the Raiders' defense has become.

While I appreciate the 42-0 win by Cortland this past weekend, I didn't see much that would make me believe that Cortland will be able to shock Mount Union unless the team plays a perfect game while the Raiders have an extremely off day.  However, this is why we play the games.  Good luck to both teams.

The thing is, many feel that Cortland's strength on offense is the running game. 

[Frank Rossi]

I understand what offense Cortland runs based on my research before and after the game -- and by watching 60 minutes of it Saturday.  You guys read into my post something that wasn't there:

I said that the production on the pass was high -- as in an 80/20 pass yards to rush yards ratio.  I didn't say play selection was that lopsided.  That was closer to 50/50 -- if we throw out garbage time, it was likely 60/40 in favor of the pass.  That's a very important differential to examine when looking at a game like Saturday's game -- you would hope your ratios in play selection would be somewhat similar to the ratio for yardage, with a slight advantage to the run (since pass plays can go more minimal or zero yards more than 50 percent of the time, while rushes tend to gain yards more often than not).

My point is this:  how did Curry, the team that lost 42-0 Saturday, stop Cortland's run so well?  If CURRY can do that, then Mount Union probably could do that in their sleep.  I don't think Cortland's philosophy was to pass as much as they did in the first three quarters -- I think that became the determination after Curry snuffed the run.

If you care to, please respond to that central point I was trying to make earlier.

[HScoach]

Thats nice to know.  I have scene Cortland a few times this year, and know IC was the best team they played on the season at that point.....but that game was a disaster.  They appear to be peaking at the moment.  I would like to think that they could have beaten IC if they came to play as they clearly did not.  That beat down has provided a reality check and it looks like the Dragons are playing their best football.  Hopefully they can give MUC a decent game!

I brought this up on "In the HuddLLe" last night (http://blogtalkradio.com/LLRecap for the archive), but I'll bring it up again briefly here.

In calling the game on Saturday, my biggest concern about Cortland is their rush offense.  In order to beat Mount Union, you need a really good balance on offense that will allow you to potentially take an early lead on the Raiders -- and then hold them off for the remainder of the game.  When looking at the Cortland statistics, they represent Saturday's scenarios well -- Cortland yards were about 80/20 in favor of the passing game.  Curry's defensive line, while large and somewhat imposing, should not have had the success they had (especially early) in beating down the running game up the gut if Cortland's run offense was a real highlight.

This proves problematic -- we all focus on the offensive highlights of Mount Union, but their defense may be the true show-stopper this year, averaging just under 2 points per first half in points allowed this year.  The balanced offense with the ability to take a lead on Mount Union is how UW-Whitewater beat Mount Union in the Stagg Bowl last year (yes, Beaver was a force as running back -- but without balance with a decent passing attack, Beaver's performance would've been muted).  Hobart proved that a decent defense can quell the offensive attack of Mount Union for some period of time.  So, to me, it becomes a major question of the opponent's OFFENSE and their capabilities of breaking down the 800-pound gorilla the Raiders' defense has become.

While I appreciate the 42-0 win by Cortland this past weekend, I didn't see much that would make me believe that Cortland will be able to shock Mount Union unless the team plays a perfect game while the Raiders have an extremely off day.  However, this is why we play the games.  Good luck to both teams.

Frank,

Nice job on the radio show last night.  It was very entertaining hearing about Mount Union from an outsider's position.  I agree with many things that were said in yesterday's discussion about the Hobart game. 

The Bart defense played very well, especially the secondary.  That was the first set of DB's that didn't get toasted by Cecil Shorts and company.  As a MUC broadcaster that has seen every game for the last 10+ years, I thought the pressure from the front 4 was decent to good, but the difference was making Micheli go thru his progressions and therefore giving time for the rush to get to him.  The reason I think the Hobart pass rush was only "decent to good" and not "great" is because this isn't a very good Mount offensive line and the amount of pressure was simliar to what Micheli saw from numerous OAC teams this season.  The difference is that he couldn't hit a wide open primary or secondary target without hesitation like he could in the regular season. 

I was especially impressed with the freshman Drake Woodard.  He played great against Cecil Shorts whereas Shorts made the entire OAC look absolutely silly.  That kid has a bright future.

ILB Hager was also very good.  A sure tackler that moved well sideline to sideline.  Overall the Hobart defense tackled well.  Which is why it took Kmic 37 carries to get his 200+ yards.  Poor tackling teams like a Marietta or Randolph-Macon got ripped for 200 with half the carries that he had against Hobart. 

I was more than impressed by the Hobart defense.  And I agree with the statement in your broadcast (not sure who made it) that the Hobart defense was a national title contending unit but that offense isn't anywhere close.

I thought the Hobart O-line was pretty good, Doyle displayed good decision making, but Hobart lacked the speed at WR or RB to make plays.  Based on what I saw Saturday, Hobart is a couple WR's and a stud RB away from competing at an elite level on offense.  There were quite a few times the Mount DB's were beat on the initial move, but had the closing speed to break up the pass.  If the Hobart WR's were faster, they might have hit some big plays or at least forced Mount to respect their ability to get deep and make them soften their coverage up.  After the first couple series, the MUC DB's got very agressive in run defense and jumping the short routes because they knew they couldn't get burnt deep.

To the Hobart team and fans, you have nothing to be ashamed of.  They played hard, played to win and made Mount work for everything they got.  Congrats on a great game and good luck next season.  Hope you again next December!

['gro]

Hopefully the raiders keep looking east for their non conference games.  New York accepts the challenge.


except RPI

[Jonny Utah]

I think it comes down to taking what the defense gives you.  It seems like Curry wanted to focus more on stopping the run (as they run a base 4-4 anyway) and force Cortland to throw the ball.

I think the key to beating MUC is stopping them on offense.  Cortland is not going to rush the ball on this team.  Like frank said, you need some sort of balance but I think it is a lot easier to throw than pass against MUC.  It was last year anyway.