East Region Playoff Discussion

[dlippiel]

Agreed bp, true as true could be. ...ugh this is so ****ing disappointing 

[AO]

Hobart very much looks like a team not ready for the pressure of this game. Lots of mistakes, dropping balls, overthrows, etc.

----They might also be playing a very good team.

[pg04]

Hobart very much looks like a team not ready for the pressure of this game. Lots of mistakes, dropping balls, overthrows, etc.

----They might also be playing a very good team.

None of the stuff I mentioned has anything to do with the other team. Dropping the ball on the punt, a slew of overthrows with no pressure really have nothing to do with St. Thomas. Sure they are a good team, especially defensively, but that isn't really relevant to what I said.

[AO]

Hobart very much looks like a team not ready for the pressure of this game. Lots of mistakes, dropping balls, overthrows, etc.

----They might also be playing a very good team.

None of the stuff I mentioned has anything to do with the other team. Dropping the ball on the punt, a slew of overthrows with no pressure really have nothing to do with St. Thomas. Sure they are a good team, especially defensively, but that isn't really relevant to what I said.

They wouldn't have as many overthrows if they could run.

[hazzben]

Hobart very much looks like a team not ready for the pressure of this game. Lots of mistakes, dropping balls, overthrows, etc.

----They might also be playing a very good team.

Yep. Good teams tend to do this to you. Hobart is a solid team and their D seems up to the task. But UST has tons of depth, great play on both lines and great edge players. When the game gets faster mistakes happen. Not unique to Hobart. When UST has been healthy and avoiding self-inflicted wounds, they've been doing this to most teams this year.

None of the stuff I mentioned has anything to do with the other team. Dropping the ball on the punt, a slew of overthrows with no pressure really have nothing to do with St. Thomas. Sure they are a good team, especially defensively, but that isn't really relevant to what I said.

The UST D is getting tons of pressure on Hobart when the pass, those overthrows are coming under duress. And aside from a long run, they've been unable to move the ball on the ground consistently. The UST DB's have had great coverage and Hobart has little time to throw.

[Frank Rossi]

St. Thomas has wide open receivers all over the field. This is an embarrassment of a day so far for the region. If this continues we are going to have to take whatever seedings come in the future.

If Hobart and/or Widener were able to return next year with undefeated records, their 2-1 playoff records, assuming things remain this way, would actually propel (with all other numbers being relatively equal) them to a strong chance for a #1 seed and virtual guarantees for a #2 seed.  They're both losing to #1 seeds and Hobart beat two out-of-region opponents in the process.  The world has not ended today.

I don't know, I just see two teams grossly overmatched so far. Sure it is a number 1 seed but it seemed like everyone wanted to be all up on Hobart and that the Tommies were so weak for a 1 seed. Still a lot of time left but the last two weeks didn't really garner much respect for the east IMO. The East will generally always have at least one team in the 3rd round.

I agree with pg04 If the day continues as it is right now, the world doesn't end, but it is a definite set-back in the Easts Regions striving for respect nationally.  I do believe that when you get past the top couple of teams in each region, the east probably holds it's own pretty well.  I think the top teams in the east match-up OK with the 3rd or 4th best teams in the other regions.  But the east needs to have someone rise up and be competitive with the #1's at some point to be taken seriously as a #1 seed for the playoffs. If the region expects to have a #1, they need a team to be able to play with the #1's. A 2-1 playoff record is not #1 worthy, nor does it make for a good argument for a #1 seed.

It's mental mast*****ion to attempt to say whether 2-1 is or isn't #1 worthy since:

1) We don't know who will be undefeated next season; and

2) The Committee has a list of criteria to use.  Since each region has a list of 10 teams that get ranked, each region has an equal opportunity at having RROs in their schedule and at getting #1 and #2 seeds.

If St. Thomas and Mount Union end up meeting in the Stagg Bowl, then there's no verdict to be made based on today.  Again, none.

Disappointing day?  Maybe.  If you're a Hobart fan, you shouldn't be disappointed at the big picture -- your team just made history today.  It might end up being a loss today and will sting, but look at all the nay-sayers you shut up this year.  Widener fans also can smile since, after looking weak in the first half against BSU, the team beat a valiant for in Salisbury. 

More than anything else, Rev back away from the ledge.

[pg04]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

[Frank Rossi]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

Where did I say it was rosy?  Read everything I wrote.  I'm saying the big picture refutes this idea that the East pays some sort of price for today's results.  The teams that polled #7 and #9 are losing to the teams that polled #4 and #1.  Again, no verdict can be drawn if #1 and #4 meet in the Stagg Bowl.  Two other teams from other regions will lose today, too.  That's not going to hurt the reputations of the South or the West at all since -- wait for it -- they were basically guaranteed teams in the Semis after last weekend's results.  It's not rosy, but it's far from a death penalty.

[pg04]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

Where did I say it was rosy?  Read everything I wrote.  I'm saying the big picture refutes this idea that the East pays some sort of price for today's results.  The teams that polled #7 and #9 are losing to the teams that polled #4 and #1.  Again, no verdict can be drawn if #1 and #4 meet in the Stagg Bowl.  Two other teams from other regions will lose today, too.  That's not going to hurt the reputations of the South or the West at all since -- wait for it -- they were basically guaranteed teams in the Semis after last weekend's results.  It's not rosy, but it's far from a death penalty.

So the manner in which they are losing means nothing? Both East teams are being rolled. The South teams are at a 17-12 score, both teams rolled their opponents in the previous rounds, with one rolling two eastern teams. At some point maybe the East needs to be punished a little bit more.

[SUADC]

The most sucessful formation has been goaline package for Hobart, I really think they can do that...you can't play action if your not running effectively. Also, that last touchdown, I knew UST was not going to run, they had no timeouts with 13 sec left, they was going to take a shot.

[hazzben]

It's mental mast*****ion to attempt to say whether 2-1 is or isn't #1 worthy since:

Is that really the best or most appropriate descriptor you could come up with?  That's the kind of word picture that belongs on an ESPN comment board, not d3boards.

[mattvsmith]

Hobart does tend to play better I'm the second half of games. Lets hope they regain their composure and have a wicked comeback.

[Frank Rossi]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

Where did I say it was rosy?  Read everything I wrote.  I'm saying the big picture refutes this idea that the East pays some sort of price for today's results.  The teams that polled #7 and #9 are losing to the teams that polled #4 and #1.  Again, no verdict can be drawn if #1 and #4 meet in the Stagg Bowl.  Two other teams from other regions will lose today, too.  That's not going to hurt the reputations of the South or the West at all since -- wait for it -- they were basically guaranteed teams in the Semis after last weekend's results.  It's not rosy, but it's far from a death penalty.

So the manner in which they are losing means nothing?

Yes, in fact, you are basically correct.

[Pat Coleman]

St. Thomas continues to be good stopping the run, and Hobart doesn't have the speed to get to the outside. They need to figure out how to break a big play in the passing game but Strang doesn't have enough time to throw and he is overthrowing receivers.

[AO]

Frank you can make this all look as rosy as you want, but, I don't think this is anywhere near a good day for the region as it stands. Sure, it may be good for Hobart as a program but outside of that I see no real positive result from this.

Where did I say it was rosy?  Read everything I wrote.  I'm saying the big picture refutes this idea that the East pays some sort of price for today's results.  The teams that polled #7 and #9 are losing to the teams that polled #4 and #1.  Again, no verdict can be drawn if #1 and #4 meet in the Stagg Bowl.  Two other teams from other regions will lose today, too.  That's not going to hurt the reputations of the South or the West at all since -- wait for it -- they were basically guaranteed teams in the Semis after last weekend's results.  It's not rosy, but it's far from a death penalty.

let me mediate a bit......it's not bad for the East Region according to the criteria as the criteria is mainly derived from in-region results.  It's bad for national respect.  Concordia Moorhead fans watching this game will be thinking that they are better than Hobart and miles better than Bridgewater State who was selected just ahead of them.  Would Hobart be favored traveling to any of the top ten teams in the West?