East Region Playoff Discussion

[pumkinattack]

UST is an excellent team, but you might want to consider that Hobart lost an All American D player (Worthington) on the first defensive play.  The QB would be scrambling much more and we'd be getting more pressure if he's in.  They can double Tyre Coleman and no one else is making them pay across the front 4/6.  They're gassed too.  Just weren't ready at the start of the game. 

[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.

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?

I have been against it but the more and more I see these games the more I think that there has to be more emphasis on regional power. I'm sorry but we see these poor results year in and year out and it does nothing but make the teams a laughing stock once they get to the quarterfinals. The only way an East team gets a team to the Final 4 is to actually have a bracket full of East teams.

[SUADC]

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.

I think it may be the number of schools within the east region, there is so much parity, you'll luckily find a team in the east that has depth to go year in and year out these days...the east regional teams fight over players year in and year out. I think Wesley has done a great job grabbing top talent from states like PA, NJ, MD, etc...and you see why the talent from teams in PA, NJ, MD has drop off. However, that is no excuse for teams to be getting dig in the dirt right now. Coaches may have to do better with what they have and game plan better. IDK...

[pg04]

Now that I've went through so much trouble to bash the region  , I hope Rev is right and there is some sort of come back.

[dlippiel]

Dlip just thinks we suck period. Until we beat someone really good we should not be taken seriously at all past round #2. Dlip is really sad right now but seeing reality for what it is.

[Jonny Utah]

Let's not look too deep into this thing.  Hobart is getting beat in a final 8 playoff game against a great football team on the road.  Hopefully they can learn and be more prepared next year.  That being said, they should take some blame for not being prepared and/or playing good football.

[Frank Rossi]

Dlip just thinks we suck period. Until we beat someone really good we should not be taken seriously at all past round #2. Dlip is really sad right now but seeing reality for what it is.

Dlip, I'm putting you and Rev in a room for the rest of the weekend.  No windows.  No furniture.  One knife in the center of the room.  Best of luck, guys.  See you Monday morning.

[hazzben]

UST is an excellent team, but you might want to consider that Hobart lost an All American D player (Worthington) on the first defensive play.  The QB would be scrambling much more and we'd be getting more pressure if he's in.  They can double Tyre Coleman and no one else is making them pay across the front 4/6.  They're gassed too.  Just weren't ready at the start of the game.

Keep in mind, UST is playing without 5-6 starters as well. They've been incredibly banged up this season. At one point they had 11 starters out over a 2-3 game stretch (with 11 out in one game as well). The story of their season, IMO, is the depth Caruso has developed in recruiting. Post-Bethel, UST has been a patchwork starting lineup. Their depth and youth is just scary, speaking as a MIAC rival.

[Pat Coleman]

O'Connell hasn't needed much time to throw, though. Lots of quick-hitter plays.

[mattvsmith]

Dlip just thinks we suck period. Until we beat someone really good we should not be taken seriously at all past round #2. Dlip is really sad right now but seeing reality for what it is.

Dlip, I'm putting you and Rev in a room for the rest of the weekend.  No windows.  No furniture.  One knife in the center of the room.  Best of luck, guys.  See you Monday morning.

What did I do? I'm just over here trying to get some sleep.

[Frank Rossi]

Dlip just thinks we suck period. Until we beat someone really good we should not be taken seriously at all past round #2. Dlip is really sad right now but seeing reality for what it is.

Dlip, I'm putting you and Rev in a room for the rest of the weekend.  No windows.  No furniture.  One knife in the center of the room.  Best of luck, guys.  See you Monday morning.

What did I do? I'm just over here trying to get some sleep.

I will have to give Rev credit -- you've been calm.  Granted, until this post, I didn't know if your computer was still in one piece

[pg04]

Final: Mount Union 72 Widener 17 -- Part of me was hoping for 90 

[Jonny Utah]

Mt. Union with over 750 yards of offense today.  Holy dlippin dlip.

[pumkinattack]

I know that, but we are talking about an All American, top 3 player on the team.  If you don't think that changes the complexion of game, that's fine, but I know what he means to that defense and I've watched at least 5 intermediate pass plays where the QB had all day.  Hobart's been able to protect their secondary by getting pressure and they can't now. 

Game was over in the first 5 minutes.  Bad snap leads to blocked punt, DW goes down on next play, they score from 4 yards, stuff us (their D looks great, closes fast) and then we give them the ball on the 32 after the 15yd penalty.  Boom, they're up 15-0 with an average field position of the Hobart 18 and our co-best defensive player is out. 

I'm not taking anything away from UST here, but who loses that caliber of player immediately on the road against a top 4 team and can stay in it?  I'd submit maybe UMHB, MUC, maybe Wesley, Linfield and one or two others? 

[ITH radio]

Too many bad breaks for Hobart today.  Will have a post-mortem tomorrow night at 7:30 but to PA's point, losing Worthington (to a chop block no less) was really the play of the game.  This defense just isn't the same w/o him.