East Region Playoff Discussion

[wesleydad]

Dlip thinks Linfield would completely exploit Wesley's defense. He hopes not but...

so we have a shoot out then.  Wesley would exploit their defense too.

You rock WD but that's not what Dlip meant...he meant without Wesley being able to keep up...and he feels Linfield's D would outperform Wesley's D which woul inhibit a shootout where Wesley comes out on top. That is a damn good Linfield team. Of course Dlip WOULD LOVE to eat crow on this...but he doesn't think we would have to.

I hear you, but I think that Linfield's D would have a good bit of trouble with this Wesley offense so a shoot out would occur.  No worries now since the only way that happens is if they both get to the stagg bowl.

[dlippiel]

There is no doubt that Dlip would love to see Callahan light them up.

[ITH radio]

Let us know what you think:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ith/2015/11/16/in-the-huddlle--liberty-league-football-talk-show

[D O.C.]

dlip gets +

WD knows LINFIELD had to have learned from their Dover mistakes. Went out and got the pieces.

Oh! & I'd like to see Salisbury in McMinnville. Since Willamette quit running The Fly we haven't been able to have fun with any option stuff.

No injuries!

[redhawks]

In my opinion a pretty even bracket this year. Committee got it right in essentially seeding the top 4 teams as the #1 seeds. If there is any year to put Whitewater and Mount Union on the same side is when one is not the AQ and has one loss. Now you have to hope if one of those teams makes it to the finals the opponent makes it a game or even wins. Now onto my view for east region teams.

St lawrence vs mt. union- mtu rolls. just how big is the final margin.

Albright vs Norwich- I see Albright winning this one but I wold not surprised if this is decided by  touchdown or less.

Wesley vs Framingham- My game of the week in the east region. I am leaning towards this one being a shootout. High 30s for both teams I see happening. I think Wesley will squeak by a touchdown.

Western New England vs Hopkins- I see this as a quality Hopkins team. I expect them to win by double digits. Also I can they see them reaching the quarters for the 1st time since2009.  They should have home field for their 2nd round matchup vs Wes or Fram.

Sals vs Cortland- Another game I see as being a high scoring affair. Easily can see both teams in the 40s. This would be my second game of the week. I want to learn toward Cortland being at home but feel the Gulls option attack will win out in end wearing down the dragons.

[dlippiel]

In my opinion a pretty even bracket this year. Committee got it right in essentially seeding the top 4 teams as the #1 seeds. If there is any year to put Whitewater and Mount Union on the same side is when one is not the AQ and has one loss. Now you have to hope if one of those teams makes it to the finals the opponent makes it a game or even wins. Now onto my view for east region teams.

St lawrence vs mt. union- mtu rolls. just how big is the final margin.

Albright vs Norwich- I see Albright winning this one but I wold not surprised if this is decided by  touchdown or less.

Wesley vs Framingham- My game of the week in the east region. I am leaning towards this one being a shootout. High 30s for both teams I see happening. I think Wesley will squeak by a touchdown.

Western New England vs Hopkins- I see this as a quality Hopkins team. I expect them to win by double digits. Also I can they see them reaching the quarters for the 1st time since2009.  They should have home field for their 2nd round matchup vs Wes or Fram.

Sals vs Cortland- Another game I see as being a high scoring affair. Easily can see both teams in the 40s. This would be my second game of the week. I want to learn toward Cortland being at home but feel the Gulls option attack will win out in end wearing down the dragons.

SLU has some serious talent on defense and at the QB position. Granted they have not played a team really close to the caliber of Mt. This is a much better SLU team then the one that went out to Alliance years ago. With that said dlip thinks it will be at least a Monkey Stomp...if not a Double Monkey Stomp by the end. With that said dlip thinks SLU may be somewhat competitive in the first half. They just won't have the depth to keep it close.

[pg04]

In my opinion a pretty even bracket this year. Committee got it right in essentially seeding the top 4 teams as the #1 seeds. If there is any year to put Whitewater and Mount Union on the same side is when one is not the AQ and has one loss. Now you have to hope if one of those teams makes it to the finals the opponent makes it a game or even wins. Now onto my view for east region teams.

St lawrence vs mt. union- mtu rolls. just how big is the final margin.

Albright vs Norwich- I see Albright winning this one but I wold not surprised if this is decided by  touchdown or less.

Wesley vs Framingham- My game of the week in the east region. I am leaning towards this one being a shootout. High 30s for both teams I see happening. I think Wesley will squeak by a touchdown.

Western New England vs Hopkins- I see this as a quality Hopkins team. I expect them to win by double digits. Also I can they see them reaching the quarters for the 1st time since2009.  They should have home field for their 2nd round matchup vs Wes or Fram.

Sals vs Cortland- Another game I see as being a high scoring affair. Easily can see both teams in the 40s. This would be my second game of the week. I want to learn toward Cortland being at home but feel the Gulls option attack will win out in end wearing down the dragons.

SLU has some serious talent on defense and at the QB position. Granted they have not played a team really close to the caliber of Mt. This is a much better SLU team then the one that went out to Alliance years ago. With that said dlip thinks it will be at least a Monkey Stomp...if not a Double Monkey Stomp by the end. With that said dlip thinks SLU may be somewhat competitive in the first half. They just won't have the depth to keep it close.

I love your optimism!! However, Look at the scores of the games MTU has played this year:

9/5   vs. Bethany •   W, 47-0   BX RC P P
9/19   vs. Muskingum * •   W, 56-0   BX P
9/26   at Marietta * •   W, 61-0   BX
10/3   vs. Capital * •   W, 62-7   BX P P
10/10   vs. Ohio Northern * •   W, 51-7   BX P
10/17   at Heidelberg * •   W, 59-17   BX RC
10/24   at Wilmington * •   W, 69-0   BX P
10/31   vs. Otterbein * •   W, 55-0   BX P P
11/7   vs. Baldwin Wallace * •   W, 42-0   BX P
11/14   at John Carroll * •   W, 36-3

Not to be the pessimistic one again, but They have allowed 34 points over 10 games. 34!!! If St. Lawrence scores more than 3, I would consider the game an upset.

[dlippiel]

You are right on pg.04 (as usual my friend). dlip's thoughts on the possible competitiveness of the first half are simply based upon the level of skill, especially on defense, of SLU. However, he guesses that maybe his initial post was a tad too optimistic. Maybe SLU can hold them under 21 for a quarter...dlip is hoping for the best but of course realistically figuring the worst.

At least Mount and U Dub Dub Dub Dub have to face each other before the finals. dlip is very excited for another team to be in the final...just because...however he would never say that the final should have included any other teams when both Mount and Dub were there. They are simply amazing programs.

[pg04]

I'd love to see a competitive game for sure, but I just don't know how the points are going to be scored. This week St Lawrence had a glut of turnovers against MMA. Hope they do not repeat that or the game will be over before 5 minutes are gone.

[D3MAFAN]

You are right on pg.04 (as usual my friend). dlip's thoughts on the possible competitiveness of the first half are simply based upon the level of skill, especially on defense, of SLU. However, he guesses that maybe his initial post was a tad too optimistic. Maybe SLU can hold them under 21 for a quarter...dlip is hoping for the best but of course realistically figuring the worst.

At least Mount and U Dub Dub Dub Dub have to face each other before the finals. dlip is very excited for another team to be in the final...just because...however he would never say that the final should have included any other teams when both Mount and Dub were there. They are simply amazing programs.

I think this will be over by half time with Mount Union playing its backups early in the third. If St. Lawrence does get more than 7 and hold Mount under 42 , that would be better than 80% of the OAC opponents and a great accomplishment.

[thewaterboy]

You are right on pg.04 (as usual my friend). dlip's thoughts on the possible competitiveness of the first half are simply based upon the level of skill, especially on defense, of SLU. However, he guesses that maybe his initial post was a tad too optimistic. Maybe SLU can hold them under 21 for a quarter...dlip is hoping for the best but of course realistically figuring the worst.

At least Mount and U Dub Dub Dub Dub have to face each other before the finals. dlip is very excited for another team to be in the final...just because...however he would never say that the final should have included any other teams when both Mount and Dub were there. They are simply amazing programs.

I think this will be over by half time with Mount Union playing its backups early in the third. If St. Lawrence does get more than 7 and hold Mount under 42 , that would be better than 80% of the OAC opponents and a great accomplishment.

IMHO (and I know I am asking for trouble when I say this), but I think the OAC is weaker than usual. John Carroll definitely seemed more down than usual. ONU squeaked by 4-6 Utica in week 1, then lost to BW who was beaten by 6-4 Bluffton. No real second tier team that provided Mount with any real challenge. JCU was responsible for that last year. Heidelberg and JCU in 2013, somewhat Berg again in 2012. Several OAC teams had close scores with the 2011 Mount team.

[Desertraider]

Not to rain on any parades etc...but the 34 Mount gave up is misleading. 7 to ONU was with 14 seconds left in a 51-0 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd. The 2 TDs to Berg were also late in 4th of a 59-3 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd quarter. The Mount starters gave up 1 TD (Capital) and 2 FGs (1 to Berg and 1 to JCU after JCU took over at Mounts 25 yard line on a bad punt). So really its more like 13 pts.

[D3MAFAN]

Not to rain on any parades etc...but the 34 Mount gave up is misleading. 7 to ONU was with 14 seconds left in a 51-0 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd. The 2 TDs to Berg were also late in 4th of a 59-3 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd quarter. The Mount starters gave up 1 TD (Capital) and 2 FGs (1 to Berg and 1 to JCU after JCU took over at Mounts 25 yard line on a bad punt). So really its more like 13 pts.

Based on you assessment, you guys didn't face any competition all year.

[Desertraider]

Not to rain on any parades etc...but the 34 Mount gave up is misleading. 7 to ONU was with 14 seconds left in a 51-0 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd. The 2 TDs to Berg were also late in 4th of a 59-3 game. The backups played all of 4th and most of 3rd quarter. The Mount starters gave up 1 TD (Capital) and 2 FGs (1 to Berg and 1 to JCU after JCU took over at Mounts 25 yard line on a bad punt). So really its more like 13 pts.

Based on you assessment, you guys didn't face any competition all year.

I can see that argument. However, this Mount D is really good. The OAC was down a bit (IMHO) but teams like BW and JCU did get a lot better as the year went on. I know JCU was breaking in a new QB. Regardless - you could also say that Mounts D is that good - and that the backups are really good too. They only gave up 3 TDs to starting offenses.

[jknezek]

I can see that argument. However, this Mount D is really good. The OAC was down a bit (IMHO) but teams like BW and JCU did get a lot better as the year went on. I know JCU was breaking in a new QB. Regardless - you could also say that Mounts D is that good - and that the backups are really good too. They only gave up 3 TDs to starting offenses.

You could look at it that way until you realize BW lost to Blufton and still managed to beat ONU who beat JCU. Daisy chains are lazy analysis, but with only one OOC it's all you got. Otherwise all we have to compare is JCU beat a very mediocre St. Vincent and ONU beat a very mediocre Utica. Essentially there is no quality OOC win among the top of the OAC, and one very mediocre loss in the bunch. I mean UMU beat Bethany pretty much the same way they beat everyone else in the OAC, and we know about where Bethany lands in the grand scheme of things thanks to their PAC schedule.

What is more likely? All these teams UMU beat the same way are good regardless of the few underwhelming outside data points we have, or all these teams are pretty mediocre this year and UMU just steamrolled a whole schedule of essentially 75-175th best teams in DIII and the playoff committee randomly put one in the field because they got tired of seeing them on the table round after round?