FB: Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference

[GoGrizzlies]

Gotta love what Mike Leonard's doing at Franklin if you're a Grizz fan. He's an upbeat guy and would be fun to play for and is an offensive guru even without Chad Rupp. He knows how to coach and they have to be the favorite in the league again.

Mike Leonard is an INCREDIBLE coach, as is the entire coaching staff.  They are an extremely talented group!   

[dc_has_been]

After this week, at least the HCAC can say they are 3-0 vs. the OAC.  Also Manchester hung with Trine, the one of the MIAA's favorites. 
Hopefully DC works out some of their issues on offense & controls the TOP & I can see them coming out with a W next week against Adrian.  Adrian has two in a row with a score of 55-9.  DC needs to change that this year! 
The HCAC has some big games this week overall.  DC as I mentioned with Adrian, Franklin battling Butler who destroyed Albion, Anderson with DePauw, who've they lost 3 in a row, Hanover will take on Waynesburg, & the rest I would expect to win, but anything could happen. 

[SaintsFAN]

Waynesburg is gonna run the ball down Hanover's throat... and then do it some more. 

Sorry guys.

[GoGrizzlies]

I'm really impressed with Franklin.  I didn't expect them to put up 38 points with the loss of so much on offense.  I expected the D to do but though.  All in all, Franklin is still representing. 

Just curious what you meant to say about the defense....I think there was a typo in there.... 

[dc_has_been]

I'm really impressed with Franklin.  I didn't expect them to put up 38 points with the loss of so much on offense.  I expected the D to do but though.  All in all, Franklin is still representing. 

Just curious what you meant to say about the defense....I think there was a typo in there.... 

Yes there was.  I think I meant that I expected Franklin's D to do well though.  I don't know how I fit but in? 

[JacketsFan]

For some reason, I was unable to log on to the boards yesterday.

First of all, I'd like to say the streaming video feed of the DC/Musky game was sweet. No glitches at all. Even with my six year old computer, when I made it full screen, it was like watching the game on tv. Okay, minus all the tight, close up shots. Nice work, whoever put it together. And thanks to Lynn Groll for the nice pregame write-up and keeping us all abreast of the streaming video developments. And a special thanks to my buddy Lynn, who I got to know when #92 was playing at DC,  for keeping me up to speed down here on what's going on up there. I made all 20 home games the four years #92 was playing at DC and I miss the hell out of the games and the action, as well as all the inside scoop on what's going on at DC. Lynn provides me a much appreciated DC fix from time to time and I can't thank him enough.

Congratulations to the team and to Coach Taylor and the rest of the staff for getting the Jackets off to a winning start. And this against a team that whupped the pants off DC last year. Looks like there are a few bugs still to be worked out but, all in all, a pretty solid looking performance. I think Kuesel and these two frosh rock pounders from Detroit and Toledo are going to make a great combination. I was impressed with Powell's signal calling and playing, especially his coolness under fire, but, in all fairness, I didn't think Karcher did too bad, either. After all, wasn't it he who put the Jackets on the board first? Run defense is gnarly and bloodthirsty, as usual. I thought the pass defense could've been a spot better, but they didn't do a bad job, either. Nice job of avoiding turnovers and keeping the yellow hankies off the turf, too, Coach. These guys showed some pretty good discipline Saturday. They missed a couple of scoring ops but hey, it was game number one and you gotta do an equipment check to see where you need your improvements to be. The O needs to be more aggressive in the red zone and I think that'll come.

Congrats to Da Grizz for the walloping they put on B-W. Talk about a bunch of Maalox moments. How much suspense can a body stand for one game?

Bob W., where you been?

[GRIZ_BACKER]

You are correct the FC-BW game was an exciting game.  Certainly worth the extra miles and time.  Hard fought game with 4th quarter drama.  BTW Jackets fan:  I appreciate your posts.  Generally they are well thought out and contain some clever comments and references.  Worth reading for sure.

Sounds like DC may have turned the corner from last season and is on the right track.  Nice to see them get a season opening win (and at the expense of the OAC).

I looked at the first four games for Defiance.  Certainly no one can say DC is playing it soft.

[JacketsFan]

Thank you, Griz-Backer. I do try to keep things light and humorous in my posts. When I first joined the boards back in, I think it was 2003, there was a whole lot of nasty flinging going on. Every now and them someone comes along who can't play nice with others and generally they get taken to task by someone else - often by someone from the very school they're repping. No, DC definitely isn't playing it soft this year. I'm encouraged by what I see on offense at this point. There seems to be a discipline and purpose and unity on the O that's been missing for a long time. DC missed out on winning the conference my son's junio and senior years because the D had killer instincts and they played together like a bunch of special forces commandos. But the offense sputtered those years and that hurt them. If Saturday's game portends anything to come, I'd say that it shows Coach Taylor has finally succeeded at getting both O and D on the same page. The low penalties and turnovers was super impressive and speaks volumes to me, especially for it having been a first game where you normally expect such things, especially against a team that slapped you around like a playground bully the year before.

Griz, is Franklin going to use a two QB system this year or will one of these guys eventually emerge as the full time signal caller? They both looked pretty good.

Meanwhile, here I sit in this lounge chair on this little piece of beach just south of reality (And if anyone doesn't believe me, ask Sayer; he's been here).

[altor]

After this week, at least the HCAC can say they are 3-0 vs. the OAC.

I thought the same thing when I saw the scores.  Good job HCAC!

[altor]

Sounds like DC may have turned the corner from last season and is on the right track.

Let's not forget, that after starting 0-6 in 2008, the Jackets finished the season 4-6.  I'd like to think that the corner was turned last October.

[GRIZ_BACKER]

At this point, I would say the 2 QB rotation will continue at least through the next two games.  Both kids played limited minutes their first two seasons and haven't had a lot of opportunities to show Coach Leonard what they can do in a game.  To be honest, there were those in the stands (including myself) questioning the logic at BW due to the importance of winning the non conference games (and the potential playoff implications down the road).  However, as one of my fellow tailgating friends stated "it worked".  

Statistically Kyle Ray had the better day and more reps (do to more sustained drives) but Nick Purichia appears just as solid and can really run with the ball.  We will see what happens Saturday.  I could see one staying in for more reps if we get on a roll etc with Butler and the other getting most of the snaps the next week against Trine.

I don't think either has elevated themselves past the other and Coach Leonard probably doesn't want to make a hasty decision.  I can see one becoming the starter by the conference opener but the other getting a lot of playing time during the conference season (particularly if the score were to become lopsided).  Good problem to have versus trying to find one kid who can play.

[Jackets Backer]

Joe,

Glad the webcast worked well since the radio dropped doing DC games. It's actually probably a good thing for those DC fans that can't make it to the games.

DC hasn't turned any corner just yet. That's a reach after opening with a narrow victory over Muskingum. They haven't exactly punched any big-name team in the mouth. You turn a corner as a program when you start beating the Adrians, Trines, Franklins, Mount St. Joes and Rose-Hulmans. Last time I checked they're not doing that consistently.

We're going to find out what the Jackets are made of sooner rather than later the next two weeks. MIAA favorites Adrian and Trine and then coming off the bye week at Franklin. Adrian has thumped DC the last couple of years and that should get DC's antennas up.

Let's be honest, beating a bottom-dweller in the OAC is not exactly a huge victory in my mind. Sure they beat Muskingum Saturday but by the skin of their teeth. There's plenty of room for improvement. Better learn how to finish for one since they almost coughed up a 13-0 lead late. That's been a bug-a-boo at DC for years. Joe, I know you can attest to that. Two years ago at Trine, blew two touchdown lead in final 2 minutes. Four years ago against Manchester, three years ago at home with MSJ to name a few.

Another weakness has been finding some form of a passing attack to take some pressure off Kuesel and freshman Troy Bell in the running game. The two might be the most dangerous one-two tandem in the league. I'm telling ya, Kuesel is an animal and Bell is like lightning with the pigskin in his hands. I know it's early into their careers to be making big predictions, but those two guys are special and will be here this year and two more!

Imagine what kind of pressure those two could put on a defense if a defense had to respect DC's passing game too?

[70_dc_alum]

Lynn agree it is going to get interesting, putting teams away has been the achilles heal for years which is the difference between good and great teams.  the Musky game should have been 35-0 before Musky sniffed pts.  we all know when you let folks hang around half the time they will make you pay.

It was a great confidence booster and a hell of a game to watch.  i had the PC running with the Buckeyes on the big screen...not sure i should do that again it nearly gave me a heart attack as they both nearly blew the lead at the same time!!

if you talk to the folks who did the webcast let them know it came out great especially when you consider that they dont have hundreds of thousands in servers and IT infrastrucutre behind it.  I have no idea who the play by play guy was but he was really really good, well prepared, knowledgeable, and most important had a perfect flow and did not sound like a moron in the broadcast and the color guy did not sound like an old coach/player trying to be a broadcaster (cough cough Bob Davie, Joe Thiesman).  all around great production and a great thing for us alums who can only make 1 game a year.

[Adam Sayer]

Seems like things are on the up and up for many teams...good. Congrats to everyone who won.

Someone stated that FC's defense held their own...giving up 31 points in a game isn't holding your own. As Pat stated, BW was 5-4 last year, albeit in a solid conference. If FC wants to win playoff games or even win the HCAC, they will need to get an awful lot better on defense.

As you all know, MSJ won, and the surprising stat to me was the passing yards. The QB threw for 280ish. Its not very often a MSJ QB approaches the 300 yards passing number as they have always been a running team. If this kid ends up being a legit QB, and they are able to PTR like they have in the past, I agree with Kevin that they will be the favorite in the conference. They will play solid defense and this year it looks like they have an offense that is capable of competing in a shootout if the defense has a bad game.

[Jackets Backer]

DC alum,

Will do. Glad it worked well since the webcast guys took my seat in the press box.