2010 Cortaca Jug

[Old IC Voice]

Additionally, the Mic/Jug jinx lives on. ICB won the mic for the first time since '06 last night, and C-State won their first Jug since then today. This is getting into Paul the Octopus territory now.

[Bombers798891]

Congrats to Cortland. Autera was a flat out monster and the secondary stepped up big time in the 2nd half. Credit to the Dragons for not folding down 17-3.

As for the Bombers...well, special teams has been horrid all season and it was again. Both Cortland touchdowns were direct results of special teams screw-ups and Rogowski missed another make-able FG. Can't happen.

I'm not sure what to make of Cortland for the playoffs. Autera is as good a back as you're going to get, but they struggle with the downfield passing. The defense was good, although not great. The first half they were lucky to only be down 10-3. But the Bombers got nothing after the first drive in the 2nd half. The Cortland D got aggressive and made the plays

One side note: Time Warner Cable should never be allowed to broadcast another game. The ENTIRE first half, the kept referring to the Bombers JV head coach as Welch. Every time the camera panned to an IC coach, there it was. Flat out unprofessional and inexcusable. Once, I can understand. But did no-one in the control room know what Mike Welch looked like?

IC broadcasts aren't as polished, but at least there's basic competence.

[DanPadavona]

+K to Max and Cstate for keeping the board interesting today.

Just got back home from another exciting Cortaca Jug game.  My impressions:

* Vossler is tremendous, and Zappia showed a good arm today.  This is the first time I have seen Cortland beaten deep repeatedly in 2010, and I think they deserve the credit. 

* Otherwise Cortland was very strong defensively.  There was no running room, especially up the middle.  Lou Crispo is a monster NT and will be sorely missed when he graduates.  BTW his parents are fantastic, fantastic peeps who made the last 5 years very enjoyable for me.

* Autera is the best HB I have seen all season between the NJAC and Cortaca.  Considering how many tackles he was breaking near the line of scrimmage, it is scary what this kid might accomplish with a strong OL.

* Corvino (#32) was a huge recruiting steal for us out of New Jersey.  He was huge all game long - special teams and on defense. Zappia was hurried on the final IC drive by Corvino for a key incompletion.

* Something just isn't clicking with Pitcher.  The talent is there.  I don't know, I'm just a clown in the stands.  But it doesn't look like he is playing loose.  He missed Miller way high early in the first quarter for what should have been an easy TD.  Also threw way behind the wide open TE on 3rd down in the 3rd quarter for what should have been a 25-30 yard gainer. That said his receiving corps has had trouble getting off the line.

* Welch and MacNeill and their staffs deserve congratulations. Neither IC nor Cortland has anywhere near their best teams of the last 10 years, but they are a combined 15-5 and Cortland (as of 446pm) looks like a good bet for the NCAA playoffs.  Clearly these guys can coach with the best of them.

As Bombers already stated...I don't know what to make of Cortland's playoff chances if they make the field.  This is not a complete team at the moment.  I can see them losing in the first round, and I can see them putting it all together and playing MUC in the quarterfinals.  Bottom line is they will need a much more varied attack than giving it to Autera over and over.

[clandfan]

+K to Max and Cstate for keeping the board interesting today.

Just got back home from another exciting Cortaca Jug game.  My impressions:

* Vossler is tremendous, and Zappia showed a good arm today.  This is the first time I have seen Cortland beaten deep repeatedly in 2010, and I think they deserve the credit. 

* Otherwise Cortland was very strong defensively.  There was no running room, especially up the middle.  Lou Crispo is a monster NT and will be sorely missed when he graduates.  BTW his parents are fantastic, fantastic peeps who made the last 5 years very enjoyable for me.

* Autera is the best HB I have seen all season between the NJAC and Cortaca.  Considering how many tackles he was breaking near the line of scrimmage, it is scary what this kid might accomplish with a strong OL.

* Corvino (#32) was a huge recruiting steal for us out of New Jersey.  He was huge all game long - special teams and on defense. Zappia was hurried on the final IC drive by Corvino for a key incompletion.

* Something just isn't clicking with Pitcher.  The talent is there.  I don't know, I'm just a clown in the stands.  But it doesn't look like he is playing loose.  He missed Miller way high early in the first quarter for what should have been an easy TD.  Also threw way behind the wide open TE on 3rd down in the 3rd quarter for what should have been a 25-30 yard gainer. That said his receiving corps has had trouble getting off the line.

* Welch and MacNeill and their staffs deserve congratulations. Neither IC nor Cortland has anywhere near their best teams of the last 10 years, but they are a combined 15-5 and Cortland (as of 446pm) looks like a good bet for the NCAA playoffs.  Clearly these guys can coach with the best of them.

As Bombers already stated...I don't know what to make of Cortland's playoff chances if they make the field.  This is not a complete team at the moment.  I can see them losing in the first round, and I can see them putting it all together and playing MUC in the quarterfinals.  Bottom line is they will need a much more varied attack than giving it to Autera over and over.

Dan, I think you saw exactly what isn't clicking with Pitcher.  All you have to do is look at Ithaca's receivers and look at ours.  I disagree that the talent is there..  IC's recievers flat out make plays.  Zappia can put it up there and they go get it.  You take Giuliano out of the game and we don't have a receiver who will make a play unless it is a perfectly thrown ball.  These kids can't get off the line, by the time they do our QB is about to get buried.  Yes, he missed that early touchdown.  The TE had a play on that ball but I don't think he has caught more than 1 ball all year.   I thnk you are right about the OL...Look at the sacks allowed pre-Rowan and sacks allowed Post Rowan.  QB percentage pre and post. efficiency pre and post.  I thnk we are making the most of a bad situation and taking what we can get.  We have to capitalize better on our chances but I can't hang that all on Pitcher.

[DanPadavona]

It would be nice to clone Hajnos.

[maxpower]

Hey guys-

I know it's late but wanted to post. I saw the first three quarters and then had to run out, feeling good about myself. Then I get the text from JQV: "It's over. Cortland puts up 17 in the 4th to come back." The next words out of my mouth were not nice.

Congrats to Cortland on a good game. Suspense is what the Jug is all about. Besides, it would be boring if Ithaca won ALL of them... 

I'll be at Butterfield in '11! See you all there!

[RedDragonFan]

Congrats to Cstate and to the Bombers who could easily have won that game. Cstate is finding ways to win games but I for one am afraid that won't cut it in playoff ball.  The offense for Cortland was way too conservative IMHO. They need to open it up a bit and take some more shots downfield.

Vossler was outstanding. He is the definition of a playmaker. A ball in his direction and he comes down with it. Great game for him despite the loss.

[cstate19]

Congrats to Cstate and to the Bombers who could easily have won that game. Cstate is finding ways to win games but I for one am afraid that won't cut it in playoff ball.  The offense for Cortland was way too conservative IMHO. They need to open it up a bit and take some more shots downfield.

Vossler was outstanding. He is the definition of a playmaker. A ball in his direction and he comes down with it. Great game for him despite the loss.

Shots downfield?  Pitcher was off yesterday.  What about the post pattern he missed for an easy TD?  Look I love him but he is missing guys right and left.  With Autera doing anything and everything why would you take more shots downfield yesterday?

[RedDragonFan]

Congrats to Cstate and to the Bombers who could easily have won that game. Cstate is finding ways to win games but I for one am afraid that won't cut it in playoff ball.  The offense for Cortland was way too conservative IMHO. They need to open it up a bit and take some more shots downfield.

Vossler was outstanding. He is the definition of a playmaker. A ball in his direction and he comes down with it. Great game for him despite the loss.

Shots downfield?  Pitcher was off yesterday.  What about the post pattern he missed for an easy TD?  Look I love him but he is missing guys right and left.  With Autera doing anything and everything why would you take more shots downfield yesterday?

I too am a Picher fan.  My point is that they need to be more than one dimensional particularly in the playoffs.  After Saturdays game if I am the defensive coordinator preparing for next week, my task is pretty clear, stop Autera.  Not sure of my numbers but seem to recall reading that Pitcher threw 16 passes, completed 9 or 10 for 60 yards.  I recall the blantant miss you mention and maybe one other attempt 10 or more yards down field and that was it.  I think you have to trust Pitcher to get that job done.  We've seen him do it before so we know he's capable.  Even if he's off as I agree he was, taking some shots downfield will at the very least keep the defense honest and give some more opportunities underneath.

[Bombers798891]

I think that for the Cortaca game itself, it was obvious we couldn't stop Autera, so why go away from that?

But since you're looking big picture, even knowing how good Autera was, they got nothing from the passing game. When Ithaca had the ball with 9:00 to go in the 3rd, up 17-3, I remember thinking, "If we score a touchdown now, the game is over." There was no way Pitcher was getting them back in that game. But maybe it was just a bad game

[dlippiel]

Congrats to Cortland on winning the "JUG" this weekend. It was a very interesting game to watch and dlip was estatic that the game was televised.

Thoughts:

-IC's receivers are nasty, dlip saw that first hand in September at Butterfield when the Bombers dismanteled the Dutchmen

-Zappia had a heck of a year and really came into his own. dlip likes him

-IC's LB's were once again quite impressive

-Cortland showed tons of heart coming back and staying alive, although dlip feels IC handed them some of their opportunities

-Autera is nothing short of Nasty and if CS has any chance of making any noise whatsoever in the tourney he must be stellar

-Picher's play was very poor to say the least. dlip gives the kid a ton of credit for his effort (throwing some blocks) but his passing just was not there. Against a solid team in the tourney it may cost Cortland and make them completely one dimensional. dlip wishes him the best of luck though and hope's he proves dlip wrong

[RedDragonFan]

I think that for the Cortaca game itself, it was obvious we couldn't stop Autera, so why go away from that?But since you're looking big picture, even knowing how good Autera was, they got nothing from the passing game. When Ithaca had the ball with 9:00 to go in the 3rd, up 17-3, I remember thinking, "If we score a touchdown now, the game is over." There was no way Pitcher was getting them back in that game. But maybe it was just a bad game

Good point.  He was awsome for sure.  When Pitcher is on, he's on.  Throws a sharp ball, on target.  That said, even when he's "on", it seems to me that it usually takes him a handfull of throws to get it going with some ugly misses in those early attempts.  Still you have to give the defense pause to be concerned otherwise, Autera will have a much tougher time.  I would like to see them come out of the gate throwing for just that reason, give him some confidence that they trust him but then again, that's why I am posting on a board and not on anyones sidelines or booth!

[clandfan]

I think we have issues in every part of the passing game right now.  I have already said on here that I don't think our receivers are playmakers except for Giuliano and if you take him out of the game we struggle.  We have line issues.  Pitcher has been sacked twice as many times the last 4 games as he was the first six.  My sense is that he is rushed and can't find an open receiver because there are none.  He is not as mobile as he was before his injury last year.  I think he is frustrated and his confidence is taking a hit.  That being said, I hear what a good leader he is on and off the field and he is like another coach out there.  I hope we can find some early success in the passing game Saturday and give him some confidence.  Quite simply, the offense must play better.  We can't rely on Autera every week.

[maxpower]

One side note: Time Warner Cable should never be allowed to broadcast another game. The ENTIRE first half, the kept referring to the Bombers JV head coach as Welch. Every time the camera panned to an IC coach, there it was. Flat out unprofessional and inexcusable. Once, I can understand. But did no-one in the control room know what Mike Welch looked like?

Bombers, did you see:

1) The sideline reporter ask the cheerleading coach "how do you stay focused as a male cheerleading coach around all these female cheerleaders."

2) The play-by-play guy say "and speaking of old jugs" as a segue.


Especially #1; funny as that is, that is just about the most inappropriate question I have ever heard, even on student-run broadcasts. If I were that kid's boss he would have to transfer before he ever got another live interview.

[clandfan]

Congrats to Cortland on winning the "JUG" this weekend. It was a very interesting game to watch and dlip was estatic that the game was televised.

Thoughts:

-IC's receivers are nasty, dlip saw that first hand in September at Butterfield when the Bombers dismanteled the Dutchmen

-Zappia had a heck of a year and really came into his own. dlip likes him

-IC's LB's were once again quite impressive

-Cortland showed tons of heart coming back and staying alive, although dlip feels IC handed them some of their opportunities

-Autera is nothing short of Nasty and if CS has any chance of making any noise whatsoever in the tourney he must be stellar

-Picher's play was very poor to say the least. dlip gives the kid a ton of credit for his effort (throwing some blocks) but his passing just was not there. Against a solid team in the tourney it may cost Cortland and make them completely one dimensional. dlip wishes him the best of luck though and hope's he proves dlip wrong

dlip...fair criticism.  Pitcher's play the last three games has not been what we are accostomed to with regard to throwing the football.  I am hoping whatever the reason, he (we) snap out of it.  I have wondered if he isn't playing hurt or something but haven't heard anything like that.  We need to be balanced.  I am going to look at the bright side and say that we have managed to overcome our woes in the passing game and win despite them.  We know that he is very capable, if not, excellent and that bodes well for us if he can get back on track...He has to step up but he also needs help from his wideouts and OL as I have alluded to in another post.