120th Monon Bell Classic

Wabash Hokie · November 11, 2013, 12:24:58 PM

Quote from: Wabash Hokie on October 01, 2013, 10:22:58 PM
Monon Bell game tickets are on sale at the Wabash bookstore for this year's game against the lost tribe of Dan. What are the odds that Wabash sells more tickets than DePauw?

Check out the blog entry below:

http://blogs.wabash.edu/thegrunge/2013/09/30/monon-bell-game-tickets/

Wabash Bookstore reports less than 200 tix remain and going fast. Hope that DePauw fans show up in force. Looking forward to seeing the new field at Blackstock.

Whenever DPU next wins the Bell, they won't be able to hide it under the rug.

wally_wabash · November 11, 2013, 12:29:10 PM

Here's a fun fact.

DePauw has lost 11 NCAC conference games (after Saturday, obviously). They will have played 16 total NCAC games.

Wabash lost their 11th NCAC game in their 11th season in the league.

sigma one · November 11, 2013, 02:08:46 PM

Wally, you fact-finder, you.

bashbrother · November 11, 2013, 03:56:01 PM

Here we go again! Also, don't know if any of you Depauw "Fans" saw these scoreboards yet.... after leaving early and all. Anyway.. here they are for your viewing pleasure.

I will admit, they are getting better. You may want to try to score a few though... I heard it helps.

DPUIrish1 · November 11, 2013, 05:02:56 PM

first off -- good to be back....it's been awhile. and, like all of you, I'm ecstatic that it's Monon Week.

I've read through all 6 pages of this, as I always do. There are facts and stats and a whole bunch of other stuff that stand out.

But, I'm very encouraged by what Bill Lynch has done in year one after being left with a cupboard full of nothing following Robby Long. Yes, the team started 0-4, with brutal losses to brutal teams (minus Wittenberg). But, they've won 4 of 5, with a freshman quarterback (which by the way, WILL win Bells), and what I like most is that Bill Lynch has re-instilled a program thirsting for a re-boost of tradition and pride.

.....and Lynch knows what it takes to win a Bell....

I'm not predicting a win by any means....I just feel confident where the program is heading.....and am excited about this weekend.

Breckenridgebear · November 11, 2013, 06:18:46 PM

Quote from: bashbrother on November 11, 2013, 03:56:01 PM

Here we go again! Also, don't know if any of you Depauw "Fans" saw these scoreboards yet.... after leaving early and all. Anyway.. here they are for your viewing pleasure.

I will admit, they are getting better. You may want to try to score a few though... I heard it helps.

Glad you have those memories from sitting in the stands.

One of my favorites from my time with the team: http://vimeo.com/31460010

1837Tigers · November 11, 2013, 07:07:09 PM

All 119 Monon Memories (and some other goodies) are available here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7132D62E7C8E99EE

1837Tigers · November 12, 2013, 09:14:21 AM

wabndy · November 12, 2013, 09:56:25 AM

Quote from: Old Pal Wes on November 10, 2013, 10:47:04 PM
If anything, Wittenberg was kind enough to show the rest of us how to stop Wabash's offense. That's not "golly we just had a bad day" type stuff that happened yesterday. There are serious issues on the offensive line for Wabash right now with their zone blocking scheme and in their 5 man pass protection. That's a problem that needs to be rectified if they're going to beat anybody, be it DePauw or, heaven forbid, a playoff caliber team. Can't win if you can't block 'em.

Sorry Wes, I beg to differ. There WERE serious issues with Wabash's offensive line ... against Witt. I'll let the previous eight games speak for themselves. Witt brought it on Saturday and I think the O line and D line just weren't ready in the first half to play with the size and speed in display. Adjustments were made at the half and we were hanging tough. Witt then did a solid job protecting their lead, holding onto the ball, and milking the clock - preventing any sort of comeback.

As you have noted yourself in the past, what DePauw has lacked these last three years especially is that size and speed. Unless Bill Lynch was able to recruit up (he wasn't) to cover this gap - I don't think DePauw will be able to execute Witt's playbook this year. If the dannie administration can figure out how to leave the football program alone, I don't expect the mismatch to be there in a couple of years. For saturday? ding ding

wally_wabash · November 12, 2013, 10:35:33 AM

Quote from: Old Pal Wes on November 10, 2013, 11:24:50 PM
DePauw's defense isn't all that far off from Wittenberg's in most of the major categories. We've had this argument when DePauw was in the SCAC, but now it's validated because it's against the same opponents.

Let the court of opinion judge the above. The evidence:

Stat	DePauw	Nat'l Rank	Witt	Nat'l Rank
Rush D	150.30	109	83.40	8
Pass Eff. D	135.42	175	120.16	100
Total D	343.20	91	291.10	28
Scoring D	22.70	93	17.60	45
TO Margin	0.60	t-59	-0.60	172
Pass D	192.90	93	207.70	132
Sacks	1.78	132	3.22	21
TFL	5.40	174	8.20	30
3rd Down D	0.379	119	0.341	64
RZ Defense	0.828	204	0.586	15

I guess it depends on what one's definition of "not that far off" is, but I don't think the Tiger defenses are quite as interchangeable as you might think.

DPU3619 · November 12, 2013, 10:43:17 AM

The PPG is 5 points. 5. Less than 1 score per. It's only that high because both teams didn't play their own offenses. Depauw's PPG is higher because they played Witt's O and not their own. The opposite is true of Wittenberg.

50 total yards per. I don't have the number of plays in front of me, but I bet DePauw's D is on the field more than Wittenberg's, judging by their offenses. I'll look that up.

And DPU is positive in turnover margin, which is a big deal for Saturday.

EDIT: And frankly, other than rush D & RZ D, are those numbers glaringly different? DePauw isn't a huge blitz team to this point, so TFL & sacks make sense. But aren't all those other numbers within a stone's throw of each other?

wally_wabash · November 12, 2013, 10:55:59 AM

Witt has actually played 30 more snaps of defense than DePauw. And while Witt didn't have to play Witt, Witt did have to play Butler instead of Sewanee so there's that. I really think we (and I absolutely include myself here) kind of dismissed Wittenberg's defense after the first quarter of their first game which was totally unfair. When I posted a tale of the tape last week I found out that they have a way better unit nationally than I had expected. That's my bad.

And you're right about the turnover thing. That part matters. DePauw has done a pretty good job of hanging on to that thing and they've gotten on a ton of fumbles this year.

wally_wabash · November 12, 2013, 11:06:19 AM

Quote from: Old Pal Wes on November 12, 2013, 10:43:17 AM
EDIT: And frankly, other than rush D & RZ D, are those numbers glaringly different? DePauw isn't a huge blitz team to this point, so TFL & sacks make sense. But aren't all those other numbers within a stone's throw of each other?

That's a judgement call. People are going to draw that line between what's close enough to be basically the same and what's not. For me personally, taking that table as a whole, I can't talk myself into the idea that the Tiger defenses are more or less the same thing. Some people will, and that's fine.

I would be concerned about the total lack of sacks and TFL. If you don't get significant TFL against this Wabash team, there will be another boatrace on Saturday.

bashbrother · November 12, 2013, 11:09:08 AM

Another question is how many yards has Witt given up in "Garbage time" when they were up by 40+..... (total 2nd team defense's time on the field) Definitely not worth looking up, as the answer in defensive strengths between Witt & Depauw will materialize on Saturday.

Hey, there is part of me that hopes Saturday is close..... It is good for the Monon Bell; the tradition of the rivalry. I just don't see how it will be.

DPU3619 · November 12, 2013, 11:23:05 AM

I agree they're good. I never said Witt wasn't good. But when I look at the numbers side by side, DePauw is pretty good, too. They're not identical. DePauw isn't as good or better. But when looking at the whole picture, I do think they are similar. I still think that after your post. Over the course of a season, all things being equal, they put out approximately the same totals in many categories. I don't think 5 pts over a year is very telling. I don't think 15 passing yards is very telling. Same goes for 3rd down. It's 3%. Relatively the same when you try to predict a sample of 12-15 3rd downs on Saturday. I do think the rushing D is important, though.

Therefore, I think I can say that DePauw can get Wabash into a similar offensive day. Maybe not quite as bad. I don't think Wabash's offense will be running around like a chicken with their head cut off like they did in the 1H Saturday. But, looking at your table, I think 14-20 pts is in the conversation if it goes according to plan. If it doesn't, it'll be a billion to zero again. That's been the whole point. DePauw's defense can do this. Then it'll be on the O to find a way. If they don't, don't even bother turning DePauw's side of the scoreboard on.

120th Monon Bell Classic

DPU3619

DPU3619