Playoffs -- 2015

[Westside]

I don't think Mount is going on the road in the semifinal until they lose one.

Did they have to go on the road after UMHB beat them at home in 2004?

Here you go: http://d3football.com/teams/Mount_Union/2005/index

It looks like all of their 2005 playoff games were at home.

Two things: Criteria different in 2005, secondly Mount Union was the 3 seed in 2005 and the only reason they got all the games at home was because other teams lost.

He asked if they had to go on the road, I put up a link that showed they played at home in 2005. That is literally correct in its simplest form. I never said anything else. But we get it, they would've been on the road had there not been upsets! 

[smedindy]

MAN! You guys are bringing up 2005. STAAAAAAHP!

(Too many dropped passes...)

[emma17]

I don't see anything conspiratorial about the committee's decisions with Mt.
And I sure don't blame Mt, they are located where they are located, and it is their geographical position that creates most of the bracket questions IMO.

In looking at the historical brackets, I only see two years where the committee could have given the higher seed (home field advantage to a team other than Mt)-
2013- NCC (I know, I'm in love with NCC).
2012- St. Thomas- Correction, I meant UMHB. 

Would the committee have been justified in giving UWO or Wheaton the top seed this year?  Tough call as I see arguments on both sides.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

The only way MUC is going to get a road playoff game is if they lose in the regular season.  Or they are ranked outside the Top 4 all 2015 because of the following:

a) UWW pounds MUC this weekend
b) the Cat/Tommie game is a great one
c) UWW loses in the Stagg Bowl

You'd have a situation where final rankings are:

St Thomas or Linfield are #1 or 2
UWW is 3
MHB or UWO are 4/5
MUC 6 - yes they made it to the semis but got pounded to a team that lost in the Stagg Bowl

This could lead to 2016 preseason rankings being:

1) Linfield or St Thomas as 1 or 2
2) UWW as 3
3) MHB or UWO as 4/5
4) MUC as 6

We know that MHB/Linfield and UWO/UWW will all have at least one regular season loss as they play each other.  So it is highly unlikely that MUC will finish 2016 outside the Top 4 no matter how 2015 actually turns out.

So as long as Linfield/St Thomas/or UWW end up 2016 undefeated AND are placed on opposite sides of the bracket I can see MUC having to travel for the semi's.  But I don't see any situation where they finish 2016 undefeated and have a road game prior to the semi's.

If MUC wins the title this year they will host all the way thru the semi's.  If MUC makes it to the Stagg Bowl they will host thru the semis. 

[Pat Coleman]

The only way MUC is going to get a road playoff game is if they lose in the regular season.  Or they are ranked outside the Top 4 all 2015 because of the following:

I think you meandered your way around this later but they have to be in the top 2 to get home playoff games all the way through.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

Pat - you mentioned something about NCAA video archives? Are some/all of the D3 football playoff games archived somewhere accessible to watch?

I did indeed meander.. suffice to say to get a road game for MUC they will need to be ranked lower in the eyes of the national committee than the team that they play in the semi's.  This is only going to happen in MUC loses this weekend.  Otherwise they are going to most likely be either the #1 or #2 team to start (and end) 2016 and we are going to have the same amount of bitching.

When a program loses 5 games in 20 years outside the Stagg Bowl they have earned the right to homefield in my opinion.

[Pat Coleman]

Pat - you mentioned something about NCAA video archives? Are some/all of the D3 football playoff games archived somewhere accessible to watch?

I did indeed meander.. suffice to say to get a road game for MUC they will need to be ranked lower in the eyes of the national committee than the team that they play in the semi's.  This is only going to happen in MUC loses this weekend.  Otherwise they are going to most likely be either the #1 or #2 team to start (and end) 2016 and we are going to have the same amount of bitching.

When a program loses 5 games in 20 years outside the Stagg Bowl they have earned the right to homefield in my opinion.

Schools are not supposed to archive playoff broadcasts. Sometimes you can find them shortly after the game, which is when I was able to track down the UMHB-Linfield game. My advice would be to go to the host school's website to check.

[Andy Jamison - Walla Walla Wildcat]

I am very interested to see the Hoff versus Simmet matchup on Saturday.  Will the Cats move Hoff around or will they have him lineup against Simmet most downs? 

The TE matchup is going to be a problem for the Cats as historically our D struggles against mobile quarterbacks and very good tight ends.  (at least that is how things seem to me).

I'm also interested to see if Linfield sticks with Payne 100% of the time or goes to Choisser for the tough between the tackles yards that doesn't seem to be Payne's strength.  The zone stretch might work in the early rounds of the playoffs but it sure seems to get stopped by the Quarters. I'd like to see both in the backfield at the same time as that gives the defense Payne to worry as a receiver and Choisser running hard between the tackles. (Ideally something we incorporate for 2016).

At the quarterback position I'm thinking that Knecht will have the opportunity to play even better.  His receivers have been stepping up big time especially Balsiger and Carroll.  Douglas III is due for a breakout game. Knecht should be more relaxed as he has now played 6 quarters in a row, is getting all the first team reps, and has been baptized by the MHB fire (their D line was incredible - huge, rangy, long, and athletic). 

Special teams seems to be a different strength of both teams.  The Cats are solid at punt return but don't do anything special or tricky across the board (or attempt the onside kick or fake punt very rarely).  While the Tommies seem to have made trick special team plays a core part of their philosophy.  Aside from kick-offs wouldn't the Cats be wise to simply leave their base D in the game for both punt returns and field goal/PAT situations.  Give up the field goal/PAT attempt to keep the Tommies from getting momentum stealing plays.  Linfield was killed on fake punts at MHB in 2015 and we seem to be susceptible to those kinds of plays.

What I know is that Linfield is not going to have to adjust to the team speed like we did against MHB.  Speed is scary in football and I'd expect that we match up very well in this department against the Tommies.

The Cats are 2-3 against the MIAC since 2002.  Two losses to St Johns in consecutive seasons.  A win versus CM in 2005.  A win in 2009 versus St Thomas and a loss in 2010.  I'm hoping we get to .500 this weekend!

[art76]

I am very interested to see the Hoff versus Simmet matchup on Saturday.  Will the Cats move Hoff around or will they have him lineup against Simmet most downs? 

The TE matchup is going to be a problem for the Cats as historically our D struggles against mobile quarterbacks and very good tight ends.  (at least that is how things seem to me).

I'm also interested to see if Linfield sticks with Payne 100% of the time or goes to Choisser for the tough between the tackles yards that doesn't seem to be Payne's strength.  The zone stretch might work in the early rounds of the playoffs but it sure seems to get stopped by the Quarters. I'd like to see both in the backfield at the same time as that gives the defense Payne to worry as a receiver and Choisser running hard between the tackles. (Ideally something we incorporate for 2016).

At the quarterback position I'm thinking that Knecht will have the opportunity to play even better.  His receivers have been stepping up big time especially Balsiger and Carroll.  Douglas III is due for a breakout game. Knecht should be more relaxed as he has now played 6 quarters in a row, is getting all the first team reps, and has been baptized by the MHB fire (their D line was incredible - huge, rangy, long, and athletic). 

Special teams seems to be a different strength of both teams.  The Cats are solid at punt return but don't do anything special or tricky across the board (or attempt the onside kick or fake punt very rarely).  While the Tommies seem to have made trick special team plays a core part of their philosophy.  Aside from kick-offs wouldn't the Cats be wise to simply leave their base D in the game for both punt returns and field goal/PAT situations.  Give up the field goal/PAT attempt to keep the Tommies from getting momentum stealing plays.  Linfield was killed on fake punts at MHB in 2015 and we seem to be susceptible to those kinds of plays.

What I know is that Linfield is not going to have to adjust to the team speed like we did against MHB.  Speed is scary in football and I'd expect that we match up very well in this department against the Tommies.

The Cats are 2-3 against the MIAC since 2002.  Two losses to St Johns in consecutive seasons.  A win versus CM in 2005.  A win in 2009 versus St Thomas and a loss in 2010.  I'm hoping we get to .500 this weekend!

WWW - you should post this over on the MIAC board to get some feedback.

[wally_wabash]

I am very interested to see the Hoff versus Simmet matchup on Saturday.  Will the Cats move Hoff around or will they have him lineup against Simmet most downs? 

I haven't watched a ton of Linfield, but from what I have seen Hoff generally comes from the left side.  Simmet plays RT, so there may not be a lot of Hoff vs. Simmet action.  Unless Linfield moves him around on the line, which might be a thing.  People who watch Linfield regularly can clarify that point. 

[MonroviaCat]

I am very interested to see the Hoff versus Simmet matchup on Saturday.  Will the Cats move Hoff around or will they have him lineup against Simmet most downs? 

I haven't watched a ton of Linfield, but from what I have seen Hoff generally comes from the left side.  Simmet plays RT, so there may not be a lot of Hoff vs. Simmet action.  Unless Linfield moves him around on the line, which might be a thing.  People who watch Linfield regularly can clarify that point.

Oh, he comes from everywhere and nowhere all at once....like a ninja!   

[Just Bill]

I'll pick the purple team.

[jknezek]

Well. My money was not on a pair of Monkey stomps today. How anti-climatic. Here's hoping the Stagg is more compelling.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Well. My money was not on a pair of Monkey stomps today. How anti-climatic. Here's hoping the Stagg is more compelling.

Yeah, neither outcome surprised me (I could see either game going either way), but the margins were totally out of the blue.

[hazzben]

Well. My money was not on a pair of Monkey stomps today. How anti-climatic. Here's hoping the Stagg is more compelling.

Yeah, neither outcome surprised me (I could see either game going either way), but the margins were totally out of the blue.

I was really thinking we were going to have our most competitive duo of semi-final games in a long time. Guess not, but maybe that means we'll have a Stagg that's even more dramatic than usual.