SimpleCoach D3 Soccer YouTube Channel

[SKUD]

What a remarkable conversation and what a great guy he is. SC you are not too bad either!

[Hopkins92]

Totally OT:

SC - Your Purple Raiders and my Blue Jays face off this weekend in the football Semifinals.

While your boys are used to these lofty heights, this is only the second time Hopkins has made it this far.

In all honesty, I don't hold out much hope. Hop's only loss came to Salisbury, which y'all dispatched fairly easily on Saturday. Hop lost to the Seagulls 13-41 in September... Their only loss of the season, but by transitive property... (kidding, I know you still have to play the game.)

[jknezek]

I suspect JHU will do better against UMU than Salisbury did. Salisbury is the best option team in D3, a fact that pains me to no end as my Generals also run a spread option offense.

However, that scheme is very difficult to win with at the highest level as it works best against teams with similar or slightly better athletes. When you hit the very top echelon of D3, a tricky scheme like the option is generally nullified by the speed and skill of top defensive players.

While Salisbury may have taken JHU earlier this year by running an esoteric scheme extraordinarily well, UMU has the athletes to nullify the scheme.

JHU's more balanced offense, while more traditional, might hold up better against UMU since they can't just pack the line and the box.

There is a reason the option went out of style, and Salisbury's excellence with the scheme has consistently underlined that reason when they get to the Elite Eight area of the playoffs. It's a very hard ceiling with the skill of those top tier defenses if you can't stretch them vertically.

UMU is very likely to beat JHU. But I think the Blue Jays will give them more of a fight than the early season Salisbury/JHU score would indicate.

[Little Giant 89]

Only because I like to see some variety in my playoff/championship competition: Go Blue Jays!

[Hopkins92]

Thanks for the insight jk... I know JHU's offense if balanced, with a heavier dose of passing, but had no idea what Salisbury runs.

[Ron Boerger]

JHU was extremely fortunate to get past DePauw, who had the ball on their one yard line with 30 seconds left and somehow managed not to score after their QB fell in the open field when cutting for what would have otherwise been a score (and then getting called for illegal motion and losing the remaining time on the clock due to a mandatory ten-second runoff).  I can't see them having much luck with UMU, as much as it pains me to say that (look up the 2002 Stagg Bowl score if you like).

[jknezek]

Thanks for the insight jk... I know JHU's offense if balanced, with a heavier dose of passing, but had no idea what Salisbury runs.

They are deadly with the option. I will give them credit for mixing in more passes this year, but it's a spread/triple option scheme as base. They beat my boys the last two years and I hope that contract is up. W&L does well with the option because it surprises most of their opponents. That doesn't work against a team that runs it as well as, or better, than you do and has better athletes.

Good luck to JHU and Susquehanna this weekend. It's nice to see the East Coast teams making a splash in D3 after decades of primarily Midwest, west and southern domination.

[Little Giant 89]

JHU was extremely fortunate to get past DePauw, who had the ball on their one yard line with 30 seconds left and somehow managed not to score after their QB fell in the open field when cutting for what would have otherwise been a score (and then getting called for illegal motion and losing the remaining time on the clock due to a mandatory ten-second runoff).  I can't see them having much luck with UMU, as much as it pains me to say that (look up the 2002 Stagg Bowl score if you like).

I have the video of the last two minutes of that game running on a loop in my office.  Schadenfreude!

[Hopkins92]

And, btw, this OT stuff should be encouraged. I think the original moderators were WAY TOO STRICT about OT stuff. Not trying to stir the pot, but the way to keep us engaged is just to keep talking.

[Pat Coleman]

And I obviously spend almost zero time moderating these boards, but I would point out there are also football boards where you might find more conversation on this topic. However, with jknezek and Ron, you already have some of those regulars here.

I wouldn't take a ton away from the Salisbury-Johns Hopkins game. Neither team looks much like the teams that played on that day. JHU has had to change quarterbacks and the defense has looked much more solid than on that day.

[SimpleCoach]

In conclusion.... Go Raiders!

SC.

[Little Giant 89]

In conclusion.... Go Raiders!

SC.

Where's the "dislike" button?   

[SimpleCoach]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.... or whatever you may celebrate ... and a rockin' New Year's.  Looking forward to 2025... I think.

Anyhow, tried to figure out a great way to start 2025 off the right way... so here is the 2024 SC Best XI... more like Best 38, but that's a minor detail.

The 2024 SC Best XI.

Hope you enjoy and blessings to you and your families.

SC.

[Bucket]

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.... or whatever you may celebrate ... and a rockin' New Year's.  Looking forward to 2025... I think.

Anyhow, tried to figure out a great way to start 2025 off the right way... so here is the 2024 SC Best XI... more like Best 38, but that's a minor detail.

The 2024 SC Best XI.

Hope you enjoy and blessings to you and your families.

SC.

Nicely done

[SKUD]

Great conversation, Coaches

https://youtu.be/HebGzj94Qro?si=YslimFZy13NRrPiJ

Congratulations to you and EJay on making the bulletin board