|
Post by breezy on Jul 9, 2018 10:28:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by realism on Jul 9, 2018 11:02:34 GMT -5
" Chesney's first two season s ( 2018 and 2019 ) shouldn't be measured by wins and losses." " Instead, it's about building for the future." "The Crusaders gained a new, well-respected head coach in the off-season," "...but lost a ton of talent -- " "The good news? Chesney and the Crusaders' new coaching staff are hitting the recruiting trail hard, and the results are already starting to show "
( Even if the good recruiting results continue, modest impact is expected on the 2018 and 2019 seasons' performance as expressed in W-L's. The schedules reflect aspirations from Pine's original vision 4 yrs ago--not current reality. These schedules weren't designed for a team belching out 4-7 seasons against weaker competition, or a current roster reflecting modest recruiting success in the past few years. )"The Crusaders are going to get punched in the mouth early, and there's only so much that can be done about that."
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jul 9, 2018 12:09:09 GMT -5
I think this team will punch back....
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Jul 9, 2018 12:30:36 GMT -5
Sounds about right and pretty objective. Three years of not-so-good recruiting, back-to-back 4-7 seasons, and a huge exodus of athletes via graduation means a rebuilding of the program is in order. 4-7 will be a challenge this year. Place a bunch of frosh/soph on the all-Patriot team at the end of this year like other PL teams have done and continue to recruit, verbal, and sign land multi-good offer kids for the 2019 season and we will know we're on the right track.
|
|
|
Post by Chu Chu on Jul 9, 2018 12:37:10 GMT -5
You don't see a line like this in many football previews:
"DID YOU KNOW?: Holy Cross has the largest Classics program of any Division I liberal arts college."
|
|
|
Post by rickii on Jul 9, 2018 13:11:40 GMT -5
Pretty general and not much digging done....i.e., no mention of the $95 million LAC.
Several here have lamented the referenced large loss of personnel from last season. Save for 4 or 5 kids the rest aren't irreplaceable. My sense so far is Chesney is definitely a guy who coaches 'up' kids to being better than they were....quickly. We'll see....
Oh and frankly I took the Classics bit as an off-handed slap in the face.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jul 9, 2018 13:34:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 9, 2018 14:19:37 GMT -5
Probably not. After all, he is from Rhode Island and that's even lower on the football food chain than Massachusetts.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 9, 2018 14:43:24 GMT -5
Not so sure about a huge exodus due to graduations. Granted, last year we had a bunch of 5th year seniors, especially on the Oline but believe that was true in prior years. The biggest loss, of course, is Pujals. For me, the biggest disappointment last year was the Oline which was supposed to be our strength due to great experience. As a unit, they underperformed - big time. Not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg. Run blocking was poor and we did not run much. Presumably by design but pass blocking not as good as prior years either.
We have 22 seniors on the roster this year. There were 26 last year, 20 the year before and 22 the year before that. Would guess, without looking it up, that those extra 4-5 were 5th year seniors.
Let me paraphrase a conversation I had with Coach Carmody, which may fit our situation in football. I bemoaned that we were going to lose a lot of seniors. Without batting an eye, he told me, "yeah, that'd be a bad thing if we had a lot more wins last year."
Agree with the post above, most of these senior losses can be filled. After Pujals, McBeath and maybe Bell and Guild and possibly Murray, I think Chesney will find more than adequate replacements.
Glad, though, that most have low expectations for the year.
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jul 9, 2018 14:45:47 GMT -5
Have to agree about low expectations. Starting low and then finish high gets good feelings for 2019.
|
|
|
Post by hcpride on Jul 9, 2018 16:12:46 GMT -5
Not so sure about a huge exodus due to graduations. Granted, last year we had a bunch of 5th year seniors, especially on the Oline but believe that was true in prior years. The biggest loss, of course, is Pujals. For me, the biggest disappointment last year was the Oline which was supposed to be our strength due to great experience. As a unit, they underperformed - big time. Not sure which came first, the chicken or the egg. Run blocking was poor and we did not run much. Presumably by design but pass blocking not as good as prior years either. We have 22 seniors on the roster this year. There were 26 last year, 20 the year before and 22 the year before that. Would guess, without looking it up, that those extra 4-5 were 5th year seniors. Let me paraphrase a conversation I had with Coach Carmody, which may fit our situation in football. I bemoaned that we were going to lose a lot of seniors. Without batting an eye, he told me, "yeah, that'd be a bad thing if we had a lot more wins last year." Agree with the post above, most of these senior losses can be filled. After Pujals, McBeath and maybe Bell and Guild and possibly Murray, I think Chesney will find more than adequate replacements. Glad, though, that most have low expectations for the year. We brought in 32 recruits last year. That is why 32 frosh are now on the roster. A huge number. Largest graduating/departing senior (5th year and otherwise) class in recent memory. Comforting thought (I guess) that losing a large number of senior players from a losing football team is less painful than theoretically losing a large number of senior players from a winning football team. We'll have to wait until we have a winning program for that theoretical comparison. Of course, that purplish theory presupposes the back-ups and new recurits can immediately step in and fill the starters' shoes. Actually more than fill their shoes if the team is to hold even at 4-7 with a tougher schedule or possibly even break the back-to-back 4-7 morass. Last year I predicted 4-7 based on similar coach and essentially similar players and essentially similar opposition to the (4-7) year before. I guess one could have called that low or realistic or accurate or all three. After back to back 4-7, I don't think a 4-7 prediction is low. Sort of standard. Right now, FWIW, I 'm going 4-7 for 2018 based on better coach, essentially similar or somewhat lesser contributing players, and slightly stronger opposition. I am hopeful that for the 2019 season they'll be a large uptick in the contributing players category.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jul 9, 2018 16:40:59 GMT -5
Agree with the post above, most of these senior losses can be filled. After Pujals, McBeath and maybe Bell and Guild and possibly Murray, I think Chesney will find more than adequate replacements. Glad, though, that most have low expectations for the year. Bell is returning
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 9, 2018 16:43:41 GMT -5
I forgot that. So, do you think the Blaise Bell under Chesney will be better than the Blaise Bell under Gilmore and his interim successor?
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jul 9, 2018 16:53:14 GMT -5
Yes, as well as the rest of the roster
|
|
|
Post by efg72 on Jul 9, 2018 19:52:46 GMT -5
I am going way out on a limb But If we get out of the first three games somewhat healthy, I am going with 6-5 ——call it optimistic and blind loyalty. I think the defense, with perhaps less talent, will be more productive and efficient which is not uncommon with a new coaching staff. Offensively a little more balance with freshman contributing to the running and kicking game. All and all more energy between the lines.
We could also go 3-8 and look better
|
|
|
Post by rgs318 on Jul 9, 2018 20:08:52 GMT -5
I hope you are right. I see it more like 5-6 but 4-7 would not be a shock. A winning record the season and a run at the PL title would be fantastic, but I fear a bit unrealistic.
|
|
|
Post by efg72 on Jul 9, 2018 20:39:53 GMT -5
Not suggesting I am close to right, but do think a new energy is worth a win or two as the team learns how to win. It is a culture of winning that can always steal a game or two on a schedule
|
|
|
Post by Ignutz on Jul 10, 2018 13:18:35 GMT -5
I hope you are right. I see it more like 5-6 but 4-7 would not be a shock. A winning record the season and a run at the PL title would be fantastic, but I fear a bit unrealistic.
Maybe it's my purple-colored glasses, but I keep looking back on 2017 and seeing two should-have-won games (Dartmouth & Lafayette) and three could-have-won games (UConn, Monmouth & Lehigh) in our seven losses. Based on his success at different institutions, and my understanding that he's got a more creative (less predictable) style, I would fully-expect that if last season were replayed with CBC at the helm, the CBC would have won both of the should-haves and one of the could haves - at a minimum. That makes last season 7-4.
I expect nothing less in the coming campaign.
|
|
|
Post by hchoops on Jul 10, 2018 13:26:03 GMT -5
Cheney does not have the same roster as last year
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 10, 2018 13:55:57 GMT -5
I expect a 5-6 season; will be disappointed with less; very happy with a winning season; ecstatic with anything more.
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 10, 2018 13:57:21 GMT -5
Well, the former VP is not our coach, thank goodness. As for Chesney, I think he will do better than expected.
|
|
|
Post by rickii on Jul 10, 2018 14:10:32 GMT -5
Lemme see....we don't know who will be the QB or many other positions nor do we know for sure how much better, how much worse most of our opponents will be yet in early July some are already confidant of 5, 6 and even 7 victories ?
Okay....check
|
|
|
Post by sader1970 on Jul 10, 2018 14:28:10 GMT -5
Well, as for me, Ignutz covers some of my "optimism" if expecting a 5-6 (losing season and 1 more win than last year) qualifies. We snatched defeat from the jaws of almost certain victory at least twice. As I already posted, the Oline disappointed to say the least, so I am going with the assumption that we won't be any worse there and probably better. As for the loss of Pujals, yes, a loss, but we've had a history of the next QB up doing well, sometimes surprisingly well. But, yes, a lot of this rides on the optimism and enthusiasm and fresh perspective of the new coach and just as importantly, the assistants that he has brought in. I as pretty critical of some of TG's assistants and especially the play calling. Hopefully, we'll see a more creative game plan and making good adjustments at halftime, as needed. It may be a little apples & oranges comparison but Jack Donahue used to say that a new coach has a little bit of an edge because opposing coaches don't have a track record to prepare for. That'll only take you through the first game or two with technology today but could give us an edge against Colgate. It costs the same to be optimistic as it does to be pessimistic, so I'll go with the former.
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jul 10, 2018 14:51:15 GMT -5
Lemme see....we don't know who will be the QB or many other positions nor do we know for sure how much better, how much worse most of our opponents will be yet in early July some are already confidant of 5, 6 and even 7 victories ? Okay....check We will certainly miss our very talented graduate Peter Pujals at QB. I don't know who the starter will be but I believe Geoff Wade should give us some confidence that we are not in huge trouble. When Pujals got injured two years ago Wade was the principal QB as follows 38-28 win at Lafayette 27-17 win at Harvard 21-20 win at Georgetown 14-54 loss to Fordham at Yankee Stadium Between the win at Harvard and the win at Georgetown, Wade did not play and the QB duties went to Blaise Bell and Emmett Clifford--I have to think Wade was injured for those games. Maybe he came back too early for the Yankee Stadium game as Bell and Clifford did not put up big numbers ( 1 TD Pass vs 5 Interceptions and 352 passing yards in 63 attempts) as we got thumped vs. Lehigh and at Colgate. In addition to Geoff Wade we have four other QB's on the roster Connor Degenhardt-- Soph--highly touted coming in to HC, did not play last year. I look forward to seeing what he can do Emmett Clifford--Junior--high school teammate of Pujals--played the two games noted above as a freshman but did not see any action last season Eddie Scott--Incoming freshman from Wall NJ Dean Nagle- Soph--did not see any action last season
|
|
|
Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jul 10, 2018 15:10:17 GMT -5
Understanding that Assumption is a different team, conference, division, roster than Holy Cross, and faced different opponents, I still wonder if we can get a glimpse into Coach Chesney's playing strategies from comparing some stats between the two schools. The specific question: will we try to run the ball more than we have in the past?
Holy Cross--% of offensive plays that were rushing attempts
2015: 38% 2016: 46% 2017: 47%
Assumption-
2015: 55% 2016: 55% 2017: 57%
Interesting.....
|
|