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Post by sader1970 on Sept 11, 2016 11:59:15 GMT -5
Walker is listed as 5'10" and 180 lb. I stand corrected that Guild is listed as 5'11" and 205 lb and do not recall him weighing that much. He is still not a power runner.
Alex Johnson, our frosh DB is listed at 6'0" and 180. Pretty good size but his inexperience hurt him.
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Post by joe on Sept 11, 2016 12:15:43 GMT -5
Again....balanced offense against one-dimensional offense. Almost impossible for the latter to win regularly. Thus, it's strictly a COACHING issue. To get a running game you must RECRUIT and DEVELOP the right offensive linemen and running backs. Coaching change overdue. Only then will ADNP have his complete signature on our athletic program. I don't think this is an unreasonable statement. However, I really think we need to get behind this team for one more season at least. This is Coach Gilmore's first full scholarship squad and (and it's just this man's opinion) we do have a talented team right now. If the season goes completely down the toilet or we end up the season as a mediocre squad, I believe that would be the time to suggest a possible change in coaching. For now, since we've collectively come so far, and been so patient for the last four transitional years, and since support of his coach and this senior class is needed now more than ever, that we give this thing a few more months before we start calling for heads. There's just too many great wins out there for the taking this year. I believe we're going to either get it done or be right there at the end. I believe we need positive energy. I understand if there is disagreement.
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Post by td128 on Sept 11, 2016 12:54:02 GMT -5
Will UNH be one of the hardest tests we face all season? Think most reasonable assessments would likely put it in the top 2. Plenty of weapons on this team and also plenty of work to do. Welcome to Patriot League Football 2016.
Next week is a very big game. Would certainly be nice to have Gabe and Brendan back in action but injuries are part of the game, so no excuses. I think this team will be better than merely competitive not that that is an acceptable standard.
Coming out party for Richie Denicola and also a huge night for our tight ends.
For those unaware, UNH has made the playoffs 12 straight years.
Calling for the coach's head after the second game -- yes the 2nd game -- of the year? Too funny but could have scripted it and not surprising. I would actually recommend anybody interested about the coaching situation with this team or any other topic to reach out directly to ADNP and engage him. Nate is very approachable and consummately professional.
On to Albany . . . Let's Win!!
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Post by purple1 on Sept 11, 2016 12:55:53 GMT -5
This was a heckuva game to watch in person - a little bit of everything occurred. I think that UNH was the toughest opponent we would face this year and this was a close game. Offenses in college football have taken over, just look at the high scoring in most games being played. The old tough defensive struggles are far and few between in today's college games. HC can improve on their tackling and shedding blocks, but I think the defensive philosophy is to read the play and not truly attack the offense and cause a mishap. Flaherty did not play, Guild had an air cast on his ankle, Ford had a dislocated shoulder or stinger and came back to play in the 4th, Tyler went out with shoulder injury on his interception - all of these did not help HC. Play calling needs to change with running inside the tackles, I was hoping Pujals would fake the handoff and bootleg around right end on the big 4th down play in the 4th. Too many bodies were at the line of scrimmage for Walker to push thru including our own players. Key play of the game was late in 3rd an overthrown pass to #10 who had 3 steps on the defense at the UNH 25 yard line, it would have been a touchdown. We punted then UNH had a long pass play score. Our passes to the tight ends should have continued until UNH stopped them - the ball was being thrown down field with success not to the sides for a back to catch and get tackled immediately.
Let's hope we can get on track next week with a nice win before coming home !
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 11, 2016 13:04:46 GMT -5
Coming home with a wining record would certainly be a plus for the team and the season.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 11, 2016 13:18:50 GMT -5
Way too early to give up on this season or calling for the head of the coach. Here are some positive stats:
First downs: HC 29 UNH 22 Time of possession: HC 30:38 UNH 29:22 Third down conversions: HC 8 of 18 44.4% UNH 4 of 10 40.0% Fourth down conversions: HC 1 of 4 25.0% (not good) but UNH 0 for 2 0.0% (very good, for us) 498 yards of total offense with not unexpectedly 427 of those in the air.
On defense, Ryan Smith was outstanding with 3 sacks to go with his 6 tackles. Nick McBeath 9 solo and 11 total tackles. Glad he is back healthy.
The bad news: We rushed 28 times for a paltry average of 2.5 yards per carry to UNH 52 rushes for a 7.0 yards per carry average but as posted above, the vast majority of it was a few long gainers, most of which seemed to me from broken and missed tackles, not the run-to-daylight variety.
No question, this is the year that we need to win all the games we are expected to win and win at least some of the games where we come in as an underdog and there will be a few of those.
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Post by 6sader7 on Sept 11, 2016 14:04:26 GMT -5
First downs: HC 29 UNH 22 Time of possession: HC 30:38 UNH 29:22 Third down conversions: HC 8 of 18 44.4% UNH 4 of 10 40.0% Fourth down conversions: HC 1 of 4 25.0% (not good) but UNH 0 for 2 0.0% (very good, for us) 498 yards of total offense with not unexpectedly 427 of those in the air.
The point is -- This should equal a W
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Post by rgs318 on Sept 11, 2016 14:10:51 GMT -5
One play I remember - the long pass completed out of bounds - two feet to the right with that ball and the game goes to HC. HC was still in the run for a win in the last 2 minutes. This game was not the horrible night that some seem to feel it was. HC could have won. We did not. Give the coaches and players time to adjust (as they did in the 4th quarter after getting pounded in the 3rd quarter). Albany can tell us a lot.
The Great Danes' opponents are 0-3. Albany outscored opponents (Buffalo and URI) 57-23. We'll see.
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Post by gateraider on Sept 11, 2016 14:53:21 GMT -5
The run defense is awful. We need to recruit better athletes or we are going to get killed in the next few years with teams like, UConn, Boston College, Navy & Syracuse. As in the past few years we have had problems with teams like Harvard and with Yale coming on the schedule we could be in big trouble. One of the main problems that I hear is that many athletes want to come to Holy Cross but they cant get into the school. It's time to give some of these athletes a chance they may surprise and could be great student athletes. If they can't get in, it is not because of academics. HC doesn't require SAT scores, remember? Other schools with high academic ranking get good players. Might be they just aren't good enough FB players. Blame it on your recruiters and head coach.
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Post by gateraider on Sept 11, 2016 15:09:02 GMT -5
First downs: HC 29 UNH 22 Time of possession: HC 30:38 UNH 29:22 Third down conversions: HC 8 of 18 44.4% UNH 4 of 10 40.0% Fourth down conversions: HC 1 of 4 25.0% (not good) but UNH 0 for 2 0.0% (very good, for us) 498 yards of total offense with not unexpectedly 427 of those in the air. The point is -- This should equal a W Sorry, 6sader7, all those stats you list don't equal a win. It is the score that matters. You could find stats on many games similar to those you list and some more lopsided where the stats favored team lost. Happens all the time. Gilmore better prepare for a pretty good Albany team or you will see the same thing. Albany beat Buffalo yesterday.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 11, 2016 15:11:21 GMT -5
I will give you the benefit of the doubt that I am misunderstanding you. While Holy Cross students, in general, are not required to submit SAT scores, the NCAA does require them and recruited varsity athletes are required to submit them as I understand it. But beyond SAT scores, there are the high school grades, level of difficulty of courses (Advanced Placement and the like) and the high school itself all considered. Head coaches ultimately are responsible but within the overall context of the school's,conference's and NCAA's requirements. In Holy Cross' case the former is a much greater obstacle to overcome than the latter two.
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Post by unhfan on Sept 11, 2016 16:05:58 GMT -5
First downs: HC 29 UNH 22 Time of possession: HC 30:38 UNH 29:22 Third down conversions: HC 8 of 18 44.4% UNH 4 of 10 40.0% Fourth down conversions: HC 1 of 4 25.0% (not good) but UNH 0 for 2 0.0% (very good, for us) 498 yards of total offense with not unexpectedly 427 of those in the air. The point is -- This should equal a W I think that equals a win depending on who your playing. Two weeks ago against a bad MEAC team equals a win! Now against a top CAA team not a guarantee. My question for Cross fans is do you have players ready to step in next year when you lose this very good senior class?
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Sept 11, 2016 17:25:40 GMT -5
Yes
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Sept 11, 2016 17:46:47 GMT -5
For the umpteenth time.
The Patriot League uses an Academic Index. In general, the Academic Index is a combination of standardized test scores and classroom performance (class rank or GPA)
The floor for the PL is an A.I. score of 168. Below that score and you cannot be admitted. (The Ivy floor is 176.)
I can't point you to a current calculator because the SAT has changed its scoring, as we are back to the old 1600 max score.
In any event, both the P.L. and the Ivy League band for football. Bands represent standard deviations below the A.I. score for the school as a whole. The low-low band is just above the A.I. floor.
The top band is for recruited football players whose A.I. score is within one standard deviation of the A.I. for the entire institution. The second highest band is for football recruits with an A.I. within two standard deviations of the institution's A.I., The third band, the low band, is for football players within 2.5 standard deviations of the institution's A.I. The low low band is for football recruits with A.I. scores between 2.5 standard deviations and the floor.
One has to be a truly exceptional athlete to be admitted if one is in the low low band. Limits are placed on the number of recruits that can be admitted in the low band, and for practical purposes, admissions under the low band is probably as low as the Ivies go.
At HYP, the university-wide A.I. is estimated to be 225+. (The max score is 240.) One standard deviation might be 212-214. Two standard deviations 200-202. Two and a half standard deviations might be around 193.. The institutional A.I. for Holy Cross probably is around 200, so the bands would be standard deviations from that number, and likely would be more compressed than for the Ivies. If the institutional A.I. is low enough, the P.L. floor could overlap the 2.5 standard deviation.
An A.I. score of of 176 would be roughly equivalent to a 3.0 GPA and an 1140 out of 1600 on the SAT I. That's for the Ivies. The P.L. floor of 168 would represent a lower level of academic achievement.
The average AI for all recruited athletes in Div I is supposedly around 150.
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Post by 6sader7 on Sept 11, 2016 18:21:25 GMT -5
First downs: HC 29 UNH 22 Time of possession: HC 30:38 UNH 29:22 Third down conversions: HC 8 of 18 44.4% UNH 4 of 10 40.0% Fourth down conversions: HC 1 of 4 25.0% (not good) but UNH 0 for 2 0.0% (very good, for us) 498 yards of total offense with not unexpectedly 427 of those in the air. The point is -- This should equal a W Sorry, 6sader7, all those stats you list don't equal a win. It is the score that matters. You could find stats on many games similar to those you list and some more lopsided where the stats favored team lost. Happens all the time. Gilmore better prepare for a pretty good Albany team or you will see the same thing. Albany beat Buffalo yesterday. You're missing my point. What I'm saying is that with those stats there is absolutely no excuse for losing a game.
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Post by unhfan on Sept 11, 2016 18:29:16 GMT -5
Sorry, 6sader7, all those stats you list don't equal a win. It is the score that matters. You could find stats on many games similar to those you list and some more lopsided where the stats favored team lost. Happens all the time. Gilmore better prepare for a pretty good Albany team or you will see the same thing. Albany beat Buffalo yesterday. You're missing my point. What I'm saying is that with those stats there is absolutely no excuse for losing a game. Sure there is when your playing a more talented opponent. Stats are like polls you can make any argument you want when you look at them. I think the problem is overreacting to the win at Morgan State. I think you guys are set up for a run in your league but is it sustainable going to next year and beyond? Do you have guys that can step in and fill all that you lose this season? I'm would think you guys have a shot to run the table in the PL get in the playoffs and see what happens with your senior laden group.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 11, 2016 18:31:19 GMT -5
6sader7, please understand that gateraider had some extra time on his hands since his team did not play this weekend. His posts helped fill the void.
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Post by breezy on Sept 11, 2016 18:53:34 GMT -5
I think some of the comments made in this thread are based on a lack of appreciation for HC's history in the transition to scholarship football. HC's initial scholarship class (the current seniors) included only 16 players -- 11 on offense, 4 on defense, and 1 kicker. All 16 remain on the roster (which shows 20 seniors due to one transfer and three "5th-year" seniors who obtained medical redshirts). Viewed in that perspective, it makes absolute sense that the offense is doing better than the defense.
We lost to UNH because they have some excellent players on offense who were able to make some very good plays (and we still had the opportunity to win the game in the late stages). UNH has many intangible advantages -- playing in a top-notch conference, a full 63 scholarships, the ability to redshirt at its whim, less stringent admissions requirements, and lower cost (for partial scholarship players).
Let's beat Albany.
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Post by bison137 on Sept 11, 2016 20:18:44 GMT -5
The run defense is awful. We need to recruit better athletes or we are going to get killed in the next few years with teams like, UConn, Boston College, Navy & Syracuse. As in the past few years we have had problems with teams like Harvard and with Yale coming on the schedule we could be in big trouble. One of the main problems that I hear is that many athletes want to come to Holy Cross but they cant get into the school. It's time to give some of these athletes a chance they may surprise and could be great student athletes. If they can't get in, it is not because of academics. HC doesn't require SAT scores, remember? Other schools with high academic ranking get good players. Might be they just aren't good enough FB players. Blame it on your recruiters and head coach. You should know that every recruited athlete at every NCAA school must submit an SAT (or ACT) score. That includes Holy Cross.
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Post by sader1970 on Sept 11, 2016 20:33:35 GMT -5
Thanks for corroborating what I was told by a head coach at Holy Cross, 137.
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Post by sarasota on Sept 11, 2016 21:06:26 GMT -5
breezy- More excuses. You are continuing the habit of accepting loses. Parcells: "The only stat that counts is the final score." In the end, it is the responsibility of our coaching staff to recruit a bruising runner and understanding why without that we will not reach our goals.
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Post by gateraider on Sept 11, 2016 23:45:12 GMT -5
To win the PL it pretty much takes an undefeated season. Winning with one loss is possible but, you need help. At UNH the HC run defense looked very suspect. Last year HC lost to Fordham, Lehigh and Colgate and all three of them return with a good running game. So, the way I see it, for HC to win the PL it must beat Gtown, Lafayette and Bucknell and they can only afford one loss in the difficult games against Fordham, Lehigh and Colgate. I can't see that story happening. Colgate has a similar problem in that it has to beat Fordham, Lehigth and HC except HC doesn't have much of a run game and Colgate is pretty good at limiting the run..
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Post by sarasota on Sept 12, 2016 7:56:47 GMT -5
Gate- Thanks for a dose of reality. Too many posters here are going with their heart instead of their head.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 12, 2016 8:08:14 GMT -5
UNHfan, by the way, is one of the classier visiting posters that has graced our board; always respectful and thoughtful.....good luck the rest of the way; make this game look like a really "good" loss come playoff selection time. Agreed 100% on this.
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Post by JRGNYR on Sept 12, 2016 8:20:10 GMT -5
The defense is the bigger issue IMO. 389 total yards given up against Morgan State, 552 vs. UNH. Albany ran for 252 in the win at URI Saturday night. HC's ability to stop that run is going to be a huge factor this weekend.
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