FootballFan2000

So you've heard the same, or similar, rumblings regarding RB1. Someone had mentioned in conversation that he dressed last week. Knowing that along with some other stuff I've heard, I figured he would be back tonight. Wonder if he will be on a pitch count to slowly work him back or if they throw him back in. Not sure Memorial's thoughts on that or how they handle it usually.

My week 8 picks! (Not that anyone was waiting on them) Bosse @ Retiz: High scoring shootout? Maybe! I don't think so. Reitz will contain the only offensive threat on the team and win this one easily. No running clock though MD @ Harrison: MD gets win #2 on the year (shocking to say that this late in the year). Harrison keeps it closer than expected, less than 2 scores. North @ Jasper: North was able to do whatever it wanted last week. Jasper gave one away. First game to end tomorrow night with two heavy running teams? Depends if Castle gets to the running clock against Central. North wins on the road continuing their best season since 07 maybe. Not sure on that. Castle @ Central: Knights. Potential running clock. Competition for quickest game of the week with north/Jasper. VL @ Memorial: Enough has been said about both teams and injuries. What adjustments do both teams make after disappointing offensive performances and being shutout. Memorial potentially getting RB1 back could help with their offense. VL seems to be holding on for dear life waiting to get Hunt back, if he comes back at all. Give me the Tigers by 10 points.

Thanks, I just didn't know if it was more than that. Reitz D is definitely for real plus, as they showed week 1, having a kicker that can consistently hit from 30+ helps too. Any ideas on if or when QB1 and RB1 could return? Ideally would be nice to get them back in time for the tournament.

I know Memorial is down a few starters but is it that bad? I thought their D had been hanging pretty tough until Bosse, which Bosse has mad some defenses look silly this season.

This has to be the first week that all games projected to be within a score or two. Shaking up to be an exciting week. Not sure who wins the Harrison vs Central game so I'll guess, Central....no, Harrison....ah heck I don't know. All I know for sure is that someone will get their first (and only) win. MD with the upset over Bosse. Coming off a shutout loss, MD bounces back. Reitz by 2 scores. Seems as though they have found some offensive momentum and memorial is still searching for some answers to injuries. Game of the week? Two teams that want to run the ball. Castle with the more explosive players on offense. Give me the Knights, but close. 2nd place in the game of the week race, can North continue their second half success over VL playing without Hunt? North shutout MD on the road while VL still put up 47 but on a bad Harrison team. I feel as though this one could be low scoring. Give me the Huskies by a score.

I'd like to see the SIAC split into divisions (however they want to do it) to allow for non-conference games to be scheduled. That breaks up some of the redundancy some teams get, especially those in 4A.

No disrespect to your team because they are clearly the top (or one of the top) team in the SIAC, but you guys have yet to score more than 24 points against anyone other than the bottom feeders of the SIAC. VL, Jasper, and North do not have nearly the same dudes that EC has on their defense/team. Let's see how you stack up over your next two before you bring out the cliché's.

Jasper by however many they want. I’ll take Memorial -14. That defense will contain Wagner. MD +14, maybe even to win outright. Close either way. Reitz by 2 scores. Injury to Wells hurts Castles O. -21 seems like a lot, especially on the road, but VL wins easy regardless.

That escalated quickly... Trashy seems a little harsh. I'm sure your golden community has it's fair share of blemishes. Even considering how wide of a net is cast for enrollment for your school, but that is just my view from south on 41 from you.

Gotcha. That defense you guys have looks tough. When is your matchup with Reitz? May have to make it to that one.

#6 injured or you're just expecting more carries?

Not attacking your specific quote just using it to make a point. I love people continuing to reference Bosse's great offense. Obviously it was way back in week 1 but VL had them all but contained (until they got a running clock and subbed everyone out based on the copy of the film I watched). Bosse was only able to put up 8 points in the half and nothing from that film showed me they would've scored more than 8 more points the rest of the game had VL not pulled their starters. Then, certain people want to come over here into the SIAC thread and say how bad the VL defense is. Sure they probably have areas of weakness and areas they need to improve, all teams do. I just find it ironic. But I guess both can be true. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

Bosse @ Jasper: Tough one to gauge, honestly. Bosse putting up 42 on Castle was a big surprise. I think Jasper wins this one, maybe even a late TD to make this a push. Give me the Cats by 14. Central @ VL: Running clock. Wonder if pulling the starters super early in week 1 will have an effect on how things are handled tonight. Maybe after a close win against MD, VL wants to show some force tonight. Might be the biggest point difference on the weekend. VL by 4 scores. Harrison @ Castle: Running clock, again. This one won't be close. Castle will try to flex it's muscles on D after getting ran all over by Wagner last week. I said VL might have the biggest point differential, if they don't it'll be this game. Castle by 4-5 scores. MD @ Memorial: Catholic Bowl at Enlow. Memorial wins this rather easily, maybe a late TD by MD keeps the final closer than what the game actually felt. Memorial by 17. North @ Reitz: Reitz gets a shutout this week. Not much to say here. North can be tough on D as well so I will say Reitz winning 17-0.

How do you think this will affect them with the up-tempo offense VL likes to run? Admittedly, I haven't watched much MD to start this year so that is why I ask. I have seen VL and the tempo they try to play with at times. I know last Friday was not the norm for temps and heat induced fatigue was way up compared to most normal Friday nights.

Appreciate you doing this. Always interesting to read through these as the year goes on. This early it's tough, in my opinion, to judge a whole lot based on a variety of factors that come into play early in the year. Nonetheless, I still enjoy looking through these are I look ahead to who is playing each week.

I think stats this early can be a little misleading. Especially based on the film I saw where their starters played only like 4 snaps in the second half against Bosse which is when Bosse racked up their yards and points. Stats are always skewed early just simply based on who teams play and how tough the start of a season is compared to other teams first two games. MD will be out for blood this week. Coming off their loss plus getting beat by VL last season is motivation enough. I'm not saying they don't have their issues on both sides of the ball, along with many other teams, but I don't put a bunch of stock in running clock games especially this early in the season. That goes for offensive and defensive stats. Reitz has the best D. Period. Memorial has looked very good so far as well. North might have the most physical defense but their conditioning will be what gets them beat by teams and the lack of a QB. Castle is always going to be tough (or should be) with the total enrollment they can choose from. Jasper seems to always put it together as the season progresses.

After watching Castle do whatever it wanted against MD and seeing VL play Reitz closer than many thought, especially holding them to only 2 TDs, I think you could triple or quadruple that spread and VL still covers. Unless it’s a similar situation to the Bosse game where starters didn’t play most of the second half.

Wonder if these are all officially set or could still potentially change again to a Saturday kickoff as the day gets closer.

I've heard from a couple different people that he has been kicked off but nothing substantial that I trust completely. He is going to Illinois State, unless all of this changes that. Not sure how all that works.

Bosse at Central could be a pretty good game. I’ll be interested to see the final for that and read some thoughts after it’s over. Castle should handle MD with some comfort, if not, is there…trouble in paradise 🙂 I’ll take Memorial over North. See what kind of back to back performance North can string together. Consistency has always been a struggle for them. Jasper with a bounce back game against Harrison. should get the cats back in line. VL @ Reitz obvious game of the week. Hard to take much from both week 1 games but I also don’t think the JH prediction/spread is accurate here. I think the panthers at home are too much for VL and they pull away with a late TD to win by 2 scores.

From my understanding, and rewatching some of the stream today, it looked like VL pulled most, if not all, of their starters after the first series or two of the second half. Bosse scored all 22 points in the second half against those reserves. Bosse looks to be more dangerous than last year. Might be a fight between Bosse and Central to stay out of that second to last spot in the conference with Harrison taking the last spot. Reitz rolled easily also pulling their guys. Castle should bounce back against MD while North has a chance to show it’s turned a corner against a tough Memorial squad.

That is awfully nice of you to compliment your rivals that way but here is how I would rank them preseason....(its still preseason right) Reitz Jasper Memorial Castle VL MD North Bosse Harrison Central

I just think a few bounces went Reitz's way to get them the undefeated record and outright title. Their win at VL and I think there was another close game that went their way but maybe I am mis-remembering. Jasper seems to be sneaky good this year, return a solid core and their offense can be tough to stop at times. Castle returns quite a few guys along with Memorial. Not saying Reitz won't take home even a share, I just don't think its a undefeated team that wins it this season.

I kind of remember seeing those score updates now that you mentioned how it went down. Seems like that was the story a lot last year for VL. Courier seems to think that too as I've seen in a couple different articles they reference close loses or games that were closer than the score appeared. Looking forward to more parity and close games again this season across the board. I don't think Reitz runs the table again which will open the door for some others. Jasper, Reitz, maybe even Castle or Memorial are my short list picks before any games are even played.

Gotcha. I guess my definition of not being disciplined is a little different. In my opinion, holds, offsides, PI, etc fall under the category of flow of the game penalties that could be called at any time or a mental lapse. Discipline penalties are more of the personal foul, unsportsmanlike conduct variety, in my opinion. Late hit out of bounds or roughing the QB or hit after the play, etc. I didn't see the Memorial game so I can't speak to it but having watched some other SIAC teams more, I'd say every team would have a week or two where they would fall under you "undisciplined" label.