The offense gets into a rhythm quickly. In Week 11 against John
Carroll, the Purple Raiders ran 86 plays.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Well not that anyone's actually seen them play poorly, but if
they're allowing pressure on the quarterback, who leads the nation
in passing efficiency, that could be a problem. They've had injury
issues at left tackle.
This season's turning point:
Making the call in the preseason to go with Kevin Burke at
quarterback. Twenty-four touchdowns and four interceptions later,
it looks like a good call.
Chris Haupt is distributing the ball to all his weapons,
particularly wide receiver Anthony Davis in space. Widener runs a
lot of plays where Haupt selects a target from multiple receivers
running short routes. Davis is always a great option, particularly
if he can get the ball with enough room to put his ankle-breaking
moves on an overmatched safety or linebacker.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
Haupt is distributing the ball to the other team. He threw four
interceptions against Lycoming, three against Delaware Valley and
three against Lebanon Valley. Widener had the offensive fire power
to overcome those mistakes in the regular season, but that
won’t be the case after the first round of the playoffs.
This season's turning point:
Widener erased a nine-point deficit with less than five minutes
remaining to beat Lycoming 28-23. That road victory proved to be
the decisive game in the MAC title chase. Widener converted a
third-and-21 on the first scoring drive and a third-and-22 on the
second one, showing the Pride’s penchant for getting in and
out of tough spots.
If they are running the ball successfully with Jonathan Riguad
(1,262 yards, 20 TDs) and converting third downs on offense, and
pressuring the quarterback on defense. Fourteen players have made
the Blue Jays' 33 sacks.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are forced to settle for field goal attempts (only four
all year) and are turning the ball over. JHU is minus-8 in turnover
margin on the year.
This season's turning point:
Trailing 35-28 early in the fourth quarter of a Friday night
game against Gettysburg, a 63-yard run by Rigaud sparked a 21-point
fourth quarter and a 49-35 win. That helped the Blue Jays build a
big enough lead in the CC standings that a Week 10 loss at Franklin
& Marshall didn't cost them a playoff spot.
They are running the ball and getting to the third level of
defenders. When the Sea Gulls get through to the linebackers and
secondary consistently, they are hard to keep off the
scoreboard.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They are committing a lot of penalties. There have been a
handful of games this season where that's been an issue.
This season's turning point:
Bouncing back from a loss at Ithaca with a 42-point first half
against Utica in a game that decided the Empire 8. The Sea Gulls
rushed for touchdowns on their first eight drives, getting back to
what they do best.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
293.7/88.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
90.3/183.5
How far can they go?
As far as the option takes them. A trip to Alliance for the
quarterfinals is plausible.
The Profs win the battles along the offensive and defensive
line. The Rowan offense is most effective when the Profs can run
the ball to set up the pass. The Profs’ stingy run defense
opens with an enormous test from the option offense of
Salisbury.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The Profs have to rely on their offense to win a shootout.
Rowan went 1-2 in games when its opponent scored at least 20 points
and the lone win came in a 30-24 rally over a Western Connecticut
team mired in a two-year losing streak.
This season's turning point:
Rowan scored 14 points in the span of two minutes to pull away
from Brockport for a 17-3 win in week 5. That victory pulled the
Profs into the upper tier of the NJAC so that their playoff hopes
could sustain a loss to Cortland State two weeks later.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
183.0/199.0
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
101.7/210.2
How far can they go?
They should be considered a possible upset pick in your bracket
to make it to Alliance.
Matt Bliss is on target. He has three TDs against seven
interceptions in two losses in 2012; 10 TD, five interceptions in
the eight victories. St. John Fisher returned one of three
interceptions 100 yards for a TD.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
The Presidents are losing the turnover battle. In the eight
losses since their last NCAA appearance, W&J has turned the
ball over 27 times. In that span, W&J has only forced 10
turnovers.
This season's turning point:
Regrouping after the killing of senior captain Tim McNerney to
edge Westminster (Pa.) and go on to win the conference title.
Rushing/passing yards per game:
158.5/207.3
Rushing/passing yards allowed:
146.4/182.9
How far can they go?
With the right inspiration, the Presidents could win their
first-round game.
They are masters of the turnover battle. CNU has excelled --
and, more importantly, followed through to win -- games in which
the secondary picked off passes two or three or four times on a
Saturday. In fact, in the Captains' six victories, they've hauled
in 15 picks. The run defense, at times, has shone, too, with CNU
holding three of its last four opponents to under 100 rushing
yards.
You'll know they're playing poorly if:
They fall behind fast and early in the game. In the Captains'
four losses this season, their opponent notched the first two
scores in each of those games, and even if CNU was able to battle
back, this team lacked the stamina to hold on for wins.
This season's turning point:
The wins against Maryville and Ferrum to open conference
play. Those two teams, along with CNU, finished 5-2 in the USAC,
and those wins gave the Captains the lift into the postseason. That
was also that point in the season where running
back-turned-quarterback Marcus Morrast took the reins as the
starter and showed himself a solid dual threat signal-caller.
Mount Union Purple Raiders
Widener Pride
Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
Salisbury Sea Gulls
Rowan Profs
Bridgewater State Bears
Washington and Jefferson Presidents
Christopher Newport Captains