One thing you can always count on in football. That is the time you use to prepare for a game doesn’t vary very much as the season progresses. You only have “X” amount of hours to use – and you have to figure out the best possible ways to employ your time.
I’m sure many people (and several of them teach at Moravian) think that we just show up on a Saturday and throw on some colorful uniforms and kick the ball off. Well, that is not the case -there is a lot of time spent on preparation.
The troops really do a great job of absorbing the information we give to them. Much is consolidated in the scouting report that they study (hopefully!?!) – then more is offered up in meetings and film studies. It really is a lot of data to digest. But it must be done or you cannot function on game day.
This week’s opponent will be Gettysburg College. The Bullets (awesome nickname by the way – obviously way behind my high school’s nickname – KONKRETE KIDS! however) present some unique problems offensively.
It is a beautiful campus set right across from the Civil War battlefield. The Bullets like many other Centennial Conference teams we play have fantastic facilities (Of course their 282.9 million dollar endowment – 4th in the Centennial – helps a great deal)
They run an option style attack that often employs the normal offensive line and quarterback, one running back, two wide receivers and two hybrid players who are a cross between a wide receiver and running back. The quarterback is generally a throwback to the old veer option Qb’s we saw in the days that I was playing football. Yeah that was a long time ago in the mid 70’s.
Traditionally the Gettysburg offense is one of the top in the Centennial conference. They are extremely effective with the ball. With the right players on their team they put tremendous pressure on the edges of the defense…. forcing you to be disciplined with your assignments and also to be very good tacklers.
Normally the quarterback is the key to the whole offensive scheme as everyone realizes. (Just think who gets paid the most in the NFL! That’s how you know). At Gettysburg they have a senior named Jason Davidoff (#7). He is a real threat.
This style of offense requires a very crafty runner who can also throw the ball to keep the running lanes open. Everyone needs a good quarterback if you expect to be successful – as mentioned earlier. But the Gettysburg offense requires a much more versatile athlete who can put pressure on the defense thru his running skills and ball handling AND he has to throw too.
Davidoff (#7) is one of the top five offensive weapons in the Centennial Conference – he averages 245.2 yards per game in total offense (passing and rushing yards combined.). He is masterful with the ball putting a lot of pressure on the perimeter of the defense when he has it in his hands.
Reggie JeanCharles (#24) is their leading ball carrier. He is a 
freshman from New Jersey who is a strong runner with some decent cutback ability. We are going to have to hold our gaps and get a lot of “hats” on him to cut him off. To this point he has rushed for an average of 86 yards per game (4.2 per attempt with two rushing TD’s)
Their offensive line and their line splits create problems for defensive teams. Those who see the game will notice how “tight” together they align. Their line splits are very narrow.
For you weekend fans or novices – line splits refer the the gaps between the offensive linemen (offense – they are the guys with the ball – hah just kidding! ). Normally the splits will be around three feet or so. But the Gettysburg line will often be two feet or less!
This “compresses” the middle of their offense and expands the outside of the field where Gettysburg wants to attack. They release laterally on their blocking patterns preventing the defense from penetrating.
Ah – boring stuff you say. But all of you Madden, fantasy football gurus and pseudo general managers…the game that is played on the field is real and a lot more complicated than you think.
So when Gettysburg has the ball they will continually probe with their back and then suddenly the ball is on the perimeter and the defense better make a tackle or lookout! Trust me when your neighbor in the stands or watching a game with you at home complains that the dummy on the field missed a play – well it is a lot harder out there than you think.
Ah…I digress from the actual game vs. the Bullets. But just wanted to point out that this isn’t a computer game your son’s or friends are playing. It is difficult and challenging on every play.
Gettysburg always does a nice job of spreading the ball around to their outside players. There isn’t a single player in a pass receiving position that gets the ball more than the others. Davidoff (#7) takes what the defense will give him in the passing game.
But, I will say this Ty Abdul-Karim (#1) can flat out fly. He is very dangerous outside receiver and the 
Bullets like to get him set up where he is isolated and in a one-on-one situation. He is a big play weapon for their offense. Statistically he has 7 catches for an average of 21.7 yards per reception. That is pretty good by the way! Although he has only one TD he is a threat to take it all the way anytime he touches the ball.
Defensive the Bullets have struggled – but they have been very successful in rushing the passer this season. Right now they are tied for the conference lead with 16 sacks.
They seem to be aggressive on defense trying to force the ball. We might be seeing more man to man coverage than we normally have in the past.
They are normally very good in the kicking game and they are again this season. Currently in the top five of every kicking department – including a Centennial best in kickoff coverage.
This will be a tough game but our preparation has gone well. The Hounds are looking forward to getting after it on Saturday!
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OK let’s take a look at what is going on around the Lehigh Valley this week for the second luckiest man in the world.
Somewhat of a busy week outside of the football world. Fratelli’s Pizza put their hook into me twice – Saturday and Monday! Yocco’s – yeah they caught a few of my dollars – some people say those dogs are good with chocolate milk. Hmmmmm…!
I still don’t really have a feel for that – Things that go together – I mean I get cookies and milk, peanut butter and jelly, Coors Light and potato chips (whoa…where did that one come from?). But seriously folks – Yocco’s and chocolate milk – just not really seeing that one.
Had lunch with some school chums over at Chili’s by the Lehigh Valley Mall. Randy and Judy (the “Queen of Treichlers” as I call her) met me along with Sam and Rita and our other chum Mary.
We had a great visit and told some old stories again. Visited about the Konkrete (Spell check keeps trying to make me spell it with “C’s”) Kid reunion last summer. Unfortunately I missed it – but they had a great time.
Going to head up to the great borough of Northampton tonite….yup a little dart throwing at the Hungarian Hall. Captain Saturn looks to inspire his team again….yeah with that yellow bandanna and yellow crocs he sets the standard for dart fashion as well.
A little known fact. Next time you are in your hometown take a look at the signs that mark the street – you know like “Elm,” “Front,” “Washington,” “22nd” etc. The signs are green with white letters. Nope not in the great borough of Northampton – Orange and Black – how can you beat that??
Probably be forced to have a few Coors Lights!
Tomorrow get up to see the K Kids in action against Nazareth in Al Erdosy/Lou Wolf football stadium!
Going to be a great finish to the week before we head west to Gettysburg to get after the Bullets on Saturday!
GO HOUNDS!!