This week the Hounds face Susquehanna University another tough opponent in the very competitive Centennial Conference. 
The River Hawks enter Saturday’s game with a 3-2 reBring cord following a big win over Dickinson last weekend.
Susquehanna – the River Hawks??? Hmm….. a few years ago they were the Crusaders. Well whatever you want to call them they are a very solid team with weapons all over their roster.
***Just an aside here – they used to be called the Crusaders – they changed to the “River Hawks.” But Crusaders obviously offended somebody and they had to change it.
I don’t know – our mascot is a Greyhound. For all we know those dogs might be hurt by us using them as a mascot…..well let’s not open that door.
Well at least no one can get mad at my school – Northampton High – the Konkrete Kids (our mascot is a cinder block!)***
Back to the River Hawks –
When you look at Susquehanna’s overall team you have to think about their defense first. They are one of the top teams that we will see this season. The River Hawks are physical and they are talented.
Right now they are the top team in the Centennial Conference is several defensive categories. Thru the first half of the 2017 season Susquehanna has allowed just 17.8 points per game which leads the CC……they also are the best team in Total Defense (288.4 yards per game) and Pass Defense. They also do a great job of stopping the run. Against the run they allow just 118.8 yards per game which is third amongst the 10 teams in our conference.
Connor Thompson (#34) who has forced 5 fumbles and recovered 5 himself and statistically is one of the best tacklers on the team is the centerpiece of the Susquehanna defense. He was elected the CC defensive player of the week after the Susquehanna upset of Muhlenberg. Thompson, a junior LB, was credited with 10 tackles, recovered two fumbles and had a fourth quarter interception. Ryan Ganard (#8) is another key player with two interceptions.
Offensively the Crusaders River Hawks are always tough. They are well coached and have a physical offensive line that creates a lot of problems for an opponent’s defense.
While they like to use their offensive front wall like bulldozers at times – those guys are also pretty athletic. All of them can pull and there are a lot of plays where they will use various blocking combinations to create mismatches against the defensive front seven.
Anytime you have a number of returning players as Susquehanna did this season you should be effective. But, when you return a starter at quarterback you truly have an advantage. Nick Crusco (#10) is just that.
He has been a driving force in Selingsgrove since arriving four years ago – he has thrown for over 6000 yards in his career to date. Although a little up and down this season (7 TD passes but 7 interceptions as well) he is still the trigger for their offensive team which has been very good at times this season.
Their other perimeter players have been effective through the season as well. Although not putting up big numbers they are all capable of explosive plays. Cameron Ott (#23) returns as their running back. He averages six yards a carry and is ranked fifth in the Centennial with 76.5 yards rushing per game.
Outside receivers seniors Tommy Bluj (#4), Diamonte Holloway (#2) and junior Mikah Christian (#3) team up with sophomore tight end Anthony McCoy (87) to create a very potent group on the offensive perimeter. Anyone of these players can score from anywhere on the field.
Bluj a returning starter is one of the top receivers in the CC statistically and he has been a productive player throughout his career. He will also return kickoffs and punts at times for the Crusaders River Hawks.
It is important to “know your enemy” – that is why we study our opponents and create scouting reports. Understanding their offensive and defensive schemes – who key players are and how they work together allows us to prepare effectively.
As coaches it is so important to understand that even though we have to study the “enemy” the game is about US. it is how WE play and the things WE do that will allow US to be successful.
Mastery of our offensive, defensive and special teams schemes is much more vital than what our opponent is going to do. Our attention to detail and the constant work on the fundamentals of the game – that is the key component in developing a successful team. These are things that we drill day in and day out!
Now coaching is a lot of things. It isn’t just x’s and o’s. It isn’t just yelling at mistakes (although sometimes players must feel that way. Often there are great life lessons passed on. This is certainly true in the defensive line meeting room.
For instance:
In the defensive line meeting room Jim Newhard stresses this every single meeting. The players in the defensive front get a lot of information in those sessions. He spends a lot of time getting his points across. Here is an example:
ASKR
If you question any members of the defensive front what those letters stand for – well they would tell you it is a big key in playing football (well almost any sport for that matter). Alignment, Stance, Key and Responsibility.
These are the essentials – a checklist of what needs to be done on every single snap in a game. If you watch any game at any level……Friday, Saturday or Sunday. When someone makes an error and there is a big play you can almost bet that one of these tenants has been violated.
These simple rules are the building blocks of the game. They are also often violated due to loss of concentration and/or the lack of detail. You need to drill this over and over day after day until ASKR is part of your genetic makeup as a player.
Football is a simple game – sure it is a contact sport – but many of us learn the fundamentals early in our playing days. It is helping the players maintain those basic skills that is the challenge.
But in the modern days of fantasy football and Madden it is easy to live in a world of drawing up plays and thinking the game is played on a TV screen!
Let me clue you in – it isn’t.
ASKR Hounds ASKR!