2017 Game 3 Preview: Linfield (2-1) at Willamette (0-3)

Yeah, we're not the best of friends but we can still get together for some fun.

And here we go. Coming off the satisfying and critical 38-9 victory over Whitworth, Linfield is packing the bags and loading up the Wildcat Wagons for a short trip through the valley to Salem to face off against a longtime foe, Willamette. This is when you start to get a real rhythm for the season as there are no more bye weeks and you head into the heart of conference play. While last Saturday in the ‘Catdome was exciting and fun, there is no time to start becoming self-congratulating as our 2017 Linfield Wildcats are still forging the identity and are still a long ways away from being a fully realized product.

Yes, we have seen the talent that this roster possesses but I think it’s obvious that this team isn’t a finished product. To me, if this team was Luke Skywalker, they just shot the torpedoes down the shoots to blow up the first Death Star but they’re not the polished Jedi that strolled into Jabba’s stronghold in ROTJ and said if you don’t release my friends now, you’re finished. Coach Smith and his staff have to continue to do their best Yoda and train this team until this group is ready to face their own Vader.

Standing in our young padawan’s way this Saturday is the Willamette University Bearcats. Don’t let Willamette’s record fool as the Bearcats is a solid team that is going to be ready to give the hated Wildcats all they can handle in Bush Park. The Bearcats have started off the season slowly at 0-3 but have been competitive in all three of their games. For the past few years, the Bearcats have struggled offensively but have been a solid group on defense, but in 2017, the roles are reversed for Willamette as the Bearcats have found solid offensive play but haven’t been nearly as stiff on the defensive side of the ball due to youth. The result has been a Willamette team that has competed hard in all three of their games but haven’t been able to walk away with any victories.

My fear this weekend is our ‘Cats thinking that they’ve made it after blowing out Whitworth and seeing that Willamette lost to L&C. I’m telling you that there are teams in the NWC that will not win very many games but there are NO terrible teams in the conference this year.  Willamette fits that mold.  Willamette could easily be 2-1 or 3-0 right now but the breaks didn’t happen they’re sitting on 0-3.  They’re not a bad football team and have a number of dudes that can play well and are athletic.  This Linfield team is not even close to a football team that can just roll out on a field and phone it in.  This group has too many things they need to improve upon and also have many things to prove to themselves.  If our ‘Cats decide to fart around it could become an ugly and hotly contested football game. I hope our Wildcats still understand this group needs to bring the fire each and every weekend.

Wildcat11’s Keys To Victory:

Ready to handle your business: I’m looking forward to seeing where this Linfield team is at this weekend in terms of readiness. It will be a single to if their team is growing into the contender they could be or if they’re a group that is still in need of figuring out just who they are. This will also be interesting as this will be the first full roster travel game and this Linfield team will have to show they can handle playing on the road as well.

Fast offensive start: Linfield has not exactly been lighting the world on fire against Willamette in the first half of game during the Glen Fowles era.  Since Fowles took over, the ‘Cats are averaging 15 first half ppg and three times has been held to 10 points or fewer in the first half on 3 of the 5 games: 2012 -10 pts, 2014 – 7 pts, 2015 – 7 pts.  The ‘Cats offense has struggled during the years at times with the Bearcats 3-4 base defense so it’s imperative for this growing Wildcat offense to start the game off on the right foot and get points on the board and not allow the Bearcats to hang around too long or could face making it a tight game late.

Eliminate the Bearcats Rushing Game: Running the football isn’t their offensive strength but the Bearcats are about a 60/40 ratio on offense that leans more on the pass.  However, The Bearcats lean on the rush game to break off some yardage and to set up their play action passing game.  The Bearcats run a lot of shotgun single back and gun two back formations and lean primarily on senior running back Joey Thurman and junior Matt Stone to carry the bulk of the load but QB Mathew Castaneda will also carry the rock often for Willamette.  Linfield’s front four have to void out the Bearcat rush game in order to allow the ‘Cats safeties to hang back and not have to be overly involved in the rushing attack.

Establish the rushing game early and often: We all know it by now. In order for the ‘Cats offense to be effective, Linfield has to get the sticks moving with the rushing attack.  Willamette will counter with the 3-4 look and bring all sorts of pressures and movement and Linfield’s offensive line has to be up to the task of sorting out responsibilities and getting physical at the point of attack. If Linfield can get the rushing attack going, we know that Linfield is going to be able to take their shots in the passing game.

Another challenge for our Defensive Backs:  The strength of this Willamette football team is their receiver corp. The Bearcats have a very solid group of seniors that run clean routes and do a great job in competing for the football. Willamette has 4 players who currently have 10 catches or more and five different receivers who have caught a touchdown.  I remember watching Willamette’s first game against Rhodes and was immediately impressed with the decision to go with Mathew Castaneda at quarterback this season.  The Sophomore throws an accurate football and is efficient with his decision making and is a great pairing with his senior-heavy receivers. The Wildcat DB’s will have their work cut out of themselves once again and will need to bring that same playmaking ability they showed last week versus Whitworth.

Keep mistakes down to a minimum:  Linfield needs to put the emphasis on finding the line between their aggressive style of play without loading up on too many penalties and taking care of the football.  If the ‘Cats can play a clean football game and not give the ball away, it will go a long ways to bringing home the victory.

Win on Special Teams: Willamette has always done a good job on special teams but the ‘Cats should have the more talent the deeper we go into the roster. These groups have to make their mark on this game and pin the Bearcats deep during kicking situations and could make a big impact on the return game. However, this is the type of game where Willamette could very well roll the dice on special teams and do the unexpected. Keep your eyes in the backfield and be ready for anything.

‘Cats by 14. I don’t know if Willamette is going to win very many football games this year but they’re going to compete in all of them. I expect them to look at this as a pride game coming off the loss to Lewis & Clark. I’m sure it was frustrating so the motivation for Willamette to get to work this week had to be there in spades.  If Linfield is focused on the job at hand and does show that continued growth in the offense, then I expect Linfield to slowly but surely put this game on ice. However, if Linfield is peaking down the road and not ready to roll then our ‘Cats could get their hands full with what I expect to be an inspired football team.