Monday, October 9, 2017

‘Cats Win!!!! Linfield runs all over Willamette in 55-14 win in Salem.

Winners!

That was a mauling. Linfield’s offense cut up the Bearcat offense on the ground and through the air and the ‘Cats defense suffocated the Willamette offense on the way to a 55-14 victory. The game started off a little uneven as a ‘Cats offense started off strong in scoring a TD on their first possession but Willamette was able to answer thanks to big kickoff return and catching the ‘Cats with their pants down on a 4th and 2 when Willamette went play action and Linfield didn’t noticed the Bearcats tight end streaking down the field all by himself. However that excitement didn’t last too long as Linfield would take command and build a 31-14 halftime lead before pouring it on with a 24 point 3rd quarter before getting the young ‘Cats extended varsity minutes.

It continues to be encouraging to see the Linfield offense find their footing as Troy Fowler has established himself as the starting quarterback and Fowler is showing growth in the role behind his skillful and bruising offensive line. Along with Fowler, there are a number of Wildcat skill players who have also been establishing themselves with significant roles in this offense as Linfield put up their most productive game of the season against the Bearcats. The offense continues to show explosiveness as Linfield had nine plays of 20 yards or more on the day and the big play is going to be the calling card of this offense.

Flipping it over to the other side of the ball and what can you say about the Wildcat defense? They played an inferior offense and the Wildcat defense did what you should against a group that can’t measure up and that’s dominate them.  Linfield only allowed 9 first downs on the day, and besides giving the Bearcats two plays, the 'Cats boxed up the Bearcat offense like a birthday present.  It was another impressive performance and even more so with the ‘Cats missing some critical personnel on the day defensively. 

All the ‘Cats have to worry about is focusing on getting better each day and putting their full attention on an improved Lewis & Clark. Yes, there are challenges down the road but Linfield is on the right path and keeps getting better and better as the season progresses. Linfield cannot divert their attention from the task at hand and need to bring the hard hats to work this week and get ready for the short road trip up to the hill to face the Pioneers.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

The Good

Great Team Win: That was 100% a team victory in all measures. The offense continues to find their rhythm as a group and the defense was their typical sledge hammer wielding selves as Linfield had a bit of unevenness in the first half but came around in the 3rd quarter to put the game with no questions and give our vast and talented young ‘Cats an opportunity to get some time under their belts as at least 75 players took varsity reps in the 41 point victory.  

Rush Attack: The ‘Cats rushed for a net total of 331 yards which is the 15th best in single game team history. Linfield pounded the ball 38 times at an average of 8.7 yards per carry. The big fellas up front did a great job in handling the Bearcat 3-4.  Leading the charge was Sophomore Chidubem Nnoli who had himself a day. Nnoli racked up 197 yards on just 13 carries and 3 Touchdowns. The effort was the 6th single game best in Linfield history and 2nd single game best for average yards per carry with 15.2 yards per carry. Nnoli possess a great combination of vision, decision making, and top end speed. All of that was on display in all three of Nnoli’s TDs and Chidubem seems to get better as the season moves along.


Defensive physicality: Linfield’s defense was once again punishing up front and at Linebacker. The ‘Cats only yielded 2.2 yards per carry off of 38 attempts by the Bearcat offense. Linfield’s defense line was once again inverting the Bearcats offensive line at the point of attack and the ‘Cats Jason Farlow continues to play like a man possessed at his Linebacker spot.  The senior linebacker continues to be a moving brick wall that smashes offensive backs as Farlow piled up 13 tackles, 8 solo, a forced fumble, and the topper was a 35 yard pick six off the deflection from Rover, Wade Ransom.

3rd down defense: The ‘Cats have been stingy on 3rd down all season long and this weekend was no different.  The ‘Cats held Willamette to 3 of 16 on 3rd down and had the Bearcats on lock in both the ground and through the air.

Offensive air explosiveness: Linfield passing game looks sharper and sharper as we move along this season. Quarterback Troy Fowler is starting to develop that needed timing and connection with this speedy group of receivers and the result was another solid day in the office for Fowler. The Junior QB threw for 170 yards on 11 of 18 passing and two more TD’s against zero interceptions. While the deep balls are starting to connects, what I’m happier about is some of those longer sideline comebacks are getting completed and that will make this offense even more versatile.


Creating Turnovers: The Linfield defense continues to turnover teams with one forced fumble and two interceptions. The turnovers led directly to 10 points for the ‘Cats and if the Linfield defense can continue to force turnovers it will only make this team harder to beat.

The Bad:

Blown coverage: After the game, Linfield DC Jackson Vaughan talked to the team and relayed a conversation that Head Coach Joe Smith and him would have about coaching defense. Coach Smith told Coach Vaughan that sometime playing defense in football is like being a pitcher. You can throw nine excellent innings but make two bad pitches and be down 2-0 in the ninth. The Linfield defense made two REALLY bad pitches against the Bearcats in what was clearly blown coverage.  The result was essentially the 14 points that Willamette put up in what was otherwise an absolute dominate defensive performance.

Red Zone Turnover: I’m being picky here but this is the second week in a row where the ‘Cats fumbled deep in the red zone and turned it over. That can’t continue to happen if the ‘Cats have aspirations to be the team they are working to become because if this is a habit it will burn the ‘Cats in a game where points are at a premium.

Kickoff Coverage:  Like the red zone turnovers, this is a part of the Linfield game that needs to improve in a hurry or it will wind up hurting the ‘Cats in a bad way.  The kickoff team was not very good against Willamette. In years past, some of the best Linfield teams all had outstanding kickoff coverage.  The formula was the kickoff team would pin a team on the 20 yard line or deeper, Linfield’s defense forced a quick punt, Linfield’s offense would be set up in excellent field position, score on a short field, rinse, repeat, blowout victory for Linfield. We have dudes on that kickoff team and it’s not a matter of talent.  It’s a matter of executing, having pride in the job, and this group deciding they’re going to be a weapon for Linfield football and not just a weak spot that makes fans hold their breath every time the ball gets kicked off.

The Ugly:

The fall of Willamette:  The current state of the Willamette football program is a cautionary tale for healthy and top football programs around the country.  When it comes to athletic programs and their fan base the worst word you can use is apathy.  It’s one thing for a fan or student base to be angry over the performance of your team and even the direction of the program. But it’s a killer when fans, alumni, and students just don’t care. I’m a total outsider to Willamette football, but from this outsiders perspective it looks like nobody (besides their coaches, players, and a small amount of fans/family/alumni) cares about Bearcat football.  I can clearly remember when the Linfield vs Willamette game mattered. Just look at this photo from 2009 but now a typical Willamette grandstand looks something out of scene of a post apocalyptic television show..  According to the box score, this was the highest attended game of the year for Willamette and if that’s the case then I feel bad for their players who put in countless hours to run out to a near empty house game after game.

This program use to compete yearly for the NWC title, had a roster over 100 players, and an identity as a program. Now that program just seems adrift at sea and has the conferences smallest roster and could possibly have their first winless record in program history. Who knows what the reasons are.  It could be a combination of lack of administrative support, coaching turnover, change of campus culture, etc.  Whatever it is, if you are part of a good football program you better take note (even us at Linfield) at how quickly it can slide from the penthouse to the outhouse if you take your eye off the ball and just assume you’ll be good based off of past accomplishments.
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