2017 Game 8 Preview: Linfield (6-1) vs Puget Sound (3-4)

Get to the game!

It’s good to be back home again as the ‘Cats enter the home stretch of the 2017 regular season. In fact, it’s the final regular home game of the 2017 season for Linfield.  There is still the possibility of Linfield having a playoff game if the ‘Cats can win their final two games and be awared with a home contest in the playoff seeding but let’s not put the cart before the horse. First things first, and that’s this Saturday’s game against the Puget Sound Loggers.

The Loggers come into Saturday game playing a competitive brand of football with all four losses only being by an average margin of 10.25 points per game.  That’s quite the improvement from their 2016 season when they lost six games by an average of 23 PPG.  The difference this year is the Logger defense which has improved from allowing 40.6 points per game to now only giving up 23.0 PPG. The UPS defense has bent during the season but their strength lies in forcing turnovers with the Loggers recovering 8 fumbles and done a great job in the secondary with 9 interceptions on the season.  Along with that, the Loggers have has played well defensively in the red zone. The Loggers have only allowed 19 Red Zone scores in 29 opposition trips with 14 of those being touchdowns.

Offensively for the Loggers, the Linfield defense will a see a bit more a balanced UPS offense than in years past. The 2017 Loggers have already passed their yearly rushing attempts total from 2016 with still two games left to go. Leading the way for the Loggers is 1st-year starter and Senior Quarterback Tanner Diebold.  A new dimension that Diebold brings to the Loggers offense from previous years is Diebold’s ability to extend plays with his leg. Diebold can rush the ball effectively but what he’s done so well in 2017 is getting out of the pocket and finding receivers down the field.

Splitting the running duties for UPS are two capable running backs in Sophomores Paul Thomas and Vance Woods. Both have punched in 5 TD’s a piece on the year and offer up a nice balance to the Loggers passing game. Speaking of the passing game, UPS currently ranks second in the conference behind Whitworth in passing per game (280.1 YPG) and are being led by senior Dustin Harrison’s 50 receptions and 81.9 yards receiving per game (that’s good for 1st in the NWC in both categories).

For the Linfield Wildcats, this weekend is about seeing if the ‘Cats can find some answers. The ‘Cats are looking for answers on if this team can find their motivation and focus to compete to the best of their ability and not to the level of the opposition.  Linfield is looking for answers on if this offensive line can clean up some of their issues that’s hampered this offense this previous two weeks. The ‘Cats are looking for answers to the question if this defense can continue to live up the hype. And Linfield is looking for answers to the question of if this Linfield team can develop some sort of consistent passing attack to complement their run game.

Well, we’re going to find out if the 2017 Linfield Wildcats have this answers this weekend against a solid Puget Sound football team. Is the scuffling going to continue or is this team going to play up to the promise of the talent that packs this roster? We’ll find out soon enough.

Wildcat11’s Keys To Victory

Adjust and perform: Every week coaches in the NWC are making adjustments and trying to get the edge against each team they line up against.  That is especially true when facing Linfield. Our plays need to be ready to adjust to different looks and make plays all over the field. Puget Sound is solid in their schemes on both sides of the ball and I’m sure will have some adjustments aimed to take away and try to exploit what Linfield has been doing for years. As players, you need to be ready to adjust and attack.

Have to have a great day of pressuring and containing Tanner Diebold: The UPS senior quarterback is currently second in the NWC in yards passing per game with 268.4 yard per game and can do it either in the pocket or extend players and be accurate on the run.  The Wildcat defense will have their work cut out for them against the Logger passing attack.

Offensive Balance: The ‘Cats need to find that balance in both the running game and making connections in the passing game. The Loggers will feature a 4-2 base defense and as been solid against both the rush and pass this season. It’s imperative for the ‘Cats to keep the Loggers off balance and not allow UPS to load up on the run.

Take Care of the Football: Puget Sound is a +5 this year in the turnover ratio and has done that by picking off 9 passes and by recovering 8 fumbles. The Loggers defense has been active on the ball this season so Linfield needs to continue to make sure securing the football (especially on what will be a wet one) is a top priority for this offense. The conditions could play a big factor in this game and who handles the weather better will have a major upper hand on Saturday.

Red Zone Defense: The Loggers have scored on 22 of their 29 trips to the red zone and with 21 of those scores are touchdowns (a 72% clip). What is interesting is that while UPS ranks 7th in the Northwest Conference in rushing, the Loggers have punched in 14 of their 15 rushing touchdowns in the Red Zone. So not only will the ‘Cats have to make sure they do a great job in coverage but will need to meet the physical challenge of turning back the Logger red zone rushing attack.

Win on Special Teams: The Linfield special teams need to continue their late-season surge by being difference makers in not only solid kicking performances but in getting down the field and getting all over the Loggers’ return team.

Offensive line having a day:  The offensive line has been under the gun the past few weeks but we need these guys to have a great day with protection and sustaining their blocks on a solid Puget Sound defense. It will go a long way towards a Wildcat victory if this offensive line can show that from the Whitworth/Willamette portion of the season.

Overall

‘Cats by 10. The ‘Cats need a good performance on Saturday for a number reasons. Puget Sound is a capable football team but the ‘Cats need to come into Saturday like it’s a playoff game. Too much hangs in the balance for Linfield to mess around and get into a dogfight with a schematically sound football team. I’m not expecting it to be perfect or even pretty but my gut tells me this 2017 Linfield team will be ready to perform and methodically choke out the Loggers in the ‘Catdome.