FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Pat Coleman]

NCC could have run for 300+ yards if they wanted to.  They could have passed for 400+ as well.  This was not a great defense they faced today. 

So many missed tackles.

[USee]

The majority of the talk we've heard about NCC vs JCU seems to be concentrated on the fact that the D line for JC will be the best NC has faced. If so, it seems to logically follow that chances are good that the NC ground game might well be limited to its lowest total of the season. Should that occur, does that pretty much insure JC wins? Let's not forget that NC can pass a little too, and that they are led by the nation's most efficient passer.

First, I didn't see anyone say JCU was the best DL NCC will have faced. That may have well been last week v Bethel, we shall see. I pointed out that JCU's defensive front held some pretty high quality playoff caliber teams to under 100 yds rushing in those games so it translates for me that will be the determining factor. And, while NCC can certainly pass, Wilson is an efficient passer primarily because the NCC run game is crushing everyone and when you commit extra people to stop the run, pass opportunities abound. If I am a defensive coordinator going against NCC I would absolutely love if NCC became a passing team. Not because they can't do it, but because they want to run the ball (and you have to pick you poison), that's their identity.

NCC ran for 204 yards which is under their 267 game average. However they passed for 324 yards, 101 over their per game average of 223. Perhaps, at least for this game, they did give the D coordinator what he thought he wanted by becoming primarily a passing team.
Who would have thought the Cards would total more yards through the air than did JC?

NCC ran 53 total plays, 30 runs and 23 passes.