FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[nescac1]

Speaking of Mangini, I saw his brother recently committed to the Ephs.  That will ensure that Williams again has four sets of brothers on next year's team.  I thought this was some good content from the Williams social media team about the brother pairings:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_6dC7wITXBk

[Trin9-0]

I came across the Hansen Ratings D3 Coach and Coordinators podcast and host Keith's Grabowski's conversation with Jeff Devanney. I didn't know that the Bantams' longtime Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach, Lew Acquarulo was not with the team this season due to a health issue. Sending along all my best wishes to the man who should have gotten a head coaching opportunity by now.

Devanney is calling the defense this season in Lew's absence but noted the major shift for the Bantams schematically has bee due to their personnel. They've moved away from their traditional style of aggressive quarters coverage to playing much more inverted safety and an 8 man box. He said this is "the best front seven in his 26 years coaching at Trinity". Very high praise considering the defensive talent in Hartford over that span. They don't really have lockdown corners so they're just telling the secondary to not let anything behind them and relying on front seven to stop the run.

Devanney also noted the impact of some younger coaches and their ability to maximize the technology now available across the league (sideline tablets/coach to helmet communications). While it's clearly been working I do have concerns about the eventual match up against the Wesleyan receiving corps. The Cards with Fitzsimons may be the one team who can move the ball down the field via three-step drops.


Statistically this year's Bantams compare well against historically good NESCAC teams through five games. Their current point differential per game of +31.6 would rank 2nd among NESCAC Championship teams since 2000 (trailing only the 2004 Bantams at +32.3).

Their current yardage differential per game of +248.4 would similarly rank 2nd among NESCAC Championship teams since 2000 (trailing only the 2018 Bantams with an absurd +314.9).

Saturday will likely be their last chance to fatten up before ending the year @ Middlebury, @ Amherst, and then the showdown in The Coop against Wesleyan. I'm predicting a shutout against the Polar Bears which would bring their average points allowed down to 4.8 per game (or 0.17 per the GroundandPound method).

For what it's worth, the NESCAC record for fewest points allowed per game was the 2003 Bantams who surrendered just 30 points for the season (3.75 per game). Using GroundandPound's method that squad, who also scored 28 defensive points, would have a net of just 2 points allowed for the season (0.25 per game).

[Nescacman]

Speaking of Mangini, I saw his brother recently committed to the Ephs.  That will ensure that Williams again has four sets of brothers on next year's team.  I thought this was some good content from the Williams social media team about the brother pairings:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_6dC7wITXBk

Yes, unfortunately, Luke and his younger brother don't have the same good decision making ability as their Dad (Eric) and Uncle (Kyle). 

Seriously, Luke is a great person (no surprise given his genes) and we enjoyed spending time with him. One of our best interviews to-date. We encourage you all to check it out. Luke comes from a great sports family. In addition to his Dad's history, his Uncle is Blue Jays President and CEO, Mark Shapiro (also an OL for the Princeton Tigers). 

NM

[Nescacman]

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast

Available Now! Available wherever you get your podcasts!

9 Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast S.3 Ep.6 (Special Guests: Williams College LB Luke Mangini, Hamilton College Head Coach Dave Murray, and a mid-season discussion with NESCAC Football Report's Jon Keith).

Nine Weeks: A NESCAC Football Podcast is the first podcast of its kind in NESCAC history. Hosted by Chris Grace (play-by-play announcer for Wesleyan) and Dave Bagatelle (Wesleyan Alum and former player), our weekly show features coach and player interviews, game analysis, rankings, previews, and predictions.

The podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts including YouTube, Facebook, Apple and Spotify. Search for "9 Weeks NESCAC"...the first and only podcast of its kind.
 
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Look for NESCACMAN's weekly predictions and point spreads at nescacfootballreport.com. The NESCAC Football report is a website dedicated to all things NESCAC football, including team previews, weekly game previews and power rankings and game recaps.  The site now provides its followers with NESCACMAN's weekly game lines and predicted scores.