Hobart Midterms

The Hobart Statesmen remained twelfth in the D3football.com polls after reaching the regular season’s midpoint a perfect 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Liberty League (LL) conference.

The Statesmen are leading the LL in 18 significant team statistical categories including: scoring offense (41.4 PPG) and defense (12.4 PPG), total defense (196.8 YPG), touchdowns allowed (eight), rushing defense (79.4 YPG), pass defense (117.4 YPG), pass defense efficiency (95.3%), kickoff returns (24.4 YPR), punt returns (15.5 YPR), sacks by (21), sacks against (two), first downs (112 or 22.4 per game), opponent 1st downs (62 or 12.4 per game), third down conversions (52.1%), opponent third down conversions (25%), fourth down conversions (75%), opponents fourth down conversions (25%), and time of possession (34:59).

Individually SR WR Junior Woodard leads the LL in receiving YPG with 88, SR RB Bobby Dougherty leads the league in scoring with 48 points (eight TDs), SO WR Troy Robinson leads the LL in punt return average with 11.6 return yards per punt, JR WR Yosh Karbowniczak is tied for the LL lead in punt average with 40.4 YPP and JR RB Steven Webb leads the league in all purpose yards with 536 (107.2 YPG).

Defensively SR LB Andrew Klindera is ranked 11th in tackles with 35 total. Klindera is over 127 tackles in his career as a Statesman.

Nationally, Hobart’s defense is ranked third overall (YPG) and JR OLB Devin Worthington is first with 12 tackles for loss (TFL).

All these accolades are helping the program gain a lot of national recognition, but the target is on their backs is bigger than ever. Fortunately for the Statesmen, three of their five remaining regular season games are at home. They also get their bye week the weekend before they travel to conference rival RPI (3-1, 1-1) who beat them last season 29-28 in Geneva.

Clearly Hobart has been dominant in their games to date and achieving the highest ever national ranking is certainly cause for an “A+” as far as grading them goes. That said I hold the team, especially this one, to a higher standard. Four key areas that this team needs additional work are listed below:

1. Avoiding “those mistakes” – In the last three weeks the Statesmen have found themselves in quandaries mostly due to their own mistakes. Against Utica it was the three fumbles on offense, two by Woodard and one by Webb which kept the game close until the Hobart offense pulled away in the fourth quarter. Against USMMA it was the three interceptions in the first half / second quarter (I will say two were on Strang, the second of the INTs was simply a great play by the Mariner DB Harmon). In the WPI game it was a missed blocking assignment that ended up as an interception when Strang’s arm was hit resulting in the 45 yard interception return which gave WPI the go-ahead TD minutes into the first quarter of that game. The good news was in all cases none of these gaffes cost Hobart the game. However, none of the aforementioned teams are likely to make the NCAA playoffs. Mistakes like these against a Wesley, Widener or Salisbury would be much more costly.

2. Penalties – The Statesmen are seventh in the LL standings with 36 penalties for -345 yards (7.2 PPG with a 69 YPG average). 70 yards is a lot in a close game. I trust this will remain an area of focus in the second half of the season.

3. Pass blocking - Although the new OL has performed well, particularly in the running game, it has seemed at times that Strang has had pressure on him more than one would like. While the pass protection has not allowed many sacks, none of the teams played to date had a strong pass rush (Springfield on the other hand has 20 sacks this season). This area is certainly not a sieve for the Statesmen, but definitely could be improved upon.

4. Extra points - FY PK James Hull has been a great add to the Hobart special teams unit and has done a nice job on field goals (two for three, with the one miss being a block) and PATs (25 of 29) this season. Somehow the Statesmen either missed or had four PATs blocked in the WPI game, one which was returned for two points by the Engineers. Once again, not a big concern in the comfortable leads so far this season. However, in a playoff or tight game, every point counts so I'd like to see more "goods" than "wide rights" in this area. Put it this way....Hobart tied a modern record with 61 points last Saturday. If they converted these PATs it would have set a modern record. Not a big deal on one hand, but something to keep in mind.

Overall I’ll give this Statesmen team an “B+/A-" for the season to date. In many ways Hobart has surpassed preseason expectations and areas of concern (e.g., the OL, secondary and kicking game) have been strengths of this team. This squad is close, but equally has a long way to go, towards piecing things together for another league championship and playoff berth.