With many preseason questions still unanswered and the look of a team still in need of an identity, the Johnnies begin their MIAC Conference schedule tomorrow against our Lutefisk slurping, lefse devouring friends from the Northwest—The Concordia Cobbers.
What awaits the Cobbers on their trek down I-94 is, in many Johnnie’s minds, still an unedited version of what we may well see later in the season. There are still many question marks to answer; ones that need to be answered VERY soon for our beloved Johnnies to gain the momentum necessary to once again become the steamroller of the MIAC.
With our questions still looming, here is a look at what Johnnie Nation can expect to see in Collegeville on Saturday.
Concordia-Moorhead
For the first time in over 80 years, Concordia opened its season with someone else other than University of Minnesota-Moorhead (Moorhead State) when they traveled to Salem, Oregon to play Willamette. Turnover was the word of the day as the Cobbers, while leading in almost every statistical category, turned the ball over 5 times including a 100 yard interception return for a TD in route to a 35-21 loss.
In game two, the Cobbers got off to a slow start but used a dominating defensive performance to hold Dickinson State to 218 total yards in route to a 38-13 victory. In what has to be a troubling trend for the Cobbers, they fumbled the ball four times losing two of the fumbles inside Dickinson State territory.
The Cobbers on Offense
In recent years, the run happy Cobber offense has morphed to a more balanced attack. Thus far during the 2008 season, however, the Cobbers are on a 2-to-1 run to pass clip. The vaunted Cobber Veer is still as potent as ever, as exhibited in the opening two games. This year, the Cobber run game is a three-headed monster with Cory Johnson (176 yds./2 TD/7.7 Avg.), Nick Birchem (144 yds./0 TD/4.1 Avg.) and Jesse Nelson (94 yds./1 TD/3.0 Avg.). The Cobbers are averaging 244.5 yards rushing per game with 4.5 yards per carry average.
Quarterback Jesse Nelson has been doing just enough through the air to complement the running game. Nelson is completing 50% of his passes (26-52/325 yds./3 TD/3 INT) and has a 110 passer rating early in the year despite his 3 interceptions.
Nelson’s favorite early season targets are big play threat Nick Alton (8 rec./162 yards) Kyle Hilleren (7 rec./62 yards) and Cory Johnson (4 rec./48 yards). As is always the case, the success of the Cobber passing attack is directly reliant on the effectiveness of its ability to run the football and not turn the ball over (7 Turnovers in two games).
The Cobbers on Defense
As a unit, the Cobber defense is giving up 24 ppg but is holding opposing offenses to a paltry 237 yards per game. Their run defense has been very good giving up only 3.6 yards per carry. Having played two “run first” teams to open the season, it is unclear how the Cobber secondary will be able to handle the Johnnie “pass first” offense.
The Cobbers are led by their trio of experienced linebackers: Issac Berling (13 tackles), Jay Thoreson (12 tackles) and Brett Abrahamson (9 tackles). Also leading the way on defense are senior captains cornerback Levi DeVries and Defensive Tackle Clinton Strother.
Outlook
Concordia will make every attempt to show that last year’s 52-12 monkey stomp was an anomaly. In looking at the match up, I do not see a similar result to last year’s game. There are still way too many question marks on offense for the Johnnies, especially at QB, to even fathom the Jays scoring that many points.
That being said, if the Cobbers can avoid turnovers and run the ball effectively to set up their blossoming passing game, we could be in for a struggle in Collegeville on Saturday. Johnnie Pride will have to have some serious mojo tomorrow!
Expect some delicious Cobber corn served up at tomorrow’s tailgate benefit for Todd Fultz!
