THE NARRATIVE
It’s only Week 3 but this game has massive ramifications in the OUA playoff landscape. If McMaster loses, the defending conference champion Marauders fall to 1-2. If Western loses, head coach Greg Marshall will have dropped four straight to the program he previously led to four straight Yates Cup titles. Either way a first-round playoff bye, home-field advantage in the playoffs and possibly a Yates Cup may hinge on the outcome of this game.
THE OFFENCES
From a schematic standpoint these are the two most complex offensive units in the country. They are both spread offences — though they operate differently — and both do a great job of using the numbers in their favour. McMaster coordinator Jon Behie will use the width of the field to stretch the defence out. Once the defence dictates how they want to cover the width of the field, QB Marshall Ferguson can check in to a play that gets the ball to his talented skill players in space — and with that, McMaster is virtually playing basketball on grass.
The Mustangs, on the other hand, are trying to beat you up in a phone booth offensively. Off the strength of their offensive line and fullbacks (yes, they still exist), they’ll bring multiple players to the point of attack and overwhelm secondary-level defenders. Even a nanosecond of indecision on the defence’s part means Western’s skill players get through the line of scrimmage clean. And once they’ve forced a defence to commit more players to the box, they’ll then attack the edges.
What makes both of these offenses dangerous is they can run the same play from multiple looks and formations while juggling personnel.
THE DEFENCES
These defences are studies in contrast. Western defensive coordinator Paul Gleason, who is back after a year sabbatical, walks into a situation with an entirely new secondary. They’ll play conservatively, keep their mistakes in front of them and roll coverage to wherever McMaster wideout Mike DiCroce is on the field. What gives the defensive backs a chance to be successful is the talent and depth they’ve got on the defensive line in front of them. It’s a photo finish, but the fact that they can rotate in elite linemen off the bench for me has Western’s front four just ahead of Queen’s for the best in the CIS.
New Marauders defensive coordinator and former CFL all-star Kevin Eiben walks into a situation with a veteran secondary but a relatively raw defensive line. The McMaster secondary was the best in the country a year ago and we can expect nothing less this year. The consistency from the MAC back five arms Eiben with the ability to play games up front.
KEY MATCHUP
WR George Johnson vs. DB Steven Ventresca
Johnson has been a revelation for the Mustangs at receiver. After being a fringe player a year ago he is now fourth in the nation in receiving yards. The two-sport athlete was the OUA West rookie of the year in basketball last year and he’s translated that hard-court mentality to the field turf and repeatedly gone up and gotten balls over smaller defenders. That’s why even though ball hawk Joey Cupido will make plays, I expect McMaster to counter Johnson’s aerial prowess with Ventresca. The long-armed DB who stands at 6’0" will have his eye on Johnson and will try to use his reach to jam him on the line of scrimmage before Johnson can get into his routes. Ventresca was deployed in a similar fashion a week ago, and locked up the physical specimen of a receiver that is Giovanni Aprile of Queen’s. After Aprile went off for 349 all-purpose yards in Week 1, Ventresca and the MAC secondary held him to one catch for 13 yards. Whether or not Johnson can box out Ventresca and get open consistently will determine how well Western converts in passing situations.