Milan @ Jefferson

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• Your a fool if you believe that

• Happy to see all the Jefferson picks. Ahhh, just like the good old days!

  While I cannot personally vouch for whatever tough love is being dished out by the Milan coaches this week, I can offer my take: As a coach, you can be tougher on underperforming teams than you can on overwhelmed teams.

  In other words, if these coaches thought that the Big Reds had little chance of success this season, would it do more harm than good to get tougher on them? The coaches might have taken a softer approach if they believed this season to be a year of learning and growth, holding back their higher expectations until next season. Until I see otherwise, I'm choosing to view the tough love as confidence in their players and in the leadership of the team to help their teammates accept the coaching in a positive way.

  For those who thinks that the Bears will pass to victory tonight, I haven't seen Jefferson outside of their open scrimmage, and I can assume that some things have gotten better in their execution. That said, Milan's defensive strength is its back seven. Through two weeks, when the opponents have had success, it's been through long, sustained drives through the running game. Milan's DBs are stronger than folks might think, and I look specifically to CB Jon Swain to have a big game tonight. He's the tallest DB on the team and seemed to take last week's loss particularly hard. If Swain can d-up his man on an island, it allows the Big Reds to help their pass rush with a blitzing LB.

  One more thing I want to give Riverview credit for last week: their DBs did a great job standing up their blockers, then shedding them to stop Lindeman on his jet sweeps. It was the difference between Trace running for 3 to 5 yards a pop and him taking it to the house. Ask Pirate fans the difference in the D on Lindeman between last year's game (2 TD runs of 60+ yards) and this one (94 yards but 0 TDs). They'll tell you it was night and day.

  So, is Jefferson up to the challenge? Can they execute on offense, passing against Milan's strength? Can they mix in the run enough to keep the Big Red LBs honest? Can they be strong on the edges in run support? Can they get their coach his first signature win?

  Is Milan up to their challenge? Can they bounce back mentally after two weeks of self-imposed wounds? Can they keep their composure and execute on both sides of the ball. Can they be more stout than their size would otherwise indicate and get their season back on track? A lot of questions to be answered tonight on both sidelines. Should be fun!

• I'm happy that my son plays for a program where there is discipline and that the team is all that matters. In today's society where everyone gets a participation trophy for everything they do, some good 'ol fashioned ways of doing things is welcomed.

• "Discipline builds character". Ask some of the best coaches there ever was. If you get humiliated and lose confidence from a little bit of discipline, then you had better work on your character

  Words to live by. Bet you have no idea who said that.

• Blah blah blah...let's just let them play the game. May the best team win.

• Bears don't need to worry about run need to run enough to keep Milan linebackers honest and d line from just charging in

• Hmmmm. Discipline means humiliation. Humiliation means a tare at ones self worth. Self worth torn apart means lack of confidence to win. Wrong type of encouragement Milan. Good luck. Jefferson 28 Milan 21.

• Does anyone remember when Jefferson used to march onto the field like soldiers before their games?? That was something to see. Very Intimidating !!

  Need that attitude back.

• SMCC has discipline similar to that after a loss. They have been the best program in the league the last 25 years, perhaps some advice should be taken. Talk to Coach Sanderson and Coach Giarmo about discipline.

• Not a good form of discipline.