2011.vs Cobras. Game 5

Game Five:

Preview:

The Oilers next game is Saturday August 6th vs Middleboro. Both teams are in the South Division, so the game takes on additional significance as the Cobras try and win the division, while the Oilers need to start winning to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Who:     Oilers vs Cobras
When:   Saturday August 6th, at 7:00
Where:  Middleboro, MA 
          

Also, it's buggy there- so fans are encouraged to bring bug spray.


Directions:

Battis Field
* 495 to Exit 4.
* At end of ramp take Left if coming from North, Right if coming from South (so that McDonalds will be on your right).
* Stay on this route (105) into center of town.
* Go through 2 sets of lights.
* After second set watch for Police Station on your right.
Police Station is on a corner... take right at that corner and
*Battis Field will be down on your left.


 
Result / Recap:

August 6, 2011

Oilers lose 26-0

 
Despite the lopsided final score, the Oilers gave the powerful Cobras a tough test on Saturday night. The game was tied 0-0 at the end of the 1st half. With starting qb Ryan Myers shelved for several weeks due to an injury, and 3 of the team's top 6 offensive linemen unable to make the game due to personal issues, the Oilers gave the Cobras a spirited effort.

Stepping up big time was QB James Merrick.  Filling in for Myers, Merrick stood tough in the pocket all night, exhibiting strong leadership and command of the offense. He delivered passes with an accurate touch and never got rattled against one of the league's best defensive lines. 

The Oilers "make-shift" offensive line also put forth an impressive effort. DT Karl Wells and FB/TE Mike Wright filled in as the offensive guards and had stellar performances. Despite constant blitzing from the Cobras, the line held tough and gave Merrick the time he needed in the pocket. Veterans Pete Hogan, Kevin Clark, and T.D. Thompson all also had strong performances.

The defining moment of the game however was an unlucky stretch of special teams miscues in the 3rd quarter. The Cobras were able to block a punt 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter and recovered it in the endzone for a touchdown that broke the 0-0 tie. On  the ensuing kickoff a ball going out of bounds glanced off an Oiler and the Cobras recovered and scored on the next play. So what had been a tightly contested 0-0 game shockingly became a 14-0 Oiler deficit in a span of 20 seconds.

The Oilers defense again led by LB's John Martel and Colby Gallagher kept the Cobras offense out of rhythm all night. Defensive tackles Marcus Barrow and Byron Goss clogged up the middle of the field and helped limit the effectiveness of the Cobras ground game. DE's Billy Mallory and Mike Farley applied frequent pressure from the outside. Dan Carroll, Norm Burns, and Johnny Epps had especially good nights in the secondary. Rookie Tim Millerick also continues to be a great new addition to the defense, showing speed, athleticism, dependable tackling, and toughness. DT's Karl Wells and Pete Hogan, as well as LB Larry Tagger, all showed great team dedication in playing both offense and defense (Wells & Hogan played EVERY offensive snap in addition to filling in on defense).

On offense the Oilers showed glimpses of the firepower they have at the skill positions. In rb's Brooks Payne and Leon McBean, the Oilers have two of the more explosive and talented rb's in the EFL. Each showed their speed and vision and toughness with several 10+ yard runs each, but unfortunately after the Oilers fell behind in teh 2nd half they mostly deserted the running game in an effort to score quickly through teh air. Fullback Frankie Gaudette as always showed his toughness with ramlike blocking as well as refusing to be taking down by just one tackler whenever given teh chance to run with the ball. WR's Will Price, Matt Boutin, Derrek Macqueen, and Vinny Ventosi all had 1st down catches to help keep teh chains moving, but none were able to find paydirt against the stingy Cobras secondary.

All in all the Oilers showed they can hang with the best teams in the league, but until the offense can sustain drives and put points on teh board, the team will continue to struggle. As always the key is PRACTICE. The Oilers need all offensive and defensive players at practice so the offense can work on improving, and so teh defense can continue to build on its impressive performance to date. But the offense needs to face a FULL defense live in practice in order to improve and work on picking up stunts etc, so it's not just the offense who needs to keep showing up at practice.

The Oilers win and lose as a team, so even though its been the offense that has let down the team the last two games, we need to continue to stick together and work hard as a team. The Oilers need to win their final 5 to make the playoffs, so more than ever we need EVERYONE at practice. 

PRESS COVERAGE

"Oilers bitten by Cobras"
(Randolph Herald. August 9, 2011)