FB: North Coast Athletic Conference

[DarkSide-D]

BB16

My comments on about Pynenberg were based off one game against Woo last season.  I honestly was not impressed with him enough to do back flips (I never said he wasn't a good player).  That is not to say he is not a good player, even a great player.  I seem to remember many Bashers make claims that I was a "ho-hum" player during my days.  Personally I think I was pretty good.

I think Pynenberg did some good things during the game.  I can't argue with the accolades he has recieved.  I believe he was only a sophmore at the time.  A junior this year??  If that is the case, I am sure if I had a chance to see him this year or next, I would be singing a different tune.

[wabco]

Adi is the real article.  A game changer.  Any success against Wabash D will have to come from working the side Adi is not on or near ("near" because he works sideline to sideline).  And the problem with this "run the other area and assign several blockers to Adi" is that the Wabash D Coach knows this and is a magician. 

As the year progressed last year, he attracted his own dedicated "Adi blockers" in groups of 2 and sometimes 3.  Didn't seem to matter ... except that the smack down came from someone else.

I believe D will be solid again ... basically same as last year.  O line basicallly same with more experience.  Receivers ... a very strong weapon ... which helps the running game. 

Qs are who are the RB and J - Back and how good will Huff be.  The last question a key one.  For my nickle ... Huff will be there with a strong arm and added ability / durability to tuck the ball and run.  He has shown this.  If you have to watch for the run at all ... you will be dead.

I look for Wabash to look very much as last year with just a little different aspect / tweek to the system at QB.

[bashbrother]

Huff has incredible ability.  The question with him will be his ability to read defenses and make the correct situational calls at the line.  With his receiving corp, a little patience will pay off in downfield completions.  Quartebacks with the ability to run, sometimes tuck it and run a bit too much.  I am sure CC will keep this in check.

Will the offense gel with the new leadership?
Will the running game develop and be productive?

I think these are some of the main questions heading into the season.

[medicine man]

1. Homecoming is not a big deal at Woo. Family weekend is better. Why the constant reference to it ? 

2. DB's are 6'2", 6'0, etc.

3. Schafer played with a broken foot

4. This is ANOTHER season, we don't live in the past. We will be ready to play on October 28th!

[medicine man]

If you believe everything said on here, we would not even play the season, let's just give it to Wabash, with all the talent they will probably become DI next year.

[wally_wabash]

If you believe everything said on here, we would not even play the season, let's just give it to Wabash, with all the talent they will probably become DI next year.

And there it is....the inevitable "I'm overwhelmed by the Wabash crowd" post.  You're the first one this season!  There should be a prize...

Take two steps back and look at this thing objectively.  Nothing being said here is outlandish.  I haven't seen one Wabash poster say that this thing is a runaway and Wabash is so far out in front of the rest of this pack that our regular season is going to be a 10-week warmup for the playoffs or that it's a joke that we even have to play the regular season.  Don't read what isn't there. 

[medicine man]

"Overwhelmed by the Wabash crowd". 

PLEASE don't flatter yourself.

[wabco]

Bashbrother

I agree with you on Huff ... Huff will bring a little different passing game (perhaps a little stronger in length but softer and not as quick short) ... more likely to take a run opportunity instead of the patience for the receiving athletes to open up (which Harbaugh had).  It will be fun seeing him get his sea legs and work at those read/decision making skills which Harbaugh worked so well.

I believe the running game will emerge just fine after a couple of pre conference games in a testing mode ... not a dominate force but (whether by committee with upperclass position transfer help or youngster(s) grabbing the opportunity) one which will provide the risk of damage to those with too much focus upon the Wabash pass.

These are the question areas.  The rest should be solid, although between now and showtime a lot could happen.  Still, with the coaching ... I like Wabash's chances.

[wally_wabash]

If you believed everything you read here, we'd just throw Huff into the League, hand him a fistful of Super Bowl rings, and book him his own wing in Canton. 

Or...

I could read these posts with some degree of rationale.

[scotty]

medicine man only has 15 posts...maybe he doesn't appreciate the Wabashtonians yet    heck it took me 6 months but i am not that bright...

[wabco]

Wally

Not sure exactly ... your last comment.

I would guess that you agree that Huff has talent and that he has a greater running aspect to his game than did Harbaugh.  Suspect you would even agree Huff has a good strong long pass ... with his shorter passes being fine ... just not as sharp/direct as Harbaugh.  What he does not have yet (playing behind Harbaugh) is the situational instincts (which again ... hopefully:  will sufficiently develop).

Now what in all that could give rise to "we'd just throw Huff into the league, hand him a fistfull of Super Bowl; rings etc. etc. etc." comment?

[wally_wabash]

Tongue pressed firmly in cheek, wabco.  Just expressing some displeasure at the rapid and annually inevitable leap to utter nonsense that comes from some of the posters...

On a more serious note, I think Huff is fine.  He's got game experience from '04 and was sharp in his limited field time year (9-9 on the season).  We'd be nuts to expect him to duplicate Russ's senior campaign, but as long as Huff doesn't steer this ship straight into the iceberg, Wabash will be just fine.  I think Huff can be very dangerous...I'm anxious to see what happens whenever he decides to scramble.  If he keeps a play alive behind the line of scrimmage, it's scary to think of the big play potential the offense could have...you'll be hard pressed to find a secondary that can cover these Wabash receivers for any extended length of time. 

[scotty]

wally, good point about "extended length of time"...the fans in the stands only see the mistake downfield...imo Wooster needs to let the athleticism of Watson and Mizak explode into the backfield...maybe with a strong defensive tackle surge and more experience in the lb corp, the secondary may be more successful than last year...good athletes back there...and not all 5 9 

[wally_wabash]

Schafer hit some bombs on Wabash in '04 because of his ability to keep plays alive...I actually had some of that in mind when I was writing that previous post.  The point I'm making is that if Huff can avoid pressure and stay calm enough to stay behind the line, it's only a matter of time before a DB takes a peek back to see what the heck is going on.  Once that happens, it's a footrace between that DB and the receiver and there aren't a lot of Dbs that will win a footrace to the ball with Wabash's receivers (their track speed has been well documented).  The question isn't so much whether or not Huff can run...we know he can.  The question is whether or not he'll use his legs to open up big plays down the field or if he'll break the pocket and just tuck and run (which really isn't a terrible option for Huff either). It's going to be interesting to see how the offense works under his direction. 

[bashbrother]

Wally -  That is what made Knott so successful..........  There is limit to the amount of time that a good defender can cover a good wide-receiver.  Once that time has expired, defensive breakdowns can and will occur and things begin to open up.

This is specifically why at times in the past, the Bash D has gotten hurt by a scrambling QB.

I think this is the biggest threat that Huff brings to opposing defenses......especially with Walker, Russell, Green and co.