FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[oshfb]

Just got an email from one of my sisters, an Oshkosh grad. Seems she and her husband will be at Titan Stadium on Saturday. I hope to get a full scouting report on the Raiders & maybe the Titans, too. Unfortunately, her football IQ is somewhere between the IQ of a goldfish and a turkey, but my brother-in-law knows a thing or two -- played at UW-Milwaukee in the early 60's.

I'll be at the game on Saturday along with some former teammates. I can give a scouting report on the Raiders and UWO...but admittedly the UWO scouting report will be heavily biased...so not sure you'll want it from me

[HScoach]

You could almost highlight that entire page fbf413 -- except net punting yards -- it all spells trouble for the Titans!!    

I know but I didn't want to be rude, BoBo.    The Titans really did do themselves proud last weekend against Central IF it doesn't turn out that the Dutch were over rated this preseason and deserve some encouragement for the large task at hand  There is no history, (at least recently,) regarding match ups for the Raiders with any other WIAC team but us so whose to say that the strength of conference won't play a part in the final score.  I am hoping anyway. And let's not forget, the Titans are home!    

I'm actually more concerned about this being UWO's second game versus it being Mount's opener.  The old cliche is a team improves the most between week's 1 and 2, and I tend to believe it.  Especially a young team.  If this was a more experienced team like the '07 Raiders, it wouldn't matter when the game was played.  It's the lack of experience on the player's part and uncertainty on the coaches part of who is actually capable of what that creates the intrigue for me heading into Saturday.

Mount is really unsettled at some key positions heading into this season, with QB and RB being the most uncertain.  The QB job has been a 3-way competition between sophomores.  I expect to see at least 2 of them play as we await for one of them to win the job outright.  I'm not sure what to read in the 3-way competition honestly.  Does that mean they have 3 potential studs it's really hard to chose between?  Or is it 3 capable, but not great guys, that can't separate themselves?   The fan in me says I hope the former, but the old pessimistic coach in me fears the latter.  Kehres' track record with QB's points to the former.  Guess time will tell.

RB is even more of a mess with 4 or 5 guys fighting for playing time with each of them having certain strengths and weaknesses.  At this point, there sure doesn't seem to be a Nate Kmic in the bunch, just a group of solid/slightly above average D3 running backs.  Most D3 schools would probably love to have the group of backs that Mount is working with, but getting to Salem requires difference makers, not solid backs.  Hopefully one or two emerge into something that I haven't seen yet.

The WR core returns All-American Cecil Shorts and possibly the best TE Mount has ever had in Kyle Miller.  The rest of the receivers are basically "possession-type" guys, but are very solid complimentary players, just young.  The receivers are clearly the strength of the team.  Shorts is in the conversation as being one of the best WR's in Mount history.  He is faster than Garcon, but doesn't block as well or run as well after the catch.  He's more explosive than Adam Marino or Ed Bubonics, but doesn't quite have the unbelievable hands that they had.  If Mount can find a QB with a consistent arm, the Mount passing game is going to be scary good. 

The O-line will include only 1 returning starter, though the depth chart says 2, and could be an issue in making their reads if UWO does a lot of blitzing and stunting up front.  They struggled at the W&J scrimmage with running the ball, but some of that was probably the RB's too.  Their pass blocking has looked better than run blocking so far.  They have potential and will improve greatly with experience and another year in the weight room.   

The defense is young and un-tested, but the have great depth in the secondary and they've been tested in practice against good WR's so I expect them to be just fine.  Ferrera (FS) and Jordan (CB) return as starters.  West (WS) and Driskill (SS) both saw a lot of time last year in mop-up duty and special teams.  Only true new guy is Isaiah Scott (CB), and I know nothing about him.  The guy I'm most curious to see is Driskill.  The kid was a serious playmaker in a back-up role.  Not the biggest or fastest guy, but has a real knack for always being in the right place at the right time.

All-American LB Sam Kershaw returns and is an absolute stud.  The other LB is an athletic back-up that has seen plenty of special teams/back-up duty over the last 2 years, so overall the LB's should be similar to last year. 

The real question is the D-line with 3 sophomores starting.  The other starter (Budzinski) is listed by MTU as a returning starter, but he was actually the primary back-up last fall at 3 of the 4 DL positions.   IMHO, he's better suited as an athletic DT than he is as a strong side DE, but they need him more on the outside so he's starting there.  If another DE emerges, I would expect him to slide inside later in the year, especially against the pass-happy teams in the OAC.

Overall, this is about as young a defense as I can ever remember.  Might have to go back to the mid-1990's to find one as young.  The difference then was MTU didn't have the depth in the system that they have now.  With the amount of athletes Mount has on the roster, I can't imagine a scenario where they truly struggle on defense.  They won't be as dominant as last year, but they should be very good.

I set the spread at only 17.5 simply because I expect Mount to be very inconsistent on offense with 3 new QB's and questions at RB.  If I had to put an actual score out there, I'd guess something like 34-17.

[Raider 68]

Great Post HScoach, I hope we see alot of Shorts/Miller/Kershaw on Saturday. Coach Kehres will find someone quickly to throw the ball and I hope someone steps up to run it!+k 

[bleedpurple]

+K HSCoach! Great post and insight into the Raiders as they head into the 2010 season!

[02 Warhawk]

Call me crazy, but I have a hunch MUC will do just fine for themselves this year... just a wild guess though  

[KitchenSink]

Way to go out on a limb, 02.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Call me crazy, but I have a hunch MUC will do just fine for themselves this year... just a wild guess though  

They define 'just fine' as winning the Stagg - are you throwing in the towel already?!

[OzJohnnie]

I wish a good game for all the EC players this weekend.  The Johnnies are looking and sounding very good this season and we're hoping for a top performance.  In case the Johnnies do play really well, there is an article at johnniefootball.com recounting a current player's experience as a youngster during EC's moment of glory against the J's.  And if this is a second moment of EC glory, then you can look forward to another article in ten or so years.

[DutchHawk]

Wow, WIAC is playing MUC, SJU, St Thomas, and UMHB...not to mention UWW. Thats quite the Top 5 vs WIAC you guys have going this weekend.

[BoBo]

Wow, WIAC is playing MUC, SJU, St Thomas, and UMHB...not to mention UWW. Thats quite the Top 5 vs WIAC you guys have going this weekend.

Yes, a very exciting week indeed...we have the Johnnies in Eau Claire, the Tommies in St. Paul, and the Jimmies in Memonomie...has to be one of the more exciting weeks in WIAC football history involving schools that have no creativity in their nicknames.     

[maripp2002]

So I just got a job and I will be moving to Wisconsin soonishly. I will be living in the Madison/ Verona area, and I was wondering what schools - from any conference - are closest to the area? I have been going to Sewanee and Centre games down here in the southern Kentucky area, and I don't want to stop supporting a local team and my little giants.

[BoBo]

So I just got a job and I will be moving to Wisconsin soonishly. I will be living in the Madison/ Verona area, and I was wondering what schools - from any conference - are closest to the area? I have been going to Sewanee and Centre games down here in the southern Kentucky area, and I don't want to stop supporting a local team and my little giants.

D1 UW-Madison, of course, is the closest. UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville would be the closest of the WIAC schools. Probably about the same distance...but you'll see better football at UWW.    Beloit College would be the closest of the MWC schools. Dubuque is across the river from Platteville and would have IIAC conference games.  Good luck in your move.

[maripp2002]

Wow, this is going to be awesome! I think UWW is going to have to be my new "local team". It is less than an hour drive from where I will be living. The cool thing is going to be that there are enough schools close by to go watch a D3 game almost every week! Thanks BoBo for the heads up! +k

[BoBo]

I envy you maripp.  I'm 10,000 miles away and can never get to a game, except on internet...

[Barber Greene]

Wow, this is going to be awesome! I think UWW is going to have to be my new "local team". It is less than an hour drive from where I will be living. The cool thing is going to be that there are enough schools close by to go watch a D3 game almost every week! Thanks BoBo for the heads up! +k

I live on the border of Verona and Madison. Check out Verona High School football. One of the best programs in the state. Could probably beat some DIII teams. UWW's Derek Stanley played there.