FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AppletonRocks]

If UW-W didn't drop so many passes, the halftime score of this game might have been very ugly.
[/quote]

Why did they drop all those passes Might be their death knell in the playoffs.

[bleedpurple]

If UW-W didn't drop so many passes, the halftime score of this game might have been very ugly.

Why did they drop all those passes Might be their death knell in the playoffs.
[/quote]
AR,
Hard to know why. I always assume it's concentration. These weren't contested passes that should have still been caught. These were flat out drops. Maybe our resident receiver Emma17 can share light on the subject. Although he didn't drop passes, I'm sure he's had teammates who did from time to time. And yes, if this plagues the Dub in the playoffs, it could cost them. Execution in all phases will be at a premium come playoff time.

02,
Explained a couple of the issues here:

"Beneath the Box Score"  www.warhawkfootball.com

[UWO Titan 78]

Kudos to Coach Cerroni and his staff for a great game plan against the Pioneers. The "bend but don't break" defensive philosophy used to scare me to death. It still does when I watch Vic Fangio and the Bears (who orchestrate the same philosophy, but ultimately always break). But this coaching staff and philosophy have proven successful against even the best teams (see UWW and UWP), that I've had to buy in and support it. The student commentators routinely were getting upset over the Titans getting gashed by the run. The philosophy was clearly to not allow the UWP passing game to beat them with big plays, and make the Pioneers be disciplined and good enough to grind out drives and not make mistakes. This was the same philosophy that almost worked against the Warhawks (a great run at the end of the game notwithstanding). The Titan redzone defense is just lights out. If they manage to run the table, they will be a very tough out in the playoffs. There are probably only a handful of teams that can match up with the Titans in the trenches and put together the long drives needed to score touchdowns. If the offense can continue to be balanced (they threw for 216 and ran for 218 against the #7 team in the country) and can limit turnovers, the Titans can beat anybody in the country. The one worrisome spot I see is that the Titans don't seem to  have as much of the big-play ability that they have had in the past. They have the horses to continually drive the field, but the lack of the big play makes ball protection and discipline even more important. I saw some penalties and turnovers hurt drives against the Warhawks. They were more disciplined against UWP (only 3 penalties this week compared to 11 against UWW) and protected the ball better. The next month (and hopefully longer) should be fun.

[02 Warhawk]

My understanding is that there is a preliminary plan to honor Voice with a visitation and Memorial Service on Sunday, October 30 at Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater. The preliminary plan is for the visitation to last from noon until 2:00 PM with the Memorial Service starting at 2:00.  I will post again with all the information when I know the plan is confirmed.

Looks like those are the official plans now.

Tom's Memorial Service

[brewhawk]

UWW has now been outgained in their last five consecutive games and yet won them all, that's got to be a really rare occurrence.

I'm sure it's rare. Fortunately, it also doesn't matter. Total yardage for a full game can be as irrelevant as time of possession. Saturday, when this game was decided (24-0 near the end of the second quarter), UW-W led Point in total yards 289-80. After that the context changed completely because the game wasn't in doubt. Plenty of coaching opportunity for sure. But the bottom line is UW-W dominated a team most people thought was pretty good until the issue was decided. If UW-W didn't drop so many passes, the halftime score of this game might have been very ugly.

I was out of town for the game, but was stunned when I saw that halftime score. I figured this was going to be a close one, even closer than the La Crosse game. Never did I imagine the defense not giving up a point against UWSP. Very impressive.

Looks like it was a great first half for the Hawks, with the coaching staff taking their foot off the gas a bit in the second half(?).

I couldn't make it to the Perk like I wanted to, but I was able to watch it on my phone.  It did look like they took their foot off the gas in the second half when the game was clearly over and burn some clock.  No need to go for style points on the scoreboard.  Just win and move on to EC.

There were some big drops early on and hopefully they get those under control as that could be very costly deeper in the playoffs. 

[emma17]

-Sometimes I'm wrong, sometimes I'm right.  I was wrong about UWSP threatening UWW.  Honestly I was disappointed in UWSP as I thought they would be better.  If UWL's QB is healthy, I'd give UWL a major leg up on UWSP offensively.

-IMO, UWW did not "take their foot off the gas" in the second half and, as fans, we should be careful not to fall into the trap when our team doesn't perform well.
In partial defense of UWW, following is the yard line they started at in the second half: 15, 8, 11, 36 and 10 (after this, the remaining two drives were kill the clock mode).
The truthful fact is UWW absolutely tried to move the ball and the reality is they are struggling mightily to sustain scoring drives consistently.  IMO, the reason for that is two-fold: player performance, and mostly the offensive game plan. Please, please, please scrap the giant play cards and the "look over to the sideline so Coach Smith can direct you because you apparently can't figure it out on your own" offense.  Get into the booth Coach Smith, call a play with a check to it, and let your players play. It worked pretty darn well for a decade. 

-Bleed, I've dropped lots of passes in my life, and I remember them more than any catch I ever made, however, I cannot relate to dropping 4-5 balls in one half of football. I'm comfortable questioning coaching on public boards, but I'm not comfortable questioning the players.  I'll only say that I hope Marcus can get a physical and mental groove going that matches his potential.  UWW has plenty of receiving weapons that simply aren't being utilized properly.  Coach Smith seems to have an allergy to calling crossing/drag routes or short routes for his tight ends. But boy, he can call the screen and the long ball.

-I agree that all that matters is the final score and UWW is taking care of that.  I think we recognize though that the stats can tell a story, and sometimes identify a potential problem that may lead to extreme disappointment if not corrected.  On the West Region Fan Poll board we talked about what appears to be a general lack of greatness for any of the top teams.  Usually by now we'd recognize some teams by their great O or their great D or their great player leading them to victories.  I don't see it this year, and that may be UWW's saving grace.  However, if UWW does run into a hot offensive team that actually scores, they will need to get their offense performing better.

-IMO, of the 2 units, UWW's offense is the unit capable of close to greatness based on the players (O line especially)- and as such they need to step it up.         

[emma17]

Sorry, but one more coaching comment as I'm really bothered by this.
If an offensive lineman had 4 holding calls or 4 false starts in a half, would he stay in the game?  If a D lineman jumped off 4 times, where would he be?
What is the message when a receiver struggles in such a way yet not only stays in the game, but continues to get targeted (aka rewarded)?  Is the message that UWW simply doesn't have any other receivers capable of stepping in?  Should we assume that the other receivers aren't working hard in practice and as such squandered any chance of being rewarded in the game?  Should the players assume there is an unlimited # of mistakes certain players can make without consequence? 

[bleedpurple]

Sorry, but one more coaching comment as I'm really bothered by this.
If an offensive lineman had 4 holding calls or 4 false starts in a half, would he stay in the game?  If a D lineman jumped off 4 times, where would he be?
What is the message when a receiver struggles in such a way yet not only stays in the game, but continues to get targeted (aka rewarded)?  Is the message that UWW simply doesn't have any other receivers capable of stepping in?  Should we assume that the other receivers aren't working hard in practice and as such squandered any chance of being rewarded in the game?  Should the players assume there is an unlimited # of mistakes certain players can make without consequence?

A couple of thoughts. First, it should be noted the drops weren't all by one player. On my previous post, I wasn't asking or expecting you to call out or especially name a player. I was just wondering from a receiver's perspective as to why a drop may happen. We had several guys drop balls. I was even wondering if it might be like a baseball team that stops hitting. Some kind of a cumulative effect.

There can be multiple reasons for the coaching decision we see on the field. I think every assumption you list above is misguided. No, the decision to leave Marcus ( since you did name him) in wasn't a statement we don't have other receivers. It would be silly to assume that means other receivers aren't working hard. It would be a mistake for players to assume that they can make unlimited mistakes and not come out of the game.  There is a culture of accountability the players' fully understand at UW-W.

I can promise you that  Marcus is far more bothered than anyone else in the stadium when he drops a pass. He doesn't need a message sent to him.  He is the leader of the receiving group and a leader on the team. If anything, I believe he was just pressing too much. I'm sure you know, coaches coach different players differently. Anthony Rizzo was 1-15 with zero RBI in the Divisional playoffs for the Cubs. Should they have benched him for the NLCS? What kind of a message does it send to keep him in the lineup? Does it send the message that everyone can make unlimited outs and not be benched? Does it mean the other players behind him aren't working hard?  Of course not.  The decision to keep Anthony Rizzo in the lineup and keep  Marcus Hudson in the game are similar. They both bring a lot to the table even if they are not having their best game (or series).  Both are team leaders. Complacency isn't an issue with either of them.

And your whole, "reward" thing? Spoken like a true receiver. Keshawn Johnson, "Just Throw Me the D@#$ Ball". While over the course of the season it is important to keep receivers involved, I'm pretty sure the play calling has a little more purpose than reward distribution.  What do you think offense is, a...Pez Dispenser? 

Go Warhawks!  And go Cubbies! 

[emma17]

I didn't think we were trying to keep secret the fact that Marcus dropped 4-5 balls in the game. Yes two other guys also dropped passes, 4-5 is a different story.

Rizzo and Hudson are not the same in my world.

I was being facetious to make a point when I suggested perhaps the other receivers weren't practicing hard. Of course they are. That's why they should be rewarded. And that's what threatens the validity of the statement that there is a culture of accountability.

Yes, reward. Like in basketball the big man is rewarded for running the court.
I'm sure not all look at it this way, but when a play is called that is focused your way, it's a reward. 3rd down and 1 and the play is called off right tackle, that's a reward to those linemen.
Just as it's a reward to a tight end to catch a pass that has been blocking his arse off all game.
Sound play calls and rewarding players aren't mutually exclusive, in fact in my world it's part of what makes a great coach.

[dachampishere]

I have two questions for the board first for UWW faithful. What happen to Amy Edmonds the athletic director as I see they have an interim AD.
The second one does anyone think that there will be coaching changes in the conference this year maybe at such places at Stout and River Falls where the head coaches have not been that successful.
I know the first one can be truthfully answered where the second one will only be speculation until a change is or isn't made

[bleedpurple]

does anyone think that there will be coaching changes in the conference this year maybe at such places at Stout and River Falls where the head coaches have not been that successful.

My speculation is that there will be no coaching changes in the WIAC this year. I believe the UW-Stout administration is realistic about the challenges facing the football program there. As far as UW-RF, in 2015 Coach Walker led them to more overall victories than they have had since 2001. He isn't going anywhere unless he wants to.

[Just Bill]

I have two questions for the board first for UWW faithful. What happen to Amy Edmonds the athletic director as I see they have an interim AD.

She was demoted to Associate AD. I don't really know why, but I understand she and the chancellor have had their differences on things.

EDIT: I know she was originally demoted, but now I see she doesn't appear on their staff directory at all, so perhaps something changed.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/interim-athletic-director-named-at-uwwhitewater/42103376

[WarhawkDad]

I have two questions for the board first for UWW faithful. What happen to Amy Edmonds the athletic director as I see they have an interim AD.
The second one does anyone think that there will be coaching changes in the conference this year maybe at such places at Stout and River Falls where the head coaches have not been that successful.
I know the first one can be truthfully answered where the second one will only be speculation until a change is or isn't made

I always love friendly banter on the Boards, especially when it involves touting your team over another, but to ask a question of UWW faithful about what amounts to either a personal decision, that none of us would have any knowledge of, or a personnel decision that an organization makes, and again we would have no knowledge of, is, in my opinion inappropriate.   This is not the National Enquirer and I would hope that this group is above that type of gossip.

WarhawkDad

[retagent]

Gee, kinda touchy aren't we? Many decisions made by PUBLIC colleges are discussed on public forums. Maybe dachamp...... was curious about why a decision was made, and thought that the purpose of the move was public knowledge. If it was a "personal" decision, just say that the reason given was that it was a personal decision, and no other details are available.

[bleedpurple]

Gee, kinda touchy aren't we? Many decisions made by PUBLIC colleges are discussed on public forums. Maybe dachamp...... was curious about why a decision was made, and thought that the purpose of the move was public knowledge. If it was a "personal" decision, just say that the reason given was that it was a personal decision, and no other details are available.

I don't believe WD was being touchy. He was expressing his opinion.  Since you seem to prefer posts be constructed a certain way, I will interpret it for you.  "No one on this board has any idea...and no other details are available."

Thanks for popping in from time to time Retagent. Always good to hear from you.