FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[voice]

Saw the Bears game with Blanchard in at QB - thought he did a nice job, and hope to see more of him.  Love it when a DIII guy gets some NFL love

How many of you actually got to see Matt Blanchard's effort in leading the Bears on that final drive in Saturday nights's 33-31 win over the Skins?  Putting Matt in the game with 2 minutes left and trailing by one was a great test for coaches to assess. He wasn't quite as efficient as he was a week ago in the preseason opener but his two 3rd down completions - the (first for 15 yards - 3rd & 3) and then two plays later for 19 yards - 3rd & 10) were totally in rhythm vs a big rush and I thought it really showed his poise.

Mid-week last week Brad Biggs wrote a feature story in the Chicago Tribune on Matt's bid to secure a job with the Bears.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-questions-loom-for-bears-backup-qb-blanchard-20120815,0,3046127.story

[voice]

Beginning my final week of radiation and chemo today.  For the first time over the weekend I questioned if I will be able to travel down to St. Louis at the end of the month to watch UWW open the season at Wash U.  Being able to attend the game has been my motivation but for the first time I'm not so sure travelling would be in my best interest.  I have to get back into that "one day at a time" attitude don't I?

Meanwhile: I will never adequately be able to thank those of you who have gratiously made donations to my daughter's Team Tom Cancer Fund Web Site. 
http://www.gofundme.com/Teamtom?ref=nf
Your generosity has been totally humbling for me and my family!!!

[bleedpurple]

Beginning my final week of radiation and chemo today.  For the first time over the weekend I questioned if I will be able to travel down to St. Louis at the end of the month to watch UWW open the season at Wash U.  Being able to attend the game has been my motivation but for the first time I'm not so sure travelling would be in my best interest.  I have to get back into that "one day at a time" attitude don't I?

Meanwhile: I will never adequately be able to thank those of you who have gratiously made donations to my daughter's Team Tom Cancer Fund Web Site. 
http://www.gofundme.com/Teamtom?ref=nf
Your generosity has been totally humbling for me and my family!!!

I'm praying for you, Voice.  Today is the only day any of us have.  You can know that in your journey since discovering cancer, you have inspired many of us to make our "today" as meaningful as we can.  Thank you for your courage and thank you for leading the way.  You are not alone!

[02 Warhawk]

Beginning my final week of radiation and chemo today.  For the first time over the weekend I questioned if I will be able to travel down to St. Louis at the end of the month to watch UWW open the season at Wash U.  Being able to attend the game has been my motivation but for the first time I'm not so sure travelling would be in my best interest.  I have to get back into that "one day at a time" attitude don't I?

Meanwhile: I will never adequately be able to thank those of you who have gratiously made donations to my daughter's Team Tom Cancer Fund Web Site. 
http://www.gofundme.com/Teamtom?ref=nf
Your generosity has been totally humbling for me and my family!!!

Best of luck as always

[retagent]

This is the first I've heard of your fight voice. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I agree with voice that Blanchard didn't look quite as good as he did in the previous game. HOWEVER, being that the Bears had to be one dimensional due to the circumstances, he did as well as anyone could expect. Aside from one pass that was tipped, and almost intercepted, his performance was promising. Coming in cold, maybe better than most experienced QB's would perform. Aside from the physical aspects, he looked poised and in control. It is hard to say from our vantage point, but it appears from the actions of his teammates, that he has their confidence and support too. Even if the Bears decide to not keep him, I'm sure other teams are paying attention, and he would get picked up.

[BoBo]

How many of you actually got to see Matt Blanchard's effort in leading the Bears on that final drive in Saturday nights's 33-31 win over the Skins? 

I have the full package of NFL Game Pass. I was flipping between the Bears/'skins and Seattle/Denver. RW was putting on quite a show for the Seahawks. I kept wondering when MB was going to be put in the game at Soldier Field. After watching McCown look painfully poor in two series - and looking completely uncomfortable with no pressure coming from the Redskin defense - I was ready to stick with Seattle. But they replace RW with some guy from California (PA), so I went back to the bears and just as the game was going to commericial, the announcer Rosen (sp?) said it looked like Blanchard was going to be coming in. Sweet...!! Still nobody has corrected those announcers who said again for the second week that Blanchard was undefeated as a starting QB at Wisconsin-Whitewater at 45-0 (should be 25-0 of course). Anyway, then I saw the score and the clock (2:04) and thought the coaches were sticking him into the fire. But, he got it done and they won the game. I think people have forgotten how well Kirk Cousins from Michigan State played rallying the Redskins back from 30-10 score. He play really well. Obviously, MB was playing against/with the 3 and 4's, but he showed a lot of moxie and calmness in the face of some of the heaviest pressure I saw all game. It would be nice to see what he could do with some lineman in front of him who knew a thing or two about blocking the defense. He rarely had time to throw even when in the shotgun formation. Anyway, that's what I saw.

[ncc58]

The Redskins blitzed on every play where MB was in at QB for the Bears.

I read a story last week that talked about the possibility of the Bears trying to keep Blanchard on the practice squad. It said that the 3rd QB gets few reps during the week, and a fourth QB would get no reps, so it would be hard for MB to develop as the fourth QB.

But, here's a wild thought. The Toronto Argonauts have been at both Bear games, which seems unusual. Are they looking at MB, if/when he doesn't make the final cut?

[badgerwarhawk]

Voice, check your private messages.

[NCF]

Beginning my final week of radiation and chemo today.  For the first time over the weekend I questioned if I will be able to travel down to St. Louis at the end of the month to watch UWW open the season at Wash U.  Being able to attend the game has been my motivation but for the first time I'm not so sure travelling would be in my best interest.  I have to get back into that "one day at a time" attitude don't I?

Meanwhile: I will never adequately be able to thank those of you who have gratiously made donations to my daughter's Team Tom Cancer Fund Web Site. 
http://www.gofundme.com/Teamtom?ref=nf
Your generosity has been totally humbling for me and my family!!!

Still praying for you and your family.

[bleedpurple]

This is the first I've heard of your fight voice. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I agree with voice that Blanchard didn't look quite as good as he did in the previous game. HOWEVER, being that the Bears had to be one dimensional due to the circumstances, he did as well as anyone could expect. Aside from one pass that was tipped, and almost intercepted, his performance was promising. Coming in cold, maybe better than most experienced QB's would perform. Aside from the physical aspects, he looked poised and in control. It is hard to say from our vantage point, but it appears from the actions of his teammates, that he has their confidence and support too. Even if the Bears decide to not keep him, I'm sure other teams are paying attention, and he would get picked up.

Either I'm getting dumber or Ret is getting smarter, but I agree with this entire post! 

Seriously, though, in stepping back and looking at potential and what this all means, I do think Matt is earning himself a "real look" in this league in terms of a team willing to commit to developing him (the Bears or someone else).  The guys he has been compared to have been practicing against D1 competition pretty much all year round for four or five years.  While I KNOW Matt has received excellent coaching in college, the opportunities for coaches to work with players and for players to compete in formal padded workouts against other athletes is much greater in D1.  Can anyone truly know what Matt's ceiling even is at this point?  The bottom line is that Blanchard has played much less football and showing much more poise and skill than many other quarterbacks in camps throughout the league.  If the Bears don't want him, maybe the Packers will pick him up. I can't even imagine how good he could be if he enters camp McCarthy! (Although Graham Harrell better step it up or Camp McCarthy's reputation could take a bit of a hit!)

[bleedpurple]

In the "Bethcha Didn't Know" department:

Throughout his 29 year career at UW-W, Coach Perkins was approached numerous times about other "opportunities" in coaching (including one really funny Vince Lombardi story for another day).  One of those opportunities came very early in his career.  It was from a college in St. Louis called Washington University.  He was very impressed with them.  However, he decided to stay at UW-W.  From best I can tell, this happened somewhere around 1960.  It's interesting to ponder how things may have been different for him, for Washington University, or UW-W had he taken that job.  It's amazing how the decisions we make can impact our life and the lives of those around us. I can't even imagine a life without UW-W and I'm glad I don't have to!

[emma17]

Bleed- I used to like you. Blanchard becoming a Packer! 

How about his 3rd down pass to the Tight End crossing?  Perfectly thrown- in the face of pressure.
He is gaining popularity down here.

[ScreamingEagles]

Couple of articles from the LAX Tribune:

http://lacrossetribune.com/sports/football/eagles-offensive-line-is-deep-versatile/article_6507a870-ea7a-11e1-8a1b-001a4bcf887a.html

http://lacrossetribune.com/sires-mestelle-still-in-battle-to-start-at-qb/article_d2413f32-ea7a-11e1-8418-001a4bcf887a.html

It'll be interesting to watch UWL this year.  The oline should be much improved with everyone back from last season, and reports out of camp are that they've been playing very well.  The QB situation could go a number of ways.  Both Sires and Mestelle got opportunities last year to play but neither really stood out, and so far in camp it has been about the same.  Hopefully someone can step up and make some plays, because with Hertrampf in the back field the UWL offense has the potential to be very explosive.

[couchp54]

Thanks for the UWL info.  Anyone on here follow UWEC?  Any words of wisdom on the Blugolds?  I don't see too many posters other than UWW???

[02 Warhawk]

  Anyone on here follow UWEC?  Any words of wisdom on the Blugolds?

I think they will have one of the more explosive offenses in the WIAC. I really like Neu, and I think Sweeney will have a breakout year, now that he isn't splitting carries.