FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[emma17]

I can't argue w what Coach Brown said as I agree that it does seem this site has been a bit slow since the loss.  I admit that I've not commented much on the game because honestly, I'm just not sure what we have here in UWW.  I also don't want critique to come off as bashing the new staff or players.

Some thoughts on this:
-I'm a big supporter of Coach Bullis and have confidence he will do what is necessary to give UWW the best chance to advance to the playoffs.
-UWW is not invincible and never has been. Most UWW supporters have made that clear.  As such, a loss to UWO is absolutely not surprising to me.  We know how strong teams like UWO and UWP are.  And we know UWSP will be tough and we know the other conf teams will likely rise up to challenge UWW the rest of the way.
-UWW just went through a 3-week schedule unlike any other highly ranked team has to do.  Weaknesses will be exposed when playing high quality teams. 

That said: 
-The lack of offensive production would be more understandable if it were obvious that UWW simply doesn't have the players to get it done. 
-The coaching staff, just like the players, I'm sure recognizes the need for improvement.  Coach Bullis needs to use his timeouts better.  IMO he should have taken a timeout before the half to give his team one more possession with the wind.  In hindsight, I imagine UWW would love to have had one more opportunity to put points on the board.     
-The OC and DC need to get the player rotations in sooner. 
-I really miss the occasional and well-timed hurry up offense from the last two years.  I see/feel a general lack of energy and urgency on the part of the offense.
-The passing game is dead last in the WIAC.  With the recruiting of talented players that UWW benefits from, this is a poor reflection on the offensive strategy.
-9 of 11 offensive series began with a running play.  One of the series that began with a pass ended up in UWW's only TD. 
-Slant routes move the chains, and they are easy, confidence building passes to complete.   
-Unfortunately, the 2015 UWW offense feels eerily similar to the 2012 offense.  Although this year's team returned the entire starting O-Line, the offense is dreadfully lacking in big plays.  The question(s) is/are- does UWW not have playmakers on its roster- or are the coaches not using the playmakers they have or putting them in position to make plays?  We saw two guys step up last week in Hudson and Ware.  Will they be used sooner and more often?  Who else on the roster can make plays? Will the staff overcome its fear of young players making mistakes?  Slant routes disappeared in 2012 too. 
-In 2012 UWW had a terrific defense, yet the staff seemed paralyzed by conservatism in refusing to put inexperienced playmakers on the field.  The 2015 UWW defense, IMO, will also prove to be excellent.  I hope the staff will be willing to rely on the defense to cover them while taking many more chances with young playmakers on offense.

If it turns out that UWW simply doesn't have the horses at QB and receiver, so be it.  I don't need UWW to be undefeated or win the Stagg every year.  I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.


 

[bleedpurple]

I can't argue w what Coach Brown said as I agree that it does seem this site has been a bit slow since the loss.  I admit that I've not commented much on the game because honestly, I'm just not sure what we have here in UWW.  I also don't want critique to come off as bashing the new staff or players.

Some thoughts on this:
-I'm a big supporter of Coach Bullis and have confidence he will do what is necessary to give UWW the best chance to advance to the playoffs.
-UWW is not invincible and never has been. Most UWW supporters have made that clear.  As such, a loss to UWO is absolutely not surprising to me.  We know how strong teams like UWO and UWP are.  And we know UWSP will be tough and we know the other conf teams will likely rise up to challenge UWW the rest of the way.
-UWW just went through a 3-week schedule unlike any other highly ranked team has to do.  Weaknesses will be exposed when playing high quality teams. 

That said: 
-The lack of offensive production would be more understandable if it were obvious that UWW simply doesn't have the players to get it done. 
-The coaching staff, just like the players, I'm sure recognizes the need for improvement.  Coach Bullis needs to use his timeouts better.  IMO he should have taken a timeout before the half to give his team one more possession with the wind.  In hindsight, I imagine UWW would love to have had one more opportunity to put points on the board.     
-The OC and DC need to get the player rotations in sooner. 
-I really miss the occasional and well-timed hurry up offense from the last two years.  I see/feel a general lack of energy and urgency on the part of the offense.
-The passing game is dead last in the WIAC.  With the recruiting of talented players that UWW benefits from, this is a poor reflection on the offensive strategy.
-9 of 11 offensive series began with a running play.  One of the series that began with a pass ended up in UWW's only TD. 
-Slant routes move the chains, and they are easy, confidence building passes to complete.   
-Unfortunately, the 2015 UWW offense feels eerily similar to the 2012 offense.  Although this year's team returned the entire starting O-Line, the offense is dreadfully lacking in big plays.  The question(s) is/are- does UWW not have playmakers on its roster- or are the coaches not using the playmakers they have or putting them in position to make plays?  We saw two guys step up last week in Hudson and Ware.  Will they be used sooner and more often?  Who else on the roster can make plays? Will the staff overcome its fear of young players making mistakes?  Slant routes disappeared in 2012 too. 
-In 2012 UWW had a terrific defense, yet the staff seemed paralyzed by conservatism in refusing to put inexperienced playmakers on the field.  The 2015 UWW defense, IMO, will also prove to be excellent.  I hope the staff will be willing to rely on the defense to cover them while taking many more chances with young playmakers on offense.

If it turns out that UWW simply doesn't have the horses at QB and receiver, so be it.  I don't need UWW to be undefeated or win the Stagg every year.  I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

See what you did, Coach Brown? 

[wally_wabash]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo. 

[02 Warhawk]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

That's my concern. How will this new staff adjust, motivate, play call, recruit, etc.... lots of unknowns. but their foundation to succeed couldn't be better, so I think they will be alright. Seems to be a bit of a learning curve with the chemistry.

[hazzben]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

That's my concern. How will this new staff adjust, motivate, play call, recruit, etc.... lots of unknowns. but their foundation to succeed couldn't be better, so I think they will be alright. Seems to be a bit of a learning curve with the chemistry.

I think as long as the Whitewater admin and faithful are rational, things will be fine. By that, I mean you have to realize there's going to be some step back. Your run under LL was historic. And as good as I think Bullis is as a coach, that's a significant talent brain drain that went to Buffalo.

Not saying UWW won't still be playing for National Titles. But it probably won't ever be the run of dominance we just saw. 

[bleedpurple]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

Warhawk football 2015: Doubt us now. Regret it later.

[Pat Coleman]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

That's my concern. How will this new staff adjust, motivate, play call, recruit, etc.... lots of unknowns. but their foundation to succeed couldn't be better, so I think they will be alright. Seems to be a bit of a learning curve with the chemistry.

Play-calling, clock management, those sorts of things come with practice. UWW could still improve quite a bit for the next few weeks.

[wally_wabash]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

Warhawk football 2015: Doubt us now. Regret it later.

Don't look at me, bud.  It's your own doing the head scratching and second-guessing.  All it took was one narrow loss.  Pretty fragile group, really. 

[WarhawkDad]

I found it amusing and wanted to share.

Convenient definition for the moderator!   

[WarhawkDad]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

Warhawk football 2015: Doubt us now. Regret it later.

Don't look at me, bud.  It's your own doing the head scratching and second-guessing.  All it took was one narrow loss.  Pretty fragile group, really.

If an honest assessment is head scratching and second guessing, then ok.   It was a narrow loss and that is why UWW will probably still make a run in the playoffs, but the concern that is being voiced is more of a.....how will this staff....how will this team respond.   Time will tell.   Actually, we are no where close to fragile.  If you are fragile would you have the guts to post the issues emma raised?   Highly doubtful.

[WarhawkDad]

I simply want to see the staff use every bit of talent on the roster and not be paralyzed by the fear of young players making mistakes.

That staff moved to Buffalo.

That's my concern. How will this new staff adjust, motivate, play call, recruit, etc.... lots of unknowns. but their foundation to succeed couldn't be better, so I think they will be alright. Seems to be a bit of a learning curve with the chemistry.

Play-calling, clock management, those sorts of things come with practice. UWW could still improve quite a bit for the next few weeks.

Not to mention getting healthy.....injuries on the offensive line, receiving corp and at running back

[wally_wabash]

There you go, WarhawkDad.  At least one of you has the minerals to call your shot.  Applause. 

[emma17]

There you go, WarhawkDad.  At least one of you has the minerals to call your shot.  Applause.

Wally with the broad-brush shots.  Come on man.

For the record, it wasn't one narrow loss that led to the questions.  The question of how UWW would use the new and existing talent on the roster began the day after the Stagg Bowl.  The first two games did UWW no favors.  Morningside showed UWW's power- but they are a team not familiar with/built to stop a UWW.  UWP and UWO are.  The UWP game elevated the concerns.  My discussions with friends was we hoped the play calling/player use was intentionally conservative as UWO was next up.
Unfortunately, UWO cemented the concerns.

Critique shouldn't be viewed as mutiny.  Again, I don't need UWW to go undefeated every year.  I do expect the coaches to get everything out of the roster they have.  The players came to UWW expecting the same thing.  It's time to let the horses run.



     

[palum]

Anyone who thinks that just because WW lost a game it's time for the rest of the WIAC cheer may have forgotten a few years back WW lost a few games what happened a 36 game winning streak. As a P-ville alumni I for one hope that will not happen and I think it may not why? WW has provided a blue print on how to build and maintain a program by doing things right. The way they recruit, their facilities, focus on academics and the little things like booster clubs and the pre and game time atmosphere.  P-ville and Oshkosh have started to do some of the same things and it has started to show on the field.  Point I think is close, I'm surprised that schools like La Crosse and Eau Claire have not had more success. WW will continue its high level of success but in the in the end I hope it's not their winning streaks and national championships that give credibility to the WIAC it will be their blue print that will make the conference stronger from top to bottom.           

[emma17]

Anyone who thinks that just because WW lost a game it's time for the rest of the WIAC cheer may have forgotten a few years back WW lost a few games what happened a 36 game winning streak. As a P-ville alumni I for one hope that will not happen and I think it may not why? WW has provided a blue print on how to build and maintain a program by doing things right. The way they recruit, their facilities, focus on academics and the little things like booster clubs and the pre and game time atmosphere.  P-ville and Oshkosh have started to do some of the same things and it has started to show on the field.  Point I think is close, I'm surprised that schools like La Crosse and Eau Claire have not had more success. WW will continue its high level of success but in the in the end I hope it's not their winning streaks and national championships that give credibility to the WIAC it will be their blue print that will make the conference stronger from top to bottom.         

Excellent post Palum.  I'm right there with you in hoping for a strong WIAC year in and year out.  The level of line play from UWP has improved dramatically over the last few years.  It's also important that any Pool C entrants from the WIAC have success in the playoffs as well.  Hopefully the WIAC will get three teams in this season.