FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[wally_wabash]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Context...there was a blocked punt return for a score and a pick six, so the Wabash defense didn't give up all 34.  Albion did find some things that worked in the second half, but only after they were held to 14 yards total offense in the first half.  Overall, I thought Wabash's defense held up pretty well against a tough offense to play in Week 1.  I think the D3FB community at large overcorrected for Albion's graduation losses.  Maybe UWSP beats them by 40 this week and I'm wrong. But from what I saw, Albion didn't look like a team that was starting over by any stretch. 

[NewHawk]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Context...there was a blocked punt return for a score and a pick six, so the Wabash defense didn't give up all 34.  Albion did find some things that worked in the second half, but only after they were held to 14 yards total offense in the first half.  Overall, I thought Wabash's defense held up pretty well against a tough offense to play in Week 1.  I think the D3FB community at large overcorrected for Albion's graduation losses.  Maybe UWSP beats them by 40 this week and I'm wrong. But from what I saw, Albion didn't look like a team that was starting over by any stretch.

I would think with a pick six and a punt block that Wabash's problem is the offensive line rather than the defense. I wonder how they will hold up Saturday?  Looks to be a tight game

[BoBo]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Context...there was a blocked punt return for a score and a pick six, so the Wabash defense didn't give up all 34.  Albion did find some things that worked in the second half, but only after they were held to 14 yards total offense in the first half.  Overall, I thought Wabash's defense held up pretty well against a tough offense to play in Week 1.  I think the D3FB community at large overcorrected for Albion's graduation losses.  Maybe UWSP beats them by 40 this week and I'm wrong. But from what I saw, Albion didn't look like a team that was starting over by any stretch.

Some things?...looking over the box score, it appears they found 31 things that worked in the second half.

[BoBo]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Help out a brother 02, what do you mean by "non-perennial power?" Sounds like a contradiction.

[02 Warhawk]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Help out a brother 02, what do you mean by "non-perennial power?" Sounds like a contradiction.

Looking over their schedule the past couple of seasons, the only time they've given up that many points was to UWW and St. Thomas (aka perennial powers). I was just saying it's rare for a non power team (like an Albion) to drop 34 on them. Last team to do it (other than UWW and UST) was Wittenberg back in 2013 when they beat Wabash 35-17.

[wally_wabash]

I'll be very interested in the UWSP and Albion game this weekend, considering Albion almost pulled it off against Wabash a couple days ago. We'll see if Albion is just that good, or if Wabash lost a lot on defense from a year ago. It's rare for a Little Giants team to surrender 34 points in a game to a non-perennial power like that.

Context...there was a blocked punt return for a score and a pick six, so the Wabash defense didn't give up all 34.  Albion did find some things that worked in the second half, but only after they were held to 14 yards total offense in the first half.  Overall, I thought Wabash's defense held up pretty well against a tough offense to play in Week 1.  I think the D3FB community at large overcorrected for Albion's graduation losses.  Maybe UWSP beats them by 40 this week and I'm wrong. But from what I saw, Albion didn't look like a team that was starting over by any stretch.

Some things?...looking over the box score, it appears they found 31 things that worked in the second half.

Yeah, you missed the point.  02's posted indicated that Wabash gave up 34 points and that it looks like Wabash "lost a lot on defense".  I just wanted to clarify that the defense didn't give up all of those points.  One punt block for a TD, one pick six.  That's two touchdowns that happened with the defense on the sideline.  One other that I didn't mention earlier happened when a Wabash defender punched the ball out from an Albion receiver/runner, the loose ball bounced right up to another Albion player running in stride who took that in for a score.  So there's a third score on a play where Wabash's ought to have been rewarded with possession.  The point is, it's easy to see 41-34 and wonder if Wabash's defense is all of a sudden not good.  Do the digging, and it's not nearly as bad a look for the defense as 34 points allowed might have you believe. 

Not hiding from the 300 yards Albion gained in the second half.  I don't care much for that, but Albion is a really good offensive team so they deserve credit.  But all of those points, in fact most of those points, aren't on the defense. 

[emma17]

All this talk of Albion reminds me of UWSP losing to them last year. Only I don't recall Albion getting nearly as much credit for being good.

[WarhawkDad]

All this talk of Albion reminds me of UWSP losing to them last year. Only I don't recall Albion getting nearly as much credit for being good.

KABOOM!!!

[NewHawk]

I was looking for an upset to pick in the pickem this week but I just could find one.  I am pulling for all the WIAC teams but I think GA is going to be tough sledding for River Falls.  I think that UWSP is going to pull away from Albion in the fourth and it looks like the whole UWW roster should get some more playing time against Belhaven, although they did look stronger this year in their opener against Millsaps.  Hopefully the rain holds off and doesn't affect the game or the tailgating on Saturday morning

[AppletonRocks]

Highly rated teams wearing purple were upset last weekend.  Let's call it a trend.   

[warhawkguard]

Well Hi guys. I'm back for the season. Woot! Go Hawks. Love your insights here, the source for the real information.

[emma17]

With all the passing Belhaven does, I'm hoping for some picks.  I imagine they will mostly rely on short passes so not too much of a chance for sacks and fumbles.
Last year UWW held back on passing and stayed w ground game. I get that the running game keeps Belhaven's offense off the field, but I'm interested to see if UWW goes to the air more if Nelson plays.
How else will the Dub decide on a QB (if not already decided)?

[NewHawk]

With all the passing Belhaven does, I'm hoping for some picks.  I imagine they will mostly rely on short passes so not too much of a chance for sacks and fumbles.
Last year UWW held back on passing and stayed w ground game. I get that the running game keeps Belhaven's offense off the field, but I'm interested to see if UWW goes to the air more if Nelson plays.
How else will the Dub decide on a QB (if not already decided)?

I hope to see UWW air it out more. I actually think Wilbur has a stronger arm and could get the long routes going. I thought the game plan was good last week with the fast pace. It wore TCNJ out and I think it will have the same affect this week.

[bleedpurple]

With all the passing Belhaven does, I'm hoping for some picks.  I imagine they will mostly rely on short passes so not too much of a chance for sacks and fumbles.
Last year UWW held back on passing and stayed w ground game. I get that the running game keeps Belhaven's offense off the field, but I'm interested to see if UWW goes to the air more if Nelson plays.
How else will the Dub decide on a QB (if not already decided)?

I hope to see UWW air it out more. I actually think Wilbur has a stronger arm and could get the long routes going. I thought the game plan was good last week with the fast pace. It wore TCNJ out and I think it will have the same effect this week.

It will be interesting to see how UW-W attacks the Belhaven 3-3-5 defense. It is a defense designed to confuse the offense and create negative plays with blitzes coming from nearly anywhere. Last year, the Hawks handled it by simply ramming the ball down their throats ( over 300 yards rushing). If you can do that, it is certainly the safest way to handle it. The 3-3-5 can be gashed with the short pass as well, but throwing against it turns things into a a chess match between coordinators (even more than usual) because you could throw into coverage if you aren't anticipating the blitz correctly.

I'm guessing we pound them with the run and then start taking shots in the passing game. I would think Nelson would get more than the 9 passes he got last year against them given he didn't play last week. But if we are having huge success with the run, it's hard to go away from it, so who knows?

[02 Warhawk]

I say just pound them into oblivion. If they want to only put 6 guys in the box...let em.