FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Baldini]

I know a team that might be looking for a new QB next year. 

That would be a windfall for St. John's, but something tells me he is looking to move up in divisions.

Something tells me that SJU's got a guy or two in mind. 

Heard those whispers also, the St. John's QB position should be an attractive spot for many thinking of relocating down in NCAA divisions. Will be surprising if the Johnnies are not well positioned at the QB spot next season.

[emma17]

UMHB's Hardin-Simmons game offers UWW the only formula by which the Warhawks can win, IMO, and provides evidence that the Cru is beatable (even if a 43-yd fg at the horn saved their arses in that one). That is, don't turn it over. I don't see this UWW offense pounding the rock and moving the sticks against the Cru, but if they can get a couple short fields on turnovers, punt/cover well, connect on FG attempts, be mistake-free and basically perfect on defense, they can win a field-position game by a 12-10 type score.

I think your score type makes sense for a UWW victory.
If UWW can't pound the rock with some success, it's hard for me to envision a victory in even a low scoring game because field position will play a huge role. UWW doesn't have to score often, but they have to move the chains enough to put UMHB in long field situations. Hardin-Simmons had 181 yards rushing on 58 carries- not a very impressive avg. yards per carry, but it did enough. Of course, they shot themselves in the foot with an 18 yard punt that gave UMHB the ball at the HSU 47 yard line for the game winning drive.

It's all the little things in particular this Saturday.

[umhb2001]

I'd love to see some game reviews from guys like USee, WW, Bofa and Brad (where have you gone Brad?) for UWW at UMHB.

my 2c:

I admit I have not seen as much UWW on film this year as years past and less so UMHB. I've watched enough of each to have a feel what they are about. UWW doesn't seem to have the dominant game they have carried late into the playoffs in years past. Neither does UMHB. Both of these teams are flawed. So it's about matchups and strengths vs weaknesses.

I usually use NCAA statistics with a grain of salt, but when you have played in the #1 conference in the country, the stats hold a little more truth to who you are in my view. UWW is not ranked in the top 25 in almost any area. Where they are really good is disrupting an offense and causing turnovers. The Warhawks are 11th in the country in turnovers gained (6th in forced fumbles). They are only 31st in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense. They also can get after the QB, ranking 17th in sacks.

On offense the Warhawks are versatile (seemingly painfully at times) and have the ability to take advantage of the opponents weaknesses. The problem is UMHB seems to be one of the top 2-3 defenses in the country and it's because they are #1 in turnover margin. Total defense is #3 and Total offense is 57th but their turnover margin is #1.

That's the recipe for a UWW victory in my mind. UWW has been in trouble when they turn the ball over (which they do all too often for UWW fans). If they can go in to Belton and take care of the football, the UWW defense will have to get takeaways from a team that doesn't turn it over much. I think UWW wins if they win the turnover battle as they will get some opportunities for their offense and are good enough on D to keep the score down.

sidenote: UMHB is #4 in scoring offense and #57 in total offense. Probably a combination of their takeaway numbers and their SOS, which is 163rd in the country. That could also be a factor that inflates their takeaways, inferior competition. Through 2 rounds UMHB has created 9 takeaways against only 1 giveaway.

So it's about the takeaways. You're probably going to be proven correct.
Thinking about the offensive styles as it relates to takeaways, I wonder if UWW won't go the route of ultra conservative. UWW hasn't had a banner passing year, so the staff may see UMHB's speed in the secondary as reason to stay on the ground. I think UWW RB's fumbled twice last year and both those guys are back and I'm sure eager to perform.
I may be odd man out here, but I like UWW's pass defense v UMHB as I think their QB will be facing pressure. That combination may win UWW the takeaway battle.

UMHB's answer to Jase's struggle with mobility may be Tommy Bowden, freshman QB who is fast and has an electric arm. Of course, we also have Senior Luke Poorman healthy this year who is mobile and can throw as well. I'm pretty sure he is able as well. Playing for Mount and UMHB has given him a lot of experience and confidence in pressure situations.

UMHB's Hardin-Simmons game offers UWW the only formula by which the Warhawks can win, IMO, and provides evidence that the Cru is beatable (even if a 43-yd fg at the horn saved their arses in that one). That is, don't turn it over. I don't see this UWW offense pounding the rock and moving the sticks against the Cru, but if they can get a couple short fields on turnovers, punt/cover well, connect on FG attempts, be mistake-free and basically perfect on defense, they can win a field-position game by a 12-10 type score.

Pretty good thought. In 2014, I think, TLU almost beat us when they pounded the ball on the run and used a lot of clock.

As far as this year goes, the Cru offense won't be content to do what they did against HSU. They learned a lot that game.

[bleedpurple]

I'd love to see some game reviews from guys like USee, WW, Bofa and Brad (where have you gone Brad?) for UWW at UMHB.

my 2c:

I admit I have not seen as much UWW on film this year as years past and less so UMHB. I've watched enough of each to have a feel what they are about. UWW doesn't seem to have the dominant game they have carried late into the playoffs in years past. Neither does UMHB. Both of these teams are flawed. So it's about matchups and strengths vs weaknesses.

I usually use NCAA statistics with a grain of salt, but when you have played in the #1 conference in the country, the stats hold a little more truth to who you are in my view. UWW is not ranked in the top 25 in almost any area. Where they are really good is disrupting an offense and causing turnovers. The Warhawks are 11th in the country in turnovers gained (6th in forced fumbles). They are only 31st in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense. They also can get after the QB, ranking 17th in sacks.

On offense the Warhawks are versatile (seemingly painfully at times) and have the ability to take advantage of the opponents weaknesses. The problem is UMHB seems to be one of the top 2-3 defenses in the country and it's because they are #1 in turnover margin. Total defense is #3 and Total offense is 57th but their turnover margin is #1.

That's the recipe for a UWW victory in my mind. UWW has been in trouble when they turn the ball over (which they do all too often for UWW fans). If they can go in to Belton and take care of the football, the UWW defense will have to get takeaways from a team that doesn't turn it over much. I think UWW wins if they win the turnover battle as they will get some opportunities for their offense and are good enough on D to keep the score down.

sidenote: UMHB is #4 in scoring offense and #57 in total offense. Probably a combination of their takeaway numbers and their SOS, which is 163rd in the country. That could also be a factor that inflates their takeaways, inferior competition. Through 2 rounds UMHB has created 9 takeaways against only 1 giveaway.

So it's about the takeaways. You're probably going to be proven correct.
Thinking about the offensive styles as it relates to takeaways, I wonder if UWW won't go the route of ultra conservative. UWW hasn't had a banner passing year, so the staff may see UMHB's speed in the secondary as reason to stay on the ground. I think UWW RB's fumbled twice last year and both those guys are back and I'm sure eager to perform.
I may be odd man out here, but I like UWW's pass defense v UMHB as I think their QB will be facing pressure. That combination may win UWW the takeaway battle.

UMHB's answer to Jase's struggle with mobility may be Tommy Bowden, freshman QB who is fast and has an electric arm. Of course, we also have Senior Luke Poorman healthy this year who is mobile and can throw as well. I'm pretty sure he is able as well. Playing for Mount and UMHB has given him a lot of experience and confidence in pressure situations.

UMHB's Hardin-Simmons game offers UWW the only formula by which the Warhawks can win, IMO, and provides evidence that the Cru is beatable (even if a 43-yd fg at the horn saved their arses in that one). That is, don't turn it over. I don't see this UWW offense pounding the rock and moving the sticks against the Cru, but if they can get a couple short fields on turnovers, punt/cover well, connect on FG attempts, be mistake-free and basically perfect on defense, they can win a field-position game by a 12-10 type score.

Pretty good thought. In 2014, I think, TLU almost beat us when they pounded the ball on the run and used a lot of clock.

As far as this year goes, the Cru offense won't be content to do what they did against HSU. They learned a lot that game.

I wouldn't think so. But then again, their contentment really isn't the issue. The question is, what will they be able to do against UW-W. That question hasn't been answered yet.

[MUC57]

bleedpurple and all my UWW friends

Good luck Saturday against a formidable foe. It will be two tough teams going at it.
I think you have one advantage over them - you're The Warhawks, they're not.
Beat the Cru and move on to the semifinals.
Go Warhawks! 

[emma17]

Thanks for the well wishes MUC.
As someone said in a recent post, this is going to be a very physical game. We won't see the ball flying around the field for 800+ yards, we'll see guys seriously getting after each other at all positions on the field.

[umhb2001]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

[WW]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

[crufootball]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

Most likely won't be a QB change but Tommy is a fast guy who can still throw well so he could open up the offense in some situations in ways that Jace doesn't have the speed to do.

[WW]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

Most likely won't be a QB change but Tommy is a fast guy who can still throw well so he could open up the offense in some situations in ways that Jace doesn't have the speed to do.

Welp. That's a true freshman, with all of 22 collegiate passes under his belt, none in high leverage, vs a 5th year senior with a Stagg Bowl win to his credit. If I'm UWW, I might like to see Bowden too.

[crufootball]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

Most likely won't be a QB change but Tommy is a fast guy who can still throw well so he could open up the offense in some situations in ways that Jace doesn't have the speed to do.

Welp. That's a true freshman, with all of 22 collegiate passes under his belt, none in high leverage, vs a 5th year senior with a Stagg Bowl win to his credit. If I'm UWW, I might like to see Bowden too.

And only 39 rushing attempts..... but 7 touchdowns in those 39 attempts. If Tommy is playing significant time than things have gone awry in some fashion but I agree with umhb2001 that it wouldn't be surprising at all if packages were being developed to use his tools.

[umhb2001]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

Most likely won't be a QB change but Tommy is a fast guy who can still throw well so he could open up the offense in some situations in ways that Jace doesn't have the speed to do.

Welp. That's a true freshman, with all of 22 collegiate passes under his belt, none in high leverage, vs a 5th year senior with a Stagg Bowl win to his credit. If I'm UWW, I might like to see Bowden too.

There's always Luke Poorman, too. I think he has some experience against high ranking D.

[emma17]

Look for the name Tommy Bowden on Saturday. My guess is he will play an important role in the Cru success.

Really! A QB change? Was anything wrong with Hammack's 337 yard, 3 td performance Saturday?

Most likely won't be a QB change but Tommy is a fast guy who can still throw well so he could open up the offense in some situations in ways that Jace doesn't have the speed to do.

UMHB had a fast guy last year they brought in at QB- is he not on the team? Did he lose out to Bowden?

[umhb2001]

He was a senior. Bowden is a better thrower than that guy was.

[emma17]

He was a senior. Bowden is a better thrower than that guy was.

Ahh. He was pretty dynamic.
More speed- Just another thing for UWW defenders to prepare for dang it.

I imagine some of UWW's turnover issues last year were related to the speed UMHB plays at.