FB: American Rivers Conference

[5 Words or Less]

BV's turnover margin (+13, 2.17/g) ranks 3rd nationally

[5 Words or Less]

Central's rushing offense ranks 9th nationally
(1,910 yds net, 6.28 yds/rush, 272.68 yds/game)

[Klompen]

Yeah, I don't give much credence to a Willis team not losing two in a row.  That may just be good scheduling that you don't hit the tough teams two in a row.  

Well Klompen may be on to something.  In the ten seasons between 1999 and 2008 the Knights had 20 losses.  They never had two losses in a row.

Seven times the losses ended the season
Three times the Knights beat Central after a loss
Two times the Knights beat Coe after a loss
Two times the Knights beat Loras after a loss
Two times the Knights beat Luther after a loss
Two times the Knights beat Augsburg after a loss
One time the Knights beat Cornell after a loss
One time the Knights beat Buena Vista after a loss

As a Central fan Klompen may want to amend his observation

To what?  That Wartburg looks ahead to Central and stumbles the week before when they should be going undefeated?  Maybe I don't consider the Central teams that Wartburg beat to be the better Central teams of the past 10 years.  Clearly last year was not one of our best years.

[DutchFan2004]

5 years ago, I may have been one to claim a team got out-coached. However 5 years of coaching has taught me several things, maybe no more important from a spectators point of view than you can have a great plan X's and O's-wise, and have it coached up to the finest detail, but sometimes it just is not executed. Maybe its a wrong route, a lineman going the wrong direction, and maybe its a talent issue altogether. Unless it is something blatant, like going for it or passing on run downs or calling timeouts at questionable times, it is very tough for me to claim a team gets outcoached.

SOrry I haven't been around a lot. Don't mean to take off when things are rough but we've got a pretty special season brewing of our own down here in WDM and that's taken up a ton of time here the last couple weeks.
I haven't gone back and read the previous takes on the Knights so maybe what I think goes along with others and maybe its completely opposite.
Problem #1. Defense can't get off the field on third down. I think it is largely in part to not having a stud DL like we have in the past. Back 7 seem to be OK, front 4 is good against the rush, but struggles to get a rush when need be and teams are feasting on the Knights blitzing.
Problem #2. Valuing the football. Last 4 possessions of the game Saturday were 4 turnovers. OL seems to be as talented as ever, but right now the pass game is unable to take any pressure whatsoever off the run game. I don't know if there is a stat for drops on a season, but the WR's have dropped several balls and I think that has lead to Yordi trying to force things to other guys when it isn't there, thus an inflated number of INT's. There's no "go-to" guy at Rec and it shows.
These coaches aren't idiots, and the KNights will be back. Its the same staff that had the Knights 3 rounds deep in the playoffs last year.

As much as it pains me to say, I thought Coe's Offensive gameplan was outstanding on Saturday. From the looks of the teams, I don't think they had as much talent up front as the Knights did, but they did some things to counter that and I was impressed.

I know you are busy with the Maroons, would you say that the Knights got out coached?  I am not trying to read things into your last paragraph but that is what I am taking away from it.  I am not or will not write the Knights off ever.  Only the players can do that.  I think they can still get back on track.  This is the time that good teams circle the wagons and weather the storm or they fold.  Time and effort will tell. 

Fair enough I was just trying to understand your statement about Coe doing things to negate the talent imbalance you thought was present.  I don't know what it is that you were talking about.  I was just curious as to what they did to overcome it.  Blocking schemes come to mind but isn't that coaching when it is boiled down.  Was looking for your opinion as to what it was Coe did to overcome Wartburg this year. 

[the_mayne_event]

5 years ago, I may have been one to claim a team got out-coached. However 5 years of coaching has taught me several things, maybe no more important from a spectators point of view than you can have a great plan X's and O's-wise, and have it coached up to the finest detail, but sometimes it just is not executed. Maybe its a wrong route, a lineman going the wrong direction, and maybe its a talent issue altogether. Unless it is something blatant, like going for it or passing on run downs or calling timeouts at questionable times, it is very tough for me to claim a team gets outcoached.

I agree, but, isn't some of the execution up to the coaching (not literally). If the players are prepared enough they will know the tendencies of a team out of any particular formation. It is still up to the player to get the job done though. I would also say that through in game adjustments a team can get "out coached".
Obviously coaches can only take a team so far, talent and attitude take it the rest of the way.

[BoBo]

Cincy is having a good year, but no way should they be ranked ahead of the Hawks!

Only BCS Top 25 team to beat 3 BCS Top 25 teams.

Arizona
Wisconsin
Penn State

No other team can claim that. Hawkeyes #1?? Haha jk

Badgers are somehow #21 in the BSC standings  , but not Top 25 in any of the TOP 25 polls...do you really think they are top 25 worthy?  I don't.

What I think and what the almighty computers tell us are 2 different things. Regardless of opinions this is the system we have been given, and therefore the Hawkeyes can make that claim!

So I dont think you can rank Boise St or Cincinnati or USC above Iowa for that matter.

Wisconsin lost two games to highly ranked teams and are 5-2 and were ranked 25 before the loss to Iowa.  So is it the right position?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Iowa is a weird team.  Beat Penn St and UW and damn near lost to UNI and Ark St.  I wouldn't put my money on any team that up and down regardless of their current record.  You can only dodge so many bullets.

..and beat 5 ho-hum teams before that.  They were ranked 25 for a week before their loss to OSU - unranked before the loss to Iowa. They're not your "normal" 5-2 team. I'm a Badger fan, but if Iowa is weird, UW is one step beyond that.   

[the_mayne_event]

5 years ago, I may have been one to claim a team got out-coached. However 5 years of coaching has taught me several things, maybe no more important from a spectators point of view than you can have a great plan X's and O's-wise, and have it coached up to the finest detail, but sometimes it just is not executed. Maybe its a wrong route, a lineman going the wrong direction, and maybe its a talent issue altogether. Unless it is something blatant, like going for it or passing on run downs or calling timeouts at questionable times, it is very tough for me to claim a team gets outcoached.

SOrry I haven't been around a lot. Don't mean to take off when things are rough but we've got a pretty special season brewing of our own down here in WDM and that's taken up a ton of time here the last couple weeks.
I haven't gone back and read the previous takes on the Knights so maybe what I think goes along with others and maybe its completely opposite.
Problem #1. Defense can't get off the field on third down. I think it is largely in part to not having a stud DL like we have in the past. Back 7 seem to be OK, front 4 is good against the rush, but struggles to get a rush when need be and teams are feasting on the Knights blitzing.
Problem #2. Valuing the football. Last 4 possessions of the game Saturday were 4 turnovers. OL seems to be as talented as ever, but right now the pass game is unable to take any pressure whatsoever off the run game. I don't know if there is a stat for drops on a season, but the WR's have dropped several balls and I think that has lead to Yordi trying to force things to other guys when it isn't there, thus an inflated number of INT's. There's no "go-to" guy at Rec and it shows.
These coaches aren't idiots, and the KNights will be back. Its the same staff that had the Knights 3 rounds deep in the playoffs last year.

As much as it pains me to say, I thought Coe's Offensive gameplan was outstanding on Saturday. From the looks of the teams, I don't think they had as much talent up front as the Knights did, but they did some things to counter that and I was impressed.

I know you are busy with the Maroons, would you say that the Knights got out coached?  I am not trying to read things into your last paragraph but that is what I am taking away from it.  I am not or will not write the Knights off ever.  Only the players can do that.  I think they can still get back on track.  This is the time that good teams circle the wagons and weather the storm or they fold.  Time and effort will tell. 

Fair enough I was just trying to understand your statement about Coe doing things to negate the talent imbalance you thought was present.  I don't know what it is that you were talking about.  I was just curious as to what they did to overcome it.  Blocking schemes come to mind but isn't that coaching when it is boiled down.  Was looking for your opinion as to what it was Coe did to overcome Wartburg this year. 

Protected the QB (only gave up 2 sacks), protected the ball, caught the ball
In the past, Wartburg would pretty much blitz every play, playing man or man-free on our receivers, daring them to make a play. Most of the time it was either our QB getting smoked (either sacked or knocked down) or our receivers wouldn't make the play.
Also, it was nice to play them with good weather.

[Charlie Kohawk]

The Kohawks were pretty pumped after thumping the Evil Empire. And deservedly so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-RlF9XtYUo

[Purple Heys]

The Kohawks were pretty pumped after thumping the Evil Empire. And deservedly so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-RlF9XtYUo

I can't resist...

We all know the "quality Coe edumacation" but really...that countdown midway through sounds to the 2nd and 3rd verses of Silent Night where everyone kind of mumbles until they get to the part they know.   


Seriously though...that was a very cool video clip.

[footballdaddy]

If anyone wonders why Coe won all they have to do is look at the emotion in that clip.

[CaliRamRL6]

The Kohawks were pretty pumped after thumping the Evil Empire. And deservedly so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-RlF9XtYUo

I crack up every time I see Coach Atwater all worked up. Congrats fellas. I wish you a successful 8-2  season.

[TheOne89.1]

The Kohawks were pretty pumped after thumping the Evil Empire. And deservedly so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-RlF9XtYUo

Thanks for the clip Charlie.  It's cool to see how other teams celebrate wins.  I take it from that clip that it was homecoming last time Coe beat Wartburg at home (when Mr. Fred Jackson went off in that game).

It does seem to me though that if you look at the emotion and excitement they show after the win, that they see it as a upset in the IIAC.  Though if Coe keeps playing the way they are (and that QB stays INT free) they could be the team that has their opponents reacting that way when they upset the Kohawks.

[TheOne89.1]

Someone posted awhile ago that Wartburg fans were not posting at the normal level telling people how good they were.

I am one of those regular posters not posting at the level that I usually do.  So I can see how some would think it's due to Wartburg not where they normally are, but you can believe me or not, I just haven't had the chance to pay attention as much....which I don't like.  Win or lose I like to know what is going on, just something I have to do on my own part to stay informed. 

Really wish I could have been at Homecoming to see Coe perform like they did in 2002 when I was on the sidelines at Walston-Hoover.  Unfortunately I don't see myself getting to any games this year.  Hopefully on the 31st I won't have any technical issues at work (it's not Upper Iowa sending the feed so I should be OK) so I can pay attention to the video feed of the Knights at Luther while at work.

[TheOne89.1]

I have confidence that Coach Rick "Chuck Norris" Willis will not let this team quit.  Wartburg is still a dangerous opponent on saturday.  We have not been a good consistant team this year but have played well at times just not for four quarters in any game.

I agree that Coach Willis will not let the Knights quit.  However, it's up to the players to go out there and execute.  Looking like they will be handing in pads early this year, but they need to take pride and finish strong.  There are lots of players not only this year, but in years past who have worked hard to get the Knights to where they are.

It's now time for this years team to prove that they have what it takes.  They started out the season with people expecting them to win almost every game...now people are expecting them to not.

[Kohawk Krazy]

It does seem to me though that if you look at the emotion and excitement they show after the win, that they see it as a upset in the IIAC.

I don't think they saw the win as an upset.  I think they see it as a win against a team they have formed somewhat of a rivalry with.  The same team that had beaten them 6 or 7 straight times.  Not to mention, they beat them on the road, during Homecoming.