FB: American Rivers Conference

[NewKnightDad]

Kohawk-to-be Mark Atwater plays QB

From what I saw of Atwater in high school last year I would not be surprised to see him at starting QB and do very well.

[doolittledog]

I was told Central is getting a QB transfer from Iowa that was a walk-on there.  He played at North Tama (same high school as UD starter Wyatt Hanus) and played in the state championship game as a senior.  I can't remember if they won or lost in that game though.  From when I saw him play he was similar to Snead in that he was a dual threat to run or throw. 

I can't tell you he will be the starter, but he should have a pretty good shot at it. 

[CaliRamRL6]

Kohawk-to-be Mark Atwater plays QB

That kid is a great athlete. I'm sure if QB doesn't work out his dad will be more than happy to plug him in on defense.

[putmeincoach]

I was told Central is getting a QB transfer from Iowa that was a walk-on there.  He played at North Tama (same high school as UD starter Wyatt Hanus) and played in the state championship game as a senior.  I can't remember if they won or lost in that game though.  From when I saw him play he was similar to Snead in that he was a dual threat to run or throw. 

I can't tell you he will be the starter, but he should have a pretty good shot at it.

I believe North Tama was runner up his Jr year and won it his senior year - ran/threw/caught a pass for touchdowns - might end up a better passer than Snead but not near as physical runner (keep in mind this is from seeing him in high school - things may have changed)

great info here:  anyone have the "inside" info on Wartburg's QB situation

[putmeincoach]

Kohawk-to-be Mark Atwater plays QB

that's a great "get" for the Kohawks - or any DIII program

[warthog]

great info here:  anyone have the "inside" info on Wartburg's QB situation

I don't think we're going to have one.  It sounds like all the good ones will be at Coe-Central-Simpson-Dubuque.  Perhaps the Knights will just lineup four backs side by side and direct snap to one of them.  Push forward on every play- "3 yards & a cloud of dust".

[notlongago]

Those of you just plugging Dubuque in as the #1 may need to rethink that train of thought. As hard as it is to believe, Zweifels non-statistical impact was just as great as or greater than his statistical one, and unless you were in the opposing film/locker room and across the ball from him, there is no way you could understand that.

Im not saying Dubuque won't be good and can't challenge for the title, but look at the year before when he went down... Don't be surprised to see Dubuque in the middle of the conference standings. I would say that is much more likely than them contending for the championship.

As for my opinion of who will the conference title... Pick one of the big 3 and you can't be faulted. Central lost a lot with the Sneads, but they have a 6'6" WR with wheels who looked like a breakout star had the QB not had a brother at WR (a stud WR albeit). If the RBs can stay healthy they showed the makings of a 2 (or 3) headed beast, and the linebacking core looks to be some heavy hitters.  However, the best RBs in the world can't do much if Central cannot replace they're line, and I don't know anything about last years back-ups to give an opinion. Central also has the best kicker in the league, and with the way they play, a FG or two can win them some of those close games they lost (sans the DBQ game haha)

Wartburg will miss their lineman, no doubt about that, but Yordi left and Steifel picked up the slack with little drop off, so it could happen again alleviating the QB "situation". Similarly to Central, the RBs can't do anything without the line, so that's moot until the line gels.

Coe is definitely going to miss their QB, perhaps more than any other team in the conference, but as others have stated the recruit could fill in nicely...its asking a lot of a freshman so my thinking is he will hit some roadbumps, but who knows.

Ill go:
1A: Coe
1B: Central
1C: Wartburg
4: DBQ
5: Simpson
6: Luther
7: BV
8: Loras

[doolittledog]

Nice to be getting some new blood in here.  Welcome to notlongago and putmeincoach!!!

I don't think there is much difference between Central/Coe/Dubuque/Wartburg...and I will even throw Simpson in there.  So any arguments someone makes for their team will probably make sense. 

Come to think of it BVU has 2 wins against Wartburg in the last 4 years and Luther had 4 years of 4-4 conference records before "slipping" to 3-5 last year.  Loras seems to follow bad years with a decent season.  Who knows what this fall will bring. 

[DutchFan2004]

Those of you just plugging Dubuque in as the #1 may need to rethink that train of thought. As hard as it is to believe, Zweifels non-statistical impact was just as great as or greater than his statistical one, and unless you were in the opposing film/locker room and across the ball from him, there is no way you could understand that.

Im not saying Dubuque won't be good and can't challenge for the title, but look at the year before when he went down... Don't be surprised to see Dubuque in the middle of the conference standings. I would say that is much more likely than them contending for the championship.

As for my opinion of who will the conference title... Pick one of the big 3 and you can't be faulted. Central lost a lot with the Sneads, but they have a 6'6" WR with wheels who looked like a breakout star had the QB not had a brother at WR (a stud WR albeit). If the RBs can stay healthy they showed the makings of a 2 (or 3) headed beast, and the linebacking core looks to be some heavy hitters.  However, the best RBs in the world can't do much if Central cannot replace they're line, and I don't know anything about last years back-ups to give an opinion. Central also has the best kicker in the league, and with the way they play, a FG or two can win them some of those close games they lost (sans the DBQ game haha)

Wartburg will miss their lineman, no doubt about that, but Yordi left and Steifel picked up the slack with little drop off, so it could happen again alleviating the QB "situation". Similarly to Central, the RBs can't do anything without the line, so that's moot until the line gels.

Coe is definitely going to miss their QB, perhaps more than any other team in the conference, but as others have stated the recruit could fill in nicely...its asking a lot of a freshman so my thinking is he will hit some roadbumps, but who knows.

Ill go:
1A: Coe
1B: Central
1C: Wartburg
4: DBQ
5: Simpson
6: Luther
7: BV
8: Loras

I will echo this sentiment as well.  I think with the talent that the Zwiefel kid had will affect the Spartans more than just the offense.  He was Mr everything to them.  Not to belittle the talents of the QB but the passing game is only as good as the receivers.  A qb can put the ball on the numbers every pass but if the kids don't catch it the accuracy is not doing any good at all.  With what UD lost to put them in the top slot is premature.  I think this will be one of the most wide open conference races in my tenure on the board.  I would say your top 4 and I would include UD as 1D is more accurate.  That being said It would not shock me to find one of those teams go 10-0 and win the conference.  It will be up to the coaching and talent of the underclassmen to determine this race. 

[DutchFan2004]

I want to give a shout out to Jesse Gavin.  He did Watburg credit when he was interviewed by Nancy Grace last night with that case of the missing cousins.  Welcome to the bigtime Jesse!

[DutchFan2004]

Kohawk-to-be Mark Atwater plays QB

From what I saw of Atwater in high school last year I would not be surprised to see him at starting QB and do very well.

I know nothing about this player and indeed he may be the starter.  To rely on a freshman to win the IIAC is a load that I do not think that any player we have seen in the IIAC the past 8-10 years was up to the task.  This may be d3 but to expect a freshman to be able to read defenses and make the throws he needs to make is an awful tall order.  I am not saying that he is not capable.  Lets just say I am from Missouri on this one.  Show me and I will believe.  Now can he be successful and have a winning season I think so but to challenge for the IIAC as a freshman may have the bar a bit to high. 

[NewKnightDad]

Kohawk-to-be Mark Atwater plays QB

From what I saw of Atwater in high school last year I would not be surprised to see him at starting QB and do very well.

I know nothing about this player and indeed he may be the starter.  To rely on a freshman to win the IIAC is a load that I do not think that any player we have seen in the IIAC the past 8-10 years was up to the task.  This may be d3 but to expect a freshman to be able to read defenses and make the throws he needs to make is an awful tall order.  I am not saying that he is not capable.  Lets just say I am from Missouri on this one.  Show me and I will believe.  Now can he be successful and have a winning season I think so but to challenge for the IIAC as a freshman may have the bar a bit to high.

And as I said in an another post I am not picking Coe to win the conference.  I just said he might be their starter and do very well.

Oops!!!

[putmeincoach]

Very likely this will come down to the last week deciding the conference and possibly going to the head-to-head or tie breaker rules.

I think Dubuque is the favorite with Hanus at QB.  Any receiver is expected to catch the ball if the quarterback can get it there – and he can.  Now I do agree Zwiefel is a game changer and a game plan changer so Dubuque may not be quite as efficient on the offensive side of the ball but still very good.  I do question their defense.

Other than that the usual suspects will be in the hunt – Central/Coe/Wartburg – maybe it will be the team that solves their QB issue first. I will lean towards Coe with what I hear about Atwater – although it may be hard for a freshman to come in and take over with such a limited amount of practices at this level before the games begin, I would guess he has some access to the playbook and is getting some coaching as well.  I still think Wartburg has to have somebody to fill in - looks like they have 5 returners from last years roster – although I know nothing about any of them.

...and I would put Simpson in that second tier mix as well with their starting QB and RB retuning. 

I am putting a lot of emphasis on the quarterbacks as I just don't know enough about the OL or the defenses for any of these teams.

I still think the first few weeks will be telling...any team that comes out with a win or two against the WIAC will be for real.

[Fannosaurus Rex]

I have enjoyed everyone's conference predictions and I will be excited to see how it all plays out.  But first, what I want is to see the IIAC boost its prestige by doing well against the non-con schedule.  It looks like some interesting early games for a lot of teams.  I'll be hoping to see Central avoid the mistakes it made last year at Oshkosh and get a quality win in its season opener.

[5 Words or Less]

Wartburg's 2011 roster
http://www.ncaa.com/schools/wartburg/football