FB: American Rivers Conference

[notlongago]

McMartin released his starting line ups.  I like that, on offense, there is 850 pounds of Dutchmen between the tackles.

I do not think it is a good sign that a QB has not stood out enough to name a starter

He knows who the QB is...no reason to put a name out there and give Osh Kosh an idea of the type of offense that will show up.

[putmeincoach]

ok - one more concern for the Dutch

looking at the overall roster they look small (specifically height) – admittedly I am not all that familiar with DIII rosters but they look short compared to the other IIAC teams

anyone have insight on how each team measures/exaggerates the heights of their respected rosters?

I see a lot of guys/lineman under 6' on the Central roster – is this common?

I really hope I am wrong but I think this may be a down year for them

[notlongago]

ok - one more concern for the Dutch

looking at the overall roster they look small (specifically height) – admittedly I am not all that familiar with DIII rosters but they look short compared to the other IIAC teams

anyone have insight on how each team measures/exaggerates the heights of their respected rosters?

I see a lot of guys/lineman under 6' on the Central roster – is this common?

I really hope I am wrong but I think this may be a down year for them

I think the Dutch are pretty average on their line height: they go 6'3" 6'2" 6'0" 5'10" 6'2" for the starting 5
Two bookend WRs 6'6' & 6'3"...the Dutch have the required height (which really isn't all that important) Size is where they lack. (although they do average 275 on the O-line)

Defensively theyre small, but reports from camp are that they more than make-up for that in speed.

[NewKnightDad]

Just my observation from last year the Dutch had a short heavy line, the left tackle was maybe 5' 8" tall and pushing 280lbs.  I don't know if this is what they are looking for in linemen (doubtful)as the QB power was their bread and butter the last few years with Snead and maybe they are sticking with that this year?  I would think they would prefer some taller linemen but I don't know.

At WB last year all of the linemen were over 6' 2" and the tackles were 6'4" and had some good footwork and speed.  They are replacing the book end twin tackles and the center who was 6' 2".  From what I hear the center this year is under 6' and I am not sure of the tackles.

Now the heights I list are without the standard added inches all colleges put in their game day programs.

What does all of this mean?  Not a darn thing but I am looking forward to kickoff. 

[D3Dutchman]

Saw this in the DSM Rag the other day, and meant to post something on here, but didn't have a chance until now.  It looks like the Pioneer League champ will now receive an automatic birth in the 1AA (FCS) playoffs.  I was wondering how everyone felt this might indirectly effect the IIAC.  I know back in the good old days, even though I was only lightly recruited by Drake, one of the big reasons why I never seriously considered them as an option was because I wanted to play for something more than just a conference championship.  Will the allure of a chance to play with the big boys (and likely be one-and-done even if you do get there) be enough to cancel out the recruiting advantage that DIII and NAIA had over our FCS non scholly cousins?  How much is the IIAC recruiting against Drake these days?  Maybe I'm overplaying this, but I think back to my mindset as a 17 year old kid, and I feel as though I would be more inclined to seriously consider Drake football.  Wanted to get the perspective of the board.

Hard to imagine Drake going up against the likes of UNI.

To me that is like Cornell and Central, Coe, or Wartburg.  The game is even at 0-0 and there may be a good game even an OT game once in awhile but we know who will win that one.

Agreed.  They played UNI a few years ago, and from what I remember it did not go well for Drake.  I remember watching the game and it even seemed like UNI was holding back a bit. 

[DutchFan2004]

McMartin released his starting line ups.  I like that, on offense, there is 850 pounds of Dutchmen between the tackles.

I do not think it is a good sign that a QB has not stood out enough to name a starter

The last two seasons that this happened with Central they came out with two pretty QB's for 3 years.  Time will tell if that is a pattern.

[wartknight]

Agreed.  They played UNI a few years ago, and from what I remember it did not go well for Drake.  I remember watching the game and it even seemed like UNI was holding back a bit.

I don't think it would go very well for Drake. I am sure it would be ugly in a hurry. Probably not as bad as the class A district 5 game last Fri(Preston 88 New London 6 - ouch!!). I think it would be a waste of a game for the Panthers.

[wartknight]

DD
Sounds as though an LPC boy (Jared Wauters) is emerging as a DB for the Knights. I guess you're going to have to break out your orange & black gear!!

[doolittledog]

DD
Sounds as though an LPC boy (Jared Wauters) is emerging as a DB for the Knights. I guess you're going to have to break out your orange & black gear!!

Wauters was all-state and played in the Shrine Bowl.  I figured he was destined for good things at Wartburg.  And with a whole mess of Wartburg alums on the LPC staff we might be seeing more and more kids from my area heading towards Waverly in the future. 

The last time I was at the UD/Wartburg game in Waverly we had my daughter dress in a Black, Union Knights shirt...so that was somewhat in keeping with the Wartburg spirit there.  Offer her cotton candy again this fall and you will solidly be in the lead for her post high school career...offer me beer at your tailgate and I might not mind

[D3Dutchman]

ok - one more concern for the Dutch

looking at the overall roster they look small (specifically height) – admittedly I am not all that familiar with DIII rosters but they look short compared to the other IIAC teams

anyone have insight on how each team measures/exaggerates the heights of their respected rosters?

I see a lot of guys/lineman under 6' on the Central roster – is this common?

I really hope I am wrong but I think this may be a down year for them

I noticed this too when I was going through the roster.  Seems like over the past few years, especially on the o-line, they have been going with some shorter guys than we used to.  It could be by design, or just sheer coincidence of the kids they are getting right now.  Bottom line is that they are going to go with the best 5 guys regardless of height.  I don't think it hurts them much, especially with running more of a zone read scheme with a QB that can get out and run.  Painting with a broad brush, those kids with a bit lower center of gravity can probably get to the second level quicker and block in the open field a bit better.  That said, if you are going to drop back and pass a lot, you might want a little bit bigger "traditional" tackle frame on the edges.  Gotta trust the coaches know what they are doing...I'm sure they'll be just fine. 

[duhawk]

Didn't see this posted anywhere.

It's behind a paywall, but if anyone's really interested there are cheap or free trials that you can use to read it.

http://www.thonline.com/sports/local_sports/article_9700180d-0a07-53dd-a742-359bc0f8b884.html

The whole article is a pretty good run-down.

I'm still waiting on the Loras write-up. 

[BoBo]

McMartin released his starting line ups.  I like that, on offense, there is 850 pounds of Dutchmen between the tackles.

I do not think it is a good sign that a QB has not stood out enough to name a starter

He knows who the QB is...no reason to put a name out there and give Osh Kosh an idea of the type of offense that will show up.

Just a hunch, but I seriously doubt this is keeping the Oshkosh coaches up at night.

BTW, it's Oshkosh, no space between the h and k. I've noticed you've had a difficult time spelling it each time you've used it in your posts. 

[doolittledog]

This should help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIGlaeMMXv0

[notlongago]

McMartin released his starting line ups.  I like that, on offense, there is 850 pounds of Dutchmen between the tackles.

I do not think it is a good sign that a QB has not stood out enough to name a starter

He knows who the QB is...no reason to put a name out there and give Osh Kosh an idea of the type of offense that will show up.

Just a hunch, but I seriously doubt this is keeping the Oshkosh coaches up at night.

BTW, it's Oshkosh, no space between the h and k. I've noticed you've had a difficult time spelling it each time you've used it in your posts. 

Im certain they're not, but why give them any more info than necessary? When you play a team considerably better than yourself, you need any help you can get.

[doolittledog]

McMartin released his starting line ups.  I like that, on offense, there is 850 pounds of Dutchmen between the tackles.

I do not think it is a good sign that a QB has not stood out enough to name a starter

He knows who the QB is...no reason to put a name out there and give Osh Kosh an idea of the type of offense that will show up.

Just a hunch, but I seriously doubt this is keeping the Oshkosh coaches up at night.

BTW, it's Oshkosh, no space between the h and k. I've noticed you've had a difficult time spelling it each time you've used it in your posts. 

Last season Oshkosh won 31-28 with Central having 5 turnovers to Oshkosh and their 1 turnover.  I don't think it's a stretch to say the Oshkosh coaching staff, while maybe not losing sleep, could be burning SOME midnight oil in their game prep for the Dutch.