FB: American Rivers Conference

[The Show]

Also, it's not necessarily that the line is not good at run blocking for the Beavs, but we don't have any Chris Rowedders or Chad Pearsons.  Little Row and Stout aren't bad

Chris and Little Row are the same guy    But point taken.  I think the RB's pass blocking has improved though as the year has progressed.  When you're a smaller back, you just have to turn into a lumberjack and chop away!

I think BV may need to utilize the screen and shovel passes to try and slow down the Wartburg D-Line or at least make them honest.  On "D" I say stack the box and make Wartburg throw to beat you.

[The Show]

We beat Central on the road in 2003, but on a technicality, it was at SE Polk's field since they tore up Central's field while playing in the rain the previous week.  So I don't know if it's considered a home loss or not...

[Dsquared]

Sorry... I meant conference losses... and that includes the Billy Ballpoints and the Peacocks before they were both splitsville.

[Oakrugnuck Tree]

Also, it's not necessarily that the line is not good at run blocking for the Beavs, but we don't have any Chris Rowedders or Chad Pearsons.  Little Row and Stout aren't bad

Chris and Little Row are the same guy    But point taken.  I think the RB's pass blocking has improved though as the year has progressed.  When you're a smaller back, you just have to turn into a lumberjack and chop away!

I think BV may need to utilize the screen and shovel passes to try and slow down the Wartburg D-Line or at least make them honest.  On "D" I say stack the box and make Wartburg throw to beat you.

Heh, yeah that is true.  I agree though, they should try the screen against Wartburg's D.  However, I've only seen the Beavs run it effectively twice all year, so I'm still a little skeptical.  But who knows, they've been rollin' as of late and maybe they can string it together.  I think the game will be closer than most people think, though.  Is Wartburg the better team? Probably.  Does the better team always win? No.  Hopefully my Beavs can pull one out, I can't wait to head to ol' J. Leslie Rollins on Saturday afternoon.

[Walston Hoover]

Teams have not been very succesful running screens against Wartburg for a few years.
1. The pressure comes so fast that a bad throw is forced.
2. There is always a spotter looking for the screens

[knightlife06]

The teams that defend the screen the best are those that have good recognition as well as great pursuit.  Wartburg works on screen recognition at every practice in order to shut it down.  A lot of teams with a good d-line are vulnerable to draws.  But with as much gaming as the Wartburg defensive front does it's hard to pick them up most of the time.  I think the best chance that BV has at moving the ball on saturday is to use the dink and dunk passes down the field.  3 step and WR screens could be effective.  Wartburg has always been willing to give up the short tosses in order to not give up the big play.

[The Show]

BV has thrown more to the RB's this year than any other year I can remember.  In fact, I think my brother has more receptions this year than I did in 4 years and NO, it wasn't because I couldn't catch!

[luvd3football]

Just for the record - Simpson beat Central in Pella in 2003.

[dutchfan1]

Just for the record - Simpson beat Central in Pella in 2003.

Wow, I don't like this game at all........

[Dsquared]

OK... so 29-4 home record assuming they didn't lose any home contests in 1999 or 2000.  Still, 30-3 and 29-4 home conference records over the last 7+ years... my money is on the Dutch at Kuyper and the Knights at Walston Hoover no matter what.  If this weekend's game were at the Rock Bowl, I'd give Loras a shot.  As it is, I can't see the game being within 10 points.  Loras has played themselves out of a legitimate shot at the conference crown and they have YET to show that they want to play for pride.

[DutchFan2004]

Picks for the week

Wartburg over BV by 14

Luther over Cornell by 7

UD over Simpson by 3

Central over Loras by 7

[lorbec47]

Dsquared--

What the heck team do you support? Loras not playing for pride? That's a ridiculous statement.

[Dsquared]

Lorbec...

My old name on here when I was still in school was Orange and Black Attack... need I say more?

The only reason I made that comment is it seemed like an awfully big letdown for them last weekend.  They played 2/3 best teams in the conference ON THE ROAD and beat one and barely lost to the other.  To lose by double digits at home shows quite a letdown.

I retract my statement, as it might've been a letdown hangover from coming so close at Walston Hoover.  I just didn't think BV on ANY day was 10 points better than a 1-loss Loras team at home.

Also, let me retract my statement about Wartburg playing the toughest schedule this year.  By far Loras had the toughest schedule.  At Waverly, at Pella and at Coe???  Do the schedule-makers have it in for the Duhawks?

Good luck this week and come out firing on all cylinders!  Just because I picked Central doesn't mean I don't want to see Loras win!

[Charlie Kohawk]

Be sure to read Keith's account of his IIAC adventure in Around the Nation. Our doors are always open to you K-Mack.

[Walston Hoover]

K-Mack-
I couldn't help but think while reading your column that you visited the 2 worst facilities (stadium wise) in the conference and I hearby officially invite you back to Iowa for a game anywhere but Dubuque.
As for gameday atmosphere
Cornell has been dead last in the conf in attendance the last 2 years and Coe is 4th this year and was 7th last year.
I never really thought much of either place.
As for Central or Loras, as well as my beloved Waverly, those would be good places to visit.