FB: American Rivers Conference

[Willie University]

Yeah Show, I was in Dubuque yesterday, and you are right, Jermar is definately not deserving of all-conference QB.  Maybe if there was an award for dual-threat QB then he'd get it for sure.  Today, he was pretty good in the first half and obviously can wing the ball, pretty much has a cannon.  In the second half, however, he was extremely inaccurate, throwing at player's feet and throwing it out of bounds.  He never threw it blindly or anything, he usually took his time (no pass rush whatsoever again from the Beavers) and somtimes hit the open guy.  The Beavers again dropped at least 3 sure INT's so I'm sure he stats weren't that bad.  Spartans pretty much ran two plays all day.  QB choice and the option.  Little #4 for the Spartans did extremely well at RB and it seemed like he always got 4 yards.  Beavers often committed to #4, only to find that Jermar still had the ball-20 yards downfield.  Defense did not play very well against the run, but I thought they did really well against the pass.  One 40 yarder and a miraculous catch by Walner by the UD sidelines are the only big pass plays I can remember.  For the Beavers, once again Chris Hawkins was his indecisive self.  O-line did really really well in pass pro all day only giving up two sacks-one was a coverage sack and the other Hawk once again stepped into the pressure.  Little Row broke off a big 50 yarder and got some yards here and there, but once again we could not run the ball consistently.  Like I said, Hawk looked OK usually throwing on target.  Randy Kaufman had a big day, again and was consistently double-covered in the 2nd half.  UD's team speed is still what stands out to me.  Not many people can chase down Devin Stewart and Row and they did it, to both of them.  Their 'backers especially surprised me.  Prince Bussie, Chavis Youngblood and Orlando Walton are some special LB's.  Extremely fast for that position.  Overall, not a bad game by my Beavs, but UD just had too many athletes on this Saturday afternoon in Dubuque.

I suppose I am a little confused here and maybe some of you more knowledgable football experts and IIAC conference decision makers can help me out? First, can you only be all conference if you can only pass and not run?? I suppose I didn't read that in the all conference selection manual?? Oak, since yesterday it seems was your first time seeing jermar jackson play, you were not treated to his "best" performance through the air and everyone is entitled to an off day of over 200 yards passing and 100+ rushing with 4 TD's. And granted, I will agree that there are a couple other QB's that may be better "passers" but I do not think there is a better "overall" QB. Jermar has 27 total TD's (if the IIAC website has updated stats already including yesterdays game) or 31 total TD's if they don't. He is the best rushing QB in the IIAC and 7th in the IIAC in rushing versus other conference RB's and let's not forget 2nd in passing. I suppose in my humble opinion, I think he has been VERY instrumental in UD's turnaround this year deserves recognition among the best QB's in in the IIAC, if not the best. He is a different style QB from most the others, a Michael Vick type, that surely will get criticism at times. But, I will beg to differ that he shouldn't be considered as the "best" in the IIAC. And leading the spartans to no less then a 3rd or 4th place finish after 2 decades of being in the cellar IS an accomplishment worth noting.

Willie U

[doolittledog]

I'm in agreement here.  I am not saying Jackson absolutely should be the all-conference QB but he at least needs to be mentioned.  Someone said all he is, is a running back taking snaps.  But he has thrown for the 2nd most yards of the conference QB's and is in the top ten for rushers in the league.  No one else has that dual threat that he brings to the field. 

[DutchFan2004]

Jermar is a good QB,  I don't know about being the best running QB one of the best yes.  I will put my two cents in for the Dutch QB being a good runner as well.  He may not have the yards that Jermar does but he sure draws a lot of the D's attention.  He also has a horse in Schuring to hand and pitch the ball too.  That makes a difference in his stats.  Jermar is 6th in rushing at 67.4 ypg and 2nd in passing with 22.7 ypg.  52.4%  to me this is where he  goes down some.  His passing percentage is lower than 3 or 4 and he is 4th in efficiency.  I do think his name deserves to be in consideration for all conference QB but I am not sure the record of wins and losses to 1st team. 

[SpeedKills84]

Picks for the Week:

BV over Dubuque        24-17

Central over Coe         35-14

Wartburg over Cornell      20-10

Loras over Simpson         27-6

Dutchfan heres my picks for this past week

[Oakrugnuck Tree]

Yeah Show, I was in Dubuque yesterday, and you are right, Jermar is definately not deserving of all-conference QB.  Maybe if there was an award for dual-threat QB then he'd get it for sure.  Today, he was pretty good in the first half and obviously can wing the ball, pretty much has a cannon.  In the second half, however, he was extremely inaccurate, throwing at player's feet and throwing it out of bounds.  He never threw it blindly or anything, he usually took his time (no pass rush whatsoever again from the Beavers) and somtimes hit the open guy.  The Beavers again dropped at least 3 sure INT's so I'm sure he stats weren't that bad.  Spartans pretty much ran two plays all day.  QB choice and the option.  Little #4 for the Spartans did extremely well at RB and it seemed like he always got 4 yards.  Beavers often committed to #4, only to find that Jermar still had the ball-20 yards downfield.  Defense did not play very well against the run, but I thought they did really well against the pass.  One 40 yarder and a miraculous catch by Walner by the UD sidelines are the only big pass plays I can remember.  For the Beavers, once again Chris Hawkins was his indecisive self.  O-line did really really well in pass pro all day only giving up two sacks-one was a coverage sack and the other Hawk once again stepped into the pressure.  Little Row broke off a big 50 yarder and got some yards here and there, but once again we could not run the ball consistently.  Like I said, Hawk looked OK usually throwing on target.  Randy Kaufman had a big day, again and was consistently double-covered in the 2nd half.  UD's team speed is still what stands out to me.  Not many people can chase down Devin Stewart and Row and they did it, to both of them.  Their 'backers especially surprised me.  Prince Bussie, Chavis Youngblood and Orlando Walton are some special LB's.  Extremely fast for that position.  Overall, not a bad game by my Beavs, but UD just had too many athletes on this Saturday afternoon in Dubuque.

I suppose I am a little confused here and maybe some of you more knowledgable football experts and IIAC conference decision makers can help me out? First, can you only be all conference if you can only pass and not run?? I suppose I didn't read that in the all conference selection manual?? Oak, since yesterday it seems was your first time seeing jermar jackson play, you were not treated to his "best" performance through the air and everyone is entitled to an off day of over 200 yards passing and 100+ rushing with 4 TD's. And granted, I will agree that there are a couple other QB's that may be better "passers" but I do not think there is a better "overall" QB. Jermar has 27 total TD's (if the IIAC website has updated stats already including yesterdays game) or 31 total TD's if they don't. He is the best rushing QB in the IIAC and 7th in the IIAC in rushing versus other conference RB's and let's not forget 2nd in passing. I suppose in my humble opinion, I think he has been VERY instrumental in UD's turnaround this year deserves recognition among the best QB's in in the IIAC, if not the best. He is a different style QB from most the others, a Michael Vick type, that surely will get criticism at times. But, I will beg to differ that he shouldn't be considered as the "best" in the IIAC. And leading the spartans to no less then a 3rd or 4th place finish after 2 decades of being in the cellar IS an accomplishment worth noting.

Willie U

No, this is not the first time I've seen him play.  I've seen him 3 other times, also.  I wasn't bashing him at all, he is obviously a great QB.  I know what you're saying and there's no doubt he is a huge threat.  All I was saying is that all times I've seen him he's struggled a little with his consistency.  Now, most QB's at the DIII level do, because well that's probably why they are playing DIII.  I wasn't bashing him at all.  He's a great player for you guys and is really feared in the conference.  All I was saying is that he's not really a pure passer-which a lot of good QBs aren't.  And is he worthy of all-conference?  Probably.  Do I think he'll get it?  No.  But you're right he's a great QB and I'm not knocking him at all.  I was just reporting on what I saw yesterday.  I'd take him over Chris Hawkins anyday, believe me.  You guys are lucky to have him and it seems that outside of Bussie and Belleus and a couple linemen you guys return pretty much everybody.  You guys will be fun to watch next year and I wish you good luck the rest of the season.  I was just simply stating what I observed on Jermar yesterday, nothing more.  He's good and I would never take anything away from him.

[DutchFan2004]

Speedkills84,

Got you added sorry.

[DutchFan2004]

K-Mack

Looks like we will slug it out for #3 in the overall picks.  Good luck   It has been fun having you in this year.  It has been great to read your ATN segments too.  I really learn a lot about the other teams in D-3 from them.  It is hard to get into other parts of the country let alone region when you have your own backyard (conference) to look at and worry about.  It will be fun to see where it all shakes out. 

[Lance Harbor]

OK guys, here it is...my fifth year running.

The 2006 Pool C breakdown.

http://bigredlance.blogspot.com/2006/11/2006-d3-football-playoffs-pool-c.html

[coco]

Lance,

Do you think our chances of stealing a Pool C are better than getting a Pool B?

[Lance Harbor]

A few thoughts:

-First off, congrats to everyone on a great season.  Good or bad, I think that every team can come away with at least one "signature game."
-The Wartburg vs. UD game has LAND MINE written all over it.  Wartburg has won a lot of ugly, low-scoring games. Props to Dubuque for totally turning a corner and winning some great games.  I'm sure they'd love to get their sixth win and make it their first winning season in quite a while.  I still think the Knights will win, but any Wartburg fan who wants to overlook UD and book their hotel rooms for the playoffs is nuts.
-With that in mind, it's going to be very tight race for a Pool C playoff spot.  Wartburg's quality wins rating was much lower than I expected.  We may need some outside help (just as we did in 2002).

Play hard, and hope for good things to happen.

"Rule #76: No Excuses. Play like a champ."

[Lance Harbor]

Coco-Probably not, although isn't the Northwest Conference Pool A/C now?

[coco]

Not quite. Menlo is in, but we're not officially an A/C Conference until 2008, I think. It might be 2007, but I believe it's 2008.

[Charlie Kohawk]

I will put my two cents in for the Dutch QB being a good runner as well.

He's not a bad receiver either, as he showed against the Kohawks.

Allow me to be the first to submit my picks for the season finale (or should I say finally?).

I don't normally pick non-conference games, but I need a boost after the last few weeks. BV will destroy Waldorf.

Coe, minus its best defensive player, will destroy Cornell. Eric Raeburn remains perfect against Coe's traditional rival and gets his 50th win to boot.

Wartburg beats Dubuque and waits for the call. Dubuque is dangerous, but the Knights are solid and focused.

Loras beats Luther to salvage a respectable season. Luther prays for Sherden's return.

Central completes a perfect season with a dominating victory over Simpson. Congratulations Dutch. Now make some playoff noise.

[DutchFan2004]

Charlie,

Your best defensive player?  Is that the kid that left the game with the knee injury?  Was it bad?  He looked in a lot of pain as he came off the field.  I hope not.  Hate to see anyone get hurt.

[Dsquared]

Anyone who ever gets hurt in a football game again needs to be measured against Joe Paterno.  He is a freaking man's man!!!  Broken bone... shredded ligaments... you are going to have to DRAG me into the med cart, and I'll laugh at you while you tell me how "serious" my injury is.  Any votes for how JoePa will come out on the field next week?  Crutches with a gallop... souped up scooter... or will he run like he always does?  Until I see otherwise, my vote is on him running out with the team.