FB: American Rivers Conference

[Busch Light]

I got a chance to listen to McMartin this summer talk about the importance of special teams.   It appears that he and his staff do a great job of making the special teams an important part of every practice, hence they have success throughout the season.  It is not surprising to me at all that they have won games this year because of how well their special teams have played.

At that clinic we got a chance to watch "cut ups" of the wartburg game a few years ago.  Central was able to block those kicks because of one outstanding individual effort and one horrific job by the Wartburg punt team.   I am sure that the Knights will spend a great deal of time working on their special teams (much like all teams do) and hopefully that will pay of in Saturday's game. 

[Walston Hoover]

Wartburg had a fill-in who was a pussy at one of the tackle spots on the punt team, and he got hurt on one of the first punts. Then there was the back-up to the back-up.

[DutchFan2004]

Walston,

Your stats show that McMartin's attitude about them are correct.  They have nothing to do with the outcome of the score do they?

[DutchFan2004]

Sportsknight,

You are correct but how often would you say they really went after the punts.  I don't think and you can put your own words on this but I don't think the Dutch try to block the punt every time.  They try to pick a good time to do it. 

[TheOne89.1]

But we are in agreement that Fayette still sucks, right?!?!

Most definitely

[DutchHawk]

Central has run the same type of punt block formation for a while now, its just executed so well that noone can seem to stop it.

Three blocked punts in nine games this season is pretty far from no one being able to stop it.

How many has Wartburg blocked...and turned into points. Regardless of who got hurt and whatever...noone in the league comes close to the Dutch in Special teams play.

As far as the stats, thats proven to not matter. Only stat the Dutch carry about are W's and we've been doing well there. Yards won't win you games.

[D1HawkD3CUI]

To go along with my fellow alumnus DutchHawk and to borrow a quote from Kirk Ferentz, Central is not a real "sexy" team but wins are wins. Great teams find ways to win and expect to win each week. McMartin does a great job of instilling that in his players. That mentality is tough to beat, if you look at teams like Harlan, Valley, Madrid etc. those kids grow up expecting to win and they win those close games.

Of course Wartburg hasn't experienced the same kind of success that Central has, not many DIII teams have, we all know the numbers.... but Wartburg is probably the closest to Central in that respect in the IIAC. When it all comes down to it, particularly in Central's case, you can throw stats out the window because they don't matter.

I'm guessing the bye week has benefitted Central well as far as getting some guys healthy. Any updates on some of the guys that have been dinged up most of the year. Schuring at 100% is scary, hopefully he is getting closer to that point.

[Walston Hoover]

Like I said-Not worried about having to punt anyway so the unstoppable punt block of Central will be a non-factor.

[TheOne89.1]

you can throw stats out the window because they don't matter.

I'm guessing the bye week has benefitted Central well as far as getting some guys healthy.

I 100% agree that all the stats can be thrown out the window for this weekend's game.  Almost a Colts-Patriots game like last Sunday.  Both teams are at the top of their game.  Both are having huge seasons...whether they win in OT by a TD or blowing out teams with a RB scoring 3 or 4 TD's alone.

I think the bye week is a huge advantage for Central.  First off to get all the players healthy, but also a chance to see even more film on Wartburg.  Someone asked earlier if the Knights run the rocket screen much....the answer is YES.  Ever since Koehler showed up and until he leaves, I expect to see the Knights run that play multiple times every game.  I wouldn't be surprised if they have it scripted as one of the first 3 plays for the first series of the game.

Only 3 1/2 more days of work until the game on Saturday....I have a internet hooked up to my stereo and will have the grill going by 12:30.  Let's hope "Your Sound" can actually provide me with what I want to hear...otherwise it looks like I will be tuning into the Dutch Radio (I've heard it's hard to hear them with the wooden shoes clomping in the background).

[koekrazy87]

Like I said-Not worried about having to punt anyway so the unstoppable punt block of Central will be a non-factor.

I was looking at the stats and even Cornell's D made Wartburg punt.  No offense to Cornell but Central's D is much better so i expect Wartburg to punt more than that.  So Wartburg should be worried about the Centra punt block

[D1HawkD3CUI]

I don't believe the "rocket screen" will be effective against Central anymore. For some reason the Dutch could not defend that play for a stretch but I'm sure that is something that Coach DeWaard has prepared for again this year and is prepared to take on. If memory serves me right, and believe me on a fall Saturday afternoon it can get a little fuzzy for one beer or another but I think Central shut that down the last two years. Am I way off on that?

[Buckwheat]

What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of Central and Wartburg?  Seems to me that Wartburg starts slow.  I think Wartburg has only scored more than 7 points in the first quarter one game.  Wartburg has excellent offensive balance - but lacks a big power running back in the red zone.  Defensively - these guys are animals.  Like throwing a piece of meat to hungry lions.  Any other observations during "championship week"?

[Walston Hoover]

Wartburg's strength is over the middle 2 quarters where they outscore opponents 142-20.
Defensively, they have given up 2 field goals and that is it for points in the 2nd quarter this year.

[old school ENP Tiger]

Wartburg must seem to start slow  but I think Central starts slower.  The best thing that Wartburg could do for the game is let Central have some yards in the running game.  Central sticks with the run until they absolutely have to bail on it.  Sometimes almost too late.  Schuring 100%-90%80% doesn't matter.  The offensive line can not move people off the ball for run plays.  They are fairly good at pass block or at least slowing them down...look out blocks on the run seems to be the norm.  Nothing bigger this week and should be fun.  How is Wartburg's kicker?  Central seems to let drives go deep then stop.  Some teams can kick the 30-35 yarders and some can't. 

Turn overs are key in this one and if there is rain that will be interesting for the passing game.  This game will be decided sometime mid-late 4th like all the other Central games this year...Connell gets 30-40 atttempts Central wins.

[knightlife06]

Wartburg had a fill-in who was a pussy at one of the tackle spots on the punt team, and he got hurt on one of the first punts. Then there was the back-up to the back-up.

He was a starter for that week so quit raggin on him.  Illegal punt block by the dutch that refs never call.