FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[rscl70]

You had to feel for the Musky defensive backs last Saturday at Mount Union Stadium. Talk about being out on a limb! There was no pass rush,this is a great,not good,group of wide receivers and Mount's quarterback ,like all Mount quarterbacks,can really throw the ball. Those kids never had a chance back there. On two occasions the Musky DB was in pretty good position and the Mount player made a great catch for a TD. Having been beat many times in my undistinguished career at Mount,I can tell you it's a nightmare. I could not understand how the Musky D-Coordinator could figure his corners could cover man-on-man. The Musky DB's should know they will not face anything like that offense the rest of the year. I wish them the best of luck.

I'm not sure you could say that about ALL of them.  It's early, way too early to draw any real comparisons, but Burke in 2 games has already thrown more passes over 30 yards in length that could be described as "accurate" than the QB he gently pushed aside.     It's nice to see the vertical passing game return.

I do agree with the Musky D-backs though.  Especially #25.  That poor kid had a rough night.

I know it is early, but Burke looks like what we hoped/thought Seaman could be.  Could Neal even throw the ball 30 yards?

As for the UWW loss, the Warhawks need to improve dramatically is they are going to be a threat for title #4.  Brekke looks a little like the Mount QB's of the past two years, does not take care of the football well.  I watched the Wash U game and they dropped 3-4 interceptions early in that game that a more talented team does not.  And there is not a Beaver or Coppage walking through the door as Rick Pitino would say. 

I see everyone making comparison to the ONU loss for Mount. It is a poor comparison, ONU was preseason #5, and Mount had this freshman that came out of nowhere named Kmic that changed the season.  Who knows what would have happened in '05 had Kmic not ran for 1,000 yrds in the playoffs?  Does UWW have a Kmic hidden on their roster? I would say probably not. Also the ONU loss was not nearly as bad as scoring 6 points against an unranked team.  I know its the D3 mentality to be buddy-buddy with all opponents, but remove the Whitewater name and is a team that beat Wash U, and lost to a 1-1 Buff State team still considered a top 5 team?  If Mount lost to Franklin and beat Muskie would they still be 4th?  And Franklin was likely considered superior to Buff State prior to Saturday.  I would put the Buff State loss on par with App State beating Michigan.

An unranked team that already had 1 loss to Brockport State (now 3-0).  Maybe Brockport is the "Beast of the East."

[pradierguy]

@PurpleSuit - Fantastic points made. +k!

[raiderpa]

I know it is early, but I cannot remember a Mount QB, other than Bill Borchert, that looked as sharp as Burke has this early in the season.  Quick outs are on time, fades are pretty much perfect, long bombs on the money, slants are there, and the pass that Collins dropped was pure perfection from 40 yards or so...All senior O-line is holding up well and running back committee looks good.  I think Minnich may be the sleeper.  His quick bounce to the outside and acceleration looked as good as anyone we have. Until Lattimore gains more trust, I'd like to see more of Minnich. 
With the addition of Burke's athletic ability and quickness, I would like to hear from the crowd whether they think this may be the fastest/quickest Mount offense ever??

[PurpleSuit]

I know it is early, but I cannot remember a Mount QB, other than Bill Borchert, that looked as sharp as Burke has this early in the season.

Micheli was always pretty sharp too.  Burke has a lot too prove before he gets in that category of Mount QB's, but its easy to see how he was able to win a D1 state title.  The kid is a gamer, and it been a while since we've had one

[Raider 68]

I know it is early, but I cannot remember a Mount QB, other than Bill Borchert, that looked as sharp as Burke has this early in the season.

Micheli was always pretty sharp too.  Burke has a lot too prove before he gets in that category of Mount QB's, but its easy to see how he was able to win a D1 state title.  The kid is a gamer, and it been a while since we've had one

PurpleSuit,

Good insights! My take on Kevin Burke is that he plays with poise, confidence and knows his role as a leader of the offense. He came from top level competition and has much time to mature and become a really good QB. As a sophomore he is, IMHO, a player that can provide the difference. I am hoping he stays healthy and continues to improve and adds the missing dimension that the Raiders lacked in the final games in prior years.

[emma17]

PurpleSuit- you and I don't agree on much of anything, but this time I do think you have valid points.  I think most UWW fans felt pretty comfortable having Brekke come in as the starter given his 2010 playoff run.  The truth is he had quite a few interceptions in that run, but we wrote that off as expected for a new kid in a difficult environment.  To this point, we haven't seen what we thought we would in the passing game.  We also heard about a deep stable of running backs but again, to this point we haven't seen the running game work.  This week vs UW Stevens Point will tell a whole lot about where UWW is going this year- they put up a ton of points against Dubuque and held their own against a top NAIA team. 

As for the rankings, I think the podcast did a good job of explaining UWW at 4.  No doubt if the pollsters only looked at this season and removed the name UWW they would not be ranked.  But that logic is the same that was used a couple years ago when UWW went undefeated and didn't get a top seed.  This early in the season there is logic in considering the past season- mostly from the point of known talent on a team.  UWW lost a couple stars, but they retained a championship defense and have proven time and again that they have talented depth.  I honestly don't care where they are ranked now and would be comfortable if they weren't in the top 25.  But I do understand what pollsters are considering.

Although Buffalo State wasn't a top 5 team in the rankings like ONU was, rest assured they aren't Franklin- with all due respect to Franklin.  Franklin has skill players, as does Buffalo State, but they lack the line strength and overall team speed that Buffalo State has.   
 

[Desertraider]

I have to say that when I saw the UWW score (and BTW ESPN did not break into a live broadcast like they when Mount lost to ONU - just saying...) I thought for sure it was a mix-up. Kept waiting for the score to be correctly posted. Since that didn't happen I checked here and couldn't believe it. I have read the comparisons to the Mount/ONU game from '05 and I have to say that these are way off base. As was pointed out ONU was ranked coming into that season. In addition Buff State has had 1 (ONE) winning season since 2000 (7-4 in 2000). Yep they were 5-5 last year and 4-6 in 2010 - but they are regularly in the 1-2-3 win season category. This isn't ONU beating Mount (sorry - Mount losing to ONU ) - this is Marietta or Wilmington beating Mount at Mount. Having said that - I have waaaaay too much respect for what UWW and Leipold have done in the past few years to count them out just yet.

On the Mount side I have to say I am drinking up the Burke Kool-Aid and screaming for seconds! Can not compare him to the Mount Rushmore of Mount QBs (IMHO - Ballard, Borchert, Smeck -yes I typed Gary Smeck, and Micheli) but it is great to see a pass on target and on a rope beyond 30 yards. The kid can sling it - and is mobile as well. It says alot (in more ways than one) that Mounts 2 time letter winning Senior QB is the 3rd stringer. That is not a smack at Neal - sometimes things just don't pan out as planned.

The WRs are stellar in this Mount edition - and the depth at RB is impressive. I don't see a Kmic, Moore or Pugh - but I see a few backs (Lattimore/Mason/Minnich) that can give you 150-175 YPG as a group. I think it is the fastest Mount offense since Cecil or Pierre took the field alone to run sprints. The O-line is physical again and the D is gravy! To paraphrase LT. Col. Bill Kilgore - 'Smell that? You smell that? Victory!' This Mount team will not falter at the end - #11 in '12!

[HScoach]

In my less than humble opinion, what has surprised me the most this season isn't Burke.  Though he's a close and very productive 2nd.  It's the roster shake up by LK.  I have sneaking suspicion that Kehres spent a good amount of time this off season evaluating his roster from top to bottom. 

Diesel moves from All-Everything DE to MLB
Favasso moves from starting DE to RG
Modrak moves from back-up CE to RT
Skilliter starting at CB plus getting time at his usual RB spot
Burke passing Seaman for the starting QB job.  And Namdar potentially too.

There's little doubt in my mind that LK wasn't happy with his offensive production under Seaman/Piloto the last 2 years.  The QB play previously was "just OK".  Nothing spectacular, not difference making.  Just adequate.  Which would be enough if we had Moore, Pugh or Kmic in the backfield.  But the recent teams have been blessed with excellent, deep WR corps and it's wasted with just average QB play, especially if it's incapable of stretching the field vertically with any consistency.   If the team's strength is it's WR's, then you better have a good enough QB to distribute the ball protected by a solid O-line.  Hence in my mind the huge shake up on the offensive depth chart.

I'm not sold on Lattimore yet.  Too easily tackled and doesn't seem to have great vision.  And if he can't hang onto the ball after getting hit my Musky defenders, we all know what will happen against a real D like UWW.  Fumbles will get him a spot next to Seaman real quick.  Still early, but the jury is still out on him in my mind.  And Prendergast isn't the same guy after the blown out knee.  He's more than a couple steps slower than he was previously.  Hopefully it comes back with time.  He'd have been a weapon with his open field speed, vision and pass catching ability.  Minnich has interesting potential, definitely need to keep an eye on him long term.

[Dr. Acula]

Good points HScoach.  And looking at the schedule it seems laid out perfectly to allow plenty of time for an overhaul to settle in.  With Berg/BW/JCU the last 3 weeks of the season they have 7 games to get comfortable with their changes before the meat of the schedule. 

And that's too bad about Prendergast.  I was envisioning him as kind of a Wray type.  Hopefully he recovers fully over time.

[Pat Coleman]

I'm surprised by those things as well. And impressed.

[amonachino]

H.S. coach you are right on.  I am however not quiet convinced on the run blocking of the line so far.  That could be their weakness or we still are looking for that special back (Moore,Pugh,Kmic)that makes them look good.  I also was looking for Pendergast to step up, it could be there, it's going to take a little more time.  I talked to a few of his friends where I sit and they say he is very determined to do everything he has too to regain his form.  I was impressed with Burke.  I also feel very confident in Namdar.  I think you will see two QB's playing with the game on the line.  LK did that before.  TJ has got to produce more and hold on to the ball.  Nick saben  just said "if you can' secure the football you can not be trusted to play."  The best runner I saw was #6 Mason Munnick without a doubt.  The defense looks solid and the back  ups will play alot, I hope.  This is a sr. dominte team.  The underclass need to get game experience for the future.  The streak is safe for now.  What a surprise.  Go Mount!!!!!

[raiderpa]

Word on Prendergast is the knee brace is driving him nuts and he feels it drags him down..Will he be allowed to get rid of it? If not, he will most likely not be the back we thought he was going to be. (and that was a very good one) A shame, because he is a local kid, and a hard working, gutsy player.  I wish him the best and perhaps he can get healthy enough to lose the brace real soon.

[purpled]

A while back there was a headline about Mount loses two key pieces...anyone believe that now? I didn't then and still don't. LK found his QB he was looking for (we all know now that Seaman and/or Piloto was not the answer...LK did his best with what he had) and now it's a matter of time for him to find his #1 RB. The wide receivers are just getting started and can anyone cover them?. And of course the "D" is so quick to the ball...VK does a great job of preparing his players. This could be a very fun year people!!

[bleedpurple]

A while back there was a headline about Mount loses two key pieces...anyone believe that now? I didn't then and still don't. LK found his QB he was looking for (we all know now that Seaman and/or Piloto was not the answer...LK did his best with what he had) and now it's a matter of time for him to find his #1 RB. The wide receivers are just getting started and can anyone cover them?. And of course the "D" is so quick to the ball...VK does a great job of preparing his players. This could be a very fun year people!!

I'm trying to remember the last season that wouldn't have been fun for a Mount follower!

[rscl70]

A while back there was a headline about Mount loses two key pieces...anyone believe that now? I didn't then and still don't. LK found his QB he was looking for (we all know now that Seaman and/or Piloto was not the answer...LK did his best with what he had) and now it's a matter of time for him to find his #1 RB. The wide receivers are just getting started and can anyone cover them?. And of course the "D" is so quick to the ball...VK does a great job of preparing his players. This could be a very fun year people!!

I'm trying to remember the last season that wouldn't have been fun for a Mount follower!

1977 - 4 wins, 5 losses