FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Titan Q]

I can tell you guys are so so interested in football -- not even to ask who the true freshmen winning the Titan QB is, and that Tyler Hook, the supposed heir apparent to Rob Gallik, decided to leave the program. 

Perhaps no one asked because it had already been posted.

Jack Warner will become the first freshman to start a season opener in Norm Eash's 28 years as coach at IWU.  Junior Tyler Hook, who was in a neck and neck battle for the job, has left the team.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/football/freshman-qb-earns-iwu-starting-nod/article_67262520-9c1a-5274-9805-b9d903fef004.html

[iwu70]

Q, you are so awesome.  Thanks for setting me straight yet again.

Let's hope Jack Warner gets the job done.

IWU70

[USee]

Looks like IWU70 picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. 

[CardinalAlum]

Looks like IWU70 picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue. 

Or he spent too much time in that Turkish prison!

[markerickson]

Do you know if Mr. Hook remains on campus as a student?

[Green Jello Shots]

The rumor is Hook has left IWU. On a brighter note; the freshman QB Warner was very, very impressive today in the scrimmage against Benedictine, showing athleticism and poise that belied his his age. I know it was only a scrimmage, but he was clearly a standout. He could be a very special player for the Titans.

[USee]

I am sure Warner will be another 4 year monster for the Titans.  Eash is often maligned but he knows what he is doing and if he picks a freshman to start its likely because the kid has special potential.  I think it's also likely the Titans struggle offensively this year if they can't run the ball but there is no doubt in my mind Warner will be an all conference player some day.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I am sure Warner will be another 4 year monster for the Titans.  Eash is often maligned but he knows what he is doing and if he picks a freshman to start its likely because the kid has special potential.  I think it's also likely the Titans struggle offensively this year if they can't run the ball but there is no doubt in my mind Warner will be an all conference player some day.

Hook looked hopeless to me as a CCIW qb.  Since the other two options were freshmen, Warner starting should not come as a shock to anyone.  I hope Warner is channeling his inner 'TD Conway'!

TD also pitches for the NPU bball team.  Since TD is inappropriate, what shall we call him?  KO Conway?  WP Conway?

[shepherd]

Alright, so here's what I saw at the Hollett today. 

Wheaton started with the ball, picked up a few first downs and then had the ball taken away from them via forced fumble.  Wabash picked their way down the field with a nice balance of run and pass and capped the drive with an 8-yard Mason Zurek TD run.  The drive was about 70 yards- Putko didn't miss on that first series. 

After the kickoff, Wheaton went three and out punctuated by a "sack" of the quarterback.  One play later Mason Zurek went 55 yards around the edge for a TD.  Kickoff, first snap, handoff and a forced fumble.

So if you're keeping score that's three series for the 1s on defense and they forced two fumbles and forced a punt on three plays.  They're ready to go. 

For the offense, Putko is pretty clearly the guy.  There was no rotating series or even a two for one with Putko and Rice.  Putko had the first two quarters to himself and he was sharp.  He didn't have too many balls hit the ground and he did throw one TD on his last series of the day.  He was accurate and decisive and I think the Wabash offense is in good hands there.  He's a little thicker this year, but really the biggest difference I saw today is that he looked like a guy who's been a starter for a year. 

Holmes and Zurek each played basically one series and they looked fine.  Holmes didn't score, but he was getting his chunks on that first drive before Zurek closed it out and then had his big play.  Good to see both of those big guys back out there and running hard and running well.  After those two, Shamir Johnson got quite a bit of run at RB and looked pretty good there, so there is still good depth at that position.   

The offensive line played well.  Holmes, Zurek, and Johnson all had good lanes to run through and Putko had a clean pocket to work from.  That unit probably was the one that exceeded my expectation today.  If they play like that next week, Wabash is in good shape. 

As noted, the top line defense was stellar.  The second unit was challenged a bit more, but they answered the call by turning Wheaton over three more times. 

Specials should be fun this year.  Wabash had a PAT blocked (the kicker did track down the return just before he scored the defensive PAT), but then Tustie made a 35 yard FG.  Wabash's first punt was a shankopotamus special, but subsequent punts were fine.  I'm not holding any of these guys to 2013 Cam Sobleski standards because that's not going to be fair.  They were fine. 

For those interested in a score, I had to cut out after the 3rd quarter (they were doing 12-minute quarters) and Wabash was ahead 23-7.  The main thing is Wabash got a chance to work against a good team and looked decent.  I think they're ready for next week's opener.

Looks like Wheaton has some things to work on before the opener.  Hopefully they can have a season like Wabash in 2011 when they had a bad scrimmage.

[wally_wabash]

That write up was tilted toward the NCAC audience.  I think Wheaton will be fine.  There are no shortage of good players there.  Today's issues were (from my perspective):
- Not just the rotating QBs, but the whole offensive system seemed to change depending on which guy was taking snaps.  That's got to be hard to get any kind of rhythm when the whole structure changes every series.
- Fumbles!  If you're going to put the ball on the ground, today was the day to do it because none of this counts.  I think that's correctable.  I suspect that Wheaton won't play another game this year minus 5 on turnovers. 

So, things to work on?  Yes, but I didn't see anything today that makes me think that they can't win the CCIW.  That's a good team there.   

[Kovo]

That write up was tilted toward the NCAC audience.  I think Wheaton will be fine.  There are no shortage of good players there.  Today's issues were (from my perspective):
- Not just the rotating QBs, but the whole offensive system seemed to change depending on which guy was taking snaps.  That's got to be hard to get any kind of rhythm when the whole structure changes every series.
- Fumbles!  If you're going to put the ball on the ground, today was the day to do it because none of this counts.  I think that's correctable.  I suspect that Wheaton won't play another game this year minus 5 on turnovers. 

So, things to work on?  Yes, but I didn't see anything today that makes me think that they can't win the CCIW.  That's a good team there.

That's because North Central wasn't present.

[USee]

turnovers can certainly be "cleaned up" but they can also be an epidemic. If you don't create a culture of taking care of the ball, you will lose more games than you ever realized. Wheaton has averaged about 1.75 give aways per game over the past 4 years so 5 is a statistical outlier. If its not, it will be a long year for the Thunder.

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton has lost too many would-be upperclassmen skill players on offense for me to be optimistic about that side of the ball.   The four most talented players they had recruited at WR/RB who would be expected to have All-CCIW type seasons this year for the offense are no longer with the program:

WR:
Mark Hiben (Sr.)
Grayson Roberts (Jr.)

RB:
Luke Davis (Jr.)
Jacob Furnari (So.)

I like Jesse Geary's ability to pound the ball, but I otherwise don't see the kind of weapons a new QB will need to compete for the CCIW.

[USee]

I can't argue with this. Wheaton's ability to develop offensive playmakers early in this season will be critical. I think their OLine will be good and they should be able to run the ball, but they need to decide early on their QB situation and develop offensive weapons. I am concerned with their speed on the perimeter. Luke Thorson and Ben Leong are the likely WR's with a host of others getting time. Puknaitis should be a great change of pace back to Geary but if they go into week 1 with more than 1 QB playing, I think that will really inhibit the development of the offense.

They open this Saturday at home against Coe. Coe is picked middle of the pack in the IIAC and has 1 defensive starter returning so it may be a good game to fix some of this.

[izzy stradlin]

I can't argue with this. Wheaton's ability to develop offensive playmakers early in this season will be critical. I think their OLine will be good and they should be able to run the ball, but they need to decide early on their QB situation and develop offensive weapons. I am concerned with their speed on the perimeter. Luke Thorson and Ben Leong are the likely WR's with a host of others getting time. Puknaitis should be a great change of pace back to Geary but if they go into week 1 with more than 1 QB playing, I think that will really inhibit the development of the offense.

They open this Saturday at home against Coe. Coe is picked middle of the pack in the IIAC and has 1 defensive starter returning so it may be a good game to fix some of this.

I think this is key.  They have to pick a guy, even if it's the wrong guy.  I can only think of a few times when systems rotating QBs have worked well.  It's usually when the overall talent level throughout the rest of the roster is superior.