FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[USee]

Wheaton 60
NPU 7

Wheaton with 570 yds of offense including a JP11 sighting (he caught a TD and ran for one)
NPU with 147 yds of offense

[Gregory Sager]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

[Kovo]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half. Was it just one of those days?  Or is it style points for the committee given the loss to NCC and likely second place finish?

I contrast that to The Cards who led 35-0 at the half and "lost" the second half 21-7. Which, quite frankly, would not have been my preference given my four games against those guys in the 80's.

[Mugsy]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half. Was it just one of those days?  Or is it style points for the committee given the loss to NCC and likely second place finish?

I contrast that to The Cards who led 35-0 at the half and "lost" the second half 21-7. Which, quite frankly, would not have been my preference given my four games against those guys in the 80's.

Look at drive chart and you'll see most of those point were by 2nd or 3Rd team.  When you're 2nd team QB is Peltz, there is virtually no drop-off from 1st team.  He needs to get game reps to prep for playoffs (if Wheaton finishes 9-1).  Plus he is a senior.

Couple of NPU turnovers in their territory didn't help - for example Wheaton FG after 4 play 7 yard "drive".  Last TD on 45 yard run by 4th or 5th string RB

[Gregory Sager]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half.

Sorry, Kovo, but I've said my piece.

I'm on cloud nine right now, along with several other million people who bleed Cubs blue who've waited their entire lifetimes for what happened last night, and that football game wouldn't bring me down even if I allowed it to.

Perhaps I'll have something to say about the football game a few days from now. For the moment, though, I'm going to bask in what happened at Wrigley Field last night.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half. Was it just one of those days?  Or is it style points for the committee given the loss to NCC and likely second place finish?

I contrast that to The Cards who led 35-0 at the half and "lost" the second half 21-7. Which, quite frankly, would not have been my preference given my four games against those guys in the 80's.

Look at drive chart and you'll see most of those point were by 2nd or 3Rd team.  When you're 2nd team QB is Peltz, there is virtually no drop-off from 1st team.  He needs to get game reps to prep for playoffs (if Wheaton finishes 9-1).  Plus he is a senior.

Couple of NPU turnovers in their territory didn't help - for example Wheaton FG after 4 play 7 yard "drive".  Last TD on 45 yard run by 4th or 5th string RB

Exactly.  Gotta look deeper than the final number of points.

It was a 19-7 game at halftime, still very much within reach. 

Bowers caught fire in the third quarter and extended the lead to 40-7.

Nine different guys carried the ball for Wheaton.  The starting QB was out of the game at the end of the third quarter.  Peltz threw a couple passes early in the fourth quarter, which can reasonably chalked up to getting some game reps for a guy who they might legitimately need in the playoffs.  After that it's all backups.

[AndOne]

Even if you're creaming the opposition, you can't tell your 2nd, 3rd, 4th stringers to just basically fall down as you send them into the game. Not fair to them and all their time and effort in being members of the team. No 50-60 yard bombs when you're up by 40 with 5 minutes left, but you can't tell your linemen not to hold their blocks or your backs not to run hard.

GREG-

Congrats on waiting until you got home to join the rest of us on the CUBBIE BLUE insanity train. I know how hard it must have been to hold it in. I almost gave my better half a heart attack with the explosion I let out when Rizzo caught the in-time relay throw from Baez!

[thunderdog]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half. Was it just one of those days?  Or is it style points for the committee given the loss to NCC and likely second place finish?

I contrast that to The Cards who led 35-0 at the half and "lost" the second half 21-7. Which, quite frankly, would not have been my preference given my four games against those guys in the 80's.

You get an "A" for effort Kovo...

[Kovo]

I just have three things to say about last night's game:

1. I'm pleased that Wheaton continues to serve Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the press box during football games;
2. Kudos to Elmhurst SID Kevin Juday, who was assisting his Wheaton counterpart Brett Marhanka in the press box last night, for bringing along his laptop with his MLB package so that those of us who were working the football game could steal glimpses of the Cubs game; and
2. Not to pat myself on the back, but this diehard Cubs fan did a great job of hiding his jubilation when in the presence of the NPU players and coaches after the game and on the busride home.

That's great. But since I didn't watch or listen to the game, I would like to hear your take on the Crusaders dropping a 41 bomb on the Park in the 2nd half. Was it just one of those days?  Or is it style points for the committee given the loss to NCC and likely second place finish?

I contrast that to The Cards who led 35-0 at the half and "lost" the second half 21-7. Which, quite frankly, would not have been my preference given my four games against those guys in the 80's.

You get an "A" for effort Kovo...

WHAT?!  Me--stirring the pot?  Never! 

[izzy stradlin]

Wheaton 60
NPU 7

Wheaton with 570 yds of offense including a JP11 sighting (he caught a TD and ran for one)
NPU with 147 yds of offense

Seeing Peltz at QB for a bit of the third quarter was a quick reminder that Swider and Scott don't have a good understanding of what quaterbacking is all about. He looked healthy and sharp with Wheaton's 2nd team WR against NPU's 1st team D completing 7-9 through and air and having several nice runs.

We've listed the completion percentage between Peltz and Bowers (updated career 66% Peltz vs 59% Bowers--a big difference) however several people have noted the offense just runs better with Peltz aside from that number.  That's because Peltz has a way better pocket presence and makes quicker better decisions.  It's hard to measure that kind of thing and it doesn't show up necessarily in practice, but here is a stat that hasn't been mentioned and reflects what I am getting at:

Sacks.   
Bowers sacked 33 times (on 415 attempts) which is roughly 13% of passing plays.    A huge number compared to--
Peltz sacked only 5 times in his career!! (on 346 attempts) 1.4% of passing plays.  Yes only 5 times. 

That difference is a really big deal.  Being sacked only 5 times in a career with 66% completion percentage (a strong arm and great deep ball notwithstanding) is really amazing. 

This season feels like the twilight zone for Wheaton.   Again, it's not that Bowers is a bad player, it's that one of the best QBs in program history is healthy and sits on the bench.  The coaches aren't smart enough to realize it.  Actually I am starting to think it really is some form of subconscious reverse nepotism (trying to give Swider credit for the good guy I think he is-- there can't be a rational reason behind this). 

[ncc_fan]

Might there be a disciplinary issue to which we're not privy?

[Neverwas]

Might there be a disciplinary issue to which we're not privy?

Not that you are insinuating anything but he is a great kid so let's put this one to bed quickly.  No.

[USee]

Obviously there is no other issue as he played on Saturday as a receiver (and looked pretty good). This ship has sailed so I am not going to comment further.

As far as Bowers, he has been good this year but not great. He is a dynamic player that is very hard to bring down, despite the sack statistics. My issue is he locks in on his WR (most D3 QB's do) and then if he isn't open he runs. That works against most opponents, but not the best ones. Didn't work against NCC and it won't work past round 1 of the playoffs. You have to know the coverage and work the secondary with your eyes. When you move in the pocket you have to keep the run/pass option as long as possible by watching downfield as you take off. When he starts to scramble he has been 100% run.  Bowers appears to be a throw to the primary receiver or run it guy. That said, ironically, I did see him take off running and pull up to throw it on Saturday for the first time. It was his TD pass to Johnny Peltz. Go figure.

[ncaafootballdad]

Johnny Peltz is leading the conference in passing efficiency, pass completion percentage, and (I think) average yards per carry for quarterbacks.

[Mugsy]

Johnny Peltz is leading the conference in passing efficiency, pass completion percentage, and (I think) average yards per carry for quarterbacks.

And probably in receiving yards and receiving TD's as well.