FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[CardinalAlum]

Just to throw my 2 cents in about Studebaker, some of the other D-line guys that were mentioned had very good linebacking corps behind them.  Chip Parrish, Thane Ritchie, and Mugsy  come to mind.  Although not a bad bunch, Studebaker has not had a stud linebacker to make his job easier.  That makes him impressive to me.  I guess only time will tell, but an excellent start so far.

Don't forget Thorsen!

[matblake]

Shoot, I knew that I was going to miss someone important like that. Sorry Chad!

[Jim Matson]

I hadn't thought about Andy Studs performance and the potential coorelation with a strong LB.  Interesting and to Andy's favor.

On that top 5 list (well done Mugs), I would put Drew as tops in pure talent.  But in my humble opinion, Andy will end up on top of that list.

[Mugsy]

Just to throw my 2 cents in about Studebaker, some of the other D-line guys that were mentioned had very good linebacking corps behind them.  Chip Parrish, Thane Ritchie, and Mugsy  come to mind.  Although not a bad bunch, Studebaker has not had a stud linebacker to make his job easier.  That makes him impressive to me.  I guess only time will tell, but an excellent start so far.

matblake,

Excellent point about how the level of players around you enhances or limits your effectiveness.  It is well-documented and often discussed by TV analysts during NFL or NCAA games how a LB benefits from stud DTs & DEs either causing havoc in the backfield or occupying offensive linemen so that the LB can clean up.  If you don't have the studs up front, the LB play will suffer significantly.

I think it is rare to think in the opposite direction - that stud LB's can make life easier for the D-line.  There is an element that LB's like Parrish, Thorsen, Ritchie, McGowen, Ritzman, etc... require different blocking schemes that will make life easier on the D-lineman.

Thanks for the thought of including me in that list, but I was at best the 4th best linebacker on our 1988 team (so no where near the discussion on top LBs).  I played next to Chad Thorsen, Thane Ritchie and Andy McGowen - all 3 studs, all 3 had NFL tryouts.  Some might argue I was the 5th best linebacker on the team, because I broke a few ribs and missed a few games and Brian Pollard filled in without a drop in the level of play at all.

With regards to the LB's behind Studebaker, I am interested in seeing how they continue to develop.  There is serious potential there and I saw some nice things in the first 2 games from the LB's.  Steve Pagh (6-3 224 Soph), Jonathan Toal (6-2 228 Senior) and Mike McKinney (5-9 200 Junior).  A very active, quick, hard-hitting bunch.  I was particularly impressed with Pagh in the WashU game, and McKinney probably had the hardest hit in the game on the WashU sideline (QB neglected to get out of bounds fast enough and paid severely).

[Mugsy]

Oh Man, am i old! 

Ah... you tee'd that one up for me.  It's just too easy, so I'm going to let it go this time. 








You old fart!

[Mugsy]

I would put Drew as tops in pure talent.  But in my humble opinion, Andy will end up on top of that list.

No argument from me.  I only put Drew lower on the list because of injuries.

[Comet 14]

Fatal- I thought that Freund was very rusty. You could tell he had not played QB in some time. He would have to improve a lot to take the job from a healthy Kudyba. Of course thats just my opinion.

[ncc58]

Here are the latest High School Polls in Illinois  per Daily Herald ...

In classes 4A - 8A, private/Catholic schools are still noticeable at the top of the rankings. What happens next, since the mulipliers don't seem to be working, does that IHSA banish the private/Catholic schools to their own class?

[Comet 14]

We are not going to start that argument up on this board are we?

[79jaybird]

FatalImpact "Kudyba could lose his job next year....."
Slow down tiger...hehe  it is WAY TO EARLY to be looking ahead to next year. A) It's unfair to the 2006 team that is 2-0 and off to a good start B) Anything and everything could happen between now and the start of next year.  I as does Coach Journell, looks ahead to 1 week at a time, and right now I could hear Coach saying,  "I don't even know who EC plays after Olivet... right now I am just focused on getting (his) team ready for Olivet on Saturday.
Comet14-- You thought Ryan looked a little rusty?  Interesting.  I thought both QB's did all right.  I am curious to see who Coach Journell starts on Saturday.  Are you going to be at the game?  I am still deciding if I want to stay in Marshall, MI or Charlotte, MI but I know I am leaving Chitown on Friday... so I don't have to fight the traffic.
MidwestFB-- good point.  The Catholic/Private school vs. public school debate has been a longtime topic of discussion.  I played against both and have seen Prospect compete in the playoffs against both.  
Personally,  I would have the class system go by strictly by enrollments I.E. Nequa Valley and Stevenson 8A  and some of the downstate schools in rural towns 1,2, or 3A, etc.
Very cloudy and rainy here in Chattanooga, but I love the town and southern hospitality.

[matblake]

Just to throw my 2 cents in about Studebaker, some of the other D-line guys that were mentioned had very good linebacking corps behind them.  Chip Parrish, Thane Ritchie, and Mugsy  come to mind.  Although not a bad bunch, Studebaker has not had a stud linebacker to make his job easier.  That makes him impressive to me.  I guess only time will tell, but an excellent start so far.

matblake,

Excellent point about how the level of players around you enhances or limits your effectiveness.  It is well-documented and often discussed by TV analysts during NFL or NCAA games how a LB benefits from stud DTs & DEs either causing havoc in the backfield or occupying offensive linemen so that the LB can clean up.  If you don't have the studs up front, the LB play will suffer significantly.

I think it is rare to think in the opposite direction - that stud LB's can make life easier for the D-line.  There is an element that LB's like Parrish, Thorsen, Ritchie, McGowen, Ritzman, etc... require different blocking schemes that will make life easier on the D-lineman.

Thanks for the thought of including me in that list, but I was at best the 4th best linebacker on our 1988 team (so no where near the discussion on top LBs).  I played next to Chad Thorsen, Thane Ritchie and Andy McGowen - all 3 studs, all 3 had NFL tryouts.  Some might argue I was the 5th best linebacker on the team, because I broke a few ribs and missed a few games and Brian Pollard filled in without a drop in the level of play at all.

With regards to the LB's behind Studebaker, I am interested in seeing how they continue to develop.  There is serious potential there and I saw some nice things in the first 2 games from the LB's.  Steve Pagh (6-3 224 Soph), Jonathan Toal (6-2 228 Senior) and Mike McKinney (5-9 200 Junior).  A very active, quick, hard-hitting bunch.  I was particularly impressed with Pagh in the WashU game, and McKinney probably had the hardest hit in the game on the WashU sideline (QB neglected to get out of bounds fast enough and paid severely).

In addition to modifying blocking schemes, those LB often took away the mid level passing game.  Having to check off to option #2 after dumping option #1 often gives the D-line enough time to make a play.  

Thanks for reminding me of Ritzman, Mugsy.  He was a stud who never got enough credit because of the presence of Parrish, IMO.

[matblake]

Thanks for the thought of including me in that list, but I was at best the 4th best linebacker on our 1988 team (so no where near the discussion on top LBs).  I played next to Chad Thorsen, Thane Ritchie and Andy McGowen - all 3 studs, all 3 had NFL tryouts.  Some might argue I was the 5th best linebacker on the team, because I broke a few ribs and missed a few games and Brian Pollard filled in without a drop in the level of play at all.

Mugsy, always the humble one. 

[Mugsy]

Mugsy, always the humble one. 

Not always, not enough...  Mostly trying to have a realistic view.

[Tailgater]

Mugsy:
Several pages back you mentioned your CCIW cross-pollination as an undergrade at Wheaton and grade school at NCC. I have some CCIW cross-pollinating going on as well, but only from a family standpoint. Back in 1969 - 1970 my Dad was a scout for Wheaton when Mal Pearson was the head coach. I used to go along and help as a spotter. This was back in the day where pencil, paper, charts and binoculars were the tools of choice. I can still remember watching Augie's Kenny Anderson torch some poor defense for 400+ passing yards. I hope it wasn't my Dad's scouting skills which led to Coach Pearson's dismal record and short lived career at Wheaton.  My Mom served 22 years as the Nurse Practitioner for the Wheaton College Health Center. My younger brother married a Wheaton grad whose Dad is currently on the Wheaton College Board of Trustees. I would have never guessed that 30 some years after my scouting experience I would have a son playing in the CCIW. Needless to say I saw more than my share of Crusader football (as I knew them) over those years.

[Tailgater]

Diehardfan:
You had some discussion about NCC trying an on-side kick against BU just before the half. I won't comment on the merits of sportsmanship in doing so with a 28-0 lead as I feel you gotta do what you gotta do. With 3:38 left in the half and a 14-0 lead Carthage also executed a successful on-side kick against Whittier. They proceeded to move the ball into field goal range and added 3 points to the score as the clock ticked to zero. The circumstances were certainly different than that of NCC, but sometimes you need to pick places to experiment on things you've work on in practice as there is no way to really tell what might happen under game conditions. You surely wouldn't want to find out something doesn't work or is a bad idea against a conference opponent. I suppose that's one of the purposes for non-conference games at the beginning of the year.