FB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[Son of Tailgater]

I think Whittier is an up and coming team and I'm not overly surprised it was a competitive game.

When Whittier came to Wisconsin to play us last year they had stepped off the plane and onto the field. As a team they seemed very disinterested in being there in the first place just by the way they warmed up and how quiet they were. I am not sure if the game yesterday was competitive because Whittier had improved from last year or if the traveling and new distractions had anything to do with the result. I was listening to the broadcast and it seems like Whittier had some play makers this year and for an opening game they did pretty well. It is always good to start 3-0 in non-conference play and hopefully that carries momentum to the conference games.

I can remember the last non-conference loss in 2003 vs Lakeland. I was a freshman standing on the sidelines and did not play a snap in that game.  I can remember that it was a  PAT that we missed which came back to bite us when we lost 17-16.

[Titan Q]

Once again, turnovers and special teams mistakes kill the Titans...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/09/16/sports/doc46ec8c7a23a15138575918.txt


I suppose a lot of losing football teams make this statement, but if IWU could just limit turnovers they'd be pretty good.   I think the Titans have enough talent to play with everyone in the CCIW.  They could finish anywhere from 2nd to 7th.

[TrueAugieAlum]

Well, Augie had a bye this week.  Still will not help them for next week.
Playing the pasty team two weeks in a row will not help the moral of this team.
To bad they could not play MacMurray before heading into conference play!!!!
So, they will be 1-2 at the start of the "real" season.

Seems to me, by talking to team members that the heart of the team is not there this year.  The seniors just want to get their last year in and really do not want to make the playoffs so they can enjoy the two week vacation that Augustana is getting this year at Thanksgiving.

The entire team is also tired of practicing an offensive scheme that never materializes come game time. Baldwin-Wallace would have been a perfect time to try some passing.  The team practiced and were told they would pass on second down situations. - even Charlie Weis let his freshman who was starting his first game pass the ball more times than Augie will let their team pass all season!!  But the offensive call play reverts back to a scheme that just does not work anymore.

Augie will fall back on run offense even when they do not have the size or talent on the offensive line to support the attack.  And, of course, the coaches must think it too much work to have specialty players for different situations.   You will see the same offensive line in there on long yardage, short yardage, red zone, extra point. 

I think that I will start following Alleman instead this year.  More exciting and it will not waste my Saturday afternoons.

[football2007]

Well, Augie had a bye this week.  Still will not help them for next week.
Playing the pasty team two weeks in a row will not help the moral of this team.
To bad they could not play MacMurray before heading into conference play!!!!
So, they will be 1-2 at the start of the "real" season.

Seems to me, by talking to team members that the heart of the team is not there this year.  The seniors just want to get their last year in and really do not want to make the playoffs so they can enjoy the two week vacation that Augustana is getting this year at Thanksgiving.

The entire team is also tired of practicing an offensive scheme that never materializes come game time. Baldwin-Wallace would have been a perfect time to try some passing.  The team practiced and were told they would pass on second down situations. - even Charlie Weis let his freshman who was starting his first game pass the ball more times than Augie will let their team pass all season!!  But the offensive call play reverts back to a scheme that just does not work anymore.

Augie will fall back on run offense even when they do not have the size or talent on the offensive line to support the attack.  And, of course, the coaches must think it too much work to have specialty players for different situations.   You will see the same offensive line in there on long yardage, short yardage, red zone, extra point. 

I think that I will start following Alleman instead this year.  More exciting and it will not waste my Saturday afternoons.

Might want to rethink the Alleman statement.  They are way down this year from the team they have been in the past.  Hope they can rebuild.

[usee]

Once again, turnovers and special teams mistakes kill the Titans...

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/09/16/sports/doc46ec8c7a23a15138575918.txt


I suppose a lot of losing football teams make this statement, but if IWU could just limit turnovers they'd be pretty good.   I think the Titans have enough talent to play with everyone in the CCIW.  They could finish anywhere from 2nd to 7th.

It would seem IWU has some very talented players at the skill positions. they seem to have found a qb, clearly have at least 2 wr's, an all conf runningback and a very good defense. The key to winning in the CCIW, however, is the battle at the line of scrimmage. the championship teams will dominate the LOS and give their skill guys a chance to make plays.  turnovers, in and of themselves, are not indicative of losing the LOS battle but they could be.

the biggest red flag for this IWU team I can see is the consistently poor special teams play. If your punt team gives up points 3 weeks in a row that is simply bad coaching. You can't claim talented players and give up cheap points on special teams. That is inexcusable.

I will be interested to see how this IWU team performs early in the CCIW schedule. Wheaton plays them in Btown on the last weekend in what could be a very important game for the Thunder.

[Titan Q]

If your punt team gives up points 3 weeks in a row that is simply bad coaching.

I'm not sure I totally agree with that.  For example, if your long snapper gets it to the punter's hands with no problem in practice, then continues to snap it over his head during games, is that bad coaching or bad player execution?

[usee]

If your punt team gives up points 3 weeks in a row that is simply bad coaching.

I'm not sure I totally agree with that.  For example, if your long snapper gets it to the punter's hands with no problem in practice, then continues to snap it over his head during games, is that bad coaching or bad player execution?

If the long snapper does it 2x in a game he shouldn't be the long snapper. If he continues to be the long snapper that's the coaches decision. Special teams takes good coaching.

If you have good players in your system (usually young players) it takes coaching to get them to play well in a game. there are something like 30-40 special teams plays in a typcial game. that's a lot of impact. If you ever get to see Mt Union play you will see they have awesome special teams play.

[Titan Q]

Special teams takes good coaching.

We're in agreement here, but I still think the players have to go out and execute.  You could have the best special teams coach in the country but if the players don't execute (either because they are young/inexperienced or even because they are not talented enough...and you are just coaching the special teams players you have been given) you're going to have problems.

IWU has continued to bring in good CCIW football players over the course of the last five years but the depth of talent is what has really fallen off.  I think lack of depth gets exposed on the O/D lines and in special teams more than anywhere, and these areas have been big problems for IWU during this tough stretch of years. 

Mount Union has tremendous special teams play year after year, but they also have tremendous special teams personnel on the field at all times.  It is amazing how that works -- afterall, IWU used to consistently have some of the best special teams play in the CCIW with the same coaching.

[SaintsFAN]

Mugsy,

How is the QB doing? 

[usee]

If your punt team gives up points 3 weeks in a row that is simply bad coaching.

I'm not sure I totally agree with that.  For example, if your long snapper gets it to the punter's hands with no problem in practice, then continues to snap it over his head during games, is that bad coaching or bad player execution?

I agree with you entirely. It is bad execution but if a player continues to do it why is he in there? I don't know if the long snapper is the only guy in bloomington that can do that but its not likely. If it were me I would put a new guy in there. How much worse can it be?

keep in mind the same coaches are also the ones stocking the cupboard. I know there are a lot of variables that goes into getting good players throughout your program but IWU has had it in the past (they certainly have it in basketball) but for whatever reason, as you have said, they haven't had the depth in the past 5 years they had throughout the 90's.

[usee]

Mugsy,

How is the QB doing? 

I believe Ullrich stayed at the hospital in St Louis. Wheaton has a big alum in St Louis that is taking care of his family while he recovers. Sounds like Zach may be out indefinately. Lets pray he is ok.

[Titan Q]

It is bad execution but if a player continues to do it why is he in there? I don't know if the long snapper is the only guy in bloomington that can do that but its not likely. If it were me I would put a new guy in there. How much worse can it be?

But what if you have switched long snappers and the new guy is also not producing?  Is it now the fault of the special teams coach for making the switch?

keep in mind the same coaches are also the ones stocking the cupboard. I know there are a lot of variables that goes into getting good players throughout your program but IWU has had it in the past (they certainly have it in basketball) but for whatever reason, as you have said, they haven't had the depth in the past 5 years they had throughout the 90's.

The topic of why IWU's football recruiting has fallen off the last 4-5 years is an entirely different discussion.  Without getting into all of that at this time, I will say that comparing football recruiting to basketball is tough to do.  In basketball, if you find Adam Dauksas, Keelan Amelianovich, and Zach Freeman and put some role players around them, you can win the league and make a run at the Final Four.  In football it takes a bunch of great players. 

My point here is simply that it may not be fair to pin IWU's early 2007 special teams play on the coaches responsible for special teams.   Without seeing IWU play or being familiar with all of the personnel issues, you've made some pretty bold statements about where blame belongs and I just don't think it is that black and white.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I realize this is grasping for straws, but one silver-lining for the Titan special teams: they only gave up 14 yds per kickoff return to MSJ.  Against Coe they yielded 50.4, which puts the defense in a BIG hole!

Good luck and best wishes to Zach Ullrich.  Has the problem been (publicly) identified yet?

[79jaybird]

ELMHURST 36
CHICAGO 13
Wilharm 56 yds TD
Kudyba 134 yds passing 2 TD's
Veldhuis 7 catches 101 yds
Gierke 7 catches 79 yds
Scardullo 11 tackles
Ambriz and Maple 6 tackles.  Ambriz 2 sacks.

Elmhurst defense really rose to the occasion and handcuffed Chicago.  The Bluejays offense showed signs of that "quick strike" and their defense provided 14 points of their own.  Vrettos (DL) with an interception for a TD and Ambriz interception set up a late score.
The second and third strings played from halfway through the 3rd quarter on.

The thing I was most impressed about this game was Elmhurst defense being smart and not fooled by the mis-direction and delayed handoffs Chicago was using to try and "deceive" the defense.  The LB's and secondary were staying home and making good reads.

[79jaybird]

Chicago was floundering on offense and could not really establish much.  This was due to a combination of the defensive penetration by the ends (Kelly & Vrettos) as well as Chicago just looking "slow" on their offensive execution.

The only thing I would like to see touched up a bit from an Elmhurst viewpoint is making sure the Jays finish their tackles.  Overall it was a solid outing by the D, but there were a few missed tackles that led to first downs. Not a big deal, but something to just work on limiting.

Elmhurst runs their non-conference winning streak to 12 games and make is 5 straight (5-1 overall) against Chicago.