FB: Northwest Conference

[hazzben]

Agree that it's another weird one. That said, if a guy doesn't make 1st team in a bloated NWC/MIAC way, doesn't that make it even more strange when he gets All Region?

Thanks for the quick answer.

[bluenote]

This is great but my main question is....why would any good player in the NW or California want to go to any other school to play football other than Linfield? They've definately proved that over the last 56 years that they are the best in the NW. IMHO.

[BoBo]

This is great but my main question is....why would any good player in the NW or California want to go to any other school to play football other than Linfield? They've definately proved that over the last 56 years that they are the best in the NW. IMHO.

I don't know Bluenote, does Linfield offer EVERY academic pursuit known to man in their course curriculum? How many Linfield football players have been fortunate enough to have a successful professional football career and not had to rely on their education to make a living?

[hazzben]

This is great but my main question is....why would any good player in the NW or California want to go to any other school to play football other than Linfield? They've definately proved that over the last 56 years that they are the best in the NW. IMHO.

A very Johnnie-esq post Bluenote 

[bluenote]

This is great but my main question is....why would any good player in the NW or California want to go to any other school to play football other than Linfield? They've definately proved that over the last 56 years that they are the best in the NW. IMHO.

A very Johnnie-esq post Bluenote 

Hahaha... 

[(509)Rat]

Ford is/was the best WR in the conference. Never real impressed with the Willamette guys, they simply benefitted from defensive breakdowns because of the fly. Although, Schoettgen has definitely been the most talented bearkitty WR as of late. As for UPS...at least they have a good bball program.

On a completely unrelated note. I played flag football with a bunch of DIII guys. Central, Wartburg, PLU, St. Johns (unfortunately not a recipient of the coveted "Johnny Award"), etc. There was a kid from a SCIAC program...too bad he didn't make it past the first round of tryouts. Anyways, it's impressive seeing all of the DIII athlete representation in many of the toughest graduate programs/professions across the country. Sort of makes you proud to have played at this level.

[Kingsmen4]

Ford is/was the best WR in the conference. Never real impressed with the Willamette guys, they simply benefitted from defensive breakdowns because of the fly. Although, Schoettgen has definitely been the most talented bearkitty WR as of late. As for UPS...at least they have a good bball program.

On a completely unrelated note. I played flag football with a bunch of DIII guys. Central, Wartburg, PLU, St. Johns (unfortunately not a recipient of the coveted "Johnny Award"), etc. There was a kid from a SCIAC program...too bad he didn't make it past the first round of tryouts. Anyways, it's impressive seeing all of the DIII athlete representation in many of the toughest graduate programs/professions across the country. Sort of makes you proud to have played at this level.

Merben Woo was a solid slot receiver for Willamette. Also was a Kingsmen for a single August camp in 2006 and spent a year in school at Cal Lu.

-Go LU

[(509)Rat]

Merben Woo was a solid slot receiver for Willamette

I wouldn't disagree with that. But calling the Willamette fly guy a WR is a bit of a stretch...

[wildcat11]

Merben Woo was a solid slot receiver for Willamette

I wouldn't disagree with that. But calling the Willamette fly guy a WR is a bit of a stretch...

Agreed. 

On your other point (509) I guess it's all a matter of perspective.  Linfield was always able to contain Ford and was only able to score vs Linfield last season vs our 2nd/3rd unit.  Ford is a stud but he never worried me headed into a game like Schoettgen did.  The guy killed us in 2008 and 2009 and Linfield put a HEAVY emphasis on Schoettgen in terms of defensive scheme this past season and we were finally able to limit him with a lot of attention.

[hard to admit] Next to Boehme, I would consider Schoettgen the best offensive skill player in the NWC the past couple of seasons. [/hard to admit]

[(509)Rat]

On your other point (509) I guess it's all a matter of perspective.  Linfield was always able to contain Ford and was only able to score vs Linfield last season vs our 2nd/3rd unit.  Ford is a stud but he never worried me headed into a game like Schoettgen did.  The guy killed us in 2008 and 2009 and Linfield put a HEAVY emphasis on Schoettgen in terms of defensive scheme this past season and we were finally able to limit him with a lot of attention.

[hard to admit] Next to Boehme, I would consider Schoettgen the best offensive skill player in the NWC the past couple of seasons. [/hard to admit]

Perspective is the key. I watched Ford do more damage than Chaido (sp?) when he was a freshman against a very good Whitworth D. Something I never saw Schoettgen do against average Whit D's. I never played against Schoettgen but from what I've seen during games (mostly online), I personally would rather play man on him than Ford. When I was at Whitworth we shut down Willamette's passing game and many of us DB's were able to cheat a lot and jump routes based on formation/down and distance. Willamette has some huge tendencies based on formation...too bad there so stinkin good at running their offense that there isn't much you can do about it. It's also too bad their tendencies still aren't as bad as Whitworth's lol

[Bearcat Press]

I've been staying on the sidelines since wildcat11's been doing such a good job making my points ... 

IMO, Ford was hampered this year (and the last couple of years) due to injury, so I'm not sure if he was ever able to put his full skill set on display.  That being said, I don't know how the argument can be made that Schoettgen wasn't the best WR in the NWC.  His physical ability and his speed were really unparalleled, and I'm fairly certain that if he'd started playing football before his senior year of high school he wouldn't have ended up at Willamette.

Just to pull stats from a few games:
2008: 7 catches, 169 yards, 2 TD vs. UW-Whitewater
2009: 8 catches, 122 yards, 2 TD vs. Linfield
2010: 7 catches, 144 yards, 4 TD vs. Lewis & Clark

I only threw in the L&C game because it marked the third time he had 4 touchdown catches in a game.

If I had to rank NWC skill players the last three years, it'd look like this:

1. Aaron Boehme, Linfield
2. Scott Schoettgen, Willamette
3. Adam Anderson (circa 2008), Whitworth
4. Merben Woo, Willamette
5. Greg Ford, PLU

[(509)Rat]

Ford had 5 TD's against L&C in 2008...It's L&C, who cares?

I have nothing against Schoettgen. But as a DB who played against, witnessed in person/on film, many good WR's in this conference (including some of the people mentioned), I tend to put a lot more value on what I see in person vs. what you see on paper. I don't like just looking at statistics. Statistics would tell you that Rory Lee is as good a RB as Anderson was this year and T. Ford was in 2003...I don't know too many people who would rather have Lee than the other two.

My opinion on Ford vs. Schoettgen is only that, an opinion. And that opinion really is based off of their careers rather than just this season (or even the last two), remember that Ford has been starting for the last 4 years. From what I've seen this year (not a whole lot) then you guys are absolutely right, Schoettgen had the better year, but not by much.

[wildcat11]

Statistics would tell you that Rory Lee is as good a RB as Anderson was this year and T. Ford was in 2003...I don't know too many people who would rather have Lee than the other two.

Rory Lee....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!  +K (509)........good to have you back.

[river]

. . . .
IMO, Ford was hampered this year (and the last couple of years) due to injury, so I'm not sure if he was ever able to put his full skill set on display.  That being said, I don't know how the argument can be made that Schoettgen wasn't the best WR in the NWC.  His physical ability and his speed were really unparalleled, and I'm fairly certain that if he'd started playing football before his senior year of high school he wouldn't have ended up at Willamette.
. . . .

I Agree.   

[river]

. . . . 

On your other point (509) I guess it's all a matter of perspective.  Linfield was always able to contain Ford and was only able to score vs Linfield last season vs our 2nd/3rd unit.  Ford is a stud but he never worried me headed into a game like Schoettgen did.  The guy killed us in 2008 and 2009 and Linfield put a HEAVY emphasis on Schoettgen in terms of defensive scheme this past season and we were finally able to limit him with a lot of attention.

[hard to admit] Next to Boehme, I would consider Schoettgen the best offensive skill player in the NWC the past couple of seasons. [/hard to admit]

My emphasis. 
Which raises the issue of who should have been chosen for the All-Region team as WR, the "best offensive skill player" or the player with the best stats.


RECEPTIONS/GAME    Team Cl  G  Rec  Yds TD Long Avg/C Rec/G
----------------------------------------------------------------
1. Kniffin, Adam.......  UPS  SO  9   93  921 17   36   9.9   10.33
2. Ford, Greg..........   PLU   SR  9   51  843  9   73  16.5    5.67
3. Schoettgen, Scott... WU   SR 10  49 960 13   78  19.6   4.89
4. Moog, Isaac.........  PLU   SR  9   44  633  9   45  14.4   70.3
5. Slezak, Chris.......  LIN    SR 11   49  739  6   47  15.1  67.2

All five of the above made the NWC first team as WRs.  Only Kniffin made the All West Region Team.  WU had a 7-2 team record, UPS was 2-7.  Schoettgen probably had a greater impact on winning games for WU, Kniffin caught passes in losing efforts.  (UPS had two wins against Pacific, with only one close game losing against PLU).