Ugh. That is all that I can say. It’s been a month, and that is what I'm left with. I've spent the last month trying to forget the events of Dec 3. I've almost completely succeeded. So now it is time to put my thoughts down on the electric paper known as the interwebs. Basically what I think happened - the better team won. As much as it pains me to say that, it's true. The Bearcats were just too beat up and ran into a team that was on a roll and was able to make the needed adjustments. That MSU team was a big physical team, and despite winning, the Bearcats took a physical beating doing it. That combined with the injuries that were already on the team were just too much for the Bearcats to overcome. If the injuries weren't bad enough - the weather was atrocious.
I don’t know if JF3 got injured or what, but despite having a productive 1st quarter, in the drive that started the 2nd quarter he touched the ball twice, and then didn’t see it go his way again until the fourth quarter where he carried it one more time. I’m not really sure what happened there, but I thought that they went away from the run game way too much. With the weather conditions, Adams was not able to throw the ball at all. I don’t know if he has small hands or what, but in both games that were wet – he had a bad games. That is something that will definitely need to be addressed before next season. When Adams was able to get the ball to his receivers, they were not able to catch anything. I know that it’s going to sound like an excuse, but the five games prior to that game, the windy conditions had severely limited NW’s ability to throw the ball. So the WR’s had literally gone a month without seeing the ball really being thrown to them all that much.
On defense… NW got dumptrucked. I hate to say it, but it’s true. NW wasn’t able to stop the stupid Gorillas at all in the second half. Dickey connected with Brown for three TD’s. One of them was a breakdown on the D’s part – but the other two were simply amazing throws by Dickey and great catches by Brown. I do not look forward to having to face Brown for the next 2 years! And that is what it boiled down too – those two players were unstoppable. Dickey played an amazing game – both throwing and running the ball.
That is not how I wanted those Seniors to experience their last game as Bearcats. They were a great group of kids. This was the first class that I can honestly say that I saw their entire career. I only missed a handful of their games, and it was truly my pleasure to watch them grow into the fine young men that they are today.
Looking Forward:
So what does 2012 hold for the Bearcats? Well, no one is for sure - but I will bet that they will be a better team then they were in 2011. NW does lose some VERY talented players - the biggest losses will come from Soy, both Kilgores, and Lorenson. The Bearcats lose Blake Christopher @ QB - but I think that Adams actually ended up playing in twice as many games and started more games than Christopher did. Jake Soy is arguably the best WR that NW has ever had - the only thing that makes his departure more manageable is the fact that he was injured most of the year and so he wasn't quite the key player that he had been in previous years. But his loss will definitely be felt.
On Offense, I think NW will be pretty good. They ended the year as the most scoring O in the country - and that should continue next year. The loss of Soy, Mosely, and Pierce will hurt in the WR core - despite being injured Soy was still the Bearcats leading receiver and the other two both stepped up nicely as role receivers. NW does have a lot of very good young receivers. Obviously having Tyler Shaw back is huge, and having a healthy Shaw in the game makes the opponents defense have to respect the deep ball on every play. Bryce Young stepped up nicely late in the season - I believe that he had a groin injury when the season began. I would also like to see Utter, Hinchey, and Miller all step up. They have all been good at times and have the potential to be really good - they just need to do it. We will also get to see some of the freshmen in action. I am particularly interested in seeing what Joseph Traylor can bring - he is from Tyler Texas (NW has gotten some pretty good WR's out of TX) and is the tallest of all the receivers on the team. In the run game, NW returns the dangerous duo of Simmons & JF3. Kyle Kilgore will be a loss at TE - but NW has a history of having really good TE's. I honestly didn't think Kyle was going to be as good as he was this year - he definitely stepped up his game. The coaching staff has indicated that they are very satisfied with the players that they have coming back. I know that Jon Gregg is a big human being. Coming into the 2011 season, he was lacking in the blocking department. Well that area has really improved this season. I've heard that he is going to be working with a TE who is currently in the NFL this summer - so that can't hurt his skill set! The only real question that I have, is who is going to be the QB? Trevor Adams, for all means and purposes - was the starting QB in 2011. I have been his biggest fan throughout this season. The only knock that I have against him is his ability to throw a wet ball. It doesn't matter if you are the next Tom Brady, if all it takes to bring you back down to earth is a little rain - thats not a good thing. It also seems to take a while for him to get settled down if he gets rattled. Granted this was his first season being 'the man' and he wasn't even technically 'the man'. I think that if he works on his wet ball technique - works with his receivers it could be a really majical thing. I think he could easily become a really great QB. His work ethic can't be questioned and he develops those intangibles - look out. I've heard that Brady Bolles had a great red shirt freshman season. I would not be surprised if he challenges Adams for the starting role.
The Northwest D was the weak link this year - primarily because they were so young. Coming into the 2011 season, the defense was replacing 9 starters. Along the line, NW will have to replace Aaron Terry and Josh Lorenson - but I think that they will be fine. Lorenson will be a loss at DT - but he wasn't as dominant there as some previous DT's have been. I have been looking forward to seeing some of last years recruits play - specifically Brandon Yost and Harold Coates. Yost turned down several D1 offers hoping to get an offer from the Huskers, when that didn't happen; he chose to come to NW rather than walk on at Nebraska. The other gentleman was a highly recruited lineman out of Pittsburgh PA several years ago. But there were rumors a few months ago that he was no longer with the team - that may have to do with his Dec 20th pleading guilty to 'harassment by any communication frightening/intimidating/causing emotional distress or apprehension of physical contact or recklessly frightening a person under the age of 17. Rumor has it that he is looking to play at Pitt St. As I understand the MIAA rules - if he goes to PSU he will have to sit out a year unless NW gives him a release. The same way that Graylon Sanders had to sit out this year at Pitt State after being kicked off the NW team for a bar fight in the spring. PSU is quickly becoming Penitentiary State University. But getting back to the NW Dline - my only other concern is D end. I think Longacre has sewn up on spot. Baily and Meinert will battle for the other. But neither have dramatically impressed me this season. Meinert has a motor that won't stop, but seems to be injury prone. I would not be surprised to see the coaching staff look for a transfer at this position. At linebacker - Chad Kilgore will be missed - I believe that he was the last player to play as a true freshman - other than Todd Adolf and Kyle Goodburn, both kickers. But DJ Gnader really impressed during the playoffs. NW has a plethora of good LB's, so I'm not worried at all about that. When it comes to the secondary - NW will need to improve on 2011. But the secondary was extremely young last year, and they were directed by a new coach. There were only 3 seniors last year that started, and none of them started all season. If Emporia is any indication of what a Ken Gordon secondary can be - then look out. They led the country in interceptions this year. Having a good pass rush from the Dline, dramatically improves the secondary - and that is only going to get better in 2012. I would not be surprised to see a transfer or two here as well. Bryce Enyard was a total surprise in 2011 - but ended up being one of the best in the country. I would not be surprised to see him play more safety than cornerback in the future. He looked very good playing that role. I'm hoping that he turns into the second coming of Myles Burnside at safety. Only time will tell though.
At the end of last season - even before Mel announced his retirement, when looking at the upcoming year I thought that NW was going to be good but the 2012 team was going to be really good. I felt the same way after the 2007 season, I expected 2008 to be good, but the next year to be really good. I hope that that trend continues!
2012 is the first year of the new expanded MIAA - meaning that every team does not play everyone. Luckily for NW, the Bearcats were scheduled to play UNO the first game the next two years, so that gives them the opportunity to schedule some out of conference games. Below is the 2012 schedule:
| 2012 Football Schedule | ||
| Aug. 30 or Sept. 1 | East Central (Okla.) | Maryville, Mo. |
| Sept. 8 | Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Mo. |
| Sept. 15 | Fort Hays State | Maryville, Mo. |
| Sept. 22 | Nebraska-Kearney | Kearney, Neb. |
| Sept. 29 | Family Weekend- Northeastern State (Okla.) | Maryville, Mo. |
| Oct. 6 | Central Oklahoma | Edmond, Okla. |
| Oct. 13 | Fall Classic- Pittsburg State | Kansas City, Mo. |
| Oct. 20 | Missouri Southern | Joplin, Mo. |
| Oct. 27 | Washburn | Topeka, Kan. |
| Nov. 3 | Homecoming- Emporia State | Maryville, Mo. |
| Nov. 10 | Missouri Western | Maryville, Mo. |
