2014 Season so far

I had no plans on writing a Bearcat Report this season. I've taken a second job in the evenings which takes up a lot of my time, and to be honest I don't have much time to write these. But I've had multiple people ask about this, and it is rather cathartic to get my ramblings out. So I'm not sure how often I will be writing these.

That is a long boring drive to Hays Kansas. Its amazing how that 90 miles from Salina to Hays can seem to last forever.

LAST WEEKS GAME:

Lets start on a good note: the defense. Wow. They went out there and shut down the Tigers offense. They held the Tigers to 80 yards of rushing - 30 of which came on the last play of the Tigers possession where the QB ran for a 32 yard TD. They also held the passing game of Hays to just 98 yards - almost half of that (46 yards) came on 1 play. Overall - it was a dominating performance. But it didn't come without a cost. Brandon Yost got hurt. I've heard it was his elbow. Not sure how long he will be out. My guess is it won't be too long - when he comes back he will have a bionic arm to match Longacre.

Special Teams were a lot better this week - but that doesn't take much after that dumpster fire last week.

Offense: still needs a lot of work. Once again we see another prime example of the Bearcats not being able to do much until the opposition gets worn down a little. Which I really don't understand. I really do believe that the talent is there. It is just that for some reason the offense can't 'click'. I don't know if that is from a lack of leadership on the team or what. My guess is that it's a combination of things. For one, the offensive line is not nearly as dominate as we are used to seeing at NW. Northwest also apparently doesn't have the deep threat that we are used to - not like the line is giving Bolles enough time to get it deep. And then when they do, Bolles has over thrown his receiver. But when was the last time he threw deep? It's been several weeks at least - and when he was given the okay to throw it deep it was at the time that the coaches were playing everybody with a WR behind their name - that doesn't allow a QB and WR to develop timing. Timing is very important on those deep routes! Lately they have reigned in the number of skill players - which is helping, I just hope it isn't too late. Bryce Young will probably be coming back next week - hopefully he will provide the leadership and maybe be the missing cog that the offense needs. Even on the short routes - Bolles needs to get better than he has been. He's got to stop throwing behind his receivers from time to time. The WR's didn't drop the ball like they did last week - which was unexplainable. Several times I've noticed the WR's not running the route correctly - ie they need 8 yards, but they run 7 and then turn - ending up a yard short; that's just not acceptable. What in the world is up in the world of the RB's. I'm kind of sick and tired of the RB of the week being in the doghouse and not seeing the field. We saw it last year with RB3 in the playoffs - culminating with him not seeing the field in an RB role in the NC game. Last week PJ2 averaged 5.9 yards per carry,having his first 100 yard game of the season (82 rushing) and then this week he didn't touch the ball until the 4th quarter - despite being on the 4 yard line and not being able to punch it in. I'm sorry - put your differences aside and put your power RB in and let him punch it in! Finally this week the coaches started to use Marcus Wright. I said it 6 months ago that Wright is of the same mold as Josh Baker - he's a poor man's Josh Baker. I don't think that he's quite the athletic talent that Baker had, but I think he could be pretty darn close! They also need to start using the other TE TJ Schieber. Defenses today don't account for a TE - as we've seen the few times that we've used them.  TJ has some great hands and appears to block really well. In the Lindenwood and the Ft Hays game, there was an offensive series that the TE's were utilized and the ball was moved very well. Hopefully this will continue and the coaches don't forget about them!

I honestly think the primary problem with the offense so far has been the play calling. I know in the past AD was doing all of the play calling himself - but I'm thinking that may be changing. I know during the last game there were a couple of times that AD was yelling at the refs the entire time between plays - there is no way that he was involved in the play selection, yet the next play got signaled in and ran. I'm not saying that AD has completely given up calling the plays - as I don't foresee AD ever being able to do that, but I do think that Flohr is playing a bigger role in choosing the plays. This could explain why it has taken sooo long at times to get the play in. And why NW has to change personnel between EVERY play! Overall, a lot of the problems I think can be linked back to the coaching staff. At the beginning of the season, when the team is normally really gelling and coming together as a cohesive unit, the coaches were busy bringing in everybody on the team to play a down. But that has finally changed the last couple of games. Hopefully they can fix it and they can come together prior to the play-offs. I truly believe that if/when the offense comes together - it will be a lot like last year. It isn't that the offense is lacking in talent - its just that it hasn't all 'come together' yet.

Next Game

Since the MoWest game is a rivalry game you can throw out all the statistics

Like I said, I don't know how many more of these if any I will be putting out this year, but at least I got some stuff off of my chest.

2013 Season WrapUp

The 2013 season was one of the most fun seasons I have ever experienced. I think that is the reason that I’ve been procrastinating writing this report – I just didn’t want to admit that the season was over. But with the 2014 Spring game only a few days away – it’s probably time to move on. Obviously winning the National Championship and being undefeated was great – but it was more than that. I had more great tailgates this year than ever before. Between tailgates and road trips with old friends, and tailgates and road trips with new friends, teaching the top of Section EE the words to the Alma Mater, it was truly a great time.

National Championship Game: 

To be completely honest with you, as exciting as it was to watch the Bearcats win a fourth National Championship game, and become only the second team to have two 15-0 seasons, the actual game itself was kind of anti-climactic to me. Northwest just went out there and imposed their will on the LR Bears. I mean NW jumped out to a 17-0 lead, and then pretty much the game was never in doubt. In fact, when you look at the LR scoring drives, they really only had one decent drive. There first scoring dive was their only one that was respectable. After that, the second score was somehow not intercepted and then the WR bobbled the ball for about 10 yards before he managed to bring it in, their third score was off of a trick play, and their final score was against the second string. Second string in the National Championship game! The thing that impressed me the most about LR was that they never gave up. Which I would have been very disappointed had the #2 team in the nation given up – but they didn’t. But like I said, it was kind of anti-climactic: there wasn’t that dramatic revenge game in the play-offs, there wasn’t that last minute win (other than the UCM game at the beginning of the season), or that close final game. The game was rather representative of the entire season – they just went out there and won – hands down easily the best team in the country.

There were a couple of really bad calls in the game – particularly the targeting call against Jared Fox. That was not targeting on his role. In fact it was a picture perfect example of what isn’t targeting. The AFCA put out a list of indicators of what is and what isn’t targeting under the new rules:

Risk of a foul is high with one or more of these:

• Launch—a player leaving his feet to attack an opponent by an upward and forward thrust of the body to make contact in the head or neck area 

• A crouch followed by an upward and forward thrust to attack with contact at the head or neck area—even though one or both feet are still on the ground 

• Leading with helmet, forearm, fist, hand or elbow to attack with contact at the head or neck area 

• Lowering the head before attacking by initiating contact with the crown of the helmet 

These indicate less risk of a foul:

• Heads-up tackle in which the crown of the helmet does not strike above the shoulders 

• Wrap-up tackle 

• Head is to the side rather than being used to initiate contact 

• Incidental helmet contact that is not part of targeting but is due to the players changing position during the course of play 

As you can see from the list, Fox was not targeting during that play. In fact, every one of the bullet points of what is not a foul, took place during that play.

 I am sure that a lot of people want to hear me talk about Trevor Adams. I have said it before, and I will say it again – I was completely wrong – and glad that I was. I never thought that Northwest would be able to win a National Championship with Trevor Adams as the QB. I thought that his inconsistency would ultimately cost the team a win in the PO’s. And it was his inconstancy that was my biggest knock on TA. When he was good – he was really good, and vice versa. Thank goodness Coach AD found a workaround – in the form of the best working two QB system I think that I’ve ever seen. Yes – I will say it again: I am glad I was wrong about TA!

2014 Season Preview

I remember telling friends last year that I thought that 2014 was going to be the year of the next National Championship team – I guess I was a year early.  But I still think that the 2014 Bearcats will be the odds on favorites to be in the National Championship in Kansas City.  I honestly think that they will be a better team than they were last year. They are returning 22 seniors – including like six 6-year seniors.

On offense the biggest question mark will be the OL.  The Bearcats lose 3 seniors: Cody Carlson, John Petroff, and Jake Scarbo.  But there is definitely some talent coming back and the past few recruiting classes I think that they got some really good Olinemen – it will be interesting to see if they can live up to their potential. The WR corps is almost entirely intact. Clint Utter was the go to guy last year in pressure situations, but with the depth there, between Jason Jozaites, Korey Jackson, Reuben Thomas, Bryce Young, and Haden Bryant -  I’m sure that somebody will step up to fill that role. I am really very excited to see how Charlie Flohr uses the TE this season. I think that there are some very good athletes there that if used correctly can be amazingly effective. Marcus Wright is from the new style of TE – kind of a cross between HB and TE – think Josh Baker. I don’t know if he is as gifted at Baker, but that is the style of player that he is. Alex Visk is more of your standard type of TE, and I’ve heard really good things about TJ Schieber and Brock Behrndt. The backfield will be lots of fun to watch. Look for the tag team between Phil Jackson II (PJ2) and Bobby Burton (RB3) not to mention Justin Fulks. I am really looking forward to see if Brady Bolles is able to live up to his potential. I think that we have seen glimpses of that potential at times – as well we have seen that he is a young QB and has made bad decisions at times. I think that it is going to be a very fun time to watch Bearcat offense.

I believe that the 2014 defense has the potential to be one of the absolute best defenses that the Bearcats have ever put together. It all starts up front with Zach Williams, Brandon Yost, and Collin Bevins – and then with the returning D2football.com Defensive player of the Year Matt Longacre at DE and Kevin Arnold at the other DE that is a darn good Dline. Of course losing the Dixon brothers at CB hurts, but I think that Tyshaan Alleyne and Bryce Enyard will fill those roles nicely. Manning will be back at safety so I think that Coach Gordon will have plenty of talent there to fill out a darn good secondary. Northwest always has a great stable of LB’s and this year will be no exception – between 2 sixth year seniors DJ Gnader and Cody Matthewson as well as Eric Reimer, Jayron Robinson they will headline the crew; but there will be some others that will impress. I’ve heard really good things about Brock Sherman. Overall, like I said this team has the potential to be very good!



2014 Recruiting Class (Alphabetical)

Ben Althoff LB 6-1 210 Palmyra, Mo. (Palmyra HS)
Althoff earned all-state honors as a junior … was an all-conference performer … first-team all-district … second-team all-area … led Palmyra to the district championship game past two seasons … team advanced to the quarterfinals in 2013 … coached by Kevin Miles … parents are Joe and Brenda Althoff.

Shawn Bane Jr. WR 5-11 165 Sarasota, Fla. (Sarasota HS)
Bane Jr. was a two-time all-state performer at Sarasota High School … named to the all-area team as a junior and again as a senior … caught 49 passes for 890 yards and seven touchdowns in 2013 after catching 57 passes for 1,129 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2012 … played in the Blue/Grey National All-Star game … voted team captain and team MVP as a senior … named to the honor roll … voted team offensive MVP as a junior … coached by Ed Volz … parents are Gretta Saunders and Shawn Bane Sr.

Connor Besancenez OL 6-4 275 St. Louis, Mo. (Mehlville HS)
Besancenez was a first-team All-Suburban West Conference performer … voted Offensive Lineman of the Year … coached by Kent Heinemann … parents are Todd and Kim Besancenez.

Emmai Brown LB 6-0 186 University City, Mo. (University City HS)
Brown was a team captain for University City High School … coached by Carl Reed … mother is Tiffany Brown.

Jacob Chapple TE 6-5 212 O’Fallon, Ill. (O’Fallon Township HS)
Chapple was coached by Brandon Joggerst at O’Fallon Township High School … parents are Trevelle Chapple and Melody BoJang.

Austen Eskew TE 6-4 220 Lawson, Mo. (Lawson HS)
Eskew was a first-team all-state, first-team all-district and a first-team all-district performer as a senior … earned all-conference and all-district honors as a defensive end as a junior … holds school record for reception yards in a season (790) and single game reception yards (103) … also an accomplished wrestler … three-time conference champion at three different weight classes .. 2013 state champion at 195 lbs. … 2013 District Wrestler of the Year … holds school records for pins in a season (40), wins in a season (50) and career wins (150+) … coached by Todd Dunn … mother is Brandy Eskew.

Zach Flott OL 6-5 295 Ralston, Neb. (Ralston HS)
Flott lettered all four seasons at Ralston High School … named All-State Class B as a senior … earned all-metro honors … named Super-State and All-Nebraska on offense as a senior … lettered three years in basketball and track … earned academic honor roll … coached by Tyler Zahn … parents are Eric and Christy Flott.

Kenneth Harrell DE 6-3 205 St. Louis, Mo. (Vashon HS)
Harrel was a first-team all-conference performer as a senior … invited to the Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star game … second-team all-conference performer as a junior … named honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore … coached by Reginald Ferguson … mother is Glenda Williams.

Mikey Henson WR 6-2 190 Blue Valley, Kan. (Blue Valley HS)
Henson was a first-team All-EKL performer and earned all-state honorable mention accolades as a senior, leading the Tigers to a Kansas state championship … second-team all-conference and honorable mention all-state as a junior … led team in receiving as a junior and as a senior … lettered in basketball and track … qualified for state track in the high jump, long jump and triple jump … coached by Eric Driskell … parents are Mike and Faye Henson.

Najeem Hosein DB 6-1 175 Orlando, Fla. (Oak Ridge HS)
Hosein was a team captain and a three-year starter at Oak Ridge High School … named first-team all-metro as a senior … named All-Osceola County as a junior … coached by Elijah Williams … parents are Latiff and Derika Hosein.

Devin Houston LB 6-2 216 Liberty, Mo. (Liberty HS)
Houston was a first-team all-conference performer at Liberty High School … earned second-team all-state honors … was the co-defensive player of the year … coached by Chad Frigon … parents are Toni and Fieldon Houston.

Emanuel Jones RB 5-11 200 Mundelein, Ill. (Mundelein HS)
Jones was named Chicago Area MVP by the Daily Herald … was an all-state honorable mention … coached by George Kaider … parents are Vince and Dietra Jones.

Trey Kothe OL 6-7 260 Macon, Mo. (Macon Senior HS)
Kothe was a three-sport athlete at Macon Senior High School … first-team all-conference, first-team all-district performer as a senior … earned second-team all-district honors as a junior … was an all-conference center in 2012 … named all-district in 2012 in the shot put … earned all-conference honors in the discus in 2013 and was a state qualifier … coached by Pete Claas … parents are Paul and Marcia Kothe.

Cody Massey WR 6-3 175 St. Joseph, Mo. (Lafayette HS)
Massey was a two-year all-city performer at Lafayette High School … named all-conference and all-district … coached by Paul Woolard … parents are Mike and Tracy Massey.

Jackson Morrison OL 6-3 298 Maryville, Mo. (Maryville HS)
Morrison led Maryville High School to two consecutive state championships … three-time all-state honoree … three-time all-conference on offense and two-time all-conference on defense … earned honors twice from the St. Joseph News Press … three-time all-district performer … coached by Matt Webb … parents are Kirby and Angela Morrison.

Brent Morrow DL 6-2 282 St. Louis, Mo. (Ladue Horton Watkins HS)
Morrow was a first-team all-state performer as a senior after earning second-team honors as a junior and third-team honors as a sophomore … three-time all-conference performer … named conference lineman of the year three times … named first-team all-metro after earning second-team honors during junior and sophomore seasons … named team captain and team MVP as a senior … named in Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report 2013 … participant in the NFL sponsored Team USA in Arlington, Texas (Feb. 7, 2014) … named to the Detetrious Johnson All-America team as a junior … coached by Mike Tarpey … parents are Larisa Hairston and Jesse Morrow.

Trent Nally DB 6-3 190 Maryville, Mo. (Maryville HS)
Nally led Maryville High School to two consecutive state championships … Class three Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … first-team all-state and first-team all-conference as a junior and as a senior … earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a sophomore … coached by Matt Webb … parents are Chris and Amy Nally.

Ben Norgaard OL 6-4 320 Carroll, Iowa (Carroll HS)
Norgaard was a first-team all-state, first-team all-district and first-team All-Western Iowa as a senior … named team captain … earned second-team All-Western Iowa and honorable mention all-district honors … coached by Dennis McCartan … parents are Jay and Sue Norgaard.

Kory Poelker DL 6-3 240 O’Fallon, Ill. (O’Fallon Township HS)
Poelker was a second-team all-conference performer at O’Fallon Township High School … named all-area honorable mention … coached by Brandon Joggerst … parents are Randy and Kelly Poelker.

Hunter Ramirez WR 6-2 205 Grain Valley, Mo. (Grain Valley HS)
Ramirez was a first-team all-conference performer as a wide receiver and as a punter during his junior and senior seasons … named first-team all-district as a wide receiver and punter as a junior … first-team all-district and third-team all-state as a senior … won the Erick Roe (Top WR) Elite 81 award … named team MVP … Otis Taylor Award semifinalist (best KC area wide receiver) … two-time KMZU Dream Team … coached by Jimmy Tucker … parents are Ray and Stacie Ramirez.

Ernest Scott DB 6-0 180 Orlando, Fla. (Oak Ridge HS)
Scott earned honorable mentions from the Orlando Sentinel Super 60 … was the MVP of the Bright House Sports televised game … also a standout in track, earning the Early Trawick Newcomer award … coached by Elijah Williams … parents are Ernest and Brenda Scott.

Mike Sehl DL 6-3 220 Iowa City, Iowa (Regina HS)
Sehl was a first-team all-state and a first-team all-district performer at Regina High School … earned second-team all-state honors from the Des Moines Register … coached by Marv Cook … parents are George and Kara Sehl.

Marcus Stewart Jr. DL 6-2 240 Maryland Heights, Mo. (Pattonville Senior HS)
Stewart was a second-team all-state performer for Pattonville Senior High School … earned first-team all-conference and first-team all-district honors … coached by Steve Smith … parents are Marcus and Betty Stewart.

Noah Voss WR 6-3 195 Fremont, Neb. (Fremont Senior HS)
Voss was an all-conference performer at Fremont Senior High School … named honorable mention all-state from the Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star and Fremont Tribune … team captain as a senior … led team in receiving yards as a junior and as a senior … coached by Seth McClain … parents are Mark and Shawna Voss.

Chase White RB 6-0 195 Maize, Kan. (Maize HS)
White was named all-state Kansas 6A as a senior … first-team all-league … earned all-metro honors … coached by Gary Guzman … parents are Kenny White and Lisa Hanson.

Alex Wickert OL 6-3 270 Ralston, Neb. (Ralston HS)
Wickert was a Class B All-state performer on the offensive and defensive lines as a senior … named to the honor roll all four years … coached by Tyler Zahn … parents are Robert and Molly Wickert.

Quinza Witcher DB 5-10 180 Neptune Beach, Fla. (Duncan U. Fletcher HS)
Witcher was named an impact player at Duncan U. Fletcher High School … earned player of the week honors as a senior … coached by Josh Corey … mother is Nisa’a Knight.

Tom Young OL 6-3 290 Omaha, Neb. (Westside HS)
Young was an all-state performer at Westside High School … named Super State as a senior … earned first-team all-metro, all-conference and all-district honors … coached by Brett Froendt … parents are Harold and Beth Young.