FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Just Bill]

Many studies have been done on going for it on fourth down rather than punting.  Over the course of a season the extra downs you gain by succeeding almost always overcomes the poor field position you leave your defense by failing.  The knowledge of the offense that they have four downs to gain 10 yards instead of three, results in a positive effect on play-calling and time of possession.  The defense knows that even though sometimes they will be put into a difficult position, the extra plays run by the offense will mean they are on the field less and remain fresher.

Check these links:

David Romer, UC-Berkley study: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/users/dromer/papers/PAPER_NFL_JULY05_FORWEB_CORRECTED.pdf

Gregg Easterbrook column: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070904

[Barber Greene]

Many studies have been done on going for it on fourth down rather than punting.  Over the course of a season the extra downs you gain by succeeding almost always overcomes the poor field position you leave your defense by failing.  The knowledge of the offense that they have four downs to gain 10 yards instead of three, results in a positive effect on play-calling and time of possession.  The defense knows that even though sometimes they will be put into a difficult position, the extra plays run by the offense will mean they are on the field less and remain fresher.

Check these links:

David Romer, UC-Berkley study: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/users/dromer/papers/PAPER_NFL_JULY05_FORWEB_CORRECTED.pdf

Gregg Easterbrook column: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070904

These studies probably average out the results of all teams in all situations. Now if you are talking about a particular team (say, UWW offense or Mt. Union offense) against an average defense, then the results are going to be even more in favor of going for it on fourth down.

That said, I am sure that Lance knows that the kicker will need opportunities to prove himself and he will give him those opportunities.

[02 Warhawk]

Many studies have been done on going for it on fourth down rather than punting.  Over the course of a season the extra downs you gain by succeeding almost always overcomes the poor field position you leave your defense by failing.  The knowledge of the offense that they have four downs to gain 10 yards instead of three, results in a positive effect on play-calling and time of possession.  The defense knows that even though sometimes they will be put into a difficult position, the extra plays run by the offense will mean they are on the field less and remain fresher.

Check these links:

David Romer, UC-Berkley study: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/users/dromer/papers/PAPER_NFL_JULY05_FORWEB_CORRECTED.pdf

Gregg Easterbrook column: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070904

These studies probably average out the results of all teams in all situations. Now if you are talking about a particular team (say, UWW offense or Mt. Union offense) against an average defense, then the results are going to be even more in favor of going for it on fourth down.

That said, I am sure that Lance knows that the kicker will need opportunities to prove himself and he will give him those opportunities.

Exactly...I'm not saying they're never going to attempt field goal. But the field goals attempted per 4th downs ratio will decrease this season i have a fealing.

[Just Bill]

Many studies have been done on going for it on fourth down rather than punting.  Over the course of a season the extra downs you gain by succeeding almost always overcomes the poor field position you leave your defense by failing.  The knowledge of the offense that they have four downs to gain 10 yards instead of three, results in a positive effect on play-calling and time of possession.  The defense knows that even though sometimes they will be put into a difficult position, the extra plays run by the offense will mean they are on the field less and remain fresher.

Check these links:

David Romer, UC-Berkley study: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/users/dromer/papers/PAPER_NFL_JULY05_FORWEB_CORRECTED.pdf

Gregg Easterbrook column: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070904

These studies probably average out the results of all teams in all situations. Now if you are talking about a particular team (say, UWW offense or Mt. Union offense) against an average defense, then the results are going to be even more in favor of going for it on fourth down.

That said, I am sure that Lance knows that the kicker will need opportunities to prove himself and he will give him those opportunities.

Very true. Accuscore ran simulations for most of the NFL, and yardage and points increased for almost every team under no punting rules.  As you would expect the teams with the more high-powered offenses benefitted more.  The only teams that don't show an improvement are teams with dominant defenses and weak offenses, like the mid-2000's Baltimore Ravens.

[KitchenSink]

Hey - let's have a little faith that a quality kicker will be wearing purple at the Perk this year.  It's not likely that LL has only Max Zendejas and Tom Birney in camp ....

[John Gleich]

Check out the new team buses

http://www.uwwsports.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=185

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2010/8/17/GEN_0817102211.aspx?path=gen

That is both pretty neat for the athletes and great advertising for UWW.  Are these owned by UWW or just leased from the bus company (and it was the company that went ahead and did the new paint job?).

Wonder if Point can get Lamers to paint a bus purple too!

[BoBo]

If UWW's offense is so potent, how many plays/quarters/halves/games will it be before they have a possible 4th down decision to kick FG/punt/go for it? If the first time the situation presents itself this year, LL elects to go for a first down, does that mean he doesn't have confidence in his kicker?  I don't think so. Every game is different -- every situation is different. It's like saying, after every TD, we will go for 2 because I don't think we have a kicker who can place the ball between the uprights. You don't go announcing that before the season actually begins. In the same way, you don't go out and say you're going to go for first downs on 4th downs, either, in advance.

I think you should go into the year thinking and saying you will kick (either FG or punt) when in that position, only because kickers (especially place kickers) are usually so fickle & can lose their confidence at the drop of a helmet. But in real time, take each situation as it comes -- and hopefully make the right choices. 

[voice]

Check out the new team buses

http://www.uwwsports.com/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=185

http://www.uwwsports.com/news/2010/8/17/GEN_0817102211.aspx?path=gen

That is both pretty neat for the athletes and great advertising for UWW.  Are these owned by UWW or just leased from the bus company (and it was the company that went ahead and did the new paint job?).

Wonder if Point can get Lamers to paint a bus purple too!

The "Warhawk" busses are owned by Van Galder/Coach USA of Janesville.  Steve Van Galder owns the company and is a UWW graduate and played football at Whitewater in the latter part of the 1960's.  Steve was a member of the Warhawk football team that played in the 1966 NAIA Championship Game in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Van Galder's company has been a longtime corporate partner with UW-Whitewater.

Van Galder/Coach USA is the official carrier of UWW athletes around the state and around the country.

[BoBo]

Voice...shhhh...how do the kickers look in camp?

[Raider 68]

If UWW's offense is so potent, how many plays/quarters/halves/games will it be before they have a possible 4th down decision to kick FG/punt/go for it? If the first time the situation presents itself this year, LL elects to go for a first down, does that mean he doesn't have confidence in his kicker?  I don't think so. Every game is different -- every situation is different. It's like saying, after every TD, we will go for 2 because I don't think we have a kicker who can place the ball between the uprights. You don't go announcing that before the season actually begins. In the same way, you don't go out and say you're going to go for first downs on 4th downs, either, in advance.

I think you should go into the year thinking and saying you will kick (either FG or punt) when in that position, only because kickers (especially place kickers) are usually so fickle & can lose their confidence at the drop of a helmet. But in real time, take each situation as it comes -- and hopefully make the right choices. 

Everyone knows that UWW's offense will be very good even with a new QB, but no one mentions the defense! Why is that, is it because it is equally great or is this the area of concern for the Warhawks? More holes to fill on defensive side of the ball, I suspect!

[bulk19]

Yeah! Be vewy vewy quiet. I'm huntin' wabbits!

So, how many Warhawks, after what, three, four days of practice, are ready to pound on someone besides their teammates? Ha.

Can the Hawks punt out of a wishbone offense, with all the running backs they are going to have back there? Do any of them RBs punt, should a fourth down ever arise?  

And will they even need a kicker for anything but extra points?  

Must be fun to have another loaded team. I'll stick with my Blugolds, however, and then jump back on the U dub dub bandwagon come playoffs...  

[Barber Greene]

Definitely more holes to fill on the defensive side, especially in the secondary. Plus, we don't know the names of the recruits or transfers on the defensive side so not much to talk about  Maybe we'll have more to talk about after the scrimmage on Saturday against Harper College.

If UWW's offense is so potent, how many plays/quarters/halves/games will it be before they have a possible 4th down decision to kick FG/punt/go for it? If the first time the situation presents itself this year, LL elects to go for a first down, does that mean he doesn't have confidence in his kicker?  I don't think so. Every game is different -- every situation is different. It's like saying, after every TD, we will go for 2 because I don't think we have a kicker who can place the ball between the uprights. You don't go announcing that before the season actually begins. In the same way, you don't go out and say you're going to go for first downs on 4th downs, either, in advance.

I think you should go into the year thinking and saying you will kick (either FG or punt) when in that position, only because kickers (especially place kickers) are usually so fickle & can lose their confidence at the drop of a helmet. But in real time, take each situation as it comes -- and hopefully make the right choices. 

Everyone knows that UWW's offense will be very good even with a new QB, but no one mentions the defense! Why is that, is it because it is equally great or is this the area of concern for the Warhawks? More holes to fill on defensive side of the ball, I suspect!

[voice]

Voice...shhhh...how do the kickers look in camp?

BoBo...

With four kickers vying for the place-kicking job - I have not talked much about the process during the first few days of camp. At practice this evening, non of the four seemed to separate from the pack, but that is just my feeling.

The acid test will come on Saturday in the live scrimmage (3 pm) vs. Harper College at the Perk.  Things will begin to come into more focus not only for the kickers, but several other positions.  Much more analysis will be coming over the weekend and next week. The blog and the Website will keep you updated!

[BoBo]

Thank you voice -- I think the kicking situation is one of those areas that many people are really interested in.

[voice]

Let me and the coaches let the guys have a "live bullets" test at the scrimmage Saturday.

As Coach Leipold indicated at this week's media day, "From this point on, after two days in camp, is going to be the biggest question we have.  We have four excellent place kickers in camp competing for a roster spot, but it is a big unkown at this time."