Burning Questions I
Conor Nicholl
This week- and hopefully for all future weeks this year- we will have a blog edition of Burning Questions, touching on key Truman athletics topics and other debate from sports. I would like to credit this idea to several writers who I have read and respected for a long time.
Truman volleyball: Who will start at the libero?
The defensive specialist is one of the most important positions on the volleyball court. Currently, the Bulldogs have three players: sophomore Eli Medina and sophomore (and best friend) Whitney Boehler and junior Erin Leavitt competing for the position. Boehler is the incumbent, while Medina -- possibly the team's best defensive player -- and Leavitt has seen more time in recent matches.
This weekend, the Bulldogs should cruise in all four matches, making the libero battle something to watch for. Liberos are very similar to a bullpen- again poor teams, they may not make much difference, but against very good teams -- which the Bulldogs will face after this weekend- the libero is extremely important. The libero also delivers the bump on the offense and a poor bump can lead to a poor set and a poor attack.
I strongly believe that one of the main reasons why the Bulldogs kept the match close against Nebraska-Kearney in the 2005 Elite Eight was because of Boehler's incredible libero play. Against Washburn, Central Missouri and other top teams, the libero will be very important.
If Boehler starts, it also could mean less playing time for Medina, who is possibly the worst offensive player on the team (.122 hitting pct.) - she doesn't jump very high because of a balky knee -- but has incredible ball control and accumulates digs like few others in the conference (3.86 digs/game). But if she starts, what happens to Boehler, a player who performed admirably in critical matches last year and is averaging 4.40 digs/game this year?
What happens to Leavitt? The transfer -- who saw little action last season -- enjoyed a remarkable weekend -- team-best 5.50 digs/game in just five games -- but she also had three service errors in just five games. Boehler had two in 10 games and Medina two in 14 games.
I think Leavitt warrants more playing time, but the service errors may be a problem. It's going to be the key battle of the weekend.
2. Setters. The Bulldogs used Christine Wagener, Kelsey Wackerman and Krysta Tholen at setter in the opening tournament. All three need to perform better. This is another critical battle- does Skoch stay with the 6-2 offense and start Wagener and Wackerman or does he try to provide Tholen, a freshman, with more opportunities?
3. Football- This weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Winona State, the same team that lost to the Bulldogs in Week 1 of the 2005 season. In that game, the 'Dogs did an outstanding of stopping the run. They also stopped the run in their Week 1 loss to Minnesota State-Mankato.
Mankato, though, passed at will against the 3-4 defense, thrashing the Bulldogs for 298 yards through the air. Winona, which was seventh in the nation in passing yards per game last year (296.8 ypg) could have a field day against the Bulldog defense and further expose the purple and white's secondary, considered by many to be the weak point of the team. Can the Bulldog defense stop the Winona passing attack and put pressure on quarterback Drew Aber, the NSIC Preseason Conference Player of the Year?
4. Special teams- the kicking game was terrible (two missed field goals), the punting was even worse (one punt partially blocked) and the coverage was abysmal. Next to the inept red zone offense, the special teams cost the Bulldogs a win in Week 1. I have confidence that star recruit Mickey Massuci will turn things around with his leg, but the coverage is still a problem. Can the team provide better special teams and limit big plays by the opposition?
5. Red Zone offense- seven trips inside the red zone, two touchdowns. The play calling must improve. The coaches should call the same plays that effectively moved the ball down field. If Phil Kenney is rushing well, keep on handing the ball off. Go with what works.
Key stats: According to the game notes, Kenney is believed to be the first Truman freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a season opener since 1969.
Kenney had 16 carries and rushed for 125 yards, a 7.8 yard per carry average. Six of his carries were for 10 or more yards and half went for first downs.
The last Bulldog freshman to rush for 100 yards in a season opener was Lenvil Elliott in 1969. He had 35 carries for 110 yards in that game.
Truman also outrushed Mankato 278-44. Last season, the only two times the Bulldog outrushed opponents they won -- including the Winona game. Can they keep the rushing attack up and capture a victory?
This week- and hopefully for all future weeks this year- we will have a blog edition of Burning Questions, touching on key Truman athletics topics and other debate from sports. I would like to credit this idea to several writers who I have read and respected for a long time.
Truman volleyball: Who will start at the libero?
The defensive specialist is one of the most important positions on the volleyball court. Currently, the Bulldogs have three players: sophomore Eli Medina and sophomore (and best friend) Whitney Boehler and junior Erin Leavitt competing for the position. Boehler is the incumbent, while Medina -- possibly the team's best defensive player -- and Leavitt has seen more time in recent matches.
This weekend, the Bulldogs should cruise in all four matches, making the libero battle something to watch for. Liberos are very similar to a bullpen- again poor teams, they may not make much difference, but against very good teams -- which the Bulldogs will face after this weekend- the libero is extremely important. The libero also delivers the bump on the offense and a poor bump can lead to a poor set and a poor attack.
I strongly believe that one of the main reasons why the Bulldogs kept the match close against Nebraska-Kearney in the 2005 Elite Eight was because of Boehler's incredible libero play. Against Washburn, Central Missouri and other top teams, the libero will be very important.
If Boehler starts, it also could mean less playing time for Medina, who is possibly the worst offensive player on the team (.122 hitting pct.) - she doesn't jump very high because of a balky knee -- but has incredible ball control and accumulates digs like few others in the conference (3.86 digs/game). But if she starts, what happens to Boehler, a player who performed admirably in critical matches last year and is averaging 4.40 digs/game this year?
What happens to Leavitt? The transfer -- who saw little action last season -- enjoyed a remarkable weekend -- team-best 5.50 digs/game in just five games -- but she also had three service errors in just five games. Boehler had two in 10 games and Medina two in 14 games.
I think Leavitt warrants more playing time, but the service errors may be a problem. It's going to be the key battle of the weekend.
2. Setters. The Bulldogs used Christine Wagener, Kelsey Wackerman and Krysta Tholen at setter in the opening tournament. All three need to perform better. This is another critical battle- does Skoch stay with the 6-2 offense and start Wagener and Wackerman or does he try to provide Tholen, a freshman, with more opportunities?
3. Football- This weekend, the Bulldogs travel to Winona State, the same team that lost to the Bulldogs in Week 1 of the 2005 season. In that game, the 'Dogs did an outstanding of stopping the run. They also stopped the run in their Week 1 loss to Minnesota State-Mankato.
Mankato, though, passed at will against the 3-4 defense, thrashing the Bulldogs for 298 yards through the air. Winona, which was seventh in the nation in passing yards per game last year (296.8 ypg) could have a field day against the Bulldog defense and further expose the purple and white's secondary, considered by many to be the weak point of the team. Can the Bulldog defense stop the Winona passing attack and put pressure on quarterback Drew Aber, the NSIC Preseason Conference Player of the Year?
4. Special teams- the kicking game was terrible (two missed field goals), the punting was even worse (one punt partially blocked) and the coverage was abysmal. Next to the inept red zone offense, the special teams cost the Bulldogs a win in Week 1. I have confidence that star recruit Mickey Massuci will turn things around with his leg, but the coverage is still a problem. Can the team provide better special teams and limit big plays by the opposition?
5. Red Zone offense- seven trips inside the red zone, two touchdowns. The play calling must improve. The coaches should call the same plays that effectively moved the ball down field. If Phil Kenney is rushing well, keep on handing the ball off. Go with what works.
Key stats: According to the game notes, Kenney is believed to be the first Truman freshman to rush for over 100 yards in a season opener since 1969.
Kenney had 16 carries and rushed for 125 yards, a 7.8 yard per carry average. Six of his carries were for 10 or more yards and half went for first downs.
The last Bulldog freshman to rush for 100 yards in a season opener was Lenvil Elliott in 1969. He had 35 carries for 110 yards in that game.
Truman also outrushed Mankato 278-44. Last season, the only two times the Bulldog outrushed opponents they won -- including the Winona game. Can they keep the rushing attack up and capture a victory?
posted by Anonymous at Friday, September 01, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home