Meet the Coaches: Steve Hummer

 In Steve Hummer’s mind, success in football is not the birthright of the biggest. It belongs to the quickest, the smartest and the best prepared.

  For three years now, Hummer has coached offensive line play for our grade of Junior Blue Dukes players. This year on game day, Hummer is on the JBD7 Grey sideline, instructing, encouraging, reminding and correcting his linemen.

 Steve grew up in western Pennsylvania where the passion for football was so great the local newspaper would break down player position match-ups between high school teams, and "the post-game articles would rival the depth of Badger coverage at the Journal Sentinel." 

Steve earned all-conference honors as a lineman, playing guard and tackle. "In junior high and early high school I wrestled as well," he said. "I was an average wrestler, but I feel it improved my awareness of body position for football and helped me get into the proper blocking position.  This was particularly important since I was smaller than many of my opponents. I found that getting off the snap of the ball quickly and getting into the correct blocking position was far more important than my physical size."

 Later in life, while teaching in Florida, he coached the line for his school's varsity football team. "Since our line was typically smaller -- but faster -- than other teams, we concentrated on proper technique, speed off the ball, being smarter than the other team. By the latter I mean knowing all of the various ways you can block the same play depending on the defense."

 "Other than quarterback, the five guys on the line have the most decision making during a play," Hummer said. "They have to make the correct blocking decision (in unison) based on the defense, get off the ball and then make the physical block against a player who might outweigh him by 20 pounds. If one guy doesn't make the right block the play doesn't work.  So when one of our backs makes a great play I'm the guy you hear screaming 'good job!' to the linemen."

  The Junior Blue Dukes offensive line is not a monolithic wall of similar boys. The different positions have distinct responsibilities. The center, of course, must snap the ball correctly, consistently and on the right count many times a game. Guards are usually the quickest linemen. On some plays, they "pull," leaving their area for specific blocking assignments in motion. "Tackles are the biggest guys because they have to anchor the outside of the line," Hummer said. 

 Compared to the teams we play, Junior Blue Dukes linemen are nearly always faster, Hummer said, and "I like to think we are the smartest."

Offensive linemen aren't the only players who must block for plays to be successful. On each play, "every running back and receiver has a blocking assignment," he said. "I think our receivers have done an outstanding job of downfield blocking."

Hummer said Coach Joe Wieland has the boys doing isometrics and other strength-improving exercises to become stronger as the season goes on. During individual offense time, our linemen also practice proper technique, beginning with the basics of lining up and getting in the correct stance. "You have to be able to do this every day even when you are tired and don’t want to," Hummer said. "Coming out of the correct stance gives you strength."

"I encourage kids to get in a squat position at home and see how long they can hold it."

More than any other sport, Hummer said, football requires everyone from the average athlete on a team to the exceptional one to work in unison. 

Having worked with many of these boys since 5th grade, Hummer said, "I’ve seen kids who have become really good football players and continue to grow."

As for his linemen, he added, speaking from his experience as a player as well as a coach, "I want them to love something that doesn’t get biggest press in the world."
 

Dreyel

Dreyel, based on a photo by Nathan Wallin

Video: Highlights (with music) from JBD7 Blue vs. Kewaskum at Lydell

For those who prefer their highlights with music in forefront instead of the yelling Joes, here's a repeat of the Blue team highlights, to the tune of Bo Diddley's "You Can't Judge a Book by Looking at the Cover."

Game 3: JBD7 GREY 39, Germantown Gold 0

 The Grey team rebounded from last week's difficulties with a 39-0 thrashing of Germantown Gold in Germantown. All facets of the Whitefish Bay team -- offense, defense and special teams -- were shiny in this victory.
 Nick Higgins started the game by booming the opening kickoff over the head of the Germantown returner, and the Bay coverage team pinned the home team deep. Seamus Floyd brought down the Germantown QB for a big third-down sack. A short, possibly tipped punt gave WFB the ball first and goal at the Germantown 9. Unfortunately, a Bay ball carrier was stripped of the ball on third down, and Germantown recovered the fumble (the first of many fumbles in this game, which ironically was our first dry-weather game of the season). However, the beastly Bay defense forced a fumble, recovered (I think) by Justin Fisher, and Bay took over in Germantown territory. On third and long, QB Ryan Hummer tossed a short pass to slot receiver Nick Higgins on the left. Receiver Matt Bernstein tied up the only potential tackler, and Higgins raced into the end zone for the game's first touchdown. He kicked the two-point conversion. WFB 8, Germantown 0.
 In the second quarter, the Junior Blue Dukes stopped a Germantown fake punt and took over on downs. Bay marched down the field on a series of runs by Van Bassindale and Teddy Weber, with Bassindale scoring from about 8 yards out. WFB 14, GG 0.
 Germantown got nowhere on the next possession. On the third-down play, Bassindale plowed through two blockers to tackle the runner for a loss. On the first play after the punt, Bassindale took a handoff and swept around right end, where Weber and Tony Schulz had pulverized would-be tacklers. Van raced more than 50 yards to the end zone. WFB 20, GG 0.
On its next possession, Germantown launched a pass down the left side, but ball-hawking cornerback Zach Casey was waiting for it. Casey intercepted and raced down the sideline for a TD. WFB 26, GG 0.
 The Bay defense held Germantown again, with Mason Trussoni tackling a GG receiver for a loss on a 4th down pass. From the wildcat formation, Bassindale tossed a bomb downfield to Casey, who made a surehanded grab for a gain of more than 30 yards. Bassindale handed off to Higgins for an end-around, but he was stopped at the 2-yard line as time expired in the half.
  Due to mercy rules that allows a team down by more than 17 points to receive extra kickoffs, Whitefish Bay kicked off to start the second half. Higgins pinned Germantown deep with another long kick, with Bassindale reacquainting the ball carrier forcefully with the turf. After Germantown punted, Bassindale took a handoff and rumbled some 40 yards into the end zone for his third touchdown of the day. WFB 32, GG 0.
 By this point, both teams were substituting players freely.
 On the ensuing kickoff, the Germantown returner found a seam and charged up the field, looking for the big one. But as he crossed midfield, a low-flying, white-jerseyed, long-haired blur cut him down at the legs the way a scythe cuts grain. Kicker Nick Higgins made the touchdown-saving tackle. (I'm not exaggerating, folks, because he's my kid. If you look at the highlights video, he is moving so fast you can barely see him.)
 Still, Germantown began a drive for the first time on Whitefish Bay's side of the 50. Germantown parlayed several nice runs and a Bay penalty into a first-and-goal situation at the 1-yard line. With the outcome of the game not in doubt, the next four plays were all about pride and the possibility of a clean sheet for the Bay defense. Led by Bassindale's saber-toothed savagery, the stout defense stuffed all four plays and took over on downs.
On third and long from inside the Bay 10, Bassindale ripped off a long run that would have gone for a touchdown, but the referee correctly flagged the Blue Dukes for a clipping penalty. Nonetheless, it was still a first down and Bay had dug itself out of the hole. Hummer then threw to Higgins on the left for a gain of more than 20 yards. Justin Fisher then took over as featured running back, charging for more than 10 yards on his first carry. Fisher and Weber interspersed carries as Bay marched down the field. Hummer passed to Matt Bernstein in the left flat for a gain that set up 1st and goal for Bay.
 Behind the crisp offensive line that made Coach Steve Hummer proud all game, Fisher stormed into the end zone for the game's final touchdown. QB Ryan Hummer passed to Zach Casey in the end zone for extra point. WFB 39, Germantown 0.
Elie Ben Bordow squibbed the ensuing kickoff down the middle; he and Russell Grevious tackled the ball carrier. Led by defensive end Tony Schulz, who stuffed a ball carrier for a huge loss, Bay held Germantown on downs and took over the ball for the final moments.
Whitefish Bay closed out the game with QB Jack Friesch handing off to Grevious for a positive run, making them the 8th and 9th Blue Dukes players to handle the ball on offense in this game.

Game 3: JBD7 BLUE 22, Kewaskum 16

 Playing on the Lydell practice field because of a schedule conflict, the Junior Blue Dukes 7th grade BLUE team defeated Kewaskum 22-16 Saturday morning. Whitefish Bay dominated the run of play, but Kewaskum struck for two long TDs (and kicked a pair of two-point conversions) to keep the outcome in doubt until the end. Ultimately, Bay's variety on offense and quality of execution prevailed.
Macklin Kortebein returned the opening kickoff to midfield. Working out of a one-back, four-receiver set, Kortebein first made a short gain on a pass in the flat, then, behind a strong offensive line, gashed Kewaskum for two long runs, the second one a TD. On the extra point attempt, quarterback Jake Fisher faked a handoff to Bailey Weiland, then passed to Kortebein on the left for the point. 7-0, Whitefish Bay.
 However, on the first play from scrimmage after the ensuing kickoff, a Kewaskum running back got outside containment on the right and scampered the length of the field for a TD. Kewaskum kicked the two-point conversion. 8-7, Kewaskum.
 Kortebein once again returned the kickoff to the middle of the field. On third down, Kortebein gained nine yards on a nifty shovel pass from Fisher, then Fisher plunged through the line on a QB keeper for a first down. A pass to Weiland on the left gained another first down. Then, early in the second quarter, Fisher threw a fade pass to Connor Kimple in the right corner of the end zone for a TD. On the extra point try, Kimple, coming from the right, took a pitch from Fisher and ran unmolested into the end zone for the conversion. Whitefish Bay 14, Kewaskum 8.
 The Junior Blue Dukes stopped Kewaskum and forced a punt. Fisher kept a Bay drive alive with a run up the right sideline for first down. After a couple of sacks and tackles for loss, on 4th down, Kimple ran for a long gainer out of punt formation for a first down. However, time in the first half ran out before Bay could punch in another score.
 In the second half, the teams traded possessions without scoring. Then, on Kewaskum's second drive, Andrew James forced a fumble that was recovered by Johnny Misey. On offense, a shovel pass to Kortebein produced a long gain. Fisher gained tough yards on a QB keeper, then drew Kewaskum offside with a fine hard count for a first down. Fisher ran a bootleg to the left, and with receiver Chris Siebert sealing off his defender, the Bay QB made it nearly to the goal line. On the next play, Fisher threw a fade pass to Carter Heston in the left corner of the end zone for a TD. Weiland kicked the two-point conversion. WFB 22, Kewaskum 8.
 But Kewaskum came right back, with a long run right, a short pass left and a long pass left for a TD.    The kick conversion was good for two points. WFB 22, Kewaskum 16 in the fourth quarter.
 Kewaskum tried a low line drive onside kick, but Kimple caught it and fell to the ground to keep possession for Bay.
After turning the ball over on downs, Kewaskum had one more shot, but Fisher intercepted an overthrown pass to secure the victory for the Blue team.

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Blue vs. Kewaskum at Lydell

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Grey at Germantown Gold

Game 3: Junior Blue Dukes GREY 39, Germantown 0

Justin Fisher and Van Bassindale rushed for touchdowns, Nick Higgins caught a touchdown pass, Zach Casey returned an interception for a TD, and defensive end Tony Schulz led a swarming defense that shut out Germantown, 39-0. I'll post a more complete game story and video highlights later this weekend.

A Portrait of Teddy Weber

Teddy Weber (based on a photo by Nathan Wallin)

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Blue at Cedar Grove

Video: Highlights from JBD7 Grey vs. Grafton

Game 2: Grafton 20, Junior Blue Dukes GREY 18

The Grafton Gladiators defeated the Junior Blue Dukes Grey team, 20-18, on a short touchdown run late in the 4th quarter Saturday at Lubar Stadium. Without diminishing in any way the execution and superior intensity of the Gladiators, I think the JBD players will look back on this game as one they lost through mistakes -- fumbles, bad snaps, interceptions, poor tackling -- and a failure to consistently match the intensity of Grafton's play. This game had good moments for Blue Dukes, but not enough of them to pull out a victory.
The game started in promising fashion. Grafton won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff, but the Blue Dukes defense held and forced a punt. Matt Bernstein made a nice punt return, but a penalty pulled the yardage back. Still, the Blue Dukes drove down the field into Grafton territory. Unfortunately, a fumbled exchange at the Grafton 34 turned the ball over to the Gladiators. On the next play, poor tackling by Whitefish Bay elevated a short jaunt through the middle to a long gain for Grafton. But Whitefish Bay forced a turnover at the 8-yard line, with Justin Fisher scooping up the ball. On the next play, Van Bassindale ran more than 90 yards for the TD. The extra point kick failed. 6-0, Whitefish Bay.
Nick Higgins'  kickoff bounced inside the 10, but Grafton managed a return to the 30. Several plays later, a Grafton receiver took a short pass over the middle and, thanks to poor tackling  attempts by several Blue Dukes players, turned it into a long touchdown. Grafton converted the XP kick. Grafton 8, WFB 6.
In the second quarter, after a Blue Dukes drive stalled, the Blue Dukes lined up in punt formation. The center bounced a poor snap back to Nick Higgins, who deftly fielded the ball and ran around the left side, presumably in a designed fake punt. Nick, who had absorbed a hard hit to his leg earlier in the game, took hard shots to the head and leg while being tackled, and got up dizzy and wobbly (the ref had to help him up). Our consultant medic took a look at him (thanks Chris) and we unanimously agreed he should sit the rest of the game out. (Nick appears to be doing fine today, beyond being very sore.)
A long pass completion put Grafton close to the goal line, where the Gladiators punched the ball in for a score. The XP kick failed. Grafton 14, WFB 6.
Grafton tried an onside kick, but for the second time this season, Elie Ben Bordow covered the ball snugly for the Junior Blue Dukes.
With scant time left in the first half, the Blue Dukes offense came to life, with hard-earned yards from Teddy Weber's inside runs, a couple of Van Bassindale scampers and a pass completion from Ryan Hummer to Matt Bernstein. A quarterback bootleg by Hummer took the ball close to the goal line. Bassindale plowed up the middle for the TD.  After an off-target snap to the holder, an XP running attempt failed. At halftime, the score was Grafton 14, Whitefish Bay 12.
In the third quarter, the Junior Blue Dukes stopped a Grafton drive deep into Bay territory. On Bay's first ensuing play Bassindale, lined up in wildcat formation, took the snap, picked his way through several would-be tacklers, and raced for the TD. On the extra point attempt, the ball was snapped over the head of the holder, so no points. Whitefish Bay 18, Grafton 14.
Grafton steadily drove down the field until it reached hailing distance of the goal line. The Bay defense stiffened, setting up a 4th and goal situation. Unfortunately, the Grafton QB took the shotgun snap, saw daylight on the left side, and ran into the end zone for the game-winning score. The XP failed. Grafton 20, Whitefish Bay 18.
The Grey team had enough ticks left for a shot at a comeback, but an interception at midfield sealed the game.
Grafton did nothing tricky with their offense, but executed what they did very well. They also played with enthusiasm and intensity. That is the lesson JBD boys can learn from them.
It's one thing for boys, or parents, to complain about playing time; it's another thing altogether to actually do something on the field. If we could roll back just half the missed tackles from this game, the outcome would have been different. In his post-game remarks to the boys, Coach Bassindale made the point that serious effort and intensity in the game itself begins with taking practice seriously. Expect to hear that theme reinforced in practice this week.

Video Highlights from JBD7 Blue vs. Germantown Gold

Footnote: Unfortunately, video of Alec Lindfors fumble return for a TD not available due to technical difficulties. It was a great return by Alec of a fumble caused by a strip by Connor Kimple.

Determination in Blue / Karen W. Higgins photo

Video Highlights from JBD7 Grey vs. Cedarburg