Eagles' success begins up front

NEW ULM -- If you are looking for one reason that the New Ulm Eagles are riding a four-game South Central Conference winning streak into Friday's game with Fairmont, a game that if they win would give them their first out-right SCC crown in 51 years, you could not pinpoint just one.

Good defense is one. In the last three SCC game, the "Purple Reign" has allowed 14, 0 and 7 points.

Then there is the play of quarterback Matt Schmidt and running backs Micah Neidecker and Jared Haynes, along with wide receivers Scott Krzmarzick and Brandon Rolloff and tight end Rob Geistfeld.

But if you are really looking for a reason, there are five. The New Ulm Eagle offensive line.

"I think as far as the total package goes ... people who are starting and their back-ups, we are as deep as we've ever been," said offensive line coach Scott Stuckey, who is in his 11th season on the staff after coming in with head coach Rick VanRoekel.

Jon Colburn at center, Kory Andersen at left guard and Matt Schuetzle at left tackle along with Mike Neveln (and Andy Schwab at right guard, who has returned after an injury) with Chris Dauer at right tackle have been the starters.

How good is this offensive line?

Following New Ulm's 55-19 win over St. James earlier in the season, a St. James coach e-mailed me and wrote that New Ulm is the best team in the SCC, "and their MVP wears a number in the 70's. I am envious of that offensive line."

"As far as the line goes, and it is a veteran line, with Schuetzle, Andersen, Schwab and Neveln all playing last year. Dauer and Colburn had limited playing time last year," said Stuckey. "They play well together and compliment each other. Plus, they communicate well. Each person that comes in has their own talents as far as blocking. Jon (Colburn) and Justin Keech (back-up center) both have the attitude that the quarterback is their person; they want to make sure that there are no bad snaps. They control the line as far as getting things in order."

The guards (Andersen, Neveln, and now Schwab) "have the right speed and the right physical make-up. Plus they have the right temperament; you have to be aggressive and good football sense. We also have Jamie Fox, David Hines; they are all from the same mold."

Stuckey said that the Eagle tackles (Schuetzle, Dauer and Steve Henle) "are more physical and have to be able to move to the outside quicker. When you get a (defensive) tackle or end screaming down at the quarterback, they have to stop that, and nowadays they are also going after linebackers. They have to be a little crafty. But the inside three (center and two guards) have to really communicate constantly because they are working with double-teams and shooting linebackers. The tackles definitely have to be anchors."

Not only are the Eagles big size-wise (190, 210, 256, 256 and 272 starting), but also quick. "That is one of the thing that we are enjoying now is our team speed," commented Stuckey. "Whether it is running backs or our offensive line. A lot of that has to do with the kids themselves. We have made the weight room open for them and the Fitness Center is open. Plus, they are out for other sports and working at a job that requires physical labor and they take good care of themselves. They lift weights after practice to get better. It also prevents injuries.

"The communication is so important. When we come up (to scrimmage) and the defense switches from a 5 (-man front) to a 4 (-man front) or go to a 6 (-man front) they need to communicate. Sometimes there are verbal or non-verbal communication to change some (blocking) schemes. A lot of that has to recognition and feel for the person next to you.

"We want to play as aggressive on offense and they would on defense; you have to keep attacking. We need to make all of our blocks -- all 11 players need to do that."

Stuckey saw some lean years when he came in with VanRoekel (as did now offensive coordinator Ron Bunkers), some years with 25 players out for varsity football. Now the Eagles on on the verge of an outright SCC crown. "This is just good for the program. Some of these kids were roly-poly growing up and you would never think that they would be the way that they are now. They are good students and real nice kids off the field. They have learned how to win and now the mind set is that they can win."

RUSSOW GETS OK TO PLAY: Minnesota Valley Lutheran running back and linebacker Joel Russow was not scheduled to play Saturday night against Cedar Mountain/Comfrey, but he received the OK to play just prior to the game.

"The trainer said that she was going to check me out just before the game and I passed, so I played," he said. Russow had been out for two weeks after injuring his left knee.

"I wasn't tentative; the brace (used by his dad in college) kept my knee stable and felt pretty good. I didn't get tired during the game."

The junior from Sleepy Eye said that is was frustrating sitting out those two weeks. "We have a great group of guys on the team; it was tough, but I kept motivated to get back."

Russow, who carried the ball five times in the first half, was on the field defensively on the Cougars' last drive in an attempt to tie or win the game in the final minutes.

"We were told to read the ball on defense (on that final drive)," he said. "I felt good about our defense and it helped out that on that last play, Jon Beilke was on the left side and I was on the right. Just before the play started, he said that we should switch sides and we did. They ended up throwing to that side to Ryan Steffensmeier. Him being so tall (6-foot-5), it helped out that Jon was there because I don't think that I would have been able to make that play."

Russow feels confident that when the Chargers all get healthy, they can make noise.

"We can go far; I don't think that anyone has seen our full potential yet and I think that is amazing what we can do (when healthy)."

BRAUN PICKS UP PLAY: Last year, Nate Braun was a body on the football field for the Eagles. This year, he has turned into a force defensively.

In six games, he has recorded 23 tackles, 16 assists, two quarterback sacks and an interception.

Why the change for the 6-foot-4, 302-pound senior who ran down a Blue Earth running back in the 28-14 win over the Bucs?

"I think that it is more of a feeling of being comfortable," he said. " It just feels a lot better this year."

Braun's attitude has also changed on the field.

"My attitude is that no one can stop me," he said. "They can double-team me, but I will still plug up the hole."

The New Ulm defense has been very strong, giving up 19 points (six by the starters), 14 to Blue Earth, zero to St. Peter and seven cosmetic points to Waseca.

The key?

"I think that the intensity that we have is good; it keeps up going," Braun said. "There is a lot of unity on the defense. We all take the field and say 'three downs and out.' That is our attitude, and then our offense goes out and scores. That is a big confidence booster.

"I increased my foot speed from last year," he said. "Last year, I sat back when they passed but this year, I go all-out rush when I see pass. I wasn't aggressive last year.

"We knew that we could win this year, we shot ourselves in the foot (in losses to Luverne and Detroit Lakes), but we are playing confident now."

How confident? "We want to go in full-speed for the playoffs and keep playing well."

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer