AJS
-
Posts
3,781 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
6
Posts posted by AJS
-
-
8 hours ago, Matt said:
When was the last time EWU fell off after graduation losses? They didn't after losing Bo Levi Mitchell, Taiwan Jones, Vernon Adams. Hoping that program will drop off seems more wishful thinking to me.
They were 6-5 last year.
-
1
-
-
30 minutes ago, darell1976 said:
Someone on FB commented that they did that to UND. What on the scoreboard did they not allow UND to do? I don't get this rule at all.
UND played a stock FCS highlight video before the team was announced. The same one that NDSU will have to play this weekend. No team specific one that would pump up the crowd.
-
Adams now in the USHL point lead (5th PPG) and Kawaguchi 2nd BCHL (4th PPG)
-
11 minutes ago, bincitysioux said:
When I peek at next years schedule, my early take on North Dakota's status for each game looks like this:
- @ Utah (8-4, 5-4): Underdog -- Self Explanatory. Big time FBS program from the Pac-12
- Missouri State (4-7, 2-6): Favorite -- Lower level team from a top tier conference.
- @ South Dakota (4-7,3-5): Favorite -- Lower level team from a top tier conference. USD games are often competetive, but in the end we've won 6 of last 7 against them.
- Montana St. (4-7, 2-6): Favorite -- Despite a nice finish, the Cats were a disaster in 2016.
- @ UC Davis (3-8, 2-6): Favorite -- Lower level conference opponent, installing a new coaching staff in 2017
- Northern Colorado (6-5, 4-4): Favorite -- Bears have been better of late. Don't see our 4 game winning streak against them being snapped in the Alerus though.
- @ Montana (6-5, 3-5): 50/50 -- Griz were soft this year. But it's tough for anyone to get a win in Missoula.
- Sacramento St. (2-9, 2-6): Favorite -- Might get ugly for the Hornets in this one at the Alerus
- @ Portland St: Favorite -- Can the Viks return to their 2015 form? Didn't see anything in 2016 that would indicate so.
- @ Southern Utah: 50/50 -- Only EWU, Poly, and NAU have won more Big Sky games than the T-Birds since the 2012 Expansion. 9-1 at home last two seasons
- Eastern Washington: Underdog -- Class of the Big Sky for close to a decade now. Could be defending National Champions next year.
The only changes I would make is putting both @USD and EWU at 50/50. USD was very competitive with NDSU and SDSU down the stretch and like UND return a lot, plus are at home. EWU on the other hand brings back their All-Conference QB, but lose their top 3 WR's who all had over 1,000 yards receiving and combined for over 3,500 yards.
-
2
-
1 minute ago, shep said:
Ok...he means that Taylor is the only certain starter, right? I would say Stockwell, when healthy, is a lock too.
Correct, but I'd agree Stockwell is a lock too on the left side. That would really say something about one of the freshman if they could beat Stockwell out as starting LT.
-
19 minutes ago, shep said:
Miller's column notably omits ANY of the returning OL's as likely starters except D Taylor. He misses that most are coming back and I'd guess Rooney, Aplin, Miller, Stockwell and Blair will be in some of the spots.
I think he was more getting at the competition for starting spots will be fierce in the Spring and Fall with Tobin, Mortel and Nguon all ready to compete for starting sports with the starters from last year. This is great news if the young guys can push starters for a spot in the starting lineup. The offensive line improved immensely throughout the year and with four starters returning (6 starting at least a game), plus 3 more pushing for starting spots, we will be in a very good place with the OL next year. Having a true 2-deep with possible little drop off from starters to back ups for the first time.
-
1
-
-
This was posted in the other 2017 thread, but is relevant in this one as well. http://millersports.areavoices.com/2016/12/05/und-football-what-returns-in-2017/
"There are some strong reports on the redshirting freshmen hogs, especially guard Ryan Tobin, tackle Noah Mortel and center/guard Nathan Nguon"
We'll be following closely how these three develop over the Spring and Summer into Fall ball. Hopefully all three can push the starters and add quality depth.
Miller wrote about the 4 biggest needs being OL, LB, Safety (Arnell redshirt being a big ?) and back up QB. It appears this might be the first year since Bubba has been here that unless a true freshman is too good not to play, that there won't be a need to burn multiple red shirts, because of depth issues. This is where UND wants to be at.
-
6 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:
I guess I read it differently than you, I didn't take that out of it at all. In my mind he basically pointed out there are 5 key seniors we lose and said OL has ton of competition to replace that spot, the DL will be fine, and some linebackers will have to step up to fill some voids there. Hardly doom and gloom....or at least that is not how I take it.
This is how I read it as well, he looked at the areas where UND will need to improve the most, given what they are losing / areas that were weaknesses this year. This is the information I'm most interested in as well. It's not as much fun to talk about as the 7 all-returning players, ect, but it's just as important.
Couple things:
Positive:
"There are some strong reports on the redshirting freshmen hogs, especially guard Ryan Tobin, tackle Noah Mortel and center/guard Nathan Nguon."
Negative:
Arnell hardship. Isn't he back next year? Wouldn't that have been decided last year? I'm really confused. I noticed this year that sometimes he was listed as SR, others JR.
-
This is based off the Playoff edition game notes. Seniors as well as any duplicates (couple OL that were backing up more than one position) were removed, so nobody is on twice. The only change I made was put Stockwell in at starting LT, since he was not listed on that 2 deep and did start at that position for that game.
2016 was such a successful campaign which brought UND a 9-2 record, Co Big Sky Championship and #7 Seed. Looking it at objectively, I think they were a little overrated. They won games yes, but some in dramatic come back fashion and others by closer margins than they should have. They had major depth issues and injuries piled up. I still think they were a sure fire Top 15 team, which is why next year should be their best year by far at the FCS level.
I don't ever remember so many players on the 2 deep returning. Off the list below, they need to fill 5 spots Offensively and 6 Defensively. What needs to happen for this team to be a Top 5 team next year? Who will be filling the vacancies?
-
13 minutes ago, Cratter said:
You key to the argument is UND could have easily regained time and flow after the penalty and had plenty of plays on offense and defense to take control of it but failed.
Giving a team a first down (whether on third or fourth down) played a very small part in the 100s of plays ran.
They didn't score on that penalty. They scored on the numerous plays that drove the field after that penalty.
The running into the punter was the most significant play of the game, in terms of momentum, and is the reason they lost. I agree that they could have made plays down the stretch that they didn't, that could have turned things around, but it didn't happen. None of those would have had to happen if 52 doesn't bull rush the punter for god knows what reason.
-
17 minutes ago, northdakota18 said:
Looking at next years schedule, initial gut feeling is that the Eastern Washington game will be for the sole right to the big sky championship. Feel like the team as a whole will take another step forward as they have every year with Bubba, and start putting some teams away rather than nearly every game coming down to the wire. Yesterday sucked but remember that in our 3 losses we lost by a combined 8 points.. Mussman's last season we went 3-8 and lost by a combined 174 points (over 3 TD's per loss) - really puts into perspective how far we've come.
The future is bright
This. (Captain obvious statement coming up) Each year a player will progress, get stronger in the offseason, get more comfortable with different situations and the game slows down for them. Offensively this team had 1/2 of the core groups (OL, WR) that were basically seeing the field for the first time. With injuries, depth was spread very at times, this caused close games and inconsistency at time. All those players return (except Coe) with a year under their belts. They'll start next year with not only experience at every offensive position, but depth.
This years team was good, next years team will be really good with the chance to be great (i.e. healthy Georges). They will be a team that should beat the average / above average teams by a couple TDs. Talent wise, they'll be Top 5 in the country.
-
10 minutes ago, BigGame said:
The point of those types of plays a lot of the time is to make the defense defend the entire field. We don't have a deep threat to stretch the field and it is next to impossible to run against a defense that is stacked up to stop it. I don't like the call personally but I get it, and you don't get it if you think UND is good enough up front to just line it up and run it on a good defense that is selling out to stop the run. The swing passes that Studs kept making bad throws on yesterday sort of do the same thing.
It's all situational. The definitely were good enough on the drive you were talking about, the were getting 7 yards running up the middle every single first down. They were in field goal range on first down when the call was made. I agree if running up the middle wasn't working, but it was.
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, shep said:
I see Cloyd come in to a game and see a physical specimen who was rarely used. Why lift the RS if you're not using him?
This. Cloyd is possibly the best player of last years class and they burned a year playing him on Special Teams and running a couple routes a game. Did he even have 5 catches on the year? Awful decision by the coaching staff.
-
1
-
-
Starting off this post like my last, this was a 9-2 team that shared the conference title and was awarded a seed. Looking at the depth chart, they bring back a lot of all conference players, plus a great quality of depth (beyond the 2 deep chart). Although they had a great record, they had a very favorable schedule which played into their record. Not only who they played, but getting the tougher opponents at home. They had trouble putting away teams and playing complete games. I'm not trying to take anything away from this team, but want to look at what needs to be done for this team to take the next step. Might not be regular season record wise next year, but a team that is better overall. My question is what areas do they need to improve in next year to be better? Where did the struggle this year? A couple I've thought of
- O-line play: This group improved throughout the year, they had to replace 4 starters last year and was the main reason for a sluggish start. Next year they return 9 of 10 on the depth chart.
- DBs: Improved this year, lead the nation in INTs, but still were shaky. It seemed most teams could throw at will on them whenever they wanted. They return everyone including Reyes and Harris. Is the answer Hunt and Holm just need another year under their belt? Same with Arnell?
- QB Depth - Do they have anyone besides Keaton who can come in and play well if needed? JUCO transfer to backup?
- Special Teams: Worst in FCS, will improved depth help out, new coach?
Outside of their linebacker core, they don't have a position where they need a wholesale change like O-line was this year (harder group to replace). What's exciting is each year there seems to be less and less major holes on the team. With what they have returning, I truly believe they'll have what it takes to be a Top 5 team in the country and a legitimate title contender.
*How in the hell is their Bye week the last week of the season again?
-
7 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:
So Rudolph isn't creative enough one day and then the next he's too flashy? I love how people look at results and then spin their narrative after the fact. Captain Hindsight strikes again. Maybe the WR should have caught some balls tonight? Or is that Rudolph's fault too?
The only offensive play call of the night, given what was happening that didn't make sense was the reverse, other than that I thought he called a good game. Any offensive troubles tonight could be placed solely on the WRs. As a group they had by far their worst game of the season. Stanley, Toivanen and Wanzek couldn't catch anything.
Everything that happened tonight would have been negated if UND didn't have the worst special teams at the FCS level. It cost them their first game as well as their last. I'll never be able to wrap my head around why they brought pressure on the punt they had interference on. I can live with a defensive break down, or a questionable offensive call, but what can't be accepted is what took place on that play.
-
49 minutes ago, HawkinNutts said:
Does anyone have a two deep of the 2016 team they could post? just want to see who we lose and where there may be holes.
-
The way the season ended hurts, they lost a game they shouldn't have, but man should next year be fun. This was a 9-2 team that won a share of the Big Sky title and was a seed in the playoffs that brings 7 players recognized by the Big Sky back.
QB - Studsrud (SR) Heidelbaugh (SO): All eyes on Heidelbaugh, he needs to become a reliable backup.
RB - Everyone returns
OL - 9 of the 10 players on the 2 deep return. Losing Coe hurts, but you can't ask for much more with depth returning
WR - Georges is the big ?, they return their top 4 receivers in Stanley, Toivanen, Wanzek and Mercer. Georges would make this a very, very good corps
TE - Lose Mathewson, but will be a much better unit with Cloyd getting a year of experience, he's going to be very good
Overall, this should be a very good unit. I'd like to see them try to get a JUCO backup if they don't think Heidelbaugh can take the reigns if Keaton gets hurt. Depth at every other position will not be a problem. They lose 4 of 23 players on the last two deep chart (includes Bartles, Reed)
DL- Lose Noah Johnson, but return a very deep group that was one of the best in FCS
LB - This is the position hit hardest, but still have O'Brien, and really liked what Rodgers and Lawrence brought as Freshman
DB - Return their starting 4 which include two Big Sky all First teamers, one being the Big Sky DPOY. Hunt and Holm will only grow as they both played huge minutes as Freshman
Lose 5 of 22 players on the last two deep chart
On paper next year should be the best team UND has had. Any redshirt freshman that should make impacts next year?
-
55 minutes ago, HawkinNutts said:
Team and coaches capped the bed in the 2nd half.
1.Started with idiotic running into the kicker. not the greatest call here, but kids need to understand the situation of the game (and coaches need to coach them to understand it)
2. After shoving the ball with olivera, (not Santiago ) down their throats, we go for an effing reverse!! and lose 10. made zero cents at that point in the game. horrible play call. and sometimes you need to feed the hot hand. Santiago was a non-factor tonight. couldn't stop Brady
3. Stanley looked like !@#$. But didn't help that Keaton couldn't hit the broad side of the barn. too many wide open misses or drops
4. were all their big passes on #16?
5. at the end, shouldve let them score. at least we would've gotten the ball back.
Great season but pathetic way to end. Rudolph and the 12 year old kid who is the ST coordinator should be on notice.
Agree with all of this besides Keaton, I actually think he played pretty well, besides Mercer and Fiedler nobody else could catch the ball. Toivonen, Stanley and Wanzek are as sure handed as FCS receivers get and they couldn't catch anything tonight. They all dropped easy receptions over and over.
The problems UND has had the entire year ended up all coming to bite them at the end. Bubba needs to make changes with the Special teams unit. Them bringing pressure in that situation is unthinkable with anyone that has two brain cells to rub together. The blocked punt was a mess, multiple Richmond players could have blocked that one.
On offense you are running the ball down their throats, but decide to do a reverse which made no sense and that ended up losing 7 yards, costing the team at least 3 points.
The secondary also needs to get better, too many big plays. I hate calling for coaches jobs, but Rudolph and the Special Teams coordinator need to go.
-
3
-
-
The Herald's numbers definitely make sense now, after seeing basically the entire section of 202 open up as well as a lot of 203.
Current count - 3032 tickets available = 7129 non-student tickets
-
Final update for the night, currently 2829 available tickets on Tickemaster (now include opposing seats in 217)
12,283 Capacity, take away students 2122 and 2829 still available, puts it at 7332 non student tickets sold. W/ question being lower 202.
-
1 hour ago, SiouxFan100 said:
Thanks for all you work with this. It almost appears that there are unsold seats (maybe reserved) that don't have dots? Do family members of players get seats that would show up as not available for sale but weren't technically sold for instance? I thought that comped seats were eliminated for play off games but maybe they are just reduced??
I was thinking family members in the lower section of 202 and I think that's the case. There hasn't been any available the entire time. I don't know why that would be counted differently, but I don't think those totals (or Richmonds allotment) were in the Heralds 7500.
*There was just a ticket dump in lower 217, so it appears all Richmond didn't sell are now available. They sold 216 which isn't bad.
-
46 minutes ago, nodak651 said:
My deal is currently showing 2623 seats left (plus opposing section and students). I know you were questioning your numbers after the herald released their attendance article, but I think we are both pretty close.
Picture below shows how I do it in sections.
Is the lower section of 202 reserved for anyone? If it is and none of those are sold than the Heralds numbers would make a little more sense.
-
1
-
-
1 hour ago, Cratter said:
Interesting, I really wasn't even close with my math last night. With the student totals he has in the article, I would have thought 8,000 currently.
What's the deal with opposing fan tickets? When do the ones they don't use usually get released?
-
6 hours ago, SiouxFan100 said:
AJS - please do your magic count a thingee again.
3115 as of 11/29
2780 left currently (not counting student / opposing team tickets), if sales continue, by tomorrow night another 300 would empty everything left in sections 202-208.
Capacity - 12,283 (Per Wiki) Since we don't know student totals, let's just count them for 0 (2122 seats), Opposing section 0 (437 total lower 217), Remaining 2780. It looks like they have sold 6944 non-student / opposing fan tickets so far.
-
1
-
2017 Season
in Football
Posted
https://millersports.areavoices.com/2016/12/07/und-football-turns-the-page-to-2017/
"Schweigert said the main areas of improvement he wants to see this offseason are at quarterback, offensive line and defensive back".
No doubt, these were 3 of the main areas that held back UND from being a good to a very good / great team.
One thing I love about Bubba is how he just seems to get it, when it comes to pointing out the obvious and breaking down what they need to work on. I bring this up, because for years I've been frustrated with the way you can never really get any information out of the hockey coaches. Their power play is always embarrassing and you don't hear a word about it. We all notice something that needs to be worked on and Bubba brings it up, it's just really refreshing.