Midwestern Hawk

I agree on the moments with Q. That first fumbled snap was huge after we had gotten a first down via PI and we needed to score in that moment. The loss of 10 yards killed us. Using him near the goal line where he scored was brilliant. i am not sure why Danny didn’t use Otis and Quincy in a read option. Otis pulling defenders to the left and Quincy taking ball straight ahead or to the right would be tough to stop.

Tommy struggled the last 3 games. Teams have figured out his strengths and weaknesses and have made adjustments in how they play UND with Tommy as QB . Early in the season it was loose zone making it much easier to run screens out of multiple formations and to multiple guys. Also easier to get guys open in the flats. Most of Tommy’s throws are set throws, if you watch closely he is not usually going through his progressions post snap. If the targeted receiver is covered he throws it away. It’s also one of the reasons for the low number of sacks and pressures along with a designed moving pocket. UND was very effective with this and Tommy made most of those throws. The last 3 games the coverage is much more tight man on edges with one high safety over the top. making the swing passes ans screens obsolete. It also allows the defense to bring 8 into the box depending on our formation. We have not been able to attack this defense which is the main reason for all of the offensive struggles the last 3 games which puts tons of pressure on the defense and wears them down. tommy was far more effective the first 4 games then he has been the last 3. I’m just afraid the book is out on Timmy so to speak, and Danny only has so many ways to compensate for the lack of deep balls and an running threat. Danny drained the playbook getting us back into the game in 2nd qtr last night. He has done a fantastic job overall this spring making the offense work.

Thanks. We are so close! So damn close!

Completely agree. His performance yesterday was bad. He seems to have regressed from appearances earlier in the season.

Gonna be interesting in Fargo. Cam does not appear to be the answer, at least based in yesterday game. Maybe the VT drop down is transferring to NDSU because he is magic....

JMU was no longer playing dbs as tight. Give up short stuff and don’t give up any one strike plays.

That’s part of my point. Our longest drive was 3:28. Defense was on field for almost 37 minutes. We stopped the run much better early than late. Needed a couple 8-10 play drives that take 7-8 minutes. other than first qtr of MSU it was largely the same story the last 3 games. I’ll shut up now. We are so damn close.

JMU adjusted defense because game was over. 6-6 for 75 yards on last drive. Pre final drive 10-20 138 yards and 2 ints(only 1 was his fault). Less than 7 yards per attempt. And how much of that was on the 2nd qtr drive where Danny emptied the playbook? 2-2 for 48 yards on gadget plays. 8-18 with 1 pick for 90 yards previous to last drive and without gadget plays.

Ok. You win. Tommy has a cannon and we don’t throw deep because of our receivers. the late season offensive slump(sans1 qtr)had nothing to do with opposing teams figuring out the screen a Rama. we will never have ol and dl good enough to win a natty with a qb who can’t/won’t run and can’t throw deep effectively.

About 10 yards further I think. The arc and velocity was much different. Did you see the PI pass in first qtr? Just hung up in the wind . The deeper the throw the more Tommy has a tendency to throw it up like a blooper in baseball. Why do you think Danny never had Tommy try and take the top off the JMU defense?

What was Tommy’s longest throw attempt last night? what was Tommy’s deepest throw attempt last night? How did that go?

Hit the first two throws, 50 yard double move and 48 yard gadget play. After that he was very average and the offense was almost zilch after the first qtr. do you really think 80% of D1 qbs can’t make a 35-40 yard throw to someone who is 8-15 yards open? Half the guys on the team could have made the throw to Belquist. yesterday it got to be very obvious JMU was jumping routes and we still wouldn’t take dee shots or even replay mid range throws(20 yards) til we had no choice. Watch the last three games or go through the stats and track the distance of the throws he attempts.

It’s a qb driven game at the moment.

I would try Q and maybe Feeney when he arrives . Without having a qb able to get the ball downfield or being a threat to run, makes the offense very limited. Take out the first qtr vs MSU (a gadget play and double move) and the last 3 games Tommy has been average at best . If you don’t believe me look at the numbers. Take out the gadget plays yesterday and what are you left with at QB. A guy who does not make many mistakes but who is unable to carry a team against like competition. He rarely throws the ball further than 30 yards form where he throws it(horizontal and very). I honestly can’t imagine Q can’t make most of those throws. I’m not sure what Quincy can do with his arm, but I know his size and legs change the dynamic in the field. If this team had JMU or SDSU qb IMo it’s still playing.

Wells was far better than any of our receivers no doubt about that. The long pass right before half was not to him . Do you think tommy can make either of those 2 deep throws to wells?

I was confused in Otis use too. 13 carries the last 3 games. Must have him on play count?

Tell me how JMU does if they can’t throw the ball downfield? Would have allowed us to bring another safety down in the box every play.

When we play good team. Teams with equal or better talent, the QB looms as the most important person in field . The difference maker. Watch our last 3 games, subtract the gadget pass plays and tell me what we are left with. A very smart QB who struggles mightily with arm strength and is no threat to run . That sequence in 2nd qtr where one short throw should have been picked and one throw was picked and should have been pick 6 tells the story. I don’t know if our o and d lines will ever be able to compensate for 3 minute drives and no ability to get ball downfield. watch the last 3 games with a critical eye.

We have to have someone who can either be a threat running and/or throw deep balls. Watch the game again and count the box. Last 3 games the other team has been daring us to throw it deep.

I am sure our goal is to win a Natty. Will the OL and DL EVER be good enough to do that with a game manager at QB who can't throw down field and is no threat to run? Against JMU our O was horrible in the first qtr(into a strong wind). We talk about the DL being a weakness and I agree we need a couple more bigger body types. We also need some more speed at WR. We had to score after the JMU punt miscue early in the game. The O was pathetic with that opportunity and part of that is a fumble which on Vaughn. The DPI call the play before, was a terribly weak throw which should have been intercepted. For better or worse, its a QB driven game now. Ask yourself if the Bison would be still playing with good QB play? Would we still be playing with JMU QB? He threw 3 huge deep passes in that game, big double move throw in 2nd qtr(into wind),huge completion right before half(FG) and the back breaker in the 4th qtr. Tommy won't even attempt those throws because he can't make them. If the DB doesn't hurt himself on the pick 6 that game is over in the 2nd qtr. Watch the NDSU, MSU and JMU games again, the book is out on Tommy. Stack the box and make Tommy throw it deep, he can't. TOP was a disaster the last 3 games. NDSU and JMU we struggled stopping the run, our O never gave D time to regroup with a long drive in either game, nor in last 3 qtrs vs MSU. Luckily their O was dominated by our D. Damn we are close.

Me too. The problem is there is only so much of that “gadgetry” in the cupboard. That drive kept us in the game.

SDSU rolling now. Gronowski looks to be the real deal.

Do you happen to be watching SDSU and their QB running the ball? Changes everything for a defense.

Yep . Offense was awful in that game.

Lack of arm strength and little ability:desire to run are huge problems for UND offense. You can win it all with one or the other but IMO can’t with neither. Too easy to defend. Another game with no deep balls thrown. JMU was daring us.