Wilbur

Yeah, UND doesn't quite fit on NDSU's schedule with the likes of those teams. Personally, I'd rather have the Sioux go and play in the Fargo dome, but with the relationship the way it is I don't mind them going on the road to play Idaho, Texas Tech, Northern Illinois, Fresno State. It sucks that the home schedule looks the way it does, but there is absolutely no argument in the fact that UND has scheduled and played in tougher DI road venues than has NDSU.

Yes....after beating mighty Lafayette College 42-6 (a team with a big TWO wins last season, over mighty Stonybrook, and mighty Bucknell), NDSU would be on the verge of putting up half a hundred on the Sioux. The Sioux hockey team would beat the NDSU hockey team 50-0, based on your avatar, thats the sport you care the most about.

So the Sioux started better than most of their schedule....alright. If that Black Hills State game wasn't the Potato Bowl game you'd be looking at one of the worst crowds for a Sioux football game at the Alerus Center all time. That should be an ugly ugly football game.

I don't see the Sioux beating Idaho after the way they looked last week, but I think they are perfectly capable of keeping it a close game. My key factors: ~Penalties....if our offensive line can't get rid of the false starts its going to be a long day in Russia...(Moscow...hah...not funny). Third and manageable...not third and fifteen. ~The running game.....Keep the clock running....keep our defense off the field....keep the chains moving....Sutton, Miller, Garman need to be huge. ~Physicality. Last year we got bullied and pushed around, and were made to look like the little sisters of the poor. I would like to see the Sioux try and be the more physical team. If they can follow those I think they'll be okay. Baby steps.....baby steps....

+1

They are especially going to need to blitz against the scholarship DI teams. There is no way they're going to get pressure with 3-4 guys against an Idaho or a Montana State. I'd rather get burned on a blitz than watch a guy stand in the pocket the entire game with a clean uniform. Not sure if there is much they can do either way against Pat Hill and Fresno State. There is a poster on this board (can't remember the name ) who talked once about the phases of a passing play, affecting the launch of a pass so it wouldn't get to the completion stage. It was like watching a completely different defense when they blitzed. When the Drake QB had time he completed passes, when he was flushed the defense was able to get off the field quite a few times.

Not a good night for UND's future opponents. Sioux Falls got beat, Montana State got beat, and Idaho got beat. The Sioux should be competitive in the Idaho game. This isn't the 45-0 Idaho team from last year. They'll have to open up the playbook a bit more, but I think the Sioux should stay within ten points.

Well, if others are going to break stuff down.... Defense: I know it was against an offense that throws a lot of quick hitters....but I still like pressure....wish they would have blitzed more. They get a B. Offense: The receiving corps gets a D for the drops, and some poor route running. The running backs get an A for no fumbles, and hard nosed running. Bradley gets a B+ for effective decision making, and his accuracy with the football. Special teams: Miller goes 4-4 on kicks....good for him. His first one would have been good from 50+....Coverage was okay, almost gave up a huge return on a kickoff. Punting was pretty good as well....A- Offensive MVP: Mitch Sutton, I feel safe when he has the football, runs hard. Defensive MVP: Brenneman and Hendrickson. Brenneman for the two sacks, Hendrickson for being all over the play and leading the team in tackles. Special teams MVP: Zeb Miller, good game from the kicker.

It was weird watching a #6 quarterback for the Sioux hit his receivers in the hands and between the numbers....He wasn't spectacular, but if you're a Sioux fan you can't be upset with the QB play.

I think Mussman said it best at the end....pretty disappointing offensive effort.....dropped passes...penalties...you name it. The defense is a bend but don't break unit, hopefully in the conference games they don't break. I think the Sioux have found their QB. No real stupid decisions with the football, and knew at times when to throw the ball away and when to just eat it. Looks like the coaches decided to not throw the ball around too much unless they needed to. Not sure why they took the Red Shirt off of Garman if they aren't going to use him more....I hope I'm wrong and he gets at least 10 touches a game in the future.

I wish UND would open up the playbook a bit more......The running game is great, but they still haven't thrown the ball down the field much. Lots of short passes, etc. Then you get into third and long....protection breaks down....punt.

10-0 Sioux. Jake Miller with a nice TD run. The Sioux could run the ball all night long. Just a big size advantage on the line.... Would like to see the Sioux get the ball to Garman a bit more.

End of one quarter....3-0 Sioux.

Blocked field goal.....not bad by the d....

3-0 Sioux..... Drake driving here....Sioux defense needs to get a stop here.

Bradley has a great accurate arm. Now if our fricken receivers could catch the ball...... Wow....nice throw to get the first down.

Penalties.......2 in a row. 1st and roughly 25 yards.....

Hmmm.....nice return on the punt by #33....waiting how to spell his last name....still waiting..... I'll try it....Mercereaux? Maybe?

Dropped ball....punt.

Three runs.....eleven yards....establish the run....there we go.

Woo hoo! We won the toss! And take the football!

Can't wait for tonights game, although I'll have to be one of those that tunes into the Fighting Sioux Sports Network and gets the action from Pat Sweeney. I used to turn down the game and listen to the radio, but the radio/TV delay is so long now that you wait five seconds to see what you heard happen. I'll stick to my choice....I'll say 52-21. Joey Bradley with a big game for the Sioux.

Over under on the amount of times that Jer Garman gets his hands on the ball? I'll say +5.....hopefully.

Agreed about the NAIA games. The starters need to be out of those games by the second quarter. Especially against Black Hills State or whoever it is.....

Part of me says come out and pound them with the running game to let our young QB settle down....the other part says come out and throw the ball all over the place because there is no better way to get him into the game. I'll say UND 52......Drake 21. Bradley has a HUGE passing day, sprinkled in with a defensive touchdown or two.