shep

It is. No doubt about it. But look at next year. In addition to the guys coming back from injury, there's Ott, Larson and maybe even Morrison as guys who will help. Add some pounds to the guys that should NOT be playing now, and it could be a great D. In fact, most of the starters now, will be backups next year. Unless 90 percent of them are injured early in the year.

Saw something that Cam Hunt was practicing this week.

That's exactly what the guys on the hockey board were saying too and I understand the point. They always worried that Hak could not be replaced. Turns out he could be replaced. So could Bubba, but not yet.

This is a fair point, but... Although these guys are in positions where they are overmatched, does it help that they are getting some reps in games? Does it help them for next year or the year after? This year is dead. It's a rebuild, so does it make sense to keep the system the same as the one he will use next year or should he try something new?

Here's a list of the RS Freshmen and true Freshmen who played way too much so far this year on D. Blubaugh, Shannon, Rastas and Stewart are true frosh. Turner, Haas, Steiger and Richman have been playing a lot as RS frosh. All are getting their first taste of game action. Is there an adjustment period? I would guess so. The true frosh are not allowed to make that adjustment slowly and have been tossed in the fire. Not gonna remind all about who these guys are trying to replace, but 2 of them are legit pro prospects. I'm a guy who spent a couple of years seeking Haks firing over on the hockey thread so I'm not immune to banging that drum, but this year is an aberration. IF they don't put it together next year, I may not be so patient.

It's not just injuries to a few key guys-it's injuries to the guys who replaced the few key guys and injuries to those guys too. That's not an excuse-its a reality. I can't help it and neither can you, but to be suggesting there's something more is missing the reality in my opinion.

But the joke can be explained.

They were so unprepared to have Blubaugh play they can't find a helmet to fit him.

Ok...that is pretty good.

I Is there a reason you can't type the D on UND??

Disterhaupt is an OLB not MLB. Lawrence is Ok but too small for what he's doing now. Hunt is fine But it appears the DLine has regressed but it may be that they are doing what they've always done, but had good MLB's behind them to make the plays. You've named 12 guys. I think I can name 14 who are out today that the coaching staff thought might be playing. I'll say it again-I HATE WHAT I'M SEEING! But I understand why I'm seeing it.

I will say what has been said before- Rudolph calls the game Bubba wants called. He wants ball control O, and he has a QB that is decent at that, but as the underthrown ball to Adeoti shows, doesn't have the arm to fling it.

And I'm saying they are giving full effort, but they are outmanned and just not physically able. That TD does not occur with Reyes there. We can't keep hoping for guys who are out to show up, but I can't blame the effort of the young punks who are in there.

What??? When did this happen??

That last play is emblematic of the trouble with playing guys who aren't physically ready to play at this level. RB gets hit but carries the tackler 5 yards for the First down. Happening all year.

Blubaugh playing his balls off

Jaxson Turner RS freshman with a play

I'll be there. Look, this is clearly a lost season. Whether it's a bump in the road or worse will not be known till next year, but I'm not jumping ship. This team will contend in the MVC in a couple of years. Just watch. Unless we play 3rd stringers and walk-ons.

Because it's easier to be Pis&#d off at coaches and say the team isn't trying. Except for those who are PiS%ed off at the OC!

We are playing without ANY MLB's

Mercer does not have good hands. Plus he had half the field on that catch a few plays ago and tippy-toed his way .

Great call to pass to Adeoti

My stance is that maybe they wouldn't have been ready next year either. And maybe without injuries, they wouldn't need to be. My stance is they ARE NOT READY THIS YEAR, and the coaching staff recruited them knowing that. This is all hands on deck time now and at least they are smart enough NOT to pull Larson's RS so he can be a part of the Championship teams in the next few years. But I see hope here for next year. Today, for this season, I have no hope.

Tom Miller on Twitter says we could rush for 500 yards and lose. Yes, but I will take the positive side of that. Freshman OLiners are holding their own.

But we are now 3 and 4 deep on the depth chart. How many coaches could foresee that? Plus Harris and Reyes are virtually irreplaceable, they thought they had good depth at LB before Connor went down and the others and frankly, the depth at OLine is looking good today.