Csonked Out

Looks like we have a 3 star Safety recruit out of Illinois taking a visit on the 11th of January per rivals. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jameer-Thurman-136899;_ylt=Av0YUJJcIk1DmvMoTnRkg2VIPZB4

I haven't agreed a lot with you lately, but this is one thing I would love to see. Play the best player at each position regardless of class. Anyone have any info on any JUCO or FBS transfers for the defensive side of the ball?

I am a fan of Mussman and some of the things he is doing on offense. He is a good teacher on the offensive line and did some great things with the offense last year, I have faith that he will make the proper adjustments with the run game and protection next year to further improve the offense. I can't however say the same things about Mannausau as I didn't see anything I liked last year. I still think he has at least another year at a minimum, but I guarantee you he has been put on notice that things need to change in a quick hurry. You simply can't have a defense like we did last year in a program that has made it's name on the defensive side of the ball. Hopefully we get back to what we know which is a strong front 7 as that could do wonders.

The best part is, these last two pickups for the O-line both seem to be very mobile. I was wishing all year long that we had the ability to pull more on the offensive line. It doesn't matter how big you are if you can't move your feet. If we can get a running game going next year, just controlling the clock a bit better should help the defense out.

Give me a break, there was a Fire Hak thread in hockey for how long and no one got their underwear in a knot like they are now. This is a part of the job of coaching and every coach knows that turnover is high if the performance is subpar.I don't know why every one is stuck on holding football to a different level than hockey as far as these discussions go, but how about we raise expectations for the program and expect excellence, rather than preaching to every to be nice online.

In my opinion, there is a big big difference between losing one game and giving the opponents average running back the time of their life on a weekly basis as they set records on us. Losing on the field occasionally is fine, embarrassing the University you represent with horrendous defense all season is quite another.

So, unless we are coaches, we can't criticize other coaches? Last I checked, I paid over $30,000 to get a degree from this institution and donate annually to support all phases of the institution. I feel that allows me to voice my opinions on employees of a public university that is partly state funded. They are paid to perform both on and off the field and right now the defense on the field is failing. I feel I am an educated person on the matter and will continue to put my input in on matters such as this. I don't ask that anyone agree with my opinions, but I do request that my ability to post these opinions is honored.

You're must very hopefully on the talent level coming through. In order to have a successful 3-4 defense to work properly we need a nose tackle who can effectively cover the A- Gap and 2 inside linebackers who can make plays. I do agree that Goodman may be a good one next year when healthy, but that's it, and you don't run a 3-4 defense with only 1 good linebacker ''I think good coaches will coach with the personnel they have, and if you only have one (good) linebacker, you’re not going to play a 3–4.'' (Quote by Hank Bullough, architecht for the 3-4 defense). Now, if you think that we have a nose tackle that is able to improve the level as much as needed to control the A-Gap, another linebacker who is able to step up and provide that 2nd ILB that is necessary and Goodman to step up as well, then I could see a big turn around, but unless this is with 2 JUCO's then I don't think we have the talent that is ready yet in the stables. I respect that you may disagree with me there and hope I am wrong. I find it funny that you think I am "putting my foot in my mouth" about this because I still blame the defensive line for many of the run game problems. The primary goal is for them to eat up the offensive line so the linebackers can make the tackles, and I am sorry, but they got embarrassed at that this year. They did a poor job of gap control and when they did control the gap they didn't do a good enough job of getting of their block to make the tackle. When you combine that with a line-backing core who quite frankly was overwhelmed by everything and a corner-back group who as just simply not talented enough, then you have what we saw last year. We just simply put, don't have the talent to run a 3-4 with the level of offenses that the BSC is producing and I think that it is crazy to think that is going to change overnight without any coaching changes. The defense may have actually gotten worse week by week last year instead of better....

As were many of the ones you have made tonight defending this travesty sir, but rather than toss insults which isn't productive, let us all hear your rational for what when wrong on the defensive front 7 and the run game. Do you place blame on the linebacking cores lack of playmakers, the defensive line, or the 3-4 compared to the more successful 4-3?

It was at the top. I'm not so sure with a freshman quarterback, no matter what the skill is, will probably not be as successful as this year. My point is that there were many games this year when our defense wasn't even competitive. At the beginning of the year it was that our defensive line was the best and deepest in years with loads of experience, but now I am seeing it was a lack of talent and experience and not the coaches fault? The bottom line is that the 3-4 isn't a good defensive scheme for this level of competition unless the d-line is top of the country talent. Our linebackers aren't good enough playmakers or tacklers, and it is clearly evident that the defensive line is significantly weaker and slower on the feet than opposing teams offensive lines. I don't think this is Mussman's fault at all, in fact I think he is deserving of more time, I am saying that the defensive coaches should be ashamed of them selves for the product that was on the field this season. The lack of fundamentals, execution, and coaching scheme changes aren't deserving of another year unless there are some serious changes. Us "Armchair Coaches" do know what we are talking about believe it or not, and to defend the garbage that was giving to us and thinking it deserves more time is a complete joke. I won't apologize for anything less than excellence, and I know darn well if this were hockey that no one else here would be either. Merry Christmas everyone, hope it is most joyous for all on siouxsports.com

So are we going to play the transition card for why the defensive line played so poorly, when it was one of the most talented groups we have had in years. Give me a break....

All of these recruits are Mussmans' recruits and they are no longer in a transition period, I absolutely hate blind excuses like this. This defense under-performing was made worse because of the reasons why they were struggling. Gap coverage and lack of tackling has nothing to do with anything other than poor technique and coaching. If the defense struggled, but could tackle I would cut more slack, but when a Division 1 team is as poor at the fundamentals as we were this year I will state my honest opinion on it...

This happens at every D1 College in the country and I highly doubt an FCS program like us is the biggest culprit. I would be much more concerned about the quality of play on the field which was clearly evident on the defensive side of the ball. With average defense at best we would have had 3 more wins. There is nothing wrong with stating the truth on a forum, and I hope that never changes.

I was wondering if Colorado would pursue him....seemed like a decent fit.

I will be shocked if he is Fargo for longer than another year, simply too good of a coach for the FCS level.

To be fair, I have heard rumors myself that this was the exact reason he was given a 2nd chance and it worked out for everyone involved. We don't know what these NDSU players did and why they were suspended, so it really is not the right time to act all high and mighty as I am assuming that the actions were far more severe.

He was the #54 rated wide receiver in the country out of high-school, this would be the biggest get our program has ever received. Big time to say the least!

He might be a good player to switch to DB with that type of vision that most running backs possess.

Ya I noticed on the SDSU chat site they have; they were talking about how big our line is but how slow they are. Let's face it, this last year they were slower than heck and got dominated technique-wise the entire season too. I would rather have smaller and more quick footed linemen all day long.

Ya, they have for years.....not a bad model to replicate

Haha, I think every team in the country would like to get 2 all-american linemen in One class, not exactly realistic though. I wouldn't mind us going after some smaller and more mobile linemen. It doesn't matter how big you are if you are slow-footed. I would love to see us start pulling more guards in the run game, this is how the Broncos line has been for years in worked well. We have far to many slow-footed linemen at the moment and that is why our run game is struggling.

On a side note, I always liked reading Stars' input on this, wish that guy was still around....

I think there is absolutely no chance this would ever happen. Being the only Dakota school as a member of the Big Sky is going to give us a distinct recruiting edge over the other 3 schools in the west and can really seperate us.The bigger reason for me though is that I don't want us to be "clumped in" with the other Dakota schools, I like that we are going our own way and forming our own path. Just my opinion though

I don't have a good or bad opinion on Mussman either way, he seems to be a good recruiter and his play calling has been improving. That being said though, I have noticed a trend on defense the last couple of years that became a serious problem this season. The last couple of seasons I have seen a steady decline in how good the defense has been at the basics which to me are gap coverage and tackling. This defense was horrible at both this year and that to me is the main problem. Every bad defense that I have ever seen has these two problems which tells me that a new defensive coordinator is in order. I don't care what excuses are made but I will be more then dissapointed if this coaching staff doesn't see any changes for next season, the D-coordinator needs to be fired immediately for the pathetic coaching that was done last year. There were some highly recruited kids playing this year on defense and they were highly recruited for a reason, it is just a shame that they aren't being coached properly..........end of rant

I hope your right....