Irish

I'm sure we do - we have some solid players here too - we need the next Schmaltz, Boesser, Toews, Oshie, Frattin, Parise - well you get the idea. Or a couple of them. We seem to have had a couple year drought on top talent. Time to up our recruiting game.

After winning it all two years ago and having the entire first line get national publicity as one of the best ever in college hockey and all going to the NHL you would think some offensive studs would be lined up to come here. No way Duluth should be kicking out butts regularly. This team is seriously short on high-end talent.

The game day experience has improved greatly, thanks to hard work on the part of Bubba and the University. And we expect to be much better this year. The only negative is that regardless of how successful we are, you will come away frustrated many games watching Rudolph plying his trade.

We still need some high end talent - remember - as gritty as our championship team was we still had an NHL caliber first line. Time to get in some studs.

Sold

Look - other than using "incorrect terminology" to describe the infamous "first down Hawks - Santiago up the middle for 1. Second and 9." play (a play every fan recognizes instantly) my main points here have been that Rudolph had a very talented group of running backs and used none effectively. He refused to split Santiago out to try get him the ball in space or any other deviation from his "plan". Tight ends were forgotten. He refused to adapt to his talent. In addition, his game calling never leaves anyone off balance - he is very predictable - and that to be a great team this has to change. I would venture to say this is a sentiment shared by a majority of posters on the football thread. How am I wrong?

Thank you, professor, for that lesson in terminology. Would it be more plain to you if I had said "Santiago up the middle"? No need to go into specifics unless you have a pent up lecture you want to get out.

I knew it was bad from watching, but these numbers are stark - At this point I couldn't be more disappointed in Bubba - he's the one who should know better and watched this unfold - and then decided not to make any changes. Rudolph is just a lost cause.

Two tickets for the Saturday hockey game vs the 18 and under team - Sect. 113 row C seats 1 and 2 - directly behind the goal. $30 for the pair - text 701 740 1607 if interested.

"a key for Shurmur has been tailoring the offense to the strengths of the players available" - Almost sacrilege in the Sioux camp. I'd sure like to hear what people think this would have looked like at UND last year. In my mind it wouldn't look like running a dive into 8 or 9 in the box with our 185 lb running back.

I couldn't agree more with your assessment. I watched most of the game too - and what struck me was the absolute misuse of our talented group of running backs (even with our line troubles). Bubba's endorsement of a clueless O coordinator frustrates me to no end. So many things are possible and still have a ball control clock eating offense. Time for this coaching staff to get a clue.

Same person who passed the ball to them this year - Mr. Nobody. Too busy running the dive to worry about the TEs.

Not for our offense - we counter that with the dive.

You really don't see the difference? Well, great things are on the horizon then because we have the same offense as the best program in the country. How many 1 yard dives on first down did they run - using their 185 pound running back who is an all american when he gets the ball with space? Rudolph backers mystify me.

I hate to say it, but every time I see the Bison piss-pound someone in the playoffs I get more frustrated with Bubba's lack of action after last season. If he thinks he can win at this level with Rudolph calling the plays then maybe he isn't the man for the job.

I hope so but they seem incapable of learning anything. Remember this was their 4th year.

Believe it - that's what we do - a strategy apparently endorsed by Bubba

This sweep is ultra satisfying. Way to go boys.

I'd be much more tolerant and understanding about this train-wreck of a season and Bubba if Bubba hadn't sat for 4 years and watched the worst O coordinator in all of D1 football ply his trade. And it is not because of the run first philosophy. Like I said before, the beauty of a run first offense is that if the D overcommits with 8 or 9 in the box you should have a whole package of plays set to exploit their over-playing. Bubba's decision to keep Rudolph is frustrating and means in my mind that the inability to use our 3 stud running backs effectively, the lack of tight end involvement, no screen passes and terrible play calling is now on him. I would be much more forgiving of 3-8 if the offense actually tried to expand and find a way to open things up. What we saw this year was pure coaching malpractice on the offensive side.

Here's the thing about a run-first offense - The O coordinator should relish it when a team stacks the box with 8 or 9 to stop the run - that means many other things should be wide open. He should have a package locked and loaded and ready to make a defense pay for over-playing. If you won't do that, then you will see 8 or 9 in the box all of the time (sound familiar?). This is not rocket science, just basic High School football. I could not be more disgusted with Bubba for not making a change. On the other hand, I may be too harsh on him for the "team culture" - It sometimes happens even to the best programs - how he handles it this year in the off season should let us know. So far the sideline dancer have not appeared. This year may be the exception for team culture. I hope so. The offense has been in front of his face for 4 years now.

Two different problems - we don't have any scorers up front which makes this a tough season - and although it factors in to the power play misery, we have not put together a decent power play even when we had a first line of absolute studs. Not sure why, but it sure is frustrating.

Even If i buy into the injuries caused the 3-8 season excuse, the reasons I am frustrated with Bubba are his continued endorsement of the worst offensive scheme and play selection I have ever seen and (from what I can tell) poor team culture. Had he taken action with the O coordinator I would at least feel that he "gets it". Now, I'm not so sure he isn't the problem.

Innovation? - what's this strange word you speak of - can it actually be applied to football?

I don't know much about this kid, but I hope the coaches remember that you can be a character guy who works hard on the forecheck and in the corners and still be a high scorer. We need some firepower and smooth passing.

In addition, we seemed to really struggle at puck handling and passing (with a few exceptions) this weekend. We need more skill up front.