UND-FB-FAN

Good looking QB prospect from local location - definitely should be UND’s top target. The only problem here is pretty obvious. If NDSU makes him their top target, UND will have to move on to someone else. Playing time and area of study won’t help UND here, folks. Sorry to disappoint you.

If both lines truly are improved, then all other positions will look better as well. It all starts up front.

I don’t think there is much NDSU envies of UND right now. It is up to UND to change that on the field. Fall 2020 is the next opportunity. Until then, these “but we got this player and NDSU didn’t” arguments are petty at best.

Those damn trolls; the source of all of life’s problems ....

There are several personnel concerns on offense for me, but I have confidence that Danny Freund will have it right by the Fall. Spring will be an important time to see how the offensive personnel comes together and uncover new talent. Quarterback position is rightfully the most critical and talked about, with three freshmen competing for the starting job. Next up, though, would be the offensive line. They need to show improvement under 2nd year offensive line coach Joe Pawlak as 2019 was simply not good enough based on the lack of a running game. As for the skill position players (RB/WR/TE), I think UND will be fine, but I'm not sure they will be explosive enough this year to be a top MVFC offense. The receiver corps was consistent last year but not explosive and the same went for the running back group. We will see if some hidden talent pops up within those skill position groups, because right now I expect consistent yet average play from backs and receivers. No "next level" talent that I see at those spots ... yet. As for the defensive side of the ball, I think the personnel is there for UND to have a solid MVFC defense, perhaps top 3. It will be interesting to see how Brent Holinka coordinates the group with Eric Schmidt now gone. Special teams: Brady Leach needs to take the next step - I still am not confident in field goal unit. Will be interesting to see how Adam Stage, transfer from SCSU, does. Cade Peterson at punter, continue to work.

A: Change. Wins and re-location of sections.

Competing offers is a real metric. IF other coaching staffs want a recruit, it’s a good sign. Some offers don’t get reported, however, and it makes recruits look less valuable. Also, under-the-radar high-end recruits are a regular occurrence every year; gives hope to the programs that are usually at the bottom of these lists. For UND, they aren’t going to usually be at the top of these lists. They need to focus on development of recruits in order to ascend their program, not gathering in highly sought after talent. Now, of course, it’s NEVER a bad thing if you get a recruit with multiple FBS offers to commit to your FCS program. Last point I’ll make: recruiting is a comprehensive process and should be graded as such. If you get one or two really good recruits but the rest of the class is below average, the program didn’t improve at all. Football is the ultimate team game.

This was inevitable. Too bad planning and budgeting for UND football was not properly managed with the proper foresight years ago. For now, UND football will be forced to wait for adequate funding of HPC Phase II. Hopefully construction can start sooner rather than later. A homeless UND football is not good anyway you spin it ...

Each potential transfer situation is different and should be assessed on a case by case basis. If a transfer can help your football program, including on the field with wins, then you consider adding the player to your program. Simply labeling all transfer as “bad” is beyond short-sighted and ignorant. Even in the recent past, with Bubba as head coach, UND has has successful additions to the football program with transfers. Examples include CB Alex Tillman, LB Dylan Bakker, WR Clive Georges, OL Michael Coe, and even QB Nate Ketteringham, despite how polarizing he was with the fan base; actual quarterbacks tend to do that to armchair quarterbacks.

Depends on his motives; every situation is different. For example, Nate Ketteringham transferred to UND from a fellow Big Sky Conference school in Sacramento State. UND was winning at the time whereas Sac State certainly wasn’t and UND has better facilities (which is amazing to say considering UND’s current locker room/meeting room situation). Compared to Weber State, UND is comparable facility wise but Weber has been far more successful of late. Former Weber QB Constantine isn’t transferring up to FBS and he isn’t transferring due to a lack of winning; everything else is mere speculation. Perhaps he simply wants a chance to start his senior season? I find this most likely, and UND may have the perfect situation for such as they have 3 freshmen QBs and no one else on roster currently. https://www.standard.net/sports/weber-state/weber-state-football-qb-jake-constantine-transferring-from-wildcats/article_9e6e63b6-64f6-50a8-bed3-5c8def8be1b0.html Danny Freund will have to make a decision regarding his own guys. He may prefer to wait until after spring ball to assess and see where his position group is at. It is great all 3 Fr. QBs will be available for spring ball 2020.

Worth considering, at least.

UND won 7 games playing the “toughest schedule in the country” in 2019. So, is the schedule even tougher now for 2020? Poor UND football, always going uphill both ways according to some. I’m waiting for some unexpected leaders to rise up.

7 wins is the best case scenario? Damn UND football is in a bad place. Have to have expectations for more wins than that, although I don’t think you’re wrong with the prediction.

Very true. Hard to say UND's defensive line is a better group than UND's linebackers. In fact, I would say UND's backers have been their strength on defense for a long, long time. Thus, play the 3-4 and have the most of them out on the field. Super simplistic way of looking at it, but it works.

It’s just a title based on tendency. You can call it a 3-4 and yet play it like a 4-3 with one backer as an end-backer hybrid. Alternatively, you can call it 3-4 and really play it like a 5-2 and have all O linemen covered, therefore NOT requiring the nose to traditionally cover 2 gaps. Many hybrid spins to the 3-4 defense. That’s the beauty of it. The personnel is key in absolutely everything when it comes to successful schemes, so that’s common sense. It’s about putting the players in the best position. UND will be a 3-4 defense and recruit to it, but the success or lack thereof simply comes down to the ability of the players. My only gripes on UND’s defense in the past has been their nickel packages. They could do a better job with sub packages; more backers and defensive backs rather than always keep 3 down linemen on the field during passing downs. Mason Bennett was a key player for UND because he had the ability to be a true hybrid defensive end. He could play 4-3 defensive end, 3-4 outside backer, and even 3 technique 3-4 defensive end, which is what UND had him listed as. I think he was most successful when standing up, however, as perimeter backer in UND’s scheme. Very athletic despite his frame. UND will miss him. Jaxon Turner is much more a true outside linebacker, would like him to be a bit bigger. Definitely has the athleticism.

Here is his take on alignment. Refreshing to hear coach speak on this, as he’s spot on. The talk on this board about 3-4 or 4-3 has been nothing more than strongly misinformed amateur opinion. “We're still base 3-4; I don't think that'll change at the University of North Dakota," Holinka said. "That's who we are. You're going to put your tweaks and changes to what you're more comfortable with, but it's not like we're tearing up the playbook and starting over. Coach Schmidt did a fantastic job the last six years. We'll emphasize different things, but UND Fighting Hawk defense is 3-4 defense. Will we line up differently? Yeah. Will we look like we have four down (linemen) sometimes? Yeah. But really, it's just whether one guy is standing up or in a stance. I think some people buy too much into whether you're 3 or 4 (down linemen)."

UND will continue to play a 3-4 defense with Bubba as head coach. It’s his familiarity.

Grass is always greener on the other side ... The people asking for an alignment change are clueless, in my opinion. It’s about the players, not whether you have 3 or 4 down linemen. Now, adjusting the scheme to your players’ strengths is a different story; doesn’t apply here, though.

Former UND coach (‘93-‘03) and coached with Bubba at SIU from ‘08-‘09 as ILB coach. Certainly makes sense. Most recently was Northern State Head Coach.

Nice opportunity for Coach Schmidt, but undoubtedly hurts UND. https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/football/4852261-UND-defensive-coordinator-Eric-Schmidt-leaving-for-Fresno-State#.XhONYV8HBuE.twitter Who will be UND’s new defensive coordinator?

Awful news. Thoughts are with the Schweigert family during this tough time.

Golladay is a great talent. UND desperately missed him in 2014 and 2015. UND passing games were not good in ‘14 and ‘15, and in hindsight, can’t blame Golladay for staying away from Paul Rudolph

In my opinion (which is not worth a damn), the potential decision to move the students has an overwhelming amount of evidence in support of it. First and foremost, the student attendance has not been good enough. There are several other points in support for student section relocation, including the precedent set by nearly every other FBS and FCS football venue in the country.

On to 2020. I hope we don't talk about Bubba getting fired anytime soon (or ever again, for that matter), because if we do, that means 2020 was a disaster. I want UND football wins, not losses. On that subject, I hope the staff has made the right decision going with 3 freshmen quarterbacks for 2020. They are talented, but young. Cannot afford a losing season. Spring ball and Fall camp will be telling.

I disagree with simmering expectations and not being "too optimistic". The expectations for non-hockey UND sports could use a boost, not a reduction. What is your definition of "great things"? Sather has already beat a Big 10 team (albeit a bad one) in his first year and has yet to play a Summit League conference schedule. It is all relative, but I think Sather and UND can do "great things" and already have done "great things" in year one.