UND-FB-FAN

Don’t have time to look at all the tape and give you exact number, but the deep pass plays you are referring to aren’t being called at all! This is partially due to his lack of arm strength. I definitely agree that there are no downfield threats, which is another issue for sure , but if there was a threat, Schuster would struggle consistently getting it there unless receiver is wide open. how can you honestly defend his arm strength with that tone/context? He excels in most other areas other than mobility, but it’s okay to identify and point out weaknesses. Schuster’s lack of running game in the +1 QB run game is certainly one also. UND is 2-2, they definitely have weaknesses. No moral victories if want to win a national championship and put bison in their rightful place as 2nd best team in ND. Also, when your QB doesn't have a lively arm, mistakes like the second half interception vs NDSU are more likely to happen. Balls float more. Schuster is UND’s best QB right now, but call a spade a spade there mr. homer; arm strength and mobility/running are not his strong suits. He is a great decision maker though … most of the time.

Fair point, quick throws to the outside to Belquist, Zavalney, and even Wright are becoming good options if OL doesn’t improve. Maag continues to look less impressive each and every week.

Completely agree with this. Best offense adjusts to the players (put best players in best position) versus making the players adjust to the offense. For the most part I think Freund does a good job, but he needs to lean on his best players a bit more and do it with a *little* less razzle dazzle. I love Tommy Schuster, but eventually Trey Feeney or someone else needs to step up and take over that spot. Lack of arm strength and running ability from the QB spot holds back this UND offense. Fortunately, for this 2021 UND team, they have three good running backs. Freund needs to scheme up ways to get all 3 of them the ball routinely.

Big game against USD: will be tough but UND needs the win. Go 1-0 this week. I’ll be there cheering on the UND Hawks. Gotta come out ready to play after tough close loss to bizons. I agree that this game will showcase either UND’s great leadership or lack thereof. I hope it’s the former.

Obviously, UND and the Alerus Center can do much better. Seems like a broken record, have been saying if for over 10 years. But the Alerus production is better the last couple years with new management group. again, don’t have to be anti-hockey, but have to be more pro-football around und and the Alerus center. UND athletic department needs to hire some interns from the SEC or Big 12 that have no alliance with hockey and want to just take football to the next level. Literally just takes some more effort and dedication to improve it, with a sprinkle of local motivation (someone who recalls and believes und football can be greater than ndsu) So close … beat ndsu eventually and bring that level of home field advantage to the Alerus center every game!

Simple game determination: Will UND match NDSU’s physicality? Alerus Center crowd can help induce mistakes and get UND going, if the fans are mostly UND fans and in to it. Ultimately, UND does not have the skill position players to out-finesse NDSU. UND needs to somehow kick ass in the trenches and have a coming out party. Can UND play physical? Can the UND football fans in the Alerus Center rise to the occasion?

Oregon isn't a serious football program?

Green jerseys are superior. UND school color is Kelly green!!! It is what it is. Wear the black jerseys once or twice per year, but UND needs to be in green the majority of the season. Only thing I didn’t like was all the extra white/black stripes and !@#$. Would prefer straight up nice looking all green jerseys and clean looking all white pants, but this will do. All in all, would like to see green jerseys and white pants the most. Also, nice to have jersey combination options like a 21st century football program.

This is an unacceptable change and needs to be corrected

Idaho State and Drake are inferior teams; thus, two wins for UND. But UND has been very sloppy the past 6 quarters. Bubba and his coaching staff have a lot of work to do to instill discipline over the next two weeks before the big one on Oct. 2nd. If not corrected, this conference season may not go as expected.

Honestly I think Brett Holinka and Bubba need to scrap some of their zone blitz packages. There were numerous instances where receivers were running wide open because of defensive miscommunication and blown assignments in the zone. Either play man blitz if you want to pressure, or go to straight up zone or man. The secondary was confusing itself with the zone blitz defense packages. The quick receiver screen that went for a TD due to mispositioning and giving up the sideline (see quote here from Gundy) was just plain poor defense and lack of technique; I think the defense was getting tired and had a major mental lapse. I am most concerned with the safety play on this team. It was not good. Will be important to continue to improve defensive play up front also, as it always is. Utah State got timely gashes up the middle via the running game that really hurt as the game went on.

If UND does not win by at least 35 points, this is a failure game for UND. Simple as that.

? UND kept handing it off and Utah State was stuffing every play in the second half at the line of scrimmage. Utah State was forcing UND to challenge the ball down the field or go lateral, and UND didn’t have the speed to do it.

Biggest misconception in football; wins and losses come down to single play. That is a bias; game results are a summation of several plays and momentum swings. UND had chances, for sure, for a few more big plays, but couldn’t capitalize. Overall, team got worn out on both sides of the ball in the second half and then started making more mental mistakes. Obvious to see, and unfortunate it’s still happening to this program; typical of a mismatch in talent. Still time of course to better these players and get better. Plus UND will be playing much less talented teams in the near future.

I’m glad you are able to make excuses to tell yourself that. There’s always a “chance”, but UND didn’t lose by a touchdown or two, they got beat by 24 points. I watched the game. UND couldn’t get running game going consistently, many no gain runs stuffed at line of scrimmage. Behind Otis Weah, not a ton of RB depth. Skokna is a good player but not a 20 carry per game kind of guy. UND scripted well to start the game with trickery, but Utah State has head and shoulders better talent and wore UND out in the second half. Also, the mental toughness of this team isn’t quite where it needs to be yet. Just wait and see how Utah State does this year; they’ll have an okay season. it’s okay to admit that UND was the inferior team; heck, it’s FCS vs FBS. Just disappointing because it is Mountain West, not Big 10 or PAC-12, and would have liked to see UND play closer or win. It’s also okay @geaux_sioux to admit UND has weaknesses with this squad, namely defensive line, safety, wide receiver, and even, at times, quarterback play. Always can improve. UND definitely needs to because they are still only a fringe top 10 FCS program. The NDSUs, SDSUs, JMUs of the FCS World are still well above UND in terms of talent.

I hate the term “sucks” in sports. UND does not suck, they just aren’t good enough physically and mentally to beat a team of Utah State’s caliber. Unfortunately, I think that also extrapolates to UND not being good enough to beat the top MVFC teams, like NDSU, or SDSU on the road.

Well, this proves this team isn’t ready to take the next step. Weak minded after they got punched in the mouth in the 3rd quarter. Reminds me of the NDSU and JMU games last season. Defensively, the safety play and interior defensive line is still not good enough. Offensively, this line isn’t good enough to consistently make holes for Otis Weah. When running game isn’t working, Schuster does not have the arm strength nor the outside receiver talent to test the defense downfield. Makes for a bad combination. Going to be tough for this UND squad, as the roster is currently constructed, to beat top FCS teams. Maybe NDSU at home best case scenario? But not possible on road against SDSU.

I am curious to see how UND approaches this game. If UND gets blown out, I don't think they have what it takes to make a deep FCS run. Mountain West teams are not juggernauts (as evidenced by South Dakota State's crushing of Colorado State), and UND needs to play toe to toe with Utah State. If UND plays them close but loses, I am okay with it, but the game absolutely needs to be close. If not, I worry about UND's mindset for big games. UND's mindset needs to improve from the spring; the blow out again NDSU in March was largely due to Bubba still not having his team prepared for big games when UND is the underdog. Let's Go Hawks! Be confident, play fast, get the win!

If you can’t be excited about the team this time of the year, then don’t bother. Fall Camp = everyone thinks they can be a champion. Hope UND goes out and earns it.

Again, access is more important than quality. Doesn’t matter how wonderful the production quality is if majority of North Dakota can’t watch it.

Jeez

Deal with the devil (or should I say Nazis?)

Completely agree.

I disagree. Although Midcontinent has been a tremendous platform, there is absolutely no question that KVLY would better increase exposure for UND football across the state. In all honesty, exposure via media should be the most important aspect here. Production value means nothing if only limited audiences (people in Grand Forks and Fargo) are watching. To optimize its potential, UND needs to be thinking about exposure to the entire state. Lastly, I ain’t going to read !@#$ on bozoville

Tommy Schuster could make those throws in his sleep. Nothing special here from SDSU - two posts right down the middle of the field. UND did an awful job in coverage on both.