UND-FB-FAN

Play-callers just love to overthink it … whereas us on our couches just love to think we have all the answers. And the world goes round and round, different day, same story.

NDSU loses. Thank God. Right to the wire though. Give ‘em credit, they got a ton better after 10/14/23, whereas UND went on vacation and got worse. NDSU/Entz deserves credit..enjoy the promotion and sunny Cali. Bubba needs to retire…still.

We wasn’t anything special either.

South Dakota State wins 59-0 in a semifinal!? … hats off to them. That’s impressive.

In this context, live bullets means competition in an actual game, so unless a QB not on roster currently will be starting week 1 in Ames, Feeney or Kaminski will eventually face “live bullets”. It’s no longer 1973; SS is now quiescent. Oh, and correction: coaches *should* play whoever gives the team the best chance to win; but, coaches can occasionally be wrong too.

We’ll find out. Until live bullets are flying, though, hard to say with certainty what we’ll get. I certainly hope 1 of the 2 is ready to go, and for starters, I hope it’s a fair, open competition. No favoritism or promises.

Ohio high school football (where he went to high school) is quite competitive; a lot of good athletes / football players. Offensive line and defense (specifically the defensive front; defensive line and edge rusher/outside linebacker) are most pressing needs; I agree. First time starting QB incoming for 2024, none of us know what to expect from Feeney or Kaminski in 2024. All speculation at this point. Only way to protect from that (complacency) is to make sure competition is stacked at all positions, namely line of scrimmage players and quarterback. If this former Marshall QB can add to the competition, then I would see nothing wrong with adding him as another quality player to the roster. That goes for all prospective players in the portal that UND may be looking at.

Not a basic concept for UND Football, because it happened on numerous occasions. What if coaches didn’t prep 3rd/4th & long the entire game week? Still entirely on the players? Not the X’s and the O’s, but the Jimmys and the Joes: you can always turn it back towards the players, but who recruits the players? Who prepares the players? Who puts in the schemes? There are programs/coaches around the country every year, who do more with less, and those coaches tend to get promotions, not stick around for a decade plus.

Body types is a good start, but a lot of those guys are highly recruited, and thus hard to get to commit to UND. But I agree the recruiting needs to be better. Have to get more. Late bloomers, so to speak, are nice to grab, and then what you do with those guys after they get on campus is what it is all about, especially at the FCS level. NDSU has been very good at this, hence their next level type of success. SDSU has become good at this now also. Of course, the worry is all this good development at the FCS level is just going to benefit the FBS teams as much as anything (transfer portal making FCS even more of a developmental level for the big boys). We can all agree the defensive front is not where it needs to be. The offensive front, for how good it has become, is still not being relied upon consistently in the running game under Freund, which of course has been a hot topic this year.

Always makes it easier if you recruit better players, no doubt. But, when you recruit guys with largely DII offers, and not ideal DI frame like you mention, then you sure better be able to do something with them via weight room and diet when they get on campus … As for OL, it has been better with OL coach Pawlak on board. The defensive front (DL and OLB/edge) guys however are nowhere near where they need to be.

Thanks. But no. Your turn.

More ascension associated with Kalen DeBoer. Congrats Coach Schmidt!

Addition by subtraction, in terms of the podcast. Shannon, like his brother, is a really nice guy; but you can’t have an honest podcast when it’s co-hosted by the inept head coach’s brother.

Would be a start. Leftover from Mussman era. UND players consistently not looking that “type” compared to xDSU’s players and development will be even more key with transfer portal (FBS programs keep plucking FCS players). Also, prevent injuries, prevent injuries, prevent injuries.

You‘re mistaken; I clearly enjoy UND football, but that doesn’t mean I agree with the current direction or how it is managed. We all want better results, that much I agree with. How we get there certainly seems to differ.

^ exhibit A of one of said groupies flatter yourself much?

Heads tend to spin trying to keep track of everyone’s “knowledge of the game” on here. It all comes back to we all want UND football to do well. If you enjoy 7 wins, 4 inexplicable losses, and an early playoff exit, then thus far, you probably absolutely adore UND football and good ol’ Bubba ball. Oh, and also routinely watching NDSU roll in the playoffs despite frequent coaching changes and high NFL draft departures on a regular basis. How do we potentially change the above narrative? Well, wait decade by decade, and make no staffing changes, because if you want anything to occur sooner, you’re asking for instant gratification, you’re too young, too inexperienced, too non – Midwestern to know how things work. Welcome to UND football fandom.

That’s your explanation to folks not agreeing with your ridiculous takes? Good grief, talk about classic Midwest paranoia …

Could definitely see that.

Agreed. OL and DL (including EDGE) is critical and it all starts with development based on high demand around the country. UND can develop offensive linemen. They’ve proved it the last couple seasons. Of late, however, it looks like they can’t develop DL/edge. Hopefully Lance Rucker has a hell of an off-season in the weight room, and there’s surprises, otherwise I see overall team regression to under 6 wins and new coaching staff for 2025 hopefully.

Late 2024 (November 2024) there could be an announcement.

They will need to get D2 players or JUCO players. I agree it’s a tough get. I read your post; I didn’t agree with “quickest and potentially easiest path for defensive improvement is through the secondary”. This suggests the D will improve with secondary (defensive back) additions. I’ll tell you right now: the D won’t get any better if the defensive front doesn’t get better. You can add all the defensive backs you want.

Disagree on the secondary. If they can’t get pressure on the quarterback, they will continue to cover like dogsh*t on 3rd and long. Too much time and receivers will eventually always get open. Football is won at the line of scrimmage, which includes EDGE rushers (that’s outside linebacker for the novices out there). Anyone who says different don’t know ball… Now with all that said, I’m not sure this defensive staff is capable of getting out of their own way and recruiting / then developing the necessary type of players. This defense is 20 years old and too rigid. Players aren’t being put in good enough position. Defensive coaching staff is failing … but not just defense; the offense deserves their fair share of blame also considering they were shut out last season in critical game vs UNI.

Offensive linemen is a non-get in the transfer portal due to how high the demand is. Just look at Kilty- lost to FBS school. UND is locked in on development of their offense, specifically offensive line. They maybe could manage a D2 quarterback if they want to be aggressive, but my guess is they stick with current offensive players - including Feeney and Kaminski - unless maybe a receiver or running back becomes available. Still, OL and QB are most important offensive positions. As for defense, the defensive front, which includes DL and EDGE, are the most important positions on defense, and there are opportunities available in portal. Need to capitalize big-time on these positions or else 2024 is certainly a lame duck season. So far, no splashes yet to suggest ‘24 will be any different.

Agreed