UND-FB-FAN

Let's make a QB change after only 6 quarters of poor football? That isn't a large enough sample size, in my opinion, and I would hate for the coaching staff to make an impulsive irrational decision this early in the season. Also, for those who appear to have forgotten, UND does still have a winning record. The offense has been horrible in the last 6 quarters, but changing QBs isn't going to help if they're constantly getting pressured and hit or the WRs aren't breaking free and doing their jobs. There's more than one position on offense that makes it go, and right now, the offensive line, WRs, and RBs need to play better, particularly the offensive line.

Remind me again, what's the most popular sport in the United States of America? How about the second most popular? Answer: not hockey Relatively speaking, college hockey gets zero national coverage. Having a very good football and/or basketball program does way more for any NCAA institution, including FCS football. FCS football produces a medium for national coverage, and to just ignore that is completely short-sighted. NDSU's success in FCS football has produced a following that completely rivals UND hockey and its following. Failing to strive for excellence in terms of UND's FCS football program would be an absolute mistake. If you can't handle the truth regarding hockey and its following, turn your attention to Canada, because the last time I checked, UND is still south of the border.

Quite different? What was inherited was night and day different. One coaching staff was fired because they were incompetent whereas the other left willingly because they were doing so well.

Just made it back from Fargo. Tough game with both the lopsided score and the injury to Arnell - my thoughts are with him and his family. Today showed the amount of work that UND and Bubba have left to do: they have to increase talent but they also have to aspire to build the Alerus Center atmosphere up to what Fargo has - it's pretty special. Defense did did some good things, but the UND offense did nothing. With no ability to move the ball, the game snowballed in the 2nd quarter. Defensive secondary and the entire offense needs to improve with BOTH better coaching AND better players. Significant disparity between UND and NDSU is still quite evident. Best UND performer in today's game was P Mitch Meindel, but I can't say that the special teams were solid because kickoff and punt coverage was not good. Bubba, his staff, and the student-athletes need to just get back to work and use today's game as a measuring stick in terms of UND football's expectations. It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight, but it can be done. UND is 2-1, not 1-10; it's still very possible that UND improves off last season by winning 6 or more games this season. Keep the faith and support coming! Yes, right now UND football is horrible offensively and only part ways there with overall depth, but the program is only in year 2 of Bubba Ball and it's where the team goes from this that matters the most.

The arrogance of Fargo and NDSU has what's good for them coming. Go UND!

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. UND and the Alerus Center need to step up their production game, as far as team introduction and in-game atmosphere goes. The Alerus Center has those big fancy video boards, so they need to use them! There is so much untapped potential for the introduction; in-game atmosphere does depend partially on the team executing and producing, but there's deficiency there also. UND and Alerus Center need to do better.

Exactly. If Wentz gifts the UND defense with even just one poor pass, they need to make NDSU pay and catch the damn thing.

To add to this, UND needs to run the ball effectively and HOLD ON TO THE BALL. Turnovers will kill UND in any game considering how they want to play. Only way UND wins this game is if they win the turnover battle. That means the offense needs to run the ball and hold on to it, and the defense needs to come up with turnovers when they present themselves.

That's hard to believe. We'll see how Drake does against South Dakota; if Drake wins, it will make UND look a little better, but by that time the UND vs. NDSU game will be giving us more valuable information anyway. I sure hope it was more of a case of Drake doing good things rather than UND doing bad things. Unfortunately, I think it was more of the latter.

Exactly. There's a reason they still play the games. Looking forward to the game on Saturday. Go UND!

I certainly do not think the season is wrecked; I apologize if it seemed that way. My point is that I think Wyoming is a poor squad and the jury is still out on the offense. I think the defense is a top 10 unit in the FCS; however, the offense still has work to do. I'm looking forward to traveling down to Fargo on Saturday and taking in the game. Hoping UND surprises and makes things interesting at the end.

Well, Wyoming ran for 430 yards, so their offense must not have been affected too drastically. Point is, Eastern Michigan went up and down the field against Wyoming's defense; EMU scored 48 points and amassed 506 yards. Wyoming is an absolutely horrible FBS squad this season, particularly on defense. I'm very happy that UND beat them, but it is what it is. Let's not make Wyoming out to be anything more than they are. This season, there are several Big Sky Conference teams that could play with Wyoming and probably defeat them.

Wyoming is horrible (see Eastern Michigan game in week 2) and Clive Georges does not block nor run the ball 10+ times per game. Also, was Georges the one fumbling? No, that was the hopeless play of Santiago and Studsrud contributing to that. I do not think UND's offensive line is as good as it needs to be, or at least it wasn't against Drake. If the offensive line cannot establish the run, then the offense will sputter. Wyoming game may mean nothing if they are as bad as they appear to be.

Cheap-shotted MT's QB? It's called physical defense. UND plays it. Does NDSU still play it? Sure didn't look like it when I watched NDSU choke against Montana.

Ankle is still bothering Wentz a bit, but it won't be an issue. The overall philosophy of UND's defense is really the reason why I see UND bringing plenty of pressure on Saturday. It will force Wentz to calmly sit in the pocket, deliver strikes, and take some hits - which he is more than capable of doing, - but he still has to actually execute that on Saturday.

From 740 The Fan twitter: Klieman said Wentz's ankle was sore on Sunday but he will be a full go this week leading up to UND.

Considering the kind of defense Bubba and Coach Schmidt have installed here, UND will be bringing plenty of pressure and testing Wentz's ankle.

Defensively, UND is right on track. They have a top 5 FCS rushing defense and are getting better with their pass defense, just need to capitalize and come up with interceptions when they present themselves. Offensively, UND looked horrible in the 2nd half vs. Drake. They need to be able to run the ball. I just watched the NDSU vs Weber State highlights, and NDSU does what UND wants to do on offense. They impose their will in the running game. UND needs to learn how to do that. Whether it's the personnel or the coaching scheme with Coach Rudolph, something needs to change. Drake should not be able to slow down the running game like they did on Saturday evening. If UND gets stuffed in the running game like that vs NDSU, it won't be a close contest.

no

3 major, major issues that Rudolph and the offense need to work out or UND won't win another game: 1) Lack of rushing yards, especially on 1st down; offensive line needs to be way better. Passing the ball when backed up on the 1 yard line is telling of the offensive line. Apparently Rudolph didn't think they could get any push, and subsequently the pass play call ended in a safety. 2) Fumbles; QB and RBs need to be way better with ball security. Basics. Basics. Basics. 3) QB-Center Exchange. Fumbled exchanges cannot happen, especially during a 4-minute situation when you're trying to run the clock. Just hopeless. Failure to solve these issues will leave the offense nonfunctional.

After yesterday's performance, UND will certainly be a significant underdog vs NDSU. NDSU should win the game, but underdogs do occasionally win. I certainly hope UND and Bubba can right the ship and put the team in a position to be in the game at the end of the 4th quarter; unfortunately, the odds are heavily against UND in this game. Yesterday killed any confidence the team had from Laramie.

I wouldn't point fingers at the students. The blame first and foremost is on the team, particularly the offense, for their bull$%!# execution in the second half. Also, the Alerus Center experience is downright embarrassing. I would not feel comfortable hosting an NDSU rube at a UND game because I wouldn't hear the end of it in terms of general atmosphere difference between the FargoDome and Alerus Center. They need to cut the lights and actually amp up the place when the team is introduced. They need to have a better sound system and play more music throughout the game to get the crowd into it. But first and foremost, the team needs to play/execute at a half-way decent level. Yesterday, both the football team and the Alerus Center gave an expecting, curious crowd nothing but disappointment and reason not to come back. Really disappointing performance. The coaches, players, and UND athletic department/Alerus Center have to get their !@#$ in order.

I'll eat crow. The uniforms looked good. Too bad not much else looked good last night in the Alerus Center...

Offensive line looked poor, but how many offensive rushing opportunities were turned down in order to pass? Running game wasn't established this evening for more than one reason. All disappointing.

A win, but yet an awful game. UND can be a good team when they don't commit mistakes (see Wyoming game); however, tonight UND was full of mistakes. Way too many fumbles. Those are basic mistakes that killed the 2nd half. Also, the offensive line looked childish. What happened from Week 1 to Week 2? No way Wyoming and Drake are comparable. Also, the defense's dropped interceptions were missed opportunities that hurt. All in all, though, the offense was the major source of the issues. Despite last week's win vs Wyoming, Rudolph may be partly to blame. Some of the formations and plays he calls on certain situations (3rd and long, backed up on the 1 yard line, etc.) are questionable at best.