UND-FB-FAN

UND 13 Stony Brook 6

In the short term, supporters can best contribute directly to UND football and this game by showing up to the Alerus Center, supporting the team, and making noise when the defense is on the field. This is a challenging opportunity for UND football. Embrace it and help the team get the W. I fully expect UND to get the win, despite the poor performance vs. Missouri State. The season is still young and crazier things have happened in the sport that is football. The more wins UND gets this season, albeit a rebuilding year, the quicker UND football gets back on track. Go UND!

I honestly don't think Rudolph is running an ineffective offense; however, the players just haven't made plays in it. Two options, AND BOTH REQUIRE TIME: 1) Current players better adapt to new system (they've only played three games in it!) and begin to perform better, particularly up front in the offensive line. 2) Acquire new players (recruits, transfers, etc.) that are more talented and can play better versus the competition. Either way, this will not happen overnight. This project is going to take time. I'm hoping for a combination of both options that allows the team to continual improve, even this season believe it or not.

Good to hear! I've always thought the Minneapolis metropolitan area is rich with DI basketball talent every year. If UND can get a top player to commit annually form that area, UND basketball will be in good shape.

Show up next Saturday vs Stony Brook and help add to the enthusiasm in the Alerus on gameday. That will help the team the most in the short term. This team needs talent and Bubba seems to be collecting it via his first couple recruiting classes. For now, just support the team and hope for some wins. Criticize the coaches only after they've had a couple seasons to acquire their type of recruits.

Day by Day and Game by Game Looking forward to seeing the defense play tough and effective on Sept. 20th vs. Stony Brook in the Alerus Center. If the offense can find a rhythm, I expect another home win and a 2-2 record. The defense showed a glimmer of hope; you can't deny that.

UND's defense was on the field too much given how the game played out. First off, time of possession only works as an advantage if total yards are relatively even between both squads. FACT: That was not the case in yesterday's game. UND had only 166 total yards whereas Missouri State had 384 total offensive yards. That means, with Missouri State's additional minute of possession, they were actually moving the ball up and down the field, not just sitting on it. FACT: UND only converted 16.6% of their third down opportunities (3-18); that's horrible! In other words, if you have the ball 29 and a half minutes of the game but you only go three and out and then punt, it means nothing for the defense. The defense needs time to rest but it also needs momentum to feed off of. UND's offense did nothing but kill any momentum the defense created via stops and turnovers. So, as for time of possession, yes it was even, but UND's defense was put into horrible situations due to the offense's ineptitude. Therein lies the major issue. As for second half adjustments and so forth, Missouri State has way more talent. Are you debating that? Most of the time talent shows best in the second half after teams are worn out leaving room for advancement in terms of score margin. Bubba could have made all the adjustments he wanted but the offense just didn't have the physical toughness and player execution necessary to move the ball. As Mike Ditka once said, "Players can both win games and lose games. Coaches can't win games, but they can lose them." There's no way the coaching staff could have won yesterday's game; UND's offense, at every position, is below average in terms of talent and/or execution. That took a toll on the defense as the game progressed. Ultimately, UND's offensive players needed to make a play and they did no such thing. As for fans' expectations, part of the issue is certain posters continue to praise players that they have never seen and those players have never actually performed big on the college stage. I admit I am partly guilty of this due to optimism I wish to possess. This raises expectations. Very few of the players on UND's offense were highly sought after recruits and the few that were are under performing. You can't blame coaches when the cupboard is absolutely bare on the offensive side of the ball. Now, there are some things that the players could improve on and, hopefully, with that the offense improves as the season progresses. Bottom line, UND needs several new players to be lining up on offense in the coming years. Lastly, did you really expect the defense to carry the ENTIRE load and win the game? Does any team, high school, college, or pro, expect that? No. You said "Defense I thought played better than the other two (at least for a half), but not nearly well enough to win on the road."; . Well, last I check UND scored zero points. Despite what the defense does, UND will always lose when they score zero points....

I think the game vs Stony Brook will be close and is winnable. With a decent crowd/crowd noise and a solid defense, the offense won't have to score a bunch to win.

Time of possession was even but did you look at total yards!?! The offense lost the game - that's common sense. The defense was on the field too much given the turnovers they forced. Don't say that's a myth; use some common sense. And why are you trying to throw Bubba and his staff under the bus after only 3 games? UND going 1-2 after 3 games is exactly what most thought would happen going into this season. If UND can play better at home and go 2-2, UND will be on track if improvement is seen on offense. 6-6 would be unreal given the talent on this team - I still expect the team to work towards that. Need more offensive rhythm.

Right now, given only 3 games, I'd say the defense is already where it needs to be in order for UND to go .500 this season. However, the offense has been way worse than I thought it would be. Heck, I think anyone saying they thought the offense would be this bad is fooling themselves. If UND can get some type of running game going, then they'll be able to complete PA passes with either Joe Mollberg or Ryan Bartles. Right now, there is no running game so the team will have to institute a short passing game for the time being. I think Bartles may be better suited for that.

I don't agree. Bubba needs to bring in different linemen prospects.

UND needs a lot more than an "FBS QB and tall WRs". They need offensive linemen, defensive linemen, defensive backs and running backs, also. I do agree that quarterback and wide receiver are also issue positions. Just need to hope Bubba's next couple recruiting classes are home runs.

Right now, without any additional in-season improvement, UND will likely go 1-11 or 2-10. Everyone needs to hang their hat on the fact that Bubba can recruit, because that's the only thing that can save this program right now. Albeit the defense does look improved at least. Gonna be a couple years before Bubba's recruits change UND football.

I think anyone with a realistic thought realized the offense would be poor, but not this horrific. The offense couldn't put points on the board despite several short fields given to them by the defense. The offense is absolutely abysmal. Obviously more talent is needed, but the strategy needs to be adjusted a bit too (cueing Paul Rudolph).

The offense and special teams were horrible and it lost UND the game. The defense was actually quite impressive, albeit for only a half. Rudolph needs to get his unit together, because we all know Bubba doesn't touch much on the offense other than general philosophy. If the offense can improve, there is hope this season still. If the offense can't improve, it will be a long tough season and Bubba will need to recruit much better offensive players.

You can say that again. Just as well give Bartels a look. If he can't do it, Bartels and Mollberg best be prepared to finish out their careers as backups.

You CANT turn the ball over, though. And you have to convert close field goals and maintain a time of possession. UND may not need to score over 20 to win with a solid defense, but you still need some points and you can't go three and out every time you have the ball.

D is much better, but this landslide of touchdowns was inevitable given how piss poor the offense has been.

I hate moving quarterbacks around all the time because it never let's one get into a rhythm but Mollberg has looked bad the past three games. One could even argue Bartels looked better last year - he threw less interceptions than touchdowns, which is a fact.

It hurts to think what it would be like if UND had something that resembles an offense...

14-0 Missouri State

Garman does nothing good when he touches the ball...

Goodness...Tauberheim misses 29-yd field goal Well, that will probably be the best opportunity UND will get to score and they blew it.

Big turnover by UND defense but offense is blowing the opportunity... Edit: Tyrhe Ivery with big first down reception

Two fair catch interference penalties in one half of football... That's bad. C'mon Bubba, get that ironed out.