geaux_sioux

Hendrickson wasn't the only one, Belloti Bellmore and Hawkins also played with an edge and were clearly leaders. I think the defense would've had a better attitude and performed better had Goodman been healthy this year. He was the one guy that looked like he was giving everything he had on every play. Next year I hope he stays healthy and some young guys (Edwards Cain etc.) step up and start and play with similar passion.

He was a beast. Had maturity issues until he became a father. After that he was on his way to the Hall of Fame before those morons murdered him in his home. We get one guy like that on D and all of a sudden every one of the players on defense has more of an edge and start playing faster and harder.

I think that Labat is going to be the man. He just has that look. He and Mollberg both have it.

We need some guys on D to play like this guy I know we won't get any athletes of his caliber but we need guys with his type of passion. Today is the 5th year anniversary of Sean Taylor's murder. He is my favorite defensive player ever and was gone far too soon, taken in the prime of his life.

As a counter counter point SDSU thought they were playing NDSU and prepared for a run heavy team that can't pass.

LB This group was very young last year after graduating three very good tough LBs from the previous year. This is a talented group that has good athletes. The problem is that they turned in the worst season by a LB corpse that I've ever seen in my life. They couldn't tackle anything this year. They weren't tough enough and they didn't play fast enough. When a RB was bottled up in the backfield they would wiff or try to tackle too high or not wrap up and what should have been a 7 yard loss turns into a 25 yard back breaking gain. As maligned as the secondary has been for the past few years this group has more to prove than they do. With the tradition of excellence at LB and UND these players were as big of a failure as any position group on the team. If this group does not man up and improve by leaps and bounds next season the defense will be almost as bad as this years was. Key Losses: Dignity and pride. Key Returners: Everyone...... Dominique Bennett (Sr. 6-1 234lbs) moves like a safety. He was a player that was supposed to be a star this year. He disappointed to say the least. Other than his strip sack against SUU he didn't stand out much this year which is a problem for a guy that's supposed to be a playmaking linebacker. He needs to find some heart and maybe step up and be a leader next year. He also needs to get much stronger this winter. Cordero Finley (Sr. 6-1 225lbs) has had a pretty underwhelming career. He has alot of physical tools and could be a very good LB, he just doens't make enough plays. He needs to get much stronger this winter and learn how to be a playmaker. Derrick Goard (Sr. 6-1 235lbs) can bring the wood. He was the lone LB this year that routinely put big hits on opponents. Unfortunately the dude is fat, his belly hangs over his belt like a NT. He needs to get into shape this winter and get faster. If his work ethic and dedication were what they are supposed to be he would not be fat. He needs to dedicate himself this time around. He could be a nice LB if he gets it together for next season. Garrison Goodman (Sr. 6-2 213 lbs) was the only LB who seemed to play with passion every snap. He needs to be 'the man' on this defense and turn into a vocal leader. He needs to get stronger and bigger this winter to compliment his passion and nose for the football. Hopefully he can blossom into a Dan Hendrickson type of player. He needs to take on a leadership role in the locker room this winter and get his teammates to play with his level of passion. Myles Jablonski (Jr. 6-2 223 lbs) has the perfect name for a linebacker. Now he needs to look and play like he has a linebackers name. Although he is young he has made some big plays in a reserve role and has noticeable talent. His body does not look like he dedicates himself in the offseason. He needs to bulk up big time and become the player he can be. He has demonstrated a nose for the QB when he is in and needs to become a valuable member of a resurgent UND defense. Ben Peters (Jr 6-2 243 lbs) is built like a fire hydrant. Unfortunately he moves like one. Wether it is being slow or playing slow he needs to be faster. A guy of his build needs to be a dead end to RBs. This was his first year with considerable playing time and it showed. He needs to be more consistent and be a run stopper. This winter he needs to get leaner and quicker. He is plenty big and squats the house, now he needs to hit like it. Will Ratelle (So 5-11 232 lbs) is a very promising young LB. He looked like a FR this year. He has great physical tools with his speed and thumping hitting ability. He needs to get comfortable in the scheme and slow the game down. Next year I expect him to make the impact that I thought he would make this year. He needs to continue to develop and be a stud in the future. JD Allen (Fr 6-1 193 lbs) is a very interesting prospect at LB. He is very skinny still at not even 200 lbs but his production in high school speaks for itself. He needs to gain alot of quality weight this winter and earn a spot on special teams to contribute next year. It will be very interesting to see how good he is once he develops a college LB body. Once he's up around 220 lbs we will see what kind of player he is. Brian Labat (Fr 6-2 205 lbs)is the other guy from Detroit Lakes. I have heard nothing but great things about this young LB. He is listed as 6-2 205 but looks every bit 6-3 and has defiantly put on some serious weight this year. He is big dude already and just looks like a LB. Look for him to be a big time player sooner than later. He needs to get quicker and stronger this winter and continue to develop into a monster. In a class that has alot of good LBs I would not be the least bit surprised to see him develop into the best of the bunch. Taj Rich (Fr 6-2 215 lbs) was a highly recruited player coming out of high school. He isn't built like many freshman. He already has a strong base that looks like a veteran. He needs to develop his upper body this winter and become another great OLB in UND history. He's a young man with loads of potential. It's up to him to become a great player. Jared Tuilagi (Fr 6-2 220 lbs) looks the part. He is a big young man already but looks to have the frame to easily play at 250 lbs and not be slowed down. He has immense potential to become a first off the bus kind of guy. Like most freshman he needs to hit the weights hard this winter and develop his potential. Next season rides on these guys to improve a great deal. NextDBs

I don't think many of our coaches have a resume deserving much higher salaries to be honest.

Did UND pay coaches some of the highest salaries back in the D2 days?

Damn it..... He's good be a good one.

The question was who has the ability to do it not who will next year.

Kleason Anderson McGill Edwards Darryl Brown Goodman Sparks Mollberg and whoever starts at zeke lb.

Conference teams are just the top teams in the conference slapping eachother on the backs. It has more to do with reputation (Montana) than production and skill.

From my understanding it was maturity maturity maturity and maturity. Mussman was singing Marcus' praises this year and how much he had matured from his first day on campus. Maybe he was just a little too young dumb and full of............... pride?

Fixed your post

The what if game with this team and season has too many options. What if Braden never got hurt? Do we beat Poly and EWU and NAU and SDSU? Do we make the playoffs? Or what if Marcus hadn't been in the dog house last year? Would he have been good enough for Braden to have not transferred here? O, and what if the refs noticed that Northern Colorado had 10 in the box with two CBs on that play...... I could go on all day. I'm just grateful that both guys finally got their opportunity and both did very well.

DE/DT This group came into this past season as a perceived strength of the team. As it turned out they could not stop the run or get to the passer consistently as we had all expected. The three starters were all seniors who have had great careers and been very productive while leading this program through the transition. That said, they did not live up to expectations and did not get the job done. That goes for the entire group of d-linemen. They were consistently pushed around and sealed by opposing offensive lines. The returning players need to get a hell of a lot stronger and tougher and bigger. We need a DT to step up and be a force. We also need DEs that get around the edge but also stuff the run. The LB group took most of the heat this year but in a 3-4 the d-line is responsible for giving them the ability to meet RBs and QBs in the backfield without having to deal with getting off of blocks. With some young talent coming in this group could actually be better next year. Key Losses: Ross Brenneman Jay Nelson Devin Benjamin Key Returners: EJ Welch Spencer Cummings Kyle Woodsmall Ben Henson Mike Edwards Alec Carrothers Devon Hall Seth Stanchik EJ Welch (Sr 6-3 309) came in as a JUCO transfer this past year and did not get alot of playing time. When he was in he looked pretty good and pretty strong. He never got thrown around in the tranches like some other guys but didn't get enough playing time to really know what he can do. This winter he needs to get stronger but more importantly quicker. It will be very interesting to see where he sits in the depth chart after this spring since there is now decent depth at the DT position. Spencer Cummings (Jr 6-4 283) has an enormous frame. Unfortunately he hasn't filled his frame out yet as he should easily be a lean 290. If he trims down this winter and adds alot of good muscle and quickness he could be an absolute beast next year. He has the size of a prototypical NFL 3-4 DE but doesn't seem to play fast/physical enough on a down to down basis. One play he blows up a run in the backfield. The next he's nowhere to be found. If he can get a better motor and more tenacity he can do some great things. Kyle Woodsmall (So 6-3 240) is another one of the BIG young DEs that UND has on the roster. He has a good frame and should be around 260 next spring. He has not seen enough game action to this point to have shown what he can do in a game but I would not be surprised to see him make an unexpected impact next season. Ben Henson (Jr 6-1 298) was the #2 DT this season behind Devin Benjamin this past season. He seemed to get manhandled a little bit in the trenches. Wether it was injuries or just not being strong enough I don't know. He needs to get alot stronger and just plain better and taking on blockers. He was not effective enough this year and alot of his tackles came from behind a RB which is not a good thing. He should be tackling ball carriers for losses and short gains instead of 7 yard gains. This winter he needs to make alot happen in order to be able to fill gaps effectively and be a good player in this 3-4. Mike Edwards (Fr 6-2 290) could end up being the best DT at UND since Scott Schultz. I realize that is high praise for a player who has yet to see the field but I feel it is absolutely appropriate. This young man is BIG. But he is also as quick as anyone I've seen at his size. He possesses great feet and hands which are of massive importance. At a fall camp practice this August I witnessed him, going against the 1st team offense, throw Sr C Ian McGurran out of his way and swallow the RB in the backfield. He was absolutely immovable. Coach Mussman called him 'a load inside' in an interview and was considering pulling his red shirt which speaks to his talent considering the 3 DTs already on the depth chart. If he's hungry this winter and dead set on being great there is nothing that can stand in his way. He is waht this defense has been missing in the middle. I'm extremely excited to see what he does next year and wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he is a starter from day 1. Alec Carrothers (Fr 6-4 240) will make an impact next season. He seems to be cut from the same cloth as Ross Brenneman in terms of character but is more talented. This winter he will get bigger and stonger and be ready to step on the field right away. Pair him with Mike Edwards and the future is bright on the D-line at UND. This kid is going to be special. Devon Hall (Fr 6-3 245) is another good looking FR prospect on the D-line. He already has nice size and strength for a true freshman. This next season we may not see him but he Carrothers and Edwards could end up being a three headed monster in a couple of years. Seth Stanchik (Sr 6-4 265) is a very under rated player. He was playing alot of quality minutes as a FR before breaking his leg. His Soph year he was still not 100%. This past year he regained his form and had nice games when Brenneman was injured. He has good size and decent strength but needs to continue to get stronger but more importantly quicker. He is a smart pick to be a starter going into fall camp. Next season the defense hangs on the quality of this group. Next LBs

Put him at OLB and you've got youself a qbs nightmare coming off the edge

I kind of want to see them lose to a Big Sky team but that would mean winning some games..... I'm torn between which demise would be sweeter for them.

QB No other position group is a bigger question going into next season. This group loses two very good QBs that produced at a record level this year. It was extremely fun to watch both Hendrickson and Hanson tear it up this year. Many people will think about what could have been had Braden Hanson not been injured in the first game of the year. From Braden's tragedy came Marcus' opportunity, and he ran with it to the tune of a 6 TD performance in his first career start and followed that by nearly single handedly leading UND to their first FBS win at SDSU. Both guys had spectacular performances in their final college seasons and should be extremely proud of the way they carried the team this year. Key Losses: Braden Hanson, Marcus Hendrickson Key Returners: Joe Mollberg, Ryan Bartels Joe Mollberg (Fr 6-2 214) will have the tall task of living up to outlandish expectations that will be thrown his way as perhaps the most celebrated recruit in the past 20 years. Everyone seems to have already anointed him as the program savior and sure fire starter for next season. That said, he is a very impressive looking young man. He's built like a Mac Truck already and looks like he could easily play LB. I was lucky enough to get to see him in action a little this fall camp and I must say I came away impressed. He has a very quick and compact release and really spins the ball out of his hand. You don't notice his arm strength because he has nice soft touch on short throws. But when he uncorks it it is a sight to be seen. In a skelly session this August I saw him calmly survey the field and then flick the ball 60 yards down field to Greg Hardin. There were a few times where he made the type of throw that made practice stop for a brief moment as defenders and offensive teammates alike looked on in awe. It will be interesting to see how good of a runner he is next spring as he had a reputation to be a very effective runner in high school before he had his ankle injury. I would not be surprised if he was around 230 lbs by next fall but his main focus should be chemistry with his receivers and knowing the playbook like the back of his hand. Ryan Bartels (6-4 220) is the 'other guy' to most fans. DO NOT SLEEP ON MR. BARTELS. He also came in as a very accomplished QB and a highly rated recruit. He is a big kid and has 'prototypical' pocket passer height. He's not overly mobile but defiantly doesn't have stone feet and runs much better than Braden Hanson (before the leg). He has some serious arm strength and a very strong sturdy looking base. He doesn't seem quite as polished and poised to this point as Mollberg but that doesn't mean things can't change over the course of the winter and spring as he continues to gain comfort and respect from his teammates. His release isn't as quick as Mollberg's is but it is good and high and the ball comes out of his hand with good velocity and spin. With all of the pressure on Mr. Mollberg don't be surprised when Bartels at the very least pushes him to his limits for the starting job. This winter he will continue to mature and get stronger and quicker. The program appears to be in very good hands with these two youngsters. This will be a very entertaining QB battle in the spring and fall camp. I for one cannot wait to see what these guys can do on the field next year. Next DE/DT

DE Zach Skibinski from Sioux City IA needs to get signed. The kid is a freak.

WR: Easily the best group of WRs that have ever been at UND. This next season will bring unmatched depth and experience at the position. The group losses not a single major contributor. Whoever plays QB next year is inheriting a dream scenario with playmakers all over the field that get open every play. Key Loss: RJ McGill's ACL Key Returners: Greg Hardin RJ McGill Jameer Jackson Kenny Golladay Blair Townsend Romon Bridges Anthony Fletcher Zach Oliver Casey Young Greg Hardin (Sr 5-11 167)is coming off of the second most prolific season in UND history. His stats this year were amazing, in 5 games. He was completely average for the other 6 games. He also had way too many drops this year that cost the team at least 4 TDs and multiple first downs. He was outstanding this year but was entirely too inconsistent. Had he been in every game and concentrated on every ball thrown to him his numbers would have been astronomical, possibly 1600 yards and 19 TDs. Don't get me wrong, his numbers were still fantastic this year and he opened up opportunities for all of his teammates just by being on the field. This winter he needs to get alot bigger and stronger. If he gets up around 180-185 he will be unstoppable. Imagine Hardin with enough strength to break more tackles and have one extra step to blow past defenders. Mentally he needs to find a way to stay sharp and focused on the easy catches just as he does on the spectacular ones. He has a chance to be better than Dressler, which is something most people thought wouldn't happen at UND for many more year. But that will only happen if he is hungry this off season and focuses on the little things. RJ McGill (Sr. 5-10 170) suffered a torn ACL against Cal Poly. I firmly believe that we win that game if he hadn't been injured. He was on fire and the go to guy in that game up to that point. Without him the offense sputtered. Anytime UND needed a big 3rd down conversion it seemed like RJ was wide open in the middle of the field for the first down. He was more consistent this year than last year even. He needs to get his knee healthy this winter and add some more strength. I hope he can regain all of his quickness and speed for next year. Jameer Jackson (So. 6-3 240) is the biggest receiver I have ever seen at UND. His strength and size are matchup nightmares against every DB. I was impressed with his maturation over the year as he became a very nice #2 WR and when Hardin didn't produce he stepped up and led the team with some big games. He, like Hardin, had too many drops this year. His numbers were good enough to be named for the Rice Award but they should have been much better. He is one of the only guys on the team that shouldn't gain any weight. He should get a little leaner but most of all get more flexible and quicker and faster. If you put a couple steps of quickness and a step of speed on this kid you are gonna have yourself a freak. He should have an absolute monster year next year if he focuses on every catch. Kenny Golladay (So 6-4 183) is another unprecedented WR in UND history. Just watch his catch against Poly or the blown TD call against Montana and you will see Chris Cater type ball skills. He is obviously frail and needs to hit the weights with Jake Miller and get up near 200 lbs. He also needs to get faster, which will happen with added strength. He seems to have adequate quickness and run decent routes for an 18 year old. As he continues to mature he will turn into the type of WR that we always hoped was at UND. He has special written all over him. Blair Townsend (Sr. 6-3 220) is another guy with great hands. Unfortunately he is slow as molasses. Part of that has to be due to the devastating ankle injury he suffered as a redshirt freshman. Hopefully he can get alot faster this winter because he has great size and strength and is an excellent possession receiver. He didn't get alot of opportunity this year but look at what he did in the Montana game. All you can say about that game is wow. He would start for most teams and is a big part of the ridiculous depth that we are currently blessed with at WR. With more speed and quickness he could have a much larger role more often next season. Romon Bridges (So 5-8 154) is a little waterbug type of slot receiver. He is probably the quickest player on UNDs team and possesses surprising strength as the reigning 'Beef Master'. Perhaps he will step in to RJ's role as RJ rehabs his knee. Romon is a converted RB and needs to keep improving his hands and route running. He has a great upside that we may not see until RJ and Hardin graduate and open up more room in the rotation. Anthony Fletcher (Fr 6-3 195) is a beast. Thats what I've heard when I've asked about him. He possesses nice height and great ball skills. He needs to get faster and quicker this winter while he continues to build his body. He was highly recruited out of high school and could force the coaches to put him on the field with his work ethic and undeniable talent. It will be scary to see what he becomes over the course of his career. Zach Oliver (Fr 6-3 190) is a classic possession receiver. He has great height and an amazing pair of mitts. With his size and body control he will be able to make plays without separation. He needs to get alot stronger and faster. Lots of potential, it will be up to him to make something of it. Casey Young (So 6-1 200) made an impact this year on special teams. He has yet to play as a WR but has proven valuable on KO coverage and punt coverage. Was highly recruited out of high school but has found himself surrounded by better players and is not yet in the rotation. I wouldn't sleep on his career as a WR yet. I feel that he will make a contribution later in his career after players like Hardin and McGill and Townsend graduate. Next up will be the QBs

Can't disagree with that. Never once saw a player take charge on the sideline this year and start demanding better from their teammates. When things went wrong the year before you saw guys like Dan Hendrickson get really pissed off with his teammates. Leading by example is great, but every team needs a couple generals that aren't afraid to call people out and demand excellence.

The coaches were basically recruiting with one hand tied behind their back before the nickname being voted away and getting into the big sky if you think about it.

Having a hard on for the coaching staff and knowing how to make valid comparisons are very different.

Ndsu didn't have the ncaa up their ass about their nickname and also didn't have huge questions surrounding a controversy of that scale directly determining conference affiliation as their conference was in the process of folding.