Dustin

I think if we’ve learned from our mistakes from the NDSU game, and can execute differently based on that knowledge, we’ll be in this game until the end.

Since it's an evening game, the temperature should be cooling as the game goes on, and will be played mostly in the shadows of the stadium's west bleachers. I don't think the weather will have any sort of negative factor. If anything, since we are an indoor team, we are fortunate that we should be able to develop and execute a game plan just the same as playing at home.

If we win, I feel this will be the score. If we lose, I feel this will be the score.

4th down conversion is another one that I forgot.

I think we'll need to have an SDSU or USD type of game to win. If/when we get beat, make the adjustments. Need to have a couple things go your way (i.e. fake punt, blocked punt, forced fumble recovery, etc).

I think I may be mistaken here. I read somewhere that it's actually 3 INT.

Strengths: O line. Usually get the push and open holes for our dynamic RB. Allowed 1 qb sack all year. Gives the qb plenty of time to find receivers. Cerebral QB. He won’t wow you with his arm and hasn’t proven to be especially mobile, but his completion percentage is high and he’s only thrown one interception. Agressive Defense and special teams. If opponents are inferior, both units can gobble you up. At this level of the playoffs, I don’t expect inferior competition, so they probably won’t be making a highlight reel tape against you guys. Weaknesses: stopping a power run against NDSU was a problem. That particular player played his first game of the season, so we were ill prepared. We lost our only experienced Nose Guard in that game, so adjustments were hard. that NG is back now. we’ve also been beaten deep on occasions, too. Both SDSU and NDSU got points on major pass plays. if we can’t the run going(which could be a problem against JMU), forcing us to pass worked for NDSU, though I don’t consider our offense one-dimensional. We could use some burner speed at WR, which we don’t have. We also lost one of our best receiver playmakers last week. We won’t run you out of the stadium, but you might do that to us. The only way we win is by keeping the game close.

This would be a good game to have their QB and their QB’s mother nervous at halftime.

How good is their O-line at protecting the QB?

LOL!

Thank you for the long version of the highlights.

I think this would be the simplest, safest, most effective next step from our young QB. Let’s go get the Dukes!

Does someone have the time to put together the times when Tommy threw an incomplete pass when running yardage was there for the taking?

Given our lack of experience at QB, are the coaches telling Tommy to protect himself at all costs, and running is too much of a risk? He seems to do well with a moving pocket, which requires him to be mobile, so he could end up turning upfield at some point, right?

Couldn't figure out how to quote from multiple pages, so this is my best. Midwestern Hawk: "Tommy won't run the ball for whatever reason and we only throw the ball downfield on double moves and gadget plays. Good teams play tight coverage to take away the screen-o-rama and stack the box to stop Otis." Geaux_sioux: "We lack legit speed to take the top off at wr and it hurts our offense. All of our wrs are either quick or big but non of them can burn." Thinking out loud here, but is there a way to get Skokna involved in the passing game that aren't screen passes? He seems be have been neutralized from scrimmage compared to Gee and especially Weah.

Take a moment to think about that THIS is what we are arguing about on a Sunday and Monday following a game. We just crushed a team in the playoffs with scores from our offense, defense, and special teams. It really doesn't get much better than this.

I personally don’t have any affinity for seeing the backup QB. Tommy has done nearly everything asked of him. He’s young and still learning, too, so the getting more reps is still beneficial.

I feel Danny has an opportunity to throw in a couple wrinkles that haven't really been seen on tape yet: Schuster tucking and running if his receivers are covered (He's very effective at throwing it away to play for the next down, but that strategy doesn't keep the offense on the field when it's 3rd or 4th down); Quincy throwing (every defense would sell out on the run if they saw him in, right?); or Quincy running the offense in general (virtually no tape on this). Who knows, with such little game experience, this might be the biggest gamble of them all, but when you're trying to win a playoff game against a quality opponent in their stadium, it's the gambles that pay off (or don't) that win (or lose) games.

So, what did VMI do against JMU that kept them within 7? Can UND do whatever that was better and come out with a victory?

Sounds like most everyone felt the vibe this game off - UND big over MSU.

Maybe this will be the game that Danny utilizes him in that way, and it will totally catch JMU off guard.

I definitely thought EWU was going to give NDSU a run for their money in that game. It looked good early, but never was in Question in the 4th quarter. Bummer, I was hoping UND would be the only ND football team playing next week.

Speaking of Skokna, he doesn’t get much from scrimmage like Weah or Gee, but I like his contributions as a return man. To really make our offense dynamic, Danny needs to find ways to make Skokna a threat.

Hopefully Tommy is a good recruiter! His brother has a couple inches on Tommy if I remember correctly.

Yes, to come out of that play 2nd & 6 was pretty miraculous.