Sioux94

So tomorrow the playoff selection committee releases their rankings right? Not sure if they do up to just 24 or what, or go to 24 and then list the first 4 out or something. That one will be the one to pay attention to.

That's the thing, I don't think I recall seeing one new wrinkle.....to try and combat or offset the best FCS defense we have played so far. One time TE was wide open on the right side but Kett was focused on left side and threw it that way, which I know that happens sometimes. But you'd think maybe somebody would notice and come back to that play later or something. Weber had plays dialed up that got their guys open all day and many times it wasn't because they were so fast, they were just open due to scheme etc.

I'll be happy just to win, sure would like to win in strong fashion but a win is a win. Now the following week I hope we pummel Portland State even though they are coming on strong. Hopefully the bond of the road trip this week has the team continuing to play well on the road.

You would think that our coaches would have looked at how UNC and NAU were able to score 28 against Weber's defense. They probably looked at the film and said......."ehh....we'll just stick with what we normally do since we've been running the ball so well". Well that resulted in 16 points (sorry I count FG's as produced by the offense as the offense needs to get kicker in position to make it).

FYP

Athlon has UNI and 23 and UND at 24. https://athlonsports.com/college-football/fcs-rankings-top-25-power-poll-week-9-2018

This, although I think Weber could have a legit shot at making it to the Championship game. But really NDSU is just better than everyone this year, JMU doesn't seem to be what they were last year. There really is not much of a big threat to NDSU by anyone this year, and they don't get out coached so it's not like that will magically happen during the playoffs. Montana State might as well can their coach, he's been there a couple years and they haven't done anything and likely aren't sniffing the playoffs this year. Not saying our coaching staff has what it takes to do it though, but lets see how this season plays out. Not going to fire anyone during the season. I think we are capable of beating any of the teams outside the top 5-7, not like that is the goal but that's about where we are at. Need to keep recruiting, 2019 seemed to be a good class and our OL is young.

So looks like submissions would not be due quite yet. Looks like they are due the week before the regular season ends? I can see that, right now it is way to unclear as to who may be in our out or on the bubble.

So teams that don't even know they will be in the playoffs have already submitted bids?

Here is my take/ramblings....after a night of sleep. It was a team loss, but the defense was the most disappointing. Getting two TD's on special teams was great, but as others have mentioned, our kicking game gave Weber good field position all day which is huge in a game that is supposed to be a defensive game. I was ok not going for it on 4th and 1 in deep in our own territory, I've see that one go the bad way a few times in other games. You may say Bubba didn't have faith, maybe it's that he was having faith in the defense.....which yesterday turned out not to be a good thing. I mean on flip side the offense aired it out when we got the ball with almost no time in second quarter, so you can't say they weren't being aggressive or didn't have the right mindset, well at least at times anyway. Should have kept giving JJ the ball when it was working. Most of us had our Kelly Green glasses on going into the week because the offense had looked good the previous 3 weeks. Weber was better coached and prepared and we were brought back to reality. But reality is we can still go 8-3 which is more than many of us expected. I am looking forward to getting into the MVFC because this unbalanced schedule in the Big Sky sucks. You can't control who you play, I mean I wish we had UC Davis on the schedule this year so we had a chance for another big win, or maybe EWU now that Gabe is out. You never know what teams are going to end up being good in the Big Sky each year. Maybe bite me in the butt but i'm looking forward to playing UNI, SDSU, Illinois State, etc going forward. Because hell even if you lose you will automatically get credit for a quality loss. Of course the NDSU annual game will be awesome as well and glad to see that renewed, it will only make us better. Our attendance will automatically increase playing the Dakota schools. I remember when Thomas was the coach, and Lennon and when we were going into a big game I always felt confident that our coaching would be a positive in our favor, that they would have a specific plan for that game to be successful. I don't feel that now when we go up against good teams and coaches. Schmidt can be good at times, but yesterday wasn't good. And on offense, have that special play dialed up to use at the right time against a good defense, didn't see that yesterday. Northern Colorado and NAU scored more (28) on Weber offensively than we did. Team and coaches need to learn from this loss, regroup and go out and get it the next three games!

I agree, but on the flip side...they have 2 FBS losses....which means they only have 2 FCS losses, and they beat us in our house. So we would both have 2 FCS losses and they beat us, plus they have somebody lobbying for them. If we are fortunate enough to get the lead in the coming weeks......need to keep on the gas and try to put up as many points as we can.

It's too bad they can't put the cameras on the other side, so it would show the team and the home crowd side which is always a lot more full. I'm sure it is for some logistic reasons as to why they need to put the cameras on that side. See that at other games too....the tv shows the visitors side and is often a lot of empty seats.

Think we'll need Weber to beat ISU. Portland State is coming on....that one won't be a gimme for us. NAU may be in a tough spot with their QB unless they heal up.

Watching online.....it seemed like they made some noise on 3rd down....and was louder than the Montana game. We got such a big lead early in Montana game though....I don't think the crowd ever fully got into it because we were up big.

Yep. Weber has superior coaching, that is why the gave a very good JMU team a run in the playoffs last year and very well could have beaten them.

Here we go with the whole Big Sky is a joke again. So what other conferences has more than two teams that are truly contenders? What other conferences are so much better than the Big Sky?? MVFC...yeah the probably are, but they also have some paper tigers too. SDSU......who got beat by UNI.....who just got pummeled today by Western, and also lost to Montana? SDSU would not beat Weber. NDSU is just head and shoulders above everybody this year, the MVFC benefits from that again in 2018.

Great Montana blew their lead and is now down 28-21 in 4th. That would have helped if Montana won.

Constantine was benched earlier in the year for poor play. Well him sitting seems to have done him some good, he played pretty well. But it helps when guys are wide open and you can rush up the middle like they were. If he plays like that I think Weber will have a decent offense and make some noise. We have to hope they win out the rest of the way!

This loss is on both the offense and defense, they both didn't get it done. Who would have thought the only phase of the game we would win would be Special Teams.

If Constantine plays that well the rest of the way....Weber will likely make a deep playoff run.

So our offense scored 16 points. Rudy can't hack it if we can't run for 5-7 yards a crack. Weber D is good though.

Their O coordinator has dialed up great plays....guys are wide open....it's just an easy pitch and catch....all day long.

They have a better defense, and a better offensive coordinator.

Because our O Coordinator is a genius.

Yes he has, very diverse....we are always on our heals. It helps if you can rush the ball up the middle for 7 yards a crack though!