Sioux94

I'm sure you probably saw that somebody this posted on the other thread...but thought I'd paste it here too just in case you missed it. Sounds like they are moving some things around, overall sounds like some good improvements for this year. https://fightinghawks.com/news/2018/8/23/und-and-spectra-reveal-improvements-for-2018-football-season.aspx

Just saw that this was posted today on the UNDfootball360 site. Honestly I wouldn't mind if both of those guys took another week or two off to make sure they are healed and it doesn't linger. James Johannesson and John Santiago were back at practice yesterday. Both running backs should be good to go next week for the opener.

Triple reverses have been banned.

That would be something....to have your team captain be the 3rd string QB!

Actually a couple people did at times last year. But really, you can't even compare Schmidt and Rudy. Schmidt turned Mussman's defense around in a single year! We went from about worst to first! Sure Schmidt maybe could have done things differently last year, but when your leading tackler last year will barely see the field this year because that is how far down the chart he is in a normal health wise situation .....what do you expect. Our defense sucked last year, that is a fact. However i'm not sure Dick LeBeau could have done much with our defense last year given the guys available. I'm confident we will have a pretty stiff defense this year.

Our OL is young.....sadly it will probably be frustrating again at times this year. I sure hope they come together as the year progresses. I think the Washington game could be brutal for us trying to run the ball. I hope Rudy has some smoke and mirrors he can use to at least get us some offense and points that game. Might need Harris with a pick 6 to help us out too.

I think there are a number of us that think we can pull off the upset, but if we don't....won't feel like the season is lost by any means. It will definitely set a great tone if we do pull off the upset. If we lose, it will depend how the game goes. If they spank us 45-17 well yeah that will set a pretty bad tone and will be an eye opener that we still have quite a ways to go. If we lose 45-38 I will be disappointed but at the same time pretty hopeful for the rest of the year if we took a take a top 5 team to the 4th quarter on the road. All is not lost if we lose though....totally agree.

Bubba's first two classes seemed to be pretty weak on OL. That first class (now seniors if redshirted) I can't fully blame Bubba but the second one wasn't great either. Usually your juniors and seniors are leading the way...particularly on the OL. It seems like since then they have gotten some pretty decent guys. Kinda stinks that we are young this year at OL, but it appears that we have some younger OL that are the type we will need when we start MVFC play. (I say appears...before someone jumps on me....because I know they haven't proven anything yet)

I think it's because they were FBS last year and because it's on the road. We know we aren't going to go undefeated and are more likely to lose on the road verses at home, so the Sam Houston, Idaho, and NAU games in most peoples eyes are the most likely games that could be losses. Some are saying Montana too. Although we have Montana at home and they are going through some changes and have some concerns of their own. To me that game is almost a must win game. An improved Sac St road game certainly is no gimme either. None of our games other than the first one are a gimme.

What happened against SD last year...….that has not even entered my mind as a possibility. Not that it's not a possibility....I just don't think that is going to happen this year. It's possible they make a bunch of big pass plays and maybe hang 20 on us if things go wrong and we play poorly, but to get completely demoralized in the game.....god I sure hope not, and I don't think it will. I'm not sure what the mindset of the team was going into the game last year, honestly I remembered not feeling all that great about it.....but I didn't think we'd get blown out like that. This year I think the team's mindset will be that they have something to prove, let's hope they do.

It sounds like Maag is the real deal and a stud. Was there a lot of hype around him during recruiting, I don't remember.

Let's hope Sam Houston is one of them! And I think we will definitely surprise some people. Many fan bases wrote us off as a fluke the year we got a top 8 playoff seed after last years disaster. Not saying we will get a top 8 seed, but this year we need to show we are not a fluke and a team to be dealt with.

That totally sucks...as yeah they do tend to linger. Would it be tempting to just keep them out of the first game and let them rest as much as possible to let it healed better?

Imagine JJ and Brady in the backfield.....with JJ going as the lead blocker with Brady right behind him.....that is 465 lbs of muscle coming at you full steam! With JJ that size I wonder if he could have potential to be a FullBack in the NFL. With that size and speed I would think he would get some looks. Unlike Ratelle JJ is use to being in the backfield and carrying the ball. I'm really excited to see the trio of Santiago, Brady and JJ this year! If our OL can be at least average, and some deep passing opens things up more......those guys really can be a three headed monster this year.

Sounds like Zimm is a Captain, do we know who else was voted as Captains?

I don't remember seeing anything that it had to be four consecutive games but I'm not sure. I wondered about the playoffs....if they would be allowed to play in those games and still keep it. I don't think that article I saw mentioned that specifically.

Freshman being able to play 4 games without losing their redshirt is going to be a good thing. I would think maybe some guys might play on that first game if we are up big. But on other hand they may save them in case their are injuries and they need them. Perfect scenario most of the freshman would all get some good game action in mop up time, not due to injuries.

Hmmm yeah that is interesting. Maybe they see a little bit of Santiago type in him or something, and he was a RB in HS.

Interesting story. Is his middle name Rudy?

I was thinking people felt Boltmann was like Studs 2.0.....meaning similar but with a better arm and better deep ball thrower. Seems like he threw the ball well when I glanced at his tape but it's been a while. We will see though, we do need a true deep ball threat to open things up.

I like the competition! It's going to be an interesting battle.

While we have mostly fallen off the radar after last years debacle, it is nice that we still got some votes. If we can upset Sam Houston I think that would likely jump us into the top 25. If we won the next two after that we could potentially be 4-1 heading into a home game at Montana. That Sam Houston game is going to be big, obviously. That game will give us a good gauge as to where we are at. We should win easy first game, Washington.....well yeah, Sam Houston will be the game we will know.

I envision his living room....having a gigantic record player in it........that only plays broken records. That said, it's Friday......it's time to move on next week to the 2018 topic. And yes....let's see what happens this year. The jury is still out as to what is going to happen this year and how it will go.....but let's see.

Exactly, it all depends on who those wins and losses are to. Most years 7-4 has been good enough to get in hasn't it? Yes I know we didn't get in when we went 7-4 and it isn't guaranteed. But I don't think we are going to lose a game this year to a team with 1 win. One loss will be to a legit FBS team, and probably one to a likely top 8 FCS team. Sure I'd love to go 8-3 and guarantee we are in. If our 4th loss is to NAU at the end of the year maybe we wouldn't make it, never looks good to lose right before they have to make their decision. And would depend on how good NAU ends up being. They will likely be challenging for a playoff spot this year.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Since we should hopefully be up in our first game.....might see both QB's play some in that game.....if not all 3....to see what they can do in Live action?