Sioux94

Exactly. The USD's and Northern Iowa's are also losing out to these two. Last year really sucked for us, need to have a winning season and get some strong momentum going again. Looking forward to getting into the MVFC to go up against NDSU, SDSU, USD, Northern Iowa etc. if that is who we are recruiting against, at least our name will be out there more for some of those kids and if they can see us beating some of those schools I think that will help. Obviously we have work to do to improve so we can beat them. Let's recall that we beat a Cal Poly team that beat SDSU at home not too long ago. Jacks had a great year last year though and having Goedert go so high in draft helps them, but they may drop off a little this year......we'll see...maybe not. Prior to last year SDSU had like 3 playoff wins in their existence, we can catch and surpass them. Other than last year their claim to fame was playing NDSU tough.

And thank, you for your daily faithfulness, to UND football threads in the off season.

First I think we need to start with stealing a couple kids from the top FCS schools in the midwest.....like NDSU, SDSU, Northern Iowa etc.. Sure would be great to steal a few from FBS schools but that isn't likely to happen quite yet.

Not sure if anybody had posted this yet. https://herosports.com/fcs/hero-sports-2018-fcs-preseason-top-25-poll-ajaj

So basically a redshirt can play in up to 4 games and keeps his redshirt right? Man that would have been handy last year, and probably even the last couple of years when we were short on depth. Larson I'm sure would have gotten in and maybe even started 4 games towards the end of last year, would have been a good learning experience for him. I agree that it would probably keep redshirt freshman more engaged as well, knowing they may see some game action.

I think Harris needs a pick 6 against Washington to get his name even further back on the radar Hope he is back to 100%, not sure for our sake but for his sake and a potential shot at the next level.

Exactly, if we are down 35-14 I'll be pissed as hell if we pull our starters. I mean if there is 6 minutes left in the game then maybe pull some. At least we have legitimate backup QB's this year so it's not like the season ends if our QB goes out like it's been the past two years. Washington appears to be a very good team and a win is very highly unlikely. But as coaches and players your mindset has to be to win, or at least go in the mindset of making it a 4 quarter game and then see what happens. Will it be a 4 quarter game......likely not. But if you give up before the game even starts you are screwed.

Last years class seemed to have some potential, Slater leaving really hurts though. Grady and Slater leaving.....or when any kid leaves I don't fully put that on the coaches. Hard to totally predict how a kid is going to react to college and being away from home etc., but in the end it's up to the coaches to get the right players and have them stay. We need some home runs on the OL recruiting.

I'm hoping Washington and their fans are thinking this exact same thing going into the game and are extremely over confident. Not that it is likely we pull off an upset, but I have a feeling.....or am certainly hoping we give them a better game than the Griz gave them last year.......63-7.

There will likely be a lot of shuffling of the teams between 15-25 with some dropping out and new ones outside the top 25 coming in. As it stands right now we play 4 teams on our schedule that are in the top 25. We need to beat Montana, Weber, and Sacramento State. Montana and Weber are at home, and I hope Ketteringham plays big against his former team on the road. We also play NAU who likely has a good chance at being in the top 25 when it's all said and done. Could be a huge game at the end of the year against NAU, will be a tough one at the road.

Really sucks basically starting over again as far as our reputation and respect goes. The only damn good thing about this is we are the hunter again and not the hunted and some teams may overlook us. Let's upset Sam Houston and get a nice jump on getting back into the conversation again.

Wait maybe I should have put this

So based on those guys that played and are remaining it might be something like LT - Mortel, LG - Tobin, C - Rooney, RG - Blair, RT - ? Obviously some of those guys might not have been much ahead of some of the others and might get beat out. Anybody have an predictions on who the starting OL will be and/or thoughts?

While the play calling and offensive overall scheme needs to improve from the coaching standpoint, I definitely agree with this as well. The OL is as strong as it's weakest link, because like you said if one guy wiffs on his block or misses his assignment that play gets blown up and the coordinator looks like an idiot for calling that play. I can't remember with injuries and everything last year, who was starting or mostly playing at OL the last two games. And of those, who were seniors that are no longer on the team?

I think there will be a few more adjustments on offense this year too. Bubba knows it was his decision to keep Rudy and it's not just Rudy's butt if the offense stinks, it's his as well. He gave up his position coaching responsibility to get more involved with the offense. I'm hoping this translates to some good changes on offense.

I really don't think the players or coaches will be thinking of 2018 as a rebuilding season. More like a get back to the trajectory we were on after our 2016 season, meaning playoffs at a minimum. There is no way guys like Santiago and Brady are going to go into this season with a mindset.........ahhh we are just rebuilding. As for a 7-4 season being a failure from the other post, I don't see us finishing the season at 7-4. If we finish regular season 7-4 I'd say 90% chance we are in the playoffs and would end up either 7-5 or 8-5. Yes I realize it is possible to not make the playoffs at 7-4, we already lived that one once. But an FBS loss to a good program, and potentially a second loss Sam Houston, I think if we end up with 2 other losses we are more than likely still in. But I think there may be a pretty big bubble this year of teams with 7-4 record....so who knows. Let's just knock of Sam Houston though, we'd be in a much better position.

Totally agree!!

There has been a series of interesting articles as to who should be voted #3 this year. Below is one paragraph from the article. If only we had an offensive coordinator who would adapt to the current roster instead of trying to fit square pegs into round holes at times. Here is a link to full article: https://herosports.com/fcs/football-south-dakota-state-preseason-no-3-jackrabbits-bzbz Don’t be surprised, though, to see a revamped SDSU offense. Offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness has shown the ability to adapt and alter his offense, like after 2014 with the graduation of Zach Zenner in a power-run system. While Mengarelli led the Jacks in rushing, Isaac Wallace showed plenty of explosion and Mikey Daniel brings the power. SDSU may benefit from a more balanced offensive approach this season.

Triple Reverse....

Reading the news about Slater this weekend, ugh what a buzz kill. This time of the year no news is good news!!

Stealing from the Buy or Sell question about RB and WR Production, which RB do you think will have the most rushing yards this year.......Santiago, Brady, or JJ?

I think we will go back to at least a 7 on defense this year, potentially an 8 if I put my Kelly Green glasses on. Secondary as usual will be the biggest concern, particularly Safety. If Harris is healthy, having him and Holm at corner should be pretty solid and some of the backups will have experience. Reyes leaves a big hole to fill, but since he was often banged up it's maybe not as big of a loss as it would have been if you look at a full season.

I agree, should definitely be more than a few times during the year. Should be multiple times each game. I'm hoping now that Bubba is more involved with the offense he will pull Rudolph out of his shell more. I am cautiously optimistic about it......but also not holding my breathe on it either.

First offensive play of the year........Santiago out wide.....with Brady and JJ in the backfield. Ok, probably don't waste that surprise on the first game of the year....or maybe not even the second game. But hope we see something like that a few times this year.

Definitely sell on the WR getting 1,000. None of our WR's are head and shoulders above the rest, I mean if you were going to pick a guy to get 1,000 yards....not even sure who you would pick. Too many good options at RB I agree, which is a good thing. For RB's I'd love to see all 3 get over 700 yards! Santiago can hopefully break off a couple big ones this year like when he was a freshman. But hopefully they will be doing some other things with him to get him in space, screens etc., but still think he can get 700 on ground.