Sioux94

Show me on OL like we had the spring season....and I'll show you a three-headed monster

QB and OL would be the two key spots for me. If we swapped NDSU's OL last year with our OL we win that game last year. We could have kept our QB because Patterson didn't do much other than a couple decent runs.

Respectfully disagree, I don't think RB by committee is like the if you have 2 QB's it means you don't have 1. I would take a combo of Brady O. and Santiago over just Santiago. Plus I think Smith showed when he had to be the main guy for one game he has the talent to be that guy. However if you have other talented backs with slightly different skill sets, it's ok to give them touches as it's a long season and 20-25 rushes every game can be pretty wearing by the end of the year. SU has been pretty successful with splitting carries to RB's and not having just 1 guy carry the ball 90% of the time. I think Ziebarth looked pretty good...and would be capable of being an every down back if we were in the same situation as when Santiago was a freshman when we really didn't have anybody else......well other than Brady who was also a true freshman. It does give you a good feeling though when you have 1 RB run for 130 yards on the other team.....gives you a feeling like you just piss pounded them and feels more impressive than two guys running for 75 yards each.

I would say Schuster is a more accurate passer. Studs did sometimes struggle with quick swing passes out in the flat....and wouldn't hit the guy in stride. Tommy may not have the strongest arm, but on a few plays the last two years where the WR had the DB beat and had 5 yards of separation (flea flicker to Belquist, and Maag burning Missouri St. in playoffs) Tommy hit them pretty much right in stride 30-40 yards downfield. Which doesn't seem like that big of a deal when they are wide open, but have seem QB's miss guys before that are super wide open and you miss out on an easy TD. Both of the instances I'm referring too went for long TD's. When a WR is running a fly pattern and the DB is right on him, I recall Tommy overthrowing him a few times.....I think probably due to an abundance of caution and fearing a pick. With a guy like Maag thouh, sometimes you just have to give him a chance to make a play even if it might get picked off.

What do you mean we don't even know what we have with Tommy? Tommy is an every down FCS QB and has proven it. Doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement though, running a bit more at opportune times....and some more completions 35+ yards downfield......which is probably what you are eluding too......we may not have seen Tommy's ceiling quite yet. This is the year for it!

I think many of us would agree with most all of this. I think we'd all love to be able to ram it down their throats with a regular package with Tommy in. Also I think many of us want to see Quincy run a few plays of the regular offense, it's a bit of a Catch 22. I think Danny is a good offensive coordinator though, and he will make good decisions, although of course they won't all be right. I had pretty low confidence last year that we would pick up a 3rd and 1 by ramming the ball, and I think for that reason Danny used some other types of plays particularly when we got in the Red Zone. Hopefully the OL is a little better this year so we can do just that......ram the ball up the gut and pick it up. If he puts in more passing plays for Quincy this year, he will throw a pick at some point....it's bound to happen. So go on the record now....saying whether or not you want to see Quincy get a chance to throw the ball more so you can't say wtf when he does throw a pick

When does an updated 2 Deep usually come out, maybe next Monday or Tuesday since next week is game week?

Some interesting FCS vs FBS Matchups this fall. Illinois State: Wisconsin (Sept. 3); Indiana State: Purdue (Sept. 10); Missouri State: Arkansas (Sept. 17); North Dakota: Nebraska (Sept. 3); North Dakota State: Arizona (Sept. 17); Northern Iowa: Air Force (Sept. 3); South Dakota: Kansas State (Sept. 3); South Dakota State: Iowa (Sept. 3); Southern Illinois: Northwestern (Sept. 17); Western Illinois: Minnesota (Sept. 10); Youngstown State: Kentucky (Sept. 17)

Agree with all of this. That said, I sure hope the team is going into the game with the mindset of looking for a win.

That's great news, and also scares me that he could pop on other schools radar if he has a huge year. In the article: "In the decisive first half, Kaminski was 16-for-23 for 249 yards passing and also ran for 60 yards"

It will definitely be interesting this year to see if they use Quincy more and let him run the regular offense. Would be nice to see him complete some more passes as that will only help his effectiveness running the ball. I think we all want to see Quincy throw the ball more......until he throws that first interception......then of course we will all be like.........damn it Danny why did you let Quincy throw the ball 15 yards down the middle of the field into coverage, why didn't you just leave Tommy in for that play.......wtf were you thinking.

Totally agree with this. I do definitely understand why people outside of UND fans does not have us in the top 25, but I think we are better than some of the teams listed for some of the reasons you said. And those close losses two involve late fumbles, another involves missing 2 FG's in the last 2 1/2 minutes from our backup kicker. But we still have to put it together and have it translate into winning some of those games this year and you are what you're record is. But I think we are closer to being really good than some of those other teams ranked ahead of us, but we will see. I'm always excited every year, but I'd say I'm probably more excited this fall than last fall. We will have a pretty good idea of where we are as a team by Week 2 this year, the UNI is almost must win game (also Missouri State). For many Weah was the face of our team last year and outsiders see him being gone as a setback for us, but in this case it is likely addition from subtraction as there hopefully won't be as many off the field issues, plus I think we have the guys to step up. I'm excited about our schedule this year and particularly those first 5 games.

Coaches poll

Still bugs me that when we were DII we had a 30 minute Football Show that aired every week. Now we are FCS and should be bigger and better, but nope....no football show. Or is there one now and I just don't know since I don't live in ND anymore.

Looks like the Nebraska - Northwestern game is at 11:30 Central Time, hopefully that game is televised. Only two weeks away from some meaningful football....even if we aren't playing that weekend!

I'm jealous....nice seats!

I like that they are thinking a little out of the box and tinkering with putting Orlando or Beech as DE sometimes if some teams are just trying to power run it down our throats. Looks like Mcnaboe will likely start at one DE, he is only 240....pretty easy for him to get pushed around by 300 lb lineman.

If the OL doesn't get any better than last year, yes we can still have a good year. The margin for error drops significantly though. If we weren't on our backup kicker and if we didn't fumble late in 4th quarter last year could have been playoffs, so we could replicate that season but don't choke those crucial plays. If NDSU had 4th and 1 late in the game in that situation, they run it right up the gut and pick up that 1st down 95% of the time and game is over. We run a trick play...and boom, game over the other direction. Life is SO much easier when you can just consistently pick up short yardage when you need to. Our OL will likely be one of the youngest in the conference. If we can go at least 3-2 and then make the playoffs, they will have 11 games under their belt and should hopefully improve during the year and possibly make us a dangerous team in the playoffs.....if we can get there.

I agree that a more experienced Tommy will help this year and him picking up some key yardage on the ground at times will help. But as we've all said, it's really going to come down to if the OL is improved from last year. Once we got inside the 20 last year it was tough sledding for us on the ground. If it's 3rd and 1 from the 8 yard line, can we pound it up the middle for a first down, or do we have to run a trick play to pick up that one yard like last year.

I would guess he had us losing to UNI, SIU, and Missouri State. Then losses to NDSU, SDSU, and Nebraska. It's conceivable that happens, and especially if you are a hater......kind of like every person is other than UND fans. I think we win at least two of those games and go 7-4.

Under

Agree, especially if we didn't look good against UNI. Should we lose to UNI, we'd have to beat Southern Illinois on the road to remain on track for being at least 3-2 after the first 5 games.

I'd like for it to feel like it's still a game.....midway or at the end of the 3rd quarter, as in down by no more than 14, and have their fans feeling frustrated.

Totally agree with all of this. Particularly excited about Wilson being a playmaker. Also from Miller's write up's Caden Dennis has made some plays....he may finally be that deep threat for us. I could see them pulling his shirt this year. Also Miller mentioned Klein has been making some plays. Pretty excited overall about the WR group this fall, nice mix of guys who can do different things. Just read Miller's write ups for the Day 3 and Day 4 practice. Getting super excited about this team and this fall. It's easy to have the Kelly Green glasses on this time of year though