gundy1124

I will pile on this point a little. Either a running back can play, has the instincts and toughness, or he doesn't. You find this out quickly with a few carries. Santiago and Oliveira have it, Ja'wan Arrington didn't. It took me about 5 carries a piece to see this. Running back is literally the simplest position to come in and play, but at the same time a good RB is a freakishly good athlete. In the Montana game our corners were in position, they just lacked some ball skills and awareness. If you saw Irving-Sills's interception against Montana St. he was in good position with his head turned around, found the ball for the pick. This needs to become 2nd nature for our defensive backs. While the cornerback position is another simple position in theory, cover the outside guy, these guys have to be athletic enough to cover the fastest opponents and tough enough to take down the biggest backs, and crazy enough to submerge a 310 pulling offensive lineman.

The 'Storm Warning' backfield. Thunder and lightning is imminent.

Good point. Studsrud is the key. If he plays well and we finish with 2 wins, we have a strong argument that our only loss with Studsrud playing the full game was when we went into an offensive coma against SU. I really don't believe 100% in our argument, but we have to make it.

not sure- I did see Palmberg at safety, pulled his shirt. And Baker played some D end, that was new.

Got it, only support a winning product. Hop on when things are good, bail when they aren't. That will build character....... The most satisfying things in life are those achievements you are part of from the ground up. If you only get on board at the end 1) your life will be boring 2) you will live a shallow and unfulfilled life 3) you will miss many opportunities to be part of something great I would much rather try to achieve great things and fail than never try at all. And, real football fans will take college over NFL any day!!

my bad, 3%

Clive with 2 receptions, both for TDs. He needs about 10-12 targets a game these last 2 games. MSU couldn't run with him. I can't believe we don't have more than 50 students that want to watch a free football game. I will say it, our students are a joke. Take 15,000 students, 300 are at the game or participating in the game. (Players, trainers, cheer team, band). We are at 2%, wow!!

I forgot that part, off his back foot......those throws are just ugly!

If you looks at mechanics and talent, it's not even close. Joe has a short release, ball held high, (Watch last year's Montana highlights) while Bartels shot puts the ball a little, lacks some mobility, pocket presence is inconsistent. This is what I would do, putting on my head coach ball cap. I'd start Joe the next 2 weeks, compare the performances to Bartels, the better QB starts the last game of the year while the other QB is released, freeing up a scholarship. (for a QB recruit) If Joe shows well, let's have a real QB battle in the offseason and spring with Studsrud. If Bartels wins out, prepare him to be a back-up his senior year. I am guessing Studsy is done for the year.

The proverbial NDSU mantra, back-up is better anyway. Wentz, while riding the pine was better than Jenson, Stick better than Wentz, high schooler to be named later better than Stick.........

yep, if you are going to throw it in 1.5 seconds let's at least hit the open guy, 23. If you watch the protection, Norberg steps up with a block, the d-line gets collapsed to the left, Bartels could of moved to the right, smoked a cigarette, and let the double move develope. Really, what was the hurry? No pocket presence. I know Bartels made some good throws, too, but we won't be successful with a QB collapsing in big moments of a game.

yep- And Blind Joe (from The Voice) even pointed out Seibel being wide open on the play Bartels threw the pick.

You must have been on the cheer team, because football players don't !@#$ themselves when an opportunity is presented to them.........

You're going to have a long day Darell. I brought that up before, 4 Naties and not a single road playoff win in the process....... Next up, let's talk about Frisco being a road game for NDSU -

With their WRs, even Tarvarious Jackson could probably pick us apart.

That's my dream, stud corners with ice in their veins. I was impressed, too.

I heard Arnell could be back, surgery went well, and he gets his year back. So him and Reyes will be Juniors next year.

Point is with the injuries our staff feels the base personnel is better than bringing in a nickel back for a linebacker. Just because our secondary started off this season as much improved over previous years doesn't mean we are at a high level. Without Reyes in the line-up our secondary is pretty weak. With him in, average. An Average secondary won't cut it in the BSC. As a team, outside of Santiago, Ratelle, and Reyes to a certain extent we don't have any real difference makers on this year's team. We need more difference makers thru player development, recruiting, transfers........however the hell we get them, we need more special players. USD corners didn't seem to have any problem yesterday with one-on-one match ups with NDSU.........we did. Agree on the coaching adjustments.......we seem to be out of ideas by the 4th quarter.

2 minute offense for us.......that is a joke.

Turn the page Rudy-

Maybe we need to find a nickel package, cause our linebackers covering down the seems in coverage sucks.

Passing and tempo, they found our kryptonite.......

We did the fake return Utah did to Oregon??

I am going to have a heart attack!!

not when we played NDSU!! We sat under center like a bunch of idiots the whole game. USD did what many on here said we should have done.