Old School Guy

Like i said yesterday, its not just coaching...players didn't get the job done either. The coach can't come on the field and block your man for you.

Thanks for clarifying your wording... (handshake) I'm not willing to say players will "never play well" at UND.... But if we keep the status quo this off season...even with the injured returning, 2018 will be a carbon copy of 2017. This team was unfocused and unprepared this year.

I say equally because some games we got out prepared and out coached and some games we got outplayed. Some games, we got the triple whammy (out coached/prepared and out played). I know players read this board and they too need to know, they need to step their game up and be responsible for their own success and failures. This is D-1 ball not, Pop Warner. Regarding coaches, its seems like we recruit talent and decent character guys, then it falls apart once they get on campus. I agree, and I have said myself, nutrition, strength/condition, development and schemes all need to be evaluated and improved. That's on the coaches, primarily but not solely.

To further expand on your statement. Players will or should contribute at different levels. But the coaches should prepare each kid they recruit to contribute somehow to overall team success. Now, its the expectation that the player will make themselves available and ready to contribute through hard work and in our case to avoid suspensions or off the field foolishness. Every kid is not going to be an All-American. But, they should be productive if on the roster.

No,there is nothing clueless about me, sorry but nice try. I've said in previous posts that I think the coaches and players share equally in this disaster of a season. Coaches should have players prepared and in the right position to be successful while players should come prepared physically and mentally ready to play. UND failed to consistently accomplish all of the above this season on a consistent basis. I have also said the coaches are teaching flawed technique, especially on defense. Go back and read my previous post. I am in no way letting coaches off the hook. No am I letting players off the hook. Its a player's job to make coaches look smarter than they are. Its the coaches job to create the opportunity for that to happen.

watching Miami today...their offense was held in check most of today, but the defense has taken over...that's how good teams win. Starts and ends with defense.

I think Rudolph's play-calling is reflective of the conservative nature of Bubba and himself combined. This staff needs to go back and watch film and copy what worked against us.The offense seemed more fluid against EWU; minus the turnovers, we win that game against a ranked opponent.We are not a smash mouth team...we are best when we stretch field and get guys the ball in space on offense.Bubba and Rudy need to adjust accordingly.

I think Rudolph has become the scapegoat. Rudolph didn't coach or play defense, and the defense was defenseless this year. Injuries happen, but the guys that played who are also college football players who are also on scholarship, just simply did not get the job done this year. Its not Rudolph's job to control the line of scrimmage, keep contain, tackle and cover opposing receivers.

After reading others comments and posting my own, I wouldn't exactly call us being in a state of bliss after the way this season unfolded. But, I think its fair to say coaches and players share the blame equally. Players made bone headed mistakes on and off the field. Coaches made bone headed moves also. But, this season is done. Time to climb back down from the ledge and realize, even if we won the championship, its time to reset, evaluate, and get better in preparation for next year. It happens at the pro level; teams win Super Bowl or go to the big game and don't even make the playoffs or get bounced early the following year. Its hard to stay focused and locked in after you've had success sometimes. Why? I don't know but it happens. That doesn't mean you fire all of the coaches and get rid of the players, cheerleaders and mascot. You regroup, reset and get back to work.

There is a lot more to the story, and hopefully, they take the proactive steps to avoid being suspected or suspended in the first place.

After a good nights sleep, preceded by some good food and Crown Royal, I woke up this morning feeling better about next season. I saw something in UND that I hadn't seen in awhile: some fight. After giving up the late TD going into halftime, I thought EWU would blow us out. But, I was wrong. The D pitched a shutout in the second half the the offense came alive and started moving the ball. The fumble at the goal line was a tough luck play. The kid was fighting for the goal line...I liked Carr's effort...it just didn't work out for us. I also saw some freakin pride on display in the second half. Rudolph opened up the playbook and actually had EWU on its heels.

that was a good one, Shep.

Watching the Miami vs. ND game. I love the "turnover chain" implemented by The U. It looks silly to adults but if young players buy in and force turnovers to get the honor of wearing the chain. I say go for it. Its about motivating your players. Bring the chain the North!

People are waiting for it to leak from the inside (media or coaches) before openly commenting. Those that know are just exercising discretion which is a good thing.

The old highlights they showed today from 2014 reflect a huge disparity in the size of our linemen and team size overall. it was glaring. the strength program better start tomorrow and become a runaway train. Kids should leave UND looking like they know their way around a weight room and dinner table.

.... based on how other backups roasted us this year, the front 7 played better in the second half and made him look more like a backup.

We need to get waaaaaaay better on the OL. We didn't use timeouts well in second half. Ty Carter and Cieslak played well today..defense stepped up in the 2nd half. That missed opportunity with Wanzek not looking for the ball and the turnover near the goal line cost us today. Santiago and Brady need to be on the field with JJ next year as a regular package. We need more down field throws with Santiago. Need more consistent use and catches by the Tight Ends. We bookend our two best losses with Utah and EWU. Wished played like that all year against lesser teams.

You would think kids would get tired of being in trouble, getting embarrassed on Saturdays. Someone needs to get tired of dealing with this crap.

a couple but nothing to be impactful to change the momentum or flip field position.

Once again, we are making a QB with limited playing time look like Mike Vick.

Not only do our guys not understand leverage, they don't understand its actually okay to get off of a block and tackle a ball carrier that's 1-2 feet way from you. When we get blocked, we stay blocked. Unbelievable.

I have concerns with the schemes and player prep. I've said that before, but I might be in the minority here when I say, I don't think coaches need to be fired in order to effect change. I will never speak on another man's money. Coaching is how Rudolph and everyone else on staff support their families. But, some self reflection and analysis needs to be done and starting with establishing a viable nutrition program, strength and conditioning and post workout recovery (this will help mitigate the occurrences of injuries). I just hope the staff is not stubborn, inflexible and resistant to change. I think its possible to turn it around with a lot of work and reincarnation of the offensive and defensive philosophy. We can start this week by not letting the opposing TE get a free release of the line of scrimmage like we did last week at SUU. That guy was killing us because no one put a hand or shoulder on him and he was allowed to run free in the secondary after running right past our LBs.

Yes, he quit the team and decided to stay in Grand Forks and finish his undergrad and pursue his master's. He knew his football days were over, so he moved on to the next phase of his life. I think hewas a pre-med student if I remember correctly. There were other things that factored into his decision that I won't post on here.

All jokes aside, Chris Brown was a class act on and off the field.

That's my point. How does one start at CB as a jr./sr and they can't even cover your grandma in a phone booth? You would think after 1 year in the UND system, someone should be able to cover her. I'm sure she is a really nice lady but not overly fast at route running.