Sioux @ UNI--Game Thread

[jimdahl]

Sioux on NIU 27 with .09 left in the 4th 23 - 17

This is it... 2(?) shots at the end zone from 27 yds out.

[FSSD]

I disagree with the radio call - if Hardin is tackled clock stops because of the first down.. then spike the ball.. you have about 2 or 3 seconds.

[UNDvince97-01]

We should have won this game. Int ends it.

[UNDvince97-01]

I disagree with the radio call - if Hardin is tackled clock stops because of the first down.. then spike the ball.. you have about 2 or 3 seconds.

I agree 100%. How can they not realize that?

[SIOUXFAN97]

they throw it to the three and five? COME ON

[Let'sGoHawks!]

Damn. That was close folks.

Great job by the Sioux after giving up the 16-0 lead early.

[siouxforeverbaby]

Welll, this stinks. Tough loss boys, we should won this game..

[UND Fan]

I disagree with the radio call - if Hardin is tackled clock stops because of the first down.. then spike the ball.. you have about 2 or 3 seconds.

I agree - with the clock stopped for the first down, I think we would have had one more play.

[FSSD]

game over NIU 23 and UND 17 - good effort...

[SiouxMD]

The second half gives me hope for the rest of the season.

GO SIOUX

[UNDvince97-01]

Would have been nice to score on the 4th down early in the game.

I just want to know when we are going to start getting some breaks and luck on our side.

Hopefully we build on this for the rest of the year.

[UND Fan]

It sure would have been nice to win that thing but this sure should give the kids a lift.

[Bin]

Great effort. Actually got pretty exciting. This team will continue to get better. looking forward to the Lamar game. Have'nt been to a game in GF for years.

GO SIOUX

[the green team]

Landry was better tonight- he is our qb. I think he knew what was the situation on that 2nd to the last play that if Hardin catches it, he could have got in or they would have had a 1 play to get to in from the 3. He did a good job leading that last drive down the field. I'm guessin Cochran as the Roughneck and Hardin as the POG. Better, not great, but better.

[Let'sGoHawks!]

Now I know how the bison felt when they almost beat Minnesota that year.

Lets face it, we all figured 0-2 after those first 2 games. I also have more hope for the rest of the year now.

[bincitysioux]

Entertaining game that was probably lost on the first play of the game. They played much better tonight...................progress.........but I never would have guessed they would have had so much trouble defending the run, particularly a scrambling QB that I really don't think is known for moving his team with his feet.

I was feeling pretty down after the first few series, but I agee, I'm little more optimistic about the season that I was after the first play of tonight's game.

BTW

Poly 14

Griz 14

H

[FSSD]

My thoughts:

It was the special teams that made this a game. They kept the Sioux in the game in the first half with a block FG and provided the spark in the second half with the blocked punt. Tackling improved in the second half and they found some offensive flow.. By the way the Sioux had better learn to stop a running QB or that USD game might be a long one... overall execited about the game and the improvements. They are getting better..

Special Teams: B+

- Blocked FG

- Blocked Punt

- no large returns

- Turnover on the kickoff did hurt

- Clutch FG at the end by the Freshman... first kick from 40 with pressure - good sign..

- Strong Kickoff leg

Defense: C

Minus

- Wow missed tackles in the first two or three drives

- Pressure with blitz package.. but they lost containment for long QB runs..

Plus

- Pick 6 for Hawk - huge..

- Nice 2nd half adjustments

- No big pass plays

Offense: C

Plus

- Landry has a target in Hardin

- Offensive flow is getting better..

- I thought that Josh just ran hard not sure of yardage. But it is nice to see him back.

Minus

- Anderson dropped a couple

- Offensive line needs to get more push up front... Landry was running for his life..

[Matt]

Welll, this stinks. Tough loss boys, we should won this game..

While I'm not willing to say they should have won this game since they never actually led, or even tied during the game, they showed a lot of guts in this game that they didn't last week. They represented well.

[BigGame]

My thoughts:

It was the special teams that made this a game. They kept the Sioux in the game in the first half with a block FG and provided the spark in the second half with the blocked punt. Tackling improved in the second half and they found some offensive flow.. By the way the Sioux had better learn to stop a running QB or that USD game might be a long one... overall execited about the game and the improvements. They are getting better..

Special Teams: B+

- Blocked FG

- Blocked Punt

- no large returns

- Turnover on the kickoff did hurt

- Clutch FG at the end by the Freshman... first kick from 40 with pressure - good sign..

- Strong Kickoff leg

Defense: C

Minus

- Wow missed tackles in the first two or three drives

- Pressure with blitz package.. but they lost containment for long QB runs..

Plus

- Pick 6 for Hawk - huge..

- Nice 2nd half adjustments

- No big pass plays

Offense: C

Plus

- Landry has a target in Hardin

- Offensive flow is getting better..

- I thought that Josh just ran hard not sure of yardage. But it is nice to see him back.

Minus

- Anderson dropped a couple

- Offensive line needs to get more push up front... Landry was running for his life..

I didn't watch the first half but I thought the Offensive line looked decent in pass protection most of the time, but the run blocking needs to come together because it wasn't very good. I know this seems harsh but on several occasions if Landry steps up in the pocket instead of trying to run outside the pocket he would have been more effective. I really didn't like some of the coaching decisions even though most of them seemed to work out OK. Hardin looked good and it is unfortunate he had the drop on the second to last play of the game but at least UND seems to have a WR that can make some plays. On the last play Landry appeared to panic just because NIU brought 5 guys on the pass rush, I think he more time to look for a WR on the play if he would have stepped up in the pocket because it appear the O line actually handled the 5 man rush. I could be wrong on the last play because I haven't actually watched a reply though.

[star2city]

The NIU board, which is mostly in meltdown, had praise for Landry for avoiding sacks. Agree with comments that Landry needs to step up in the pocket and that the OL isn't providing the needed run blocking support.

Their board also agrees that NIU, with new running QB Harnish, was a much better team than they showed vs Iowa State (NIU lost 27-10 to ISU) with a different pass-oriented QB. UND did a good job of stopping NIU's star RB, but could never stop Harnish.

[UND92,96]

Congrats to Greg Hardin on his record-setting performance: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/175357/group/homepage/

[tho0505]

I dont know if anyone has seen this. But who is East Dakota? I assume they're talking about us. Sometimes ESPN blows my mind.

Off The Mark: Hot-Seat Coaches

1. Mike Locksley, New Mexico

The Lobos have been outscored 124-17 in their first two games, after losing 52-17 to Texas Tech on Saturday.

2. Tim Brewster, Minnesota

The Gophers lost to North Dakota State in 2007 and then lost to South Dakota 41-38 on Saturday. East Dakota is trying to get on Minnesota's schedule.

3. Paul Wulff, Washington State

The Cougars had to rally from a 15-point deficit for a 23-22 victory over FCS foe Montana State, which ended their 10-game losing streak.

4. Dan Hawkins, Colorado

Welcome to the Pac-10. The Buffaloes, who are expected to join the league in 2012, lost at California 52-17 on Saturday.

5. Todd Dodge, North Texas

The not-so-Mean Green lost to Rice 32-31 on Saturday, dropping their record to 0-2.

[UND92,96]

I dont know if anyone has seen this. But who is East Dakota? I assume they're talking about us. Sometimes ESPN blows my mind.

Off The Mark: Hot-Seat Coaches

1. Mike Locksley, New Mexico

The Lobos have been outscored 124-17 in their first two games, after losing 52-17 to Texas Tech on Saturday.

2. Tim Brewster, Minnesota

The Gophers lost to North Dakota State in 2007 and then lost to South Dakota 41-38 on Saturday. East Dakota is trying to get on Minnesota's schedule.

3. Paul Wulff, Washington State

The Cougars had to rally from a 15-point deficit for a 23-22 victory over FCS foe Montana State, which ended their 10-game losing streak.

4. Dan Hawkins, Colorado

Welcome to the Pac-10. The Buffaloes, who are expected to join the league in 2012, lost at California 52-17 on Saturday.

5. Todd Dodge, North Texas

The not-so-Mean Green lost to Rice 32-31 on Saturday, dropping their record to 0-2.

It was meant as a joke, i.e. any school with "Dakota" in its name wants to play Brewster and company.

[Hammersmith]

I dont know if anyone has seen this. But who is East Dakota? I assume they're talking about us. Sometimes ESPN blows my mind.

It was a joke. The Gophs have had problems with schools with Dakota in their name. North and South have been spoken for, that leaves East and West. Kinda like the Dakota Fanning jokes that have been circulating. Don't read too much into it.

edit: beaten to the punch again

[TechFirst]

Nice to see a hard-fought game, even though the loss hurts a little. Nothing is as frustrating as stopping the running game and getting good coverage on the WRs only to have a scrambling QB nick you to death.