FCS Playoffs

[mg2009]

So you don't think the Big Sky single game passing yards record holder or the guy who threw 4 touchdowns against the Mountain West's 3rd best defense would even make your 2 deep at QB?

pretty sure your getting trolled

[JohnboyND7]

Lynch Kleason Hardin McGill Jackson Golladay Townsend Goodman Brenneman Hanson Hendrickson (Zeb)Miller

Lets assume that NDSU is a #1 seed this year for the playoffs and has 0 or 1 loss. Then lets also assume that UND does better than expected and gets into the playoffs and with the wise bracket makers gets put into the same part as NDSU setting up a second round matchup in the FargoDome (UND probably wouldn't be able to host anyway) Predicting a score has too many variables and neither side is capable of making a true prediction without bias. So why not a position breakdown and comparison?

QB

Jensen proved he has toughness leadership and throwing ability last year even with Vigen holding him back a bit. Also better depth 3 deep at least with Wentz and Thorton.

Hansen looked good in spring but hasn't taken a real snap yet. Bradley is alot like Mohler if Mohler had a broken leg. Hendrickson is a freak athlete with a cannon for an arm and wheels to match but hasn't proven any consistency in games.

EDGE: NDSU

RB

Ojuri was legit last year and should see more of the rock this time, needs to be better in pass protection. Matt Jones also looked very dynamic in spring action.

Miller is undersized but runs a 4.4, has amazing vision, and doesn't take big hits. Sutton lacks speed but runs hard and is a great blocker. Garmen is super quick and got bigger over the winter.

EDGE:WASH

WR

Wahlo has the physical tools to play on Sundays no problem if it clicks this year he could be a nightmare. If Vraa stays healthy he should provide valuable depth. Smith has alot of Welker in him. Gebhart should provide depth and perhaps Okland will utilize his ability and make an impact early in his career.

Hardin was couldn't be covered in the spring game by a suspect DB group and looks better than ever. McGill gets open but has no YAC. Ivery is quick as a cat with great hands but needs to get a little bigger, finished very strong. Townsend is huge 6'3" 226 and has amazing hands and should be getting faster with his ankle getting close to 100%. Jackson is HUGE 6'3" 240, getting faster and running better routs, no DB wants to tackle him. He is a potential match up nightmare being bigger than alot of LBs.

EDGE: UND

O-Line

Billy Turner is a stud. Grimmestad will be very solid. Hinz could be legit. Big holes to fill from graduation.

Huge LT in Denui 6'8" 300. 4 year starter in McGurran. Questions at RT with Gillson, huge but too slow and plays soft. It all rest on how healthy Kleason and Lynch are at the start of the season both have started the past 2 years.

EDGE: UND (based on returning experience, too many questions on NDSU's OL at this point)

TE

EDGE: NDSU, no need to even break this one down. UND has gotten almost nothing other than run blocking out of TE play in the past 3 years.

DL

DT is stacked, enough said. Jirik will be very good. Other DE?

Brenneman is huge and a stud. Benjamin squats the house and plugs the run game up. Nelson finished very strong last year. Welch looks legit. Cummings is massive but needs to play nasty and faster.

EDGE:UND (3 seniors)

LBs

Beck came on strong and will have a great year. Jemison if 100% will be a huge difference maker and a force, elite speed. Littlejohn is very athletic and with a few more pounds could be great. Olson is a man he will be a star this year.

Holes in the middle to fill with Peters, Ratelle, and Goodman. Peters is built like a fire hydrant, huge hits with surprising quickness. Ratelle doesn't look like a fr and brings the wood, very good coverage skills. Goodman is experienced but needs to play faster. Dom Bennett moves like a safety and hits like a LB if he stays healthy he will be a star. Finely is very athletic and bigger but needs experience. Andrews needs girth but has outstanding coverage skills. Jablonski needs to get bigger but rushes the passer very well and can stuff the run.

EDGE: If Jemison is himself NDSU, if not UND

DBs

Williams is it as far as FCS corners go, would start on most FBS teams (not LSU). Pierre is very quick and has great awareness, not a great tackler. Boyd has good size and coverage skills. Champion will provide solid depth. Heagle is awesome, plays like Polamalu. Dudzik is very solid.

Mersereau is a freak athlete 4.4, 41" vert, and clean record for safety. Needs to play more physical. Will make or break the secondary with his play. Darryl Brown is a rising stud. Dwayne Brown will be good once healthy. Chavon Mackey is physically gifted and great tackler but blows coverage at least once a game. Chris Hall is smooth but needs to get faster. Baylee Carr could be a surprise at safety.

EDGE: NDSU big time, no debate possible.

Specialists

K

Keller is unproven, not much else to say.

Miller has a big leg and is clutch.

EDGE: UND

P

LeCompte looked very good in the spring game. Should be a good one.

Cameron is great at landing punts inside the 15 but struggles to blast his team out of trouble with 50+ yard punts.

EDGE: UND

[UNDColorado]

What's your point?

[Bison Dan]

What's your point?

Speaks for itself doesn't.

[geaux_sioux]

Point still stands. All those players listed would either start or be in the rotation at NDSU no doubt. Honestly you could even grab any OLB from UND and he'd play ahead of Thorsen since he's a QB/DB playing LB.

[Bison Dan]

Point still stands. All those players listed would either start or be in the rotation at NDSU no doubt. Honestly you could even grab any OLB from UND and he'd play ahead of Thorsen since he's a QB/DB playing LB.

Apparently the other coaches in the BSC don't agree with you.

[UND-FB-FAN]

Good argument, but its overly tainted with subjectivity and favoritism. I mean, we went 5-6 this season and we're trying to say a number of our players would be playing for the #1 team in the country. I would like to think that, but if you step back from the green and white glow it just doesn’t sound right. Also, if our players are that talented, why did we go only 5-6? I think that point right there suggests Mussman is a worthless coach.

[fightingsioux4life]

Good argument, but its overly tainted with subjectivity and favoritism. I mean, we went 5-6 this season and we're trying to say a number of our players would be playing for the #1 team in the country. I would like to think that, but if you step back from the green and white glow it just doesn’t sound right. Also, if our players are that talented, why did we go only 5-6? I think that point right there suggests Mussman is a worthless coach.

Our receivers are awesome. Our QBs were very good. Our special teams were special. Everything else needs work.

[Risky]

Enough already. It time for UND fans to talk about UND football. In other words Bison fans should talk about their team at their website.

[geaux_sioux]

Good argument, but its overly tainted with subjectivity and favoritism. I mean, we went 5-6 this season and we're trying to say a number of our players would be playing for the #1 team in the country. I would like to think that, but if you step back from the green and white glow it just doesn’t sound right. Also, if our players are that talented, why did we go only 5-6? I think that point right there suggests Mussman is a worthless coach.

It's not like I listed the whole team. Our receivers and QBs kick ass obviously, but besides that I didn't name much other than 2 really good linemen a 4 year starter in Brenneman our only LB who showed up this year and our kicker who is really good. Doesn't seem like I was out of bounds by any means. Remember he said top two. Goodman easily would be Olson's backup. Zeb would start. Our WRs would start. Our QBs would start. Kleason would start, Lynch would maybe start if not be a rotation guy at OT and OG, and Brenneman would at least get alot of playing time. You need more than a handful of players to do really well in the Big Sky. Lack of depth was one major downfall to this years team.

[UNDColorado]

Speaks for itself doesn't.

You don't even make sense.

[Oxbow6]

Also, if our players are that talented, why did we go only 5-6? I think that point right there suggests Mussman is a worthless coach.

This^^^^^^!!!

[Johnny Five]

I don't know if any of UNDs recievers would actually make the QB throw the ball better. I see plenty of open receivers during the games. Note: this is not a shot at UND receivers, I think you know what I'm getting at.

[Oxbow6]

Enough already. It time for UND fans to talk about UND football. In other words Bison fans should talk about their team at their website.

Not disagreeing with you, but at this point what is there to talk about? If you are a Muss fan, you think things will turn around at some point. If you are not, no sense getting worked up at the obvious that it's status quo as long as he is the HC. I think UND has some better than average FCS talent in place, but coaching of that talent goes a long way. Heck look at Bohl with Jensen, there are a handful teams in the BS he wouldn't have even started for this season IMO and that includes UND. Coaching goes a long way...putting guys in the best postion possible to use their talents to be successful!

[UNDColorado]

I don't know if any of UNDs recievers would actually make the QB throw the ball better. I see plenty of open receivers during the games. Note: this is not a shot at UND receivers, I think you know what I'm getting at.

You are right, I watched the game last week and he missed at least three wide open throws...like 10 yard outs. Should be a standard throw at this level. Hell of a runner though.

[UNDColorado]

Back to the playoffs: I think NDSU will win because they are the best all around team I have seen this year; they do everything well. Maybe not the most talented in spots but talent does not always prevail.

[JohnboyND7]

What's your point?

that our friend thebigund(geaux_sioux) has a very optimistic view on the UND football team when it comes to personel getting PT/being better than their North Dakota State counterparts.

Honestly you could even grab any OLB from UND and he'd play ahead of Thorsen since he's a QB/DB playing LB.

Probably not. Seeing the box scores of UND games this fall would indicate that none of their linebackers belong in division 1 football much less in front of Mr. Thorton.

[mg2009]

I think if you took NDSU's D with some UND gap fill, and some sort of melded offensive roster (anyone who wouldn't want ojuri, crocket, vraa, bruhn, and some of those starting linemen, is an idiot), you would have one beastly team. 1996 Marshall could suck it.

[geaux_sioux]

I think if you took NDSU's D with some UND gap fill, and some sort of melded offensive roster (anyone who wouldn't want ojuri, crocket, vraa, bruhn, and some of those starting linemen, is an idiot), you would have one beastly team. 1996 Marshall could suck it.

That Marshall team would still kill anyone just because of Randy Moss. You could triple cover him with anyone and he'd destroy them like they were the Dallas Cowboys

[mg2009]

That Marshall team would still kill anyone just because of Randy Moss. You could triple cover him with anyone and he'd destroy them like they were the Dallas Cowboys

the marshall 1996 bit was slightly tongue in check, but you have to admit that if everything gelled, you could have a pretty monstrous team. Certainly one that would have a shot at Marshall.

[JohnboyND7]

That Marshall team would still kill anyone just because of Randy Moss. You could triple cover him with anyone and he'd destroy them like they were the Dallas Cowboys

While it is certainly possible, the QB can't throw the ball from his back.

[Jheria]

Good argument, but its overly tainted with subjectivity and favoritism. I mean, we went 5-6 this season and we're trying to say a number of our players would be playing for the #1 team in the country. I would like to think that, but if you step back from the green and white glow it just doesn’t sound right. Also, if our players are that talented, why did we go only 5-6? I think that point right there suggests Mussman is a worthless coach.

++++++

Something BigUNDie shoud thake to heart

[jodcon]

The FCS championship game will be played in Frisco, Texas for at least 3 more years (after this one) the NCAA announced yesterday.

[Johnny Five]

The FCS championship game will be played in Frisco, Texas for at least 3 more years (after this one) the NCAA announced yesterday.

I really think it is a perfect place. Not a bad seat in the house even though it is setup for soccer. Urban area, lots of food, hotels, etc and just a quick drive into Dallas. Last year we checked out the JFK Museum, etc. Only wierd thing is that Dallas isn't exactly the most direct to get to for some reason. Get to MPLS and not quite as many direct flights from there to Dallas as one would expect, and we actually booked prior to the GSU game.

Couple improvements I'm hoping to see from last year: 1. More porta potties in the lots. There were literally less than 5. Didn't work out real well. 2. Improved staffing in concessions. Don't think they were prepared to handle a full house.

[jodcon]

I really think it is a perfect place. Not a bad seat in the house even though it is setup for soccer. Urban area, lots of food, hotels, etc and just a quick drive into Dallas. Last year we checked out the JFK Museum, etc. Only wierd thing is that Dallas isn't exactly the most direct to get to for some reason. Get to MPLS and not quite as many direct flights from there to Dallas as one would expect, and we actually booked prior to the GSU game.

Couple improvements I'm hoping to see from last year: 1. More porta potties in the lots. There were literally less than 5. Didn't work out real well. 2. Improved staffing in concessions. Don't think they were prepared to handle a full house.

You would think with a local team playing they would have expected a big crowd, maybe they thought there wouldn't be many from ND...don't they realize us northern people will use any excuse to go somewhere warm in January?