Gameday: UND @ MSU 3PM

[UND08]

1 hour ago, siouxfan512 said:

I agree with the part of what you are saying, and I think you make some solid points, with some nice observations.

Only issue is we are now playing more talented teams than Central Washington, and I don't think people (at least myself) are arguing that we need to have MORE play calls, or a high scoring offense, but we need to have a more efficient offense.

Sustained drives, changing up play calling so we are not consistently 3rd and long, more utilization of the TEs ... Now this does not all fall on the OC and his play calling. Some of it is execution by the QB, WR, RB and OL, but the OC can also call plays to the strength and weaknesses of this team. I've said several times, that Keaton tends to throw well on the run, trying to get him out of the pocket a little more would give him some opportunities to either make a throw on the run, or pick up some yards with his feet.

To you point, we will not be an offense like USD, but we can try to find a balance that best utilizes the talent we have. (as many have mentioned, Santiago should almost never be off the field, he should be at RB, or at WR as both a receiver and a decoy. That is a coaching decision.

Is all of the play calling hate warranted ... probably not, but it certainly is to a point. Especially after 4 weeks of inconsistent and fairly anemic play. Gotta make some adjustments.

I don't disagree with you on the offensive efficiency, and perhaps I should place more emphasis in my posts regarding the fact that I don't think our offense is anywhere close to where it should be from an efficiency standpoint.  I would however say that the talent argument is relative (I think our defensive talent is much greater right now than it was in 2001...especially in the secondary - which is hard to say knowing we gave up 3 rushing touchdowns the entire 2001 season!).  In all honesty I wanted to use stats from the 2001 NDSU game, mainly because they were a premiere opponent at the time and also partly because if I remember right that CWU game was played on a Friday afternoon in a brutal wind (I was a junior in HS on my way to our season opener listening on the radio...UND football has been in my blood for years haha), but I think the point I'm trying to make is that we are likely going to work towards the type of team that scores somewhere around 25-27 points per game and gives up around 10-15.  That's the formula that won us a title in 2001, and that's the formula that much of our staff is familiar with.  That involves grinding out long drives and chewing up clock.  I think we did a better job of that last week against MSU, but we missed 2 field goals and should have had a td but our LT got a 15 yard personal foul that wiped 7 points off the board.  If you add those back we end up with 27 points.  If Santiago doesn't fumble we may only have given up 12.  I think a lot of us would be happy with a 27-12 road victory over MSU...but we can't shoot ourselves in the foot, that's how we get games that are closer than they should be.  I might be in the minority, and it's hard for me to say this publicly, but with where our offense is right now I think Oliviera is a better choice for a primary back.  He does a better job of grinding out yards and keeping the offense on schedule, and that's going to be crucial against a team like Poly this weekend.  I like the idea of using Santiago in ways to get him out in space (along with seemingly everyone else on this board).  I'm hopeful that we get to that point.  22 carries for Oliviera/15 for Santiago/5 for Studsrud with 23 passes (5 to Santiago) would be ideal if I was up in the box.

 

[Oxbow6]

UND08 >>> Rudolph 

[geaux_sioux]

48 minutes ago, UND08 said:

I don't disagree with you on the offensive efficiency, and perhaps I should place more emphasis in my posts regarding the fact that I don't think our offense is anywhere close to where it should be from an efficiency standpoint.  I would however say that the talent argument is relative (I think our defensive talent is much greater right now than it was in 2001...especially in the secondary - which is hard to say knowing we gave up 3 rushing touchdowns the entire 2001 season!).  In all honesty I wanted to use stats from the 2001 NDSU game, mainly because they were a premiere opponent at the time and also partly because if I remember right that CWU game was played on a Friday afternoon in a brutal wind (I was a junior in HS on my way to our season opener listening on the radio...UND football has been in my blood for years haha), but I think the point I'm trying to make is that we are likely going to work towards the type of team that scores somewhere around 25-27 points per game and gives up around 10-15.  That's the formula that won us a title in 2001, and that's the formula that much of our staff is familiar with.  That involves grinding out long drives and chewing up clock.  I think we did a better job of that last week against MSU, but we missed 2 field goals and should have had a td but our LT got a 15 yard personal foul that wiped 7 points off the board.  If you add those back we end up with 27 points.  If Santiago doesn't fumble we may only have given up 12.  I think a lot of us would be happy with a 27-12 road victory over MSU...but we can't shoot ourselves in the foot, that's how we get games that are closer than they should be.  I might be in the minority, and it's hard for me to say this publicly, but with where our offense is right now I think Oliviera is a better choice for a primary back.  He does a better job of grinding out yards and keeping the offense on schedule, and that's going to be crucial against a team like Poly this weekend.  I like the idea of using Santiago in ways to get him out in space (along with seemingly everyone else on this board).  I'm hopeful that we get to that point.  22 carries for Oliviera/15 for Santiago/5 for Studsrud with 23 passes (5 to Santiago) would be ideal if I was up in the box.

 

I'm trying to picture what it will be like if the focus eventually shifts from stopping Santiago and only him. Right now we can exploit that by not using him in a traditional way which seems crazy but it worked last week. It was strange to see how different their defense was last week when John wasn't on the field.

[fightingsioux4life]

2 hours ago, UND08 said:

Longtime follower of Siouxsports...just recently decided to contribute a little bit more...haha!

Welcome to our dysfunctional little family!

[UND08]

56 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

UND08 >>> Rudolph 

I will say...Rudolph is more than capable as an OC.  I remember the Witt/Heckendorf combo at SCSU being a pretty tough animal to stop...If we were struggling this badly with a veteran offense, I'd be much more critical.  At this point I'm hoping that we follow a path like last year where we improve significantly starting from game 5 to the end of the year.

[siouxfb]

Santiago will be fine. He is pressing right now trying to hit the big one. While I didn't like it at the beginning of the year I think he needs to be back returning kicks. He has the potential to score every time and usually flips the field at the very least. Getting Seibel back (hopefully this week) will help the passing gave as he will go across the middle for us and get some dirty yards.  Can't agree more that we need to involve our TE's. Especially with everyone stacking the box. When we go to 31 personnel our splits are small and the defense stacks the box even more and we are averaging around -1 yard a carry out of it. Let's throw a bit out of it. 

Excited for this weekend!

[UND08]

15 minutes ago, siouxfb said:

Santiago will be fine. He is pressing right now trying to hit the big one. While I didn't like it at the beginning of the year I think he needs to be back returning kicks. He has the potential to score every time and usually flips the field at the very least. Getting Seibel back (hopefully this week) will help the passing gave as he will go across the middle for us and get some dirty yards.  Can't agree more that we need to involve our TE's. Especially with everyone stacking the box. When we go to 31 personnel our splits our small and the defense stacks the box even more and we are averaging around -1 yard a carry out of it. Let's throw a bit out of it. 

Excited for this weekend!

Agree 100% on him returning kicks.  He's an explosive player and it might be a good way to build confidence with a big return.  Holm is pretty green and doesn't add a whole lot back there at this point.  I think Santiago will be fine as well...but I think he can be most dangerous for us in space...and we should look for ways to get him to that point more.  I'd like to see a lot of the time where both Santiago and Oliviera are on the field...let defenses try to scheme for that!

[SIOUXFAN97]

think its funny that the front page of undsports.com has mason bennett being held trying to make a tackle...not sure if a penalty wasthrown on the play but it looks like a two hand hold of the jersey

[geaux_sioux]

MSU had zero holding penalties on offense according to SFI