2019 Season

[UND-FB-FAN]

6 home games next season (2019) compared to 5 away games. UND needs to be a playoff team next season or wholesale changes must happen. Only 1 playoff appearance in 6 seasons with no playoff wins is firing criteria, in my opinion. 

[supersioux]

Can we afford not to have an FBS pay day?

[Midwestern Hawk]

10 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

6 home games next season (2019) compared to 5 away games. UND needs to be a playoff team next season or wholesale changes must happen. Only 1 playoff appearance in 6 seasons with no playoff wins is firing criteria, in my opinion. 

Plenty of pieces if the staff can add the value that is needed.  It will come down to coaching as most football does.

[Wilbur]

Bubba cools the mob by letting Rudy walk......buying himself another year.

What I'd like to see in the new coordinator:

-TE use.  

-Screen game.

-Not being able to call the next play from my living room.

-Attack mentality.....f#ck Bubba ball.  No huddle when necessary....etc. 

[Oxbow6]

The critical game will be SHSU...... don't want to head to EWU at 1-2 with the possibility of sitting at 1-3. 2-2 or 3-1 is ok after 4 games. Beating NDSU in Fargo will be difficult.

[Oxbow6]

2 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Bubba cools the mob by letting Rudy walk......buying himself another year.

What I'd like to see in the new coordinator:

-TE use.  

-Screen game.

-Not being able to call the next play from my living room.

-Attack mentality.....f#ck Bubba ball.  No huddle when necessary....etc. 

We were all channeling our inner Tony Romo by week 4.

[UND-FB-FAN]

There will be no game in 2019 more difficult than the 2018 @Washington game (yes, including even 2019 @NDSU, screw them). 

UND doesn't play an FBS game in 2019 and has more home games than away games. As far as I'm concerned, considering the new offensive coordinator and recent failures, we should expect UND to be a playoff team in 2019 or else ...

[UNDBIZ]

34 minutes ago, Dustin said:

6-5 probably is a playoff record next year. 

We're not UNI. Will need 7 wins, or to have a game canceled. 

[jdub27]

Chaves stated on his podcast that they are leaning towards staying at 11 games for next year. 

My opinion: Terrible idea. There is 6 home games so schedule the away portion of a home and home with someone like a Southland, OVC or even a Big Sky team that isn't on the schedule. Gets you a good shot at a win and gets a decent team to the Alerus in a future year. 7-5 looks better than 6-5. 

[AJS]

Before looking at the 2019 season, I'll take a quick look back at 2018. It really was a tale of two halves. Even with the disappointing home loss to Idaho State, everyone had to feel really good where they were going into the Weber State game. They were 5-2 coming off three "show me" wins by more than 20 points. The defense overall was very solid and the offense I would put in the slightly above average category. They were running all over teams, the offensive line at that time was a major surprise in a good way. They looked good against Weber for a while, at one point were up 23-20, but then the offense stalled and the defense couldn't get off the field. Probably a closer game than it should have been, but a very respectable 35-30 loss. Dropped to 5-3 and the rest is history. A really unthinkable loss given the situation to Idaho and the wheels fell off offensively the rest of the way. I'll never be able to really figure out what happened to the offense we saw the first half of the year. 

Looking at the roster, I always thought that 2019 had the chance to be better than 2018, due to the relatively small Senior class. 

Defensively: Overall played well in 2018

Secondary: (+) Harris was the only senior that played at all last year. They don't lose anybody at Safety, only Harris at CB. Holm / Blubaugh are legit starters at the corner position, plus young talent in Odom and Seigel (both kept their RS's intact). You are going to need at least one of those two ready for big minutes and to take the step Blubaugh did this past year. Only losing one player from this unit, they should be better next year. 

LB: (+) You lose Palmborg at OLB which is a big loss and depth at ILB (2 guys), but do return both your starting ILB's who are studs, Hunt who will be a junior, Bruner who will be a RS Freshman that was a big recruit. Haas will also give the OLB position a big boost. Overall this group loses 1 starter and 2 depth ILBs. 

Line: (-) This will be the only and big question mark on the defense. Not only do they lose two starters, but Greer on the inside. They should be ok at Defensive end with Bennett and crew, but I don't know what they do at nose tackle. I hope they are combing the JUCO ranks for size. 

Overall: I really like the back 7 they'll have, not only the potential starters, but also depth. They have one giant hole to fill and that's at Nose tackle. 

Offensively: Very up and down, ended up costing this team a playoff spot by completely falling off the map.

QB: (+) They do return all four QBs on the roster. I think they will be better with a brand new off season to not only push each other, but with a new OC, a new set of eyes. After watching every game this season, I think they need to go in a new direction. Kett was fine the first half of the season, but was a shell of himself the last two games.

RB: (-) They lose two of the best UND has ever had. JJ is a great back and I really like Otis. They need to strengthen the depth they have.

WR: (+) Return everyone, besides Stanley. This will be a really good group when healthy. 

TE: (=) Lose Fielder, but do return talent

OL: (++) This group was pretty good early on for as young as they were. They lose Aplin, but return 6 players that contributed a lot last year. The depth and overall talent will be better next year.

Overall: It's easy to breeze past how they looked early, because of the atrocious finish, but they were actually pretty good for a while. The new OC no matter who it is will be an upgrade. The only giant hole is at RB. Otherwise, the pieces are in place for what could be a pretty effective offense. 

 

[SiouxFan100]

I will be buying season tickets again next year. Love UND football! As frustrating as it can be.

[UNDBIZ]

10 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Chaves stated on his podcast that they are leaning towards staying at 11 games for next year. 

My opinion: Terrible idea. There is 6 home games so schedule the away portion of a home and home with someone like a Southland, OVC or even a Big Sky team that isn't on the schedule. Gets you a good shot at a win and gets a decent team to the Alerus in the future years. 7-5 looks better than 6-5. 

One issue, and I hope it's not the only reason, could be money. Scheduling the away portion of a home and home for 2019 means around $100,000 in extra travel cost for 2019.

Scheduling an fbs money game would mean another likely loss. And paying another non scholly fcs to come to the Al would also be around a $100,000 loss. 

[geaux_sioux]

18 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

Chaves stated on his podcast that they are leaning towards staying at 11 games for next year. 

My opinion: Terrible idea. There is 6 home games so schedule the away portion of a home and home with someone like a Southland, OVC or even a Big Sky team that isn't on the schedule. Gets you a good shot at a win and gets a decent team to the Alerus in a future year. 7-5 looks better than 6-5. 

If we could find a second home body bag game I would be all for adding a 12th game.

[jdub27]

26 minutes ago, UNDBIZ said:

One issue, and I hope it's not the only reason, could be money. Scheduling the away portion of a home and home for 2019 means around $100,000 in extra travel cost for 2019.

Scheduling an fbs money game would mean another likely loss. And paying another non scholly fcs to come to the Al would also be around a $100,000 loss. 

True, but it saves you $150-200K in a future year not having to pay a guarantee. Just seems like a complete waste of an opportunity to get a W and a future home game with the extra game. 

My thoughts on an OVC or Southland team is that it should be a win yet still a bit better than a non-scholly. 

[Dustin]

39 minutes ago, AJS said:

Otherwise, the pieces are in place for what could be a pretty effective offense

Agreed. Excited to see how it unfolds. 

[BarnWinterSportsEngelstad]

3 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

True, but it saves you $150-200K in a future year not having to pay a guarantee. Just seems like a complete waste of an opportunity to get a W and a future home game with the extra game. 

My thoughts on an OVC or Southland team is that it should be a win yet still a bit better than a non-scholly. 

Play the 12th game, pay the new OC more, so you find one that can be future HC.

[Wilbur]

30 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

There will be no game in 2019 more difficult than the 2018 @Washington game (yes, including even 2019 @NDSU, screw them). 

UND doesn't play an FBS game in 2019 and has more home games than away games. As far as I'm concerned, considering the new offensive coordinator and recent failures, we should expect UND to be a playoff team in 2019 or else ...

If there was ever a time to play NDSU its next season.  They lose a ton (reload as always, I know), but their starting QB will be brand new and they lose a number of guys at the skill positions.  Early in the year we won't (shouldn't) have our normal run of season ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball at that point in time.  

NDSU will win, but I think our team should keep it a game.

[nodak651]

Could see chaves not wanting to play the extra game to prevent injuries and stay healthy for........  playoffs.

[UND-FB-FAN]

6 hours ago, Wilbur said:

If there was ever a time to play NDSU its next season.  They lose a ton (reload as always, I know), but their starting QB will be brand new and they lose a number of guys at the skill positions.  Early in the year we won't (shouldn't) have our normal run of season ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball at that point in time.  

NDSU will win, but I think our team should keep it a game.

F’ it. Go for the W and beat cow college.

Need to be way more aggressive than the offense was in 2015.

Go for the win, UND. Then leave the Fargodome as it implodes with riots in the background.

[BarnWinterSportsEngelstad]

4 hours ago, nodak651 said:

Could see chaves not wanting to play the extra game to prevent injuries and stay healthy for........  playoffs.

You talk n playoffs?     WHAT?    Talk n playoffs?

[Fry Bread]

I can’t take it anymore. 

Two days ago I said I was done. I retired all my UND/Sioux gear to the top corner shelf of a nondescript closet. I made plans to peel  the stickers off my vehicles and the signs off my garage 

BUT DAMN. I am pumped for next year. I’m seeing this through to the bitter end. 

2019 season the team needs added weight on the defensive line. A lot of talent but they need size. Look what Mason Bennett has done. Unbelievable. 

Running back: James can’t do It alone. Need two more. Austin Gordon can cover one of these spots if another Brady/John can’t be had. 

These are the two biggest issues in my opinion. 

Take care of these two issues then start on the rest  

GO SIOUX 

[Mama Sue]

GO SIOUX.... May have to put a home game on the calendar.....

[Dustin]

1 hour ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

F’ it. Go for the W and beat cow college.

Need to be way more aggressive than the offense was in 2015.

Go for the win, UND. Then leave the Fargodome as it implodes with riots in the background.

Absolutely!  This would be the surest way to shake off the apathy.

[Dustin]

7 hours ago, Wilbur said:

If there was ever a time to play NDSU its next season.  They lose a ton (reload as always, I know), but their starting QB will be brand new and they lose a number of guys at the skill positions.  Early in the year we won't (shouldn't) have our normal run of season ending injuries on the defensive side of the ball at that point in time.  

NDSU will win, but I think our team should keep it a game.

My co-worker and I were talking about this yesterday.  I don't see this as an automatic Bison win.  My co-worker agreed that he sees UND as the chink in NDSU's armor.  

[geaux_sioux]

One thing that should be fun about having a new OC is early in the season teams not having film on us. If we can go super basic against Drake and not show any of our cards we can spring a bit of a trap on NDSU.