2022 Football Season

[Midwestern Hawk]

4 hours ago, Sioux>Bison said:

OL is the only question mark on offense. Can the defense backups that are now starters elevate their game? I’m hoping so. All the players with pro ambitions need to have a good game at Nebraska 

At this point I would add QB to the offensive question marks.  Tommy is not going to get the offense to the level needed to win a NATTY or even compete for one.    IMO Danny has designed the offense to make Tommy better(great stats) than he actually is, but the motion and all the short passes at some point becomes limiting.  

I like what Holinka has done on D.  A big part of where we are after the first 5 will be how fast the backup LB's and DB's become what they need to be.  They will likely be on the field alot in those first 5 games.

[The Sicatoka]

5 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

Tommy is not going to get the offense to the level needed to win a NATTY or even compete for one.

Tommy Schuster is a game manager. 

As were Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler. And those three have really nice rings. 

[Sioux94]

4 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

Respectfully disagree. RB by committee is always a scary proposition. I'd like one to step up and be pressure-situation reliable or be able to do 22 carries when they have the hot hand. 

Respectfully disagree, I don't think RB by committee is like the if you have 2 QB's it means you don't have 1.  I would take a combo of Brady O. and Santiago over just Santiago.   Plus I think Smith showed when he had to be the main guy for one game he has the talent to be that guy.  However if you have other talented backs with slightly different skill sets, it's ok to give them touches as it's a long season and 20-25 rushes every game can be pretty wearing by the end of the year.  SU has been pretty successful with splitting carries to RB's and not having just 1 guy carry the ball 90% of the time.  I think Ziebarth looked pretty good...and would be capable of being an every down back if we were in the same situation as when Santiago was a freshman when we really didn't have anybody else......well other than Brady who was also a true freshman. 

It does give you a good feeling though when you have 1 RB run for 130 yards on the other team.....gives you a feeling like you just piss pounded them and feels more impressive than two guys running for 75 yards each. 

[Midwestern Hawk]

10 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Tommy Schuster is a game manager. 

As were Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler. And those three have really nice rings. 

Hope you are right.  So far our game manager is 10-8 as a starter, and 6-8 in his last 14 games.

[The Sicatoka]

18 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:

Respectfully disagree, I don't think RB by committee is like the if you have 2 QB's it means you don't have 1. 

Tell me, no, show me we have a three-headed monster (Smith, Hoosman, Ziebarth) and I'll sleep easier.  

[The Sicatoka]

4 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

Hope you are right.  So far our game manager is 10-8 as a starter, and 6-8 in his last 14 games.

Two better choices/plays and that 6-8 is 8-6.  

[Midwestern Hawk]

7 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Two better choices/plays and that 6-8 is 8-6.  

Totally agree, but we aren't going to be playing for a natty winning 57% of our games either.  While sometimes more exciting to watch our offense has been the passing version of 3 yards and a cloud of dust over the last 2 years when it comes to actual points scored.

[UND-FB-FAN]

30 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

.LAs were Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, and Jeff Hostetler. And those three have really nice rings. 

Exception, not the rule. There’s been 56 Super Bowls, you mentioned 3 guys …

C’mon, you the know the rules! 

[Sioux94]

8 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Tell me, no, show me we have a three-headed monster (Smith, Hoosman, Ziebarth) and I'll sleep easier.  

Show me on OL like we had the spring season....and I'll show you a three-headed monster  

[Oxbow6]

If Tommy takes 90% of the snaps this team should be better than 6-5. If Q takes 90% of snaps and this team has no chance getting to 6-5. 

#stophatingonTommy

[Midwestern Hawk]

55 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

If Tommy takes 90% of the snaps this team should be better than 6-5. If Q takes 90% of snaps and this team has no chance getting to 6-5. 

#stophatingonTommy

Tell me where you think we will rank in scoring offense in the MVFC this season?  Do you think the D will give up the 4th fewest points again this season(behind NDSU,UNI and SDSU)?

[Sioux94]

33 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

Tell me where you think we will rank in scoring offense in the MVFC this season?  Do you think the D will give up the 4th fewest points again this season(behind NDSU,UNI and SDSU)?

Get it, but when we can't pick up one yard on the ground when it's second and 1, that's not Tommy's fault. That said hoping Tommy takes a step forward this year. 

[nodak651]

15 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:

Get it, but when we can't pick up one yard on the ground when it's second and 1, that's not Tommy's fault. That said hoping Tommy takes a step forward this year. 

This.  With a good O-line, UND would have done much better in the Red Zone.  Tommy was able to get them there.   Given that UND had 7 turnovers and 3 missed field goals in the red zone, it's surprising that UND scored as much as they did.

Field goals stats are conf games only:

[Midwestern Hawk]

16 minutes ago, Sioux94 said:

Get it, but when we can't pick up one yard on the ground when it's second and 1, that's not Tommy's fault. That said hoping Tommy takes a step forward this year. 

I totally agree, but Tommy is rarely in the game when it’s 3rd or 4th and short, which brings up an entirely different set of issues.

[nodak651]

2 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

I totally agree, but Tommy is rarely in the game when it’s 3rd or 4th and short, which brings up an entirely different set of issues.

You blaming Tommy for another quarterback not performing? 

[Sioux94]

5 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

I totally agree, but Tommy is rarely in the game when it’s 3rd or 4th and short, which brings up an entirely different set of issues.

In my example it should be first down, not 3rd and short.  I'm sure Cam Miller is a much better QB because he can hand it off on 2nd and short....and they pick up 4 yards instead of losing one. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

1 hour ago, Oxbow6 said:

If Tommy takes 90% of the snaps this team should be better than 6-5. If Q takes 90% of snaps and this team has no chance getting to 6-5. 

#stophatingonTommy

The “hating” correlates with Tommy’s play. There won’t be hating if he improves. If he plays like he did in 2021, there will be plenty of hating to go around. 

[Sioux94]

17 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

This.  With a good O-line, UND would have done much better in the Red Zone.  Tommy was able to get them there.   Given that UND had 7 turnovers and 3 missed field goals in the red zone, it's surprising that UND scored as much as they did.

Field goals stats are conf games only:

Those Red Zone stats are atrocious. I specifically remember one time we had the ball First and Goal at the 5. We ran twice and picked up a yard and a half. 3rd down seemed like a passing situation but Danny ran it to maybe catch them off hard and we got stuffed again. I do remember we had a lot of turnovers last year in red zone too. That is why some of us are optimistic about improvement this year as just need to improve on some of that. Still have to do it on he field this year though, but I think we can

[UND-FB-FAN]

12 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

You blaming Tommy for another quarterback not performing? 

Interesting point. But if Tommy could perform well at the QB position, there would not be another QB out there to critique in the first place …

Tommy’s liabilities (or at least his former liabilities, who knows if he’s improved on them for this season) are the reason a different QB goes out there on 3rd/4th and short in the first place. 

[Nodak78]

8 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Interesting point. But if Tommy could perform well at the QB position, there would not be another QB out there to critique in the first place …

Tommy’s liabilities (or at least his former liabilities, who knows if he’s improved on them for this season) are the reason a different QB goes out there on 3rd/4th and short in the first place. 

Please give it a rest until at least the husker game.  Broken before the season starts.

[nodak651]

12 minutes ago, UND-FB-FAN said:

Interesting point. But if Tommy could perform well at the QB position, there would not be another QB out there to critique in the first place …

Tommy’s liabilities (or at least his former liabilities, who knows if he’s improved on them for this season) are the reason a different QB goes out there on 3rd/4th and short in the first place. 

Completely disagree.  Tommy doesn't have any issues with handing the ball off or making a short completion for a first down.   

[Sioux>Bison]

3 hours ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

At this point I would add QB to the offensive question marks.  Tommy is not going to get the offense to the level needed to win a NATTY or even compete for one.    IMO Danny has designed the offense to make Tommy better(great stats) than he actually is, but the motion and all the short passes at some point becomes limiting.  

I like what Holinka has done on D.  A big part of where we are after the first 5 will be how fast the backup LB's and DB's become what they need to be.  They will likely be on the field alot in those first 5 games.

The team last year would have made the playoffs if it wasn’t for some unfortunate bounces/ bad calls. Good enough to win it all? No but he led the offense to 24 points against Utah state and the lead at half. He is not so bad as the critics say.

[Midwestern Hawk]

22 minutes ago, Sioux>Bison said:

The team last year would have made the playoffs if it wasn’t for some unfortunate bounces/ bad calls. Good enough to win it all? No but he led the offense to 24 points against Utah state and the lead at half. He is not so bad as the critics say.

I would never use the term bad. Tommy is a smart football player with a below average arm who doesn’t like to run the football.

I am restless with UND football,  like most of you, and want to win the conference every year, and be a perennial national power.  
 

I see 2 ways we will breakthrough and get to that point:

1. We develop a crazy good OL to go with our solid D

We have a dynamic dual threat qb.

 

[nodak651]

34 minutes ago, Midwestern Hawk said:

I would never use the term bad. Tommy is a smart football player with a below average arm who doesn’t like to run the football.

I am restless with UND football,  like most of you, and want to win the conference every year, and be a perennial national power.  
 

I see 2 ways we will breakthrough and get to that point:

1. We develop a crazy good OL to go with our solid D

We have a dynamic dual threat qb.

 

Below average arms don't, as an underclassman, complete 65% of their passes and rank 4th in the MVFC in passing yards per game.  Tommy was 4th in passing yards per game while only a single receiver had over 400 receiving yards.  Tommy had little receiving talent to work with last year, and any of the talent he did have was either injured or coming off a major injury - let's see what Tommy can do this year as an upper classman with what should be a better receiving corps.  

[Midwestern Hawk]

1 hour ago, nodak651 said:

Below average arms don't, as an underclassman, complete 65% of their passes and rank 4th in the MVFC in passing yards per game.  Tommy was 4th in passing yards per game while only a single receiver had over 400 receiving yards.  Tommy had little receiving talent to work with last year, and any of the talent he did have was either injured or coming off a major injury - let's see what Tommy can do this year as an upper classman with what should be a better receiving corps.  

Man I hope you all make me eat my words this season, I truly do.  Go hawks!