2014 Season

[azsod73]

Ryan Alger, sophomore safety, has apparently left the program. Anyone know where he might have fit into this season's depth chart?
I think he was a highly regarded recruit.

[Yotes]

Puzzling for sure. I believe he played in 11 games last season, and with the entire secondary leaving, he would have seen a bit of playing time. His messages he sent out regarding his signing with a different school were marked with "second chance". Really makes me wonder what circumstances surrounded his departure.

[pierrepacer]

For one, it was the age old reason . . . . . a girlfriend closer to home.

[obc]

63 Days from now USD will be in Eugene OR taking on the Ducks. The season will be here before we know it. Hope the team is working hard and is ready to make a large step forward in 2014.

[teamsd]

Anyone willing to disclose their predictions for this season?

[jackl]

Jul 1, 2014 11:47:55 GMT -6 teamsd said:

Anyone willing to disclose their predictions for this season?

4-8 2-6 in the MVFC

[yoteforever]

Jul 1, 2014 19:58:00 GMT -6 jackl said:

Jul 1, 2014 11:47:55 GMT -6 teamsd said:

Anyone willing to disclose their predictions for this season?

4-8 2-6 in the MVFC

I think the Jacks will be better than that jackl

[golfingyote]

I think we finish 6-6 and 4-4 in valley, just cant quite get over the .500 hump in either. I think we will see a much more polished product this year, however, our schedule is brutal. We'd do well to win 1 road game, maybe 2.

[jackl]

Jul 1, 2014 20:39:13 GMT -6 yoteforever said:

Jul 1, 2014 19:58:00 GMT -6 jackl said:

4-8 2-6 in the MVFC

I think the Jacks will be better than that jackl

Good one!!

[jackl]

Jul 2, 2014 7:28:14 GMT -6 golfingyote said:

I think we finish 6-6 and 4-4 in valley, just cant quite get over the .500 hump in either. I think we will see a much more polished product this year, however, our schedule is brutal. We'd do well to win 1 road game, maybe 2.

You have 6 home games. You better hope you win 2 road games.

[golfingyote]

Jul 2, 2014 9:51:40 GMT -6 jackl said:

Jul 2, 2014 7:28:14 GMT -6 golfingyote said:

I think we finish 6-6 and 4-4 in valley, just cant quite get over the .500 hump in either. I think we will see a much more polished product this year, however, our schedule is brutal. We'd do well to win 1 road game, maybe 2.

You have 6 home games. You better hope you win 2 road games.

You bet, thinking we lose to NDSU at home and win at Missouri State for our 1 home loss/1 road win. Also think that the SDSU, YSU and Montana games are games that we should have a chance to win.

[14lbenson]

My predictions based on what happened last year, and What I think (the catch) will happen this year.

@oregon: I am really happy USD will be playing one of the best team in the nation FCS or FBS this year in Oregon. The atmosphere is unbeatable, the raucous fans will suck, and the exposure will be nice. Obviously, we have a mere chance at pulling off the biggest win in school history. Hopefully we come out and show we can be good against top tier teams. If we can score 7-21 points and keep it under 50 I think this is a win-win for USD.

Result: LOSS

VS. William Penn: This honestly is a game I am glad we scheduled. Honestly, we will have plenty of chances this year to get wins, but coming off the ORegon game our guys need a game to know that we can win. This will be an easy game, most likely a 30-40 point blowout.

Result: WIN

montana: Last year we played an amazing game with one of the top teams in the FCS. Montana is usually very good, and they will be this year. I honestly believe we will lose to Montana since we have to go play up there. Honestly this game could go either way.

Result: LOSS

VS. Northern Arizona: Last year we went down their with Vandermatten at QB and we didn't do half as bad considering NAU was an amazing team. This year they come to the dome with Earl at the helm. I believe this will be a win, possibly close, possible, a blowout. We will just have to find out.

Result: WIN

@ Southern Illinois: We did not play SIU last year, and they were a very good team. Since every team in the Valley is usually competitive with every team in the country I believe this will be a close game. My gut tells me we will win this game in overtime. If we can get to winning road games we will be fine this year.

Result: WIN

VS. UNI: The Dakota Days game. No matter what this game will be close, and we did head to Cedar Falls and beat them last year. We will beat them again. I truly believe that.

Result: WIN

@ Missouri State: MSU is usually not very good. They did give us a scare in the dome last year. I think we can beat them again ever though it's in Springfield.

Result: WIN

VS. NDSU: With our record at 5-2 and undefeated in the conference this is a huge game. USD always seems to struggle vs. Bison teams no matter what. NDSU did lose a lot but their second string team can beat a lot of teams. I think USD keeps it close especially at home. But loses.

Result: LOSS

@ Youngstown State: Last year the Penguins came to the dome and escaped with a 4 point win. This year we go to Youngstown, Ohio and I think we will fall short, just short.

Result: LOSS

VS. Western Illinois Last year with Vandermatten we struggled with WIU. This year with Earl we won't. USD wins by 10+.

Result: WIN

VS. Illinois State: ISU was probably one of the farthest apart losses we had with Earl (other than NDSU). They come to the dome this year though. I think this is a breakthrough win for the Coyotes as they push for the playoffs.

Result: WIN

@sdsu: We have not had too much luck vs. SDSU lately. We head to Brookings. Probably will be one of the most anticipated games of this series considering they probably will both be in playoff position. Honestly, we are one year away from this being a win. USD will fall possibly in overtime or by 3 points in regular time.

Result: LOSS

FINAL RECORD:7-5 (5-3)

[Yotes]

I believe this whole season comes down to the secondary. If we have four guys who can hold their own back there, we will be looking at 7-5 or 8-4 this season. If it turns out that we haven't got much talent waiting to take over the back four, then this could be a long season. Can't win many games with the other team throwing balls over our head with ease. I really like what I see from the rest of the team. We have a serviceable QB who has been able to benefit from taking every snap in practice, LOADS of talent at RB and WR, an O-line that looks to take a step forward this year, and most of our front seven on defense returning.

Oregon is obviously not one you expect to win, just gotta enjoy the ride.

Home games against NAU, WIU, as well as the road game at Missouri State are likely wins (not to mention the automatic one against William Penn).

I really like our chances at home against Illinois State (because it's a home game) and at Southern Illinois (because they lost like 8 coaches from their staff).

UNI will be a very tough team to beat, if they aren't decimated by injury, but having them on the 100th celebration of D Days may be what we need to knock them off.

The rest of the games are toss ups, but I wouldn't rule any of them out, not even NDSU. I would say that so long as the secondary holds up, we finally have the talent to be very competitive in the MVFC.

We are still a young team, and the impressive performance we put out this year will lead to a team full of veterans ready to take us to the playoffs the next year.

[GoYotes]

Secondary even more of a question mark than first anticipated with both Ryan Alger & Marquice Fletcher leaving the team.

[Yotes]

For sure. You are only as strong as your weakest position, and that secondary is going to be unproven. I hope the staff has given these boys plenty to work on over the summer on their own, and that they are dedicated enough to devote their free time to preparing for the load they are about to have thrown at them.

We're only about 30 days away from fall practice, I know I'm ready to see the Yotes back in action already.