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Post by Yotes on Aug 7, 2017 20:58:07 GMT -6
I haven't been able to keep up on the expectations for the Yotes this year - can we get a recap at this point? Do we have another scenario like MBB where we knew most/all positions would be better than the year before, even though many didn't play the prior year? Would think that is certainly possible, given it is Nielsen's 2nd year. Not quite like the basketball team where a few newcomers can turn the tides so drastically, but there are a number of young guys who did well in reserve roles last year that should comfortably fill the holes left by graduation (aside from Bergner, there's no picking up where that guy left off). A unit like the DL is going to have 3 new starters, but I'm expecting it to be improved with Leohr, Greenfield, and Cline a year improved. Offense won't miss a beat. Nearly all the key pieces are back, should be improved. Defense is where the questions are at. I think we have enough senior leadership and guys poised to take a step forward, but time will tell. I don't know if we've built enough depth here yet though, so staying healthy may be crucial this year. I'm thinking playoffs this year. Especially if 6-5 remains the bar for playoffs out of the MVFC. |
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Post by gopheryote on Aug 8, 2017 12:42:53 GMT -6
I haven't been able to keep up on the expectations for the Yotes this year - can we get a recap at this point? Do we have another scenario like MBB where we knew most/all positions would be better than the year before, even though many didn't play the prior year? Would think that is certainly possible, given it is Nielsen's 2nd year. Not quite like the basketball team where a few newcomers can turn the tides so drastically, but there are a number of young guys who did well in reserve roles last year that should comfortably fill the holes left by graduation (aside from Bergner, there's no picking up where that guy left off). A unit like the DL is going to have 3 new starters, but I'm expecting it to be improved with Leohr, Greenfield, and Cline a year improved. Offense won't miss a beat. Nearly all the key pieces are back, should be improved. Defense is where the questions are at. I think we have enough senior leadership and guys poised to take a step forward, but time will tell. I don't know if we've built enough depth here yet though, so staying healthy may be crucial this year. I'm thinking playoffs this year. Especially if 6-5 remains the bar for playoffs out of the MVFC. Got it - thanks. So, they will probably be fun to watch again (lots of scoring), but if the D doesn't step up, likely a lot close games again where the O needs to make a play to win. I'm Ok with that, I guess, for one more year. |
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Post by coyotecrazie5 on Aug 8, 2017 20:49:21 GMT -6
 Andrew Gray looking for the musketeer look. |
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Post by goyotes24 on Aug 8, 2017 20:54:18 GMT -6
Andrew Gray looking for the musketeer look. Oh man, Jimmy Fallon would have a hey-day with him in the Yearbook Superlative segment. |
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Post by ontheyote on Aug 17, 2017 6:52:43 GMT -6
Love this look for Gray! Looks all business for a season where he comes in as a clear cut starter. He was kind of a surprise this past season coming off a groin injury the previous season. Made a lot of big plays in the secondary, especially during conference play. Don't forget about his twin brother Alex came in as a walk-on and I believe he started a few games towards the end of the season. Both really smart football players that I am looking forward to watching.
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Post by coyote70 on Aug 17, 2017 8:11:33 GMT -6
My guess is that the Yotes will have a 6-5 season this year with a chance to go 7-4 rather than 5-6.
My impression from afar - and I mean really far out as this fan has nothing to go on more than this board and news releases - is that this team is primarily built for quickness and speed. If we play a game on artificial turf under good weather conditions I believe we can compete with anybody. However, with poor weather (wind, wet, perhaps cold) and long natural grass, we might have more of a challenge.
One additional concern is that last year we closed out the season with 4 straight losses and therefore little momentum into this year's season. Was it due to lack of depth, or were opponents able to figure us out as the season wore on? I think it was lack of depth, primarily on the defensive side and I hope that will not be as great a factor this year.
Again, I am hopeful we can have a winning record, make the playoffs and build for the future. This year's team can be a turning point and I'm as anxious as anyone to see what they show us on the field. I have purchased tickets to two home games (UND and Youngstown) and expect - not hope - to win both games.
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Post by easmus on Aug 17, 2017 9:15:06 GMT -6
FWIW-The last outdoor game of the season is 10/21 @ Illinois state . Before that is 9/30 @ Western. Weather should not be a factor in games this season other than possibly heat the first 2.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Aug 31, 2017 16:30:20 GMT -6
My thought coming into next season is that the range I see the team finishing is somewhere between 3-8 and 7-4. I don't see the team realistically finishing outside that parameter. Going into this year I had the optimistic prediction of 7-4 and was quite a ways off with that one missing it on the high side by 3 games. Most people think the program is headed in the right direction, I think it is heading side ways at this point because rationalize all you want but the team lost their last 4 in a row and it's hard to finish that way and definitely see the team in an upward trajectory. They may eventually turn upwards but for the here and now a 4 game losing streak is not heading upwards. at Bowling Green - this one won't be any tougher than the road conference games but it will be a close loss - loss at Drake - win vs North Dakota - revenge will be on USD's mind and they will win a close one - win at Western Illinois - this one is a toss up but I am giving it a win - win vs Youngstown - This is where the season take the wrong turn - loss vs Indiana State - this has to be a win - it will be a win at Illinois State - going with loss in this one - loss vs Southern Illinois - win period at Northern Iowa - UNI gets better throughout the year and USD goes in the other direction - loss at NDSU - loss in not so close of a game - loss vs SDSU - I pointed to this game as a win when Nielson was first hired after thinking this year in Brookings would be a loss. I have changed my mind because the Jacks are going to be tough next year and in perfect conditions another disheartening loss against the rivals - loss 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the MVFC I am predicting an improvement in the overall record but I am not predicting the kind of a big jump that many will expect. The defense and the offense need to compliment each other well. If the offense is going to continue to play no huddle I would actually like the D to be a little more risk reward just to keep themselves off the field more. Time of possession really became an issue towards the end of the year. I am taking the more conservative approach to the predictions for next year. After thinking about it some I am the most comfortable with my original predictions. The overall direction of the program appears to be improving but the last 4 games played do not show that. I guarantee that if the Coyotes had won their last 4 games people would bring that up quite often but I only recall one other poster bring up the last 4 games since the end of last season. If a winning streak is momentum created then a losing streak has the opposite reaction one would think. I am pretty comfortable with the offense as a whole but do worry some about the line and a little about no running back really stepping up to be great. With Streveler and Simmons as a backup and the talent of the receivers I think the passing game will carry the day. The offense will benefit from the increased time in the Nielson system. The O could be very explosive at best and above average at worst. The defense concerns me and especially the lineman and maybe slightly the linebackers. I think the secondary will be ok. NDSU absolutely crushed our front 7 in the last game of 2016. I am worried about the line especially considering the injuries and/or youth. The team in general is a little on the young side for me to be convinced the Coyotes are a playoff team as of yet but having a whole year with Nielson should help quite a bit to make up for some of that youth. I think the Coyotes are good but as I have stated previously I just don't like how the schedule works out this year. 3 of the teams that the Coyotes should be battling against for a playoff spot are all on the road. Western Illinois, Illinois State and UNI. Win 2 of them playoffs are likely, win 1 and it's a delicate balance. Win 0 and forget about it. |
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wylie
Freshman Member
Posts: 41
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Post by wylie on Sept 1, 2017 20:24:20 GMT -6
Pretty disappointed with the lack of optimism. I would not be surprised to see Coach Nielsen's crew turn the corner (with some breaks it would have happened last year). I think 8 and 3 is realistic. Get on board and start believing!
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Post by Yotes on Sept 1, 2017 20:33:18 GMT -6
Pretty disappointed with the lack of optimism. I would not be surprised to see Coach Nielsen's crew turn the corner (with some breaks it would have happened last year). I think 8 and 3 is realistic. Get on board and start believing! Too many weak spots, too little depth. I am thinking playoffs but it would be at 6-5. |
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Post by Coyote Fan on Sept 1, 2017 22:01:40 GMT -6
Pretty disappointed with the lack of optimism. I would not be surprised to see Coach Nielsen's crew turn the corner (with some breaks it would have happened last year). I think 8 and 3 is realistic. Get on board and start believing! I base my comments on realism because optimism hasn't worked real well over the past quarter century if the general frame of mind within Coyote Nation is an optimistic one. I don't think we can expect a team that is 4-7 and turn that into a 7-4 record or better with a schedule that plays out tougher than last year, at least the conference portion of it. The Coyotes are a good football team but so are at least 7 other teams from the MVFC as well. Look what Western Illinois did at Tennessee Tech on Thursday night. They crushed them in a game that was supposed to be relatively close. I think that just sent a statement to the rest of the league. SDSU toyed with Duquesne like they were a D2 team. My picks included a win at Western Illinois and that game certainly didn't get any easier after last night. It doesn't look like the Leathernecks are showing a down turn which I thought may start happening by now with his departure. Congrats to them for the start to their season. The Coyotes hired Nielson just to get to the point of being on a level playing field with the middle of the Valley because prior to him the Coyotes didn't belong on the same field in most of their conference games and certainly against the top teams. We hope he takes us to the top but getting to be a top 2 or 3 team in this conference is a monumental challenge. I certainly hope the Yotes are a playoff team but to accomplish that it takes a team that has very few weaknesses. The Coyotes will have to over come youth and what appears to be an over matched team on both lines of scrimmage. I think the Coyotes can get there but I also think they are still one year away and I hate to have to keep saying that every year. I actually think winning against Bowling Green would be a heck of a start because IMHO there are at least 2 if not 5 teams that are better then them on the Coyotes schedule. Not that it is a must win but one that would be handy in setting up the rest of the season. I feel like the real season doesn't start until next Saturday. The Coyotes are playing a D2 level type team tomorrow. |
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Post by gopheryote on Sept 2, 2017 12:31:42 GMT -6
Pretty disappointed with the lack of optimism. I would not be surprised to see Coach Nielsen's crew turn the corner (with some breaks it would have happened last year). I think 8 and 3 is realistic. Get on board and start believing! I'm with you wylie - barring a major injury, I'm thinking a top 3 finish in the conference. Seems like the full run of off-season/spring ball/fall camp with Nieslen's system (and strength program) are being under estimated a bit. But I'm OK with the lower expectations. |
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Post by sd4ever on Sept 2, 2017 15:40:00 GMT -6
I texted Mr. CoyoteFan on Monday that I had a very positive gut feel about this season. I could see the Coyotes, with a few breaks and a little bit of luck, going 7 & 4 and maybe even 8 & 3. With all close losses. That includes a convincing win over the Jackies in The Danger Dome. Then a first round playoff victory but closing out the season with a tough loss in the second round.
After that it is look out MVFC and FCS next season and as long as Coach 'N' wants to stay around.
It is going to get real good to be a Coyote Fan.
Go South Dakota!!
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Post by yodayote on Sept 2, 2017 17:27:18 GMT -6
Breakout player of the year....Levi Falk
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Post by easmus on Sept 2, 2017 20:08:34 GMT -6
Breakout player of the year....Levi Falk He sure saw a whole lot of first team reps in the first half. |
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