obc
Senior Member
Posts: 784
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Post by obc on Nov 5, 2017 11:51:06 GMT -6
The question was posed earlier - when is the last time NDSU lost two FB games in a row.
The answer is 2009 - that was actually a 5 game losing streak for NDSU in a miserable year for them finishing 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the conference. Obviously this is a meaningless fact for a couple reasons: 1. Nobody on the NDSU roster has lost two games in a row. 2. Those streaks mean nothing - it all comes down to the execution on the field that day.
Reasons to be optimistic: USD is showing good progress at building solid play at multiple positions. OL, DL, TE, Safety, WR stood out against UNI. RB and QB were productive yesterday but the turnovers killed the team. We would all be flying high today IF those turnovers had not occurred. But they did - credit to UNI for capitalizing. UNI had a physical defense and USD at times had them really on their heels. The UNI offense, while not world-beaters - could not run the ball on USD when it mattered. USD can move the ball against NDSU and the defense is capable of forcing NDSU to pass. Stick has shown he can throw INTs when under stress. IMO Case is a crucial receiver for USD to have on the field. He was limited Saturday against UNI and still came in and made two great plays. He is special. If he is a little healthier next Saturday, he will stress the NDSU defense. He should be almost at full speed by then.
Reasons to be concerned: Strev is hurt. Will he adjust his game to his limited mobility? If he tries to win the game by forcing the ball, and taking wild chances like he did against UNI, it will not be good. NDSU now has two games of film to look at our newly formed DB unit. What will they see to try and exploit? NDSU took a beating in Brookings and had 5 turnovers. If USD beats NDSU next week my guess is it won't be because NDSU turns it over 5 times again. I would expect them to have great ball security all game. That is what good teams do. SDSU also exposed their defense a little - will NDSU be able to make some adjustments that will prevent USD from exploiting some of those weaknesses?
Also of note: The first week of Nov 2014 - NDSU beat SDSU in Fargo 37-17. The following week NDSU traveled to UNI and lost 23-3. They were dominated in that game only getting 8 first downs and 43 yards rushing/ 132 yards passing. They finished out the year 15-1 and won the National Championship.
USD will be fine. They can certainly lose the next two games, but they can win them too. USD will give NDSU their best shot this week. Cannot wait to watch it from the stands!
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 12:46:05 GMT -6
Unfortunately for the Coyotes they don't get Southern Illinois at home to try to bounce back from a loss. It is going to take a great game from the Coyotes to win this one. IMO the Coyotes best chance is to be unpredictable. They need to get back to what has made them successful and get that hurry up offense back in over drive again. The more this offense slows down the less effective it becomes and that will be exaggerated against NDSU. Streveler is more then capable of being the on field coach in this offense and he needs to mainly run this offense without slowing down to get instructions from the sidelines. The further we have gotten into the season the more this offense is slowing down and the less this offense is taking advantage of an unorganized and tiring defense.
NDSU is going to be at their best on Saturday and they will have a lot of energy. If the Coyotes fall into the trap of running right up the middle on first down and put themselves into a predictable passing down and distance is where they are going to run into trouble. When the Coyotes put themselves in a predictable passing down is where the NDSU defense will thrive and it will also increase the likelihood of turnovers. NDSU is going to be like a brick wall up the middle so most of the time running right at them is going to be about as effective as spiking the ball on first down. The swing pass to the sidelines almost always works for the Coyotes and is a safe play that gets good yardage on first down almost every time. Run that play until NDSU stops it. It is just as safe and probably more effective then running on first down. What that will do is draw the defense forward and allow alot of space in the middle of the field for the Coyotes to take advantage of it and that will lead to big plays. The best offenses are the ones that are the best at predicting what the defense will do and counter that by calling plays that will best take advantage of the weak spot in that defense. Right now the running backs for the Coyotes are the weak spot in the offense either by ineffectiveness of ball security. Unfortunately for the Yotes the best ball carriers are the worst at holding onto the football which creates a huge dilemma going forward.
This game is about mentality all the way. The Coyotes need to stick to their bread and butter and go back to what has worked in the past. If they get into a physical game that is decided between the tackles they unfortunately will come out on the losing end of this one. NDSU is probably the best team in the country when the game takes on a physical nature. That is the type of football that they excel in and tend to suck their opponents into. The Coyotes have the type of team that can avoid that type of game if they come into it focused on doing what it take to win.
Unfortunately I don't think the Coyotes will do the above and will probably get sucked into an NDSU type of game. The crowd will play a big factor against the Coyote offense and make things difficult for them to be able to play their game because of. Because of the recent tailspin I don't think the Coyotes will come in with the razor focus that they need to be able to pull off this type of win. I sure as hell hope I am wrong with that but the last couple of weeks have been very rough for the program. If the Coyotes can win this game all bets are off in my feeling that the team is no longer a top 10 team in the country.
I have been reading the any given saturday board today and if the Coyotes end up losing out they still may not make the playoffs. There is a precedence with a Youngstown team a few years ago that finished on a 3 game losing streak and had an 8-4 record and did not make it. The committee is going to weight "what have you done for me lately" and will unfairly also weigh the fact that the USD program hasn't been here before and a committee will tend to unfairly punish that. It happened to the 2005 Coyote team in D2.
My feeling of what will happen is that the Coyotes will end up losing in Fargo and the Jacks will end up winning at home against Illinois State. The Coyotes will go into desperation mode while the Jacks will be comfortable in the playoff field and the home field advantage along with desperation will lead to a Coyotes win over the Jacks but on selection day the Coyotes will not get a favorable playoff draw and there will be a lot of Coyote fans complaining about it. On the other hand I cannot bank on that as the Jacks beat the Coyotes in almost any game that matters in any sport that matters.
My pick for the NDSU game is 31-14 Bison.
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Post by sportschic on Nov 5, 2017 14:32:47 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU?
1) Strevy at 75%
2) Simmons 100%
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 14:45:50 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Streveler at 75% mainly because Simmons is still unproven in running the offense how it is designed to be run. If Streveler was down to under 50% my vote would probably change. |
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obc
Senior Member
Posts: 784
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Post by obc on Nov 5, 2017 14:58:40 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Really good question that I was thinking about yesterday on the long drive back from Cedar Falls. Tough call IMO. Streveler is the leader of the team and even when limited in his running ability is still more mobile than many QBs we have faced this year. If I knew his throwing shoulder was also hurt, that would change my view on this however. Simmons has not played very much this year and as has been pointed out previously - the mental part of the game is crucial in this offense. The number of run pass option plays this team runs is astounding. The offense when utilized fully really asks a lot of the signal caller. My guess is there is no way that if Streveler is cleared medically to play, he will be the one taking all of the snaps. If I were coach I would probably lean that way too. I certainly can understand another view however. Tell Streveler that you want him to get healthy and sit him until the playoffs (I realize that is a huge assumption if USD loses out). Give Simmons all the reps this week in practice and see how he does against NDSU. If it is an abomination, you can bring Strev back against SDSU. If Simmons does well, let him play against SDSU too. Three weeks off, maybe four if USD was able to win and get a bye, could put Strev at full strength heading into the playoffs - and in a tremendous position for a playoff run. Worst case is you play Strev and he gets battered and beaten two weeks in a row and USD loses both games. Then you head into the playoffs with a physically compromised QB. Maybe I just talked myself into starting Simmons next week...... Start Simmons against NDSU. Win that one, start him again against SDSU. Lose against NDSU, then start Strev against SDSU. If USD wants to make a deep run in the playoffs having him as close to full strength as possible will be key. |
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bt71
Sophomore Member
Posts: 107 
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Post by bt71 on Nov 5, 2017 16:14:39 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Is this really a question??? Wow for everything that strev has done for this team now you're going to questions is ability to lead the team. Unreal. Way to support your QB your captain your without question team leader. |
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obc
Senior Member
Posts: 784
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Post by obc on Nov 5, 2017 16:23:52 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Is this really a question??? Wow for everything that strev has done for this team now you're going to questions is ability to lead the team. Unreal. Way to support your QB your captain your without question team leader. It is not a matter of support. If a player is injured to the point they are better off and the team is better off resting them, why would it be an inappropriate question. I believe we have seen this year that Strev is the best option and perhaps the best QB in the entire FCS division, but having him healthy is the best chance this team has to make a run in the playoffs. Makes no sense beating him to a pulp further and have him limp into the playoffs if there is another option. I have seen too many times a player that is a massive competitor out there playing compromised and it leads to a significant season ending injury. A week of rest would make him fresh. If I was an SDSU fan, I know I would be rooting for Strev to play against NDSU. |
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 16:28:14 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Is this really a question??? Wow for everything that strev has done for this team now you're going to questions is ability to lead the team. Unreal. Way to support your QB your captain your without question team leader. That has nothing to do with supporting your team or not. This is a very legitimate questions and these types of thoughts should be welcome. sportschic that is a very good question. |
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Post by coyotecrazie5 on Nov 5, 2017 16:48:04 GMT -6
VOTE: which of the 2 would you rather have to beat NDSU? 1) Strevy at 75% 2) Simmons 100% Is this really a question??? Wow for everything that strev has done for this team now you're going to questions is ability to lead the team. Unreal. Way to support your QB your captain your without question team leader. I agree, the guy throws for 300+ again and outruns a defender on the 2nd to last drive when he was hobbled. Strev is a leader, let him play. |
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Post by sportschic on Nov 5, 2017 16:48:51 GMT -6
Geez bt 71 it is only a question. Has nothing to do with support for Strevy. Actually is more for preservation if he is injured. Again just a discussion question.
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bt71
Sophomore Member
Posts: 107
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Post by bt71 on Nov 5, 2017 16:54:14 GMT -6
Geez bt 71 it is only a question. Has nothing to do with support for Strevy. Actually is more for preservation if he is injured. Again just a discussion question. It's still a BS question. If Simmons was a better option don't you think the coaches would play him? He's not so they won't. |
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 17:00:17 GMT -6
OBC we are thinking a lot alike today. I was thinking of the same senario of possibly resting Streveler as well, but that comes down to the reason that he seems to be hurting right now. If it is something like a sprain or something that will get worse by playing on it then that might be the best idea. If playing on it will not make it worse then maybe he should be playing.
It depends on the goals of the football team. There is a big difference right know between 8-3 and 9-2 and that difference could go a long way towards the future of this season. 9-2 puts USD as a high seed and the road is much easier. 8-3 is the biggest question mark of any of the records. It could result in anything from a bye and being seeded likely 6-8 or possibly not being seeded at all, not getting a bye and playing a road game. To me that is a very big difference. I am not banking on the Coyotes getting much benefit of the doubt at 8-3. 9-2 gets the Coyotes in a very good position where the dakota dome could be a busy place.
If the goal is 9-2 then you have to roll the dice. If the goal is 8-3 then maybe you have a little healthier Streveler but a much more difficult path to get where you want to be. Another very valid discussion point. IMO if Streveler is banged up but could play and the decision is to start Simmons then the Coyotes are in essence halfway throwing the NDSU game. If the opinion is that the Coyotes probably won't win at Fargo anyway then starting Simmons with that train of thought also makes sense.
If it were up to me I would start Streveler as long as playing does not risk further injury or for the Coyotes to lose him potentially for the season but there is really no wrong opinion as everyone would probably disagree on the discussion point.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 17:06:18 GMT -6
Geez bt 71 it is only a question. Has nothing to do with support for Strevy. Actually is more for preservation if he is injured. Again just a discussion question. It's still a BS question. If Simmons was a better option don't you think the coaches would play him? He's not so they won't. At some point if Steveler is hurt bad enough he wouldn't be able to play. At what percentage does Streveler have to be to not play him. 75%, 60%, 40%, 20%. It is not a BS question by any means. If Chris was gimpy enough there does become a point no matter how much better he is then Simmons that Austin would become the better option. I don't think we are quite at that point but if Streveler gets beat up against the Bison enough than Simmons would come in. You can't risk a guys health and well being for a football game but on the other hand playing football in itself is a pretty big risk to ones health. |
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Post by leatherneckcountry on Nov 5, 2017 17:28:12 GMT -6
to me that is a question that can't be answered correctly if streveler goes out and gets hurt this week or next people will say Simmons should have played and if you play Simmons and lose both games people will say Streveler should have played. I think it depends on what you think the realistic chances of winning the the last 2 are and how big of home field advantage you think that you have in the playoffs. It's also important to remember the bison are beat up as well you have to take that into consideration as well.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Nov 5, 2017 17:36:41 GMT -6
to me that is a question that can't be answered correctly if streveler goes out and gets hurt this week or next people will say Simmons should have played and if you play Simmons and lose both games people will say Streveler should have played. I think it depends on what you think the realistic chances of winning the the last 2 are and how big of home field advantage you think that you have in the playoffs. It's also important to remember the bison are beat up as well you have to take that into consideration as well. I know this is obvious but that is why they have medical people and trainers to determine Streveler's health and help Chris and Bob make that decision. If there is any grey area I would go with Streveler. The team plays well with him and he is a good leader. I just wish Simmons had a little more playing time so we could see a little more clearly exactly what we have in him. |
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