GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

[JackJD]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

I'm so sick of moral victories.

I'm so sick of people posting clichés that tell us nothing. Who claimed a moral victory? I don't like them either...who claimed one?

I should explain: People are stating opinions on the game. In my opinion, we played as well as the Bison. In some respects, better. In some respects -- unfortunately the score at the end being most notable -- not quite as well. People should be allowed to comment on the game, good or bad, without having the bugaboo "no moral victories" thrown at them. Oh, and if people want to throw out "no moral victories", that's okay too but I reserve the right to wade in with an opinion.

[jackrabit1]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

I'm so sick of moral victories.

[MLSND]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

I post very little on any forum but after thinking about this, I need to share. What a game yesterday. After going down 14 early a lot of teams would have folded. Not the Jacks. After being caught and trailing by 3, the Bison could have been deflated but stepped up and went ahead. These situations both repeated again. Props to both staffs for having programs prepared for these situations. Easy to see where the composure starts after watching both coaches post game. Can not go without saying what class acts and talented football players in Sumner and Zenner. These guys will be a success at everything they choose in life. Shame this was a second round game. Talent wise should have been at least round four. I am a Bison fan by team but a quality football fan first and that's what we saw yesterday. After this game I will be a Jacks fan in every game but one (maybe two) each season. GO BISON. GO JACKS.

[Theee Catrabbit]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Of course we will miss ZZ. He is the epitome of a role model in every respect for younger kids. He will be a legend for years to come. He inspired my little kid to be sure. I was thinking the same thing about Zach's brother. Let the kid become his own player. While we all are very excited to see him play at State, let the kid grow into his own without the added pressure he probably already feels. I also disagree with Mengarelli not being quicker than Zenner. I think he is, I don't think he is faster, I just think he has a better first, second and third step and then some elusiveness. He gets to the line quicker, and I think he has gotten better and better as the season has progressed. I'm very glad we went to the game yesterday to that class of seniors and the entire team go out swinging like that, it was a great game (even though the Fargodome needs some serious updates, it reminded me of a bigger Sioux Falls Arena. That's not good).

A good question was how did the Bison reload so quickly after losing such an incredible team last year to graduation. I think a lot of it is the reps those underclassmen got as the "old" team would blow people out and then the 2nd and 3rd stringers would come in for mop up duties. It has taken our underclassmen this whole year to catch up to that and I think it showed yesterday that they have. Our talent pool keeps getting better and better. Next year Shoff is back with a now very talented Oline. Elmore will be back with a confident defense. Our biggest Question marks: Kicker, punter, and QB, in my opinion. Even QB I'm not that concerned with Lujan is there and he did what he needed to do with very little time in the Jacks' system.

I will edit one game concern: Pretty sure the game plan was to contain Wentz and make him beat us with his arm. He didn't really, but he did have some big plays. You could see the scheme was to drag it side to side and keep him behind the line of scrimmage. The couple times they overpursued or went after him a TD or a first down occurred off his legs. The defensive plan was sound and I think it was the right choice.

[Nidaros]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Mengarelli quicker than Zenner? Ummm...no.

Maybe what I am seeing is that Mengarelli has a way of making the tacklers miss. I like him as a player, but yes I will miss ZZ.

[jacks1]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Mengarelli quicker than Zenner? Ummm...no.

[Nidaros]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Maybe we need to allow Sam Zenner to get oriented at SDSU. The kid is still in high school. Lets hope he turns out to be as successful as his brother. Mengarelli looks to have some things that Zack Zenner did not have such as more quickness. I don't think we will miss a beat in terms of rushing next year. I too will miss ZZ and his character of integrity and his athletic ability.

[jakejc795]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Wentz was composed because he had just under a decade to throw the ball. We had virtually zero pass rush the entire game. The only time I can remember us blitzing Wentz busted that big scramble for a TD. Can't expect our DBs and LBs to cover as long as we did yesterday.

Our lack of pressure was a big reason we lost yesterday. Looking at the season stats we had a grand total of 15 sacks. Thats pitiful. Looked back and thats the fewest we've had in a season at least since 2007. I'd venture to guess that ranks pretty high on the list of fewest sacks ever in SDSU history.

Probably too soon to even discuss this, but what can I say, I'm excited about next year -- do you think younger DL players on roster like Pupungatoa have potential to improve pass rush, or do Jacks need to go juco route and hope to find another Peete?

[jacks1]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

If only Sumner would've seen Zenner in the flat on the last pick...who knows. Great game fellas.

[22jack]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Gotta say I'll miss seeing Zenner. He's the dude but the future is pretty good for you guys.

Don't worry, we have 4 more years of Zenner. :-)

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Everyone has summed up this game well. Heartbreaker.

Gall dang Wentz was composed back there, especially that last drive. I knew we left them to much time.

Just watching highlights on espn...that one hand Weineke catch in the 3rd quarter on 3rd and 15 to save the pick was insane. Have had to rewind about 6 times to see it again. Missed that one live. Glad we get to watch him for 3 more years.

The other play I've never seen us run that I loved loved loved was that mis-direction when Sumner and Zenner both would fade one way and last second before the hand off Zenner would cut back. Lawd that was great.

Too bad the end result was the same. It's a damn shame these guys don't get a few more games.

Wentz was composed because he had just under a decade to throw the ball. We had virtually zero pass rush the entire game. The only time I can remember us blitzing Wentz busted that big scramble for a TD. Can't expect our DBs and LBs to cover as long as we did yesterday.

Our lack of pressure was a big reason we lost yesterday. Looking at the season stats we had a grand total of 15 sacks. Thats pitiful. Looked back and thats the fewest we've had in a season at least since 2007. I'd venture to guess that ranks pretty high on the list of fewest sacks ever in SDSU history.

[FargoBison]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

The officiating was a joke but there were a lot of bad/questionable calls both ways, both teams deserved better. That crew was an embarrassment. That said these two teams shouldn't have even been playing each other today to begin with.

That said, congrats on a good season, was fun watching Zenner and Sumner compete against the Bison all these years. Great players and really great classy guys, wish them nothing but the best in whatever they do next.

Both teams played at a very high level today and left it all out on the field. It felt like the seminfinal game we had against GSU a few years back, just an intense slugfest of a game.

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Everyone has summed up this game well. Heartbreaker.

Gall dang Wentz was composed back there, especially that last drive. I knew we left them to much time.

Just watching highlights on espn...that one hand Weineke catch in the 3rd quarter on 3rd and 15 to save the pick was insane. Have had to rewind about 6 times to see it again. Missed that one live. Glad we get to watch him for 3 more years.

The other play I've never seen us run that I loved loved loved was that mis-direction when Sumner and Zenner both would fade one way and last second before the hand off Zenner would cut back. Lawd that was great.

Too bad the end result was the same. It's a damn shame these guys don't get a few more games.

[NoVaJack]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

Typical. Combing through posts only reading what you want to. There's only a FEW people talking like that. And most people bitching about the officiating are not crediting that for the close game.

Kudos to the Bison but I call absolute Baloney on this; go read your own board. At least half the posts over the last few hours have been about the officiating and a lot implies that the game was close only as a result of the refs. (See the whiney post below; WHAT game was this guy watching? Does ANYONE honestly think the refs kept the Jack in the game?). Had the Jacks hung on and won is there anyone on this board who doesn't think a lot of the commentary over on B-Ville would have come on the officialting? Decent Bizun posters that come on here excepted, the whining over on that board about officiating is just really old. Win with grace and give your opponents their due.

Recent post on B-Ville:

I'll say it. While we all respect SDSU the officials really did make it closer than it was. Delay of game erases their 2nd TD and stupid PI calls gifted them their 3rd TD.
Granted, we didn't really put up much of a brick wall inside the 10 like we usually do but if they had to get those yards on their own, it may not have happened.

[IBleedYellow]

Re: GDT: State at NDSU - Playoff Edition

I have to post this again... **** refs. They screwed up what was probably a top 5 game I've ever been too. Seriously I've never come out of a game so angry after a win.

You can honestly say the refs cost SDSU the game or NDSU the game had we lost. They had that big if an impact on a game where both teams were playing their hearts out. So bull**** .