GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

[RowdyRabbit]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

What final score and/or stat line for the MSU game would prompt you to adopt a more optimistic outlook?

A top 5/10 team should not struggle to beat or lose to unranked teams like SDSU seems to find a way to do every year. Period.

Who knows, maybe MSU will turn out to be a top 10/15 team by the end of the year and this win will seem better than it does right now, but as of game time, MSU was unranked, and not even recieving votes, that puts them where... somewhere around a 61 to 70th rank team? And by all rights and purposes, they probably should've won the game.

[OldHare]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

[Justwin]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Even tho I was less than impressed with how we played, one thing did stick out after I read the final stats. TC played an impressive game. Take away a few drops and some intentional throws out of bounds he would of been over 80% completion rate. He also made big plays with his legs when we needed him. He carried us to get that win.

[jakejc795]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Pray to God Souleks is minor

Matt Zimmer's one tweet suggested a possible post-bye return, with a more recent tweet indicating Soulek wanted to play next week (tweets accessible here).

Personally, I'm hoping he doesn't take the field against Drake.

[jakejc795]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Don't disagree with your observation at all. One of my major concerns is that the consensus I see from most Jackrabbit fans year after year is we are okay, let's be happy with that. 8-4 with a playoff appearance is pretty darn good. We can't beat the Bison anyways.

I suppose I should just adopt that attitude as well.

I have much greater expectations for this years team. Last night did not live up to my expectations and yet I'm not the least bit surprised. Last year against Cal Poly was much more disappointing. I hope MSU played a great game and the Jacks were saving some things for conference play. Those are very distinct possibilities. I have high expectation for this team, National Championship aspirations, last night didn't live up to those for me. But what do I know?

Refuting the implication that the Jacks are pretenders is not the same as saying they are ok OR that anyone's giddy about how the game played out. The fact is that some posters are acting like the Jacks lost. Sorry not every fan is adopting a "doom and gloom" perspective.

"Saving things" like that fake FG?

What final score and/or stat line for the MSU game would prompt you to adopt a more optimistic outlook?

[BigGoosie13]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

The fake fg, between Vinatieri and Hale we have to have one of the most athletic ST duos around...https://twitter.com/GoJacksFB/status/906908118843457536

[73alum]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

If there's anything I've learned in life being in business for myself for decades it's this... Sometimes you win big when you least expect it.. Sometimes you lose big when you least expect it... And sometimes you make the sale somehow. But the big thing I've realized is this... Being able to recover from the negatives... do better the next time around by realizing what you did wrong and practice doing it better. That's all the Jacks have to do... and I believe their fortitude and attitude will accomplish that.

[SoDakJack]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

This could easily be my biggest gripe of the game...if there were issues with the altitude why weren't we subbing more on D. My thoughts run along the coaches fear that the young guys would blow assignments and allow big plays. That happened with the veterans. No secret here, I'm a fan of Callender. Why in the name of all that is holy nutmeg isn't he out there on 3rd and 7 or more. He got in on the last series of prevent and did quite well. Ate up 2 blockers, prevented the back from squirting out, and had at least one pressure.

He's not the only one. I think as well as Backhaus and Kleinschmidt played well most times there were others when they were gassed and missing tackles, assignments. Cox was good coming in but I think 7 and 13 would've filled nicely as well.

Corner play was unacceotable but may be able to chalk it up to a bad game. At that rotate more guys in. D-line needs to get pressure, nothing new on that front.

Offensively...eidsness should take that blankety crossing bubble screen and throw it away or lock it up with all the other things Montana-like that should not be named. I like Wallace but his first run he pulled up and avoided contact like the plague. Easily cost us 2 yds. Daniel needs more carries. I'm good with both he a Brady in the backfield running a pseudo triple option. Rarely do you see, if ever, Wallace catch out of the backfield.

Kudos to Chase, watching that run I was reminded of one of ZZ's first td runs in the playoff game. Chase even had the same stride as Zach.

A W is a W, but if we don't figure it out we'll be lucky to go 4-4 in the Valley.

Here is the way that I am looking at the game last night. The team played below par on both sides of the ball, had questionable playcalling/clock management, and was at altitude on a hope opener and still won. In the past this team would not have won this game and may have been blown out. The fact that they did win is a testament to the fact that they are a very good football team.

To think that this team will lose 4 games in conference this year is an overreaction. I've tried to watch all the other Valley teams this year and the only team that really scares me is the one that scares me every year, NDSU. There is a noticeable drop-off past them.

Our defense is better this year than last year. And that defense last year got us a win @NDSU and a playoff win.

Edit: Grammer

[Jackedforlife]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Did any true freshman play?

This could easily be my biggest gripe of the game...if there were issues with the altitude why weren't we subbing more on D. My thoughts run along the coaches fear that the young guys would blow assignments and allow big plays. That happened with the veterans. No secret here, I'm a fan of Callender. Why in the name of all that is holy nutmeg isn't he out there on 3rd and 7 or more. He got in on the last series of prevent and did quite well. Ate up 2 blockers, prevented the back from squirting out, and had at least one pressure.

He's not the only one. I think as well as Backhaus and Kleinschmidt played well most times there were others when they were gassed and missing tackles, assignments. Cox was good coming in but I think 7 and 13 would've filled nicely as well.

Corner play was unacceptable but may be able to chalk it up to a bad game. At that rotate more guys in. D-line needs to get pressure, nothing new on that front. I will forever be a proponent of blitzing if necessary to bring pressure at times. I'd much rather get beat going all out versus giving the 4-5 seconds and still getting beat. I guarantee we are going to win far more than we will lose on plays like that.

Offensively...eidsness should take that blankety crossing bubble screen and throw it away or lock it up with all the other things Montana-like that should not be named. I like Wallace but his first run he pulled up and avoided contact like the plague. Easily cost us 2 yds. Daniel needs more carries. I'm good with both he a Brady in the backfield running a pseudo triple option. Rarely do you see, if ever, Wallace catch out of the backfield.

Kudos to Chase, watching that run I was reminded of one of ZZ's first td runs in the playoff game. Chase even had the same stride as Zach.

A W is a W, but if we don't figure it out we'll be lucky to go 4-4 in the Valley.

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Pray to God Souleks is minor

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Any injury reports? I suppose it's too early and they're getting checked out thoroughly today. Hope they all get a clean bill of health and return to the team soon.

Coaches don't give injury reports unless Stig slips up while talking to Merriam. You only get rumors.

[WestSideRabbit]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Totally agree with CappinHard on this game. I haven't seen the stats but where were all the WRs and why couldn't they get open? Weineke was shut down meaning others should be open. Defense looked bad, really bad besides the first quarter. If the secondary was a strength in fall camp I sure didn't see it. Where was all the defensive line "fall camp" studs that the blogger talked about. I don't see that either. Don't measure the defense against Drake and Duquesne. Did Stig call the fake field goal? Two years ago (without Eck) this probably doesn't happen and Jacks lose the game. At times in the second half it looked like chaos with substitution on offense and late play calls thus burning time outs. Get organized and keep moment going, TOs let's the defense regroup. Ok. Turn the page and get ready for next week. A W is good but it was a ugly W.

Hi, blogger here. EVERYONE underestimated how good of a passer Murray has become. He threw some really nice balls last night. Just because you think he stinks doesn't mean he does. In regards to the pass rush, Tolu is still recovering from having his wisdom teeth removed and I have no reason why Callender wasn't in the game in the second half once MSU went away from the run. Stacker and Barrett were collapsing the interior pocket but Soulek's injury certainly hurts. No one else on the line is at his level yet.

The secondary was bad, no doubt about it. There is certainly some sort of communication or assignment issue between the safeties. They'll get it fixed.

Everyone needs to take a breath. These are the type of games we have lost in the past. We played like **** and still won. That is improvement. I'm very confident this team will peak at the right time.

Expect the Jacks to get up big next week and play subs the majority of the game. Clearly Dallas isn't 100% and I question if Jake is also a little dinged up.

[jackdaniel]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Any injury reports? I suppose it's too early and they're getting checked out thoroughly today. Hope they all get a clean bill of health and return to the team soon.

[Hareofthedog]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

Totally agree with CappinHard on this game. I haven't seen the stats but where were all the WRs and why couldn't they get open? Weineke was shut down meaning others should be open. Defense looked bad, really bad besides the first quarter. If the secondary was a strength in fall camp I sure didn't see it. Where was all the defensive line "fall camp" studs that the blogger talked about. I don't see that either. Don't measure the defense against Drake and Duquesne. Did Stig call the fake field goal? Two years ago (without Eck) this probably doesn't happen and Jacks lose the game. At times in the second half it looked like chaos with substitution on offense and late play calls thus burning time outs. Get organized and keep moment going, TOs let's the defense regroup. Ok. Turn the page and get ready for next week. A W is good but it was a ugly W.

[CappinHard]

Re: GDT: @ Montana State Bobkittens

I am fine with SOME conservative play calling. I didn't mean we should be aggressive all the time. I would just like to see some creativity with the offensive play calling (and defensive for that matter... Could a guy get some blitzes once in a while?!). With the advantages that Jake and Dallas bring in terms of defenses having to plan for them, there are more creative ways to get other players involved than swing passes and bubble screens.

To answer the question of whether I was talking about players or coaching, I'm definitely talking about coaching. We have the players, that's not the issue. I know that great offensive minds don't come around in the FCS too often, and if they do they don't last long. I just think that our play calling is so predictable and not creative (other than a trick play or two once a year).