Big test this weekend and one of our few opportunities left for a ranked win on the year. If USD drops a game to WIU, this will be our only remaining shot at a ranked win.
Apparently Cam Miller has replaced Quincy Patterson at WB, partly due to injury and partly due to performance. Assuming it is more performance related, I think that tells us all we need to know about the NDSU offense and passing game. I expect them to run the ball 80% of the time and try to throw deep to Watson, which is why having Gardner back would be huge for us. Their D is stout, but the best offense they’ve played so far was MSU. If our line plays to their potential, I think we will be able to run the ball effectively. And if we do that, play action should be there.
Chris has played well, but he can’t force passes this game and he needs to throw the ball away more. He’s been taking too many sacks while dancing around in the backfield, creating negative plays. I’m thinking we will see some designer runs for him this game.
Finally, I think we need to win this game by two scores at least to vault ourselves back into the top 5-8. As I said before, this might be our only shot at a ranked win. USD fading and UND with five losses aren’t going to boost the resume much, and we already blew it against our other two ranked teams. An FBS win, a win over number 2 NDSU, and a win over a top 40 Yote team should put us back into the top 8, and with some major help, back into the top 4. One game at a time and all that, but this is a big game for us to show that we are still a top team and capable of winning a title.
Apparently Cam Miller has replaced Quincy Patterson at WB, partly due to injury and partly due to performance. Assuming it is more performance related, I think that tells us all we need to know about the NDSU offense and passing game. I expect them to run the ball 80% of the time and try to throw deep to Watson, which is why having Gardner back would be huge for us. Their D is stout, but the best offense they’ve played so far was MSU. If our line plays to their potential, I think we will be able to run the ball effectively. And if we do that, play action should be there.
Chris has played well, but he can’t force passes this game and he needs to throw the ball away more. He’s been taking too many sacks while dancing around in the backfield, creating negative plays. I’m thinking we will see some designer runs for him this game.
Finally, I think we need to win this game by two scores at least to vault ourselves back into the top 5-8. As I said before, this might be our only shot at a ranked win. USD fading and UND with five losses aren’t going to boost the resume much, and we already blew it against our other two ranked teams. An FBS win, a win over number 2 NDSU, and a win over a top 40 Yote team should put us back into the top 8, and with some major help, back into the top 4. One game at a time and all that, but this is a big game for us to show that we are still a top team and capable of winning a title.
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