GDT: @ North Dakota (11/09/24)

[RahRahRabbits]

not sure I understand the frustration with giving Amar a shot in the wildcat role?
very obviously we used Isaiah in that role the last couple years (or more). I am pretty sure we also used Pierre and Zenner in that role. some might debate it, but Amar IS our #1 RB. YES, we have been using the wildcat as a way to get our incredible talented "backup" QB opportunities

but with Mason out for a bit, we decided to go back to the more traditional concept of using an RB as the wildcat QB. it did not work out too well in the 2-3 plays they tried it today. they put it on the shelf. pretty common to go into a game with a desire to try some things early and see what kind of results you can get. then you stick with what works and build from there.

they tried the wildcat as a way to get additional looks for our top RB. it had no success but running off tackle and the passing game looked good. so they stop using the wildcat for today

does that mean the OC is dumb for trying it? i am not sure i understand why that would be the takeaway

It's a GDT, LGR. In the moment, it's okay to voice some frustration. At this point, I'm not upset about trying the wildcat with Amar, but at the time... you have to admit things weren't looking good. I don't think we need to discuss this much more, as it was just in-game discussion which is bound to have some emotion and reactionary commentary. I do think the Isaiah looks were intentional though, while this just felt like an in-week swap because Mason got dinged up last week.

No one was calling for Olson's head. No one was calling for anyone to be benched. Giving up a big drive to start, going 3-and-out, then giving up a 62-yard touchdown run is bound to cause some reactions. If you don't want any emotional commentary, just disallow gameday threads then.....

We're all good, LGR... Jacks turned it around after what I think we can all agree was a rough start. They tried the Amar wildcat. It didn't work. They went a different path. We're can all be pleased with both choices at this point.

[RahRahRabbits]

On a related note, I wish the Jacks would add future schedules to their website like conference foes have.

Until they do, go to this site;

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/south-dakota-state/

Agreed. And agreed with WRJ to use FBS schedules instead.

[jakejc795]

Until they do, go to this site;

https://fbschedules.com/ncaa/south-dakota-state/

I've visited that site, but it has errors (note the "doubleheader" on 9/6/25 vs Drake and 'cats). Zim's article solves that, but that's non-con only.

It's also odd that the Valley's released the 2025-26 schedules but they haven't posted them on their website, despite teams like UND doing so.

[LetsGoRabbits]

It's a GDT, LGR. In the moment, it's okay to voice some frustration. At this point, I'm not upset about trying the wildcat with Amar, but at the time... you have to admit things weren't looking good. I don't think we need to discuss this much more, as it was just in-game discussion which is bound to have some emotion and reactionary commentary. I do think the Isaiah looks were intentional though, while this just felt like an in-week swap because Mason got dinged up last week.

No one was calling for Olson's head. No one was calling for anyone to be benched. Giving up a big drive to start, going 3-and-out, then giving up a 62-yard touchdown run is bound to cause some reactions. If you don't want any emotional commentary, just disallow gameday threads then.....

We're all good, LGR... Jacks turned it around after what I think we can all agree was a rough start. They tried the Amar wildcat. It didn't work. They went a different path. We're can all be pleased with both choices at this point.

ok rah rah, glad to see that you have that amount of self awareness! i would say that makes you a LOT LOT smarter than a lot of fans (lets say especially a few who wear green or red- honestly i think 95% of the red ones are totally nuts. the green ones are largely a lot better but there are still some- maybe 25-30% who are nuts and VERY annoying)

i guess i spent too many years as a coach and later as a therapist trying to teach people to manage their emotions and learn how to make good choices even when the heat is on and / or emotions are HIGH! in my way of looking at a game, they had one good drive and one big play. are they gonna be able to do that for 4 quarters against us? VERY VERY DOUBTFUL

would you like for them to get completely shut down? YESSSSSS (especially as a fan) as a coach, ya kinda know that is highly unlikely. honestly we are SO SO SPOILED by this defense for the last several years!! they have really made us expect that we should have a shutout every game and that the other team will never have a big play

our defense is very literally UNREAL

i bet nobody on here would believe it, because i feel like i am one of the first ones to be mad about the refs, but as a coach, I literally never yelled at the refs. i did not even think about them. seriously, I used to have parents talk to me all the time and say, why do you never yell at the refs? every other coach we have ever seen yells at the refs a lot

but I always tried to teach my players that football or basketball and life is NOT about the things that happen to you. it is about HOW do you respond to the things that happen to you and around you. so i always thought it was a very bad example by me if my response was to spend my time yelling at the refs about things i could not control. so i trained myself to ignore the refs and focus on my kids and helping them to move on to the next play and control the things that they could control

so I guess, except, for the refs, that is how I still watch the games. if we give up a big play, i dont worry about the past and i TRUST the coaches and the players are going to learn from any mistake they made and they are gonna have a REAL GOOD answer

[bigticket1]

again. i am DEFINITELY NOT saying you are wrong. but if it is not him it is our #1 CB. i know we have more depth at CB, but do we really want to risk losing Beanum? at the end of the day, our coaches have done a pretty good job of making the correct choices for this program, so...

I am saying I get scared about losing a key player on special teams too, but I also am happy that they take special teams seriously. they have made the decision that the benefit is worth the price they pay for it. I think over the last LONG TIME (20-25 years? or more?), they have been proven correct

one other thing, I am not even sure who our #5 safety is, but we do have a TON of stud LBs who can barely sniff the field. I would bet that at least a few of them have been trained in the Stahlbird role of being able to play both LB and Safety- I actually kind of think Mcgaughy was recruited as a DB

oh yeah, Tillford is the next safety. he already looks pretty good too

again, WOW wow wow, this team is absolutely loaded with talented players who have proven they are willing to work hard and be part of a great team, as opposed to going to a lesser program and being THE GUY. this team and these coaches deserve SO MUCH appreciation!!!!!!

Prejean has returned some punts, so I was surprised they didn't send him out there. The coaches see things in practice that we don't, so maybe there's good reasons that they didn't use him.

[jakejc795]

Prejean has returned some punts, so I was surprised they didn't send him out there. The coaches see things in practice that we don't, so maybe there's good reasons that they didn't use him.

He was in late. Beanum and Large have to make it difficult for coaches, given their proven success, but hopefully the Salukis stumble and give Jacks ample opportunities to show us whether Prejean is the PR from the outset on Sat.

[Prairiehaas]

Nice game for the Jacks. Other than one big run the defense cleaned up the UNDies (yes bad, I know).

The offense looked strong with RBs using dominant line play to chew up yards. Did you notice from early on the Jacks running backs were consistently breaking through the defensive line? Gronowski to Wilde was devastating, 5 catches for 145 yds and 3 TDs. Wow! And the TEs were involved today. The UND DBs will be watching Wilde touchdowns next week.

Some of the play calling got me scratching my head, but the OC knows way more about FB than I and the results speak loudly. I'll stick with positive waves.

[jakejc795]

Nice game for the Jacks. Other than one big run the defense cleaned up the UNDies (yes bad, I know).

The offense looked strong with RBs using dominant line play to chew up yards. Did you notice from early on the Jacks running backs were consistently breaking through the defensive line? Gronowski to Wilde was devastating, 5 catches for 145 yds and 3 TDs. Wow! And the TEs were involved today. The UND DBs will be watching Wilde touchdowns next week.

Some of the play calling got me scratching my head, but the OC knows way more about FB than I and the results speak loudly. I'll stick with positive waves.

Meaning that was pretty much the sole skidmark in the UNDies?

[ringthebells]

Gronowski is looking like the Gronowski we are used to. There is till room to improve, but the O seems to be clicking a bit more.

[Prairiehaas]

Well played Jakejc.

[Prairiehaas]

Gronowski is looking like the Gronowski we are used to. There is till room to improve, but the O seems to be clicking a bit more.

This offense has had 10 games together. That time together is showing results. The offense last season had had games together before stepping on the field and was better at the end of the season than the start. This team will keep improving.

[ringthebells]

This offense has had 10 games together. That time together is showing results. The offense last season had had games together before stepping on the field and was better at the end of the season than the start. This team will keep improving.

Yep. I like the direction we are headed in.

[jakejc795]

Matt noted it in another great JI "Rants & Raves," but it beats repeating that there were multiple times yesterday when the Jacks didn't retaliate and draw flags in response to Hawks' chippy play.

Stoffel had one play that really stood out where he was shoved well after the play was dead.

[Jacked_Up]

... Hoping for at least a 35-7 Jacks victory.

Great pick, Jake!
The final was 38-7.

[jakejc795]

Great pick, Jake!
The final was 38-7.

Thank you, Jacked Up. Even a cracked SDSU Ice Cream scoop gets a dollop right once in a while