Do some research on NDSU. How do you think we are going to exploit them to get the advantage? I don't assume we will come up with anything earth-shaking that NDSU coaches won't already have thought of (so don't worry about showing our hand). I figured this would be an interesting discussion if we get some good football minds chiming in (I don't have one). What kind of wrinkles or looks will we throw at them in the three phases? Do we have a play that we can continue to use to get big chunks of yardage? Who is the defensive line going to pick on to get to the QB?
Scheme against our opponent
- Thread starter bfross
- Start date
If our O or D is gonna try to pick on someone, i might think that it would be were one of the many starters were suspended this past year. There were a handful of them, if I remember correctly, dont know if they were all starters or not though.
There is only one starter that will not be playing for NDSU at the ISU game. He is a DE and arguably the best one we have. That could hurt a bit as NDSU is not real deep in that position. Other than that the D-line is experienced and very good. LB this year have some experience, but are a question mark. The secondary has quite a few fast and talented guys returning and is looking real good.
NDSU's offensive line is big, experienced and well conditioned - averging over 310 lb and 6'5" tall. Likely as good as a mid level FBS team. The runningbacks have some experience as one of them had several nice runs agains the gophers a couple years ago. The TE position is solid and also returns a guy that had a TD catch against Minnesota. There is a redshirt TE that is 6'7" and making some noise. The QB is the same inconsistent guy from last year and here is where the suspensions might hurt. The next in line QB will have to sit out the ISU game and he has looked very good in practice. WR is questionable and some JUCO transfers might help if they can get up to speed soon enough.
Their defensive front is going to be sucking wind by halftime if we can sustain a few drives. If we can go 3-4 wide and make their linebackers run around the field chasing backs/slot receivers we should wear them down in a no-huddle. Moving our offense laterally with running plays as well should wear them down.
Defensively, varying coverages and blitzing packages will be huge. Our front 4 last year were terrible getting pressure and our linebackers and defensive backs got eaten alive by it. Defensive line needs to either get pressure and collapse the pocket (their quarterback from watching film looks like he panics and makes too fast of judgments) or get their hands up and cut off short passing lanes. And for God's sake, if they catch the ball, wrap up and finish! Don't just lay the wood to the guy and hope he falls down.
Defensively, varying coverages and blitzing packages will be huge. Our front 4 last year were terrible getting pressure and our linebackers and defensive backs got eaten alive by it. Defensive line needs to either get pressure and collapse the pocket (their quarterback from watching film looks like he panics and makes too fast of judgments) or get their hands up and cut off short passing lanes. And for God's sake, if they catch the ball, wrap up and finish! Don't just lay the wood to the guy and hope he falls down.
Last edited:
Have to agree with your summary.........I am sure the NDSU defense is doing everything they can to prepare for the no huddle spread. I also think our starting and back up linebackers are quick enough and fast enough, but they may be a bit undersized. Could be interesting if ISU decides to run more. Actually I think NDSU's secondary might be good enough to minimize the passing game and get a pick or two.
As for NDSU's offense I am most worried about a one dimensional game where we can run with occasional success, but due to problems passing ISU can stack the line and cause problems all game. This was NDSU's #1 problem last year. Unless the coaches and QB can come up with something to improve the medium to long passing game this will continue to be a problem in 2009.
Only one player on NDSU's current team had a pick last season and that was a whopping 2. Looking at the stats it appears that NDSU's secondary lacks play makers and starting experience. They lost their two best DBs to graduation and the rest appear to just be warm bodies except for maybe Cyrus Lemon. I think ISU's wideouts are going to be too much for NDSU to handle.
WOAH!!!! Facts and statistics have no place here! The Bison fans have told us that their corners are fast (most corners in the big 12 are slow right?). No way they can't handle our stable of Big 12 receivers. No way!
BigBison is correct, they do have a good sized and fairly experienced O-line. I see our Inside DL being neutralized, not getting into the backfield much but at the sametime not letting much of a running game through. I think our ends will be able to bring the pressure and fluster the lackluster QB.
I don't see as much pressure in the NDSU backfield as we gave SDSU last year, but I would expect constant disruption from the ends and hurried plays.
Our DBs have much more experience and I would venture to guess much more playmaking ability than NDSU's corp of new receivers. I don't foresee much production here for the Water Buffalos.
On offense I think zone-read off-tackle runs will exploit their youth at OLB and DEs. If our experienced Oline doesn't dominate the trenches from snap 1, that will be a very bad oman for the 2009 football season. If there is much pressure from the ends I'll be surprised.
Therefore, I see Arnaud having the time to pick apart a mediocre dbackfield and flats. It appears that they do have good athletes at DB but I think our WRs will "outrun" and "outathlete" them. (I've said it once, I'll say it agian, there's a reason D1 and D1AA are not the same thing)
It'll be a hard fought battle, where NDSU has nothing to lose, but I think we overpower them and in the end win by at least 2-3 TDs.
I don't see as much pressure in the NDSU backfield as we gave SDSU last year, but I would expect constant disruption from the ends and hurried plays.
Our DBs have much more experience and I would venture to guess much more playmaking ability than NDSU's corp of new receivers. I don't foresee much production here for the Water Buffalos.
On offense I think zone-read off-tackle runs will exploit their youth at OLB and DEs. If our experienced Oline doesn't dominate the trenches from snap 1, that will be a very bad oman for the 2009 football season. If there is much pressure from the ends I'll be surprised.
Therefore, I see Arnaud having the time to pick apart a mediocre dbackfield and flats. It appears that they do have good athletes at DB but I think our WRs will "outrun" and "outathlete" them. (I've said it once, I'll say it agian, there's a reason D1 and D1AA are not the same thing)
It'll be a hard fought battle, where NDSU has nothing to lose, but I think we overpower them and in the end win by at least 2-3 TDs.
The way you speak of the entire team, we were to think they are a BCS National Championship contender! Is there anybody on the team, except for the QB, that is not "real good", "solid", "experienced", etc...?
I did say the LB's were questionable. These were overall position marks not specifics. Thought you might appreciate the info, but of course you had to go on the attack. Take it as you want.....remember the competition for the entire year is predominately FCS so of course ISU is superior in every position without a doubt.
That is what i would do if I was facing the Bison. The passing game is going to be average at best.......especially at the start of this season.
Our problem in the past, if we can't get a pass rush, we make an average quarterback look like an allstar. That can be a problem in this game. Our DL is unproven, and the Bison have a good OL, so potential problems there. We should be fine on offense, but I expect a lot of blitzes to counter our spread, and we'll see how AA reacts under pressure.
I too think ISU can run, and that may be a strength for us. If we can pressure the QB, we should be ok in the game. If not, anything can happen. We will soon see.
I too think ISU can run, and that may be a strength for us. If we can pressure the QB, we should be ok in the game. If not, anything can happen. We will soon see.
We don't have to scheme or exploit them to get an advantage. Our advantage is that we are a Big XII team and they are a FCS team that just finished in 5th place in the Missouri Valley Conference. We line up, keep it simple and play straightforward football, and kick their butts.
I agree with this. I am not worried about them...I am concerned about ISU in their first game under a new staff.
our running backs will be the key to the game-i don't think rhoad or herman will unveil everything for this game . they will be conservative and will hold back some things for the iowa game. i look forherman to use all three of our running backs and even beau from noran oklahoma may get some carries. i look for lenz and money to take a puntor twoand a kickoff all the wayto the bank. i see bo williams braking one or two long runs. iowa state should win easily. hope their coach is not sleeping with any of his defensive linesman's girl friends
like he did at nebraska. that would tend to p@## a guy off.
like he did at nebraska. that would tend to p@## a guy off.
