How good is UNI this year?

[HardcoreClone]

Hopefully we (fans, players, coaches) have learned enough by now to take UNI seriously, or we'll come away with a Loss to start the season. If we can win handily, then great, I consider that a solid win out of the gates over a well-coached team who really wants to beat ISU. This program needs a much better foundation before we can expect to beat UNI (or NDSU) just by showing up.

I just did some quick research. Based on their last game of the season, they return 6 starters on offense and 4 on defense:
WR Brown
WR Fountain
QB Bailey
RB Smith
RT Sweeney
RG Hanson
They also return a couple more WR's who played.

DT Woods
DE Schult
WLB Allen
MLB Farley
They had a lot of talent in the defensive backfield that they lost. Also not terribly big on the DL. Also return Punter Kuhter.

I'm sure like always they have plenty of talent to fill holes.

Offensively avg 29pts/game last season. Appears they were a run-dominant team, between QB Bailey and a couple RB's. As we saw in our game, Bailey is a heck of an athlete, but really struggled to throw and was hesitant. He was very one-dimensional and predictable against us. I would expect he's improved with his passing and confidence. And an athlete like that at QB is always scary. He also returns his main passing targets. They lost 3 OL starters, and it looks like the potential replacements are younger, so they won't be plugging in a bunch of RS SR's. They gave up 38 sacks last season. We will need to stop their run game, get them into 2nd/3rd & long situations and force Bailey to be a pocket passer.

Defensively they recovered 14 fumbles, 17 interceptions, and 38 sacks. They allowed 19pts/game. Just based on who they return, I would expect they will be solid up the middle. Hopefully we can exploit them outside and downfield in the passing game with some newer defensive backs. We have to be prepared for blitzing, especially on 3rd down. Would be great if this staff can actually anticipate and exploit blitzes! And always need to convert TD's in the redzone against a team like this.

Lastly, special teams will be huge. Not just in this game, but all season. Get some great returns or even scores in the return game to take some pressure off our offense. When is the last time we blocked a FG or punt? With our new coaching staff I see it as a double-edge sword. They can look at UNI, Iowa, and our Big 12 opponents with a new, unbiased eye on strengths/weaknesses. And obviously those teams have to prepare for the newness that Campbell brings. However, the McCarney and Rhoads regimes who were here long enough surely had a general blueprint on how to compete with these consistent opponents.

 

[ruxCYtable]

They will be very solid again this year. Last year we were lucky their QB didn't want to pass. I'm sure that will change this year. On the other hand we should be able to run all over them. I will be surprised if Warren doesn't average 7 per carry the whole game. If he doesn't, we should really be worried about this O line

Every time I think this when we play them, UNI loads up the box and stuffs our run game. I always think back to Troy Davis rushing for ~ 244 yards against UNI, but needing 50+ carries to do it.

 

[awd4cy]

Going back to last year's game, I don't think there's a lot for fans to be worried about.

You must be new to us playing UNI.

I think Campbell will get us to the point in the future where we beat them soundly every year, but this years game anything can happen. UNI will give us a bigger challenge than last year I believe.

 

[CyBlitz]

If we lose to UNI it was cause it was our fault. The staff is trying to prepare the team as best as they can, but I worry missed assignments. not knowing the playbook,. being rusty, and lack of experience in some starters. Hopefully our team gets everything sorted out quickly. The team and the stafff will have to avoid being over confident.

 

[Tailg8er]

You must be new to us playing UNI.

I think Campbell will get us to the point in the future where we beat them soundly every year, but this years game anything can happen. UNI will give us a bigger challenge than last year I believe.

Again, what bearing does anything that happened 4+ years ago have? At all?

There is not a single player here now that was playing then. There is not a single significant coach here now that was coaching here then.

I'm not at all worried about this year's game. I don't think it'll be within 1 score at any point in the 4th quarter, but sure it could end up closer than 24 points.

 

[CYCLNST8]

As usual, their defensive line will be stout:

http://unipanthers.com/news/2016/7/...-line-looks-to-anchor-2016.aspx?path=football

And our offensive line will be patchwork. I don't like the matchup early in the season. Last year we had the advantage of UNI breaking in a new offensive system. The situation has been flipped. They'll be gunning for Warren hard. I like our chances better if the staff is serious about getting Lazard more touches.

 

[awd4cy]

Again, what bearing does anything that happened 4+ years ago have? At all?

There is not a single player here now that was playing then. There is not a single significant coach here now that was coaching here then.

I'm not at all worried about this year's game. I don't think it'll be within 1 score at any point in the 4th quarter, but sure it could end up closer than 24 points.

I can ask you what does last years game have to do anything? You don't think a game with UNI could go down to the wire with a new coach in his first game and a team with a lot of talent and developmental issues? No to mention in the last 10 plus years most of the games have been within a td.

 

[Clone2Dbone]

I know UNI is always dangerous, especially playing against Iowa State. I also know I shouldn't get my hopes up too much, but I just can't help it. With some of the players they lost in their defensive secondary, I think Lanning is going to have a good passing day. With the players they lost on their offensive line, I expect our D-line, especially Mr. Tucker to have an outstanding day. If they want to double-team him, then I bet you're going to see other D-line guys step up. Bottom line, I see this coaching staff having this team ready to play, and I still stand by 17 points plus.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Their DL will be small like it always is so they will be stunting and slanting all over the place. So long as you get a handle on that, we should be able to run the ball wherever we want. I have a feeling Manning can deal with that.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I can ask you what does last years game have to do anything? You don't think a game with UNI could go down to the wire with a new coach in his first game and a team with a lot of talent and developmental issues? No to mention in the last 10 plus years most of the games have been within a td.

Those issues are no bigger than they have been in the past. If we struggle with UNI, I will be worried about the rest of the season. It may not be a long term problem but when you go into the game with much better RBs and WRs, a better QB, a better secondary and likely a better DL, you shouldn't struggle, especially when they play the way they do.

I'm not saying it will go down like that, I'm just saying it should. I also don't really buy these huge talent issues relative to previous years. Now, if we lose a couple OL or a couple DL before the season starts, that changes things.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Hopefully some of the hok trolls can chime in on this.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Hopefully some of the hok trolls can chime in on this.

You mean "Panther" fans?

 

[Tailg8er]

I can ask you what does last years game have to do anything? You don't think a game with UNI could go down to the wire with a new coach in his first game and a team with a lot of talent and developmental issues? No to mention in the last 10 plus years most of the games have been within a td.

I've already stated it, but last year's game has more significance simply because there are a lot of players that played last year who will be playing again this year.

Look, you're free to be worried about the opener all you want. I am not, mostly due to what our returning starters were able to do last year, UNI losing more player-wise than we did, overall more talent on our roster than theirs, and my confidence in the new coaching staff.

If the final score ends up within a TD I'll quote my own post to eat crow.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

This is the most excited UNI fans have been since 07 and 08. UNI should be very, very good, it's all a matter of where Iowa State is. D-Line is UNI's strength this year and O-Line appears to be Iowa State's weakness, if Iowa State has put together a decent O-Line they win by 10-14, if not its a toss-up.

I like what Campbell has done and I think he will really increase the overall talent level in coming years, but where is he Game 1.

Also, UNI's punter from the game last year (Bighler) got benched after that game and was never heard from again. The new punter (Kuhter) is preseason all conference. Iowa State's punt return group won that game last year, I don't expect that this year.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Their DL will be small like it always is so they will be stunting and slanting all over the place. So long as you get a handle on that, we should be able to run the ball wherever we want. I have a feeling Manning can deal with that.

I'm sure it has been discussed, but will we be running a zone blocking scheme? I always wondered if a more tradition man on man scheme might not be better for us.

 

[CascadeClone]

IDK anything about UNI, except they are always a very good FCS team. As such, this game is a measuring stick for ISU.

Win by 28+ = ISU will be pretty good
Win by 14+ = ISU will be ok, possibly bowl eligible
Win by < 10 or lose = ISU will totally suck

 

[CYCLNST8]

Their DL will be small like it always is so they will be stunting and slanting all over the place. So long as you get a handle on that, we should be able to run the ball wherever we want. I have a feeling Manning can deal with that.

Their stud D-end certainly isn't undersized. After that they have a few smallish tackles (275 or so). On 1st down and short yardage situations, they favor a 4-4 loaded box and dare you to pass. They'll gladly sacrifice power for speed because if they get in you into passing situations they'll stunt and blitz like crazy.

 

[guacamole7]

Hopefully they have the same punter as last year

I think people are forgetting this. We had several long returns, including a TD due to the terrible line drive punts. This made the score more lopsided than it would have been. Our offense didn't exactly move up and down the field on them.

 

[Tailg8er]

I think people are forgetting this. We had several long returns, including a TD due to the terrible line drive punts. This made the score more lopsided than it would have been. Our offense didn't exactly move up and down the field on them.

We'll also be rolling with a better QB and RB this year.

 

[ClonesFTW]

Has anyone seen a Vegas line on this game? I haven't been able to find anything.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Hopefully we (fans, players, coaches) have learned enough by now to take UNI seriously, or we'll come away with a Loss to start the season. If we can win handily, then great, I consider that a solid win out of the gates over a well-coached team who really wants to beat ISU. This program needs a much better foundation before we can expect to beat UNI (or NDSU) just by showing up.

I just did some quick research. Based on their last game of the season, they return 6 starters on offense and 4 on defense:
WR Brown
WR Fountain
QB Bailey
RB Smith
RT Sweeney
RG Hanson
They also return a couple more WR's who played.

DT Woods
DE Schult
WLB Allen
MLB Farley
They had a lot of talent in the defensive backfield that they lost. Also not terribly big on the DL. Also return Punter Kuhter.

I'm sure like always they have plenty of talent to fill holes.

Offensively avg 29pts/game last season. Appears they were a run-dominant team, between QB Bailey and a couple RB's. As we saw in our game, Bailey is a heck of an athlete, but really struggled to throw and was hesitant. He was very one-dimensional and predictable against us. I would expect he's improved with his passing and confidence. And an athlete like that at QB is always scary. He also returns his main passing targets. They lost 3 OL starters, and it looks like the potential replacements are younger, so they won't be plugging in a bunch of RS SR's. They gave up 38 sacks last season. We will need to stop their run game, get them into 2nd/3rd & long situations and force Bailey to be a pocket passer.

Defensively they recovered 14 fumbles, 17 interceptions, and 38 sacks. They allowed 19pts/game. Just based on who they return, I would expect they will be solid up the middle. Hopefully we can exploit them outside and downfield in the passing game with some newer defensive backs. We have to be prepared for blitzing, especially on 3rd down. Would be great if this staff can actually anticipate and exploit blitzes! And always need to convert TD's in the redzone against a team like this.

Lastly, special teams will be huge. Not just in this game, but all season. Get some great returns or even scores in the return game to take some pressure off our offense. When is the last time we blocked a FG or punt? With our new coaching staff I see it as a double-edge sword. They can look at UNI, Iowa, and our Big 12 opponents with a new, unbiased eye on strengths/weaknesses. And obviously those teams have to prepare for the newness that Campbell brings. However, the McCarney and Rhoads regimes who were here long enough surely had a general blueprint on how to compete with these consistent opponents.

We fans have absolutely zero impact on what happens on the field. I will never understand that mentality.