DoubleNickel1
Active member
This game looks like it's going to be a battle of our Offense versus their Defense. NAU leads the conference in almost every defensive category in the conference. NAU is first in the conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, and 2nd in the conference in pass defense. Here is a side by side statistical comparison of their Defense versus our Offense in conference games.
NAU's Defense_________________WSU's Offense
280 total yards per game________448 total yards per game
18 points per game_____________27 points per game
84 yards rushing per game_______204 yards rushing per game
196 yards passing per game______244 yards passing per game
Our offense is 3rd in the conference in yards, 5th in the conference in scoring, 2nd in the conference in rushing, and 3rd in the conference in passing.
Here's a breakdown of their Offense versus our Defense
NAU's Offense_________________WSU's Defense
312 total yards per game________431 yards per game
22 points per game_____________29 points per game
97 yards rushing per game_______175 yards rushing per game
214 yards passing per game______256 yards passing per game
As a former defensive player seeing these type of stats makes me sick. Even though the score didn't show it last week, MSU was still able to move the ball pretty easily against our defense. I don't know what the issues are up there with our defensive coaches and players but it just seems like the schemes and players just can't get it done. Let's hope they can buckle down these last 2 games and start playing like the WSU defenses of old that were always tops in the conference on Defense.
I think the key to the game is our ability to run the ball versus their league leading rushing defense. Even if Higgins plays he won't be 100% so it's imperative that we establish a running game early to take some pressure off of him. If we fall behind and have to resort to the pass I don't think that bodes very well for the situation that we find ourselves in. The games that we have dominated and won we've been able to establish a good ground game. When I was looking over the stats I was shocked to see that we've turned the ball over a whopping 19 times, 10 fumbles and 9 interceptions. Whereas we've only recovered 5 fumbles and had 5 INT's. We are at the bottom of the barrel in the conference with a turnover margin of -9. The next team is at -5. That is just horrible. NAU is at a +3 turnover margin.
In the end, as usual, it comes down to turnovers and our ability to run the ball against their D. Let's hope that our offensive line can wear down their defense and our running backs can hold on to the damn ball. NAU plays the deseret storm defense with 3 down lineman and consistently bring pressure with their linebackers whether it's a twist game inside or right off the edge. I hope our young O-line can deal with the movement and stunts that they'll be bringing almost every down. With them bringing pressure and stunts like they usually do it always opens up a hole somewhere. Tafuna's downhill style doesn't usually work well against the type of scheme that NAU runs. Reason being is that with their pressure and stunts the hole isn't always where it's designed to be. But this type of scheme almost always does leave a hole somewhere along the line of scrimmage as is usually the case when a team blitzes. If Tafuna and our other running backs can be patient and wait and see where the hole has developed they will have a hay day. The vision of our running backs will be one of the difference makers in this game. If they can run with great vision, patience, and cut back if NAU has blitzed into the designed hole they'll run for days in flagstaff. Let's hope that we can handle the pressure up front and take what their front 7 give us. Good luck to our boys. This game is a great test of our team's character and ability to rebound. Do work fellas!!!!!!!!!
NAU's Defense_________________WSU's Offense
280 total yards per game________448 total yards per game
18 points per game_____________27 points per game
84 yards rushing per game_______204 yards rushing per game
196 yards passing per game______244 yards passing per game
Our offense is 3rd in the conference in yards, 5th in the conference in scoring, 2nd in the conference in rushing, and 3rd in the conference in passing.
Here's a breakdown of their Offense versus our Defense
NAU's Offense_________________WSU's Defense
312 total yards per game________431 yards per game
22 points per game_____________29 points per game
97 yards rushing per game_______175 yards rushing per game
214 yards passing per game______256 yards passing per game
As a former defensive player seeing these type of stats makes me sick. Even though the score didn't show it last week, MSU was still able to move the ball pretty easily against our defense. I don't know what the issues are up there with our defensive coaches and players but it just seems like the schemes and players just can't get it done. Let's hope they can buckle down these last 2 games and start playing like the WSU defenses of old that were always tops in the conference on Defense.
I think the key to the game is our ability to run the ball versus their league leading rushing defense. Even if Higgins plays he won't be 100% so it's imperative that we establish a running game early to take some pressure off of him. If we fall behind and have to resort to the pass I don't think that bodes very well for the situation that we find ourselves in. The games that we have dominated and won we've been able to establish a good ground game. When I was looking over the stats I was shocked to see that we've turned the ball over a whopping 19 times, 10 fumbles and 9 interceptions. Whereas we've only recovered 5 fumbles and had 5 INT's. We are at the bottom of the barrel in the conference with a turnover margin of -9. The next team is at -5. That is just horrible. NAU is at a +3 turnover margin.
In the end, as usual, it comes down to turnovers and our ability to run the ball against their D. Let's hope that our offensive line can wear down their defense and our running backs can hold on to the damn ball. NAU plays the deseret storm defense with 3 down lineman and consistently bring pressure with their linebackers whether it's a twist game inside or right off the edge. I hope our young O-line can deal with the movement and stunts that they'll be bringing almost every down. With them bringing pressure and stunts like they usually do it always opens up a hole somewhere. Tafuna's downhill style doesn't usually work well against the type of scheme that NAU runs. Reason being is that with their pressure and stunts the hole isn't always where it's designed to be. But this type of scheme almost always does leave a hole somewhere along the line of scrimmage as is usually the case when a team blitzes. If Tafuna and our other running backs can be patient and wait and see where the hole has developed they will have a hay day. The vision of our running backs will be one of the difference makers in this game. If they can run with great vision, patience, and cut back if NAU has blitzed into the designed hole they'll run for days in flagstaff. Let's hope that we can handle the pressure up front and take what their front 7 give us. Good luck to our boys. This game is a great test of our team's character and ability to rebound. Do work fellas!!!!!!!!!
