North Dakota

[beardevil39]

So, ND fans think we are a pushover and irrelevant. I compared our team stats, and we are not that out of line with them. Granted they have a helluva defense especially against the run, but we should be able to pass on them. The key I think will be to stop their run game and ball control offense and not allow any sacks on our QB. We have to be able to stop them from converting third downs or we will be in trouble. We need to concentrate on stopping their run game. If we do, I think we will be able to pass on them and get the upset. Go Bears

 

[uBear]

North Dakota's a tough game, no doubt, but we haven't lost at home this year. Also, the defense has only allowed 21.3 points per game at home compared to 46.2 points per game on the road.

I wouldn't make us favorites to win by any means, but I don't think we'll get rolled.

 

[UTSiouxfan]

I'm expecting a good game on Saturday! Not sure where you are getting that North Dakota fans think that the Bears are pushovers or irrelevant; most expect a moderate 5-10 point victory on Saturday.

Comparing team stats can be tricky, especially with a team like UND that plays counter to most of the Big Sky. UND will focus on establishing the run, winning time of possession and winning the turnover battle.

While it is true that the UND pass defense is susceptible to big plays, it continues to improve and surprisingly is ranked fourth in the Big Sky. Overall, pass defense has been decent, allowing opponents to only complete 54.6% of their passes and leading the nation in interceptions with 16.

Although I am expecting the Fighting Hawks to win on Saturday, I'm not expecting a blowout (especially if our starting quarterback is not going to play). Hopefully, it will be a well played game with no injuries to either team.

 

[Beardown]

I'm expecting a good game on Saturday! Not sure where you are getting that North Dakota fans think that the Bears are pushovers or irrelevant; most expect a moderate 5-10 point victory on Saturday.

Comparing team stats can be tricky, especially with a team like UND that plays counter to most of the Big Sky. UND will focus on establishing the run, winning time of possession and winning the turnover battle.

While it is true that the UND pass defense is susceptible to big plays, it continues to improve and surprisingly is ranked fourth in the Big Sky. Overall, pass defense has been decent, allowing opponents to only complete 54.6% of their passes and leading the nation in interceptions with 16.

Although I am expecting the Fighting Hawks to win on Saturday, I'm not expecting a blowout (especially if our starting quarterback is not going to play). Hopefully, it will be a well played game with no injuries to either team.

I'm hoping the Hawks take us lightly because if so I believe we will win. UND always has a good defense, so our running game will need to step up. I think it will be a close game with neither team winning by more than 10 points.

 

[Da(UNC)Bears]

A big N. Dakota fan told me this is what Hawks stands for.

How
About
We
Keep
Souix

 

[bearfan2015]

What worries me the most about their team is their ability to control the run and create turnovers. I believe they are +23 on the year to date. We have to be aggressive, control the line and control our penalties if we want to stay in the game. We cannot go into our mode of run, run, get into a 3rd and long and put our tail in between our legs because we will get in a world of hurt very quickly. IMHO, of course. Go Bears. We have the talent! Let's do this!

 

[Beardown]

Down by six at half, but we should be winning this game. Slotter's stupid pass on the goal line was the worst this season. I also think if Reik was playing we would be winning as well. He is such a difference maker on this offense. Let's hope for a better second half.

 

[Da(UNC)Bears]

Running the ball out of the spread is stupid! Watching N. Dakota get into the power I is everything I wish UNC would do!

 

[Beardown]

Horrible day for the offense. Defense did what they could without much help from Boyer's group.

 

[bearfan2015]

Horrible day for the offense. Defense did what they could without much help from Boyer's group.

When will Boyer ever learn how to read a team and make calls based on the team in front of us? We are the most predictable team on the planet. We wait until the last 5 minutes to actually do what we did on the first drive. Smdh. Why continue attempting the run play against the best run defense in the Big Sky? Especially if it wasn't working? I think on at least two separate series, we were 3rd and forever, and he runs for 2 or 3 yards... play to win FFS...

 

[Blofeld]

Glad I missed this one it sounds like it was frustrating.

 

[kaydee]

The stats tell it all...
UND ran 71 plays, 76% run & 24% pass
UNC ran 68 plays, 31% run & 69% pass
On Special Teams, I think they had a better kicking game, and the return teams were even.
I have tried to remain positive, but it is evident that some sorta change is needed. On offense I thought one of our strengths was supposed to be our OL. Yet we have them on their heels pass blocking. Ask any successful college OC and they will tell you that their success is based on how well the "big uglies" dominate the LOS. Boyer's play has no flow and consistency and does not support that kind of thinking. In Mustari's article this morning he supports Collin's statement that "there were too many mistakes." Collins is correct, the mistakes were made by a coaching staff that did not prepare our kids properly.

 

[bearfan2015]

The stats tell it all...
UND ran 71 plays, 76% run & 24% pass
UNC ran 68 plays, 31% run & 69% pass
On Special Teams, I think they had a better kicking game, and the return teams were even.
I have tried to remain positive, but it is evident that some sorta change is needed. On offense I thought one of our strengths was supposed to be our OL. Yet we have them on their heels pass blocking. Ask any successful college OC and they will tell you that their success is based on how well the "big uglies" dominate the LOS. Boyer's play has no flow and consistency and does not support that kind of thinking. In Mustari's article this morning he supports Collin's statement that "there were too many mistakes." Collins is correct, the mistakes were made by a coaching staff that did not prepare our kids properly.

Start with Boyer...his play calling would have had him fired at any other institution. Play to win. I watched the Montana / Idaho State game last night along with the Michigan/ Maryland game yesterday. Both are prime examples of offenses that never take the power off the gas. We, on the other hand, never seem to show any sense of urgency until the last 5 minutes of the game. The coaches should have called a time out to slow things down right after we made that big first down just to reset. Poor coaching decisions led to awful results on the field. I also wonder why Mustari didn't ask the obvious....how many series did we have where we set ourselves for 3rd and forever and Boyer opts to run against the best run defense in the Big Sky. Did he do his homework? Numbers don't lie. History doesn't lie. They came into that game with a proven record and we weren't about to be the team who could change that.

 

[kaydee]

A note about Mustari's article...
I will not cuss, so I will have to say that Mustari is a IGNORANT PIG when it came to his comments about Sloter. Sloter's interception was a real bummer, but by no means was it one of the "major mistakes" that caused the loss. To intimate that Sloter doesn't have the balls to talk to him for a post-game interview proves that he knows nothing about college football players. I guess he is just taking his cues from our staff. We lost the game because we were first outcoached during the week and outplayed on game day, as a team. Maybe he was trying to embellish Collins' quote about mistakes. A good writer might have written about how the UNC coaches don't "own-up" to losses anymore. They blame it on the players mistakes. Why doesn't Mustari write about the play calling from our OC. Like calling two "play action" passes in a row late in the game when EVERYBODY and their grandmother knows that we are not going to run and there is no need to hold in the LBs and S. In fact one of those plays led to busted up play cause the extra time it took to fake the handoff resulted in a defensive player blowing up the play. I really do believe that our OC is very intelligent and knows his Xs & Os very well, he just doesn't know about the implementation of game strategy and adjustments on the fly. Did anybody else notice that we had three 3rd qtr series, all three three and outs. All three were pass, run, pass. By trying to be unpredicatble, he has become predictable.

To end on a positive note, it has been awesome to see a couple of "real" coaching staffs at Wyoming and CU turn it around in after 4 hard years of growth.

 

[Beardown]

I think both coaches and players are to blame for this. Including our senior QB, head coach and OC. Sloter CANNOT throw a pick on the goal line that would have given us a lead. He was overthrowing/under-throwing receives the entire game. Boyer keeps calling for those screen passes that usually don't work, etc.

Bottom line is I believe putting the blame entirely on one person or coach is toxic. We win together and lose together.