NDSU vs. BIRDS GAME DAY

[redbirdfan04]

Wow what a way to lose a game Defense played their heart out ! OC have got to start rolling bryson out. It's beyond me seeing an OC line up the RB on the left side of Bryson with the Defense not even blitzing from the left side... Um if RB is on right side of a QB who throws R-Arm and rolling right um he might be able to throw to the RB as a check off.. Because other than Nagel we don't have any other at WR that can stretch the field. I did see them throw to Carr and Kehepra both had a step on DB's which referees had blinders on for 2 pass interferences. When they do have Bryce throw to the left and rb is on the left they are always throwing to middle of the Field with receivers covered. LOL hearing announcers talk about Casper R being a big focus on shutting him down... um ISU had James Robinson last year which made it easy for CR to get open and all WR when teams were stacking the box to stop robinson !

The issue with rolling Jefferson out is he seems to overthrow high when he is moving. His decision making is bad right now. He seems to be overthinking everything. I think we should continue to play Jefferson. It is tough because the defense is playing so well and the offense can't put a drive together.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Three games into the season and three times the Redbirds had a chance to win or yesterday tie it up at the end of the game. All three were failed attempts. NDSU was not sharp offensively yesterday at all. They are still trying to find a QB themselves but maybe they did courtesy of the Birds. Miller was only 5/7 for 61 yards but no interceptions. Nolan was 6/13 for 72 yards but also 2 interceptions. Miller took the Bison down the field and scored a TD when they needed it badly. I would be surprised if he is not the starter for the Bison next week. Jefferson was 9/26 for 124 yards with 1 interception. He is still inconsistent and tends to throw high. I am still wondering why the QB change for one series in the first half. Does not matter just curious why. This was Jefferson's 6th start now (3 playoff games last season and the first 3 this season). The last two defenses were very good. Still, if I am looking to play the Redbirds in the next game or two I am not exactly terrified of playing this offense. The big differences on offense from the last time they played NDSU was no JR and no Coach Beathard coordinating the offense. No JR changes everything on the field. The young Redbird RBs are playing pretty well but they are not JR. The offense just looks out of synch to me. Especially on the final drive with no time-outs and the clock running. Playcalling and just walking around. That I think you have to put on the coaching staff. Special teams were not particularly good yesterday either. A shoestring tackle saved what could have been an opening kickoff TD for the Bison. A short time later special teams give up a punt return for a TD. Then there was the extra point kick. Funny because when the Redbirds scored to bring it within one point my wife said "they tied it up!" My comment was, "Not yet". Then the line drive extra point straight into the line. It was not truly blocked it was sent on a wire straight into the line. The D is still strong. Special Teams and Offense still need work.

 

[MadBird]

Lots of good observations.

I thought the Bison announcers did a pretty good job, overall. They sort of dogged Himmelman a couple times, when he got "rolled" pretty good by the Bison DE. And it makes me wonder "out loud" to the board, does it seem like the OL isn't quite what it should be? Or did I just have higher hopes than the rest of you? Would've been nice to have Megginson and Hirsch, but I sure thought we had a pretty decent bunch of guys with some experience, that don't seem to be opening holes or protecting the QB? Just me?

Once we withstood the initial "blitz", I thought we hung in there pretty well across the middle of the game. The running game looked respectable - we actually outgained them but had more negative yards. This time White was leading rusher not Brown. I like that, two guys who can get it done.

Something has to be done about the high passing problem. Timmy, can you fix this??

Weren't some of us griping about not using the TE's enough? And Gillum was out so we were gonna have a problem his year? Taula was very promising yesterday.

Special teams need help. Irvin was listed as special teams coach last year - no one listed this year. Irvin too busy with co-O coordinator role? Is it a job that's just hanging this year?

Virginia asked about playing Waring for just the one series - Spack had said earlier in the week he expected more guys to play to just get some reps, give the other guys a rest, blah blah blah. I was thinking when Waring went in it wasn't so much "yanking" Jefferson at that point, but just getting the idea out there that you (Jefferson, anyone) might get replaced and don't think of it as "punishment". Just my thought. But I'd like to see what he can do, for sure.

I see signs of improvement. Gonna need it down the road.

 

[TIMMY]

The receiver on the dig route was open. The sweep had open field ahead. Nothing will work if you can't execute.

If you can't execute an easy play then find someone who can.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Lots of good observations.

I thought the Bison announcers did a pretty good job, overall. They sort of dogged Himmelman a couple times, when he got "rolled" pretty good by the Bison DE. And it makes me wonder "out loud" to the board, does it seem like the OL isn't quite what it should be? Or did I just have higher hopes than the rest of you? Would've been nice to have Megginson and Hirsch, but I sure thought we had a pretty decent bunch of guys with some experience, that don't seem to be opening holes or protecting the QB? Just me?

I agree Madbird. I thought the announcers yesterday called a pretty decent game without the sometimes all too frequent homer display. The O-line did not play badly yesterday in my opinion. The Redbirds as just so predictable it makes it harder for the O-line. There were very few times yesterday when the Redbirds did not run on first down. Then in a second/third and long they of course drop back to pass. You could almost set your clock by it. The Bison would pin their ears back and charge. The Bison blitz quite a bit and they play solid run defense, they look a lot like our D to me, but if you continue to run on first with little success you have already put a heavy burden on the O-line. I would like to see the play-calling mixed up a bit. These last two defenses were very good. I expect to see the line play better in the next game.

 

[redbirdfan04]

As soon as the game was over my buddy says you guys are the best 0-3 team in the country!

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Interesting article. Spack says on the blocked extra point it was a bad snap and the holder had the ball laying flat. Spack also said the Redbird running game is "much better" than the last time they traveled to Fargo. Brown and White played well Saturday but if Spack truly believes the running game is better now than when JR was in the backfield ... well, I don't really know what to say to that.

3 things we learned: North Dakota State outlasts ISU Redbirds 21-13

North Dakota State’s Brayden Thomas, right, helps to tackle Illinois State’s Nigel White on Saturday, March 13, in the Fargodome. (photo courtesy Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor) The last time Illinois State met up with North Dakota State in the FargoDome each team was led by a future NFL...

www.chicagonow.com

 

[fourthandshort]

As soon as the game was over my buddy says you guys are the best 0-3 team in the country!

I was only able to watch sporadically, though saw most of 4th qtr.

More generally this year, the defense has been more stout and consistent than I expected, given all the losses from the 2019 defense ... graduation, pandemic, and now injuries. Though we haven't yet played any proven offenses .. USD, UNI, or NDSU.

We're seeing the sporadic potential on offense with our young skill players RBs Brown and White, and QB Jefferson on the run. It does seem like the pocket is collapsing easily at times. So we're seeing Jefferson's greatest asset .. feeling the pressure, and getting out of trouble to either run or buy time to throw. Obviously, his throwing is not good right now .. likely a combination of mechanics, confidence, play calling, insufficient offseason work due to pandemic, no indoor facility with turf ... and so he just is not yet comfortable/familiar with it all and his passing/confidence has been impacted most. I want to stick with Jefferson all spring and see where he is at in fall. He has all the physical tools of a true dual threat.

He also doesn't seem to panic, even while playing poorly in pass game. I watch him jog off field after bad plays and then back on the field ... he seems to have the right mental make up to deal with the pressure .. that's not a small thing. He just needs to settle down with mechanics and get more familiar/comfortable with his reading the field/play. I assume him getting consistent reps on game surfaces (feel, flow, timing, etc) was impossible this past offseason. And he wasn't asked to throw those last 2-3 games in 2019.

I'm sticking by Jefferson until 3rd or 4th game next fall ... this guy has the physical and mental skills to play at this level, just need to give him time in pass game. It may not work out, but he has the best tools for this level of any HS QB that Spack has ever recruited and developed out of HS. he doesn't throw as well as Kolbe (as SO anyway), but he does everything else much better. Kolbe really struggled in pocket at times and it eventually hurt his pass game.

One comment/question on QB Jefferson .. it's been 5+ years since QB Tre Roberson roamed our field. But does it seem like Jefferson, while probably not as fast as Roberson, is better ... that is, just as adept/quick but also bigger/stronger ... at getting out of trouble when pocket starts to collapse. Putting aside pass game for now, does anyone else think Jefferson compares well or even favorably to Roberson in that one regard .. scrambling out of trouble and turning play into positive yards .. or less negative yards, other than errant throws on run ?

Anyways, I'm sticking by Bryce Jefferson all spring. This is our developmental season offensively IMO ... We're just too young everywhere. We may go 2-6 of 3-5, but I don't care. Next fall, I will care and judge at that point.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

One comment/question on QB Jefferson .. it's been 5+ years since QB Tre Roberson roamed our field. But does it seem like Jefferson, while probably not as fast as Roberson, is better ... that is, just as adept/quick but also bigger/stronger ... at getting out of trouble when pocket starts to collapse. Putting aside pass game for now, does anyone else think Jefferson compares well or even favorably to Roberson in that one regard .. scrambling out of trouble and turning play into positive yards .. or less negative yards, other than errant throws on run ?

I can't say I agree with that comment but they are in such different aspects of their football careers. Bryce is a redshirt Sophomore and has only been at ISU. Tre had starting experience at Indiana and went from the 2011 season all the way through Indiana spring ball in 2014 before transferring to ISU. Also, having Coprich in the backfield and Tre's passing skills made the defense play so much differently than Tre seemed to have more open lanes to make big runs. I did not see Jefferson elude the NDSU pass rush that well on Saturday but I also don't think the NDSU defense cared at all about the passing game. Tre was a much more experienced player by the time he arrived in Normal. I know you were asking about just the one aspect of their game and this is no dig on Jefferson but I would still put Tre ahead of Bryce, at least at this stage.

 

[MadBird]

I'd say at minimum Tre came to us with a hell of lot more experience - a season or more of Big 10+ starts? - and composure, confidence, swagger, whatever you want to call it. Bryce might have some potential, I'm not totally ready to bail on him yet, but I don't see "better than Tree" out there right now. Tre was a pretty solid performer.

 

[jbird]

Play the freshman QB from Des Moines for the remainder of Spring games. Get him ready for the Fall.

Other schools in the league seem to find freshman QBs who are mature and skilled enough to be winners. I never played the sport competitively, and so I don't have the stature to credibly analyze or criticize a young QB, but ISU went out of their way in the 2019 postseason to protect Jack Balz's redshirt and now he doesn't appear to be In the top three on the depth chart at QB.

 

[jbird]

Other schools in the league seem to find freshman QBs who are mature and skilled enough to be winners. I never played the sport competitively, and so I don't have the stature to credibly analyze or criticize a young QB, but ISU went out of their way in the 2019 postseason to protect Jack Balz's redshirt and now he doesn't appear to be In the top three on the depth chart at QB.

He was still on the roster pre-season, did anything happen to Balz?

 

[MadBird]

Other schools in the league seem to find freshman QBs who are mature and skilled enough to be winners. I never played the sport competitively, and so I don't have the stature to credibly analyze or criticize a young QB, but ISU went out of their way in the 2019 postseason to protect Jack Balz's redshirt and now he doesn't appear to be In the top three on the depth chart at QB.

Isn't it "funny" (odd), since when Davis went out "last year", Baltz was up next, and now not only Jefferson but Waring have moved past him.

I was frustrated watching USD and UNI and NDSU trot out young QB's, FR or Soph, who can flat out play. Hell, UNI's QB took our pants down in 2019 when he was a RS FR. We either keep the clamps on our kids, too conservative with them, or we aren't getting promising enough prospects.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Isn't it "funny" (odd), since when Davis went out "last year", Baltz was up next, and now not only Jefferson but Waring have moved past him.

I was frustrated watching USD and UNI and NDSU trot out young QB's, FR or Soph, who can flat out play. Hell, UNI's QB took our pants down in 2019 when he was a RS FR. We either keep the clamps on our kids, too conservative with them, or we aren't getting promising enough prospects.

Or ... the Redbird coaching staff knows little about developing QBs and an offense. Just playing Devil's Advocate.

 

[TIMMY]

Or ... the Redbird coaching staff knows little about developing QBs and an offense. Just playing Devil's Advocate.

40 years ago as a young coach my HC told me if I ever wanted to be an HC myself I had to learn how to coach QB's. He explained that as an HC I was the only constant in my program. Everyone else would come and go. Boy was he right and I'm glad as a young guy I hung on his every word.

It seems to me we've been caught with our pants down twice now with Beathard leaving. He was the QB guy. He was a good coordinator. Now saying that I will also say QB mechanics are hard for some QB's to "get". Some of it's not quite natural. Think of changing your golf swing after doing it wrong a having some success doing it wrong. Then go play with a really good golfer. Just don't play for money.

Drew Keil has a great understanding of QB mechanics. Somebody call him. The QB Docs | The Scientific Approach to Private Quarterback Training

 

[fourthandshort]

VABird and Mad ... my only question and comparison of Bryce to Tre was simply related to their pocket sense and skills avoiding sack, whether buying time or getting down field. Bryce seems just as good on that front, though not nearly as many other pieces in place around him. Plus Bryce is bigger, while Tre seemed faster. Bryce's ability to avoid sacks as 1st year QB has impressed me, and he is good in open field.

 

[redbirdfan04]

I also notice, including myself, we are very fast to "fire" the next QB up. It is easy to say with better QB play, better coaching, better recruiting at the position we are 3-0 now. I'll be honest at times during a game i'm yelling put in the Iowa kid! At this point the rest of the season is nothing but practice for this fall. Keep pushing Jefferson and push the playbook on him.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

I also notice, including myself, we are very fast to "fire" the next QB up. It is easy to say with better QB play, better coaching, better recruiting at the position we are 3-0 now. I'll be honest at times during a game i'm yelling put in the Iowa kid! At this point the rest of the season is nothing but practice for this fall. Keep pushing Jefferson and push the playbook on him.

I agree that essentially the rest of the spring season is somewhat game exposure and developing for the fall. I am not suggesting pulling Jefferson however I do think they need to get some of the other QBs, at least the #2 some game experience this spring. Also, meaningful game experience, not clean-up time, or the game is out of reach time. The Redbirds are on track for a possible repeat of what happened when Brady Davis went down and the only two backups, Baltz and Jefferson, had no real game day experience. Baltz did not do well and they limited Jefferson to almost exclusively handing off to JR. The next few games would be a good time to get the backup QB some real game experience. I would go so far as to have the backup start a game and have Jefferson ready to come in if need be. Nobody is immune from being injured and it would be nice to bring in a backup with some real game time under their belt if Jefferson is injured. You always want to win the game but it is going to be more important in the fall.

 

[cubird]

If we have any more injuries on defense...Spack may have to pull the plug on the season. It has become even more clear lately that he has not been a fan of playing in the Spring. His biggest fear of injuries and little depth increases the chance of this trend continuing. Not worth risking the fall season?

 

[Redbird15]

If we have any more injuries on defense...Spack may have to pull the plug on the season. It has become even more clear lately that he has not been a fan of playing in the Spring. His biggest fear of injuries and little depth increases the chance of this trend continuing. Not worth risking the fall season?

please injuries are part of Football. Excuses ... for development... guess they only have 14 defensive players. Play some of the freshmen etc if others are hurt live game and situational experience is the key to winning ! Especially coming up fall season. Pull the plug on spring then what happens when players get hurt this fall no developmental back ups to help in the fall. All the young bucks can gain weight if the season was pull but that does not mean they are going to be anymore skill for the fall season. Pulling the season he might as well not practice till the upcoming fall season. Which bet they would still require kids to practice .........