Redbird vs USD game thread

Redbird15

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Random thoughts before QB post.

That was actually one of the best football weather games I've been to. And to think it was in February. I was uncomfortable early on because I overdressed and got too hot! I threw my jacket off and felt a litte better. I actually got some sunburn on my forehead. Very strange.

Give LB'er Reid props for an outstanding performance. He looks like a "Gameday" player.
 

Redbird15

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Reid is an Animal ... Hopefully we will have him this week. play basically the second half saw him on sideline un padded. Looks like a like injury or tweak.
 

DBird

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Realy good question. Here's my opinion. It's not his system. Coach is a defensive coach. That's "his" system. We've had a lot of coaches influence the offense over his tenure. Truth be told we've pretty much had a revolving door at the OC and they've tried to put in stuff to fit the talents of the QB's at the time. Beathard was really good at that. And we've had outstanding talent on offense. Coprich, Robinson, Roberson. Shit if you can't win with those guy's there's something wrong with you. But nothing we run says ISU trademark on it the way NDSU does. It's just a bunch of plays everyone runs. Again just my observation from afar.
And they have had multiple coaches and didn't miss a beat!
 

crazzymark

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If Jefferson Moran on that last play he was gone to the 5-yard line he'll learn next time he will and I still see I assure you winning the remainder of their season
 

fourthandshort

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Hey message board did you guys hear Brock Spack has stopped playing the best player at every position.
in support of calling spack out for purposely not playing the best players, I am going to boycott this forum tonight from midnight thru 5am. In fact, I'm going to start doing this every night until Spack stops purposely not playing the best players. He'll learn his lesson eventually !!!!!!!

:rolleyes:;):LOL:
 

Bird Friend

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Realy good question. Here's my opinion. It's not his system. Coach is a defensive coach. That's "his" system. We've had a lot of coaches influence the offense over his tenure. Truth be told we've pretty much had a revolving door at the OC and they've tried to put in stuff to fit the talents of the QB's at the time. Beathard was really good at that. And we've had outstanding talent on offense. Coprich, Robinson, Roberson. Shit if you can't win with those guy's there's something wrong with you. But nothing we run says ISU trademark on it the way NDSU does. It's just a bunch of plays everyone runs. Again just my observation from afar.
So . . . I guess that is "no" . . . ;)

It just seems to me that other than Roberson, we haven't had a QB that could be counted on to do the right thing. And that means either the QBs we get can't be trusted or the system their in doesn't allow them to do what's necessary when faced with trouble. Last season we could focus solely on running because we had the best RB in the country (and a QB whom I think couldn't be trusted when the chips were down). We don't have the best RB this season. But we do have a QB who can run and throw (similar to Roberson, but he also had Coprich), but hasn't been really tested and I'm not sure our Co-OCs are ready to unleash him . . . or don't know how to.

So . . . maybe Spack has trouble identifying and hiring the OCs we need?
 

Total Red

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So . . . I guess that is "no" . . . ;)

It just seems to me that other than Roberson, we haven't had a QB that could be counted on to do the right thing. And that means either the QBs we get can't be trusted or the system their in doesn't allow them to do what's necessary when faced with trouble. Last season we could focus solely on running because we had the best RB in the country (and a QB whom I think couldn't be trusted when the chips were down). We don't have the best RB this season. But we do have a QB who can run and throw (similar to Roberson, but he also had Coprich), but hasn't been really tested and I'm not sure our Co-OCs are ready to unleash him . . . or don't know how to.

So . . . maybe Spack has trouble identifying and hiring the OCs we need?
I think message boards gravitate towards complicated explanations when simple explanations will do. If we just say, "we just weren't good enough" it's a short conversation. If we question the entire offensive "system" or lack thereof it gives us more to talk about.

I don't see anything wrong with our offensive "system" other than the fact that it isn't being performed very well. Unleash the QB? He's unleashed. We weren't conservative. Jefferson threw several deep passes and that's where he enjoyed his greatest success with completions of 55, 58 and 59 yards. We attempted 34 passes so the offense was close to balanced (40 rush attempts). But 34 may have been too high. Jefferson had 4 interceptions to go with those 3 long completions. Jefferson is not on the passing level Roberson was in 2014 (Roberson's numbers fell off in 2015 when he attempted to play with an injured hand.) The offense provided all kinds of chances to tie the game on the final drive. Jefferson had lots of room to run and some receivers got open. On the final Redbird offensive play Jefferson had room to run, or if he insisted on throwing the ball then Taula was open in the back of the endzone. Instead he threw to a well-covered Nagel - (INT). We just didn't get it done. This week could be a different story.
 

JHBird

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If we still had Brady Davis we would have killed them; he was a pretty competent QB. I was looking forward to seeing how he'd do with a healthy Edgar and Grimes this year.

I don't like seeing Jefferson carrying the ball like a loaf of bread. Pretty sure he lost a fumble doing that last year. You'd think he'd learned his lesson there. Oh well, it is only one game. I don't care if we develop our own QB's or get them through the portal. I just wish we had lured another Davis here. Doesn't seem like we have a plan B this year if Jefferson flops. I like the idea of having Jefferson "run first"; maybe that would open up the passing game a bit. The new dual OC's probably is another issue. Lot of things changed from last year.
 

MadBird

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So . . . I guess that is "no" . . . ;)

It just seems to me that other than Roberson, we haven't had a QB that could be counted on to do the right thing. And that means either the QBs we get can't be trusted or the system their in doesn't allow them to do what's necessary when faced with trouble. Last season we could focus solely on running because we had the best RB in the country (and a QB whom I think couldn't be trusted when the chips were down). We don't have the best RB this season. But we do have a QB who can run and throw (similar to Roberson, but he also had Coprich), but hasn't been really tested and I'm not sure our Co-OCs are ready to unleash him . . . or don't know how to.

So . . . maybe Spack has trouble identifying and hiring the OCs we need?
Come on now - under Spack there's been 4 years of Matt Brown, two years of Tre, two years of Kolbe, two years of Davis and a year of Blake Winkler. Me personally, I'd rate Davis at the bottom of that list, or maybe just ahead of Winkler. But I'd count on the first 3 to "do the right thing". So, it hasn't been that bleak.

Altho, I'd agree the record with OC's hasn't been "solid". Lots of changes, some inexperience other than Beathard. We could do better.

It's not too late for a transfer to show up for fall - if Jefferson falters, that may be what needs to happen. But I think Jefferson's got some upside. We'll see.
 

Redbird15

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If we still had Brady Davis we would have killed them; he was a pretty competent QB. I was looking forward to seeing how he'd do with a healthy Edgar and Grimes this year.

I don't like seeing Jefferson carrying the ball like a loaf of bread. Pretty sure he lost a fumble doing that last year. You'd think he'd learned his lesson there. Oh well, it is only one game. I don't care if we develop our own QB's or get them through the portal. I just wish we had lured another Davis here. Doesn't seem like we have a plan B this year if Jefferson flops. I like the idea of having Jefferson "run first"; maybe that would open up the passing game a bit. The new dual OC's probably is another issue. Lot of things changed from last year.

If we still had Brady Davis we would have killed them; he was a pretty competent QB. I was looking forward to seeing how he'd do with a healthy Edgar and Grimes this year.

I don't like seeing Jefferson carrying the ball like a loaf of bread. Pretty sure he lost a fumble doing that last year. You'd think he'd learned his lesson there. Oh well, it is only one game. I don't care if we develop our own QB's or get them through the portal. I just wish we had lured another Davis here. Doesn't seem like we have a plan B this year if Jefferson flops. I like the idea of having Jefferson "run first"; maybe that would open up the passing game a bit. The new dual OC's probably is another issue. Lot of things changed from last year.
Grims is Healthy ! Edgar is still dealing with Hamstring problems he barely ran 7 yard hook route caught the pass got hit ... when he got up he was grabbing his hammy which was not a low body hit ! GO look back at game watch his movement when running routes and jogging off the field etc. He is no where near 90%... I would say he more like 70% if he agitate that injury more its going to be similar to last year. Off and On with a nagging hamstring issue is tough to deal with.
 

StLRedbird

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I'd like to know if anyone sighted Bryce Jefferson on Saturday. The guy we watched in the playoffs last year and that fellow in the #5 jersey don't look like the same guy. The main difference is that playoff Jefferson had some severe restrictions and game one Jefferson had the governors off. I thought his decision making in the first two playoff games was rock solid, even poised. A little less so at NDSU, but I blamed that on the stage maybe being too big. Experience can fix that. The thought I can get out of my head is that some players just have bad instincts.

The criticism of Spack's record with QBs is probably warranted, but he's had some near misses. If just one of those guys takes it to the next level, it'd be a different discussion.
 

fourthandshort

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For now, I'm hanging in there with Bryce Jefferson at QB ... it was one game. I just really like his skill set - he just needs to learn to play this game at the MVFC FCS level. It's just one game .. he started really well, ended pretty well ... til the last play. And we put a lot of weight on him suddenly compared to 2019 playoffs. Life after Robinson was bound to be a little difficult ... look what he did in NFL on a 1-15 team.

Some were raving about the USD QB, who played very well for a FR QB. But his longest drive was 52 yards for a FG .. their only points not off a turnover between or own 26 and 40 yard lines. Nice gig if you can get it. Bryce led us on 5 drives over 68 yards. Then consider our 6 TOs on our end of field, all but one on our first set of downs .. yet we still way outgained them for the game. And had a realistic chance to send game into OT despite losing TO battle 7 to 1.

Got to fix the turnovers, but Bryce Jefferson as the skill set for this level. He just needs to settle down .. we shall see if he does.
 

redbirdfan04

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I agree, if you pause the game at 17-0 no one is throwing in the towl with Jefferson. He knows he made mistakes. The coaches know. The team knows. UNI knows. Give the kid a chance. I believe when it is all said and done he will be at the top of the list of Spack recruited QBs.
 

fourthandshort

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I think message boards gravitate towards complicated explanations when simple explanations will do. If we just say, "we just weren't good enough" it's a short conversation.

🥵 You talking bout me again ??

Quinnie ... TR is clearly trying to run your fan forum into the ground and suppress 95% of my posts as protected by the 1st amendment. I demand you place him under full spring season ban .. nothing less will do !!!
 

Virginia Redbird

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Realy good question. Here's my opinion. It's not his system. Coach is a defensive coach. That's "his" system. We've had a lot of coaches influence the offense over his tenure. Truth be told we've pretty much had a revolving door at the OC and they've tried to put in stuff to fit the talents of the QB's at the time. Beathard was really good at that. And we've had outstanding talent on offense. Coprich, Robinson, Roberson. Shit if you can't win with those guy's there's something wrong with you. But nothing we run says ISU trademark on it the way NDSU does. It's just a bunch of plays everyone runs. Again just my observation from afar.
I agree. That is what is so frustrating with the Birds. If they could have put together a consistent offense over the past few years and had solid QB play there may even be some hardware in the trophy case. There is just no offensive identity. Another reason why I do not like the Co-Coordinator concept. I don't think you build an identity or system with Co-Coordinators. The offense is groping around trying to find something that works. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then so maybe they hit on a game or two, but championships demand consistency. NDSU is the model for that. Spack reminds me so much of Lovie Smith during his Bears years. Terrific defense and constantly searching for someone to fix the offense. How many O Coordinators did Lovie have...a bunch. You have some good seasons with a great defense and win some games but in the playoffs, most everyone is a good team and just defense alone will show the weaknesses.
 

Virginia Redbird

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For now, I'm hanging in there with Bryce Jefferson at QB ... it was one game. I just really like his skill set - he just needs to learn to play this game at the MVFC FCS level. It's just one game .. he started really well, ended pretty well ... til the last play. And we put a lot of weight on him suddenly compared to 2019 playoffs. Life after Robinson was bound to be a little difficult ... look what he did in NFL on a 1-15 team.

Some were raving about the USD QB, who played very well for a FR QB. But his longest drive was 52 yards for a FG .. their only points not off a turnover between or own 26 and 40 yard lines. Nice gig if you can get it. Bryce led us on 5 drives over 68 yards. Then consider our 6 TOs on our end of field, all but one on our first set of downs .. yet we still way outgained them for the game. And had a realistic chance to send game into OT despite losing TO battle 7 to 1.

Got to fix the turnovers, but Bryce Jefferson as the skill set for this level. He just needs to settle down .. we shall see if he does.
The difference to me between the QBs was that the Freshman QB making his first start true had a short field for a good part of the game and turnovers cause the defense to come in abruptly and cold and offenses score many times after turnovers. What the difference was to me was the USD QB was harassed and hit frequently early in the game during the quick start ISU got off to. It did not seem to faze him at all. He did what his team needed him to do to win, he made very few mistakes and one turnover, and he was on his game when the team needed it, the scores after the turnovers. Jefferson got off to a great start and then it fell completely apart for him and you could see it in his play and the confidence in the offense as a whole. The Bird's offense went stale for about a third of the game. 3rd quarter they may as well just put cardboard cutouts of the offensive players on the field...may have been better to limit the turnovers. Players have to have confidence in their QB. It just was not there for some time. On the other side, you could see the confidence building in their QB and his teammates. Based on that one game and that game only...yes, I would take the USD QB over Jefferson in a heartbeat. That may not be the case at the end of the season but we were only looking at one game. Frankly, I don't care if your longest drive was 25 yards. He did not lose the game for you and he did what he needed to do to win it. ISU beat USD in the total yardage category. The Birds still have a loss on their record. Winning the Stat battle is meaningless.
 

MadBird

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Geez -- I just peeked in, and North Dakota is leading South Dakota 7-3 at halftime!! Who's idea was it to get the goddam Dakota schools in the MVFC??
 
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