It took until the fourth quarter before the offense looked like an offense. And as Old Guy said in a previous post, the offensive line is one of the most dreadful to this point in his 41 years of watching football.
Yet, this team is still 2-1, has given up just one touchdown in three games and is ranked in the top 25. So what side of the glass do you fall on: half full or half empty?
Half Full. Last time I looked winning was all that mattered. Bison are 2-1/0-1. Brock Jensen looked good. He presented a true threat running and passing. Both he and Jose played under the same circumstances. I liked the Way Jensen moved the team a lot better. Its a young team and there will probably be some disappointment ahead. Its a young team, that seems to be talented and seems to be improving. I like it. Next Saturday is the test.
I agree with Jack ^
The team looked completely different with Jensen at the helm – the offense clicked, running backs found their holes better and the receivers seemed to run crisper routes – not to mention the opposing defense COMPLETELY bit on that fake pitch. Maybe the quarterbacks trust Jensen’s pocket presence better as they seemed more open to throwing downfield once he was in, or maybe that was just Brock making a good read. Whatever the case, the Jensen-led offense scored six more points in three quarters than the Mohler-led one did in nine. That’s a big figure to take notice of.
I don’t think the offense was that much more overpowering with Jensen at the helm. The points they scored were aided greaty by field positio set up by some very good defense and some very very good punt returns by Ryan Smith. However, the offense did look more fluid with Jensen out there after the first couple series and I think if you give him a week’s worth or practice with the #1s you could see a very big improvement of his command of the offense. I think you’ll see Bohl use the Andy Reid inspired strategy this week of playing the backup QB because the starter won’t be able to get a full weeks worth of practice in and was struggling mightily prior to getting concussed.
Half full. We’ve had the chance to watch 3 games against teams of all levels of play and it’s quite obvious that we have a very good defense. The defense is so good that we’ve won 2 games and could have won 3 despite some horrible offensive games.
This offensive line isn’t much less talented than teams in the past. They just need some time to play together and gel. I think Brock is a much better QB and will help immediately. Even if he isn’t, we’re good enough on D to play the field position game and compete every week. But if we want to take it to the next level and make the playoffs, we have to figure out how to throw deep or else teams will continue to stack the line. Brock had more success going deep than Jose did
Still too many question marks offense but I can confidently say we’re a decent team. Maybe 6-5 or slightly better. Problem is we want this team to be great.
If we can’t, we’ll need to be phenomenal on special teams. The jury is still out on special teams. We’ve got 2 great games and 1 not so great game.
The Defense is good, but young and will make mistakes from time to time. They should be very tough a month from now. The offense is not good but all of these o-lineman have been moved around. Let them have a few games to get it together and I think they will be OK. I think Jensen is the man! He is young and will have growing pains too. I think by the end of the year the Bison will be a real good team. Will we make the playoffs? It depends how fast everything pulls together. That is how it goes when you are playing this many young kids. If the coaching staff can continue to recruit like they have the last two years the Bison should be a dominant program once again. Playoffs or not this year, the Bison should be very good next year and dare I say great in 2012! Go Bison!
I did not see the game but I listened by radio. What struck me in listening was the fact that young Mr. Jenson seemed to find his way after a couple of tough series. To be sure he did not sustain a number of long methodical drives nonetheless he did what was needed when the defense and special teams gave his offense good field position. I have been wondering about Mr. Jenson since he came into ND State. His size, speed, apparent poise in the pocket, and decent arm is exactly what the Bison need. I have nothing agaist Mohler but the quarterback position is so important since it is the position that really puts all pieces of the offense together. You can have great receivers but if you have an average or less quarterback your great receivers are not much good to you. But if you have a good to great quarterback with average receivers your good to great quarterback will make the average receivers seem like they are formidable group. Without a doubt a better passing game could help shake loose the opposing teams’ defenses and maybe open up some more of the dismal runnng game. And we hope that the shuffling of the offensive line comes together soon.
As well the defense is so much improved from last year but this game coming up with USD will truly test them. USD has a very mature offensive unit. They are crisp. They are finetuned. They are aggresive. And their quarterback can throw the ball to very fine receivers with a high level of accuracy. Will the defense be able to put enough pressure on him? Will the defensive backs and line backers be able to cover and contain and break up the onslaught of the USD offense schemes? I sure don’t know. Either way this game will be a great test for the Bison and another great learning experience for them. Very glad to see the Herd at 2-1. Let us see if they can get to 3-1.
Very good comments gentlemen. I stand by my assessment, however, that this is not a very talented offensive line and several points of evidence clearly demonstrate that I am correct. The number of sacks they have given up is historic. No solid offensive line with talent would give up that many sacks and be overwhelmed that often. The lack of production in the run game is also historically low. Again, this is caused primarily by poor athleticism and technique on the OL. The Bison also don’t rotate anyone as they have in the past which means they are thin, which means there is a lack of talent at that position because there is no one who can come off the bench (Beckius only came in the last game due to a ding with Cornick). Lastly, Boen Anderson has proven a bust from the JUCO route, which Bohl has never gone to in the past. He has yet to play a down after being a much heralded signing this spring (and he participated in spring practice). If they have so much talent, why did he go to the JUCOs? I still think Bohl needs to be held accountable for lousy recruiting, particularly at this position and others.
Regarding pressure on USD QB, while I agree the Bison defense has looked good, they did not get pressure on the Morgan State QB. They will have to do much better against USD and mobile QBs like they have proven difficult for the Bison in the past. I doubt we will see much pressure given his mobility. USD will be favored in this one.
“I still think Bohl needs to be held accountable for lousy recruiting, particularly at this position and others”
What do you propose? Taking his first born son? You keep flapping your yap about the same stuff time and again.
Bohl has made some changes but that still not enough as you keep harping about the past.
So again——–how should he be held accountable?
Hey Mr. Oldguy,
You are right on the money about the o-line and their ineffectiveness and lack of depth. As well your take on the d-line’s early lack of ability to get to the quarterback is disquieting since it is true. Nonetheless I am seeing some critical evidence of the making of fine football team in the next two to three years to come. But to get there this year can go a long way to building a rock solid identity; building some confidence even if they have to eat some humble pie along the way; and finally to recruiting ever more top shelf atheletes who are hungry to win. No doubt USD is the favorite but I sure hope I am wrong on this call.
until we can show we can move the ball , you right usd has to the Favorite
It doesn’t take much analysis of the roster to confirm what OldGuy is talking about. Have a look by class at the OL by signing class:
Class of 2006:
Arndt
McGregor (walk on)
Class of 2007:
Richard
Cornick
Britt (walk on)
Class of 2008:
Lund
Beckius (walk on)
Anderson (JUCO transfer)
Class of 2009:
Jacobs
Jerve
Pomerenke
Nack (walk on)
Class of 2010:
Hinz
Schueller
Turner
It looks pretty plain to me that for the classes of 2006, 2007 and 2008, Bohl went cheap on OL recruits and now it’s biting him square in the rear area. Walk ons don’t count because you don’t have to pay them unless they earn a playing spot. Anderson, coming from a big time Twin Cities program, has resume of a guy that NDSU would’ve signed back in 2008, but didn’t for some reason or another (maybe the academics weren’t there for DI?).
It’s obviously picked up in 2009 and 2010…but you hate to rely on 2nd year players LET ALONE FRESHMAN! What it’s worth, Turner looks like he belongs out there, even as a true freshman. But that’s pretty far from the norm.
Championship teams rely on Sr and Jr leaders on the OL, who have been in the system and built themselves up (both mentally and physically).
My $0.02
New QB looks better than Mohler–hope they stick with him
No freakin way USD is favorites…..you,re on crack!
When does the coverage start for the big game Saturday. I hear they are starting to call SDSU, NDSU and USD the BIG 3! Well deserved. Nice group of elite programs with some remarkable achievements to show since moving up.
I think the BIG 3 is great!
Big 3? How about the Big 7? Figure it out!
Big 7?????
What I have heard is the BIG 3 is a club reserved for the Major College Football programs in the Dakotas that have distinguished themselves. NDSU and USD both have at least 1 FBS win in the Big 10. NDSU has wins in the Big 10, Big 12 and MAC. SDSU has made the Division 1 football playoffs. Thats why its not the big 7. If there is no criteria wheres the honor and pride of achievement?
PS. All three are in the Summit too.
After looking over several different sites I would say that NDSU is an underdog. UND fans are extremely sensitive (lol) and the BIG 3 are getting a lot of attention right now. NDSU and USD playing for the round robin title between Gophers, NDSU and USD. SDSU invading Big Red. What more do you need for a exciting “half full” weekend?