Sporting News/Matt Dougherty Point After Article

[kmax]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... 980779.htm

No. 8 North Dakota State (3-0) at No. 18 Montana State (1-2), 3:05

I’m making the trek out to Bozeman for this contest, and I’ll admit I didn’t expect to see a team that looks as good or better than anyone in the country. But that’s what North Dakota State has done in the first three weeks of the season. The Bison have outscored opponents by more than 40 points per game (45.0 to 4.7), and those numbers include a 35-7 blowout win at Northwestern State and 41-0 whitewash of Weber State. North Dakota State is getting the job done in all facets of the game with a balance between rushing and passing and holding opponents to only 225 yards per game. The Bison have also forced 11 turnovers while committing only two and average more than 25 yards per kickoff return and nearly 20 yards per punt return. North Dakota State has an 11-3 record as a I-AA program, and every loss came by three points or less. The Bison have already proven themselves as an emerging program, and they’ll get a chance to continue to impress with a remaining schedule that includes trips to Cal Poly and Southern Illinois and a home date with UC Davis. But first, the Bison have to take on an angry Montana State team. The Bobcats were whipped, 38-10, at Cal Poly as they couldn’t get anything going on offense or shut down the Mustang running attack. With linebacker Mac Mollohan out, the Bobcats could have a tough time shutting down Kyle Steffes and a North Dakota State running attack that averages more than 190 yards per game. By all accounts, North Dakota State should win this game. The Bison have dominated through the first three games and have a more balanced team. But they could also be due for a performance that isn’t quite as perfect, and the Montana State offense could be ready for a breakout day. Travis Lulay isn’t likely to struggle for a second week in a row, and the Bobcat offense will get a boost from the return of leading receiver Rick Gatewood. If Montana State falls to 1-3, it can pretty much forget about any shot of an at-large bid to the postseason. North Dakota State is still one of the best teams in the country, but I’ll take a hunch and say the Bobcats play with a sense of urgency and receive a huge day from their Payton Award candidate quarterback to record a critical home win. Prediction: Montana State 31, North Dakota State 24

Cool to hear that Dougherty is making his way to Bozeman this weekend, should be an excellent game for him to witness with the good teams and the great crowd expected. Interesting that he put NDSU as his #1 in his poll and says they may be the best team in the nation, but feels MSU will pull off the upset.

[IrishBobcat]

kmax -

This is bad news indeed. It may not appear that way at first blush. However , in recent years, when the cats are picked to win the big game from the sports network, we have turned around and lost them. Call me crazy (and lazy because I don't have the time or will to pick up the stats from the last 2 years picks).

From my standpoint, I would rather have all the writers say we don't have a chance. We play better that way. We just don't seem to be able to get 'er done when expected.

All that said....

GO CATS!

[SonomaCat]

BUT ... every time I golf over 50 on the back nine of a 18 hole round at a muni course on a weekday of a week of a Bobcat game, they have won every time.

And I golfed really, really poorly this morning ....

[rtb]

BUT ... every time I golf over 50 on the back nine of a 18 hole round at a muni course on a weekday of a week of a Bobcat game, they have won every time.

And I golfed really, really poorly this morning ....

Good work!! Can you get a round in each week from here to December?

[profisme]

I honestly think the Cats have a good chance to pull this one off. If I didn't, I wouldn't have picked up my student ticket today.

The Cats have better luck against a standard run/pass team than against an option team. Cal Poly is a great option team, make no mistake, and the Cats weren't up to it there. I have a feeling that we will see the Cats pull it off this weekend against a more traditionally offense-oriented team. The NDSU defense isn't anything to be sneezed at either, so this game will be a good one to watch.

[hokeyfine]

i had a bad feeling before the cal-poly game. cats never play well in cali.
have a better feeling about this week, it's at home.

[Hell's Bells]

i had a bad feeling before the cal-poly game. cats never play well in cali.
have a better feeling about this week, it's at home.

i just hope the fighting sioux makes it back out of bozeman alive...wait a minute i ment bison, i was thinking that the best football team in ND was going to bozemen my mistake.


ok ill take it to the smack board sorry boss

[WYOBISONMAN]

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.as ... 980779.htm

No. 8 North Dakota State (3-0) at No. 18 Montana State (1-2), 3:05

I’m making the trek out to Bozeman for this contest, and I’ll admit I didn’t expect to see a team that looks as good or better than anyone in the country. But that’s what North Dakota State has done in the first three weeks of the season. The Bison have outscored opponents by more than 40 points per game (45.0 to 4.7), and those numbers include a 35-7 blowout win at Northwestern State and 41-0 whitewash of Weber State. North Dakota State is getting the job done in all facets of the game with a balance between rushing and passing and holding opponents to only 225 yards per game. The Bison have also forced 11 turnovers while committing only two and average more than 25 yards per kickoff return and nearly 20 yards per punt return. North Dakota State has an 11-3 record as a I-AA program, and every loss came by three points or less. The Bison have already proven themselves as an emerging program, and they’ll get a chance to continue to impress with a remaining schedule that includes trips to Cal Poly and Southern Illinois and a home date with UC Davis. But first, the Bison have to take on an angry Montana State team. The Bobcats were whipped, 38-10, at Cal Poly as they couldn’t get anything going on offense or shut down the Mustang running attack. With linebacker Mac Mollohan out, the Bobcats could have a tough time shutting down Kyle Steffes and a North Dakota State running attack that averages more than 190 yards per game. By all accounts, North Dakota State should win this game. The Bison have dominated through the first three games and have a more balanced team. But they could also be due for a performance that isn’t quite as perfect, and the Montana State offense could be ready for a breakout day. Travis Lulay isn’t likely to struggle for a second week in a row, and the Bobcat offense will get a boost from the return of leading receiver Rick Gatewood. If Montana State falls to 1-3, it can pretty much forget about any shot of an at-large bid to the postseason. North Dakota State is still one of the best teams in the country, but I’ll take a hunch and say the Bobcats play with a sense of urgency and receive a huge day from their Payton Award candidate quarterback to record a critical home win. Prediction: Montana State 31, North Dakota State 24

Cool to hear that Dougherty is making his way to Bozeman this weekend, should be an excellent game for him to witness with the good teams and the great crowd expected. Interesting that he put NDSU as his #1 in his poll and says they may be the best team in the nation, but feels MSU will pull off the upset.

That speaks volumes about the importance of this match up and the importance to continue playing each other.......My attitude about the Big Sky Conference......I you can't join 'em....BEAT 'EM!

[CARDIAC_CATS]

Our front 7 need to have a huge game up front. If NDSU can run the ball all day, Lulay will not see the field much (i.e. the benefits of a sustained running game).

[tetoncat]

the interesting thing about their running games is that they have not dominated the time of possession like I would have expected the Bison to with their running game.

[grizzh8r]

the interesting thing about their running games is that they have not dominated the time of possession like I would have expected the Bison to with their running game.

I would assume that is because the running game has so dominated the defense, that they score w/in 5 minutes on a posession... Just some food for thought.

[Hell's Bells]

the interesting thing about their running games is that they have not dominated the time of possession like I would have expected the Bison to with their running game.

I would assume that is because the running game has so dominated the defense, that they score w/in 5 minutes on a posession... Just some food for thought.

or not to score at all, it means that their running back is a homerun threat, if he doesnt hit home runs i bet the kid will strike out using baseball terminology.

[jagur1]

But, the cats showed a goher ball D last week?

[Hell's Bells]

But, the cats showed a goher ball D last week?

i am choosing to be an optimist this weekend jag - damnit!!!

you do see my logic....right???? if he is not a time of posession runner ie ryno or lex then he is going to want to go for the big play, if big play does not develop run goes for maybe 1 yard we have ourselves a 2nd and long or 3rd and long situation

[jagur1]

Like Barry Sanders?

[CARDIAC_CATS]

But, the cats showed a goher ball D last week?

i am choosing to be an optimist this weekend jag - damnit!!!

you do see my logic....right???? if he is not a time of posession runner ie ryno or lex then he is going to want to go for the big play, if big play does not develop run goes for maybe 1 yard we have ourselves a 2nd and long or 3rd and long situation

That is a very good point. We really need to stop the run on first down (while limiting huge run plays). Get them in 2nd/3rd and long. I think our boys come out fired up this weekend and get after some people. Snuff the run (get crowd fired up .. fires up players .. puts pressure on their QB to make plays throwing). Then coaches start thinking about changing their game plan because they aren't staying consistent running the ball. I sure hope we can pop them in the mouth and dictate our defense on them. If we can do that, I think we win this game.

[Platinumcat]

Cardiac,
A couple of good points here. One thing missing from our D this year has been consistent pressure on the QB. This week may not be the week to be doing a bunch of blitzing if they tend to do a lot of high percentage quick throws.
But, I like our secondary's reaction to the ball so far this year. I bet by the time the third quarter comes around, we're gonna see an interception.

It will also be interesting to see how athletic they are in their secondary. Against SFA, our receivers were running hard routes and constantly open. Against Cal Poly they weren't (according to Kramer). And, we had trouble getting open.

My heart has been out to the Bobcats in practice this week as it has brought back memories of my college days and knowing what those practices are like. But, I'll bet they bust their asses this weekend!

[Grizlaw]

Like Barry Sanders?

Not to hijack a thread, but I have a friend who is a diehard Detroit Lions fan, and he quoted me an interesting statistic about Sanders a while back:

For all his great accomplishments, supposedly Sanders is also the NFL's career leader in total yardage lost on first down. (I don't have a source, other than my buddy who lives in Detroit and is a diehard fan -- apparently, this is a widely-known statistic by the locals.) Apparently, a fair number of Detroit fans are of the opinion that, while Sanders was a great player, he wasn't necessarily great for their team at the time, because while he could be counted on to break off a 60-yard td run or two per game, he could also be counted on to kill a few drives per game by losing big yards while trying to make something out of nothing on first down.

Anyway...just food for thought. I guess this post is off-topic. Uhh...go BSC!

--GL

[jagur1]

I always thought he hurt the lions more then helped.