Bison-Bobcat postgame thoughts

[BobcatLionFan]

Positively there are plays both ways that could have gone differently. the score could have been 40 to 10 either direction. But then most games are that way.

The 4th and inches miss by NDSU was a key play. I thought NDSU was going to get it for sure with their big OL, but it just didn't happen. MSU D was tough with 2nd line players at 3 key spots.

The catch by Murray was a great catch. It was to bad the CB fell.

I don't think you have seen our offense much, but we don't do a 7 step drop with the QB. It's more a 3 step drop action offense with a look to see what is happening, then throw. Reason you see the OL cut block at times is to get the DL on the ground. Our receivers are pure SPEED. It doesn't take long to go down field.
No pressure is still no pressure however and that's what happen. NDSU did bring CBs and Safeties, delayed LB blitzs, stunted the DL with crosses and loops. All great looking things, but nothing did get through. If it had the game would probably have ended differently because MSU had the ball very few times (NDSU did a great job keeping the ball). When 3rd down is made so often (and on throws) the D knows that it's coming via the pass. If they don't get there ever, they lose the game (it's not rubbing it in, it's just the way it works). Also what is worth a note is many of these were with no back in the backfield for extra blocking. When there was no back, NDSU's D would play a deep zone with the underneath open, thus the passes there. But with only the OL blocking, the NDSU still did not give Lulay pressure.

It was a very good game by two different types of teams. A running team has to get ahead and pound the ball. It's not a team that can come back easily. MSU is a type of team that you don't bet against if the score is close and they have the ball. (it's been a fact way to many times to be just luck) It's almost better to let them score quickly and then try and come back. NDSU made it hard of them and used a lot of the clock. Thus causing their own problem in having little time to come back as a running team??

NDSU played a very good game. Nothing wrong with losing to MSU at their home.

As to wait until next year? Don't know if that will happen. I don't know if MSU will travel to eith ND or SD for a game. Not much money in it for them. I would guess it might be SDSU again or Northern Colorado or S. Utah at home (with them coming to MSU as a home game). We will play Colorado and possibly Stephen F Austin away. This means they need two, possibly 3 home games before the league, not another away game to one of the Dakotas?? Right or wrong it's a money thing, as well as a record thing?? For NDSU, the MSU game and others are their Colorado or OSU games.

For MSU, this season was a very Tough Set of 4 games for preseason. coming out of it 2 and 2 was actually fairly good. I don't know if they will have the same type of schedule next year. I would guess Cal Poly may be dropped. But either way, MSU needs 2 or 3 home games and the DIV I game will aways be AWAY and not a Home and Away type series. So we need teams that will come to MSU and not expect an Away game in return. I know SDSU was that last year and I would expect NDSU is the same this year.

[Bison Dan]

Congrads to the Bobcats. I was at the game and here are a few thoughts on it. Great crowd and fans.

MSU O - Great qb and receivers. O-line only avg. no running game. Lulay used quick slants and underneath passes all game long and did it like a pro. Unless the running game and the ability to have a 7 step drop for deeper passes comes around, away games will be hard to win.

MSU D - Very good line backers and db's - I think this is the strength of your team.

Coach - post game comments shows me that he is a very arrogant. 1 example. "If we get that 2nd td NDSU folds and goes away".

Good luck the rest of the year.

Nice comments by the Bison fans, they are a quality group. Not a lot of moaning about they shoulda .....

On the thoughts about:

MSU O - OL allowed no sacks, no pressure of Lulay at all. He had all the time he needed to throw against supposedly a very good Defensive line of NDSU. Supposed NDSU had lots of sacks prior to this game?

I think in the previous 3 games, NDSU only gave up 14 points against fairly good teams. They should have given up 27 (given Lulay fumbled on the 20 and MSU was on a roll going in for a score).

MSU had only 57 offensive plays, so it's hard to have huge offensive numbers. NDSU controlled the clock, but could not score in a short time frame.

If the rolls were reversed, MSU having the ball with 1:41 and 80 yards, would consider MSU having a good chance to score at least a Field Goal giving the passing attack and protection of Lulay.

MSU D - I thought the front 7 (with Kolone, Mac, and Lowe out most if not all the game) did a very reasonable job. They bent, but basically stopped NDSU. NDSU had a reasonable passing game, given the D was totally focused on the run and playing zone behind the front group.

On Kramer - He is probably right about what would have happened if we had scored instead of fumbling on that drive. It was in the 2nd half? and with NDSU being a running team, falling behind by 14 or so would have been a big time problem. Krammer is a bunt guy at times. But also, Kammer does respect the other teams to a huge degree. If you listened to the half time radio, Kramer came out and said the calls against MSU (Grenfeld hit of an unprotected receiver and the other big one) were correct calls. No a lot of coaches would have said or felt that way in the heat of the game. He also thinks and said NDSU is a high quality team.

You must of saw a different game than I did. Lulay was doing 3 step drops all day which as you know are hard to pressure. He was forced to run out of the pocket several times. He's a hard guy to get a handle on. The reason your wrong on the he had all day to throw is he only threw down field once that I can remember. If he had all day he would have been passing down field. As long as we're playing if's - your first td was and gift (miss comm between qb and receiver) and the one before half was a great play on the receivers part that just as easily could have been dropped. The Bison missed a 4th and inches in the 3rd quarter that if they get there's a good change they score. But hey you have to make hay when the sun shines. Great Game see yea next year.

Both teams played a very tough/physical game. It could have been won by both teams had the ball bounced a different way (made a first down here or there). NDSU is a very solid team and I actually think they should throw a little more to make themselves less one dimensional (even though they are great at running the rock). Your QB can definately throw the ball so why not put in some more passing in a few games to open things up and make you harder to game plan for. MSU was using 9 in the box the whole game making NDSU try and beat tehm through the air. They rarely went downfield. I think this was a game where both teams were playing bland/short intermediate stuff so as not to shoot themselves in the foot etc. It made for a very close and very entertaining game.

I agree with you we should have been throwing more but hell hindsight is 20-20. The 4th and inches was a call that the coachs will never make again with Walker taking the ball, Steffes will be carring the ball next time. Your fans and posts keep saying that we're just a running team. If you look at the stat's we've been very close to a 50-50 team all year. Walker is a very good passer and for a young team we'll be back!!

[El_Gato]

...The 4th and inches was a call that the coachs will never make again with Walker taking the ball, Steffes will be carring the ball next time...

I made the very same comment after the game; Steffes wasn't thrown for a loss all day (seemingly) and yet on the most crucial play of the game, they call QB sneak right at the biggest defender on the field. That play/call was definitely the key moment of the contest.