2015 Season Comparison

[AZGrizFan]

Yes, Wags will be missed this season. I think the hardest player to replace on defense will be Takai.

:agree:

 

[AllWeatherFan]

NDSU has proven that you can have a very, very good defense with players who aren't necessarily NFL-caliber. We'll miss Wags, but his absence alone doesn't make or break us. It's a team sport.

 

[Alaska Griz]

In regards to the records at the end of the year, 10-2 or 9-3 or 8-4 doesn't make a huge difference to me as long as we are peeking when the playoffs roll around. Home field is always nice. I'm definitely in the camp with having a tough schedule, taking some licks early on, and seeing if lessons can be learned, especially this year. Haven't seen too many teams that avoid playing tough OCS make it far in the playoffs lately.

 

[kemajic]

The offense will be better. The defense, without Wags, will not. Schedule is tougher. Somewhere between 6-5 and 8-3.

I'm not so sure about that defense statement. I think our front 7 is in for a possible SMALL let down, but don't sell Kidder/Crittenden/Holmes/Wilson/etc. short. But I think our corners and safeties will be improved.

I'm not so sure about the offense statement. New coaches, QB, RBs. Replacement of the JJ, Canada and Van output is being pooh-poohed, when in fact, it could be a challenge.

 

[kemajic]

The offense will be better. The defense, without Wags, will not. Schedule is tougher. Somewhere between 6-5 and 8-3.

I'm not so sure about that defense statement. I think our front 7 is in for a possible SMALL let down, but don't sell Kidder/Crittenden/Holmes/Wilson/etc. short. But I think our corners and safeties will be improved.

Wags is a once a decade player. Teams that lose players with that kind of production have a letdown. He wasn't the product of a system. He made everyone around him better.

We lost Biermann after 2007 and still went 14-2 with a NC appearance.

We had DOLA back then and Chase Reynolds. Little evidence of either yet in this group.

 

[kemajic]

The offense will be better. The defense, without Wags, will not. Schedule is tougher. Somewhere between 6-5 and 8-3.

I'm not so sure about that defense statement. I think our front 7 is in for a possible SMALL let down, but don't sell Kidder/Crittenden/Holmes/Wilson/etc. short. But I think our corners and safeties will be improved.

And the LBs will be even better and hopefully deeper.

 

[AZGrizFan]

The offense will be better. The defense, without Wags, will not. Schedule is tougher. Somewhere between 6-5 and 8-3.

I'm not so sure about that defense statement. I think our front 7 is in for a possible SMALL let down, but don't sell Kidder/Crittenden/Holmes/Wilson/etc. short. But I think our corners and safeties will be improved.

And the LBs will be even better and hopefully deeper.

Yep. :thumb:

 

[Griz!ron]

After the spring ball reports, I'm mainly worried about the O-Line. Although they should be more stout than in 2014, they won't have the TE or FB help in pass protection. They'll have to hold their own.

 

[statler & waldorf]

Somehow, my confindence in the O-line is less than good.