SloStang said:
It helps that NDSU has one of the top O-lines in the FCS and a couple of backs that have a shot at playing on Sundays. It also helped that they were facing a 3 man D-line starting a true freshman and two Rfr not to mention 3 of 4 new starters at LB. All are talented, just lack experience. Tough game to try and cut your teeth on.
Correct. My original post was not made to compare our O-line to that of NDSU, it was to inform the board of a fact that many did not know..... that NDSU adveraged 10/yards per carry. How many times has anyone seen a team who runs the ball 30+ times a game average 10 yards/carry? It was so unprecedented that I wanted to expose their excellence, as a goal for us to achieve. I totally understand that Bobby wants to develop a great running game, which was his focus when was here before.
The ability to run the ball by NDSU is nothing new. They have done this for many years, even when they dominated Division II football. And, Craig Bohl has developed the same dominating running game at Wyoming. I know that Bobby wants to do the same here, and I am 100% in on that philosophy, which is why I hated Stitt's stupid-ass "use the short pass as a substitute for a running play" philosophy. Woody Hayes was correct..... when a team passes the ball, there are only three results, and two of them are bad.
I have no doubts that Bobby will get us there, and have stated that in several posts. However, we are not even close, and will not be this season. Too young, too inexperienced, too many new faces which limits the ability to play effectively as a unit. If the talent is there on the O-line, we might get there next season. I have doubts that the talent is there at several positions. We have a walk-on starting at tackle, and other starters who would not be on the field now if a couple of projected starters had not left the program. At the FCS level, the QUALITY DEPTH is just not there when a team loses 40% of its O-line starters and replaces them with players projected as back-ups. As fans, we would like to think that Germer can coach them up and make them a great line. But ultimately, a coach must deal with the talent level, or lack thereof.