• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts access private forums and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your eGriz.com experience today!

South Dakota Coyotes Scouting Report

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
Whatever this early fall crud is that's going around is no fun, I was feeling better yesterday and it came back and hit me good today. I've had some time though to get digging on our first opponent. It seems wild to think that in a week from now it'll be the night before our home opener!

Last year's team went 6-5 on the season and had some fairly close losses losing their opener against Air Force by just 17, losing to North Dakota who finished 7-3 on the season by just 1, and losing to Cal Poly by just 3. Of course they had some big wins as well, beating then defending national champs EWU and beating Southern Utah by 5. The USD media indicates that the 2012 team returns just 4 starters on offense and 6 on defense. Comparatively the UM returns 3 starters on defense (Tripp, JP, Tully) and I think 6 on offense (Kistler, Poehls, Oiland, Nguyen, Gratton, Hardy).

Of course I've got nothing to recap on them in terms of games/system/etc - I might add to this but it's even tough to find write-ups on this team. Here's some general snippets though of what to expect and players to watch:

#11 Tyler Starr - 6-5 236 pound linebacker who had 14 sacks last season and 19 TFL to finish the year. Starr was named to the Missouri Valley Conference pre-season team and 3rd team all-American FCS. Joe Glenn compared him to NFL linebacker Aaron Smith that he coached at UNC.

#69 Tim Ross - The 6-2, 285 pound center is an honorable mention MVC pick and the only O-line player with returning experience.

#9 Aaron Swift - At 5-8, 170 he's undersized as a safety but has 2 years of starting experience and was 4th on the team in tackles last year with 54, he had 2 forced fumbles, and tied for 3rd best with 5 pass break ups.

#7 Chris Frierson - A 6-1 corner, started last year, had 36 tackles, 1 int, and 5 PBU's.

#16 Josh Vander Maten - the starting QB. Josh is 6-2, 205 and a red-shirt sophomore. He contributed in 7 games last year and his season stat line was 22-38, 221 yards, 3 TDs, 0 ints. He also had 94 rushing yards and 1 TD. He was scout team player of the year 2 years ago and in high school started all four years in prep. He's a bit of a runner as well, per his prior stats. Played point guard as well in high school.

#17 Will Powell - Starting and most experienced WR. Powell was the team leader in receptions (42), yards (763), and TDs (5) last year. He's their only experienced threat that returns on offense. He accounted for nearly 40% of the USD passing game last year.

#83 Austin Koch - a 6-1 junior Austin has been getting props in fall camp as the other starting #1 WR, he had no stats from last year though.

#32 Marcus Sims - The split-starting running back Sims didn't start a single game last year but lead the team in rushing with 660 yards and 4 TDs, he added 53 receiving yards as well.

#5 Jasper Sanders - Will also get carries, also 5-10, 200 like Sims he's a CC transfer where he was averaging nearly 80 yards per game there.

#43 Darius Hogans - 4th on the team with 59 tackles, a returning linebacker, 6-1, 215 pounds.

General Observations:

- USD, much like Montana, has a ton of new guys in the trenches, they return just 1 starter on the Oline and no starters on the Dline as best I can tell. Montana returns 3 starters on the Oline and no starters on the Dline.

- Per press suggestions it appears that USD's probable starting Oline will average about 6-5 and 294 pounds. Compare that to the Griz Oline which is pegged to be at 6-6 and 308 pounds.

- An article I read about the USD o-line suggests they were having a lot of issues one the defense started throwing blitzes at them just a few weeks back.

- Joe Glenn was quoted saying he wants to use his QB's mobility. I don't expect a spread like we have but we will see some zone-read stuff where Vander Maten keeps the ball and runs with it.

- Additionally it sounds like the LB Starr is their version of Jordan Tripp, they talk about playing him all over. I'm not sure but I wonder if USD will use a 3-4 defense, based on the articles I read.

- The USD coaching staff has some familiar names. Obviously there's head coach Joe Glenn, there's also linebackers coach Adam Breske (son of Mike Breske). Additionally DC Jason Petrino is a Carroll alum and cousin of Bobby Petrino. Shane VanDiest, grad assistant, former Carroll safety.

- Joe Glenn retained the USD OC (Beschorner) who is in his 4th year in that spot. Assuming there won't be a major shake up in the system then we can look at last year's team for a suggestion of what they'll run. If that's the case look for a team that goes for a rush-leaning attack which uses the rush to set up the pass. Last year's team had 444 rushes on the season and 245 pass attempts. It averaged about 150 rushing yards per game and 180 passing yards per game. It was a pretty sound group committing just about 1 turnover per game. So expect disciplined football that will try to smash the ball first.

---------
Keys to winning the game
---------

It's the opening game of the season against a somewhat unknown opponent, here's the best I can put forth;

1. Keep it simple for now. There'll be lots of jitters on both sides of the ball and I expect both coaching staffs will be working to cut out as many errors as possible. With both teams breaking in new QBs but having experienced running backs I'd expect a lot of early running plays. As the game goes on and as McKinney shows increased comfort "in-game" then start to expand the playbook.

2. Blitz. Test that OL out, that could help put pressure on their QB and fluster them.

3. Keep an eye on Starr. In one article he talked about making sure the QB knew when he was blitzing... ok. Make sure we've got a TE chipping him and Moore or Counts or whoever ready to block him when needed. Don't let this guy get rolling.

4. I'm thinking some smash-mouth football is in order on Saturday to test out that USD d-line and see what they're made of. Grind them out and get them worn out by the 3rd qtr.

5. Stay safe in the passing game. Per what I read USD's secondary returns 3 starters. While these guys look a little undersized in some positions they're experienced. Don't go right after them.

6. Cash-in when in the red-zone. USD holds one distinct advantage and that's in the kicking department, they've got a senior kicker who is a pretty steady kicker. If this game comes down to the better kicker they'll have to like their chances. Of course the Griz can remove that option by making sure to not turn this game into a low-scoring kicking affair, but rather getting in the endzone rather than settling for 3 points.

7. Win the turnover battle. A tall order against a team whose history suggests they don't turn it over. I'm carrying this over from last year, every game where the Griz won the turnover battle they were victorious.

8. Don't get beat deep. Our safeties and young corners showed real good discipline this fall camp, need to keep it up against a team that's going to try to get them to creep in.

-----------------

Overall I do see a Griz win in this first game, although it'll probably be close well into the 4th qtr. Both teams are dealing with a lot of coaching turnover and losses due to graduation. The Griz should be bolstered by the home crowd as well as more experienced depth in many positions. As long as Trent's confidence isn't crushed (which I don't see how it could be) and the Griz OL wins in the trenches, I think the Griz could come out with a win along the lines of 31-17.
 
CPSLO has a nice highlight reel from their game last year. You can see that USD uses some mis-direction, play-fakes, as well as QB draws in their offense.

And actually USD's QB #16 played in this game so you can see a little bit of what he can do.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6vy1TtSzmk[/youtube]
 
Also found this one from USD's win over SUU:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbqLdL0n41s&feature=related[/youtube]
 
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20120826/SPORTS0203/308260028/Coyote-seniors-find-lasting-link?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CSports%7Cp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VERMILLION — Quintin McMartin was a big third-grader and Tim Marlette a big fourth-grader when the University of South Dakota players first shared a football field.

They’ve been teammates almost without exception ever since. Both moved through the Sioux Falls junior football program together to become standouts at Washington High and then took scholarships at USD.

This year, because Marlette had a redshirt season and McMartin did not, they’re leaving college football together as seniors for coach Joe Glenn. The season kicks off Saturday at Montana.

“We’ve basically been on the same team ever since we started playing football,” said McMartin, who has been a full- or part-time starter at USD all four years.

“It’s pretty crazy when you think about it. I mean, we were up against Wisconsin last year and it all began when we started practicing on a little field at the park in Sioux Falls.”

The combination was an effective one, first for youth coaches in Sioux Falls, then for Brian Hermanson at Washington, where both players made the Argus Leader Elite 45 team.

“Tim was a very good running back in fourth grade,” McMartin said. “We were always hitting our growth spurts before the other kids, so we were always stronger and faster than everyone else.”

Different roles
Their experiences at USD have been on opposite sides of the ball, but that’s just where the differences start. The 6-foot-1, 234-pound McMartin came to Vermillion as a tight end, but got on the field as a true freshman at fullback and has stayed in that spot ever since.

Marlette, a somewhat undersized middle linebacker at 6-foot, 219 pounds, redshirted as a freshman and has been a special teams player and backup linebacker until moving into the starting lineup this year.

A perennial all-academic honoree who has already earned a math degree, Marlette went from being a dominant presence on offense and defense at Washington to a bit player at USD.

There were some adjustments to make in attitude and expectations during a redshirt year followed by three years as a backup, but to his credit, he made them gracefully.

“It’s not a very well-followed path – starting for the first time in your fifth year – but these guys offered me a scholarship and I owe them five years of good work,” Marlette said. “If I have to bide my time and wait, I’m fine with that because they showed faith in me, so I have showed faith in them.”

While serving in a supporting role, the linebacker has had plenty of time to think about the merits of continuing to put forth the effort.

Whenever the question came up in his head, he came to the same conclusion.

“It’s a humbling experience, but the way I always thought about it was like this: I was starting at Washington when I was a younger player,” Marlette said. “Whenever a younger guy is playing a lot it means an older player is on the bench.

“I always figured I owed it to everybody that sat behind me in high school to stick this out, to go through what they went through, and pay my dues.”

Senior leaders
In the eyes of the coaching staff, Marlette has officially paid those dues.

“Tim was behind Adam Broders for three years, so he watched him play a lot,” said USD linebackers coach Adam Breske, who was also a part of the defensive staff during the Ed Meierkort era.

“Tim is a very smart kid and a great leader, so he popped right into the role he’s going to have for us this year. We’re not going to lose much. You get the leadership aspect, you get the guy that has seen the reps and done the stuff – you get the best of both worlds.”

In days of yore, the fullback position McMartin now plays tended toward the glamorous side. Fullbacks were a bigger version of the halfback and often had as many carries.

These days, if fullbacks show up on the field at all, it’s usually for blocking – though McMartin caught a touchdown pass against North Dakota last season.

“I’m going to be involved in the passing game a little more this year,” he said. “I’m not much of a run-the-ball guy, but they know I like to get out there and catch it, so they’re going to let me run some routes.”

Much of McMartin’s time will still be spent looking for guys to hit, however, which is fine, because he’s pretty good at it.

“Quintin understands the entire offense – he knows what everyone is supposed to be doing,” offensive coordinator Wes Beschorner said. “But what really stands out with Quintin is his physical toughness. He’s got an ability to find the people he’s supposed to run into. That’s not an easy thing to do.”

Beschorner attributed some of that to the program McMartin came from.

The offensive coordinator called the Washington brand a very dependable one these days in the view of college coaches.

“It’s a rich history,” he said. “You know when you bring in a Washington kid, you’re going to have 100 percent effort and they’re going to be good kids.”

That’s not exactly a coincidence, if you ask McMartin.

“Hermanson makes everybody get from spot A to spot B fast,” McMartin said. “Even if you go to the wrong place, you do it fast. Nobody walks anywhere.

“That’s how college practices are run. Some guys come to college practices and they’re lost. If you played for Hermie, you know how it works.”
Click to expand...
 
Oh yeah, I'm better now - put this report up last week.

Here's another article (obviously an older one):

http://www.goyotes.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081512aaa.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

VERMILLION, S.D. - - The South Dakota football team has a little over a week of preseason camp in the books, and the mentality of the Coyote players has impressed first-year Head Coach Joe Glenn.

“Ever since I got here, the attitude, energy, enthusiasm and spirit has been outstanding,” Glenn said. “It’s been motivating for me and for all of the coaches.”

Glenn, who was named Coyote head coach in Dec. 2011, is no stranger to preseason camps. The 2012 campaign is his 25th as a collegiate head coach. The veteran mentor has averaged 7.5 wins per season during his coaching career.

The first seven days of practice have focused on installing the Coyotes’ system. Now, the focus turns to evaluating personnel.

“At this point, we’re installed – we’ve got our offense in, our defense in and our special teams in,” Glenn said. “We need to get a stronger evaluation of how this is all going to work. We need to scrimmage and see game-time situations.”

The team will hold its first live scrimmage on Saturday morning.

“They want to play the game,” Glenn said. “The kids want to be involved.”
Click to expand...
 
BWahlberg said:
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20120826/SPORTS0203/308260028/Coyote-seniors-find-lasting-link?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CSports%7Cp

VERMILLION — .....BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH.....

The combination was an effective one, first for youth coaches in Sioux Falls, then for Brian Hermanson at Washington, where both players made the Argus Leader Elite 45 team.

......BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....

“It’s a rich history,” he said. “You know when you bring in a Washington kid, you’re going to have 100 percent effort and they’re going to be good kids.”

That’s not exactly a coincidence, if you ask McMartin.

“Hermanson makes everybody get from spot A to spot B fast,” McMartin said. “Even if you go to the wrong place, you do it fast. Nobody walks anywhere.

“That’s how college practices are run. Some guys come to college practices and they’re lost. If you played for Hermie, you know how it works.”
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I started to read this article, and then i got to the part about Hermie's dad and it was just blah blah blah after that, until the last few paragraphs. I kept thinking how lucky we were to steal Hermie away from that state. I guess there are a few gold nuggets left in SD afterall.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top