UND closed out their non-conference slate down to the Fargodome on Saturday and lost 34-9 in a game that resumed a storied, long-time rivalry. The game started out OK for UND but got away from them in the 2nd quarter and NDSU showed that they were the better team as the game wore on. Kudos to a very good NDSU squad.
UND ended their 3 game non-conference schedule with a 2-1 record. Some thoughts from the game and then we look ahead to UC-Davis, who is visiting the Alerus Center on Saturday.
- The UND offense had a terrible day. They couldn’t get anything going on the ground or through the air and ended the game with 61 total yards. Obviously, that is embarrassing and with conference play starting this week there may need to be some hard choices made during practice. The interior of the UND line continues to struggle overall and on Saturday the left tackle had a bad game as well. While the crowd noise didn’t have much of an effect on false starts, confusion on blocking assignments seemed to be an issue again.
- QB Keaton Studsrud just didn’t seem ready for the bright lights of a hostile atmosphere. He was off on many of the passes he threw. We knew he was struggling when on a QB draw he picked the wrong hole and ended up running right into the defensive lineman. The hole was right up the A gap, just like vs. Wyoming.
- The UND wide receivers need to do a better job of route-running and creating separation from the secondary. Many times, Studsrud was having to make perfect throws to even have a chance at completions.
- The youth of the RB group showed its face again between failed pass protections and running to the wrong holes or not having the patience to let a hole develop. Some of this is on the o-line, but some of it was on the young RBs.
- The UND defense did OK overall in limiting the Bison run game. They had 1 rush for 35 yards and 41 more rushes for 70 yards. The QB scramble ability of QB Carson Wentz is what we were worried about but that did not hurt UND. The front 7 did a great job of containing Wentz specifically in the run game and on scrambles.
- Wentz’s arm and mind is what hurt UND. He single-handedly beat them on Saturday. Some of the throws he made were indefensible while others were just too easy as a result of blown coverage by UND. The first TD pass on a quick seam in the red zone was covered pretty well by Brian Labat, but the throw literally skimmed by his ear and into the Bison receiver’s hands on an absolutely perfect throw. Sometimes, guys just make plays and that was one example. UND got a lot of pressure on Wentz, sacking him four times and knocking him down 4-5 more times. But he was too quick with his reads and beat the UND secondary more often than not.
- The UND front seven did another good job up front vs. the offensive line/tight ends of NDSU. Even when NDSU loaded up with a heavy set they weren’t able to do much. It was the spread sets that beat UND.
- UND’s secondary was not up to snuff. The cornerbacks played a average-to-poor game vs. NDSU and need to be better. They were giving way too much cushion and even looking back for the ball at times before they caught up to the WR. That is DAY ONE stuff right there. You DO NOT look back for the ball until you catch up to the WR and are in dominant position. Tackling on the perimeter, specifically by the corners, continues to be suspect and subpar and needs to improve in Big Sky Conference play.
- NDSU ended the day 9-17 on third down. UND had been getting off the field at a 80% clip coming in but could not keep that pace vs. NDSU. Big part of the problem they had.
- First Half plays: NDSU 39. UND 17. Carson Wentz can’t be on the field for 39 plays in the first half if you expect to win.
- As most know, UND lost the services of safety Zach Arnell for the season on Saturday. We believe he broke his lower leg or ankle. Arnell was having a very good season for UND and will be sorely missed. He should recover, however, and be back for his senior season.
“We are on to Davis.”
UND starts the Big Sky slate this Saturday at the Alerus Center vs. UC-Davis. UND enters the game 2-1 and Davis is 0-3.
Davis has lost to Nevada (31-17), South Dakota (27-17) and Hawaii (47-27). Davis was picked 12th in the Big Sky Preseason Poll.
The UC-Davis defense is allowing 222 rushing yards per game. This is an area where UND needs to get back on track vs. the Aggies. The UND run game has been non-existent for 8 straight quarters. That needs to change on Saturday.
UND last played UC-Davis in 2013. The Aggies won that day 34-18 out in California.
