The UND Football team went out to San Jose State on Saturday night and dropped a 42-10 decision to the Spartans.  Obviously, it was not the way UND wanted to start the Bubba Schweigert Era.  Nothing to do but move on and get ready for the home opener vs. Robert Morris.  We are going to start something new by breaking it down very simply for you:  Good and Not So Good (less wordy).

Thunder Lake Lodge

Good

  • The UND offense stuck with the game plan of running the ball, play-action pass and boots that utlilize Mollberg’s athletic ability.  They ended up rushing 32 times for 118 yards.  Install the offense and stick with it – it’s a marathon not a sprint.
  • The play of the inside linebackers.  Will Ratelle and Taj Rich had nice games and really stuck out on Saturday.  Loved the way they would trigger on run plays and made multiple nice open field tackles.  They combined for 15 tackles and 1 TFL.
  • Reid Taubenheim.  The true freshman kicker nailed a 42-yarder in his first collegiate attempt and also put both of this kickoffs into the end zone.
  • Run defense.  It was not outstanding but not awful either (maybe we should have a new category called “indifferent”).  SJSU rushed the ball 40 times for 150 yards.  That didn’t beat UND.
  • RT Sean Meehan was under the microscope in our eyes, and we thought for playing his first game there against an FBS opponent, he played well.
  • Kyle Ruhe showed a flash of what he’s capable of on his 51 yard reception and why the coaching staff seems to be high on him.  He can be a weapon.
  • JUCO transfer Cedric Simmons showed promise running the ball in between the tackles and finished with 56 yards on 13 carries.
  • Young wideouts showed small glimpses of what they are capable of.  Not there yet but they look the part.

Not So Good

  • Punt Coverage.  Granted they were backed up on their own 1 yard line and never got out of the hole before punting, but the coverage on the punt return for a TD by Tyler Ervin was bad.  Even on the punt before that, it took offensive lineman Sean Meehan to make an unbelievable open field tackle on the fastest player on the field (Ervin) or there would have been two punt return for TD’s.  (We know that there was not much hang time on the punts due to a true freshman kicking but the coverage had major gaps in it).
  • Perimeter defensive play.  UND needs more out of their Safeties and OLB’s, arguably the two most important positions in a 3-4.  Both positions didn’t get much done on Saturday and need to drastically improve.  They blew coverage/contain on two boots-legs on the goal line and the OLB’s didn’t create much pressure at all on Saturday.
  • 3rd Down Defense.  SJSU went 7 for 11 on third down.  UND needs to find ways to get more effective on first and second down to make third down become harder.  Too many easy two-way go’s for the Spartans on third and 6 or less.
  • Pass Defense.  Blake Jurich, a senior making his first start ever looked as good as his predecessor (Fales) on Saturday.  He went 22 for 25 and 250 yards and 3 TD’s.  Some throws were way too easy and at least a couple should have been picked off.  Have to capitalize on opportunities.
  • UND lost the turnover battle 2-0, both made by QB Joe Mollberg.  He needs to take better care of the ball moving forward.  The decision and throw on the interception were both bad.  Throw it to the sidelines or just eat it.  That way you still have an opportunity to kick the FG from the 20-25 yard line.
  • Overall performance at the center and right guard spot needs to improve.
  • Simmons “chop-block” penalty was a killer.  We saw him attempt to cut block defenders on multiple plays.  He will need to learn how to take on blockers and engage and sustain a block on linebackers while staying upright.
  • WR group needs to be able to get off the line better while being pressed.  It will come with time, but Saturday showed the youth and inexperience of the group.  SJSU showed little respect for UND’s running game and simply manned up out on the WR’s.