UND held a 29 play “scrimmage” on Wednesday to try and get some live reps for the younger/newer players.  Even though it was extremely windy that day, the team was able to run the full offense and give us a look at how the team has progressed thus far in spring ball.

Thunder Lake Lodge
  • Mat Cox, Dan Bell, and Brandon Miller had a nice push on Ja’Won Arrington’s 2 yard TD run.  They paved a big hole through the left A gap for an easy TD.
  • Kyle Norberg showed decent speed on a TD run as he raced for the pylon.  UND ran that play out of the “diamond” formation that has been made popular lately by Dana Holgerson at OSU/WVU.
  • The next play Norberg scored again, this time up the middle as Bell and C Grant Aplin plowed a huge hole for an easy TD.
  • WR Josh Seibel had an “end-around” 30 yard TD run called back by a holding penalty on TE Luke Fiedler.  Fiedler was the edge blocker on the play side but engaged S Jawon Johnson a bit too long and it turned into holding.  Good teaching point for the young TE, who did a nice job on the initial seal block.
  • The QB’s both looked OK, despite the wind.  Keaton Studsrud hit a couple short ‘pitch and catch’ throws to Miguel Cerriteno, who is having a nice spring.   Ryan Bartels will want one throw back – a sure TD pass in the corner of the end zone on a swing route that he overthrew.  Both QBs have missed open WRs on TD passes.  They both need to connect on those throws when given the opportunities.
  • The defense is running around at a much more fast-paced tempo.  It helps having a year under their belt and being confident in their assignmenst and where they are supposed to be; everyone plays faster that way.  You can also notice the pursuit drills are paying dividends.
  • OLB Brian Labat made a nice play off the edge, knifing inside the blocker to make a TFL in the backfield.
  • We really like a few new passing game concepts that the offense appears to have installed this spring.  Multiple different looks in formation and route combos that are giving the UND defense problems.
  • Overall, we really like the progress of the UND running game so far this spring.  However, we have seen some concerning run fits in the front seven on defense that has allowed some big gains.  This needs to be shored up and we believe it will be.
  • The four linebacker positions and safety continue to be the strength of the defense, both with starting talent and depth.  Defensive line and corner continue to be be the spots that need to improve and build quality depth.  More numbers are coming in the fall, but these positions need to have a strong finish.