The Game Vitals

downloadGame Time – 1:00 CT

Rumors

Opponent – UC-Davis Aggies @ Alerus Center, Grand Forks, ND

Game Notes – UND   Davis

TV – Midco Sports Network

                                                                         Online StreamingEverSport

                                                                         Spread – UND -6.5.   Total = 48                                                    

UC-Davis Breakdown

— Offense = Pro-style, fullback, tight end, two receivers.

— Defense = 4-3

Offensively, Davis hasn’t changed much over the years as former Aggie QB Kevin Daft is the offensive coordinator.  They will play a lot of 21 and 22 personnel and run their power and lead zone running game like they have in years past with fullback sets.  You don’t typically think of them as a power run team, but surprisingly they are and have always been for the most part.  Up front, the offensive line has typically been more athletic and slender rather than the heavier trench maulers.

When Davis throws the ball, they tend to max protect often to give the QB time to allow their WR routes to develop.  They also like to line up in tough “two-way go” splits with by their WRs on the edge and will show “bunch” alignments and run “flood” concepts with flat, intermediate and corner routes.

The challenge for the UND defense this week will be to stop the run on 1st and 2nd down and  cover up the 2 receiver patterns when Davis max protects the UND blitz and pass rush.  The Aggie QB is typically not a scrambler and runner and likes to sit in the pocket.

The signal caller for the UC-Davis offense is #13 Ben Scott, a 6-3 200 pound junior QB who has thrown for 705 yards, 4 TDs and 3 interceptions so far this year.  Junior wide receiver #9 Chris Martin leads the receiving corps for the Aggies with 13 catches for 288 yards and 2 TDs in 3 games.  He is their game-breaker and after seeing the tape vs. NDSU I am sure they will be going after UND’s corners with Martin.

The Davis offense comes in averaging 20 points per game and 343 yards of offense.

Defensively, the Aggies are a base 4-3 team.  They prefer to play a more straight-forward, stuff the run type of a defense.  Their four down lineman are all bull-rush type of players that try to make life hard for interior offensive lineman.  DT #75 Inoke Raikadroka (6’0-285) and DT #55 Kyle DeVaughn (5’11-285) do a great job of stuffing the ‘A’ gaps and make teams bounce everything for their yards.

UC-Davis is giving up 222 rushing yards per game so they can be run on.  But, to run on them teams have needed to run outside zone or bounce their runs to get around the end.  Might be a strategy that UND will be implementing on Saturday, as well.

The Davis secondary is somewhat beat up and has been starting different players each week.  The only consistent starter has been #29 RCB Patrick Wells.  With all the shuffling there could be some big plays to be had by UND on Saturday.

Overall, the Davis defense is giving up 413 yards per game.  They also have only tallied 5 sacks in 3 games.  On the flip side, UND has registered 12 sacks in 3 games.

North Dakota Keys to the Game

  1. Get in a flow offensively.  There has been no flow for the past 6 quarters of UND football.  That falls on QB Keaton Studsrud to get the offense lined up, get the motion timing in sync, and get everyone on the same page every play.  Be a leader out there.
  2. Go East and West young men.  RB John Santiago is going to have some opportunities to break long run vs. Davis.  But it is more than likely going to be after he bounces it outside the tackles.  Same goes for his fellow true freshman Iwarri Smith.  Smith very well could get the ball in space this week trying to make something happen.  Get out there and go.
  3. Redeem yourself, offensive line.  There has been a lot of talk about UND making some changes up front this week.  To us, that means Mat Cox entering the game at guard or tackle and shuffling somebody else to a new position, possibly Sean Meehan moving down to get Cox or even true freshman Elijah Grady on the field at tackle.  We are 95% sure Grady is going to play.  This will be done to try and jump start the UND running game and pass protection, for that matter.
  4. When the pressure doesn’t get there on defense, UND’s secondary needs to cover up and slow down the Davis WRs in coverage.  They are notorious for running ridiculous, long-developing double and triple move routes downfield in max protection.  Trust your technique and play football.
  5. Create some damn turnovers.  Catch the ball when it’s thrown to you.  UND has dropped 5 easy, right in their hands INT’s this year.  This defense needs to start making plays and taking the ball away if it wants to be taken seriously as a top defense in the Big Sky.  UND has 12 sacks and have forced exactly ZERO QB fumbles on those sacks.  Getting there is great, stripping the ball is better.

Prediction

This is a game UND must win.  Davis is a solid, well-coached football team like always.  Being it’s a home game vs. a lower-to-middle of the pack team, this is one UND needs to have.  We think and hope that UND has learned from themselves over the last 2 weeks and that they are pissed off about their recent performances – they should be.

We fully expect UND to win.  A loss here would essentially eliminate the FBS Wyoming win.  Special teams show up and create a TD or setup the offense like they did last week.

The absolute rollercoaster of a non-conference schedule is finally over.  An FBS win, followed by lower level home game, followed by the renewal of “the” rivalry after 11 years was too many ups and downs for this team.  Now it’s time to lock in on Big Sky competition and take care of business.  Same level every week.

UND  27

UC-DAVIS  16