Collegesportsmadness.com has picked us 38th in the country and 7th in the Valley. Probably very close to accurate. If the defense, and more specifically the DT's, can step up our defense will be better. And so will our record. It's my understanding Nick's contract runs through the 2020 season (is this correct). They do need to show some improvement this year.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
College-sports-journal.com also has us at 10th in the MVFC, 6th in Illinois, 64th in the FCS, and 191st in D1. As bad as we've been, it's not surprising that we don't receive a lot of love.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Compughterratings.com has us at 68th.
https://www.compughterratings.com/2019-FCS-Preseason-College-Football-Rankings
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
68th behind non scholarship Drake is just Silly.
I am telling you Baker will be the real deal at QB just wait
I’m not so worried about the offense because I think they have quite a bit of talent at the skill positions and Hill will find a QB...my concern is definitely with the defense. I know last year they lost a ton of secondary players, but even early in the season they were getting torched. If the D plays better the wins will come. Still don’t see a playoff run this year, but will need to make it next year if he’s going to keep his job long term.
68th behind non scholarship Drake is just Silly.
I am telling you Baker will be the real deal at QB just wait
Really hope you're right! Most important position on the field by far - makes all the difference. I don't feel like we've been really strong at QB since Kory Faulkner's senior year 2013.
Herrin Coach Karnes after getting whipped by Rochester in the playoffs 2017:
"I just think their quarterback is something special. Hats off to Rochester. They’re a great team. We’re a very good team, too. They were too much for us today."
Baker continued his marvelous season by completing 24 of 30 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns. He didn’t play a down in the second half.
"He’s the best I’ve seen in high school," Karnes continued. "If that kid was 6-4, you’re talking any school he can go to. If I was a college coach I’d make sure not to go on the size of the kid. I’d go on the arm strength and being a leader. He’s got that special thing that you just can’t coach."
Seems his coach thought pretty highly of him too. I saw him play a couple of times in high school and the kid can definitely sling the rock. Lyles intrigues me too as a dual threat. I’m ready for camp to start and see who is taking the reps with the 1s (I imagine they will be split initially between a couple of the QBs).
We are pick 9th in the MVFC poll. Nick has got to start getting us in the upper half. https://valley-football.org/news/2019/7/29/football-north-dakota-state-picked-to-win-2019-mvfc-crown.aspx
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Nick and this program absolutely have to take a step forward this year.....otherwise I think next season will be his last. If I'm not mistaken, his contract is up following the 2020 season.
As always, the toughest conference in the FCS: http://thefcswedge.com/ags-poll/ags-poll-preseason-2019-top-25-results/
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
FCS Preseason polls are meaningless IMO and have a lot to do with recent performance than future performance.
Nick and this program absolutely have to take a step forward this year.....otherwise I think next season will be his last. If I'm not mistaken, his contract is up following the 2020 season.
Yep, I think 5 years is more than fair. If it wasn’t Nick Hill and I cared more about Saluki football than I do at this point, I would be calling for it after this year. But I’ve been drained of all football hope after Lennon turned the program into mediocrity. Even though it hasn’t worked out and might not work out, I still don’t hate the original hire. But it might be time to grab some retread somewhere to build the program to at least being mediocre again.
If there is improvement this year, I wouldn't mind giving Nick another year or two added on to the 2020 end date. This is Nick's first head coaching try. He came into a program with absolutely nothing. Nick needed to try a few things to see what worked for him. He's obviously changed some things about his recruiting. And he certainly changed a few things about his coaching staff. I didn't think Paulson as a DC would be such a train wreck. The DE position has been corrected and this new defensive staff went to great lengths to try to get the DT position rectified. Nick does great recruiting the 'skill' positions. He simply needs to do a much better job recruiting the big uglies. His last two recruiting classes, on paper, appear to be much better than his first couple. Again, he has caught on to what works and what doesn't. And you can't blame Nick for his first couple years with Dale 'the loser' Lennon's players. I shouldn't be so mean. Lennon was simply out of his depth.
I wish I knew Nick well enough to find out what the hey happened last year with Straub. He went from being an above average QB at this level, to simply bad. Not poor -- bad. Couldn't identify the correct blitz blocking call. Couldn't hit side of a barn with a pass. And sure as hey couldn't read a defense. Paulson continually calling the wrong coverage package and no DT's who could even resemble 'run stoppers' led to the 40+ point defense that sank us last year. And with no competent QB play, I'm surprised we even won two games. I'm still in Nick's corner.
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
Herosports has a preview on SIU today. Like many, they realize the potential for moving up is there. Simply have to do it. https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2019-preview-southern-illinois-mvfc-bzbz
I'm not sayin' -- I'm just sayin'!
