Youngstown State schooled the rest of the league on how to beat the Salukis. Coaches will need to figure out adjustments because the script has been written for future games until we do.
Absolutely yes, if they have the personnel to do it. Youngstown State has a really good front seven, not all teams will be able to rush 4 and get immediate pressure on Baker. It can mask a poor secondary if they only have to cover for 2-3 seconds max (UNI gave Day protection and he showed you can throw on them). Makes it even harder when you are perpetually in 3rd and long and they send pressure. YSU had a great gameplan and executed it perfectly. We had a poor gameplan and executed poorly...that's how you lose 31-3.
I think teams like SDSU and NDSU have similar front sevens, and to your point, that's the blueprint to kick our tail. We got out coached, out played, out physicaled, out everthinged, but I still don't think we are as bad up front as we showed last week...I certainly don't think we are great up front, but not that bad. O-line coach has his work cut out for him the rest of the year because I don't think we have someone on our current roster that will magically step in and fix things...they are going to have to figure something out with the current guys. Fenske not getting the waiver has hurt (again, not a magic bullet, but I think he would have helped slotting in at right tackle or provided some depth at the very least to shift some guys around).
Right now, it looks like the game at home with South Dakota is the key game left on the schedule. You would think the Salukis will be heavily favored vs. Murray St., Western and ISUblue. On the opposite side, it will take a huge effort vs. the Bunnies and up in the FargoDome. SIU will probably be less than a touchdown favorite at home vs. South Dakota. Win that game and the Salukis could probably be 8-3 and have a chance at a seeding. Lose and be 7-4 and be squarely on the bubble, even with (at the time but later faded) top-25 wins vs. SEMO and Austin Peay and a FBS win over a bad Northern Illinois team.
Right now, it looks like the game at home with South Dakota is the key game left on the schedule. You would think the Salukis will be heavily favored vs. Murray St., Western and ISUblue. On the opposite side, it will take a huge effort vs. the Bunnies and up in the FargoDome. SIU will probably be less than a touchdown favorite at home vs. South Dakota. Win that game and the Salukis could probably be 8-3 and have a chance at a seeding. Lose and be 7-4 and be squarely on the bubble, even with (at the time but later faded) top-25 wins vs. SEMO and Austin Peay and a FBS win over a bad Northern Illinois team.
SEMO is now 1 - 4 so that win doesn't mean much. AP is getting some votes.
#10 S. Dakota has one loss, 35 - 10 at #25 Mizzou. They beat NDSU in the Fargo Dome and destroyed Murray. Depends on what happens next few weeks, but I'll be surprised if we are favored. They have a good 6'5" lefty QB who came in last year and whipped us - Bouman - made the All-Newcomer team last year. He was a 4 star recruit who started at Iowa St.
They have three games left in the Dumb Dome against YSU, SDSU, UND and two wimps plus us on the road.
I doubt the MVFC gets more than four teams in the playoffs. SDSU and NDSU are going to have 8 plus wins probably. There could be as many as five MVFC teams with 7 wins.
Imagine if you would, it's easy if you try.
SIU losing to SEMO, and NIU Huskies. The Dawgs would sit at 2-3 instead of 4-1. Some folks mention how bad SEMO is now, but also how darn good they were #13 before SIU played them. Voters felt the same way apparently. They have lost three very close games.
NIU may certainly be down, but the fact remains the Dawgs defeated an FBS school, on the road. 85 scholarship players compared to 63 scholarship players, where a portion of those 63 scholarships are split among players. It was great game to witness in person, and also great to see so many die hard Saluki fans there. Well worth the nearly 5 hour drive.
AP could end up having a good season, and a possible playoff bid. Very close to cracking the top 25.
The YSU loss was both disappointing, and frustrating. Having to play @ YSU the two past years is not ideal, but we should have played better. Similar to last season at South Dakota, decisions made to go for it on 4th down, deep in our own territory really hurt. Is Blake Rolan the answer at OC? In my observations, Top FCS teams seem to be a bit more dynamic in their play calling. At times, we seem to be extremely predictable. Perhaps the other team knows what play will be coming next? Simply put, we got rolled. It's football. Move on. I'm guessing this team has, and will be ready for The Racers. At least let's hope so!
GO DAWGS!!!
Completely Agree! @obd
Imagine if you would, it's easy if you try.
SIU losing to SEMO, and NIU Huskies. The Dawgs would sit at 2-3 instead of 4-1. Some folks mention how bad SEMO is now, but also how darn good they were #13 before SIU played them. Voters felt the same way apparently. They have lost three very close games.
NIU may certainly be down, but the fact remains the Dawgs defeated an FBS school, on the road. 85 scholarship players compared to 63 scholarship players, where a portion of those 63 scholarships are split among players. It was great game to witness in person, and also great to see so many die hard Saluki fans there. Well worth the nearly 5 hour drive.
AP could end up having a good season, and a possible playoff bid. Very close to cracking the top 25.
The YSU loss was both disappointing, and frustrating. Having to play @ YSU the two past years is not ideal, but we should have played better. Similar to last season at South Dakota, decisions made to go for it on 4th down, deep in our own territory really hurt. Is Blake Rolan the answer at OC? In my observations, Top FCS teams seem to be a bit more dynamic in their play calling. At times, we seem to be extremely predictable. Perhaps the other team knows what play will be coming next? Simply put, we got rolled. It's football. Move on. I'm guessing this team has, and will be ready for The Racers. At least let's hope so!
GO DAWGS!!!
