Tree Week

[Spathicle]

In the hopes of looking forward rather than backwards lets start talking about Tree Week. Sycamores lost by two scores at home to NDSU and lost their second straight in a close one this past weekend in Normal. Both teams' backs are against the wall and would have an argument for the playoffs if they win out. Here's to hoping both teams streaks continue!

#sixmorewins

[UNI92]

Re: Tree Week

I feel confident with the way our defense is playing and our offense is making strides. The MVC is ridiculously tough and we can't afford a let down. I think of the 3 game left in the regular season, this is the team with the best shot to beat us.

[95UNIGRAD]

Re: Tree Week

I feel confident with the way our defense is playing and our offense is making strides. The MVC is ridiculously tough and we can't afford a let down. I think of the 3 game left in the regular season, this is the team with the best shot to beat us.

Agreed. I think we pull it out, but the Trees will make us earn it. They had ISUr on the road and let it slip away.

[panther-state]

Re: Tree Week

The trees have a knack for getting luck on their side. They have pulled out some pretty amazing wins the last few seasons by way of some really unlikely events, bounces, etc...

Don't let them stick around! They are a solid enough team of making anything happen

[jegbomb52]

Re: Tree Week

remember when any home game was an automatic win, especially against the cellar dwellar trees?

[Mudrafan]

Re: Tree Week

I watched the end of their game this past weekend. I'm not sure I've seen a worse final drive than the Tree's last drive. Between their coach & QB, they were a clown show at the end. If it is a close game, I really like our chances based on what I witnessed. They were clearly overmatched for the moment.

[in_the_stands]

Re: Tree Week

Last season they put up 14 early points against what may have been our overall best-ever defense. Combine that with our slow start last Saturday, I'm going to be plenty nervous.

[isu87]

Re: Tree Week

how we do vs. UNI will depend a lot on how many of our injured defensive players return to the field. If we're without a lot of them then we'll be in trouble. If most return it will be a good game.

Our special teams stink really bad too, so if they continue to make bad decisions we're in even more trouble.

And we have terrible discipline to boot, 6 personal fouls in our game in Brookings, then 5 vs. the bison, which allowed them to continue many drives, leading to scores. So expect to see us penalized a LOT

also to add, we give up a LOT of QB sacks as well, our OL is large, but they've been repeatedly beaten off the line by quicker D-linemen from opposing teams. So if your D is quick we may have trouble there too.

Offensively we do have weapons, so we're hoping they're "on" this weekend.

[vbfan19]

Re: Tree Week

And we have terrible discipline to boot, 6 personal fouls in our game in Brookings, then 5 vs. the bison, which allowed them to continue many drives, leading to scores. So expect to see us penalized a LOT

NDSU players are quite good at aggravating opposing players (and are either good at hiding it from the refs or have some sort of special arrangement with the officials b/c they rarely have calls go against them)

[Mudrafan]

Re: Tree Week

how we do vs. UNI will depend a lot on how many of our injured defensive players return to the field. If we're without a lot of them then we'll be in trouble. If most return it will be a good game.

Our special teams stink really bad too, so if they continue to make bad decisions we're in even more trouble.

And we have terrible discipline to boot, 6 personal fouls in our game in Brookings, then 5 vs. the bison, which allowed them to continue many drives, leading to scores. So expect to see us penalized a LOT

also to add, we give up a LOT of QB sacks as well, our OL is large, but they've been repeatedly beaten off the line by quicker D-linemen from opposing teams. So if your D is quick we may have trouble there too.

Offensively we do have weapons, so we're hoping they're "on" this weekend.

what happened at the end of the game Saturday in regards to clock mgmt. the last two minutes? I couldn't believe what I was watching. At one point, I swear the clock went from 2:30 to 1:30 in between one play from your own end of the field when you were driving to win. I also saw a 4th & long dumpoff. Receivers catching the ball inside two minutes & not getting out of bounds, etc...etc...taking sacks...etc.

[isu87]

Re: Tree Week

what happened at the end of the game Saturday in regards to clock mgmt. the last two minutes? I couldn't believe what I was watching. At one point, I swear the clock went from 2:30 to 1:30 in between one play from your own end of the field when you were driving to win. I also saw a 4th & long dumpoff. Receivers catching the ball inside two minutes & not getting out of bounds, etc...etc...taking sacks...etc.

we were going into a monster headwind, and on that 4th down play pass to Tonyan he just wasn't down the field far enough and was stopped short of the 1st down. Obviously he should have been at least to the 1st down marker.

Our play calling is suspect at times. We looked great in the 2nd Q, and in the 3rd Q we still had the tailwind, but had drives end d/t penalties once again. We really needed 1-2 more TD's in that 3rd Q but they just didn't get it done.

Playing indoors should help us this weekend.

[wretched]

Re: Tree Week

I think UNI will be able to create some big plays vs ISUb, pressure the QB and make them mostly a 1 dimensional team offensively, thinking there is a good shot at numerous TOs and the D setting up the O with great field position or even scoring themselves. On O I think we see a similiar game to last week except better as ISUb has given up lots of yards on both the ground and through the air, and does not get great pressure on the QB, they struggled to contain the QB running the ball in virtually every game they have played. Big game on the ground coming for Baily.

On another note UNI fans are ISUr and NDSU fans this weekend, correct? If we win out and get some not so far fetched help good chance this team could finish 3rd in conference.

[vbfan19]

Re: Tree Week

Frankly, I don't think it much matters what the rest of the conference does.

If UNI wins out, they are in the playoffs regardless of where they finish in the conference standings, but even if they finish 3rd, they won't be getting a top 8 seed. And first round matchups are determined pretty much solely on geography (and possibly potential hosting bid amounts) than on merit.

I suppose if UNI were to lose one and finish 6-5, then their conference standing might come into play, though it would be more dependent on what the rest of the potential at-larges do, and I don't think 6-5 gets it done anyway.

[vbfan19]

Re: Tree Week

but speaking of the Trees, one thing Farley mentioned during the media luncheon was ISU's penchant for trick plays, and he was expecting to see one or two of those sometime during the game.

[wretched]

Re: Tree Week

Frankly, I don't think it much matters what the rest of the conference does.

If UNI wins out, they are in the playoffs regardless of where they finish in the conference standings, but even if they finish 3rd, they won't be getting a top 8 seed. And first round matchups are determined pretty much solely on geography (and possibly potential hosting bid amounts) than on merit.

I suppose if UNI were to lose one and finish 6-5, then their conference standing might come into play, though it would be more dependent on what the rest of the potential at-larges do, and I don't think 6-5 gets it done anyway.

Am I wrong in my understanding to qualify for the playoffs that a team must have 7 FCS wins or is that an informal deal?