Bear week

[havok58]

I'd love to hear some updates on the health of our team if anyone knows or has some insight. We've clearly got several players dealing with some injuries. I'm hopeful we can get more or less healthy before they playoffs. Personally i think we should be able to get by ISUb while getting a lot of players reps and also getting a lot of players some rest.

If UNI can get the game under control in 1st half, I would like to see a lot of players getting rested in the second half, especially Weymiller. He's banged up but still looks like he's giving it all and doesn't want to come out too much. I'd like to see him healthy for the playoffs when the running game will be essential.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Where has J'veon Browning been, btw?

[Panther AC]

Where has J'veon Browning been, btw?

He's been playing on special teams but is now the fourth option at running back behind Weymiller, Allen and Jegen.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Thanks AC! I've been surprised by how little we've seen of him this year.

[7YrsOfCollegeDownTheDrain]

I think we'll continue to see Weymiller and Jegen as the primary ball carriers (i'm guessing more Jegen than Weymiller next week for rest) and then Allen as the third option to carry the ball. Seems like Allen is getting used more as a "third down" back to catch balls out of the backfield.

Weymiller seems to break more tackles than the rest but benefits from more carries to get loose. Jegen seems the next most willing to make a read and get 2 or 3 yards going "north and south" and in my opinion (for whatever that's worth) is that Allen and Browning fell out of favor as ball carriers as they ran too much east and west and had too many zero or negative plays rather than getting the couple yards that may have been there.

This just isn't a dominant O'Line and i feel they've done an OK job with lots of moving pieces but our backs have to take what's there and if they break a tackle or find a seem they may get to the second level. Otherwise get the tough 2-3 yards so we're not 2nd and 10 or 10+.

I'd love to hear any updates on Eli although i'm sure the staff will play this close to the vest.

[Panthers to the Bone]

If I were the coach, I'd rest Dunne, Twait, Sweeney, and Weymiller (at least most of the game), knowing that I should win by multiple TD's and the primary need (besides scoring more points than the other team) is to get everyone healthy for the playoff run.

[Blue42]

I don't recall seeing J'veyon struggle with North/south running.

I think he's always been a productive runner when given touches.

Maybe one of the most mysteriously under-used players in recent UNI history.

Now Trevor...he really struggled with hitting the hole early in the season. But that has improved .

Weymiller had about three full roles of tape on that ankle on Saturday. Would love to see JVB get a bunch of reps this week.

[Blue42]

Next season I'd love to see the two freshman RBs (Huisman and Soko) emerge as options and move Trevor back to the WR/slot.

I think Trevor's a bigger weapon for our offense in that spot. He's a big play guy catching the ball in space.

And let's not use Weymiller for kickoff coverage the first couple weeks of the season and get him hurt. All those young LBs we signed last year should be able to take that duty.

[ronfitch]

If I were the coach, I'd rest Dunne, Twait, Sweeney, and Weymiller (at least most of the game), knowing that I should win by multiple TD's and the primary need (besides scoring more points than the other team) is to get everyone healthy for the playoff run.

With Howell's red shirt option gone - for the second year-in-a-row ... last year Farley put him into the Indiana State game when both Bailey and Dunne were injured, the only game for Howell last season - it might be a good idea to get Dunne out early if there is a lead. That is if he plays at all. He took a big hit on that play.

But if Dunne can play - and line is not a patchwork - I'd like to see him get a couple of solid series under his belt before the playoffs.

Again, though, that assumes many things: that Dunne is cleared to play; solid line play to protect him and a solid lead.

Weymiller definitely needs healing and rest. I read that Twait is close (Courier?).

Drysdale has now hit ten FGs in-a-row with the four at MoState. And UNI is 30-for-32 in Red Zone scoring, best in the conference and number two in the FCS. Number 5 in FCS in net punting (39.73 net yards per punt on 55 punts so far).

[clenz]

Drysdale has now hit ten FGs in-a-row with the four at MoState. And UNI is 30-for-32 in Red Zone scoring, best in the conference and number two in the FCS. Number 5 in FCS in net punting (39.73 net yards per punt on 55 punts so far).

Which is what makes that SUU loss so....upsetting (right word?).

We were terrible at FGs early in the year - I still don't truly trust that unit. On the road after having changed kickers mid game....and we aren't even using the kicker we switched too in that game anymore. Line up to try a 53 yard FG while having one of the best punters in the FCS that could have pinned them with 50-60+ yards to go to even get into field goal range. SUU's FG kicker hasn't made from longer than 43 this year and is just 3-7 from outside of 34 on the season (a bit of hindsight here I realize on this piece of it). Sam has averaged 43 yards per punt this year. Landed 22 inside the 20, 23 have been fair caught with 13 going over 50. In that game alone he had 9 punts (47 yard per punt average), with 3 over 50 and 4 downed inside the 20.


Sure, we were on the 35 yard line but a tie game, on the road, with 3 minutes left, and a back FG unit there are 2 options. Go for it and if you fail they still have to go 50ish yards to get their guy in his comfort range or let Kuhter try to land a 5th inside the 20 and make them go 70 yards to get in his range. Even if it's a touchback - WHICH SAM HAS HAD JUST 1 OF THIS YEAR - they have go to 60 yards to get their guy a 37 yard field goal, which would be his second longest of the season to this point (again, I know his range is a bit hindsighty).

This UNI team is so close to being 8-2 right now, but mismanagement has taken that away.


Next week should be zero issue. Treat it like the 2nd or 3rd NFL preseason game. Give the starters a half to keep some kind of rhythm. Get other guys in there. Get to playoff week 1

[06panther10]

We are close to being 9-2, but are even closer to being 5-6. Cal Poly goes for 2 and the win at the end of that catastrophe, we lose that one. USD doesnt have 3 horrifying 4th quarter turnovers, we lose that one as well.

[clenz]

We are close to being 9-2, but are even closer to being 5-6. Cal Poly goes for 2 and the win at the end of that catastrophe, we lose that one. USD doesnt have 3 horrifying 4th quarter turnovers, we lose that one as well.

This is also true.

I'd like to think that UNI forced those turn overs against USD. The fumble was a bone jarring hit. The pick in the endzone appears to have been a bait coverage that Streveler bit on, and the final pick was the defense making a play to seal it.

That could be homerism though, I'll admit

[7YrsOfCollegeDownTheDrain]

I agree...i feel those USD turnovers late were plays made by the D...not giveaways by the O. Streeveler is a first class quarterback but was on the run a lot in the second half...he was forced into making quick decisions under duress which leads to turnovers. The fumble...was a huge hit.

[ronfitch]

Which is what makes that SUU loss so....upsetting (right word?).

Yep.

We were terrible at FGs early in the year - I still don't truly trust that unit. On the road after having changed kickers mid game....and we aren't even using the kicker we switched too in that game anymore. Line up to try a 53 yard FG while having one of the best punters in the FCS that could have pinned them with 50-60+ yards to go to even get into field goal range. SUU's FG kicker hasn't made from longer than 43 this year and is just 3-7 from outside of 34 on the season (a bit of hindsight here I realize on this piece of it). Sam has averaged 43 yards per punt this year. Landed 22 inside the 20, 23 have been fair caught with 13 going over 50. In that game alone he had 9 punts (47 yard per punt average), with 3 over 50 and 4 downed inside the 20.


Sure, we were on the 35 yard line but a tie game, on the road, with 3 minutes left, and a back FG unit there are 2 options. Go for it and if you fail they still have to go 50ish yards to get their guy in his comfort range or let Kuhter try to land a 5th inside the 20 and make them go 70 yards to get in his range. Even if it's a touchback - WHICH SAM HAS HAD JUST 1 OF THIS YEAR - they have go to 60 yards to get their guy a 37 yard field goal, which would be his second longest of the season to this point (again, I know his range is a bit hindsighty).

Yep.

And Sam has taken his punting - already fantastic last season - to a new level. He was the team MVP for the first half of the season, IMO.

This UNI team is so close to being 8-2 right now, but mismanagement has taken that away.

Double yep.

Next week should be zero issue. Treat it like the 2nd or 3rd NFL preseason game. Give the starters a half to keep some kind of rhythm. Get other guys in there. Get to playoff week 1

Any word on Dunne, post-game? Man, he took a hit.

[ronfitch]

I agree...i feel those USD turnovers late were plays made by the D...not giveaways by the O. Streeveler is a first class quarterback but was on the run a lot in the second half...he was forced into making quick decisions under duress which leads to turnovers. The fumble...was a huge hit.

He was seeing the Panther D in his dreams that night, waking up screaming and sweaty. They really rattled him but good, I tell you what.