Pat McCann called plays for Northern Iowa when they played UCD in 2018

I don’t know how our defense is categorized, the 3-4 4-3 distinction is blurred these days. We usually have three down linemen and a standup Rush (Eaton). I don’t know how often Eaton drops back in coverage but it is small. In the game notes the Rush position lists Eaton who is listed as a linebacker along with Peacock, who is listed as a defensive linemen. I wonder what “ room” the rush players meet in. I guess outside linebackers, coached by the DC but I don’t know.. We play five defensive backs a lot.So are we 3-4, 4-3, or 3-3-5?
Which is a long way of saying we usually rush at least four and blitz often.

MSU has a very impressive running back who gained 200+ yards; they certainly ground out the clock on their drives. two of those drives sputtered in the red zone when they abandoned the run and tried to throw it. First touchdown was 50+ yard run by QB, second touchdown was an amazingly athletic grab and run for 60+ yards by a wide receiver. Their final score they went 90+ yards on two plays, one a pass and one a 47 yard run. Only one score came on a play on EWU side of the field and that was from the 47. Very weird.

The thing that puts us ahead of Sac is we started the season with an FBS win. That put us ahead of them in the polls and we stayed there. Should have dropped more losing to Idaho State, that the weirdest part of our high ranking.
At this part of the season voters should notice that Sac is in the lead for the conference title and has arguably the best overall stats in the league.

As a fan, I hope we don’t end up playing a big sky team as the first game. It may be good for travel costs but one thing that makes playoffs interesting is playing teams from different regions.

You’re right about the weight, the roster lists him at the lower weight in 2018. I’m not knowledgeable about what Tehran’s injuries were. I just remember that on the playoff game at Eastern in 2018, he was injured near the sidelines or out of bounds on a wide run. Camera angle was not good, so not sure of what happened. He definitely came back in 2019 but only for a few games. If he hadn’t retired he could have been junior this year due to playing only 4 games in 2019.

Eastern didn’t look good against MSU. MSU had lots of failures in the red zone and squandered opportunities, and still won. The MSU defense dominated in the second half.
Barriere seemed reluctant to run until the fourth quarter. EWU didn’t look like the well oiled machine they were on offense against Western Illinois which was the last game I watched of them. My optimism for beating them has increased.
Montana State has some very talented players, but they aren’t a great offense. They didn’t have impressive drives, they didn’t do well in the red zone, but they have guys who can make big plays.

Three years ago. That was where Tehran Thomas got hurt near the goal line. I guess that injury led to the end of his career, eventually. He wasn’t as good coming back playing at a lighter weight.

That probably equates to between a.field goal and a touchdown spread. Should be competitive.
More than that forecast, the history of the series is what worries me. But there has to be a first time for everything.

Our playoffs begin two weeks early.

I hope our first game is a new opponent. Lots of current and former conference mates in that bracket.

Pass protection was better than recent games when we were missing two starters. Amoah returned and I think Malik Banks was moved over to the where Lamson had been starting. In the Cal Poly game Rachow had been at that spot. Rachow often was blocking the 200lb CalPoly defensive end who was having a career night. Zachow is 6’8” and it was hard for him to keep up with a 6’3” 200 lb pass rusher.

I mean avoiding a sack and not crossing the line of scrimmage and throwing to receivers that become open. I’ve watched maybe a few quarters and he’s done this.
A scramble is when a quarterback runs in any direction to avoid a sack. Its not synonymous with a rush if he eventually throws the ball. Twentieth century pro quarterbacks often scrambled but rarely ran.

Maybe just scrambling instead of running.

I liked seeing Poerio get the touchdown near end of first half particularly since he got lit up in the end zone on the early drive. I don’t follow HS football that closely but Poerio was a do it all player in high school, including being a good punter. I think he was a walk on here, and I like those kind of stories.

I also liked seeing Da’Von Frazier getting more action. He got half a sack and that might have been the play Martinez got knocked from game. I think he’s a good guy to blitz with.

Connor Lamson didn’t play again but Amoah did. Our 6’8” redshirt freshman who struggled some blocking the diminutive CalPoly defensive end sat this one out.

Their first and third possessions went 75 yards for touchdowns. Their 4th 22 yards and their fifth 67 yards for a field goal. That’s three long drives ending in scores in five possessions.

The pass rushers cannot allow themselves to run past the QB. They have to contain. I think they were starting to realize that he left the game.

The offense outperformed the defense this week, NAU only stopped by QB injuries. Even their4th string guy led them 96 yards.
We didn’t have much success in the red zone, but that was contributed to by some questionable officiating

Anyone else’s stream buffering continually in this quarter? Probably my local carrier.

you have to root for the one you’ll play because you have an opportunity to give them a loss.

whose playing OT ?