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Well, there's 3-0. They've gotten the best of us for quite some time now. They've won seven out of the last nine games. They're a hot team. They're coming off of a big win on the road versus Pittsburgh. Six guys back on offense, six guys back on defense.
Over the last six meetings, this game has really come down to being decided by a touchdown or less with a game?winning score usually coming late in the fourth quarter or like last year in overtime, five of the six meetings.
Coach Smith is in his fourth season there. Just to keep things in perspective, in my head coaching career versus his, he's won 120 more games than me. I think I have quite a long way to catch up to his success that he's had.
David Baldwin is his offensive coordinator, also coaches his tight ends. He's been at Michigan State for the last four years also. They got a lot of offensive firepower. As a matter of fact, last year they were ranked in the leaders of four offensive categories. Rushing offense they were 20th, passing offense they were 11th, total offense they were fifth, scoring offense they were 18th. Previously Coach Baldwin was the head coach at San Jose State. After that, he actually worked for a year Coach Minter at the University of Cincinnati before he went on to I believe Baylor for a year.
This season offensively they got it rocking and rolling. They're scoring 39 points a game, they're about 50/50 as far as their yardage goes, over 500 yards a game, I think it's 506 with 258 of it per game coming rushing at a 6.2 rushing average, 248 yards passing.
Obviously the key person, the one who makes this all go, is Drew Stanton. He's a heck of a player. He's a dual threat who can run, he can throw, he can throw in the pocket, he can roll from the pocket, he can throw across his body. He makes some phenomenal throws where he'll roll to his left, turn back and throw it to his right. He has a very good arm. Top?line player. They do just about everything with him. For example, last week he rushed for 105 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. He's the second leading rusher on their team. In addition to being able to throw the ball all over the place, can he run the heck out of it.
Three runningbacks they use. Ringer, last week against Pitt, as a matter of fact, Ringer averaged over 10 yards a carry. I think for the year he's 7.7. He's averaging 118.7 per game rushing. Then they have Caulcrick. Go to the bigger body because Ringer is about 200. Caulcrick, as a matter of fact, he had 15 carries and 85 yards against us last year. Sometimes you see a guy who is 260, think he can't run. Well, he can run. He's got deceptive speed in that big body. Last week he rushed 17 times for 64 yards and a couple scores.
They also have a freshman that they are really high on, Jimmerson, who is averaging ?? who averaged so far this year I think just under seven yards a carry. In addition, he has three catches, two of them have gone for touchdowns.
We get to the passing game. Obviously, Trannon who killed us last year. He had five catches for 136 yards, two touchdowns, long and 65. He's a big man, 6'5", 235, 235. All you have to do is put on a tape of the Eastern Michigan game, only 14 catches in that game. He's their leading receiver. He has 19 for the year, with a couple of years.
Second leading receiver is Kerry Reed. Last week he was the leading receiver. Had seven for 103. He has 16 catches, a couple touchdowns as well.
Jeremy Scott is usually the guy you see in the slot. Last week he also had six catches, 74 yards.
Three other receivers because they spread you out all over the place. You see Terry Love in there, TJ Williams, Devin Thomas. Besides the big three, the combination of Love, Williams and Thomas show up.
It's interesting, the tight end, Davis, scored against us last year in the game. Then they had Dwayne Holmes, who is shorter, but 277 pounds. He's a converted player from linebacker defensive end where they redshirted him in 2004. It gives them some flexibility between the two players.
Their offensive line, they have some real size in their offensive line, starting with the veterans.
When you look at their tackles, you got Gyetvai, who moved over from right tackle to left tackle. He was their starting right tackle last year. You also have Cook, who started 23 games at left guard before they moved him into center. We might see Masters, as well, at center. Cook has been handling the center so far this year.
Then they have two really big guards. Shane, who is a JC transfer, and Martin, they're the guards. Jesse Miller is another big guy that they have over there at the right tackle. They have very good size and experience on their offensive line.
Going over to defense, Coach Smeland also coaches their safeties. Their safeties are very, very good. I'll get to them towards the end here because I always start with the overall defense, defensive line.
They're only giving up 20 points a game. 78, 79 yards rushing. Under 300 yards total offense a game they're allowing. They got the two speed ends. You have Baldwin and Kershaw on the ends. Inside, their most experienced player is actually Ryan, who moved in from defensive end, defensive tackle. He started 26 games there.
The guy who is penetrating like heck is Nwaqbuo. Another JC transfer, playing inside, causing a lot of havoc.
Last year Stanton started against us. He still gets some time. You also see Saint-Dic and Long in there as well.
Their linebacker group is a veteran group. We all know that. You have Thornhill in the middle, Herron started 25 games, probably the most experienced guy in the linebacker Corps. Adams is probably, every week I always mention a guy that has some versatility. Adams was the guy who does that for them because he was recruited as a safety, plays their bandit linebacker. Because of his athleticism, it doesn't force them to have to go to nickel because he's the guy who can go ahead and play that position very easily without them having to bring another guy in there.
You have Williams and Cooper at the corners. Different players because Williams, this is his second year starting at corner, whereas Cooper, they moved him from free safety to their boundary corner.
Then you have the two safeties who lead the team with tackles. You have Wiley, who leads the team with tackles with 26, four tackles for loss, a sack, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Warrick, who is second on the team with tackles, which this is unusual to have your safeties making that many hits for them. But they're all over the field, both those guys. Warrick and Wiley.
Special teams, this year they named Coach (indiscernible), who is also the runningback coach, as their special teams coach. The thing that stands out the most is Brandon Fields. They're netting 45.3 yards a punt, which is number one in the country. This guy is an All?American candidate. He's consensus All?American last year with a 49.2 average. Boleski handles the kickoffs. He's kicked off 20 times, got six touchbacks. Brent Swenson a true freshman out of Fort Lauderdale. He only missed one kick all year. 15 for 15 on extra points, and four of five on field goals. The only field goal he missed was over 50 yards.
Bury, third year as a snapper. As I mentioned, Williams, Ringer and Love are the guys we see back there as the kickoff returners and the punt returner.
Source: UND.com
Over the last six meetings, this game has really come down to being decided by a touchdown or less with a game?winning score usually coming late in the fourth quarter or like last year in overtime, five of the six meetings.
Coach Smith is in his fourth season there. Just to keep things in perspective, in my head coaching career versus his, he's won 120 more games than me. I think I have quite a long way to catch up to his success that he's had.
David Baldwin is his offensive coordinator, also coaches his tight ends. He's been at Michigan State for the last four years also. They got a lot of offensive firepower. As a matter of fact, last year they were ranked in the leaders of four offensive categories. Rushing offense they were 20th, passing offense they were 11th, total offense they were fifth, scoring offense they were 18th. Previously Coach Baldwin was the head coach at San Jose State. After that, he actually worked for a year Coach Minter at the University of Cincinnati before he went on to I believe Baylor for a year.
This season offensively they got it rocking and rolling. They're scoring 39 points a game, they're about 50/50 as far as their yardage goes, over 500 yards a game, I think it's 506 with 258 of it per game coming rushing at a 6.2 rushing average, 248 yards passing.
Obviously the key person, the one who makes this all go, is Drew Stanton. He's a heck of a player. He's a dual threat who can run, he can throw, he can throw in the pocket, he can roll from the pocket, he can throw across his body. He makes some phenomenal throws where he'll roll to his left, turn back and throw it to his right. He has a very good arm. Top?line player. They do just about everything with him. For example, last week he rushed for 105 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. He's the second leading rusher on their team. In addition to being able to throw the ball all over the place, can he run the heck out of it.
Three runningbacks they use. Ringer, last week against Pitt, as a matter of fact, Ringer averaged over 10 yards a carry. I think for the year he's 7.7. He's averaging 118.7 per game rushing. Then they have Caulcrick. Go to the bigger body because Ringer is about 200. Caulcrick, as a matter of fact, he had 15 carries and 85 yards against us last year. Sometimes you see a guy who is 260, think he can't run. Well, he can run. He's got deceptive speed in that big body. Last week he rushed 17 times for 64 yards and a couple scores.
They also have a freshman that they are really high on, Jimmerson, who is averaging ?? who averaged so far this year I think just under seven yards a carry. In addition, he has three catches, two of them have gone for touchdowns.
We get to the passing game. Obviously, Trannon who killed us last year. He had five catches for 136 yards, two touchdowns, long and 65. He's a big man, 6'5", 235, 235. All you have to do is put on a tape of the Eastern Michigan game, only 14 catches in that game. He's their leading receiver. He has 19 for the year, with a couple of years.
Second leading receiver is Kerry Reed. Last week he was the leading receiver. Had seven for 103. He has 16 catches, a couple touchdowns as well.
Jeremy Scott is usually the guy you see in the slot. Last week he also had six catches, 74 yards.
Three other receivers because they spread you out all over the place. You see Terry Love in there, TJ Williams, Devin Thomas. Besides the big three, the combination of Love, Williams and Thomas show up.
It's interesting, the tight end, Davis, scored against us last year in the game. Then they had Dwayne Holmes, who is shorter, but 277 pounds. He's a converted player from linebacker defensive end where they redshirted him in 2004. It gives them some flexibility between the two players.
Their offensive line, they have some real size in their offensive line, starting with the veterans.
When you look at their tackles, you got Gyetvai, who moved over from right tackle to left tackle. He was their starting right tackle last year. You also have Cook, who started 23 games at left guard before they moved him into center. We might see Masters, as well, at center. Cook has been handling the center so far this year.
Then they have two really big guards. Shane, who is a JC transfer, and Martin, they're the guards. Jesse Miller is another big guy that they have over there at the right tackle. They have very good size and experience on their offensive line.
Going over to defense, Coach Smeland also coaches their safeties. Their safeties are very, very good. I'll get to them towards the end here because I always start with the overall defense, defensive line.
They're only giving up 20 points a game. 78, 79 yards rushing. Under 300 yards total offense a game they're allowing. They got the two speed ends. You have Baldwin and Kershaw on the ends. Inside, their most experienced player is actually Ryan, who moved in from defensive end, defensive tackle. He started 26 games there.
The guy who is penetrating like heck is Nwaqbuo. Another JC transfer, playing inside, causing a lot of havoc.
Last year Stanton started against us. He still gets some time. You also see Saint-Dic and Long in there as well.
Their linebacker group is a veteran group. We all know that. You have Thornhill in the middle, Herron started 25 games, probably the most experienced guy in the linebacker Corps. Adams is probably, every week I always mention a guy that has some versatility. Adams was the guy who does that for them because he was recruited as a safety, plays their bandit linebacker. Because of his athleticism, it doesn't force them to have to go to nickel because he's the guy who can go ahead and play that position very easily without them having to bring another guy in there.
You have Williams and Cooper at the corners. Different players because Williams, this is his second year starting at corner, whereas Cooper, they moved him from free safety to their boundary corner.
Then you have the two safeties who lead the team with tackles. You have Wiley, who leads the team with tackles with 26, four tackles for loss, a sack, four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Warrick, who is second on the team with tackles, which this is unusual to have your safeties making that many hits for them. But they're all over the field, both those guys. Warrick and Wiley.
Special teams, this year they named Coach (indiscernible), who is also the runningback coach, as their special teams coach. The thing that stands out the most is Brandon Fields. They're netting 45.3 yards a punt, which is number one in the country. This guy is an All?American candidate. He's consensus All?American last year with a 49.2 average. Boleski handles the kickoffs. He's kicked off 20 times, got six touchbacks. Brent Swenson a true freshman out of Fort Lauderdale. He only missed one kick all year. 15 for 15 on extra points, and four of five on field goals. The only field goal he missed was over 50 yards.
Bury, third year as a snapper. As I mentioned, Williams, Ringer and Love are the guys we see back there as the kickoff returners and the punt returner.
Source: UND.com
