CaBisonFan
07-25-2008, 08:09 AM
There is a new kind of balance on this team. The new depth and diversity at running back, another great offensive line, and veteran receivers will take the pressure off of whoever is calling the signals.
We won't be as 'quarterback dependent.' We lost to SDSU last year because of some silly mistakes...but the mistakes happened, in great part, because guys were trying to do too much. The depth was gone, and a few vital players weren't around to do their normal work. Barring a huge rash of injuries, that situation won't present itself again.
Cal Poly & SDSU learned that keying 2-3 guys on Tyler Roehl took care of a lot of problems and made us more dependent on Steve Walker to pull it out. The biggest story, on the negative side, from last year was the injury to Pat Paschall. He provided the dimension that didn't allow a defense to spend all week preparing to shadow Tyler...and a slashing, tough, quick, vertical, downhill, find the right hole, get there fast, break a tackle, and get the necessary yardage...style of running. We have Pat back, and a full deck of diversity behind him.
The days of keying on Tyler, to that extent, are over.
Ball control + great defense = consistency from week to week
Very few teams will be equipped to deal with it. Northern Iowa...mainly because it is at their house...will come the closest. They will be outmanned...but could beat us because of the friendly environment.
We have depth that we wouldn't have dreamed of in the past years.
The SIU game will have some attitude to it...for obvious reasons. Business will be taken care of.
Avenging last year's loss will be on the minds of every player. We'll save one of our 'A' games for that. But we will bring a lot of 'A' games because of the depth of talent that is new to the Bison. The playing field was leveled for SDSU because of what I've described...plus the obvious 'cut it with a knife' atmosphere at Coughlin Stadium. Even if we had been eligible for the playoffs last year...there weren't enough horses left in the stable to make a serious run. The last three games of 2007 looked like another team was on the field...because it was...through no one's fault.
We will finish in the top five rankings again...tie for the conference...and make a serious playoff run.
Depth with diversity is the new Bison mantra. We are a DI-A football team and could compete for a mid-to-upper tier bowl game in the FBS. We couldn't play with the dozen (or thereabouts) elite teams in the FBS, but as for the rest of the lot...there'd be no blowouts. Not even sure the elites would embarrass us.
Hey listen folks...this team has been designed from the ground up to enter this new era with a full head of steam. The depth and talent are enormous.
As much as some of us fear having a new quarterback...I'll go on record by saying that first...the balance of the team won't demand a great quarterback performance every week. But the beauty of it all is that we 'will' see several great QB performances. Talent, intelligence, and a 'great' supporting cast will allow Nick Mertens to relax and to dismantle most teams.
It will be surgery...but if Nick were hurt...this kid from Southern California has the credentials and the experience to surprise all of us, as a true freshman, if needed. Mohler is one of the X-Factors.
But the biggest thing to look forward to will be the emergence of a dominant defense. The stars have lined up for this group.
Balance is back in Bison country. The defense will get used to a lot of 3 and outs...and the fans will 'once again' consistently cheer for the 'D' when they leave the field...and in time, it will feel like 'business as usual.' And like having a hot pitcher on the mound, the defense will allow the rest of the team to relax. Scoring will definitely happen...but the urgency to score won't be quite as obvious from week to week.
If people in the FCS thought that they had seen a great Bison team over the past couple of years...let me just say...that they really don't know much about Bison football. But they will learn throughout the course of the season that the sleeping giant was just starting to wake up. In 2008, it's had a cup of coffee, and is ready to snort. The herd mentality is back.
To you younger fans that didn't get to see the dynasty teams...you're in for a treat. Great defense is the core of Bison football. The offense will be allowed to decorate the cake. They won't have to bake it.
We'll be on a level with App. State....a different kind of team....but with a similar confidence and ability.
Did I say we'd win it all? Hardly
But as it always has been...it's about the caliber of play from week to week. We won't be disappointed.
Thus Sprach CaBisonFan
http://www.picturehosting.com/images/hansgordy/monolith2001a.jpg
My God...we're full of stars.
We won't be as 'quarterback dependent.' We lost to SDSU last year because of some silly mistakes...but the mistakes happened, in great part, because guys were trying to do too much. The depth was gone, and a few vital players weren't around to do their normal work. Barring a huge rash of injuries, that situation won't present itself again.
Cal Poly & SDSU learned that keying 2-3 guys on Tyler Roehl took care of a lot of problems and made us more dependent on Steve Walker to pull it out. The biggest story, on the negative side, from last year was the injury to Pat Paschall. He provided the dimension that didn't allow a defense to spend all week preparing to shadow Tyler...and a slashing, tough, quick, vertical, downhill, find the right hole, get there fast, break a tackle, and get the necessary yardage...style of running. We have Pat back, and a full deck of diversity behind him.
The days of keying on Tyler, to that extent, are over.
Ball control + great defense = consistency from week to week
Very few teams will be equipped to deal with it. Northern Iowa...mainly because it is at their house...will come the closest. They will be outmanned...but could beat us because of the friendly environment.
We have depth that we wouldn't have dreamed of in the past years.
The SIU game will have some attitude to it...for obvious reasons. Business will be taken care of.
Avenging last year's loss will be on the minds of every player. We'll save one of our 'A' games for that. But we will bring a lot of 'A' games because of the depth of talent that is new to the Bison. The playing field was leveled for SDSU because of what I've described...plus the obvious 'cut it with a knife' atmosphere at Coughlin Stadium. Even if we had been eligible for the playoffs last year...there weren't enough horses left in the stable to make a serious run. The last three games of 2007 looked like another team was on the field...because it was...through no one's fault.
We will finish in the top five rankings again...tie for the conference...and make a serious playoff run.
Depth with diversity is the new Bison mantra. We are a DI-A football team and could compete for a mid-to-upper tier bowl game in the FBS. We couldn't play with the dozen (or thereabouts) elite teams in the FBS, but as for the rest of the lot...there'd be no blowouts. Not even sure the elites would embarrass us.
Hey listen folks...this team has been designed from the ground up to enter this new era with a full head of steam. The depth and talent are enormous.
As much as some of us fear having a new quarterback...I'll go on record by saying that first...the balance of the team won't demand a great quarterback performance every week. But the beauty of it all is that we 'will' see several great QB performances. Talent, intelligence, and a 'great' supporting cast will allow Nick Mertens to relax and to dismantle most teams.
It will be surgery...but if Nick were hurt...this kid from Southern California has the credentials and the experience to surprise all of us, as a true freshman, if needed. Mohler is one of the X-Factors.
But the biggest thing to look forward to will be the emergence of a dominant defense. The stars have lined up for this group.
Balance is back in Bison country. The defense will get used to a lot of 3 and outs...and the fans will 'once again' consistently cheer for the 'D' when they leave the field...and in time, it will feel like 'business as usual.' And like having a hot pitcher on the mound, the defense will allow the rest of the team to relax. Scoring will definitely happen...but the urgency to score won't be quite as obvious from week to week.
If people in the FCS thought that they had seen a great Bison team over the past couple of years...let me just say...that they really don't know much about Bison football. But they will learn throughout the course of the season that the sleeping giant was just starting to wake up. In 2008, it's had a cup of coffee, and is ready to snort. The herd mentality is back.
To you younger fans that didn't get to see the dynasty teams...you're in for a treat. Great defense is the core of Bison football. The offense will be allowed to decorate the cake. They won't have to bake it.
We'll be on a level with App. State....a different kind of team....but with a similar confidence and ability.
Did I say we'd win it all? Hardly
But as it always has been...it's about the caliber of play from week to week. We won't be disappointed.
Thus Sprach CaBisonFan
http://www.picturehosting.com/images/hansgordy/monolith2001a.jpg
My God...we're full of stars.