YSU Post Game Thoughts

[BisonNeil]

The special teams in the YSU game were horrible. Having said that if you look at the statistics for the season to date they are not that much different from the averages of the teams we have played. Sure every facet of the team can improve, but to expect perfection is not realistic.

What was the quote Bohl gave ESPN after the perfect season and a third consecutive natty? Something like if you seek perfection on the way you will catch excellence? Anyway, seems appropriate here, I just know I liked it. I think it maybe lifted from Vince Lombardi, but who cares.

[KNOW IT ALL]

Dude, the team is already pretty much great. This was the first game of the season where the Special Teams struggled. Offensive, especially the receiving corp, also struggled (I credit YSU for keeping the running game in check). Defensively, the Bison were awesome.

With the issues NDSU had on Saturday, guess what happened - they won.

As far as which school you claim to come from, I strongly believe it's the same one that GOBISON123 and Alsen went to, or maybe you all share the same head and keyboard as you guys struggle to say anything positive about the team that has 14 National Championships.

You forgot to mention that you think your the only person on this site that has an opinion and the only person that should be allowed one. Are you the hall monitor at the local high school? I dont think our Special teams are any better than last year, other than a punter who can actually punt. This team has more talent on the bench than most teams they play have on the field, Period. Bison special teams have been avg. at best the past few years, or, Post Bohl era. We used to hear how important they were "Third Phase of a Complete Team", now, we only hope for avg. results that dont cost the Bison a game.

[Snowgoose]

[QUOTE=Bison 4 Life;1308165]Yeah. Here it is. Basically 3 wide at the top and an overloaded line. It would be as though you were going to do a fake. Backed up to your end zone, you probably want a max protect formation there.

We have done this setup before and the each time that punt has either been blocked, tipped, or almost blocked since we switched to the alignment with three upbacks almost 7 years ago. I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I listened to the game on the radio and thought to myself I bet they did the stupid formation. Sure enough when I got home to see the game on the DVR there it was. I can't believe Kleiman allows this formation if anybody has ever seen past game tapes they would know it does not work. The alignment I am speaking of is having the 3 upbacks off to one side of the center.

[Bison 4 Life]

We have done this setup before and the each time that punt has either been blocked, tipped, or almost blocked since we switched to the alignment with three upbacks almost 7 years ago. I mentioned this earlier in the thread, but I listened to the game on the radio and thought to myself I bet they did the stupid formation. Sure enough when I got home to see the game on the DVR there it was. I can't believe Kleiman allows this formation if anybody has ever seen past game tapes they would know it does not work. The alignment I am speaking of is having the 3 upbacks off to one side of the center.

This is why I was asking earlier about the ST coordinator. I believe that's his job.

[Bisonator98]

You forgot to mention that you think your the only person on this site that has an opinion and the only person that should be allowed one. Are you the hall monitor at the local high school? I dont think our Special teams are any better than last year, other than a punter who can actually punt. This team has more talent on the bench than most teams they play have on the field, Period. Bison special teams have been avg. at best the past few years, or, Post Bohl era. We used to hear how important they were "Third Phase of a Complete Team", now, we only hope for avg. results that dont cost the Bison a game.

I don't think the special teams have been too bad this season. Certainly better then the last couple. Our punting and coverage teams have been much improved IMO. Cam has struggled a bit on FG's and had a bad KO Saturday. Our returners have had some issues but they have been rotating so many different guys in those spots it's hard to get a feel for them.

[Bison 4 Life]

I don't think the special teams have been too bad this season. Certainly better then the last couple. Our punting and coverage teams have been much improved IMO. Cam has struggled a bit on FG's and had a bad KO Saturday. Our returners have had some issues but they have been rotating so many different guys in those spots it's hard to get a feel for them.

They put Cam in bad positions a lot. I have a soft spot for him.

Could just be his grandma's cookies though, can't be certain.

[Christopher Moen]

You forgot to mention that you think your the only person on this site that has an opinion and the only person that should be allowed one. Are you the hall monitor at the local high school? I dont think our Special teams are any better than last year, other than a punter who can actually punt. This team has more talent on the bench than most teams they play have on the field, Period. Bison special teams have been avg. at best the past few years, or, Post Bohl era. We used to hear how important they were "Third Phase of a Complete Team", now, we only hope for avg. results that dont cost the Bison a game.

For someone who claims to know everything, one would think that you actually used statistics to base your opinion on. Instead, you use whatever dumb impression that is floating around your head at the moment.

Special Team stats comparison between this season and the previous two:

NDSU's Kick Return Average: 2018 (20.3 on 14 kicks), 2017 (22.2 on 28 kicks), 2016 (20.7 on 41 kicks)
Opponents' Kick Return Average: 2018 (22.9 on 37 kicks), 2017 (20.9 on 75 kicks), 2016 (18.6 on 63 kicks)
Both sides are down, but with the new fair catch rule, opportunities are also less.

NDSU's Punt Return Average: 2018 (17.1 on 15 punts), 2017 (5.9 on 23 punts), 2016 (12.6 on 12 punts)
Opponents' Punt Return Average: 2018 (3.6 on 14 punts), 2017 (12.2 on 16 punts), 2016 (0.0 on 3 punts)
Huge improvement on both sides, especially in regards to NDSU returning punts.

NDSU's Average Kickoffs per kick: 2018 (60.2 on 61 kicks), 2017 (61.1 on 103 kicks), 2016 (59.3 on 75 kicks)
Opponents' Average Kickoffs per kick: 2018 (61.6 on 26 kicks), 2017 (61.5 on 48 kicks), 2016 (62.0 on 54 kicks)
These stats show that NDSU consistently tries to pin their kickoffs between the 10 yard line and and the endzone (their actual strategy), despite the new the fair-catch rule.

NDSU's Average Net Kickoff: 2018 (40.2 on 61 kicks), 2017 (40.8 on 103 kicks), 2016 (40.4 on 75 kicks)
Opponents' Average Net Kickoffs: 2018 (41.1 on 26 kicks), 2017 (38.7 on 48 kicks), 2016 (40.3 on 54 kicks)
Not much of a change the past few season. NDSU and their opponents are consistently starting around a yard of the 25-yard line.

NDSU's Average Punt: 2018 (42.4 on 42 punts), 2017 (38.6 on 57 punts), 2016 (37.3 on 61 punts)
Opponents' Average Punt: 2018 (41.3 on 54 punts), 2017 (38.8 on 93 punts), 2016 (42.0 on 64 punts)
Tremendous improvement compared to the past two years.

NDSU's Average Net Punt: 2018 (38.3 on 42 punts), 2017 (34.8 on 57 punts), 2016 (36.0 on 61 punts)
Opponents' Average Net Punt: 2018 (35.8 on 54 punts), 2017 (36.9 on 93 punts), 2016 (39.0 on 64 punts)
As above, tremendous improvement and the team is not out-punting their coverage.

NDSU's Field Goal Kicking: 2018 (6/10 for 60%), 2017 (10/16 for 62.5%), 2016 (15/23 for 65.2%)
Opponents' Field Goal Kicking: 2018 (4/6 for 66.7%), 2017 (14/16 for 87.5%), 2016 (15/25 for 60%)
Slightly worse over the past two seasons for Cam, but he's still clutch when needed.

NDSU's PAT Kicking: 2018 (46/46 for 100%), 2017 (75/79 for 94.3%), 2016 (49/50 for 98%)
Opponents' PAT Kicking: 2018 (14/14 for 100.%), 2017 (16/17 for 94.1%), 2016 (25/26 for 96.2%)
Cam has been perfect so far this year.

So far, the stats have shown, NDSU is getting better - not worse. So let's compare this year's team to the best NDSU of the FCS era (so far) - 2013:

NDSU's Kick Return Average: 2018 (20.3 on 14 kicks), 2013 (25.2 on 32 kicks)
Opponents' Kick Return Average: 2018 (22.9 on 37 kicks), 2013 (19.2 on 79 kicks)
A lot worse. Does the new fair catch rule affect this stat? Maybe.

NDSU's Punt Return Average: 2018 (17.1 on 15 punts), 2013 (13.3 on 30 punts)
Opponents' Punt Return Average: 2018 (3.6 on 14 punts), 2013 (2.6 on 8 punts)
A lot better on NDSU returning this year, a yard worse on coverage.

NDSU's Average Kickoffs per kick: 2018 (60.2 on 61 kicks), 2013 (59.1 on 102 kicks)
Opponents' Average Kickoffs per kick: 2018 (61.6 on 26 kicks), 2013 (60.5 on 44 kicks)
A little bit better.

NDSU's Average Net Kickoff: 2018 (40.2 on 61 kicks), 2013 (39.9 on 102 kicks)
Opponents' Average Net Kickoffs: 2018 (41.1 on 26 kicks), 2013 (35.8 on 44 kicks)
About a foot better for 2018 Kickoff's, and as expected with the kick return average from above, the 2013 opponents did worse with their net kickoffs.

NDSU's Average Punt: 2018 (42.4 on 42 punts), 2013 (43.7 on 52 punts)
Opponents' Average Punt: 2018 (41.3 on 54 punts), 2013 (40.8 on 101 punts)
A bit worse, but let's be honest, Lecompte was a stud punter.

NDSU's Average Net Punt: 2018 (38.3 on 42 punts), 2013 (39.4 on 57 punts)
Opponents' Average Net Punt: 2018 (35.8 on 54 punts), 2013 (36.5 on 101 punts)
Again, Lecompte was a stud punter. However the coverage is better by a fraction.

NDSU's Field Goal Kicking: 2018 (6/10 for 60%), 2013 (10/13 for 76.9%)
Worse and Keller was definitely a more accurate kicker than Pedersen.

NDSU's PAT Kicking: 2018 (46/46 for 100%), 2017 (77/79 for 97.5%)
Again, Cam has been perfect so far this year.

Overall, not much a big difference in regards to Special Teams between the 2013 and 2018. Both had big and slight statistical advantages over one other. Therefore the belief that this year's Special Teams is worse than years past is not true.

You, and your fellow negative Nancy's can continue to find ways to demean the Bison in hopes of one day being right that such and such problem is "going to cost them one day!" In the meantime, those of us who are actual fans of the Bison, know this fact, winners know how to win. If the National Championship didn't prove that last year, especially in regards to Special Teams, then you will never appreciate the culture of this team.

[stevdock]

You do know that it’s possible for stats to lie right??

[Christopher Moen]

You do know that it’s possible for stats to lie right??

Numbers may or may not lie, but they definitely can be used to influence to fit an argument. Being that I'm not a politician nor am I selling anything, the stats I posted are solid. Plus, I used them in an objective stance.

[Professor Chaos]

Boy, I saw this film review cutup from Ross Uglem's twitter feed where #52 for YSU treats Tanner Volson (likely an AA offensive lineman by the end of this year) like a rag doll (EDIT: I guess Volson did get chipped by the other DT but still between those 2 DTs they dominated the Bison interior O-line on that play):

https://twitter.com/RossUglem/status...18602117160963

It really make you wonder how the hell this YSU team lost to Indiana St by 26 and to freaking Butler who's currently tied for last place in the non-scholarship Pioneer League. Maybe Bo was right to chew their asses publicly in his press conference after their game last week??? It's gotta be insanely frustrating to see your team play games like this one, and make plays like this one, sometimes and then disappear other times.