Wofford @ UNI Game Thread

[dbackjon]

Can UNI stop the TO?

[panther-state]

Can Wofford stop Rennie/Carlos/DJ and run past LJ Fort??

Also will they be able to keep from turning the ball over? UNI is one of the top defense's in getting the ball and one of the best at not giving it up. Wofford had 5 TO's in their last 3 games while UNI had 1 (a very rare interception)

[mlbowl]

Can Wofford stop Rennie/Carlos/DJ and run past LJ Fort??

Not sure if you know what TO stands for...but one guy is not going to stop the "triple" option. Just sayin'

[panther-state]

Can Wofford stop Rennie/Carlos/DJ and run past LJ Fort??

Not sure if you know what TO stands for...but one guy is not going to stop the "triple" option. Just sayin'

Which is why it's a good thing that we have one of the best and most experienced front 7's in the FCS. Ben Boothby requires a constant double team if opponent's want to keep him from disrupting the play.

[clenz]

Can Wofford stop Rennie/Carlos/DJ and run past LJ Fort??

Not sure if you know what TO stands for...but one guy is not going to stop the "triple" option. Just sayin'

First team all conference DT (likely Buchanon finalist and AA) Ben Boothby requires two blocks on every single play. If one person, especially a DT, eats up two blocks it will kill a triple option as it takes away a puller and keeps a OL from getting to their LB assignment.

The other 3 DL don't need to do any more than eat up their blockers, and there is the 5 offensive lineman tied up on every single play. That leaves the TE to do all of the blocking on the 2 LB's on that side, plus the safety (which I'm going to bet isn't 12 yards off the LOS this week).

LJ Fort (second in the nation in tackles at over 150) and Jordan Smith (over 100 tackles on the season) are there to eat up anything that comes around them.

Wofford will get their yards but they won't get many. UNI is only giving up 3.3 yards per carry against this season....and while we haven't faced a triple option team, we have faced 400 carries. It's not like teams don't try to run the ball against UNI. UNI also faces about 34-36 run plays a game.

To assume Wofford is going to put up 350+ yards rushing based on every stat that is available is just silly.

[FargoBison]

UNI has a quick physical defense, with a great DL. I like their match up vs an option team. Especially with a week of extra prep.

[MTfan4life]

Wofford's triple option should never be underestimated even when you have a Buchanan award candidate on your line. Just ask Montana in 2007. I wish I could see the game. It'd be pretty sweet to see the triple option being operated on an indoor field.

[clenz]

Wofford's triple option should never be underestimated even when you have a Buchanan award candidate on your line. Just ask Montana in 2007. I wish I could see the game. It'd be pretty sweet to see the triple option being operated on an indoor field.

2 Buchanan candidates on defense....just FYI...including the second leading tackler in the nation (over 150 on the season).


It will be fun to watch as we don't see many TO teams. Nicholls State was the last, and we demolished the shit out of them....but they probably aren't as good as this Woffy team.

[Grizalltheway]

Wofford's triple option should never be underestimated even when you have a Buchanan award candidate on your line. Just ask Montana in 2007. I wish I could see the game. It'd be pretty sweet to see the triple option being operated on an indoor field.

2 Buchanan candidates on defense....just FYI...including the second leading tackler in the nation (over 150 on the season).


It will be fun to watch as we don't see many TO teams. Nicholls State was the last, and we demolished the shit out of them....but they probably aren't as good as this Woffy team.

FWIW, Biermann was the Buchanan winner, and now starts for the Falcons. But yes, the option can be tough for anyone to stop, especially if they aren't used to it. Very interested to see how this one turns out.

[youngterrier]

Not sure if you know what TO stands for...but one guy is not going to stop the "triple" option. Just sayin'

First team all conference DT (likely Buchanon finalist and AA) Ben Boothby requires two blocks on every single play. If one person, especially a DT, eats up two blocks it will kill a triple option as it takes away a puller and keeps a OL from getting to their LB assignment.

The other 3 DL don't need to do any more than eat up their blockers, and there is the 5 offensive lineman tied up on every single play. That leaves the TE to do all of the blocking on the 2 LB's on that side, plus the safety (which I'm going to bet isn't 12 yards off the LOS this week).

LJ Fort (second in the nation in tackles at over 150) and Jordan Smith (over 100 tackles on the season) are there to eat up anything that comes around them.

Wofford will get their yards but they won't get many. UNI is only giving up 3.3 yards per carry against this season....and while we haven't faced a triple option team, we have faced 400 carries. It's not like teams don't try to run the ball against UNI. UNI also faces about 34-36 run plays a game.

To assume Wofford is going to put up 350+ yards rushing based on every stat that is available is just silly.

It seems as if you're assuming that this rushing attack is like any other that UNI will see on a weekly basis. Wofford rushed for over 350 yards against a top 10 defense in UTC, a good team despite their record, and a team that faced the option twice before in the season and also with a week to prepare (and more time than UNI will have as a team to prepare). Wofford has rushed for 300 yards plus in all of their wins this year, in their losses they weren't necessarily stopped (averaging between 4.5 yards per carry and 5.2 yards per carry), rather the other team was able to force turnovers, score when needed and play successful keep-away. The key for UNI on defense won't be on banking on 3 and outs and just "stopping" the option, it'll come down to forcing turnovers, which to UNI's credit they've been really good at this year. But if UNI doesn't force turnovers, score every time they have the ball, and burn the TOP, I think it's safe to say that Wofford can and will rush for 350+.

It's not like the Socon and MVFC are so different from a talent perspective to assume that UNI will bring an overwhelming presence that Wofford hasn't seen before. I mean, from a scoring perspective the MVFC plays better defense and the Socon plays better offense, but from a statistical standpoint there isn't much difference from the teams on the defensive side of the ball, there are a similar number of teams towards the top in defensive statistics

[clenz]

Ah...forcing turnovers....There's something UNI is good at


9 forced fumbles
7 fumble recoveries
18 interceptions


If...wait I mean when...LJ gets his hands on your ball carrier he is likely to force at least one fumble this weekend.


I also see Wofford has issues holding on to the football....interesting. Thanks for giving me more confidence in our defense

[youngterrier]

Ah...forcing turnovers....There's something UNI is good at


9 forced fumbles
7 fumble recoveries
18 interceptions


If...wait I mean when...LJ gets his hands on your ball carrier he is likely to force at least one fumble this weekend.


I also see Wofford has issues holding on to the football....interesting. Thanks for giving me more confidence in our defense

Wofford has had trouble throwing interceptions, but then again we don't need to throw the ball. We don't really have a turnover problem, especially with fumbles, with only 8 on the year, but only about 5 by the starters.

Now let's talk about Wofford's defense. rushing wise they've given up about 1450 yards. half of that came against 2 triple option teams and Clemson. that's pretty good defense IMO and UNI will have a challenge as they try to run the ball.

[clenz]

Ah...forcing turnovers....There's something UNI is good at


9 forced fumbles
7 fumble recoveries
18 interceptions


If...wait I mean when...LJ gets his hands on your ball carrier he is likely to force at least one fumble this weekend.


I also see Wofford has issues holding on to the football....interesting. Thanks for giving me more confidence in our defense

Wofford has had trouble throwing interceptions, but then again we don't need to throw the ball. We don't really have a turnover problem, especially with fumbles, with only 8 on the year, but only about 5 by the starters.

Now let's talk about Wofford's defense. rushing wise they've given up about 1450 yards. half of that came against 2 triple option teams and Clemson. that's pretty good defense IMO and UNI will have a challenge as they try to run the ball.

If you struggled with option teams you'll struggle with UNI.

UNI's offense is predicated on the read option, and the read option look out of the pistol and shot gun. Couple that with a first team all conference dual threat QB, and all conference freshman RB, and another RB who could have been all conference had he not been hurt and it is pretty potent....especially now that Rennie can beat teams deep with the pass

[youngterrier]

Wofford has had trouble throwing interceptions, but then again we don't need to throw the ball. We don't really have a turnover problem, especially with fumbles, with only 8 on the year, but only about 5 by the starters.

Now let's talk about Wofford's defense. rushing wise they've given up about 1450 yards. half of that came against 2 triple option teams and Clemson. that's pretty good defense IMO and UNI will have a challenge as they try to run the ball.

If you struggled with option teams you'll struggle with UNI.

UNI's offense is predicated on the read option, and the read option look out of the pistol and shot gun. Couple that with a first team all conference dual threat QB, and all conference freshman RB, and another RB who could have been all conference had he not been hurt and it is pretty potent....especially now that Rennie can beat teams deep with the pass

On the top of my head, Wofford has held App State (spread option) to 100 yards rushing, Samford (Gus Malzhain offense) to less than 40 or 50 yards, Western Carolina (a pistol team with a good offense) to under 150, had the backups in the third quarter against the citadel (garbage time yardage for a triple option team).

Basically, my point wasn't that we struggle against option teams, rather we're very good at stopping the run. Option teams will get their yardage for 200+ barring extreme mistakes on their part, and I'm trying to drill that through your heads. Comparing the rushing attack of UNI to GSU or the Citadel is a stretch, even if they run similar plays. From the sound of things, UNI is a lot like Furman but with a less efficient passing game, and that's a challenge Wofford can handle, especially since it looks as if our defense will be 100% healthy for the first time since the Citadel, which was when we peaked. We got beat up a lot this year and we're finally getting healthy at the right time

[clenz]

Yep...UNI is Furman but worse....


Keep thinking that.

[youngterrier]

Yep...UNI is Furman but worse....


Keep thinking that.

yep. And the option is magically stopped with 3 extra days to prepare. You've never seen it run like Wofford runs it, and the fact that you compared flexbone teams to teams that run option sets shows your naivete

[clenz]

Yep...UNI is Furman but worse....


Keep thinking that.

yep. And the option is magically stopped with 3 extra days to prepare. You've never seen it run like Wofford runs it, and the fact that you compared flexbone teams to teams that run option sets shows your naivete

Where did I say it would be stopped?

Wofford may put 250 rushing up...hell they may get to 3, but that won't win the game for them. You won't get into the endzone enough times to beat UNI unless you score on two or three play drives. UNI will run the play clock dry on you every single time knowing that the passing game isn't there to come back.

[FargoBison]

If you struggled with option teams you'll struggle with UNI.

UNI's offense is predicated on the read option, and the read option look out of the pistol and shot gun. Couple that with a first team all conference dual threat QB, and all conference freshman RB, and another RB who could have been all conference had he not been hurt and it is pretty potent....especially now that Rennie can beat teams deep with the pass

On the top of my head, Wofford has held App State (spread option) to 100 yards rushing, Samford (Gus Malzhain offense) to less than 40 or 50 yards, Western Carolina (a pistol team with a good offense) to under 150, had the backups in the third quarter against the citadel (garbage time yardage for a triple option team).

Basically, my point wasn't that we struggle against option teams, rather we're very good at stopping the run. Option teams will get their yardage for 200+ barring extreme mistakes on their part, and I'm trying to drill that through your heads. Comparing the rushing attack of UNI to GSU or the Citadel is a stretch, even if they run similar plays. From the sound of things, UNI is a lot like Furman but with a less efficient passing game, and that's a challenge Wofford can handle, especially since it looks as if our defense will be 100% healthy for the first time since the Citadel, which was when we peaked. We got beat up a lot this year and we're finally getting healthy at the right time

Furman?

[youngterrier]

yep. And the option is magically stopped with 3 extra days to prepare. You've never seen it run like Wofford runs it, and the fact that you compared flexbone teams to teams that run option sets shows your naivete

Where did I say it would be stopped?

Wofford may put 250 rushing up...hell they may get to 3, but that won't win the game for them. You won't get into the endzone enough times to beat UNI unless you score on two or three play drives. UNI will run the play clock dry on you every single time knowing that the passing game isn't there to come back.

And that's where I disagree, because Wofford is a ball control offense as well and if we have 300 yards rushing that probably means we're having our fair share of ball control as well. Wofford hasn't lost a game in which they've rushed for 300 yards in at least 2 years.

[youngterrier]

On the top of my head, Wofford has held App State (spread option) to 100 yards rushing, Samford (Gus Malzhain offense) to less than 40 or 50 yards, Western Carolina (a pistol team with a good offense) to under 150, had the backups in the third quarter against the citadel (garbage time yardage for a triple option team).

Basically, my point wasn't that we struggle against option teams, rather we're very good at stopping the run. Option teams will get their yardage for 200+ barring extreme mistakes on their part, and I'm trying to drill that through your heads. Comparing the rushing attack of UNI to GSU or the Citadel is a stretch, even if they run similar plays. From the sound of things, UNI is a lot like Furman but with a less efficient passing game, and that's a challenge Wofford can handle, especially since it looks as if our defense will be 100% healthy for the first time since the Citadel, which was when we peaked. We got beat up a lot this year and we're finally getting healthy at the right time

Furman?

Considering Furman is close in terms of Rushing offense, yes. Rushing defense stats are somewhat skewed seeing a Furman played 3 option teams

[clenz]

Furman?

Considering Furman is close in terms of Rushing offense, yes. Rushing defense stats are somewhat skewed seeing a Furman played 3 option teams

So...

UNI who is #2-5 in every national poll....co-champ of the MVFC and what not is nothing more than a 6-5 SoCon team?

Holy shit, you should try to stick to intimidating people to make your point

[youngterrier]

Considering Furman is close in terms of Rushing offense, yes. Rushing defense stats are somewhat skewed seeing a Furman played 3 option teams

So...

UNI who is #2-5 in every national poll....co-champ of the MVFC and what not is nothing more than a 6-5 SoCon team?

Holy shit, you should try to stick to intimidating people to make your point

I was talking about from a play-calling, philosophy standpoint

[FargoBison]

We are talking about the same Furman team that lost to Coastal Carolina correct? That gave up 45 points to Elon?

NDSU dominated UNI in the trenches and we only won by 8 points at home. UNI has played multiple run heavy teams...they are very bend but don't break. You'll have to work for every point you get, nothing will come easily.

[youngterrier]

We are talking about the same Furman team that lost to Coastal Carolina correct? That gave up 45 points to Elon?

NDSU dominated UNI in the trenches and we only won by 8 points at home. UNI has played multiple run heavy teams...they are very bend but don't break. You'll have to work for every point you get, nothing will come easily.

Comparing UNI and Furman from an offensive perspective is 100% fair

[UNI88]

Yep...UNI is Furman but worse....


Keep thinking that.

yep. And the option is magically stopped with 3 extra days to prepare. You've never seen it run like Wofford runs it, and the fact that you compared flexbone teams to teams that run option sets shows your naivete

I have tremendous respect for the TO and expect this to be a hard fought game. I also know that Farley played against Georgia Southern and Tracy Ham in 1985 and has seen the TO run at its best. I doubt if he'll have the team less than prepared for this game. I'm pretty sure the players went home over Thanksgiving with scouting reports, film, etc. to study.

This isn't the kind of matchup that a coach is happy with but I'm glad that UNI has an extra week to prepare. UNI should be favored but it is entirely possible that the Terriers come out with a win.