by Eyes of Old Main on Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:43 pm
First off, make no mistake, NDSU was the best team we faced in 2017. They'd beat South Carolina if they played. No doubt in my mind.
Our defense did a good job against NDSU's run, but wasn't able to simultaneously contain their pass game. Some of that may be their athletes, but I suspect most if a result of what we had to do to defend the run. In game adjustments could have helped, but at some point I imagine that you just have to go with the looks you have and try to keep up. Desire wasn't a problem. Our guys were flying around and hitting hard. The Bison left the Fargodome knowing they'd been in a game. They won big, but they absorbed some punishment in the process. Stick is a nice QB and made some great throws, but a good number of them ended with him taking a shot from a Terrier, too.
On offense, we just didn't have an answer for what NDSU was doing. Being short at HB hurt and so did the turnovers, but neither was the reason we lost. We never established a rhythm and they never let up. Like the defense, the offense was doing whatever they could to succeed, but NDSU was just a bit better. Maybe some different play calling would have helped, but their lateral pursuit was too strong to get much going on the edge and they clogged up the middle so well we couldn't consistently get our three yards per play.
I'm happy with the performance of our players and I think the coaches had a viable plan for the game, but we were hoping for everything to break our way and it didn't. I credit NDSU's coaches for dissecting us on short notice and then having the ability to communicate the plan to their players in a way they could be successful.
What do we need to do to get better? I think our defensive strategy is sound, but I'd like to see us be a touch more aggressive against the pass, or at least have the ability to turn that on if we need it. As it is, it is death by a thousand papercuts or hoping for the opponent to throw some incomplete passes. We have the defensive personnel to compete, we just need to get a little edgier. Having a year of experience now, I expect Coach Wood will having things going better next year. Part of it is the players, but his first year was more cohesive and successful than either of the two previous new DC's after Woody left.
On offense, I think we need to get back to more misdirection. I like some of Furman's new plays with big shifts before the snap and guys running routes to create opportunities for reverses and misdirection. Our passing routes were better this year and played to the strength of our guys. I know we are methodical and like to burn clock, but I think a hurry up component needs to be added. I also think we need to find more ways to get the ball to Blake Morgan (both running and catching). Wofford used to routinely score 40 points per game and rack up a lot more rushing yards. I think we were 7th in the country in rushing this year which is almost something I would say should never happen.
Wofford should have a great opportunity to be successful in the SoCon next year and should be a preseason favorite for a playoff berth. What happens from there is anybody's guess, but I think basically every other conference team will be equal or better next year and with trips to Furman, WCU, Samford and Chattanooga it will be a tougher road.
SoCon Champs '03, '07, '10, '12, '17
FCS Playoffs '03, '07, '08, '10, '11, '12, '16, '17
FCS Semifinals '03
D-II Playoffs '90, '91
NAIA Finals '70
SC Little 4 Champs '48, '49, '50, '51, '52, '54, '56, '57, '61, '62, '63, '64
Cigar Bowl Participant '50