Harding at GVSU

[Redwing]

Can you explain why you say this? Defense stats are better this year by about 30 yards per game, Special teams have been more productive this year...Offense is down about 28 yards per game if the stats on the GVSU website are accurate,,,using this year to date versus total stats for last year. I get it that the style of offense is much different but not sure that is a real problem.

And by most standards, as tough, if not a tougher schedule than last season. Add in Starting QB out for multiple quarters and big Oline losses, and there is hope for Saturday. Let's not let stats get in the way, right? And gotta hand it to Ike vs Indy. Wasn't perfect, but he did make some dang good throws. Not as tough as a runner as Moore, but more than serviceable. Hoping the rebuilt Oline continues to gel.

[KleShreen]

Can you explain why you say this? Defense stats are better this year by about 30 yards per game, Special teams have been more productive this year...Offense is down about 28 yards per game if the stats on the GVSU website are accurate,,,using this year to date versus total stats for last year. I get it that the style of offense is much different but not sure that is a real problem.

The GV kicking game is better with Bacik. But the kickoff coverage gives up at least one big return nearly every game. Punting has been average, IMO. The offense is obviously worse. The offense all season this year has essentially been what the offense was against Harding last year when we were playing with QB's with separated shoulders and leg issues who couldn't run the offense at all. And this year's OL is much weaker compared to last year's. At least last year, the offense could lean on the running backs because of the talented OL. That isn't the case this year. And there's no decent passers seeing time this year to lean on the passing. The OL has gotten blown up every time they've faced a team of playoff caliber. I mean they just got dominated by a GLVC defensive front.

The defense is relatively equal, but I still prefer last years because a big reason GV was able to shut down Harding's offense last year was because of three guys. Jay'viar Suggs on the inside to stop the dive, Christian McCarroll being both a good pass rusher *and* run defender on the edge, and Swanson being a guy who could go sideline to sideline. Those three guys are gone and haven't been replaced very well. Niles King is almost exclusively a pass-rush specialist, so he might not even play the majority of snaps this week, is my guess. Cardamone is great, but he left late in the game against Indy and that might mean he's not available this week. And there's no dominating DT in the middle to stop the dive like Suggs could. Swanson and McCarroll both had 12 tackles last year, Suggs only had two because he was eating up two OL every play, allowing the rest of the GV D to eat. The personnel isn't the same this year to stop this kind of offense.

[BisonOL]

The GV kicking game is better with Bacik. But the kickoff coverage gives up at least one big return nearly every game. Punting has been average, IMO. The offense is obviously worse. The offense all season this year has essentially been what the offense was against Harding last year when we were playing with QB's with separated shoulders and leg issues who couldn't run the offense at all. And this year's OL is much weaker compared to last year's. At least last year, the offense could lean on the running backs because of the talented OL. That isn't the case this year. And there's no decent passers seeing time this year to lean on the passing. The OL has gotten blown up every time they've faced a team of playoff caliber. I mean they just got dominated by a GLVC defensive front.

The defense is relatively equal, but I still prefer last years because a big reason GV was able to shut down Harding's offense last year was because of three guys. Jay'viar Suggs on the inside to stop the dive, Christian McCarroll being both a good pass rusher *and* run defender on the edge, and Swanson being a guy who could go sideline to sideline. Those three guys are gone and haven't been replaced very well. Niles King is almost exclusively a pass-rush specialist, so he might not even play the majority of snaps this week, is my guess. Cardamone is great, but he left late in the game against Indy and that might mean he's not available this week. And there's no dominating DT in the middle to stop the dive like Suggs could. Swanson and McCarroll both had 12 tackles last year, Suggs only had two because he was eating up two OL every play, allowing the rest of the GV D to eat. The personnel isn't the same this year to stop this kind of offense.

As a Harding fan I hope you’re right but I’ll believe it when I see it. As of now I expect to see the same fast and physical D we saw last year. One thing I know we will see again because it’s coaching is virtually zero missed def assignments last year or if there were none glaring we exploited. A very well coached fb team

[FSUBulldogs]

Based on what I’ve seen this year, GV's defense was better. That may be due to the offense, though, being able to extend drives and keep them fresh last year. I’m hoping for a GV win, but I think Harding has the upper hand in this one unless they have a few injuries that we don’t know about or the weather impacts the game.

[FoothillBison]

There have only been three teams that come to mind that have really shut down the flexbone since Coach Huck made the move in 2010. OBU, NW Missouri, and GV.
The positive thing for Harding is, they are going to have a good idea how GV is going to game plan for them since they just met a year ago. The bad news is, GV has home field and are a VERY well coached D.

if HU can pull this off, it will be very hard to keep the Bisons from McKinney again…

[Divisiontwo]

This doesn’t mean all that much to me here. But just checked some numbers. GV gave up 2.3 ypc last year for the year. Including HU. They’ve given up 3.6 so far not counting HU. That’s a significant difference based on raw numbers.

[UniBison]

Listened to D2 Pod last night and it seems like GVSU qb made some good throws and kept them in the game at times (even though they were never really out of it). The question will be does GVSU continue to sacrifice the run as they get farther in the Playoffs. At what point does being unbalanced come back to bite you (real funny coming from a Harding guy I know I know). Heard Indy only crossed GVSUs 40 only once all game and it was the scoring drive. I think Defense is still gonna be the major factor in this one. GVSU has a good staff with a competent game plan and plenty of Jimmys and joes to back up the Xs and Os. Should be a great game. Oh and as much as weather is a fun talking point I’d advise anyone who thinks the bisons will crumble in the cold to educate themselves on Mental Toughness.

[champgymusa]

Only issue Harding has had with cold weather was the helmets deflating from air temp change- caused 3 concussions vs Ferris in 2018.

I find that hard to understand. The bladders in the helmet are deflated when the helmets are tested. The function of the bladder is to adjust the fit of the unit, not absorb impact. Also the heat that the head puts off would more than compensate for any cold weather also. My guess is you had helmets with leaking bladders that ruptured in the cargo area of the airplane that you traveled on. I know what GVSU does when flying and its a lot of work but it pays off. Also why did your equipment manager not do an air check on every player pregame. Not that hard to do it right. Players know if its right.

[champgymusa]

Listened to D2 Pod last night and it seems like GVSU qb made some good throws and kept them in the game at times (even though they were never really out of it). The question will be does GVSU continue to sacrifice the run as they get farther in the Playoffs. At what point does being unbalanced come back to bite you (real funny coming from a Harding guy I know I know). Heard Indy only crossed GVSUs 40 only once all game and it was the scoring drive. I think Defense is still gonna be the major factor in this one. GVSU has a good staff with a competent game plan and plenty of Jimmys and joes to back up the Xs and Os. Should be a great game. Oh and as much as weather is a fun talking point I’d advise anyone who thinks the bisons will crumble in the cold to educate themselves on Mental Toughness.

I would not expect the weather to be any issue other than perhaps a cold wet ball at times which any good team is prepared for and I am sure Harding knows how to prepare. Defense wins championships and I would expect this game to be a fight in a phone booth as well. Travel safe, see you in Allendale.

[FSUBulldogs]

Listened to D2 Pod last night and it seems like GVSU qb made some good throws and kept them in the game at times (even though they were never really out of it). The question will be does GVSU continue to sacrifice the run as they get farther in the Playoffs. At what point does being unbalanced come back to bite you (real funny coming from a Harding guy I know I know). Heard Indy only crossed GVSUs 40 only once all game and it was the scoring drive. I think Defense is still gonna be the major factor in this one. GVSU has a good staff with a competent game plan and plenty of Jimmys and joes to back up the Xs and Os. Should be a great game. Oh and as much as weather is a fun talking point I’d advise anyone who thinks the bisons will crumble in the cold to educate themselves on Mental Toughness.

I don’t think the weather will affect the Bison. They are a run-heavy team, so it should only help them. I watched them come to Ferris and play in frigid temps, and they adjusted fine. I know that was a while ago, and there were different players, but I think it transfers from team to team with the coaching staff.

[UniBison]

I find that hard to understand. The bladders in the helmet are deflated when the helmets are tested. The function of the bladder is to adjust the fit of the unit, not absorb impact. Also the heat that the head puts off would more than compensate for any cold weather also. My guess is you had helmets with leaking bladders that ruptured in the cargo area of the airplane that you traveled on. I know what GVSU does when flying and its a lot of work but it pays off. Also why did your equipment manager not do an air check on every player pregame. Not that hard to do it right. Players know if its right.

I think you might be starting with the assumption that our equipment staff isn’t just three dedicated students who are there because they love the team 😂. They are top notch at what they do but it’s not the same as having a fully paid equipment staff. They have learned just as we have with experience in different settings and the standard rising with success. I know I’m not there anymore and there is no way he will see it but I love you Q keep up the good work man and bring the air pump and extra facemasks cause I know we will be breaking them on some laker’s chests

[LeftSider]

I find that hard to understand. The bladders in the helmet are deflated when the helmets are tested. The function of the bladder is to adjust the fit of the unit, not absorb impact. Also the heat that the head puts off would more than compensate for any cold weather also. My guess is you had helmets with leaking bladders that ruptured in the cargo area of the airplane that you traveled on. I know what GVSU does when flying and it’s a lot of work but it pays off. Also why did your equipment manager not do an air check on every player pregame. Not that hard to do it right. Players know if it’s right.

lol idk why we didn’t but the equipment guys didn’t. I know I took a hit during pre game and got my bell rung so I asked for it to be filled more. The fact that they deflated and made them not fit correctly would definitely increase risk of concussion. All of the concussions happened within the first 2 drives of the game. It bet it doesn’t happen again though!

[GVSU-2019]

Man I love that this is right around the same time as Michigan Ohio State. Gonna have this on TV and The Game on my phone. Gonna be a great football Saturday!

[LeftSider]

Man I love that this is right around the same time as Michigan Ohio State. Gonna have this on TV and The Game on my phone. Gonna be a great football Saturday!

Please post your tears when GV gets crumpled and THE Ohio state university T-Bags the wolverines

[Bisons10]

Harding ready to go once again. I can tell you, weather talk, road talk, Home field advantage for GV, banged up OLINE.. once again an excuse for GV.. Blah, Blah, Blah... Harding doesn't care. Terrible GAC, 6th seed. Look.. the metrics are what they are. Game by game. Harding don't care. They will bring it to Allendale just like they did Pittsburg.