The national championship - harding vs ferris.

[BisonOL]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

[FSUBulldog27]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

It will be interesting because we do have 2 pretty good defensive tackles. I assignment football at its finest. It’s interesting what defense fronts team put up to contain the option plays. Some teams like a 3 -4 front with the NT half yard off the ball. More time to pick and crash gap. Then all all LBs and Safety’s have assigned player. So hard for defenses to stay disciplined and not chase the ball but stay with the player. Their goal is to out number you on any position on the field.

we will need long drives as well to keep their D on the field as well. Both times played it’s been close - our 2021, 2022 teams were beasts not sure where would pit this 2024 team. Throwing teams like Shepherd, Mines and UCU we can handle but Harding you have to get some turn overs, not turn over the ball and win coin toss to defer to 2nd half.

I know I have talked smack to amp this game up but we respect all and fear none.

[FSUBulldogs]

Harding isn't as good on defense as they were last year, I'd say.

I don't know why every D2 school doesn't subscribe to Harding's program philosophy, running that offense and stacking their defense with most of their scholarships. It's the perfect recipe for D2 football, where nobody has any dominant defensive tackles. The only reason it gets stopped in FBS is because of defensive tackles who are power lifters and move like defensive ends, and because of 270 pound defensive ends who move like WR's. That doesn't exist in D2, so you can just have your way with almost any defense. But schools won't run it because they're too full of themselves to appear gimmicky.

That's good to know. I was wondering if they were as stout on D as last year.

You're right about other D2 teams needing to adopt this offense. It suits D2 teams very well due to the scholarship and funding issues they face. You don't have to go after the most athletic players. Just find the short, quick, and stout OL guys the country offers. Find a wickedly bright quarterback who runs hard and can take a beating. Then do the same for your running backs, too, but they don't need to have the smarts like your QB. It's a plus but not required. The biggest thing they all need is discipline and a selfless personality. I really want to see Northern get good at this style of offense for their school and for the GLIAC to see a team during the season that runs an option-based offense.

[FSUBulldogs]

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

I can't entirely agree with the snow point. I think it makes teams more one-dimensional on offense.

[BisonOL]

I can't entirely agree with the snow point. I think it makes teams more one-dimensional on offense.

The offense knows where it’s going, defense has to react. Not saying bad weather helps either side of the ball but def hurts D more than O.

[KleShreen]

Eh maybe but if so not much down. Remember the last 16 points were a KO return and against reserves. Yardage for GVSU was pretty comparable to last year. But still, maybe a tick down. I also think the snow had a bit to do with it as it tends to effect defenses more than offenses

Oh yea, I'm well aware GV's offense only got 7 points against the 1's, and it was with their scripted plays. But GV's offense this year is also light years behind what GV's offense last year was. That opening drive for GV was arguably their best offensive drive of the entire season. Last year's Harding doesn't let that happen, especially against a backup QB. Last year's Harding defense was also a monster up front, and I didn't feel like this year's Harding DL was anywhere close to what last year's was.

And the impact on the defense is magnified when going against your flexbone offense. Because the defensive front needs to get leverage and also be quick side-to-side, both of which are hindered in the snow with bad grip.

I also thought it was interesting that Cole Keylon had his biggest output of the season against GV. Most yards, second-highest number of carries. Keylon doesn't normally keep the ball that much. And I think GV, as a result, probably focused too much on the backs (unsuccessfully, obviously), and didn't account enough for Keylon running, and it resulted in him being unchecked multiple times. Last season, Keylon was bottled up by GV. And I think that's because the defensive talent on the GV side allowed for a linebacker to cover Keylon on every play, and the outside backers/safeties were good enough to cover the backs, which is what they did. But the talent to do that wasn't there this year for GV.

[Predatory Primates]

Based on what I've been reading, all of their posters seem like this. Now, every team or group has a bad apple or loudmouth, so I get that.

If you watch the GV Harding game where do you see them having a weak link?

DBs are a bit slow, but it's hard to get time to throw because front 7 is very good. Pitt and GV didn't have the passing game to.tale advantage of it. No idea.if Ferris does?

[BisonOL]

Oh yea, I'm well aware GV's offense only got 7 points against the 1's, and it was with their scripted plays. But GV's offense this year is also light years behind what GV's offense last year was. That opening drive for GV was arguably their best offensive drive of the entire season. Last year's Harding doesn't let that happen, especially against a backup QB. Last year's Harding defense was also a monster up front, and I didn't feel like this year's Harding DL was anywhere close to what last year's was.

And the impact on the defense is magnified when going against your flexbone offense. Because the defensive front needs to get leverage and also be quick side-to-side, both of which are hindered in the snow with bad grip.

I also thought it was interesting that Cole Keylon had his biggest output of the season against GV. Most yards, second-highest number of carries. Keylon doesn't normally keep the ball that much. And I think GV, as a result, probably focused too much on the backs (unsuccessfully, obviously), and didn't account enough for Keylon running, and it resulted in him being unchecked multiple times. Last season, Keylon was bottled up by GV. And I think that's because the defensive talent on the GV side allowed for a linebacker to cover Keylon on every play, and the outside backers/safeties were good enough to cover the backs, which is what they did. But the talent to do that wasn't there this year for GV.

Me pointing out when GVSU had the majority of their scoring wasn’t a knock on GVSU just making a point. U scored 6 against our 1’s last yr and 10 this yr with yardage about the same. U make a great point which I agree with about ur DL but remember it goes both ways. We can’t get the same traction either. And it’s the same DL minus one player.

[Redwing]

Ya win one national championship and your untouchable is what I'm feeling from some of the Harding posters. They have a great team, but they are human. Let's go dogs! They might even make a few Lakers say that this week haha

Yeah. I can't believe it myself. As the hours after the game last Saturday roll by, I find myself hoping for a .... dare I type this.. a Bulldog win? WTF? I won't lie. Some of the stuff around the Bison program that surfaced for me Saturday is pushing me that way. It's not posters or fans either. I'll be interested in seeing how those "things" play out this Saturday- if one can even detect that..

I wonder how Ferris will set up the field. With the temps being above freezing, they might not be able to do much. Still, I wonder if TA and company has some tricks to give his guys just that edge. Harding may have enough talent and well executed schemes that it won't matter though. I truly don't know who should be the fav. Saturday. I hope that they get more than 2k butts in the stands, but PO's rarely draw well. Maybe, I'll have to add to that number in the stands, but it might just be too painful for me to watch in person.

[bigmrg74]

I find it funny that harding fans just didn't talk much smack until it became clear they'd be on the road no matter what, then immediately became god's strongest message board posters

They were busy with their Silo bunker at that time.

[Divisiontwo]

KleShreen im not sure that I agree with the defense part. We bring back nearly everyone from that defense. Lost a good DE who won some accolades but he didn’t even have as good of a year last year as the guy playing behind him who is starting now and had a sack/forced fumble this past Saturday.

but, I think it’s splitting hairs. Both years the defense has operated at a very high level for the most part. They’ll need to do so again Saturday. The DL you saw last year especially.

[KleShreen]

Me pointing out when GVSU had the majority of their scoring wasn’t a knock on GVSU just making a point. U scored 6 against our 1’s last yr and 10 this yr with yardage about the same. U make a great point which I agree with about ur DL but remember it goes both ways. We can’t get the same traction either. And it’s the same DL minus one player.

But the offense your DL was going against doesn't necessarily require you to do the same kind of things as it does for the defensive line that has to dodge guys diving at their knees.

[bigmrg74]

That's good to know. I was wondering if they were as stout on D as last year.

You're right about other D2 teams needing to adopt this offense. It suits D2 teams very well due to the scholarship and funding issues they face. You don't have to go after the most athletic players. Just find the short, quick, and stout OL guys the country offers. Find a wickedly bright quarterback who runs hard and can take a beating. Then do the same for your running backs, too, but they don't need to have the smarts like your QB. It's a plus but not required. The biggest thing they all need is discipline and a selfless personality. I really want to see Northern get good at this style of offense for their school and for the GLIAC to see a team during the season that runs an option-based offense.

I was the one who said that Northern should take a look at running the option. They've got issues there at Northern getting guys to come, and to stay. Winning helps, winning because of the system might help them get better guys and keep them longer as well. The Wildcats getting good enough to at least challenge the top of the league would just help us out more when having to face a Harding, or if some other program decides to go all in on running an option offense and become dang good at it. Some normally also ran from the MIAA, an RMAC, or NSIC team, heck, maybe an Ohio team perhaps? Kle could be onto something with the idea of more D2's adopting the Option and putting their own spin on it.

[bigmrg74]

It will be interesting because we do have 2 pretty good defensive tackles. I assignment football at its finest. It’s interesting what defense fronts team put up to contain the option plays. Some teams like a 3 -4 front with the NT half yard off the ball. More time to pick and crash gap. Then all all LBs and Safety’s have assigned player. So hard for defenses to stay disciplined and not chase the ball but stay with the player. Their goal is to out number you on any position on the field.

we will need long drives as well to keep their D on the field as well. Both times played it’s been close - our 2021, 2022 teams were beasts not sure where would pit this 2024 team. Throwing teams like Shepherd, Mines and UCU we can handle but Harding you have to get some turn overs, not turn over the ball and win coin toss to defer to 2nd half.

I know I have talked smack to amp this game up but we respect all and fear none.

The one thing that TA is going to have to be on the bulldogs this week is that they can not give Harding any free yards at all. Disciplined football. No jumping off sides, no stupid boneheaded penalties, and most likely keep the jawing down to a minimum. They clean that up and not turning the ball over, they've got a punchers chance in the game.

[BisonOL]

But the offense your DL was going against doesn't necessarily require you to do the same kind of things as it does for the defensive line that has to dodge guys diving at their knees.

True Kle but back to my original point snow effects the def more than the off. Def has to read and react. Off knows where they are going