2021 SMSU Mustangs

[MrMustang]

A great majority of the players on the roster don't have numbers. Let's go here. Get this moving. First game is less than two weeks away and no numbers assigned.

[MrMustang]

Roster updated. Still some numbers open but many players have new numbers.

[MrMustang]

Less than 1 week away. Pretty excited after no season last year . Hopefully we play well. Big game. Beat Moorhead and get off to a good start would be huge.

[SW_Mustang]

Looking like Haidt gets the start over Nava?

Spending week 1 in Mankato, so I'll be sending good vibes...

[SW_Mustang]

What are we thinking after that one? Here are my thoughts:

-Overall, I was expecting the outcome to be somewhat worse - like Moorhead 25 points or more. I hate to be happy after a loss, but we're essentially a brand-new football team that's only been working together for a few months. A lot of kinks to work out and I'm not going to be hopeful things "turn around," but so long as this team doesn't throw in the towel, I'll be happy.

-The WR position is open to whoever wants to claim it. MSUM's top two longest receptions equaled almost as many yards as we had on 19. I'm not sure if it's a QB or WR issue, or both, but this needs to get tightened up. 3 INTs too, and one in the endzone. Yikes.

-On the flipside, we had MSUM in almost every rushing category except yards lost. Jesse Sherwood out of Central Lakes is the big standout last night, and Duce Reynolds had a good game as well. It would be cool if these guys could work together as a 1-2 punch.

-It looks like the O-Line held up pretty well? There's much more to the position than statistics, but we only got sacked twice. Quite a few TFLs, but we matched that defensively. How much did our QB have to run around to make a pass?

-Kicking looked like a bright spot last night too - we went 3/3 on PATs (MSUM was 3/5). We also averaged 9.5 yards more on kickoffs. Looks like we even blocked a FG. Too small of a sample size, but I've seen our kickers struggle in the past and we're due for someone who can really get it right.

As far as next week goes:

-I watched the Wolves play last night in-person. We don't stand a chance, especially on the road in the new stadium. The crowd is going to be hot, and the Wolves are going to steamroll any team that stands in their way given how close they got last night to what would have been a top 3 win in program history. All I can hope for is that we show up and give it 100%.

[NSICFballFan]

I caught some of the SMSU game in between the NSU game.

I felt the same way about the WRs. Huge drop off from 2019 when SMSU had Davis. I didn't see a WR make a single play. I also only watch 1/3 of the game. There were definitely some opportunities to make plays but they were missed.

Sherwood looked great. So did Duce. I think SMSU plans to run the fball more than usual this season. They huddled most of the game and ate clock. Sauter knows he doesn't have the WRs to make an impact in the passing game. Maybe the run will open up some play action in the future.

From what I saw Haidt was not running for his life. OL seemed to not be an issue.

Looks like SMSU went from a 3-3-5 in 2019 to primarily a 4-2-5 which they desperately needed to do to stop the run in the NSIC.

A lot more depth on the D-line this season. I was surprised the MSUM o-line played as well as they did. SMSU D-line seemed to have them beat in size and athleticism. Hopefully they just need some game experience with one another.

There were some blown coverages in the secondary. Moorhead QB completed easy throws all night long. Seems like secondary is getting used to playing with one another.

I was super impressed with Northern. As long as they can put that loss behind them quickly they're going to blow out SMSU and upset a team or two this season. The top teams won't be looking ahead of Northern this season or probably any season going forward. Northern will be a regular playoff team in the near future.

[MrMustang]

we will find out if week one was just having lots of new players and figuring things out of maybe we aren't as good as hoped. we'll see. Should be fun to play in a packed stadium in Aberdeen. Hopefully they embrace that and play well.

[MrMustang]

week one thoughts:

disappointing how we let a qb playing in his first game ever own us.

the defensive line played well against the run. better than past years.

was disappointed in the defensive backs. Moorhead had good receivers but they were open all day

we don't blitz enough

I thought Haidet looked very good the first half. did what we wanted him to do. Not good in second half trying to do too much but expected more.

running backs were good

offensive line pretty good. a few pressures but overall improved

receivers - woof. if there are any freshmen or redshirts, they are gonna get a chance.

we always rip the kicking game but he made them all. that was great

was hoping to go to Aberdeen but can't would be a fun time

must win now on Saturday

[Purple Mav Man]

week one thoughts:

disappointing how we let a qb playing in his first game ever own us.

the defensive line played well against the run. better than past years.

1) was disappointed in the defensive backs. Moorhead had good receivers but they were open all day

2) we don't blitz enough

I thought Haidet looked very good the first half. did what we wanted him to do. Not good in second half trying to do too much but expected more.

running backs were good

offensive line pretty good. a few pressures but overall improved

receivers - woof. if there are any freshmen or redshirts, they are gonna get a chance.

we always rip the kicking game but he made them all. that was great

was hoping to go to Aberdeen but can't would be a fun time

must win now on Saturday

Do you suppose 2 is related to 1?

[MrMustang]

Do you suppose 2 is related to 1?

probably. Although the dbs didn't look very good in my opionion. Hopefully they get better. one game doesn't make a season, but those were my observations

[Purple Mav Man]

probably. Although the dbs didn't look very good in my opionion. Hopefully they get better. one game doesn't make a season, but those were my observations

[NSICFballFan]

week one thoughts:


receivers - woof. if there are any freshmen or redshirts, they are gonna get a chance.

I noticed only one WR remained from the C/O 2020 class that started with 10 or 11. Some of those guys were really good. Not sure why they left or never showed up in the first place but I imagine a few would have seen the field last Saturday if they had stayed. Too bad for them as I imagine most are done playing. They just needed to stick it out a few more months. SMSU is not the place you transfer out of to a new program. Career usually ends once you're finished at SMSU.

[MrMustang]

I noticed only one WR remained from the C/O 2020 class that started with 10 or 11. Some of those guys were really good. Not sure why they left or never showed up in the first place but I imagine a few would have seen the field last Saturday if they had stayed. Too bad for them as I imagine most are done playing. They just needed to stick it out a few more months. SMSU is not the place you transfer out of to a new program. Career usually ends once you're finished at SMSU.

well, if you from far away and there is online classes why stay? you can go home and save $9000 in room and board and still take classes at SMSU or elsewhere. Can't blame the kids who came for football for leaving.

[NSICFballFan]

well, if you from far away and there is online classes why stay? you can go home and save $9000 in room and board and still take classes at SMSU or elsewhere. Can't blame the kids who came for football for leaving.

Stay bc there are fball activities. Wkouts, practices, and scrimmages. Just like every other reputable D2 program had in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Most FR redshirt anyway so it would have been no different. They would have been on the practice squad in 2020 and had chance to get big playing time in 2021. It's hard to think ahead when your 18/19 years old.

[SW_Mustang]

Stay bc there are fball activities. Wkouts, practices, and scrimmages. Just like every other reputable D2 program had in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. Most FR redshirt anyway so it would have been no different. They would have been on the practice squad in 2020 and had chance to get big playing time in 2021. It's hard to think ahead when your 18/19 years old.

My fear was that they'd get exposed to living in Marshall for a semester without the distraction of football. I'm not sure if that's what happened or not, but I have a feeling...