Hello Northern Colorado.
Week 1 is in the books, South Dakota is 1-0, and now the Coyotes head on the road for the first time this season.
This thread will be stickied all week and serve as the main place for everything surrounding South Dakota at Northern Colorado.
📰 Inside the Pack
First Look: Northern Colorado — The Bears Look Different This Time
If you haven’t checked it out yet, we took a deeper look at Ed Lamb’s rebuild in Greeley, Northern Colorado’s wild 30-29 loss to Weber State and the Bears team USD will actually see Saturday night.
🏈 Game Hub
Everything you need for the matchup can be found here:
South Dakota at Northern Colorado Game Hub
We’ll keep the Game Hub updated throughout the week with the latest information heading into kickoff.
A few storylines to watch
Northern Colorado gave South Dakota everything it could handle in the DakotaDome last season before USD escaped with a 24-17 overtime win.
This year’s version of the Bears already looks a little different.
Northern Colorado stormed back down 10 to tie the game with 3 seconds left on Friday and subsequently missed the XP to fall 29-30 to Weber State in Greeley.
#1 Austyn Modrzewski gets his second career start — and his first on the road — back home in Colorado after throwing six touchdowns in his USD debut.
Plenty to talk about.
Let’s get the conversation started
1. What did you see against CCSU that you most want to see carry over to Week 2?
2. How concerned are you about Northern Colorado’s rushing attack and Lueth’s ability to run the football?
3. What are you watching from Modrzewski in his first road start?
4. And most importantly — what’s your score prediction?
1-0. First road trip. Let’s talk Yotes. 🐺
1) Austyn to complete passes at 80% clip. (take away one drop and a spike at it was actually 89%)
In seriousness, I want them to continue the “want to” attitude. It really seemed like every player wanted destroy CCSU and if they can keep that mentality through the year, they will be in every game.
2) I would be more concerned about the QB’s ability to run if we didnt just face a similarly skilled QB. Lueth is better though. We really need to focus on setting the edges and keeping him in the pocket. It will come down to Gabe and Wade to spy him and keep him one dimensional.
3) His demeanor will be the most important thing. An opportunity to play at home in you second game and line up against kids he grew up with will be interesting. One thing to note, there are quite a few Coyotes from Colorado and I know those families are selling out the visitors section. If we have a chance to kind of balance out the crowd noise, it can help him and the other Colorado kids settle in.
4) Watch the show to find out.
1. The offensive line continuing to improve each snap. You could see them settle in and get comfortable after the first drive. Keep providing Austyn time in the pocket and opening run lanes for the RB room….. I’m a firm believer that if USD can rush for 250+ yards / game, they will be very tough to stop.
2. I’m not too concerned. Playing a QB like Lueth week 2 is good for USD. CCSU had a shifty QB and I think the Yotes did an OK job at containing him (besides the first drive)… Lueth won’t be the last running QB we see this year, so it’ll be good to get game reps vs. a solid running QB. I hope our D-line can get pressure early and make UNC uncomfortable…. The Yotes NEED to register a few sacks this game and a couple INTs. Time to crank up the heat, defense!!!!
3. How comfortable will he be? I think there’s a lot pros when playing your first game at home- especially for a young QB. You get to sleep in your own bed the night before…. You’re not having pregame walk-through in a hotel parking lot…. You can keep things in rhythm and hit the ground running come game day…. Now, he goes back to his home state, where I’m sure there will be a lot of family and friends in the stands. It could be an emotional “homecoming” for him. Coach V says Austyn is a very steady and calm guy, he doesn’t get too high or too low…. We will see come Saturday night when the lights turn on…. My gut feeling: Austyn will have a carbon copy of Saturday’s game vs. UNC, but the first road test of the year is always interesting.
4. USD wins, 42-7. Last year was a fluke game. With injuries piling up, the team was not in sync, etc.,.. It wasn’t pretty, but the Yotes got the win last year and that’s all that mattered then. USD will go into Greely and show UNC, along with the rest of the FCS that the Coyotes are a legit team.
The Coyote Den
#GOYOTES
1. Loved the play calling. I think the coaching staff gave everyone on offense chances to produce schematically. Playmakers on the offensive side of the ball will decide this teams ceiling
2. More concerned about the defensive line than I am about the linebackers when stopping the run. Backers played very down hill and I was impressed with some of their run fits. Gap integrity of the big boys up front is this team’s weakness after week 1. Hopefully that unit becomes serviceable soon rather than later.
3. All of the cliche things. Control the line of scrimmage, don’t force something that’s not there, and expand upon what you’re good at. He will have to be the superhero to win some big big games this year but I’m looking for him to stay consistent and limit mistakes in a game like this.
4. Coyotes stay hot on the road, 39-13
1. Ditto almost everything said so far. I’ll add that I remember our pass coverage being very tight – especially for our 1s (I haven’t re-watched the all-22 film or anything 😅). I hope that continues.
2. I’m somewhat concerned about their running game, but, if my answer to #1 holds up, we should be fine.
3. I’m watching for Modrzewski to remain composed and play in system. He doesn’t seem like a kid who will be easily influenced by accolades, but time will tell. He just needs to take what the defense gives him and not attempt to force big throws.
4. 45-17 (initially)
@coyoteden1 I think you are right about last year being a fluke game. The second portal window destroyed the oline, we lose Charles the week prior, and LJ was tackled from behind on multiple breakaway runs. Have Charles or Key running those and they are touchdowns.
The issues in the run game last week came down to the oline not being on the same page early. I saw guys climb to the second level before the first level was secure. That just tells me there was miscommunications early. They seemed to settle in as the game progressed.
I’m very intrigued to see what that defensive line does this weekend. Running QB that isn’t the best at throwing the football. Hopefully can get pressure with 4.
I am really excited to see what the offense does this week against UNC. A part of me wants to see us run it down their throats, and another part of me would love to see a similar result through the air like we saw last week. UNC defensive coordinator has to be having nightmares watching the CCSU tape. CCSU came in and wanted to make the RS Freshman QB beat them, and boy oh boy did he. I don’t think UNC will try to stack the box up like CCSU did with what the offense showed last week.
Now that the defense has a week under their belt of live action, I think they are going to be really good this week. UNC’s QB will operate similar to CCSU’s last week but will play at a better/higher level. We will need to be sound on containment as he will take off a run with it.
I think the Yotes keep it rolling with a 38-17 win on the road. GO YOTES!!!
1. Very similar to others, loved the play calling vs. CCSU. They were going to die on stopping the run game. Modrzewski could beat them all day with a deep receiving group. Hoping carry over in play calling continues – Take what the defense gives you.
2. Not overly concerned. I think is the line can hold and contain. Our LBs come crashing hard on run game. I could see them working there way down the field without the big play and settling for dome field goals (Which could be interesting based on special teams last week).
3. I’ll be interested in seeing how Modrzewski comes into this game handling the attention. Friends/family back home and national recognition this week, I just really hope he doesn’t try to do too much.
I feel like UNC isn’t going to be as focused on that run as CCSU so lean into that with a solid rushing day with CP3, KJL, Fletcher, and Reid.
4. Modrzewski makes us a well balanced attack. Play to what the defense gives you! I want to go 38-17, but to be different than Grant, Austin, and Yote13.
YOTES 42-17
I’m glad we passed our first road test and avoided a Lamar disaster like last season. Even better that we had to respond to some adversity with falling behind immediately and the touchdown following the questionable targeting call.
My main concerns are with our ability to both consistently prevent and perform power running.
Lastly, the double reverse with KJL and Tennel Bryant is unfair! And Austyn’s overthrow of Tennel where the ball traveled 60+ yards on a rope caused me to audibly gasp. He’s incredible.