The Jacks are ready to head down to Hammond, America to take on the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana University.  This is a program the Jacks haven’t played since 2013.  Much like the UIW matchup, this is a fun one because it is an unfamiliar FCS opponent and it is in a unique location.  Most of us wish that we were headed south right now to attend the game but it just didn’t work out this year.  Hopefully in the future!  Here are the things that we are keeping an eye on Saturday night!

What to Watch

Keep It Clean

The Jackrabbits have been plagued by penalties and mental errors to start the season.  The Jacks have struggled with penalties for the past few years but there was so much experienced talent that it often didn’t matter.  This year, the talent is there but not the experience so it does matter.  The margin for error is thinner.  Turnovers have also been a bit of an issue after being an afterthought for much of the past two years.  The Jacks have always used the non-conference schedule to tune up for the challenging Missouri Valley schedule and this year the schedule was setup in much of the same way. With a mix of an FBS game, a stronger FCS team, and two games that LOOKED like wins when the schedule was announced.  This is the game to get it right and to clean up the penalties, mental errors, and turnovers because all those things will lose a team games in the MVFC.

TE Blocking

The young Jackrabbit TEs have been up and down so far this season.  On the re-watch this week, one thing we noticed was that the run blocking from this group was subpar against Augustana.  We also noted that the PFF run blocking grades for the tight end group were below average.  Yes, we know that PFF is not the sole authority on grading but when it confirms what was seen on the rewatch it works.  Part of being a great tight end at SDSU is being a complete tight end.  The  standard is to give great effort in run blocking.  On the re-watch, there were running lanes available before defenders slid off of the blocks of the tight end and blew up the play.  Is this effort or form and technique or simply getting defeated by a better player?  We cannot say.  Hopefully this is an area of improvement this week!

The Environment

For whatever reason, the Jacks struggled in the heat and humidity at Oklahoma State in week one.  It is supposed to be very warm and very humid in Hammond on Saturday night.  We have also been told that Strawberry Stadium, built in 1937, has some weird voodoo magic to it.  As our podcast guest Mark Willoughby, the voice of SLU, shared, the Lions are 7-1 in non-conference action at home under their current head coach Frank Scelfo.  Scelfo shared that this stadium is small and it won’t be a huge crowd but it will be loud and raucous!  The team will have to manage the weather and will also weather the emotion of a tuned up crowd!

Special Teams

The Lions have a very good special teams unit.  The Jacks are favored to win this game but special teams  can always be a factor that swings the momentum in one way or another.  The returners for SLU are both dynamic, the two punters can do a lot of different things, and the kicker has a big leg!  The Jackrabbits will need to be ready on the special teams units for some really high quality play and high caliber athletes.

Offensive Identity

The Jackrabbit offense has not quite been firing on all cylinders yet in 2024.  The Jacks are still rushing for 196 ypg and passing for 230 ypg on their way to 30 points per game but it doesn’t just feel like things are clicking all the way.  Who are the 2024 Jacks going to be on offense?  The fanbase has questions about the amount of passing on first down, while some are saying we need to air it out even more with some deep shots.  The run game does appear to be the strength but the passing game does need to show some level of consistency.  Whatever the case, we hope that there is more of a flow to the offense this week and the run and pass work off of each other.

Matchups To Watch

Marcus Hicks vs. SLU Defensive Ends

The Jacks will be without starting right tackle Sam Hagen this week so that means that Oklahoma transfer Marcus Hicks will be making his first career start.  Hicks, a former four star recruit, has battled injuries of his own throughout his career but has been healthy this summer and fall and is now in a position to make a difference for this team.    Coach Rogers has pointed out the SLU defensive ends as being standouts for the SLU defense so this is clearly a matchup to watch in our opinion.

Adam Bock vs. RB #22 Antonio Martin Jr.

We seem to have Bock highlighted every week but we know how important it is to stop the run.  SLU has struggled to pass the ball so far in 2024 but their run game has been really solid through 3 games.  Martin has been a big part of that success and is toting the rock to the tune of 5.4 ypc.  The offensive line for SLU appears to be a bunch of wide bodies who can move people in the run game.  The Jackrabbit defense has been good against the run and Bock in particular has been excellent.

Dalys Beanum vs. WR #9 Darius Lewis

As we have said, the Lions have struggled so far to pass the ball but when they do, Lewis is the target.  He has 18 receptions for 127 yards and a TD already this season.  As we have said in previous weeks, the Jacks don’t usually follow corners to specific wide receivers but we anticipate Beanum lined up across from Lewis plenty of times this week.  Coach Rogers said this week that the coaching staff challenged Dalys at halftime during the Augie game to be more physical in his play and he responded with a hellacious hit on an Augie running back.  We’ll see if he can continue with his physical play this week!

Jacks vs. Jacks

The win against Augie was the most disappointing 21 point victory according to many.  Coach Rogers shared that it was a disappointed locker room following the game.  The fanbase is nervous after being spoiled the past two years with high level play that few of us ever imagined.  We’re curious where the team is at mentally after such a disappointing game.  Will they respond and play up to their potential or are they still trying to get their footing and find their identity this season?  Coach Rogers told us that “the statement (2022 national championship) is now the standard” and if that is true this team needs to respond to this early adversity.

Again, this should be a fun game and we are excited to see how the Jacks respond to some adversity!  We believe in this team and look forward to watching this matchup with a new opponent.

Go Jacks!

Alex, Ben, Brendan, Chad, Dallas, Jake, Matt