The first of the four HUGE MVFC home games is finally here. The non-conference season was nice, Indiana State on the road was ho-hum BUT now we are finally in the meat grinder. The Jacks are 4-0 and the Salukis are 4-1. The Jacks are #1 in the country and SIU is #8 in the most recent FCS Fans Nation Top 25. This teams both feature powerful offenses and defenses that have the ability to shutdown their opponents. So here is what we are keeping an eye on this week.
- The #605Hogs vs. SIUs defensive line
The Hogs are coming off of their worst game since the loss to UND in the spring. They looked as though they were caught by surprise with some of the schemes and games that Dixie State ran. On the flip side, SIUs defensive line looks much improved due to the maturation of some younger players and two transfers who have provided some really high quality play. They have 18.5 sacks in 5 games and have allowed 135.2 yards per game on the ground. They are deeper than they have ever been. The #605Hogs need to show up ready to play from the first whistle and show that they are the dominant unit. Last year Isaiah Davis was dominant against SIU but what is lost is that in 3 career games against SIU, Strong has rushed for 465 yards and 4 TDs in just 43 carries. We’ll see if SIU’s focus on eliminating the big plays works.
2. The Jackrabbit Corners vs. SIUs WR Room
As has been noted, the Jacks will be without their All American cornerback, Don Gardner. The status of SIUs All-American Avante Cox is unknown but he was listed on the SIU depth chart but Landon Lenoir, Izaiah Hartrup, and Jerron Rollins are all very good wide receivers in their own right. The Jackrabbit corners were excellent last week but this will be a step up in quality. How do the Jacks choose to matchup with the Salukis? Typically you would see Don locked on Avante but with him out, what does it look like? Will DyShawn Gales, who has been outstanding this fall, travel across the formation with Cox? How will they matchup with the bigger and more physical Lenoir?
3. Chris Oladokun
The last two weeks Oladokun just hasn’t looked like quite the same player we saw the first two weeks of the season. His accuracy has been slightly off and the offense just hasn’t been as crisp. As the Jacks step up in competition, can he return to the form that we saw at Colorado State? That is what we are truly wanting to see. We know the Jacks can run the ball but they will need to be able to connect in the passing game to keep defenses honest and prevent them from stacking the box. The schedule will only get more challenging and the run defenses stouter and stouter.
4. Play Clean
It has been well documented that the Jackrabbits were penalized 10 times last week and Coach Stig has made it a point of emphasis in his time with the media this week. However, the Jacks have yet to commit a turnover and have forced 9. They have only given up 2 sacks and have collected 13. SIU on the other hand has 9 turnovers of their own and have forced 9 (including five forced and recovered fumbles). As noted previously they have registered 18.5 sacks while allowing just 13. They have been pretty disciplined with just just 5.8 penalties per game. The Jacks cannot beat themselves with penalties and will need to continue to force turnovers!
BONUS
The Salukis love trick plays. Javon Williams Jr. will line up at QB, they may run reverses, flee flickers, Philly Specials, or put their mammoth left guard in the backfield. All of these things we have seen from SIU in the past. It would surprise no one to see it again. The Jackrabbit defense is aggressive but it must be disciplined in their pursuit of the ball carrier in this matchup.
Not surprisingly we are all picking the Jackrabbits in this matchup. Brendan things it will be by a wide margin while the rest of us think it will be by a touchdown or less.
Go Jacks!
Ben, Brenda, Chad, Dallas, Kyle, Matt
