The Jacks enter MVFC play ready to face the Panthers of UNI. Both teams are coming off of their bye week with the Panther’s vowing to make some changes after a ho-hum 2-2 start in non-conference play while the Jacks are 3-1 and getting guys healthy but they have yet to play a complete game. This should be a fun game and environment in Cedar Falls. Here is what the JI team is keeping an eye on this week.
Chuck that Pigskin
The Jackrabbit passing attack struggled against Augustana and Southeastern Louisiana. UNI is a secondary that is ripe to be picked apart as they surrender 234 ypg with 281 coming against Nebraska and 379 against Hawaii. The Jackrabbit passing attack did hit for 264 and 285 passing yards against Oklahoma State and UIW so this offense is capable of doing it. The bye week and the tight ends getting healthier hopefully helped Mark and his pass catchers get on the same page. We expect a clean game with things “clicking.” The offensive line holds up, the receivers get separation and catch the ball, and Mark trusts the new faces. This should be fun to watch!
Under Pressure
The Jackrabbit defensive line turned up the heat against a decent SLU offensive line and finished with 4 sacks a week after they racked up 3 against Augie. In addition, they had 5 quarterback hurries in those two games. The Jacks pass rush is certainly trending in the right direction! However, the Panthers have a good and experienced offensive line that is anchored by pre-season All-American Jared Penning at left tackle. They have only surrendered 3 sacks on the season. Further complicating matters is that UNI runs the ball really well with Tye Edwards which means the defensive line cannot simply tee-off on their rush. What we want to see is the Jacks stop the run and then get pressure on whoever UNI starts at QB. UNI has talented pass catchers that will beat the coverage if the QB has too long in the pocket.
Statement D
The Jackrabbit defensive effort the past two weeks has been outstanding as they allowed just 3 total points. Going back even further, holding UIW to just 24 points is looking more and more impressive as they just put up 38 against a solid NAU defense. We believe that the UNI offense has struggled to start the season and we should expect another effort that limits UNI’s scoring to 17 points or less. With guys getting healthy and the experienced depth returning to the field, this defense has the chance to be very very good. Can they now do it against MVFC foes?
#605HOG Suey
The #605Hogs ate in Hammond, LA with the Jackrabbits rolling up 341 yards and 5 TDs on the ground. With Hagen and Vibert listed again on the depth chart, can that momentum continue? Paepke filled in well for Vibert in two games and Marcus Hicks settled in and played well after a rough start against SLU. UNI’s two starting interior defensive tackles have some experience with the two linebackers being really gritty tough players. Can the Hogs neutralize this perceived strength of the Panthers and open lanes for the Jackrabbit rushing attack?
Bye or Buy Farley?
The next paragraph is taken directly from the UNI preview of the game.
“After the bye week, head coach Mark Farley holds a 17-5 record (excluding the COVID 2021 season) in his time at UNI and a perfect 10-0 record when playing inside the Dome after a bye week. Coach Farley has a 15-7 record (excluding the COVID 2021 season) in conference openers including a 9-1 record over 10 conference openers inside the Dome.”
This is an impressive set of statistics for Farley following a bye week. We all know Mark Farley can coach and he’s had two weeks to come up with a plan to ensure his team has the best chance possible to upset SDSU. Many are ready to send Farley out to pasture but an upset win over the #1 team in the country would end that chatter quickly.
Matchups to Watch
Dalys Beanum vs. WR #21 Sergio Morency
Morency is UNI’s most explosive offensive player and he possesses long speed that can challenge any CB. Beanum is the Jacks top cornerback and will see plenty of Morency because Colby Humphrey will likely be on the ultra physical Desmond Hutson. The Jacks defense is very good against the run so the Panthers will have to pass the ball.
Griffin Wilde vs. UNI CBs.
The Panther cornerbacks are light on MVFC experience and Wilde is one of the best in the MVFC. Wilde is coming off of a game where he had few targets and only 1 catch. The Jacks will need to make a concerted effort to get him involved in the offense in creative ways and on creative routes if the Panthers choose to double him like SLU did. If Wilde continues to be a magnet for defenders someone else MUST step up for the passing game to be successful.
Adam Bock vs. RB #2 Tye Edwards
Bock vs. Edwards should be a marquee matchup on Saturday. The Panthers want to run the ball and Edwards is a workhorse that leads the MVFC with 7.72 yards per carry. Coach Farley knows that the best way to beat SDSU is to control the ball and not let the Jackrabbit offense get going. He’s done it before to SDSU and it will likely be the thing he tries on Saturday. Bock has been terrific this season and leads the team with 32 tackles including 3 for loss. We’re excited to see some collisions between these two!
We all expect the Jackrabbits to win. However, this is a dangerous UNI team because we know so little about them + the fact that Farley has had two weeks to tinker with his team and create a strategy to slow the Jackrabbits. It should be a fun day in the UNI Dome.
Go Jacks!
Alex, Ben, Brendan, Chad, Dallas, Jake, and Matt
