The Jackrabbits welcome an old rival to Brookings on Saturday. USD has won two in a row in the series and the Jacks are anxious to get back on the right side of the rivalry. USD is a talented team that has had about as tough of a schedule to open the season as anyone in the country. USD is coming off the bye so SDSU will have to be ready for some new looks and for some strong energy from the yotes.
What to Watch
Stop the Run
We have talked and tweeted about this plenty this week but Travis Theis and Shomari Lawrence are a very good duo. Theis runs so hard and is really physical. He’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry and Lawrence is averaging 5.9. The Jackrabbit defense is holding opponents to 2.0 ypc. However, this may be the best run game the Jacks will have faced this season. If the Jacks can split the difference and hold USD to around 3.2 ypc, they should win.
No Blown Coverages
In the last four games, the Jacks have had a blown coverage which resulted in a touchdown. It is frustrating because they have been really pretty good outside of those plays. The Jacks will likely be focused on stopping USD’s run game with their front 7. Because of that, the secondary will have to hold their own against a talented group of pass catchers. There have been communication errors, physical errors, and mental errors on these long touchdown passes. Saturday, no more of these. Keep your feet, make the tackle, and don’t let the wide receiver behind you.
Possess the Ball
The Jackrabbits held the ball for nearly 42 minutes last Saturday. In their last outing against NDSU, USD only held the ball for 20 minutes and looked exhausted at the end of the game. USD has good top end talent but is not deep. If the Jacks can run the ball, complete short and intermediate passes efficiently, and move the sticks methodically, this game will never be in doubt. USD has struggled to sustain drives this season so it will also be important for the defense to get them off the field on 3rd down and let the Jackrabbit offense go to work.
Play Clean & Manage the Emotion
The Jacks have been penalized too much this season. Coach Stig has mentioned it plenty of times. There is a fine line of playing with passion and showboating, fighting, and taunting. The Jacks need to learn the balance. In this game, the Jacks can’t give USD free yards and free first downs. The Jackrabbits seem to appreciate the significance of this game this season. Hopefully they can manage the emotion and execute at a high level. We have seen them do this with NDSU the last 5 years, can they do it now for USD?
Crowd Noise
This game will be one of, if not thee, largest crowds to watch a game in the history of football in South Dakota. The Jackrabbit crowd must be noisy, early and often when the yotes have the ball. Bob Nielson, in a radio interview, indirectly said that this is not a hostile/rowdy/loud crowd or environment. In big matchups, the Jackrabbit crowd has made plenty of noise. Well, this is a big matchup so it is time to bring the noise! The goal is 4 false start penalties on USD. Let’s do it!
Of note…
- Isaiah Stalbird returned for a few plays last week early vs. WIU
- Neither Bo Donald nor Ethan Vibert dressed last week vs. WIU but both were moving really well on the sideline.
- It will be interesting to see if the Kevin Brenner package continues in goal line situations.
- Will the Jacks look to balance the workload out a bit more at running back? Isaiah Davis has had 50 touches the last two weeks while Amar has had just 17.
- Myles Harden for USD is a turnover machine. He had an INT and a forced fumble vs the Bison and was looking to strip the ball throughout the game.
- The Jackrabbit defensive has 7 sacks the last two weeks after having just 2 in the first 3 games of the season.
Go Jacks!
Ben, Brendan, Chad, Dallas, Kyle, and Matt
