3 Matchups to Watch: UNI round 2





Saturday is almost here. Finally.  What a long week of anticipation!  Unless UNI comes out running a 4-4 defense and moves to an uptempo spread offense, there should be very few surprises in terms of overall scheme.  UNI surprised the Jacks earlier in the season with the 3-4 defense and the pwoer running of Weymiller.  This time, the Jacks will be ready for it, plus more of what UNI has shown this season.


3 Matchups to Watch

1. Jordan Brown vs. #10 Daurice Fountain
As I shared in the preview article, JB held Fountain to just 2 receptions for 30 yards and a TD in the first matchup.  I would anticipate that they will lock up again throughout the day on Saturday.  Jordan has a difficult job as Fountain is big (6-2, 208), fast, and has great hands.  However, both made the MVFC All-Conference team for a reason.  Jordan has shut down some of the best receivers in the FCS level, week-in and week-out.  If the Jacks can stop the run on first and second down, it will force UNI into 3rd and long and UNI QB Eli Dunne will certainly be looking for his top target, Fountain.

2. Charlie Harmon and Tyler Weir vs. #99 Adam Reth and #7 Rickey Neal
In the first matchup against UNI, the offensive line didn't have a great day.  The coaches blamed the struggles on the fact that UNI switched up their defensive front and played a 3-4 defense when the team had prepared entirely for a 4-3 defense.  Reth and Neal are excellent players, earning 1st and 2nd team MVFC honors.  Reth plays with a power game and Neal is undersized, but quick and explosive.  Whichever side the defensive ends line up on, the SDSU tackles will have their hands full.  Both Harmon and Weir are talented and more than capable but still struggle with consistency from play to play and drive to drive.  In order to win, the Jacks will need these two at their best, keeping Taryn upright, opening running lanes, and controlling the line of scrimmage.  

3. Dallas Goedert vs. UNI secondary
After having zero targets in the first half against UNI (partially due to SDSU not possessing the ball), Goedert had a monster second half catching 4 passes for 120 yards and a TD.  Looking back at the season, the UNI game was a turning point for Dallas.  Prior, he had been dinged up suffering through a variety of injuries, but after the UNI game he went on a tear and finished the last 5 games with 549 yards and 3 TDs (5 games prior to UNI: 297 yards and 1 TD).  The Jacks will need to get Dallas involved early in the game and use his size and physicality as a mismatch against the UNI linebackers and secondary.  If UNI brackets Goedert, the rest of the receiving corp will need to respond, just as they have for most of the season.

If you are on the fence about attending, please go!  This team deserves your support and it will be a beautiful December day.

Go Jacks!
-Matt

Comments

  1. JacksAnaonymousDecember 1, 2017 at 8:36 AM

    More great analysis. I think it's key to keep their return game locked down too. Touching down in SD in one hour. Can't wait!

    ReplyDelete

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