Rants & Raves: SIU

Photo By Abby Fullenkamp

The Jackrabbits won on Saturday to push their record to 7-2 and have likely secured a playoff spot.  Their was chaos all over the rest of the MVFC so it was good to see SDSU take care of business.  The Jacks won 57-38 and the outcome never felt much in doubt.  The defense can play better but SIU's offense is tough and they do have some very good athletes.  I think SIU is headed in the right direction and will be relevant in a year or two considering how many one score losses they had this season. 

Rants and Raves
Rave: The #605Hogs dominated on Saturday.  The Jackrabbits averaged 8.1 yards per carry and Taryn was only sacked twice, both coverage sacks.  It is apparent that the starting five, when healthy, are as good as any offensive line SDSU has trotted out on the field in recent years.  Watching Eagan and Tiano pull and eliminate defenders is a thing of beauty.  Also, the guy doesn't get a ton of love but Tyler Weir has become a really really good right tackle.  As a sophomore he played at guard and did okay.  Last year at right tackle he was up and down. This season he has dominated when he has been on the field.  I think if he had played a full season he would make the All-MVFC team. 

Rave: Pierre Strong is a player that I loved during fall camp in 2017, his true freshman season.  He was learning the playbook at the time but in all of the drills anyone could see that he was just different.  I'll never forget a linebacker blitz pickup drill where it is running backs vs. linebackers.  On three consecutive reps Strong stymied three different backers and had the running back group going crazy.  In terms of what he can do with the ball in his hands, Saturday felt like a showcase as the MSU game was probably his coming out party.  He's decisive, quick in his cut and fast in the open field.  Him and CJ Wilson for three more years and Mikey Daniel for one more year is going to give MVFC defensive coordinators nightmares. 

Rant: The kicking game has to get it figured out.  As I tweeted on Saturday, enough with the kick offs out of bounds.  Enough with the missed XPs and chip shot field goals.  Those are important plays and in tight games they matter.

Rave: Cade Johnson just keeps getting it down.  The last three weeks he has scored touchdowns from 81, 34, 42, 56, and 42 yards out.  They have almost all been the same route, a "9", go or fly.  This is a product of talent and scheme.  Because the Jackrabbit run game has been slicing and dicing, it is causing the opponents safties to cheat up creating a favorable matchup with Johnson 1 on 1 with a cornerback.  As long as the run game keeps clicking, this type of shot play will be there every game.  Johnson now stands at 49 receptions for 1,014 yards, and 13 touchdowns.

Rant: I didn't like seeing Taryn in there for the last possession.  I understand there is a 21 point win margin that the playoff committee looks at but the team had its opportunities for a 21 point win and didn't do it.  Taryn is too valuable to have injured going into the playoffs. 

Rave: Preston Tetzlaff and Don Gardner just continue to impress me.  I love special teams because it is all about effort. For years, Dalton Cox was my favorite special teams player but now that he is a starter on defense, the torch has been passed to Tetzlaff and Gardner.  Every week they are making a big tackle, blocking a kick, or laying a block that springs a returner for an extra couple of yards.  This week it was Gardner that blocked a punt and allowed the Jacks to score an easy touchdown.  I  have no idea if Tetzlaff and Gardner will ever see time as full time starters on defense but the effort they are putting forth on special teams is all anyone could ask for. 

Rant: Yes, the SIU offense is talented and multidimensional but so is Eastern Washington, UC Davis, and a host of other teams the Jacks could play in the playoffs.  The Jackrabbit defense has to play better.  They had been very good against MSU and Illinois State but this week left something to be desired.  I'm confident we see the good Jackrabbit defense this week against USD. 

Rave: The wide receiver blocking was again phenomenal.  Adam Anderson, Jacob Brown, and Cade Johnson all blocked like they had been working with the #605Hogs.  Jacob probably hasn't had the season statistically that he was looking for but his effort on springing his teammates hasn't wavered this year.  In past weeks Michael Wandmaker is another player who has stood out for his commitment to blocking.

Rant: I realize they are students, but the SIU broadcast team, particularly the cameramen just weren't good enough on Saturday.  Hopefully, the professor who is in charge of the students has a talk with them about holding high standards.  People are paying money to watch that broadcast and Saturday just wasn't good enough.  I'm thankful for ESPN3/ESPN+ as I have watched more FCS football than I ever have, but there needs to be some standards that ESPN holds its partners to. 

Rave: I think Coach Eidsness has really had a hot hand at calling plays the last three weeks.  The offense has played pretty dang well and has defenses guessing what is coming their way.  Hopefully this hot hand continues against USD and through the playoffs.   

Rave: I know as fans we tend to be uber-critical in the moment but lets take a step back and appreciate the run SDSU has had the past 7 years.  They are about to make it back to the playoffs and have had a 62-27 record in that 7 year span, counting this seasons 7-2 record.  That is a 70% win percentage which is pretty damn good.  I fully expect this team to pick up a few more wins before they are done.  The administration, the coaching staff, and the players have given us a lot to cheer for so I hope we don't take it for granted. 

Go Jacks!
Matt