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There will be a major difference. Valparaiso, a weak Pioneer League side without a purse, is not Albany. There is little to no mystery as to how the game will play out, and the Bison is 99.9% likely to win a super move. Frankly, if that doesn’t happen, the NDSU has bigger reasons to be concerned than the quarterback.
Patterson deserves a “B” rating for his performance against Albany. He scored 12 of 16 (75%) for 115 yards and a touchdown. He did not initiate an interception. Patterson was mostly precise on the shorter throws and his 18-yard touchdown to tight end Josh Babicz was a perfectly delivered ball. This is all an improvement over what the Bison received from the QB position in the spring.
That’s a winning percentage of completion, even knowing that Bison’s coaches kept the offensive vanilla and called games they knew were a hit for Patterson. If NDSU can have any semblance of a better passing game than they did in the spring, their offense will be infinitely better.
Patterson has only shown a tiny fraction of his running ability. There will be more later, but probably not against Valparaiso. It’s assumed here that the NDSU coaches don’t want to release that aspect until the final non-conference game against Towson on the road or the Missouri Valley conference football season. .
On the negative side: Patterson fumbled twice (losing one), held the ball too long on at least two occasions, and failed to throw a down shot (he did two 18-yard passes, one which was the Babicz’s touchdown and the other which was a short throw to wide receiver Christian Watson which Watson turned into a longer win).
North Dakota State quarterback Quincy Patterson passes against Albany at the Fargodome on Saturday, September 4, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
One of the fumbles, which the Bison lost at the Albany 5-yard line, appeared to come because a failed blocking mission allowed a Great Danes defender to be over Patterson at the second he turned on a fake action game. The other was more blatant – Patterson had an Albany rusher on hand and knocked the ball out of his hands when the QB should have had a better conscience.
As for the lack of down shots, Patterson should have had a long completion, but Watson had a well-pitched ball in his hands on a play that could have resulted in a touchdown. You have to make these parts.
It’s likely Patterson will see limited work against the Beacons, so take a look at his work while you can. It’ll likely be Cam Miller’s hour in the third quarter and it looks like there’s more than a good chance real freshman Cole Payton will see his first game.
Which brings us to the other four things to look for:
If the game goes as planned, NDSU may insert Payton. He’s a much-vaunted rookie from Omaha who coaches testify was very impressive in his first fall camp (media only have brief windows to watch practice). Payton, who wears number 15, is 6ft 3in tall, weighs 225 pounds and has a look on him physically that doesn’t say “real freshman.” The kid looks huge for a young quarterback.
Payton is the classic double-threat QB that NDSU prefers, and is frankly almost a necessity in modern college football for a team with championship aspirations.
North Dakota State quarterbacks Cam Miller, Quincy Patterson, Cole Payton, JJ Woodin and Peter Anderson perform drills during Bison football practice on Friday, August 6, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
Getting into the game wouldn’t cost Payton a year of eligibility. For a few years, the NCAA allowed players to play four games without increasing their eligibility. Former Bison Trey Lance played two games as a true rookie in 2018, scoring in an electric touchdown against North Alabama in his first game.
Aside from Payton, the Bison could have the chance to bring many other young players into the game. NDSU coaches haven’t indicated that many real freshmen are ready for action, but there could be several freshmen and sophomores in red shirts who don’t see much of playing time and who will be on the field in the second half.
Freshmen and freshmen in red shirts who have played against Albany, whether sparingly on rotation or on special teams, include: wide receiver DJ Hart, running back TK Marshall, winger tight Travis Yohnke, defensive end Loshiaka Roques, wide receiver Tyler Terhark and safety Sam Jung. Linebacker Cole Wisniewski has played a lot against Albany and could see even more extended action. Bison trainers like it. Cornerback Marques Sigle, a freshman in a red shirt, did not play against Albany but is listed as a substitute on the team’s depth chart.
Much has been done, correctly, of NDSU holding Albany 0 of 11 on the third down. Less was done of the Bison’s third down struggles. NDSU needs to improve on the third downs as the season progresses or their spring offensive struggles continue.
NDSU finished 4 of 12 (33%) in third place, which is bad enough. Worse, the Bison were 1 in 9 before securing three straight conversions in the fourth quarter with a comfortable lead.
Part of the problem, as it did in the spring, was that the NDSU found itself in far too many third and long situations. They faced third-and-36, third-and-8, third-and-10, third-and-8, third-and-13 and third-and-10 in the first three quarters.
North Dakota State’s Cody Lindquist hits Albany at the Fargodome on Saturday, September 4, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
It’s way too far.
Head coach Matt Entz said throughout fall camp that while the Bison’s third down conversion rates weren’t good in the spring, part of the problem was their anemic gains in the first and second downs. . In other words, a low percentage of third parties is not just a third party problem. The Bison need better gains on the first and second downs to put in place a more manageable third down. Third and 2 is much easier to convert than third and 8.
Typically, NDSU’s third drop percentage hovers between the highest 40 percent and the lowest 50 percent. In spring 2021, it was 42%.
In 2019, it was 51%, in 2018 it was 52%, in 2017 it was 47%, in 2016 it was 46%, in 2015 it was 47%, in 2014 it was 48%.
It might be difficult to draw any drastic conclusions against Valparaiso if the game goes as planned, but the Bison should be around 50% on the third down.
NDSU coaches raved about their depth on both lines of scrimmage in the spring, as we wrote in this space last week. Turns out that may only be 50% true.
The Bison rotated a group of defensive linemen and 10 saw the action against Albany (including some special teams). But on the offensive line, not so much.
NDSU mainly went with its starting fives of Cody Mauch (left tackle), Nash Jensen (left guard), Jalen Sundell (center), Jake Kubas (right guard) and Cordell Volson (right tackle).
Destin Talbert (6) of North Dakota State celebrates his interception against Albany with his teammates at the Fargodome on Saturday, September 4, 2021. David Samson / The Forum
Gray Zabel, who was very impressive as a true freshman in the spring, saw limited reps. Zabel was injured in the spring and may not be 100% yet. Mason Miller, who Bison coaches believe will be an important lineman during his career, has also played limited snaps.
Transfer to San Diego Luke LaCilento didn’t play due to injury during fall camp and rookie Jake Rock, who also saw playing time in the spring, didn’t play even though he was. in uniform. He might need more seasoning to save playing time.
So it appears, for now, that the NDSU offensive line will rely primarily on its five starters and include Miller and Zabel in the rotation when possible. When LaCilento will return from injury is uncertain.
Second-year wide receiver RaJa Nelson has been targeted four times against Albany, the second target behind senior star Christian Watson’s six. Nelson finished with three catches for 27 yards.
Nelson also returns kicks for the Bison.
He had four catches as a true freshman in the spring.
Lakeville North’s 5-foot-8, 185-pounder sees a lot of playing time for a youngster. He could see more against Valparaiso.
RaJa Nelson of North Dakota kicks off Brady Stevens of North Dakota on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Fargodome. Alyssa Goelzer / The Forum
Bison trainers are high on Nelson’s potential and love his speed. Nelson was the 2019 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year after leading Lakeville North to an unexpected spot in the state’s top schools semifinals. A wide receiver, running back and cornerback in his first three college seasons, Nelson rose to quarterback in his senior year and thrived.
When he graduated, Nelson held Lakeville North’s career records for total yards (4,674) and touchdowns (72).
In the Star Tribune article nominating Nelson as Player of the Year, Lakeville North head coach Brian Vossen said: “In football you hear all the time that a guy can’t play. difference. RaJa has shown us this guy absolutely can power a team. “
Nelson, No.17, could have more opportunities against Valparaiso.
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