Bison Football Bye Week: Coaches reflect on the season so far

NDSU ENTERS THE BYE WEEK WITH A 9-1 RECORD AND SIT ATOP THE MVFC STANDINGS AND MEDIA POLLS.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) –North Dakota State University football is playing well exactly when they want to be. With just two games remaining in the regular season, the Herd sit atop the Missouri Valley Football Conference and atop every FCS rankings and poll.

A big reason for their success is their improved run defense. What was once a concern during the non-conference play, Code Green has drastically improved that aspect of their defense. Allowing less than 92 yards per game on the ground in conference play, the team ranks number one in the MVFC.

“I think anytime you’re under 100, that’s pretty darn good,” said defensive coordinator Grant Olson. “In today’s day and age of college football, especially with quarterback scramble and those things, if you can realistically keep a team under 150, I think that’s pretty darn good. We’ve simplified up front. We’ve made the linebackers and the safeties job a little bit easier as far as finding their gaps and hitting their fits. So, all those things have helped a ton. And then on top of it, I think we’ve just continued to improve.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Cam Miller has been the most efficient quarterback in the FCS. Miller has Completed over 77% of his passes and most impressively has 18 touchdown passes to zero interceptions.

On the ground, redshirt freshman Marty Brown has taken the lead in the running back room and in doing so is constantly impressing. Brown leads the MVFC in rushing yards (532 yards) and is tied for second in touchdowns (7) , stats that are a surprise to some entering the season as the second back on the depth chart.

“When a lot of the conversation was being asked this summer about the running back position, I think we all tried to talk about Marty without talking about Marty,” said offensive coordinator Jake Landry. “You see the explosiveness, the talent that he has, the size. We had a good indication. It was just a matter of would he mentally be able to get caught up to speed quick enough. I think that’s starting to show up here as the season’s gone on.”

Following the bye week, NDSU will host Missouri State on November 16 and battle South Dakota on the road the following Saturday.