Roehl says NDSU offense would have evolved no matter who was QB

By Jeff Kolpack and Eric Peterson The Forum

Fargo

There’s been evidence the last couple of weeks that the North Dakota State offense has been more diverse in its attack of opposing defenses. Was it because of a change in quarterbacks?

NDSU offensive coordinator

Tyler Roehl says be careful of that assessment. The Bison pro style, West Coast offense generally gets more complicated as the year goes on anyway. It’s the way 2019 went when Trey Lance was the quarterback.

“Go look at early in ‘19, we weren’t as multiple as we were toward the end of ‘19, or the later part of the regular season,” Roehl said.

That’s because over the course of the season, Roehl said, NDSU gradually adds elements like pre-snap shifts, motions, trades and pass protections. The quarterback gradually has the latitude to change a run play to a pass or a pass play to a run. Pass routes can be changed at the line of scrimmage.

“We continue to put in a little more each week,” Roehl said.

At least during the week, NDSU had not named a starting quarterback for the South Dakota State game on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Sophomore Cam Miller replaced injured starter Quincy Patterson two weeks ago and will go into the Jackrabbit game 21 of 29 passing with six touchdowns.

The Bison passing game has appeared more diverse with more players being involved in the last couple of weeks.

“I don’t think much of it would have changed, maybe a play call here or there,” Roehl said of the switch in QBs. “At the end of the day, the offense would have been extremely similar. … We’re getting pretty close to where we would have been in the ‘19 season.”

Oladokun thrives for Jackrabbits

SDSU senior Chris Oladokun has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this fall, averaging 237.1 yards per game from scrimmage, which ranks fourth in the conference.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Oladokun transferred to SDSU this past summer after playing in multiple other college programs, including South Florida.

“I love his leadership,” SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said. “I love his comfort level in the offense in terms of knowledge and where he fits in having really not knowing anybody in June when he got here.” Oladokun has been a key addition for the Jackrabbits with quarterback Mark Gronowski, who led SDSU to the Division I FCS national title game, out this fall due a knee injury he suffered in the national title game last May.

Oladokun has completed 130 of 211 passes (62%) for 1,834 yards and 16 touchdowns with three interceptions. He’s passed for at least 300 yards in two games. He’s also rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns on 37 attempts.

“I think he can make all the throws,” Stiegelmeier said. “I think he throws the deep ball as well as anybody in the last 10 years at South Dakota State. He’s played above our expectations in a number of games.”

Bison defense impresses Stiegelmeier

NDSU leads the FCS in scoring defense, holding opponents to 8.1 points per game heading into the Dakota Marker game . Stiegelmeier is impressed with the Bison defense, which has two shutouts this season and limited Indiana State to two points last weekend.

“We’re going to have to execute and be patient and understand we’re not going to get 20-to-30 yard plays against a good defense like theirs, but our offense is pretty good, it has been pretty good,” Stiegelmeier said. “Ideally, we’ll get it to the right guys and they’ll make some plays and get some yards.”

The Bison have thrived at getting to the quarterback with 31 sacks in eight games. Their 3.88 sacks per game ranks third in the FCS.

“The athletes they have on the field are good athletes,” Stiegelmeier said. “There are no weaknesses there and they know their scheme and they do their job. In theory, if you run the ball there is going to be an unblocked player, you don’t get to block them all and they make plays. … I love how they play defense. I respect how they play defense. I’m a defensive coach by nature.”

Odds and ends

► SDSU has lost its previous two home games, against Southern Illinois and Northern Iowa. “It’s kind of cool to be 6-2 and a lot of people would love to be in our situation and because of our expectations and the history and tradition of our program, we feel like we’ve fallen short,” Stiegelmeier said. “I feel good about our opportunity this Saturday and we’re going to approach it like any other game.”

► NDSU holds a 10-7 edge in the Marker series. Postseason games are not included in the battle for the replica of original quartzite monuments that were placed at half-mile intervals along the state border in the summers of 1891 and 1892.

► The Bison are off to an 8-0 start for the eighth time in their 18 years in the FCS. The last time NDSU lost its ninth game of the year after going 8-0 was 2017 in a 33-21 loss at SDSU.