After impressive game, SDSU offense looks to improve

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BROOKINGS – South Dakota State’s offense, specifically its run game, was clicking in a 38-10 win over Drake.

The Jacks racked up 534 total yards and 369 of them were on the ground. SDSU had five runs of over 25 yards with the longest being a 76 yards from Cade Johnson. Pierre Strong Jr. had a 49-yard touchdown run and C.J. Wilson had a 52-yard run.

Head coach John Stiegelmeier said the big plays made the stat sheet look impressive.

“We ran the ball well with average and all that stuff because we had big plays. We had big plays because we have some very talented backs. I think when they get in the open field they’re very hard to tackle,” Stiegelmeier said.

Strong finished the day with 129 yards rushing on 11 attempts and Wilson finished with 10 carries for 117 yards. Strong was quick to credit his offensive line for the big day.

“Our O-Line is a key factor of our offense,” Strong said. “Once they get going, we get going and we just praise them … It’s just a want to thing. When we want to do it, we’ll do it.”

Strong, who has 243 yards and two touchdowns on the season, said he’s always known how to make people miss in the open field because that’s how he was taught to play growing up in Arkansas.

“Down south football is different than up here. There’s a lot of talent. I played against some people that are playing in the SEC right now. I just felt like if I can make them miss, I can make anybody miss. We play 24/7 down there because it’s hot. So you’re just playing outside every day and playing in the backyard,” Strong said.

The Jackrabbits are averaging 243 yards per game on the ground and 6.2 yards per rush. Their run blocking has been good, but their pass blocking has not been as good. Against Drake SDSU gave up three sacks.

Offensive coordinator Jason Eck said the sacks and plays that do not gain yards should not all be blamed on the offensive line.

“We want to cut down on the loss yardage plays,” Eck said. “We want to get better and make sure were protecting the ball. A lot of the protection is the whole offense being involved. We have to get the ball out on time, run the right routes and protect well. There’s a lot of pieces everywhere and we have to be better than we were.”

After the blow out win against Drake, Strong and Stiegelemeier both said they felt like the Jackrabbits have not been playing their best football. Yesterday, Eck said his offense has to be more consistent if they want to play their best.

“I think it’s consistency of playing at our top level all the time. Play after play. I think we know what we’re capable of and what our capacity of how good we can play is. But it’s going out there and doing it and I think consistency is what we have to improve on. Every week we’ll get an opportunity to improve on that,” Eck said.

SDSU might not be playing its best football because SDSU has been without starting quarterback J’Bore Gibbs who injured his pinky in the season opener against Minnesota. Against Minnesota Gibbs had 209 total yards and two total touchdowns. 

Stiegelmeier said Gibbs will get the start Saturday against Southern Utah and with him being a little rusty they are going to try to establish the run to start the game.

“We’re going to do whatever it takes to win the football game. If they defend the run then we’re going to throw more. If they don’t then we’re going to run. We’re going to try to run the ball more, “Stiegelmeier said.