Zimmer: South Dakota State football bye week report card

BROOKINGS - South Dakota State is on its bye week.

They'll have 14 days from their 37-21 win over Drake until their final non-conference game next Saturday, Sept.

27, when they host Mercyhurst.

The Jackrabbits are 3-0, and while there were some clear ups and downs on the way there, 3-0 is 3-0.

ADVERTISEMENT Here's an assessment of the pre-bye week portion of the season, report card style.

Offense The Jacks are averaging 29 points and 387.7 yards per game.

That's slightly less than what fans have become accustomed to in recent years but it's certainly not bad, and there are plenty of indications that it's only a matter of time before the offense breaks loose.

Third downs (24 percent) and the red zone have been problem areas.

Chase Mason has been excellent at quarterback, completing over 70 percent of his passes, making plays with his feet and making good decisions zero turnovers.

Running back Julius Loughridge has been as advertised and wide receiver Lofton O'Groske has lived up to the hype coaches began heaping on him in training camp.

The offensive line has probably not lived up to its own standard, but SDSU would be rushing for more than 200 yards per game were it not for the 11 sacks they've allowed.

If they can get that under control (and there were zero sacks in the most recent game against Drake) the offense will likely take flight.

The Jacks could still stand to get more out of their tight ends and some other secondary weapons, but it honestly feels like the question is when, not if, with this group.

ADVERTISEMENT Grade: B Defense The Jacks essentially pitched a shutout in their opener against highly-touted Sacramento State, then gave up just 10 points in regulation against No.

3 Montana State.

Last week they took a step back against Drake, allowing 21 points and struggling to get off the field at times.

Maybe the Bulldogs exposed something in the Jacks' defense, but the hunch here is that SDSU simply probably fell guilty to something of a letdown, had an off night and will actually be better off in the long run for what Drake was able to do to them.

The D-line has been good, the linebackers have been excellent and the secondary has been maybe even better than expected.

Grade: A- Special teams A mixed bag, here, as the Jacks botched a punt that was returned for a touchdown against Montana State, fumbled a punt return that led to a field goal against Sac State, and have already had to go to a second kicker after Eli Stader got off to a 3-for-7 start.

On the plus side, punter Max Pelham has been good (47.1 average), Ryan Harrington has been solid on kickoffs and made his first field goal attempt, and the coverage units on kicks and punts have both been strong.

ADVERTISEMENT Grade: C+ Coaching Dan Jackson sure seemed to push all the right buttons in a challenging offseason and certainly rallied the players as well as fans and alumni during a trying winter, but it was still anybody's guess if it would translate to wins on the field.

Three games in, including two against ranked opponents, and the Jacks are 3-0.

It could not be more clear SDSU hired the right guy to keep this program at the top.

There are still some kinks to work out, but the way the defense has stayed at an elite level with so many new starters is a credit to Brian Bergstrom and the defensive position coaches (all of whom are new), while the intensive work offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Eric Eidsness did with Mason in the spring has obviously paid off.

Remember, Mason hadn't really played every-down football in six years, and that was in 9-man high school football.

So asking him to step in and run a Division I offense with championship aspirations was no small feat.

Mason has been excellent, and the role Eidsness played in that shouldn't be overlooked.

Longtime coach John Stiegelmeier's ability to put together a close-knit and talented staff was arguably his greatest trait, and Jackson appears to have it, too.

Add in the fact that the staff had to guide this team through the death of Nate White just a month before training camp started and it's pretty remarkable they are where they are.

Grade: A.

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