ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 11:55 am
Not my work, I saw this on egriz & verified. It's been a rare game where MSU didn't destroy this defensive scheme.
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Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 12:00 pm
3-3-5 works when you have the correct personnel for it (aka adequately sized linemen) that the Griz do not have, and have only had in 2023 when they went to the title game. I'm assuming ISU isn't as stupid as the Griz in that regard
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 12:39 pm
From what i've seen, they stem and and jump into multiple fronts quite a bit (only watched part of the Nova game). Could be a small problem with how many false starts we've had the last few weeks.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 1:24 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:14 pm
Jake Anderson, 6-5, 295 is a good DT. He was honorable mention this year and second team last year. They had three players on the first and second team from their defense.
Niekamp is a beast at LB. MVFC POY. His dad(?) is the DC.
Niekamp is a beast at LB. MVFC POY. His dad(?) is the DC.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:21 pm
I’m baffled that ISU played so well defensively vs NDSU and didn’t do well vs UC Davis. 
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:29 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:29 pm
Niekamp sounds familiar.....wasn't he an assistant at UM under Bob Stitt?
(maybe this is old news...I hadn't seen it mentioned anywhere)
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:38 pm
Yes, and their strength coach was at UM under Stitt. Pretty sure Niekamp was their LB coach. Semore was their DC. He’s now the DC at Southern Miss.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:45 pm
Niekamp spent two seasons as part of the coaching staff at Montana prior to returning to Illinois State, serving as the Grizzlies’ special teams coordinator and linebackers coach. He joined head coach Bob Stitt’s staff in January of 2016, and in his first season at Montana, Niekamp coached linebacker Josh Buss, who finished the 2016 season as Montana’s leading tackler. Buss posted 20 tackles for loss, a national best among sophomores, and earned a place on the HERO Sports FCS Sophomore Defensive All-America first team.BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:38 pmYes, and their strength coach was at UM under Stitt. Pretty sure Niekamp was their LB coach. Semore was their DC. He’s now the DC at Southern Miss.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:48 pm
Anyone have a good scouting report on ISU's defense?
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:52 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 5:12 pm
Hmm, they gave up 179 to ndsu and 533 to UC Davis. What were the matchup issues?
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 5:13 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 5:30 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 5:52 pm
There are posters here that know way more than I do but watching them the last week it looks to me more like what we ran under Choate with an odd man front and a 'buck' end. Their nose tackle Jake Anderson is 6'5" and 300 and at times looks every bit as good as Brott. Steffen is also very good in the front but the LB Niekamp is on a different level. Not only gifted but instinctive. Reminds me of Singleton the way he always seems to be in the right spot. There's a reason he won Def player of the year in a conference filled with good ones. The front seven were the reason they won in Fargo a few weeks ago. They just never let Payton get settled.
Herder on a podcast I listened to today said that their pass defense is ranked in the 90's but has been better in the playoffs and I agree to an extent. At times though they look really bad. I think if our O-line can hold up and keep Lamson clean there is opportunity in the pass game. All the DB's are 5'11" or bigger but at times they look lost in coverage and haven't jumped off the page in physicality the way the Cats secondary does.
Herder on a podcast I listened to today said that their pass defense is ranked in the 90's but has been better in the playoffs and I agree to an extent. At times though they look really bad. I think if our O-line can hold up and keep Lamson clean there is opportunity in the pass game. All the DB's are 5'11" or bigger but at times they look lost in coverage and haven't jumped off the page in physicality the way the Cats secondary does.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 6:35 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:00 pm
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 7:41 pm
Strength and conditioning coach was let go by.....Bobby Hauck.BelligerentBobcat wrote: ↑Mon Dec 29, 2025 3:38 pmYes, and their strength coach was at UM under Stitt. Pretty sure Niekamp was their LB coach. Semore was their DC. He’s now the DC at Southern Miss.
Re: ISU uses the 3-3-5 D
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2025 8:11 pm
Cole Payton ran for just shy of 800 yards this year.