KEYS TO 2005.... (updated 8-12-2005) Offense    On offense there seems to two keys, 1) replacing the center and left side of the offensive line and 2)who will be the wide receiver opposite Travis White. Zach Harrington will challenge Hugh Medal at center. Whatever happens there will only make that position stronger and deeper. It would also seem from what we saw in the spring game that the starters at guard and tackle on the left side are far from settled and it looks like there will be a spirited competition involving James Septak, Blake Anderson, Nate Safe and Adam Tadisch. Here again we need to develop depth as well as deciding starters, so the competition will do the team a lot of good.    The other key is to replace the wide receiver opposite White you say? The Bison did lose Allen Burrell. What about Marques Johnson? Johnson is a burner but if the team kept a dropped ball stat, it would probably show he led the team in drops. It may well be (and I hope this is the case) that Johnson will take charge. If he fails to do so, look for more playing time for Nick Jackson and Kole Heckendorf. Without a legitimate threat opposite White, it will be easier for opposing teams to double up on him. Holiday Vibes    Why didn’t we mention fullback? Because we think Tyler Jangula will be a great fullback. I can’t believe that Tim Popowski wasn’t named on several 1st or 2nd team preseason I-AA All-American teams. He is a dominant player. Travis White may have the best hands ever for a Bison wideout (and that’s saying a lot). NDSU may have the best 3 deep depth at tailback in I-AA with Kyle Steffes, Cinque Chapman and Mark Moore. If you go four deep, taking into account the more than probable pending suspension of Shamen Washington, the answer will quite possibly be Michael Brower. The word from the coaching staff is that true freshman Ramon Humber will be given a chance to win the outside linebacker position, thus leading to speculation of a possible switch of Brower from linebacker to his natural position of half-back. The 2 deep of Andy DelaBarre and A. J. Cooper at tight end is far above average. QB Steve Walker should have a good year. If the offensive line gels and the running attack is effective, look for Walker to have a big year. Defense    On defense there are three keys, 1) defensive line depth has to develop, 2) at least one new starting linebacker must be found and 3) the Bison need a shutdown corner, ala Matt Gorman. It seems that most college defensive line coaches like to have at least a 2 deep rotation across their defensive line. The Bison are already 1 deep in veteran defensive lineman with DE Alvin Robinson, DT Justin Frick, NT Rodney Thompson and DE Isaac Lavant and are well on their way to developing a good second four which would have to include jc transfers DE Michael Loftin (Pearl River CC, 2004 National Champions) and DT Emanuel Jackson (Hibbing CC) and redshirt freshman DE Joe Lardinois.    The second key also appears to be solvable, with Mike Maresh, Nick Compton, Tony Bizal, Ramon Humber or one of the other talented linebackers on the roster.    The third key is not so easy. Bobby Babich made great strides last season. Will he be the one? Or will it be another veteran like Scott Walter or Ryan Olson, or will a redshirt freshman step forward? There might be a true freshman corner or two that won’t wear the redshirt. Stay tuned. Holiday Vibes    What coach wouldn’t love to have a linebacking corps that includes Joe Mays and Kole Zimmerman? Joe Mays has all the tools to be a great one and of course Zimmerman has been a good one since he put on the green and yellow. At safety, Craig Dahl is a great one and I hope he will soon be recognized as such. Dahl along with Rochester CC transfer safety Barry Quickstad could very well be the best FS-SS duo in I-AA. Special Teams    The Bison still have the tools to dominate opponents in the special teams area even without Shamen Washington. Returners Marques Johnson and Cinque Chapman, punter Mike Dragosavich and PK Cory Vartanian are all well above average. Special teams still can be considered an NDSU strength. If Coach Bohl has mercy on Shamen Washington, the Bison special teams will win two football games this year. Without Washington, count on NDSU winning one game courtesy of special team play.    Of course, for the Bison to be a dominating team, the most urgent area to remake itself is the offensive line, which means effectively replacing Rob Hunt and Nick Zilka. If the Bison find capable replacements on the offensive line, look for a big offensive year. Defensively, Casey Bradley will have them ready and it looks like Bison defensive depth will begin to assert itself. Which is good because we all know the Bison have a very tough schedule. Luckily they have a tune up game with Arkansas-Monticello to help work out some of the kinks. See you on the 1st!. Go Bison!! Bob H.