Notebook: UNC football has more questions than answers going forward

The University of Northern Colorado (2-3, 1-1 Big Sky) had done a decent occupation this play answering questions astir its abilities nether archetypal twelvemonth caput manager Ed McCaffrey, but determination are present much questions than answers aft its 33-point nonaccomplishment astatine Montana State.

Will Dylan McCaffrey and the discourtesy find immoderate much chemistry?

The discourtesy mightiness beryllium 1 of the much frustrating aspects of the UNC team, simply due to the fact that it’s susceptible of doing good but hasn’t shown consistency.

McCaffrey has proven helium tin marque bully passes, but he’s besides known for making immoderate atrocious ones. The violative enactment has held beardown astatine times and others it’s struggled to support the backfield. The receivers and moving backs person besides shown flashes of excellence and had failed plays.

UNC has what it takes. When the discourtesy is on, it tin run similar a well-oiled instrumentality and makes drives look easy. The players accidental they spot each other.

Now, it comes down to executing regularly, and that has yet to beryllium seen.

Can the coaching unit get things together?

After the team’s show connected Saturday, determination are uncertainties astir the team’s preparedness. That lies connected the coaching staff. It’s wherefore they’re paid for their positions.

McCaffrey said Wednesday that this falls connected him, since helium is yet liable for the program, but things are going to beryllium conscionable arsenic hard from present connected out.

The Bears play Eastern Washington, 1 of the apical teams successful the nation, connected Saturday astatine home. Then, they question to UC Davis, besides 1 of the FCS apical 10 programs, a week later. Montana and Weber State, historically Big Sky powerhouses, are connected the slate for aboriginal this season.

It’s a batch to expect from a squad that has a full caller coaching unit and a mostly caller roster from 2019. With the mode things person gone, contempt making improvements successful definite areas, it’s inactive just to wonderment if the squad tin elevate itself importantly this season.

Plus, violative coordinator Max McCaffrey’s clipboard incidental astatine Montana State has taken clip and absorption distant from the mentation for this upcoming week. UNC says determination was nary malicious intent, MSU fans disagree. It’s unclear if determination was oregon determination was simply a misunderstanding that was handled poorly, but UNC has to enactment this down them.

The coaching unit needs to beryllium locked successful connected ensuring the squad tin prime up a fewer much wins.

Can they get to the FCS Playoff?

Short answer, astir apt not. The Bears’ wide grounds is successful a presumption that volition apt marque it hard to gain an FCS Playoff spot, astatine slightest based connected the records of erstwhile teams.

If UNC could triumph out, past it would inactive person a shot, but the likelihood appears slim, particularly aft the show astatine Montana State.

MSU is 1 of the apical teams successful the Big Sky and successful the nation, and the Bears didn’t impressment successful immoderate presumption group. The Bobcats commanded the tract from commencement to finish.

Additionally, the remaining teams connected the docket volition marque it that overmuch harder. Eastern Washington and UC Davis are ranked higher than Montana State, truthful the Bears person a batch of enactment to bash if they privation to support up.

It’s imaginable that Northern Colorado tin daze the shot satellite and gain a playoff berth, the squad wants to, but nary 1 should get their hopes up astatine this point.

The Bears volition look Eastern Washington astatine 1 p.m. Saturday for homecoming. Tickets are inactive disposable for the game, oregon fans tin ticker connected ESPN+.