2014 Strength(s) vs Weakness(s)

[mtgrizrule]

My opinion, coming out of spring camp:

Strengths:

- QB
- Running Back
- Wide Receivers
- Defensive Line
- Punter
- Tackles on the O-line

Weaknesses / Unknowns:

- Interior Offensive Line
- Linebackers (I like what I saw but very inexperienced)
- Secondary (Prove you can do it in conference)
- TE (more an unknown than a weakness)
- Kicker(s)

I agree with your strengths, except for your saying that our O-tackles are a strength. I say our entire O-line is a big weakness. The trouble with that is...... games are won/lost in the trenches. Ask the Bobcats from 2010 to 2012 about how a weak O-line can derail an offense.

Then, for weaknesses please insert our coaching staff. They are the worst as a group we have seen here in 20 years. You wonder why Coastal Carolina could make adjustments and school us? It is because our defenders did not play their gaps correctly. When I heard Gregorak state that he was going to allow Tripp to free-lance all over the field, I knew we were in for a frustrating season on defense. Then, Kefense is just plain awful in his game plan strategy and play calling. All he knows is trying for the home run on every drive. I just wonder how many drives of 10 plays or more we had all of last season. I'll bet they were very few.

BW has a pretty handle on this. We have two of the best tackles in the league in Poole and Schmaing(sp). Kenfense aweful? Your just wrong in this statement. We had a very productive offense. I mean really we averaged, what, 38 points per game! What killed us was a defensive backfield which were out of position on key plays and kicking. If we have a weakness on the o-line it won't be the tackles. Personally I think this team is gonna win a lot of games.

Just because our tackles started last season, does not make them good. Tell me which one of them made All-Conference last year? Second team? In the past, we had sophs and juniors at OL make first team all-conference. Our O-line has not been up to previous standards for 2-3 years now. How long has it been since one of our O-linemen made an NFL roster, even the practice squad? That should tell you all you need to know.

As for Kefense, all I can say is that i am not alone in thinking his play calling sucks.

Our coaching seems to be fine against average or worse teams. It is frustrating and hard to believe, but EWU and NAU have outcoached us the last few seasons. So did Sac State, but the loss of Spurbeck might be too much for them to overcome this season. We do get out coached more often than we have with other GRIZ coaches.

 

[krammer]

while I agree the o/l is problem, but why should it be? .....time for the hines brothers to step up imo. seems like have been around for ever after the jc route, have the size and maturity (seniors) to be dominate,,,it must be a mentality thing....lets be physical this year for a change...geez...(frustrating)...just my opinion,,,,go griz!

 

[BigPawzSharpClawz]

Strengths
- clutch, smart, elusive senior QB
- athletic, consistent offensive tackles
- depth at RB
- Holmes&Wags reliable pressure off the edge (not used effectively w/in scheme tho.)
- Speed at LB
- Henderson returning kicks
- Punter

Questions
- leadership at QB. This team needs it desperately. Will Johnson bring it?
- consistent WR play
- depth/health at WR. Would Chase Nacarrato see the field at ewu? Will Walcott ever be 100%?
- interior o-line development

Weaknesses
- the entire defensive secondary
- undersized, inexperienced LB's
- QB depth. Develop someone besides SSH to backup Johnson and just consider the QB position in 2015.
- Kickers
- Mick Delaney. I don't see this team buying into whatever he is selling. Sort of looks like guys are simply going through the motions. Broad generalization, I know, but the attitude, swagger, and intensity has dipped under this staff.
- A defensive coordinator struggling to find his way as a DC. Enough rah-rah sh*t. Focus or let someone else run the D.

There are more strengths. Receivers for one. Don't agree with your comment on d-ends.

You have to be joking on qb leadership. JJ is great leader--one of the best ever at UM. My god, pay attention. Again, the receivers are a big strength. Near the top of the conference.

The secondary should be the best it's been in the past 3 years.

QB depth is actually pretty good now.

Kickers have improved. We'll see how much.

I think the players like Delaney and have bought in as much as they have with any coach in recent history.

Gregorak and d-coordinator are strengths of the team.

I love our Wr's. The only question is, how much quality depth can we develop and expect behind Henderson and Jones. Overall, I also think our WR's are a strength.

I have never and never will question JJ's leadership. He is the kind of QB players love to bust ass for. I am questioning our depth behind him. Gustafson impressed me with his arm strength and good pocket presence in the last Spring scrimmage. I hear Simis is very similar to JJ. Problem is, have not saw enough of him to know what to expect. As of now, I am worried, if JJ is lost for an extended period.

I expect our secondary will be better due to more experience. The pass defense cannot get much worse though.

Kicking game also should improve. Like the secondary, it cannot get much worse.

Last season, it looked to me the players were playing very hard for Delaney and the effort was there much more than the prior season. I believe this team will play hard every snap this year as well. I question the coaches in other parts than playing hard. I question the decision making, strategy, and personnel decisions on each side of the ball. Against good defenses, our offense was way to predictable last season. The coaching staff did not keep with things that were working. Our passing game consisted of long pass after long pass and very little variety in the passing game. Rather it be the coaches or JJ, the passing game needs more variety to game plan against.

Defensively, this is a make or break season to me regarding Gregorak's future. On the positive side, LB's always play well and consistently under Gregorak, That is the reason why I'm not too concerned about our LB's this or any season. On the negative, secondary play has been questionable at it's best the last 2 seasons. Secondary play has been very inconsistent under Ty. Against good passing teams it has been the teams Achilles heel, and the main reason why the team struggled to do better. His schemes consistently give too much for quick passes, floods, and clear outs. Too many qb's have great passing days against our secondary. Pass schemes have to get more aggressive, and/or less predictable. The high 3rd down conversion rates for opponents is not a good sign. Also it is disappointing and upsetting when back to back seasons NAU has successfully ran their OL overload running plays at key moments against us. In 2013 they did not run it often, yet when they did, the defense did not recognize it and made no adjustments to stop it!!! Tackling was solid last year, but has room for improvement this season. Overall DL play last season took a step back in my opinion. That is a concern of mine.

I believe the GRIZ have the personnel to do much better defensively. I don't want to see teams beating us consistently through the air again this season. Defensively we either have to change how the players execute his schemes or mix up the schemes more. Either way, changes have to be made. Overall I grade the 2012 defense as a C-, 2013 I grade as a C to B-. The better grade from improved tackling and more forced turnovers. Defense needs to improve to B+ or better for me to have more confidence and support for Gregorak, Right now, I am not on the side of the defense being a team strength. It needs to continue to improve. Most of the improvement will be determined by his schemes. Can this defense be a strength? From a personnel stand point, I believe it can be a strength. The question is, do we have the right coaching to make it a strength? I sure in the hell hope so. Another season of learning is behind Gregorak. I hope the experience begins to pay off as he learns more.

Even slight improvements in the kicking game and pass defense will be nice. Overall the team is not too far from being great. Defense was very impressive in the last spring scrimmage to me. That is something to build on going into fall camp. Offensively our OL will be the X Factor in how well the offense does. Can the coaching staff improve enough to get the GRIZ back to being a national title contender? I sure hope so.

:thumb:

Well said...let me add that mick gets in the way on offense too often. Kefense & Gragg are on the same page schematically. Mentally is still use the run to set up the pass. But the opposite should be the case (IMO). How about a mid range passing game? Last time I checked Bill Walsh was still be copied by coahces all across the damn country. You all remember those stupid runs in obvious passing downs? Thats Mick effecting the game in a negative way. He needs to get out of the way in this area. Again all IMO

Go Griz

 

[Ursa Major]

Hear, hear!! Old time football, Don Read middle screen!

 

[griz5700]

PlayerRep, I didn't intend to call Johnson a bad leader or teammate. That's just not true. My bad. What I was getting at is Jordan taking on more of a vocal role. To communicate what he's seeing and what he expects of his receivers/rbs/o-line.

He's a quiet, humble guy who is well respected by the team. But he isn't going to rip into a receiver for a drop, or get pissed on those days when the focus isn't there. I don't see anyone on offense who can take on this role other than Jordan. And man, if he does, this offense will be unreal.

Ellis Henderson and Jamaal Jones are strengths for sure. Behind them though..? Naccarato? I'm not sold.

If QB depth is good, why hasn't Gustafson or Simis taken over the #2 spot?

Hopefully guys like Delaney because they believe he is getting the most out of their talents. Not because he's a nice, ol guy. I think you should sort of hate the coach you're playing for but at the same time respect the hell out of him. You ever talk to guys who played for Hauck? (stupid question) Guys hated him. But in the end, they respected his not-so-friendly approach because they won and his system got walk-ons into the League. And they won, a lot.

As for Gregorak, I hope you're right. This will be a big year for him. Maybe he'll consider coaching from the booth. That'd be a positive start.

 

[Alaska Griz]

I have a hard time believing wide receiver will not be a major strength for us. I can't remember us ever having three guys like Henderson, Jones, and Rodgers on the field at once. Burke is going to be good too. Naccarato has steadily improved. He is a small slot reciever and if he plays the role of a Cam Warren ala last year I'm ok with that. Walcott's health is an unknown, but I'll take Henderson, Jones, Rodgers, and Burke against about just about any FCS recieving corp. And none of them are even graduating next year.

Of course in all this speculation, we're basing everything off last year and strength and weaknesses are always evolving.