Montana State Bobcats Scouting Report

[BWahlberg]

Hey Brint, you even spelled "league" right this time! Thanks. And thanks for a season-long spot on analysis of each game. We all appreciate your inspiration.

GRIZ will put some serious hurt on the Cats this Saturday. We can all smell the cat piss on the field.

Haha, thanks, I typed it in Word this time, spell check caught it. :thumb:

 

[Grisly Fan]

I found a real laugher in your analysis. You think the Griz O-line is better than the Cats? m If so, you're out to lunch. Please explain all of the zero/negative yardage on running plays we have this season, compared to the Cats running game, which averages about 100 yards more per game than us. You are just like so many others who think that "big" means "good". The Cats O-line is smaller, but much quicker and faster, allowing them to run a much greater variety of running plays other than the zone-blocking our linemen have to run all of the time, because they are too slow to pull and trap-block.

griz haven't allowed a sack. that is just crazy. i think both lines are very good. griz fans like theirs better....cat fans like theirs better. both great units. but not allowing even a SINGLE sack at this point in the season is very respectful.

and classy if we're keeping score. arty:

I guess I don't follow you, griz have allowed 8 sacks, 7 in conf

i thought i heard that their starters have yet to let anyone get to the qb. maybe i dreamt it...

Well 8 isn't 0 (it is actually two little 0's connected together ) but averaging less than 1 a game is still damn good.

 

[ilovethecats]

there you go with #'s again iltc :lol: very classy!! :thumb:

and it's Thirsty Thursday so yeah it's appropriate to DRINK!!

i know right?

could have sworn i heard this sometime this week but it was probably just umista or player which means it was made up. i'm losing it this week.

i guess i only have myself to blame. i'm just so damn classy that i've been pretty hammered the last 8 days. it's gonna get worse before it's better....

 

[CatzWillRise]

Great writeup, can't argue with anything. I'm not much into talking smack, but I love talking football, with smart football enthusiasts. Yes both sides have tons of homers, and it is almost impossible not to add a little homerism in these kinds of posts, but you did a great job. As noted, the only qualm I have is that Flower is a CB, a true frosh at that. He is really coming on this season.

As far as safeties go, Steven Bethley is a true sophomore who has been playing well this season. He is undersized height-wise listed at only 5'11, but he is a built 210. He is a good all-around S so far, not really standing out on anything but not having any major flaws. His high school numbers are pretty absurd.

Opposite is Joel Fuller who has tons of experience, and big things were expected of him this season, but so far I'd rate his performance at maybe 7.5/10. He is a natural athlete, but has a tendency to get burned (much better this year than last though), and loves to hit... sometimes late, and sometimes not wrapping up.

 

[grizindabox]

Ronbo is a TOOL

Drink

 

[BWahlberg]

Great writeup, can't argue with anything. I'm not much into talking smack, but I love talking football, with smart football enthusiasts. Yes both sides have tons of homers, and it is almost impossible not to add a little homerism in these kinds of posts, but you did a great job. As noted, the only qualm I have is that Flower is a CB, a true frosh at that. He is really coming on this season.

As far as safeties go, Steven Bethley is a true sophomore who has been playing well this season. He is undersized height-wise listed at only 5'11, but he is a built 210. He is a good all-around S so far, not really standing out on anything but not having any major flaws. His high school numbers are pretty absurd.

Opposite is Joel Fuller who has tons of experience, and big things were expected of him this season, but so far I'd rate his performance at maybe 7.5/10. He is a natural athlete, but has a tendency to get burned (much better this year than last though), and loves to hit... sometimes late, and sometimes not wrapping up.

I'd say I'm a Griz homer for sure but a well informed one... haha.

Looks like whichever secondary slips up could be the deciding factor in who wins this. Should be a heck of a game.

 

[garizzalies]

Keys for a Grizzly win:
...
- Put the game in McGhee’s hands, literally. Couldn't agree more; if we get up at any time, their game plan changes big time
...
- Give them some easy 1st downs but don’t get burned deep. first half of this sentence = wtf. we can't give them an inch
...
Open those lanes for Jordan, Petey, Beau…. and Dan. coach talked about Moore quite a bit at the butte pep rally tonight. "He is back." He told a pretty funny story about his first day back at practice recently and how he assumed the starting position with the 1s without discussion and Delaney had to get the rbs together to sing Kumbaya

 

[BWahlberg]

Keys for a Grizzly win:
...
- Put the game in McGhee’s hands, literally. Couldn't agree more; if we get up at any time, their game plan changes big time
...
- Give them some easy 1st downs but don’t get burned deep. first half of this sentence = wtf. we can't give them an inch
...
Open those lanes for Jordan, Petey, Beau…. and Dan. coach talked about Moore quite a bit at the butte pep rally tonight. "He is back." He told a pretty funny story about his first day back at practice recently and how he assumed the starting position with the 1s without discussion and Delaney had to get the rbs together to sing Kumbaya

I think we do need to give them some inches, obviously the goal is 3 and out every time, however if the Griz contain the big play I like their RZ defense to step up and force a turnover or two. Don't sell out to tip a pass on the MSU 30 if the missed tip leads to a 75 yard TD is basically what I'm saying, give up that 1st down if need be and force them to chip away rather than strike quickly.

 

[zirge]

if the weather is like today with snowy field conditions field goals may not be much of a factor if beyond the 35
i see the cats coming out with short yardage plays to wear on the griz defense and to control TOP

i see the griz coming out to burn the cats with quick scores to get them out of their game plan

the rest of the half will be play calling strategies from the sidelines to control field position, scoring opportunities and advantage

second half will be a free for all, wild 3rd to mid-4th qt for both teams, each scoring 14pts

griz hold on to win 28-24 or possibly 28-27

 

[CatzWillRise]

As Brent aptly noted, the Cats do their damage in the 2nd quarter. We generally come out in the first quarter feeling defenses out, seeing what they are bringing and what schemes they are in. Usually towards the end of the 1st, or early in the 2nd, the Cats get it going and often have big leads at halftime. Then we played a conservative, yet somewhat aggressive hold onto the lead possession type game in the 2nd, wearing them down and usually scoring a few TDs to put it out of reach.

The problem is the 1st quarter. We have come out either flat, nervous, or just "rusty" several times this year. I don't have the stats to back this up, but it seems most of our turnovers are in the 1st quarter, especially our interceptions. While we have gotten away with these mistakes early on against the rest of the Sky, we won't against the Griz. Cats don't necessarily have to start out on fire, but we can't start out sloppy like we did at Weber. No turnovers is key, even if we don't score any points in the 1st. Just don't give the Griz short fields.

 

[BWahlberg]

As Brent aptly noted, the Cats do their damage in the 2nd quarter. We generally come out in the first quarter feeling defenses out, seeing what they are bringing and what schemes they are in. Usually towards the end of the 1st, or early in the 2nd, the Cats get it going and often have big leads at halftime. Then we played a conservative, yet somewhat aggressive hold onto the lead possession type game in the 2nd, wearing them down and usually scoring a few TDs to put it out of reach.

The problem is the 1st quarter. We have come out either flat, nervous, or just "rusty" several times this year. I don't have the stats to back this up, but it seems most of our turnovers are in the 1st quarter, especially our interceptions. While we have gotten away with these mistakes early on against the rest of the Sky, we won't against the Griz. Cats don't necessarily have to start out on fire, but we can't start out sloppy like we did at Weber. No turnovers is key, even if we don't score any points in the 1st. Just don't give the Griz short fields.

See and the interesting thing for the Griz is that usually (with exception to the Weber game) the Griz are similar, our 1st quarters have not been the best in terms of scoring. It appears that it takes our offense 3 or 4 series to get up to speed and into the flow of the game. By that point in many cases this year the Griz are down a score or two. Usually after halftime we've seen solid adjustments and the Griz offense keeps grinding and making plays while the defense locks down.

If you look at the points the UM D allows by quarter it goes (1st through 4th): 61, 63, 37, 53. Meanwhile on offense they go 64, 95, 107, 55.

 

[CatzWillRise]

Well it could come down to who gets their offensive footing first then. The Cats defense is much better in the 2nd half as well. We just seem to settle in and make adjustments, on both sides of the ball. Could this be from poor gameplanning initially? Hard to tell. Maybe we just don't executive until we get into a rhythm. I believe McGhee is a very rhythmic quarterback. If you keep him out of his rhythm, he is just an above average FCS QB. But when he gets things rolling, he is All-American material. We haven't had to have him be All-American too much this year due to the success of our running game. But he has definitely had his mistakes this year when he tries to do to much.

Shut down the Cats run game, force McGhee to make plays could be the recipe for success for the Griz. Then again, McGhee might step up to that task. But I still think it is the lesser of two evils, if you had to choose between the Kirk/Tray pounding running game or McGhee vs the Griz secondary.

 

[Grizmayor]

Well it could come down to who gets their offensive footing first then. The Cats defense is much better in the 2nd half as well. We just seem to settle in and make adjustments, on both sides of the ball. Could this be from poor gameplanning initially? Hard to tell. Maybe we just don't executive until we get into a rhythm. I believe McGhee is a very rhythmic quarterback. If you keep him out of his rhythm, he is just an above average FCS QB. But when he gets things rolling, he is All-American material. We haven't had to have him be All-American too much this year due to the success of our running game. But he has definitely had his mistakes this year when he tries to do to much.

Shut down the Cats run game, force McGhee to make plays could be the recipe for success for the Griz. Then again, McGhee might step up to that task. But I still think it is the lesser of two evils, if you had to choose between the Kirk/Tray pounding running game or McGhee vs the Griz secondary.

Griz fans hope for a Weber replay. Cat fans just say "pound the siht out them". If anyone on this board thinks Dan makes us better... yikes. The whole gameplan is about the Griz o-line showing some fire in their arses, or the Cats will roll us big time, about like what they did to Weber. I had hope after the Weber game, but when Western Oregon comes in and can shut down our run game 80% of the time, that thought went out the door. The Griz can win... but if the Cats are on their game, I'll be paying off a lot of dinners over the next month. They've been the better team CONSISTANTLY all year... Ashe has them playing football instead of circusball. I hope Pflu keeps the arms in the bullpen warmed up.

 

[zengriz]

...

force McGhee to make plays could be the recipe for success for the Griz.

...if the irishman startz running around...
...thiz turnz into a sand lot game...
...and anything can happen...
...mouth smackin' time...
...in bozoville...
...f t c ...

... ...

 

[indian-outlaw]

#41 Brad Daly, DE: Leading the Cats with 10 sacks, he’s 6-1, 232. Daly has 27 tackles, 6 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble. If recall what I read about Daly, he actually stepped up to fill a spot left by injury and has flourished at it.

#49 Caleb Schreibeis, DE: Opposite of Daly, Caleb has 52 tackles, 9 TFL, and 6 sacks this year.

Is Laidet injured? I though Schreibeis started opposite Laidet?

 

[wbtfg]

#41 Brad Daly, DE: Leading the Cats with 10 sacks, he’s 6-1, 232. Daly has 27 tackles, 6 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble. If recall what I read about Daly, he actually stepped up to fill a spot left by injury and has flourished at it.

#49 Caleb Schreibeis, DE: Opposite of Daly, Caleb has 52 tackles, 9 TFL, and 6 sacks this year.

Is Laidet injured? I though Schreibeis started opposite Laidet?

No....Laidet is the 1st and 2nd down DE. He's a bigger guy against the run. Daly stepped into the shoes of Preston Gale who was our third down pass rushing DE last season. Gale was lost to season ending injury and Daly stepped into that role. That said, Daly probably would have eventally stepped into that role whether or not Gale was injured.

 

[indian-outlaw]

#41 Brad Daly, DE: Leading the Cats with 10 sacks, he’s 6-1, 232. Daly has 27 tackles, 6 QB hits, and 1 forced fumble. If recall what I read about Daly, he actually stepped up to fill a spot left by injury and has flourished at it.

#49 Caleb Schreibeis, DE: Opposite of Daly, Caleb has 52 tackles, 9 TFL, and 6 sacks this year.

Is Laidet injured? I though Schreibeis started opposite Laidet?

No....Laidet is the 1st and 2nd down DE. He's a bigger guy against the run. Daly stepped into the shoes of Preston Gale who was our third down pass rushing DE last season. Gale was lost to season ending injury and Daly stepped into that role. That said, Daly probably would have eventally stepped into that role whether or not Gale was injured.

Soooo, Daly is not the starter. Correct?

 

[CatzWillRise]

Daly is not the starter. He is a 3rd down pass rush specialist. Which makes his numbers even more impressive IMO. Laidet is much better against the run, which is why he is the starter.

Laidet goes 6'5 255, while Daly is 6'1 232.

 

[Grizfan-24]

Defenses are typically slow to respond to superior offensive teams, because simply those offensive teams are really good at what they do.

MSU's defense, and this is meant as no real disregard for what they have accomplished, has been able to play in leveraged situations for much of the year. They are a better defense by the product of being able to know what the offense is going to have to do. All defenses are.

I guess after watching a bunch of first halves of MSU this year, there are a few things that I think the UofM can take advantage of.

1. First as a few Cat fans have noted, the Cats defense has been (like ours) a much better second half squad all year. I would look for two things in regards to the UofM offense on Saturday, is what degree of success are they enjoying in the first half. If we aren't, and it isn't because of weather, we are going to be in for a long, long day.

2. Regardless of opinion, our offense does create problems. Not always very pretty, but what will be tell tale on Saturday is our ability to establish two things. First can we run between the tackles, and can we run the quick screen game on the perimeter. MSU is damn good up front. I like their front four, and their linebackers are not too shabby as well. The only real knock I could come up with is at times the LB corps for MSU does struggle in coverage. This is why I thnk the screen game or perimeter passing game is important on Saturday. If we are able to use quick and play action screens to force the OLB's of MSU to play in space, we'll get better running lanes. Moreover, it'll slow down MSU's great pass rush to give JJ more time to throw in true drop back passing situations.

Anyway, I love this matchup. I am excited. MSU is good, we are good. Should be a tight game. Great that this game has some extra meaning. For those at the game, enjoy it. These types of Cat-Griz games don't come around very often.

 

[garizzalies]

If anyone on this board thinks Dan makes us better... yikes.

So you don't think our red zone O, esp inside the 5, is better with Moore back?