dupuyer griz said:
Because the offense is capable of putting up a ton of points if they are on. Last year we had a hell of a fight with them with a very good defense. The problem is that 20-24 COULD win the game. Hopefully our offense starts hitting on all cylinders and we are able to start putting up 35-40 a game. The defense isn't going to give up over 30 the rest of the year unless injuries cause us grief. If we can find a way to score 31 in any game we can win them all. I think we can run the table. If we continue scoring our average of 26-28 (depending on if you want to include games from non-fcs schools or not) we may be in trouble with some of these teams. We have yet to face a potent offense like EWU Sac State or MSU that is capable of putting up a lot of points. I had us at 9-3 before the season and I'm going to stick with that number now. However, we can not get into a shootout with these teams. CAN NOT GET INTO A SHOOTOUT! If we do we could be up the creek. We have continued to find a way to win and nothing would make me happier than 10-2.
Nobody thinks this offense is lights out right now, but to think the Griz offense is incapable of playing at the same level as Idaho State or MSU is just nonsensical. Let's look at how many points the teams the Griz played have given up:
Wyoming - UM Scored 12
Airforce 13, Oregon 48, Florida Atlantic 19, Michigan State 56 - OK I will concede UM's offense isn't elite Top 25 FBS caliber, but right in the mix with the other teams.
South Dakota UM scored 28
Oregon 62, NAU 21, So Illinois 41. Again UM not on the level as Oregon, and So Ill scored 13 more points than the Griz - So Ill scored 21 4th qtr pts, Griz scored 7.
NDSU UM scored 10
Iowa State 14, Weber State 7, Incarnate Word 0, Western Ill 10 - Griz hold up pretty well here.
Northern Colorado UM scored 38
UNLV 13, Northern Iowa 46, Northern Arizona 17. Again Griz close to the top in scoring - UNI scored 7 4th quarter points, Griz coasted to 0.Neither game was close at that point.
North Dakota UM Scored 16 (19 if you count the field goal apparently missed by the official)
San Jose State 42, Robert Morris 13, Missouri State 31, Stony Brook 3, Montana State 22. Griz played over 1/2 this game without JJ, and without Henderson. The offense still scored almost as many points on the road as MSU did at home with Prukop in the whole game. Missouri state is the anomaly here, and their offense scored 7 points in the first 1/2, 14 in the 3rd quarter and 10 in the 4th on a day they dedicated their revamped stadium.
Griz look very close or better than other FCS offenses against similar competition, with the primary difference being UM has not scored a lot of 4th quarter points when nursing a big lead, and the 2nd 1/2 against UND when JJ was out.
I think taking this comparison into account the Griz offense looks good, and will be fine if their defense holds up as they have so far.