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2019 Defense

M

MTGRZ

Well-known member
A way early look at the 2019 defense starts with a review of the 2018 defense, and a review of the players we know about that should be available for 2019.

Strengths from 2018: Linebackers, Safeties.
Weaknesses from 2018: Corners, Defensive line.

Things that we should expect to see again in 2019:
-Strong LB play from Olson and Lewis. Who else might be an impactful LB in 2019? Welnel?
-Solid play from the safety position. Sandry, Hauck, Robertson all back. Who else will get the chance to be an impact player? McGinnis?

Questions for 2019:
-New(ish) faces at D-line. Losing some key pieces here. Where will Sims play? Who steps up as an edge rusher? Will they flip any guys back to D line that were used for O line last year?
-How do the CBs improve/progress? Do any new recruits get a shot as true freshmen?

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, what will the defensive scheme will be used? Do they go to a more "traditional" 4-3 or 3-4? Do we see another year with a safety/CB hybrid like last year?
 
griz71 said:
AZDoc said:
I’m hoping for an upgrade in the most important spot...coordinator
Click to expand...

:thumb:
Click to expand...
We had a huge upgrade there last year; doubt it happens two years in a row. You're some of the same guys asking for continuity.
 
MTGRZ said:
A way early look at the 2019 defense starts with a review of the 2018 defense, and a review of the players we know about that should be available for 2019.

Strengths from 2018: Linebackers, Safeties.
Weaknesses from 2018: Corners, Defensive line.

Things that we should expect to see again in 2019:
-Strong LB play from Olson and Lewis. Who else might be an impactful LB in 2019? Welnel?
-Solid play from the safety position. Sandry, Hauck, Robertson all back. Who else will get the chance to be an impact player? McGinnis?

Questions for 2019:
-New(ish) faces at D-line. Losing some key pieces here. Where will Sims play? Who steps up as an edge rusher? Will they flip any guys back to D line that were used for O line last year?
-How do the CBs improve/progress? Do any new recruits get a shot as true freshmen?

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, what will the defensive scheme will be used? Do they go to a more "traditional" 4-3 or 3-4? Do we see another year with a safety/CB hybrid like last year?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking we will bring in a CB transfer and I hope we see another DT from high school and a DT transfer, unless they move Longoria and Sirmon and maybe a few more of the 26 OL on the roster to DT, as of right now we only have 2 DTs on the roster Gubner and Alford.
 
Defensive Line (16)
37 Jesse Sims R-Sr. DE 6-4 270 Stevensville, Mont. / Corvallis HS
95 Andrew Harris R-Sr. DE 6-2 220 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
44 Randy Rodriguez R-Jr. DE 6-3 250 Peoria, Ariz. / Centennial HS
46 Jed Nagler R-Jr. DE 6-4 230 Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
47 Cole Rosling R-Jr. DE 6-4 250 Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
48 Devin Maua R-Jr. DE 6-3 250 Billings, Mont. / Senior HS
93 Braydon Deming R-So. DE 6-4 252 Billings, Mont. / West HS
97 RJ Nelson R-So. DE 6-4 231 Hillsboro, Ore. / Hillsboro HS
91 Eli Alford So. DT 6-1 285 Park City, Utah / Air Force Prep
98 Alex Gubner R-Fr. DT 6-3 295 West Hills, Calif. / Chaminade Prep
53 Lorenzo Brown R-Fr. DE 6-4 238 Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS
59 Milton Mamula R-Fr. DE 6-3 216 Newtown Square, Penn. / Episcopal Academy HS
TBD Alex Hurlburt Fr. DE 6-3 220 Salem, Ore. / West Salem HS
TBD Noah Kaschmitter Fr. DL 6-3 225 Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS
TBD Jacob McGourin Fr. DL 6-5 230 Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS
TBD Garrison Poetzl Fr. DL 6-4 250 Billings, Mont. / Billings Senior HS

Linebackers (10)
33 Dante Olson R-Sr. LB 6-3 237 Medford, Ore. / Cascade Christian HS
45 Vika Fa'atuiese R-Sr. LB 6-3 230 Vista, Calif. / Vista HS
34 Jace Lewis R-Jr. LB 6-1 230 Townsend, Mont. / Broadwater County HS
52 Michael Matthews R-So. LB 6-2 210 Camas, Wash. / Camas HS
56 Marcus Welnel R-So. LB 6-0 220 Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
58 Patrick O'Connell R-So. LB 6-2 220 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
54 Tyler Flink R-Fr. LB 5-11 210 Missoula, Mont. / Big Sky HS
92 Jace Schneider R-Fr. LB 5-8 176 Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue HS
TBD Kale Edwards Fr. LB 6-5 210 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene HS
TBD Ryan Tirrell Fr. LB 6-2 205 Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart

Cornerbacks (10)
3 Justin Calhoun R-Sr. CB 5-10 176 Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Poly HS
5 Kobey Eaton R-Sr. CB 6-3 180 Vancouver, Wash. / Evergreen HS
27 Kadeem Hemphill R-Sr. CB 6-0 187 Chicago, Ill. / Hales Franciscan HS
7 Dareon Nash R-Jr. CB 6-2 190 Covina, Calif. / Charter Oak HS
8 Lewis Cowans R-Jr. CB 6-1 195 Mission Viejo, Calif. / Mission Viejo HS
20 Gavin Crow R-Jr. CB 6-1 202 Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS
23 Josh Egbo R-Jr. CB 6-2 195 Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland HS
29 Nick Fouch Jr. CB 6-0 170 Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS
TBD Trevin Gradney Fr. CB 6-0 170 Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
TBD Corbin Walker Fr. CB 5-11 170 Renton, Wash. / Hazen Senior HS

Safeties (10)
13 Josh Sandry R-Sr. S 6-1 210 Bigfork, Mont. / Bigfork HS
28 Jalen Hemphill R-Sr. S 6-0 188 Chicago, Ill. / Hales Franciscan HS
2 Gavin Robertson R-Jr. S 6-1 222 Auburn, Wash. / Auburn Mountainview HS
14 Michael McGinnis R-So. S 6-3 205 Sidney, Mont. / Sidney HS
17 Robby Hauck R-So. S 5-10 179 Missoula, Mont. / Del Norte HS (Calif.)
4 Nash Fouch R-Fr. S 6-2 192 Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS
6 Jackson Pepe R-Fr. S 6-0 196 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
9 David Koppang R-Fr. S 6-0 200 Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart
TBD Max Feight Fr. S 6-2 180 Whitehall, Mont. / Whatehall HS
TBD Ryder Meyer Fr. S 5-9 160 Fairfield, Mont. / Fairfield HS
 
kemajic said:
griz71 said:
AZDoc said:
I’m hoping for an upgrade in the most important spot...coordinator
Click to expand...

:thumb:
Click to expand...
We had a huge upgrade there last year; doubt it happens two years in a row. You're some of the same guys asking for continuity.
Click to expand...

Last year's defense was plagued with second half collapses which had a number of factors, with not reacting well to the opponents' OC adjustments at the top of the list. Our DC should be graded without the intangible "continuity of tenure" being a factor, but persistent second half collapses is a legitimate "continuity" concern. Shouldn't we be able to find a coordinator whose resume includes a pattern of giving up less yards rushing and passing, less points, and increased turnovers from first half to second? Do these guys exist? Is this a pipe dream?
 
cmtgrizzly said:
We had another MT kid playing really well but tore ACL I think. Linebacker. Cant remember his name. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Are you thinking LeTexier? Bobby had moved him to FB with Vika even though they never used one, only TE at that spot.
 
Ursus1 said:
cmtgrizzly said:
We had another MT kid playing really well but tore ACL I think. Linebacker. Cant remember his name. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Are you thinking LeTexier? Bobby had moved him to FB with Vika even though they never used one, only TE at that spot.
Click to expand...

Thats it! Thanks man!
 
griz71 said:
AZDoc said:
I’m hoping for an upgrade in the most important spot...coordinator
Click to expand...

:thumb:
Click to expand...

This ain't happening so let's stay on topic.
I believe that we needed more DT rotation last year. It seemed they were worn down by the end of the game. Maybe as a result of having to move some to OL? Just a thought.
 
cmtgrizzly said:
We had another MT kid playing really well but tore ACL I think. Linebacker. Cant remember his name. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Was it Jace Lewis? He got hurt in the last game. I never did hear how bad it was, but it didn’t look good at the time.
 
go96griz said:
cmtgrizzly said:
We had another MT kid playing really well but tore ACL I think. Linebacker. Cant remember his name. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Was it Jace Lewis? He got hurt in the last game. I never did hear how bad it was, but it didn’t look good at the time.
Click to expand...

Jace is 100%. Just got banged up but no serious damage
 
I don't expect DL dropdowns after hearing Bobby post signing day unless some very big surprise. I think they will have to move some back to DL from OL. Hopefully this offseason they can get some guys ready for the trenches or it will be a big issue come fall. Too many DEs too few DLs something has to change
 
Paytonlives said:
Defensive Line (16)
37 Jesse Sims R-Sr. DE 6-4 270 Stevensville, Mont. / Corvallis HS
95 Andrew Harris R-Sr. DE 6-2 220 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
44 Randy Rodriguez R-Jr. DE 6-3 250 Peoria, Ariz. / Centennial HS
46 Jed Nagler R-Jr. DE 6-4 230 Whitefish, Mont. / Whitefish HS
47 Cole Rosling R-Jr. DE 6-4 250 Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
48 Devin Maua R-Jr. DE 6-3 250 Billings, Mont. / Senior HS
93 Braydon Deming R-So. DE 6-4 252 Billings, Mont. / West HS
97 RJ Nelson R-So. DE 6-4 231 Hillsboro, Ore. / Hillsboro HS
91 Eli Alford So. DT 6-1 285 Park City, Utah / Air Force Prep
98 Alex Gubner R-Fr. DT 6-3 295 West Hills, Calif. / Chaminade Prep
53 Lorenzo Brown R-Fr. DE 6-4 238 Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS
59 Milton Mamula R-Fr. DE 6-3 216 Newtown Square, Penn. / Episcopal Academy HS
TBD Alex Hurlburt Fr. DE 6-3 220 Salem, Ore. / West Salem HS
TBD Noah Kaschmitter Fr. DL 6-3 225 Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS
TBD Jacob McGourin Fr. DL 6-5 230 Cheney, Wash. / Cheney HS
TBD Garrison Poetzl Fr. DL 6-4 250 Billings, Mont. / Billings Senior HS

Linebackers (10)
33 Dante Olson R-Sr. LB 6-3 237 Medford, Ore. / Cascade Christian HS
45 Vika Fa'atuiese R-Sr. LB 6-3 230 Vista, Calif. / Vista HS
34 Jace Lewis R-Jr. LB 6-1 230 Townsend, Mont. / Broadwater County HS
52 Michael Matthews R-So. LB 6-2 210 Camas, Wash. / Camas HS
56 Marcus Welnel R-So. LB 6-0 220 Helena, Mont. / Capital HS
58 Patrick O'Connell R-So. LB 6-2 220 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
54 Tyler Flink R-Fr. LB 5-11 210 Missoula, Mont. / Big Sky HS
92 Jace Schneider R-Fr. LB 5-8 176 Bellevue, Wash. / Bellevue HS
TBD Kale Edwards Fr. LB 6-5 210 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho / Coeur d’Alene HS
TBD Ryan Tirrell Fr. LB 6-2 205 Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart

Cornerbacks (10)
3 Justin Calhoun R-Sr. CB 5-10 176 Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Poly HS
5 Kobey Eaton R-Sr. CB 6-3 180 Vancouver, Wash. / Evergreen HS
27 Kadeem Hemphill R-Sr. CB 6-0 187 Chicago, Ill. / Hales Franciscan HS
7 Dareon Nash R-Jr. CB 6-2 190 Covina, Calif. / Charter Oak HS
8 Lewis Cowans R-Jr. CB 6-1 195 Mission Viejo, Calif. / Mission Viejo HS
20 Gavin Crow R-Jr. CB 6-1 202 Kennewick, Wash. / Kamiakin HS
23 Josh Egbo R-Jr. CB 6-2 195 Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland HS
29 Nick Fouch Jr. CB 6-0 170 Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS
TBD Trevin Gradney Fr. CB 6-0 170 Billings, Mont. / Billings West HS
TBD Corbin Walker Fr. CB 5-11 170 Renton, Wash. / Hazen Senior HS

Safeties (10)
13 Josh Sandry R-Sr. S 6-1 210 Bigfork, Mont. / Bigfork HS
28 Jalen Hemphill R-Sr. S 6-0 188 Chicago, Ill. / Hales Franciscan HS
2 Gavin Robertson R-Jr. S 6-1 222 Auburn, Wash. / Auburn Mountainview HS
14 Michael McGinnis R-So. S 6-3 205 Sidney, Mont. / Sidney HS
17 Robby Hauck R-So. S 5-10 179 Missoula, Mont. / Del Norte HS (Calif.)
4 Nash Fouch R-Fr. S 6-2 192 Woodinville, Wash. / Woodinville HS
6 Jackson Pepe R-Fr. S 6-0 196 Kalispell, Mont. / Glacier HS
9 David Koppang R-Fr. S 6-0 200 Missoula, Mont. / Loyola Sacred Heart
TBD Max Feight Fr. S 6-2 180 Whitehall, Mont. / Whatehall HS
TBD Ryder Meyer Fr. S 5-9 160 Fairfield, Mont. / Fairfield HS
Click to expand...

Looking at this roster I see two areas lacking depth - DT and LB.

We really need Welnel and Matthews to make an impact this year at LB. Both are talented and should. Then we need another player or so to step up for depth behind Olson and Lewis.

I see us needing a transfer with size that can play now at DT. Just not enough on the roster. It looks like Sims will be playing out of position again at DT due to his size. That leaves Alford and redshirt Frosh Gubner. Before Poetzl’s high school injury I would have expected him to play. Really need help or somebody to step up here! Bringing back at least one of the o-lineman seems a reality.

Safety appears deep with the addition of the one Hemphill transfer being eligible. You have Hauck, Sandry, Robertson returning and also add in Fouch as a redshirt frosh and McGinnis. Lots of talent at this position.

I don’t see CB being a major need either because all return plus they pickup the other Hemphill transfer. Nash, Egbo, Calhoun and Cowens all have played quite a bit now.

DE has a lot of players back. Just need one to step up and be an impact player. Deming is an excellent young player. Looking forward to seeing redshirt frosh Mamula or Brown to see if they can make an impact. Coaches love Nagler and he was just getting the swing of playing DE before injury at Idaho. Never heard exactly what happened to him but they suspected it was an ACL tear after the game.
 
Ursus1 said:
go96griz said:
cmtgrizzly said:
We had another MT kid playing really well but tore ACL I think. Linebacker. Cant remember his name. Anyone?
Click to expand...

Was it Jace Lewis? He got hurt in the last game. I never did hear how bad it was, but it didn’t look good at the time.
Click to expand...

Jace is 100%. Just got banged up but no serious damage
Click to expand...

Great news, it did look bad.
 
kemajic said:
griz71 said:
AZDoc said:
I’m hoping for an upgrade in the most important spot...coordinator
Click to expand...

:thumb:
Click to expand...
We had a huge upgrade there last year; doubt it happens two years in a row. You're some of the same guys asking for continuity.
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol:

“Huge upgrade”? Did you type that with a straight face?
 
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