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Post Game - Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat

BWahlberg

BWahlberg

Well-known member
DONOR
UND had more total yards, way out-rushed Montana, shut down Eli Gillman, won the turnover battle, had better TOP, and was better on 3rd down. They should have won this game. There's a few things I can point to but clearly UND not taking the option to try for points on two possessions when on the Montana 15 and Montana 15 has to haunt them. Hit one of those and the Griz have to try for 2 late to tie it up, hit both - and the end of this game doesn't matter. It was wild that I thought for a while the Griz were being out played and out coached... to see that two bad decisions by UND would come back to haunt them.

The Grizzlies probably should've lost this game, but having a team still finding it's way figure out how to win a game shows some great signs of growth.

I see two growing worries:

1. This O-line didn't play well in the face of a fairly good team, especially the right side. Ah Yat was under pressure and sacked A LOT, plus Gillman had little room to run in an offense that is built around him. Could some shuffling be needed on the OL or did UND just have a great day? We'll see.

2. Corners not named Kyon Loud had a tough day. Explains itself, the defense put these corners on an island and it lead to some good and some really bad results.

-----------

Here's my big takeaway though, I told the guys on the GFP - can Ah Yat win a game when the Griz can't run and Wortham is neutralized? Today, he showed us that yes he can. It wasn't good for quite a while but his 4th quarter was awesome and Brooks Davis showed Griz Nation a good example of how great of a fall camp he had. Davis is a kid that this offense needs to help balance the passing game and man oh man, did he have a day.

I'm not really mad at the defense at all today, the offense left them out to dry for a long time tonight. Fooled a few times on deep shots but otherwise fought their asses off. Some of the expected usual guys starting to really show up, Tolbert, Harper, Wing, Wilkinson, Rausch, Loud. Wing's late pick helped spark something and get the Griz going which was clutch.

A few other thoughts:

- Money Morrison had a clutch kick and thank goodness he did there

- Rausch had a decent day but slipped at least once giving up a deep shot, let's find better cleats maybe?

- Far too many penalties on special teams, for a coaching staff that prides themselves on solid ST play they have a ways to go here.

- 2 weeks with teams putting up 200+ on the ground, that's not a good sign

- 5 of 18 on 3rd down for Montana is super bad, glad it didn't cost them the game, much to improve on here

- Not sure the use of Wortham at QB in mid-field that usually put Montana behind the sticks

- A few thousand fans didn't come back at half and those who did showed we didn't need them. It took some time but the last few UND possessions the fans were LOUD - loved hearing it / seeing it. Bummed a chunk of fans focused on the ride home or socializing when the team needed them.

- Even though they opted not to kick 2 shorter field goals UND also missed a PAT and that was the difference, incredible how close of a margin this win was.

- I'm sure the 1995 guys were biting their nails like all of us, glad the Griz could steal a W in front of guys like Dave Dickenson this year where they couldn't last year.

- The Griz defense forced the UND QB to 42.5% completion and outside of a single 82 yard shot he would've had 176. Obviously he got that deep pass and it really helps his numbers but they're close to showing some real good stuff. Need to improve that over the top coverage especially if these corners and a few safeties are going to be on an island.

- I'm so glad we have Brooks Davis

--------------

Not sure how they pulled it off but they did. This team has a ways to go, lets hope some things can be cleaned up fast! 2-0! Keep at it!
 
BWahlberg said:
1. This O-line didn't play well in the face of a fairly good team, especially the right side. Ah Yat was under pressure and sacked A LOT, plus Gillman had little room to run in an offense that is built around him. Could some shuffling be needed on the OL or did UND just have a great day? We'll see.
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E. Johnson had a rough game. False start and holding penalty, and two complete whiffs which led to big sacks. Maybe they should try Botner there.
BWahlberg said:
There's a few things I can point to but clearly UND not taking the option to try for points on two possessions when on the Montana 15 and Montana 15 has to haunt them.
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I don’t think UNDies had much faith in their kicker. Sounds like he missed a few kicks already this year, missed the game tying PAT, and doinked another PAT through. However, their QB said he made the choice not to spike it before half as he did not think there was enough time.
So many things had to go right for The Griz to win this game.
 
I fully expected a 3 to 4 point win, 1 point was even more exciting.

Defense was solid overall. Again, much improved in the 2nd half. Too bad, Loud's taunting was so costly. It likely won't happen again. I love how hard he plays and his exuberance is contagious. He's a terrific cb, we're fortunate to have him. He's a true shutdown CB. He reminds me of Tru Johnson. I'm really not sure who CB2 is yet. I'd really love to see Brady get an opportunity for more PT.

That defense has some true studs on it.
Wing, Tolbert, Tuliapupu, Loud, Wilkinson, Harper, Otlewski all are consistent playmakers. The DL isn't bad, as a unit they're not standing out yet. We need them to get more sacks. Then again, so far they've faced 2 very mobile qbs. They seemed to have more hurries against UND.

Credit UND's defense for limiting Eli and Wortham. They forced other GRIZ to step up. Davis, Bohannon, and Gale all did just that. I'd love to see Gale used more. He's a difficult match up for defenders.

Offensively, playcalling was very questionable for 3 quarters. OL play wasn't good. Play calling and OL play absolutely need to improve. Despite it all, AhYat is growing as a qb. On paper, 4 interceptions isn't good. 2 of the 4 are WR deflection. 1 was equivalent to a punt. The other was a questionable play call.

However, the adversity is a blessing in disguise. He's showing he bounces back well from adversity and mistakes. He makes big plays afterwards. I really hope they take off the reigns and quit protecting him in play calls. Easier said than done when the OL is inconsistent.

I honestly feel, the offense will be fine, if the OL improves. I really wish some fans would get off AhYat. Much of the adversity is well beyond what he has control of. The GRIZ don't win this game last season. AhYat delivered in clutch time this game!

Nice win against a very good playoff caliber team.
 
It might not seem like it on some stats, particularly passing yards, but KAY was the better QB today. 64% to 42% completion percentage. That is a substantial difference.

He has clearly been coached all offseason not to take off at the first sign of pressure, and instead, to step up in the pocket and complete the pass. It’s a major evolution that many QBs cannot do. At times today, I wanted him to tuck it and start running more, like their QB did, but thank god KAY did not. I don’t want to see a single designed QB run from him all year. Let Wortham do that shit.
 
Ah Yat checked the ball down really well in the fourth quarter. One of his interceptions was thrown behind a streaking receiver that had some serious daylight. The announcers put that on the WR, but he was hauling ass trying to make a play. Ah Yat dealt with a lot of pressure and he was inaccurate for 3 quarters. He could have given up or got discouraged. Instead he won the fucking game. Great resilience!

O-line needs to find the 5 guys that work best together as a unit. The coaching staff will figure it out. Game speed is different than a practice. Let’s be patient eh boys???!!!

Defensively - I’m starting to really like this squad! Kyon Loud makes an outstanding play, talks a little too much shit, gets flagged…..and ends the game with blanket coverage. This guy is the real fucking deal!! Tolbert made plays. Detrick made a nice stab today. Wing looks good. Wing gets a pick because Boyd got home on a blitz. D Line looks better than they’re getting credit for. I think the defensive play calling is vastly improved from last year!

We’re 2 games in. We have a good football team fellas. If Ah Yat can continue to grow, this team will be a tough out! O-line and Defense will gel. I love the toughness of our football team.
 
Watching the replay (was at work for a good chunk of the game) my old repeated complaints about Pease and his play calling I've made on here are flaring up again. Won't rehash it for the 20th time, hopefully he adjusts like he did back in 2023.

I'm also definitely concerned about our O-line, seems to always be a bit of an problem unfortunately. Get both of those issues fixes and I think we will be in a great position for the rest of the season.
 
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This game reminded me of some games in the early 2000’s, except the O’line was much better back then. Close game nail biters with Griz magic shining through at times. At that time, no matter how far down the Griz were, you and the team just KNEW they were going to come back and win it before the clock hit all zeros. The game today reminded me of how exciting and fun those games can be. The last several years they don’t win those games, great game today, mostly in the 4th quarter for the offense, but the defense did good throughout, with still much to improve on. Go Griz Maul ‘Em!!
 
"Far too many penalties on special teams, for a coaching staff that prides themselves on solid ST play they have a ways to go here."

I'll probably be alone here - but in general, special teams have not been all that special for a few years...

Yes, many flashes like JB and others - but the unit is not "elite" as it once was consistently.

I've always thought BH should bring someone in allowing him to put some energy on other units.

Rant over.
 
Have to play better next week. While Indiana state isn’t a power program they’re not a pushover either. They typically have close games with most of their Missouri valley opponents. Griz need to get the run game going and build off the success of the last two drives of the UND game. Ah Yat also needs to protect the football. 4 INTs in 2 games isn’t great. That being said, the offensive line needs to protect him better so hes not running for his life every play. Opening holes the run game would also be nice. We’ve got two more home games against quality opponents this month to build some nice momentum. Go Griz!
 
hm.grwn.grizfan said:
Also, why is the Oline NEVER the strength of the team? It’s been a problem for so long now SMH
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It makes zero sense. DOLA has been absent for some time. How that happens is beyond me. The only thing I can think of is degrees kids are pursuing. Why else wouldn’t you play for Montana? Oh, maybe the coaching carousel at that position. Hauck needs to get it figured out.
 
We very well could have lost this game, and as some have said, should have. The one thing that appeared last night though, was that Ah Yat is the leader of the team. We haven't been able to say that about him in his Griz career yet. He willed the Griz to the victory in the end-along with some wonderful defense. Looking more like his father every game.
 
279 yards surrendered by the D in the first half.
143 yards in the 2nd half.

The only real part that concerns me is the ZERO sacks. I realize there were some pressures (including Boyd’s near sack that resulted in Wing’s INT) but all in all the D line’s inability to get pressure appears to be requiring Bobby to leave the CB’s on an island and send the house. That IMHO is not a recipe for continued success….

And conversely, offensively the O-line is in shambles. SIX sacks given up? Only 62 yards rushing? Are they really THAT bad?
 
BWahlberg said:
UND had more total yards, way out-rushed Montana, shut down Eli Gillman, won the turnover battle, had better TOP, and was better on 3rd down. They should have won this game. There's a few things I can point to but clearly UND not taking the option to try for points on two possessions when on the Montana 15 and Montana 15 has to haunt them. Hit one of those and the Griz have to try for 2 late to tie it up, hit both - and the end of this game doesn't matter. It was wild that I thought for a while the Griz were being out played and out coached... to see that two bad decisions by UND would come back to haunt them.

The Grizzlies probably should've lost this game, but having a team still finding it's way figure out how to win a game shows some great signs of growth.

I see two growing worries:

1. This O-line didn't play well in the face of a fairly good team, especially the right side. Ah Yat was under pressure and sacked A LOT, plus Gillman had little room to run in an offense that is built around him. Could some shuffling be needed on the OL or did UND just have a great day? We'll see.

2. Corners not named Kyon Loud had a tough day. Explains itself, the defense put these corners on an island and it lead to some good and some really bad results.

-----------

Here's my big takeaway though, I told the guys on the GFP - can Ah Yat win a game when the Griz can't run and Wortham is neutralized? Today, he showed us that yes he can. It wasn't good for quite a while but his 4th quarter was awesome and Brooks Davis showed Griz Nation a good example of how great of a fall camp he had. Davis is a kid that this offense needs to help balance the passing game and man oh man, did he have a day.

I'm not really mad at the defense at all today, the offense left them out to dry for a long time tonight. Fooled a few times on deep shots but otherwise fought their asses off. Some of the expected usual guys starting to really show up, Tolbert, Harper, Wing, Wilkinson, Rausch, Loud. Wing's late pick helped spark something and get the Griz going which was clutch.

A few other thoughts:

- Money Morrison had a clutch kick and thank goodness he did there

- Rausch had a decent day but slipped at least once giving up a deep shot, let's find better cleats maybe?

- Far too many penalties on special teams, for a coaching staff that prides themselves on solid ST play they have a ways to go here.

- 2 weeks with teams putting up 200+ on the ground, that's not a good sign

- 5 of 18 on 3rd down for Montana is super bad, glad it didn't cost them the game, much to improve on here

- Not sure the use of Wortham at QB in mid-field that usually put Montana behind the sticks

- A few thousand fans didn't come back at half and those who did showed we didn't need them. It took some time but the last few UND possessions the fans were LOUD - loved hearing it / seeing it. Bummed a chunk of fans focused on the ride home or socializing when the team needed them.

- Even though they opted not to kick 2 shorter field goals UND also missed a PAT and that was the difference, incredible how close of a margin this win was.

- I'm sure the 1995 guys were biting their nails like all of us, glad the Griz could steal a W in front of guys like Dave Dickenson this year where they couldn't last year.

- The Griz defense forced the UND QB to 42.5% completion and outside of a single 82 yard shot he would've had 176. Obviously he got that deep pass and it really helps his numbers but they're close to showing some real good stuff. Need to improve that over the top coverage especially if these corners and a few safeties are going to be on an island.

- I'm so glad we have Brooks Davis

--------------

Not sure how they pulled it off but they did. This team has a ways to go, lets hope some things can be cleaned up fast! 2-0! Keep at it!
Click to expand...
That’s the toughest team they’ll play until Montana state. With how poorly they played, the fact they still one gives me so much confidence for the rest of the year
 
rocklobster said:
We very well could have lost this game, and as some have said, should have. The one thing that appeared last night though, was that Ah Yat is the leader of the team. We haven't been able to say that about him in his Griz career yet. He willed the Griz to the victory in the end-along with some wonderful defense. Looking more like his father every game.
Click to expand...
Agree with all but the last statement.

Let KAY be KAY. He is a fierce competitor. He showed leadership and a lot of mettle yesterday. But he does not spin it like BAY, never will. I am happy for KAY and the team. I think we should let him be his own kind of QB and be grateful for how he has evolved.

Enough said. Great win yesterday.
 
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