The Grizzlies are (finally) hitting the road to see if they can carry forward their momentum to a road setting where I’d assume Idaho State will have some excitement to be the host. If you don’t follow the Jungle of ISU on twitter, you should, they’ve been more tame this year but a great account to keep an eye on.
Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference is statistically one of the best offenses, but yes they have an outlier that helps pump some numbers up. Looking at their strengths:
ISU has some mystery around their team health though, which I’d venture will keep the Grizzly defensive staff on their toes as they prepare for possibly 2 or 3 QBs. Jordan Cooke, when healthy, is their dude. He got hurt earlier and was announced to be out for a significant time, then 2 weeks later he was back – however his stat line against UNC wasn’t pretty, 12-33 passing. He was replaced in the 4th quarter by Davis Harsin. Not sure if was injury or performance based, and you know ISU won’t say much about it this whole week.
Idaho State Bengals: 2-3
31-38 loss @ UNLV: This one was a wild shootout that many of us saw. ISU had all the big plays in their bag, including some trickery too, that kept UNLV off balance most of the night. UNLV also didn’t help themselves much either with an early lost fumble and missed field goal. Meanwhile… ISU got picked off 4 times in the game – yet it was close the whole way! UNLV, who is 4-0 now, had 532 total yards, ISU had 555. Wild game!
24-46 loss @ Southern Utah: Dubbed a darling to keep an eye on after a close UNLV loss ISU was thumped pretty good. It was close in the first half but SUU pulled away in the 3rd quarter and ISU couldn’t keep up. ISU gave up 323 rushing yards in the game and another 240 passing yards – meanwhile they had their passing yards but SUU took away their run game quickly as ISU moved into “pass every down” mode in the 2nd half.
22-32 loss @ New Mexico: ISU grabbed a lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter, 16-14 but gave it back about 5 minutes later. Heading into the 4th quarter ISU would score again to take a 22-17 lead, but again UNM answered and went back up 25-22, with limited time left ISU wound up with a fast turnover on downs and UNM tacked on a late TD to stretch the score out (late TD by Scottre Humphrey who had 141 total rush yards in the game). UNM lost a fumble and had a turnover on downs in this game. Both teams were close to 400 total yards of offense, UNM got more on the ground, while ISU got more passing.
90-0 win vs Lincoln (CA): If you don’t know who Lincoln CA is, they’ve made the news being essentially a fraudulent program that I think some AD’s have called for banning booking games with. After their 90-0 loss they cancelled their next game. In this game ISU had 12 possessions, 12 TDs. They forced 4 turnovers and had 521 total yards of offense, while Lincoln had 7 rushing yards, was sacked 4 times, and barely had over 200 passing.
26-18 win @ Northern Colorado: As mentioned before Cooke returned in what I think was a bit of a surprise and ISU jumped all over UNC, going up 16-0 midway through the 2nd quarter. UNC would score and try to keep it close but ISU never let them get within 1 score until 4 minutes left when UNC would kick a field goal setting the score to 26-18. From there the teams traded 3 and outs and then UNC put together a drive to tie the game, only to fall short on the ISU 7 yard line with a turnover on downs. Looking at the stat line… no clue guys. ISU RAN for 289 (also passed for 250) and UNC passed for 396 but only ran for 30 yards.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game ISU (281 for GRIZ vs 298 for ISU)
Rushing yards per game GRIZ (218 for GRIZ vs 175 for ISU)
Total offense GRIZ (499 for GRIZ vs 473 for ISU)
Passing yards allowed per game GRIZ (204 for GRIZ vs 246 for ISU)
Rushing yards allowed per game ISU (182 or GRIZ vs 175 for ISU)
Total defense GRIZ (386 for GRIZ vs 421 for ISU)
Offense points scored GRIZ (42.5 for GRIZ vs 38.6 for ISU)
Defense points allowed GRIZ (22.5 for GRIZ vs 26.8 for ISU)
Turnover margin PUSH (+1 for GRIZ / +1 for ISU)
Field goal % PUSH (100% for GRIZ vs 100% for ISU)
Punt Returns ISU (9.8 yards for GRIZ vs 15.2 yards for ISU)
Kick Returns GRIZ (24.5 yards for GRIZ vs 20.1 yards for ISU)
T.O.P. GRIZ (31:21 for GRIZ vs 27:46 for ISU)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) ISU (50% GRIZ / 47.6% ISU)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (76.5% GRIZ / 62.5% ISU)
3rd down offense ISU – (43.9% for GRIZ / 44.8% for ISU)
3rd down defense GRIZ – (34.9% allowed for GRIZ vs 38.5% allowed for ISU)
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Montana grabs 10 total, ISU gets 5, and we’ve got 2 pushes – although one worth pointing out, Montana and ISU are both 100% on field goals, ISU has made 9, Montana has made 3.
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Idaho State Players to Watch:
#1 Jordan Cooke, QB: If healthy and ready to play, this guy makes the offense go. He had a rough outing at UNC but unless if he got hurt again I’d assume he’ll start. He’s passing for about 250 per game and has 4 TDs and 4 INTs… for once not much of a rushing threat compared to the first 4 QBs this team saw. If Cooke doesn’t play or splits time look for #16 Davis Harsin to probably be the next guy in, he’s much more of a runner, he’s got nearly 120 on the ground, and his highest passing total is almost 200 in that weird game against Lincoln – he does have 7 passing TDs and just 1 INT.
#14 Michael Shulikov, WR: He is 6-6… yep… and he’s one of their many dangerous WRs. He’s got a team high of 400 yards and 3 receiving TDs, averaging nearly 80 yards per game, the Griz are going to have their hands full with this guy. He’s also 1-1 passing for a TD - BTW.
#11 Ian Duarte, WR: Their Michael Wortham, he’s 2nd best in many receiving categories, he’s got 21 catches, 238 yards, and 1 TD. He’s also averaging 17.25 yards per punt return and 16.75 per kick return. He’s run the ball a few times as well, we’ll see him all over the field.
#28 Dason Brooks, RB: ISU has 2 backs they seem to use more than others, Brooks is the main guy it appears though, he’s got 51 carries to the next guys 26 carries. On the season Brooks has 373 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs, he’s a tough dude to bring down, listed at almost 230 pounds.
#7 Nathan Reynolds, LB: A first team all conference selection, Reynolds has 37 tackles already this season, interestingly no other stats such as TFLs, INTs, fumbles forced. Last year he had 92 total tackles, kid is always around the ball!
#22 Mason Young, DB: Another first team all conference defender, Young has 18 tackles, he’s grabbed a pick, and forced/recovered a fumble this year. He was 2nd best in tackles on the team last year with 77 and had 2 forced fumbles then.
#96 Bronson Childs, DL: A Weber State transfer (!!) this 6-4, 260 pound edge is going to be a guy to keep an eye on. He’s got 23 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery this year.
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
I think this game and the Poly game could have trap game written all over them. Montana needs to come in with hot piss and put it to these guys. Things are always weird in that damn dome too, so you know there’s gonna be some BS that happens as well. I do think with what their defense shows, how they’re not that great in either facet, gives good advantage for the Grizzlies to hopefully really move the ball well. I fear we’re setting up for a shootout here, especially without Loud (I assume). I’ll say in a far too close barn burner, Montana escapes with a 49-38 win.
Go Griz!
Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference is statistically one of the best offenses, but yes they have an outlier that helps pump some numbers up. Looking at their strengths:
- 2nd best scoring offense (Montana’s is 1st)
- 6th best rushing offense (Montana’s defense is 7th)
- Best passing offense (Montana’s pass defense is 5th)
- 2nd best punt return unit
- Only 1 sack allowed all season
- Most forced fumbles of any Big Sky team
ISU has some mystery around their team health though, which I’d venture will keep the Grizzly defensive staff on their toes as they prepare for possibly 2 or 3 QBs. Jordan Cooke, when healthy, is their dude. He got hurt earlier and was announced to be out for a significant time, then 2 weeks later he was back – however his stat line against UNC wasn’t pretty, 12-33 passing. He was replaced in the 4th quarter by Davis Harsin. Not sure if was injury or performance based, and you know ISU won’t say much about it this whole week.
Idaho State Bengals: 2-3
31-38 loss @ UNLV: This one was a wild shootout that many of us saw. ISU had all the big plays in their bag, including some trickery too, that kept UNLV off balance most of the night. UNLV also didn’t help themselves much either with an early lost fumble and missed field goal. Meanwhile… ISU got picked off 4 times in the game – yet it was close the whole way! UNLV, who is 4-0 now, had 532 total yards, ISU had 555. Wild game!
24-46 loss @ Southern Utah: Dubbed a darling to keep an eye on after a close UNLV loss ISU was thumped pretty good. It was close in the first half but SUU pulled away in the 3rd quarter and ISU couldn’t keep up. ISU gave up 323 rushing yards in the game and another 240 passing yards – meanwhile they had their passing yards but SUU took away their run game quickly as ISU moved into “pass every down” mode in the 2nd half.
22-32 loss @ New Mexico: ISU grabbed a lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter, 16-14 but gave it back about 5 minutes later. Heading into the 4th quarter ISU would score again to take a 22-17 lead, but again UNM answered and went back up 25-22, with limited time left ISU wound up with a fast turnover on downs and UNM tacked on a late TD to stretch the score out (late TD by Scottre Humphrey who had 141 total rush yards in the game). UNM lost a fumble and had a turnover on downs in this game. Both teams were close to 400 total yards of offense, UNM got more on the ground, while ISU got more passing.
90-0 win vs Lincoln (CA): If you don’t know who Lincoln CA is, they’ve made the news being essentially a fraudulent program that I think some AD’s have called for banning booking games with. After their 90-0 loss they cancelled their next game. In this game ISU had 12 possessions, 12 TDs. They forced 4 turnovers and had 521 total yards of offense, while Lincoln had 7 rushing yards, was sacked 4 times, and barely had over 200 passing.
26-18 win @ Northern Colorado: As mentioned before Cooke returned in what I think was a bit of a surprise and ISU jumped all over UNC, going up 16-0 midway through the 2nd quarter. UNC would score and try to keep it close but ISU never let them get within 1 score until 4 minutes left when UNC would kick a field goal setting the score to 26-18. From there the teams traded 3 and outs and then UNC put together a drive to tie the game, only to fall short on the ISU 7 yard line with a turnover on downs. Looking at the stat line… no clue guys. ISU RAN for 289 (also passed for 250) and UNC passed for 396 but only ran for 30 yards.
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General Stats
Passing yards per game ISU (281 for GRIZ vs 298 for ISU)
Rushing yards per game GRIZ (218 for GRIZ vs 175 for ISU)
Total offense GRIZ (499 for GRIZ vs 473 for ISU)
Passing yards allowed per game GRIZ (204 for GRIZ vs 246 for ISU)
Rushing yards allowed per game ISU (182 or GRIZ vs 175 for ISU)
Total defense GRIZ (386 for GRIZ vs 421 for ISU)
Offense points scored GRIZ (42.5 for GRIZ vs 38.6 for ISU)
Defense points allowed GRIZ (22.5 for GRIZ vs 26.8 for ISU)
Turnover margin PUSH (+1 for GRIZ / +1 for ISU)
Field goal % PUSH (100% for GRIZ vs 100% for ISU)
Punt Returns ISU (9.8 yards for GRIZ vs 15.2 yards for ISU)
Kick Returns GRIZ (24.5 yards for GRIZ vs 20.1 yards for ISU)
T.O.P. GRIZ (31:21 for GRIZ vs 27:46 for ISU)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns) ISU (50% GRIZ / 47.6% ISU)
Red Zone offense (touchdowns) GRIZ (76.5% GRIZ / 62.5% ISU)
3rd down offense ISU – (43.9% for GRIZ / 44.8% for ISU)
3rd down defense GRIZ – (34.9% allowed for GRIZ vs 38.5% allowed for ISU)
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Montana grabs 10 total, ISU gets 5, and we’ve got 2 pushes – although one worth pointing out, Montana and ISU are both 100% on field goals, ISU has made 9, Montana has made 3.
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Idaho State Players to Watch:
#1 Jordan Cooke, QB: If healthy and ready to play, this guy makes the offense go. He had a rough outing at UNC but unless if he got hurt again I’d assume he’ll start. He’s passing for about 250 per game and has 4 TDs and 4 INTs… for once not much of a rushing threat compared to the first 4 QBs this team saw. If Cooke doesn’t play or splits time look for #16 Davis Harsin to probably be the next guy in, he’s much more of a runner, he’s got nearly 120 on the ground, and his highest passing total is almost 200 in that weird game against Lincoln – he does have 7 passing TDs and just 1 INT.
#14 Michael Shulikov, WR: He is 6-6… yep… and he’s one of their many dangerous WRs. He’s got a team high of 400 yards and 3 receiving TDs, averaging nearly 80 yards per game, the Griz are going to have their hands full with this guy. He’s also 1-1 passing for a TD - BTW.
#11 Ian Duarte, WR: Their Michael Wortham, he’s 2nd best in many receiving categories, he’s got 21 catches, 238 yards, and 1 TD. He’s also averaging 17.25 yards per punt return and 16.75 per kick return. He’s run the ball a few times as well, we’ll see him all over the field.
#28 Dason Brooks, RB: ISU has 2 backs they seem to use more than others, Brooks is the main guy it appears though, he’s got 51 carries to the next guys 26 carries. On the season Brooks has 373 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs, he’s a tough dude to bring down, listed at almost 230 pounds.
#7 Nathan Reynolds, LB: A first team all conference selection, Reynolds has 37 tackles already this season, interestingly no other stats such as TFLs, INTs, fumbles forced. Last year he had 92 total tackles, kid is always around the ball!
#22 Mason Young, DB: Another first team all conference defender, Young has 18 tackles, he’s grabbed a pick, and forced/recovered a fumble this year. He was 2nd best in tackles on the team last year with 77 and had 2 forced fumbles then.
#96 Bronson Childs, DL: A Weber State transfer (!!) this 6-4, 260 pound edge is going to be a guy to keep an eye on. He’s got 23 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery this year.
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Keys to a Grizzly victory
- Keep it all in front of you – ISU is going to take a ton of deep shots, and with a 6-6 WR you know there’ll be some jump balls that are going to be hard to defend. The Grizzly pass defense is going to have to concede some gains in this game, I just don’t see how they keep this pass offense totally under wraps.
- Pressure the QB, whoever he is – It’s wild ISU has only given up 1 sack, they do have some very good O-linemen, but it also seems their system is designed to be very quick on getting the QB to throw the ball. Montana linebackers are going to need to be in the face of their QB and fast – or else they’ll pick us apart.
- Run the damn ball - Great game to slow it down and don’t give ISU a billion possessions to sling it all over the field. Let Gillman, Rocker, and Fonoti eat, stretch the game out, take the fight out of them.
- Don’t get comfy – ISU can score fast and will do it with trickery too. If the Grizzly defense sits back thinking this game is in the bag, they could get caught fast. The offense needs to keep moving all day too.
- Force some turnovers! – It seems like if we see Cooke we’ll have some chances for INTs, dial up the pressure and force him into some throws he’ll forget.
- Have ST flip the field – Just like the Idaho game, keep them pinned, and set up short field for our guys.
I think this game and the Poly game could have trap game written all over them. Montana needs to come in with hot piss and put it to these guys. Things are always weird in that damn dome too, so you know there’s gonna be some BS that happens as well. I do think with what their defense shows, how they’re not that great in either facet, gives good advantage for the Grizzlies to hopefully really move the ball well. I fear we’re setting up for a shootout here, especially without Loud (I assume). I’ll say in a far too close barn burner, Montana escapes with a 49-38 win.
Go Griz!
