Final grades for the 2025 Grizzlies

[BWahlberg]

A little sunday morning long form thought on the 2025 Griz and where this fan would provide his grades:

Full article here - Final grades for the 2025 Grizzlies

We’re 8 days removed from the end of the Grizzlies season, portal new is starting to trickle in, the new year is almost here, and I thought I’d give a final look back on this team. 2025 will probably be one of the most debated about seasons - was it successful or not? On one hand, 13 wins, a semi final trip, two blowout wins at home, a record setting offense, and accolades for players we’ve not seen in a while. On the other hand, something that’s never happened before - two losses to our rivals who are odds on favorites now to win it all. To quote my buddy Mike from the GFP, two things can be true at once, we can celebrate the fun and success of this season but also recognize where Montana fell short.

This year’s team had to do a heavy rebuild in the roster (so will the 2026 team). The coaches did seem to learn a lot from the 2024 portal experience and appeared to go about bringing in different guys and also not relying on as many “1 and done” dudes. So, let’s dive into it. Of course this, as always, is a fan perspective here.

 

[UncleRico]

Good job Brint. I think this is fair assessment. Hopefully the portal is good to Griz in both arrivals and departures. I expect the defense to be better next year with more returning players. Did Griz sign a punter? I was thinking so.

 

[HikeGlacier]

A little sunday morning long form thought on the 2025 Griz and where this fan would provide his grades:

Full article here - Final grades for the 2025 Grizzlies

So, basically, you're just giving your opinion? That's fair, because saying your defense was average when it gave up some of the biggest plays in all of college football is comical. How did you come up with the special teams grade when the head coach made a kicking change late in the season and there was only one big play punt return?

 

[UncleRico]

So, basically, you're just giving your opinion? That's fair, because saying your defense was average when it gave up some of the biggest plays in all of college football is comical.

Also second in FCS in interceptions, 3rd in Big Sky in scoring defense, 2nd in Big Sky rushing defense. So yea average is very fair. Your negativity is comical.

 

[granitegriz]

D line shouldn't be graded less than O line, that is incorrect but great analyses!

 

[5280Griz]

So, basically, you're just giving your opinion? That's fair, because saying your defense was average when it gave up some of the biggest plays in all of college football is comical. How did you come up with the special teams grade when the head coach made a kicking change late in the season and there was only one big play punt return?

Morrison ranked second in punting in the conference. The only guy ahead of him was the guy at NAU who is kicking in a dome at altitude and led the nation in punting average. That aspect of special teams sounds like it was solid to me.

 

[nicktaber58]

A little sunday morning long form thought on the 2025 Griz and where this fan would provide his grades:

Full article here - Final grades for the 2025 Grizzlies

Accurate i think in all areas. I think we'll see a jump from the defense next year. Some promising up n comers and depth guys from this year return.

 

[Griz til I die]

Good job Brint. I think this is fair assessment. Hopefully the portal is good to Griz in both arrivals and departures. I expect the defense to be better next year with more returning players. Did Griz sign a punter? I was thinking so.

We need a long snapper too!

 

[BWahlberg]

So, basically, you're just giving your opinion? That's fair, because saying your defense was average when it gave up some of the biggest plays in all of college football is comical. How did you come up with the special teams grade when the head coach made a kicking change late in the season and there was only one big play punt return?

Special teams:

- return game didn't flip the field as much as it has in prior years
- coverage teams were good
- Morrison was a good punter but not an accurate kicker, tough year. Silver as a replacement was 3-3 on shorter attempts, really didn't get to see if he was accurate from range
- Davis was good at holding and 2 point plays, when he got hurt in MSU the backup immediately mis-held a snap
- KR unit lost two turnovers, one they were stunned on against EWU and didn't know how to react, PSU had a plan to kick at the D-lineman
- No issues on short or long snaps all season

It wasn't a "bad" unit but it wasn't elite like it's been in prior years

 

[mthoopsfan]

I don't agree with many of the grades. They aren't right. A 13-2 team that goes to the semis and beats 4 MV teams, including SDSU and USD in the playoffs, deserves much higher grades. The grades seem to be influenced by some of the clowns on podcasts that Brint associates with. The ones with axes to grind. Benchwarmers.

 

[Skookum-Jim]

I like that Brint has the guts to put this out with all these arm chair judgmental types that have never even put on a jock to read. Geezus H Christ this team is 13-2 in the BSC with several wins against the best of the MVC.
I agree with most of it. However I think he was a little hard on the DL and LBs. I think they are both A-. If anything the safeties and corners could be a little lower than B. But they were hung out to dry a bit in some of the play calls.

 

[Allezchat]

I don't agree with many of the grades. They aren't right. A 13-2 team that goes to the semis and beats 4 MV teams, including SDSU and USD in the playoffs, deserves much higher grades. The grades seem to be influenced by some of the clowns on podcasts that Brint associates with. The ones with axes to grind. Benchwarmers.

Plus he's a never played the gamer.

 

[BWahlberg]

I don't agree with many of the grades. They aren't right. A 13-2 team that goes to the semis and beats 4 MV teams, including SDSU and USD in the playoffs, deserves much higher grades. The grades seem to be influenced by some of the clowns on podcasts that Brint associates with. The ones with axes to grind. Benchwarmers.

Haha thanks for reading Jack!

 

[retiredpopo]

good write up...I think offense skill positions a solid A I still think we have/had the 3 best skill players in the fcs...defense I agree. imagine if Riley Wilson would have been still here...B+...I know if wishes were fishes we would all have a fry....

 

[right.right.right…]

As Trump would say,

A plus plus plus plus plus plus

 

[oldngrizzly]

I don't agree with many of the grades. They aren't right. A 13-2 team that goes to the semis and beats 4 MV teams, including SDSU and USD in the playoffs, deserves much higher grades. The grades seem to be influenced by some of the clowns on podcasts that Brint associates with. The ones with axes to grind. Benchwarmers.

We know your just trying to start some crap as usual. It's not to cold in Ekalaka this time of year ,maybe you should take a break from egriz and head on over where the whiskey is strong and the women are wild.

 

[stilwtrgrizz]

Special teams:

- return game didn't flip the field as much as it has in prior years
- coverage teams were good
- Morrison was a good punter but not an accurate kicker, tough year. Silver as a replacement was 3-3 on shorter attempts, really didn't get to see if he was accurate from range
- Davis was good at holding and 2 point plays, when he got hurt in MSU the backup immediately mis-held a snap
- KR unit lost two turnovers, one they were stunned on against EWU and didn't know how to react, PSU had a plan to kick at the D-lineman
- No issues on short or long snaps all season

It wasn't a "bad" unit but it wasn't elite like it's been in prior years

I usually agree with you 100%, but have to take issue with "- No issues on short or long snaps all season". I saw a ton of near misses on high snaps to the the quarterback, particularly in the last part of the season. I commented SEVERAL times that it was a good thing that Ah Yat had good jumping ability, along with concentrating on the snap, and having the ball, before starting to execute the plays.

 

[Ut-Grizfan]

I usually agree with you 100%, but have to take issue with "- No issues on short or long snaps all season". I saw a ton of near misses on high snaps to the the quarterback, particularly in the last part of the season. I commented SEVERAL times that it was a good thing that Ah Yat had good jumping ability, along with concentrating on the snap, and having the ball, before starting to execute the plays.

Agreed, there were a bunch of high snaps all season long on offense, makes me wonder how often that messed up run plays due to throwing off timing.

 

[uofmman1122]

I usually agree with you 100%, but have to take issue with "- No issues on short or long snaps all season". I saw a ton of near misses on high snaps to the the quarterback, particularly in the last part of the season. I commented SEVERAL times that it was a good thing that Ah Yat had good jumping ability, along with concentrating on the snap, and having the ball, before starting to execute the plays.

He is talking about special teams.

The center does not snap the ball on special teams plays.

Pibal didn't have a single bad snap all year.

 

[5280Griz]

I usually agree with you 100%, but have to take issue with "- No issues on short or long snaps all season". I saw a ton of near misses on high snaps to the the quarterback, particularly in the last part of the season. I commented SEVERAL times that it was a good thing that Ah Yat had good jumping ability, along with concentrating on the snap, and having the ball, before starting to execute the plays.

I think he was referring to snaps for kicks from Pibal, not snaps out of shotgun from the center to Ah Yat.