10 win season

[Lakerhater]

Eastern isn't 1/2 the team they were last year. No way we lose to them.

Both EWU Qb's I beleive were freshman, and were damm impressive! I think they only lose one excellent WR and retain a few other good ones.

I would love to see the Griz end, D McGee's career with a losss at Bozo's Litterbox and push them right out of the playoffs!

NO!! NO!! God will not allow this to happen. The Boobcats make the playoffs and their season ends with a curb -stomping in the dome in Fargo. It's his Will.

 

[uofmman1122]

Both EWU Qb's I beleive were freshman, and were damm impressive! I think they only lose one excellent WR and retain a few other good ones.

No, EWU lost their top 3 very talented receivers (Nicholas Edwards, Greg Herd, Brandon Kaufman - Junior going to NFL). Padron at QB will be a senior and Vernon Adams will be a sophomore QB. EWU also lost Zach Johnson, Paul Ena, and Jeff Minnerly off of their defense. The loss of the 3 receivers will be huge.

Padron declared for the draft, I believe. They lost a LOT.

Considering how good Adams is, we'll be fine. We also return 4/5 starters on the OL. Kaufman will be missed to be sure, but we always reload at WR. I mean think back the last 10 years... when have we NOT had an AA stud wideout? Kimble, Boyce, Edwards, Kaufman. We do lose some height at the position, as I think only RS Fr Keylin Huddleston is over 6'2 (he's 6'6), but what we lack in height we make up in speed. Shaq Hill is a shifty burner, like a smaller Taiwan at WR, but the name you'll be hearing a lot is Cooper Kupp. He's the next EWU AA WR.

Defense, we might be better than last year. Only starter in the secondary we lost was Minnerly, but the RS Fr who stepped in for him last year, Jordan Tonani, was just as good, if not better than him LAST year. Not to mention we have Tevin McDonald back there too (granted he doesn't f*** up with the pot). He's already returning punts and pick-sixing balls like a mofugga. We return our top tackler in LB Ronnie Hamlin, who had a JC Sherritt type year in 2012, and is already showing signs he'll be even better. He had 11 tackles, a sack, and a pick 6 yesterday in the second scrimmage. Cody McCarthy will fill in nicely at Sam LB. We also have 2011's leading Tackler For Loss in DE Anthony Larry back who was ineligible last year because of grades (yeah, yuck it up :lol: ). We'll be fine. :thumb:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I love this, especially because you always give us shit for the so-called "maroon-colored glasses". :roll:

Back away from those eagle-colored.....glasses.

Shut up.

 

[griz4life]

Given that Montana's bye week is at the beginning of the season, the risk of loss is probably highest in the second half or the end when injuries are more probable.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

No, EWU lost their top 3 very talented receivers (Nicholas Edwards, Greg Herd, Brandon Kaufman - Junior going to NFL). Padron at QB will be a senior and Vernon Adams will be a sophomore QB. EWU also lost Zach Johnson, Paul Ena, and Jeff Minnerly off of their defense. The loss of the 3 receivers will be huge.

Padron declared for the draft, I believe. They lost a LOT.

Considering how good Adams is, we'll be fine. We also return 4/5 starters on the OL. Kaufman will be missed to be sure, but we always reload at WR. I mean think back the last 10 years... when have we NOT had an AA stud wideout? Kimble, Boyce, Edwards, Kaufman. We do lose some height at the position, as I think only RS Fr Keylin Huddleston is over 6'2 (he's 6'6), but what we lack in height we make up in speed. Shaq Hill is a shifty burner, like a smaller Taiwan at WR, but the name you'll be hearing a lot is Cooper Kupp. He's the next EWU AA WR.

Defense, we might be better than last year. Only starter in the secondary we lost was Minnerly, but the RS Fr who stepped in for him last year, Jordan Tonani, was just as good, if not better than him LAST year. Not to mention we have Tevin McDonald back there too (granted he doesn't f*** up with the pot). He's already returning punts and pick-sixing balls like a mofugga. We return our top tackler in LB Ronnie Hamlin, who had a JC Sherritt type year in 2012, and is already showing signs he'll be even better. He had 11 tackles, a sack, and a pick 6 yesterday in the second scrimmage. Cody McCarthy will fill in nicely at Sam LB. We also have 2011's leading Tackler For Loss in DE Anthony Larry back who was ineligible last year because of grades (yeah, yuck it up :lol: ). We'll be fine. :thumb:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I love this, especially because you always give us shit for the so-called "maroon-colored glasses". :roll:

Back away from those eagle-colored.....glasses.

Shut up.

:roll:

Nowhere in that post did I claim we would be going 10-1 or better after fielding one of the worst secondaries in the FCS last year. Nor do I proclaim EWU national champs year after year. Nor did I proclaim we will for sure beat the Griz. :jack:

I know that we will be a good team that can compete with anyone (in the FCS) though. It's not like we lost 9/11 starters on defense and half the offense.

 

[uofmman1122]

Padron declared for the draft, I believe. They lost a LOT.

Considering how good Adams is, we'll be fine. We also return 4/5 starters on the OL. Kaufman will be missed to be sure, but we always reload at WR. I mean think back the last 10 years... when have we NOT had an AA stud wideout? Kimble, Boyce, Edwards, Kaufman. We do lose some height at the position, as I think only RS Fr Keylin Huddleston is over 6'2 (he's 6'6), but what we lack in height we make up in speed. Shaq Hill is a shifty burner, like a smaller Taiwan at WR, but the name you'll be hearing a lot is Cooper Kupp. He's the next EWU AA WR.

Defense, we might be better than last year. Only starter in the secondary we lost was Minnerly, but the RS Fr who stepped in for him last year, Jordan Tonani, was just as good, if not better than him LAST year. Not to mention we have Tevin McDonald back there too (granted he doesn't f*** up with the pot). He's already returning punts and pick-sixing balls like a mofugga. We return our top tackler in LB Ronnie Hamlin, who had a JC Sherritt type year in 2012, and is already showing signs he'll be even better. He had 11 tackles, a sack, and a pick 6 yesterday in the second scrimmage. Cody McCarthy will fill in nicely at Sam LB. We also have 2011's leading Tackler For Loss in DE Anthony Larry back who was ineligible last year because of grades (yeah, yuck it up :lol: ). We'll be fine. :thumb:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I love this, especially because you always give us shit for the so-called "maroon-colored glasses". :roll:

Back away from those eagle-colored.....glasses.

Shut up.

:roll:

Nowhere in that post did I claim we would be going 10-1 or better after fielding one of the worst secondaries in the FCS last year. Nor do I proclaim EWU national champs year after year. Nor did I proclaim we will for sure beat the Griz. :jack:

I know that we will be a good team that can compete with anyone (in the FCS) though. It's not like we lost 9/11 starters on defense and half the offense.

You sure do have an excuse handy for every single criticism about EWU.

Not unlike a few koolaid-drinking Griz fans.

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Considering how good Adams is, we'll be fine. We also return 4/5 starters on the OL. Kaufman will be missed to be sure, but we always reload at WR. I mean think back the last 10 years... when have we NOT had an AA stud wideout? Kimble, Boyce, Edwards, Kaufman. We do lose some height at the position, as I think only RS Fr Keylin Huddleston is over 6'2 (he's 6'6), but what we lack in height we make up in speed. Shaq Hill is a shifty burner, like a smaller Taiwan at WR, but the name you'll be hearing a lot is Cooper Kupp. He's the next EWU AA WR.

Defense, we might be better than last year. Only starter in the secondary we lost was Minnerly, but the RS Fr who stepped in for him last year, Jordan Tonani, was just as good, if not better than him LAST year. Not to mention we have Tevin McDonald back there too (granted he doesn't f*** up with the pot). He's already returning punts and pick-sixing balls like a mofugga. We return our top tackler in LB Ronnie Hamlin, who had a JC Sherritt type year in 2012, and is already showing signs he'll be even better. He had 11 tackles, a sack, and a pick 6 yesterday in the second scrimmage. Cody McCarthy will fill in nicely at Sam LB. We also have 2011's leading Tackler For Loss in DE Anthony Larry back who was ineligible last year because of grades (yeah, yuck it up :lol: ). We'll be fine. :thumb:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I love this, especially because you always give us shit for the so-called "maroon-colored glasses". :roll:

Back away from those eagle-colored.....glasses.

Shut up.

:roll:

Nowhere in that post did I claim we would be going 10-1 or better after fielding one of the worst secondaries in the FCS last year. Nor do I proclaim EWU national champs year after year. Nor did I proclaim we will for sure beat the Griz. :jack:

I know that we will be a good team that can compete with anyone (in the FCS) though. It's not like we lost 9/11 starters on defense and half the offense.

You sure do have an excuse handy for every single criticism about EWU.

Not unlike a few koolaid-drinking Griz fans.

Not excuses, just a hell of a lot more insight, without the ridiculous proclamations. Backup at LB, DL, and WR will be very thin on experience. DB, OL, QB, and RB will all be very strong, and we'll need them to be, I'm sure.

 

[uofmman1122]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I love this, especially because you always give us shit for the so-called "maroon-colored glasses". :roll:

Back away from those eagle-colored.....glasses.

Shut up.

:roll:

Nowhere in that post did I claim we would be going 10-1 or better after fielding one of the worst secondaries in the FCS last year. Nor do I proclaim EWU national champs year after year. Nor did I proclaim we will for sure beat the Griz. :jack:

I know that we will be a good team that can compete with anyone (in the FCS) though. It's not like we lost 9/11 starters on defense and half the offense.

You sure do have an excuse handy for every single criticism about EWU.

Not unlike a few koolaid-drinking Griz fans.

Not excuses, just a hell of a lot more insight, without the ridiculous proclamations. Backup at LB, DL, and WR will be very thin on experience. DB, OL, QB, and RB will all be very strong, and we'll need them to be, I'm sure.

Stop being practical. :evil:

This is eGriz, FFS.

Seriously, though, I don't disagree with you, except for you being "fine".

Your running game was pretty less-than-average last year, and if Adams and the new WRs can't get on the same page early, you could easily end up 1-3 before October, and then you'd have to pretty much go undefeated in BSC play to make the playoffs, beating

SUU - who has had your number the last two years.
@Montana - Don't care how many times you've won or came close the last decade or two, it's still the hardest place to win in FCS (When we're actually fielding a competitive team :? )
MSU - Still the Big Sky favorite
and @ Cal Poly - No small task

That's tough. Honestly, I think if EWU wins 8 games next year, they'll be scary come playoff time.

But I can also easily see them out of contention if things don't go well early on. :twocents:

 

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Stop being practical. :evil:

This is eGriz, FFS.

Seriously, though, I don't disagree with you, except for you being "fine".

Your running game was pretty less-than-average last year, and if Adams and the new WRs can't get on the same page early, you could easily end up 1-3 before October, and then you'd have to pretty much go undefeated in BSC play to make the playoffs, beating

SUU - who has had your number the last two years.
@Montana - Don't care how many times you've won or came close the last decade or two, it's still the hardest place to win in FCS (When we're actually fielding a competitive team :? )
MSU - Still the Big Sky favorite
and @ Cal Poly - No small task

That's tough. Honestly, I think if EWU wins 8 games next year, they'll be scary come playoff time.

But I can also easily see them out of contention if things don't go well early on. :twocents:

I agree... the schedule poses the biggest obstacle to winning the conference, not the loss of our top 3 WRs and few defensive players.

Despite us having no margin for error since OSU is a loss, and Toledo is a likely loss (might be a MAC team, but they're a damn good one right now that return most of their starters), luckily the playoff field will expand by four, which means three more at large bids. A power conference team like EWU might get in with an 8-4, but only 7 DI win record. And like you said, we'd certainly be a force to be reckoned with after the competition we will have faced.

As for the running game, I'm cautiously optimistic. Consider this:

Not coincidentally, the Eagles’ running game took some big strides last season, almost doubling its rushing yardage from 2011 (from 869 yards to 1,729) while improving its yards-per-rush from 3.0 to 3.7.

Perhaps the most telling stat last year? An even 100 first downs converted on the ground, compared with just 53 in 2011.

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/16/well-grounded/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Last year was our new RB coach (Kiel McDonald)'s first year with us. That's pretty significant improvement in one year (granted we had a lot of OL injuries in 2011). We do however return 4/5 on the OL, and the likely new starter at RT will be 6'7, 290 RS So. Cassidy Curtis. At RB we're pretty deep and diversified. RB Demetrius Bronson hit his stride toward the end of last year is a very big, physical runner. Behind him we have Quincey Forte who is a hard runner, but with more speed and shiftiness. Behind him, Mario Brown will be back after RSing last year, and of course, he's probably the fastest and shiftiest, albeit smallest of the three. He's had an impressive spring thus far. Finally, since Vernon will be the starter all year (knock on wood), the run game should flourish even more since D's have to account for his threat to run. He had 342 yards (5.3) last year. We also may or may not be installing some read option. It would only make sense with such a mobile QB with an arm.

SUU doesn't "have our number." They eked out a win against us last year, at their place. Their only other win against us came in 1998, and we get them in Cheney this year. Plus, Sorensen is gone. Not too worried about them.

We're in agreement about the other teams though. Hopefully with Adams playing the WHOLE game against SHSU, we can get that win to begin to avenge our last two games against them, and afford us a little breathing room (and a lot of cred come playoff selection time). :thumb:

 

[grizfan47]

After watching the spring game on Friday night I am very much encouraged. We were in every game last year and in a position to win most of the games we lost. There is a lot of work to done but you cannot overlook the difference that JJ makes to this team. This scrimmage was the only one that I have seen but I was more than a little surprised at how much JJ had separated from the other QBs, two of which led this team last year. I feel pretty confident that if he had been leading this team last season; many of the outcomes would have been different.

Couple that with the maturity and hopefully the learning curve of this coaching staff you must be very hopefull for a good season. Granted there is a lot of work to do and you cannot predict injuries and other unknown issues.

 

[Paytonlives]

I have said this many times:

"The griz were much better then the record showed!"

-No JJ
-Lead in every game!

 

[Gaeilge1]

DEPTH! DEPTH! DEPTH!! And particularly EXPERIENCED DEPTH!

In 2011 we had a great deal of it, last year not so much, particlualry at qb, in the secondary and in special teams. All of those area's have been improved this year, especially qb and the secondary. As for the kicking game, no one at this level ever develops depth in kicking or punting so the emphasis is placed on experience and with both our punter and kicker back the experience at those positions is much better.

Despite all the issues surrounding the Griz last season, and I'm not downplaying any of it, but at this point I prefer to view last season as a rebuilding year in terms of depth and experience. That's been accomplished and Griz opponent's better watch out this year. This team could be truly excellent.

 

[BWahlberg]

I think what's interesting that with our recent rivalries with EWU and MSU there's a different thread:

Over the last 4 years in the EWU/UM series the home team has always won
Over the last 4 years in the UM/MSU series the road team has always won

UM hosts EWU and travels to MSU this year.

 

[Jerry Punch]

I think what's interesting that with our recent rivalries with EWU and MSU there's a different thread:

Over the last 4 years in the EWU/UM series the home team has always won
Over the last 4 years in the UM/MSU series the road team has always won

UM hosts EWU and travels to MSU this year.

This. It is mind-boggling that Cat/Griz has been split, but not how you would predict. Road teams winning, especially in Wa Griz, is a tall order. The Griz were peaking at Cat/Griz 2011 and the Cats had already peaked a month prior. Should be a hell of a game this fall in Bozeman.

 

[GrizMusician]

12-0. Take it to the bank...

 

[Blgs Griz Fan]

The two wins the cats enjoyed were more Griz losses than cat victories. Two fumbles inside the 5 yard line in 2010 gave the game to the cats. Last year the cats barely won against a team weakened by the loss of the head coach, the loss of the starting qb and general anarchy surrounding the program. I think things will stabalize and reverse itself and the Griz will be a much better team this year. 2011 is a good indication of the differences between the Griz and the cats.
EWU barely got by last year at home. That Griz loss was due to coaching errors on the Griz side and some really great play by the Eagles at the end of the game. The Griz could very well be the sole champions of the BSC this year.

 

[BWahlberg]

I think what's interesting that with our recent rivalries with EWU and MSU there's a different thread:

Over the last 4 years in the EWU/UM series the home team has always won
Over the last 4 years in the UM/MSU series the road team has always won

UM hosts EWU and travels to MSU this year.

This. It is mind-boggling that Cat/Griz has been split, but not how you would predict. Road teams winning, especially in Wa Griz, is a tall order. The Griz were peaking at Cat/Griz 2011 and the Cats had already peaked a month prior. Should be a hell of a game this fall in Bozeman.

Kind of odd to think that the last time a home team won in the Griz/Cat series was 2008...

 

[Gallatin Griz]

BWahlberg wrote, "Over the last 4 years in the UM/MSU series the road team has always won"

Another note of interest - the Griz have won 11 of the last 13 Griz/cat games played in Bozeman and 11 of the last 14 Griz/cat games in Missoula.

A quarter century+ of "The trail of tears" in cat town and mostly Griz cheers in Missoula.

Go Griz!

Maul'em!

 

[zengriz]

...it shouldn't suprize anyone...
...the griz getting beat in w g s...
...the big wild loud crowd often...
...motivates the opponent more...

... ...

 

[Redonkuless1]

12-0. Take it to the bank...

"Ummm........ I'll have what he's having!"

Stay real don't drink the Kool-aid, Griz will be good but have alot of growth ahead.

 

[Jerry Punch]

The two wins the cats enjoyed were more Griz losses than cat victories. Two fumbles inside the 5 yard line in 2010 gave the game to the cats. Last year the cats barely won against a team weakened by the loss of the head coach, the loss of the starting qb and general anarchy surrounding the program. I think things will stabalize and reverse itself and the Griz will be a much better team this year. 2011 is a good indication of the differences between the Griz and the cats.
EWU barely got by last year at home. That Griz loss was due to coaching errors on the Griz side and some really great play by the Eagles at the end of the game. The Griz could very well be the sole champions of the BSC this year.

The funny thing about football games is that there is always a winner and a loser unless there is some chicken shit rule like in the NFL. I am sure that rationalizing the losses as the Griz' responsibility help you feel better. I can tell you that I feel no different about the Bobcat wins and enjoyed them thoroughly, especially since they were both in Missoula. You'd have done the same in Bozeman with a close win and would be mocking be just the same as I am mocking you for making excuses. Just win, baby.