2015 Big Sky Preseason Poll (Never too Early)

[George Ferguson]

Here's my predicted order of finish for 2015.

1. Eastern Washington (Champs till they're not the champs no more)
2. Cal Poly (Returns pretty much its entire offense, and their D always seems to reload with great linebackers)
T3. Montana State (Offense is young and loaded, but will have the same problems, if not worse on defense)
T3. Montana (Pretty much every impact player from 2014 is gone, save Jones and if they get Hendo back, will have a new starting QB and a new head coach, and another brutal schedule to have to overcome. All of that honestly tempted me to go even lower, BUT WE ARE MONTANA)
5. Northern Arizona (A young team a year ago with a stingy D coming back)
6. Idaho State (I know people think they should be placed higher after their amazing 2014 season, but the Bengals lose Arias and key guys on their defense. So it's still not quite time to be a BSC title contender just yet)
Does it really matter from here? LOL
7. Weber State (Started to play pretty good football the last half of 2014. Offense is gaining traction)
8. Southern Utah (Amon is a good QB, lose some good players off a good D)
9. Northern Colorado (Also started to play well in the second half of 2014. Will have Rubelcaba back. I wanted to pick them higher, but they are Northern Colorado)
10. North Dakota (Great D, but won't move up until the offense gets going)
11. Sacramento State (Saffron is gone. Enough said)
12. UC Davis (Young QB might have them a better team next season)
13. Portland State (Right now, the program is in shambles. Players are leaving to go to Southern Oregon and Western Oregon, willingly!).

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

Montana will be number 1, or 2 (again).

 

[BWahlberg]

1. EWU
2. UM
3. MSU
4. CPSLO
5. ISU
6. NAU
7. Sac
8. UND
9. SUU
10. UNC
11. UCD
12. PSU

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 then it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 sonthen it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

One question. You did see Nelson on that double move for the EWU TD right? Believe me, a WSU CB transfer is more than a bonus....

 

[BWahlberg]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 then it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

ISU gets their RB Finney back but loses Arias. I think they have quite a few departures on defense. All depends on their QB depth/skill.

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 sonthen it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

One question. You did see Nelson on that double move for the EWU TD right? Believe me, a WSU CB transfer is more than a bonus....

Is it safe to say u agree with the rest then?

I did find it odd that in 14 games played, Nelson didn't have a single passed defenced. He was a So so that could contribute I hope. I've been pretty big on McKinley since he got here also. As a RSFr last year in 4 games he got at least 1 PD.

Also agreed that a 1-A drop down is almost always more then a bonus(excluding Marlon Miles).

 

[CV Griz Fan]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 sonthen it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

One question. You did see Nelson on that double move for the EWU TD right? Believe me, a WSU CB transfer is more than a bonus....

Is it safe to say u agree with the rest then?

I did find it odd that in 14 games played, Nelson didn't have a single passed defenced. He was a So so that could contribute I hope. I've been pretty big on McKinley since he got here also. As a RSFr last year in 4 games he got at least 1 PD.

Also agreed that a 1-A drop down is almost always more then a bonus(excluding Marlon Miles).

Mostly. I like the Potential of the LBs. I like the WRs if healthy. DL, RB and QB could be a challenge......

 

[alabamagrizzly]

I put us at 2 also. Our D will be pretty solid next year despite loosing 3 DL and Hermy and Dennard. All 3 of our LB's could be All Big Sky on some level. Nate Harris will be too and Nelson, Whitted, Dallesarra, and Johnson in the secondary have all racked up alot of playing time already and should be able to form a solid unit. The nickle will be a little raw with Garner or McKinley. I guess theirs rumors of a Wassu CB transfer? If that's true, bonus. A ton of expierience returns to the D line in Sr's Holmes and Crittenden at the ends and Jr's Kidder and Peevy at the tackles. Owen, Johnson, Bradley, Harris, and possibly one of our incoming Fr will add alot of depth also.

The O may take some time to grow but the line will be far improved at the beginning of '15 sonthen it was in '14. Chalich will have to take some time to gel with his receivers. Is he gonna be here for spring? Nguyen, Counts, Logwood, and Favors may be the best 4 deep in the con and all our receivers minus Berland return including a healthy Ellis, Nacaratto, mabey Walcott and Rogers not to mention everyone eles. Add Ralston and Horner at TE and our entire special teams unit returning. We got the makings of a very formidable Big Sky foe. Not to mention Eastern at home and it don't matter where we play MSU, I like our chances.

The team that scares me the most is Idaho St. They won't have the D to take the top spot but their O is a juggernaut that can destroy any D on any given saturday.

One question. You did see Nelson on that double move for the EWU TD right? Believe me, a WSU CB transfer is more than a bonus....

Is it safe to say u agree with the rest then?

I did find it odd that in 14 games played, Nelson didn't have a single passed defenced. He was a So so that could contribute I hope. I've been pretty big on McKinley since he got here also. As a RSFr last year in 4 games he got at least 1 PD.

Also agreed that a 1-A drop down is almost always more then a bonus(excluding Marlon Miles).

Mostly. I like the Potential of the LBs. I like the WRs if healthy. DL, RB and QB could be a challenge......

Half full/half empty?

 

[AllWeatherFan]

All we need is a coaching staff.

 

[Montana37]

One question. You did see Nelson on that double move for the EWU TD right? Believe me, a WSU CB transfer is more than a bonus....

Is it safe to say u agree with the rest then?

I did find it odd that in 14 games played, Nelson didn't have a single passed defenced. He was a So so that could contribute I hope. I've been pretty big on McKinley since he got here also. As a RSFr last year in 4 games he got at least 1 PD.

Also agreed that a 1-A drop down is almost always more then a bonus(excluding Marlon Miles).

Mostly. I like the Potential of the LBs. I like the WRs if healthy. DL, RB and QB could be a challenge......

D Line will be fine...Rb on other hand I am worried about
Half full/half empty?

 

[Griz Voice of Reason]

1) Cal Poly
2) EWU
3) Montana
4) MSU

 

[ordigger]

Here's my predicted order of finish for 2015.

1. Eastern Washington (Champs till they're not the champs no more)
2. Cal Poly (Returns pretty much its entire offense, and their D always seems to reload with great linebackers)
T3. Montana State (Offense is young and loaded, but will have the same problems, if not worse on defense)
T3. Montana (Pretty much every impact player from 2014 is gone, save Jones and if they get Hendo back, will have a new starting QB and a new head coach, and another brutal schedule to have to overcome. All of that honestly tempted me to go even lower, BUT WE ARE MONTANA)
5. Northern Arizona (A young team a year ago with a stingy D coming back)
6. Idaho State (I know people think they should be placed higher after their amazing 2014 season, but the Bengals lose Arias and key guys on their defense. So it's still not quite time to be a BSC title contender just yet)
Does it really matter from here? LOL
7. Weber State (Started to play pretty good football the last half of 2014. Offense is gaining traction)
8. Southern Utah (Amon is a good QB, lose some good players off a good D)
9. Northern Colorado (Also started to play well in the second half of 2014. Will have Rubelcaba back. I wanted to pick them higher, but they are Northern Colorado)
10. North Dakota (Great D, but won't move up until the offense gets going)
11. Sacramento State (Saffron is gone. Enough said)
12. UC Davis (Young QB might have them a better team next season)
13. Portland State (Right now, the program is in shambles. Players are leaving to go to Southern Oregon and Western Oregon, willingly!).

Just to be different....
1) UM - our defense will be even better than this year. Offense with new coach will improve, as pieces are already in place PLUS the O-line has a year under their belt.
2) ISU - Why not?...Kramer continues to improve this team.
3) EWU - time to fall from grace.....two Big Sky losses next year IMO
4) CP - Who can stop that offense? I'm betting we do next year at home in non-conf tilt.
5) NAU - If they can avoid the late season fade, they should be okay. Lots returning next year.
6) MSU - Defense will not improve enough, and questions about offense if Prokup gets hurt again, and I believe he will in that offense.
7) WSU - In close games, and improving.
8) PSU - IF Robin is hired, instantly going to improve
9) UNC
10) SUU
11) UND
12) SacSt
13) UCD