Good interview/article:
http://www.gogriz.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041912aab.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also I'm hearing that this week (I've not made it to any practices, but hoping to hit from 4 - 5:30 tomorrow) that the D has tightened up, the scrimmage was a good eye-opener for them and they've come back focused this week and been playing much better.
http://www.gogriz.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041912aab.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Also I'm hearing that this week (I've not made it to any practices, but hoping to hit from 4 - 5:30 tomorrow) that the D has tightened up, the scrimmage was a good eye-opener for them and they've come back focused this week and been playing much better.
EDITOR'S NOTE: With just two days left in spring football, we talked recently to first-year Griz defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak about the potential starters and a position-by-position on "D" for the 2012 season. We also got his thoughts about the progress of the defense, and what it's like to be UM's new D-coordinator.
CORNERBACK: Junior letterman Sean Murray (6-1, 190) and redshirt freshman Nate Harris (5-10, 185) are the front-runners for starting berths. Sophomore Josh Dennard (5-11, 180, 1V) was moved from wide receiver to defense in the spring and will see action. Junior Marlon Miles is also competing for playing time. Junior college transfer Anthony Goodwin (6-1, 190, Jr., from Mt. San Antonio JC) should also be in the mix.
Coach Gregorak: "We are going to count on Sean Murray. He is our most experienced player there. He has to become a lot more consistent for us at his position. Our two young guys, Nate and Josh, have done a really good job. Every rep that they can get is so, so beneficial. I like those, but they just need to become more physical."
SAFETY: Junior Bo Tully (6-2, 195, 2V), one of just two returning starters a year ago is back at free safety, while up-and-coming sophomore Matt Hermanson (6-1, 190, 1V) will get the nod at strong safety. Tully started the last eight games of the season and was the team's eighth leading tackler (52 stops). Hermanson played in 13 contests as a true freshman, had one start, and was fifth on the squad with 65 tackles. Redshirt freshman Connor Lebsock (6-2, 198) would have played last season, but was injured in fall camp.
Junior Steven Rominger (5-10, 185, 2V) should see action too. Also in the mix is redshirt freshman Adam DeBruycker (6-1 ½, 195). Junior college transfer Jacob Coogan (6-2, 205, Jr., from Southwestern College) is expected to compete for playing time right away.
Coach Gregorak: "I am very excited about this group of safeties. Bo Tully, his dad's the head coach at Whitworth, Matt Hermanson, his dad is a coach in South Dakota, Connor Lebsock, his dad's the coach at Skyview in Billings, and Steve Rominger, his old man (Dean) played here. (Redshirt freshman) Zach Gratton, his dad (Scott) was a player here too. We've got some real good football lineage in that group.
"They are somewhat inexperienced. Bo is a true junior and Matt played last year right out of high school, so just what I said about the corners - those two need every rep as they can get too. They are both smart players with good field savvy. They need to be our field generals out there. It's a good, young group, who I think will just get better, and better. They have the potential to be pretty special; they just need to keep on coming."
LINEBACKER: The leader of the group is junior Jordan Tripp (6-3 ½, 244, 2V), who started the first three games last season but was injured and ultimately redshirted and not allowed to have contact in spring drills. Talent and experience is provided by junior Brock Coyle (6-2, 235, 2V) and senior Josh Stuberg (6-2, 232, 3V) in the middle, while junior John (JP) Kanongata'a (5-11, 227, 2V) was a second team All-Big Sky pick after he took over the starting job when Tripp was injured.
Kanongata's was second on the team with 93 tackles, while Stuberg had 37 and Coyle added 31. Junior college transfer Jeremiah Kose (6-2, 225, So., from Palomar College) is expected to contribute right away.
Quality depth will be provided by junior Ty Timmer (6-2, 222, 1V), redshirt freshmen Addison Owen (6-2, 220) and Jonathan Richards (6-3, 208), along with transfer Nick Holt (6-0, 230, Fr., RS).
Coach Gregorak: "I expect a lot from this group. Tripp, Coyle, Stuberg, Kanongata'a, in my opinion, will be as good a group as we've had here, along with some good depth. Now, in `07 we had (Ryan) Joyce, (Kyle) Ryan, (Loren) Utterback, (Alex) Hawthorne, and (Muckie) Foreman all in the same class. Tripp can run as good as anyone on this team; Coyle and Stuberg are deceptively fast for a couple of guys who weigh around 240; and John Paul (Kanongata'a) is football savvy about him that is special, and he can play.
"Addison Owen has showed some good stuff. He's still learning the position because he was a safety in high school, but he's working hard and will help us. Ty Timmer has made some nice plays this spring in the middle. Jonathan Richards and Nick Holt, with some of the vets they have in front of them, it will be a real challenge to get on the field much this year, but down the road they will be players.
"In terms of talent, the linebacker group should be the leaders on our defense. I am expecting great leadership from Jordan and Brock this year.
DEFENSIVE END: Senior Josh Harris (6-5, 251, 2V) and sophomore Zach Wagenmann (6-3 ½, 240, 1V) are the front-runners for starting berths this season, and redshirt freshman Derek Crittenden (6-3, 250) has come on strong this spring. Harris was 12th on the squad in tackles last season with 43, along with 9.5 stops for losses.
Two premier prep signees, Tyrone Holmes (6-4, 265, from Eagle Point HS in Oregon) and Caleb Kidder (6-5, 240, from Helena Capital HS) will see action in 2012.
Coach Gregorak: "Harris is a `war-daddy.' He will give you everything he has. He's a big, tough defensive end. I love Zach Wagenmann. He's tall, he can run, and like the secondary guys he needs every rep he can get at the defensive end spot, and the same goes with Crittenden. Derek's a worker, and he's working himself into playing time. That's a good group.
"I told Caleb (he attended UM's April 14th scrimmage) last weekend that he had better be ready to play. He's going to play, and he's going to be dang good. Holmes will probably have to play too. Those are two freshmen coming in who we are kind of relying on. You hate to play freshmen, but sometimes you just need to."
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Junior Alex Bienemann (6-2, 275, 2V) and sophomore Tonga Takai (6-2, 301, SQ) saw limited action a year ago, but both have exceeded expectations this spring and emerged as the starters. Redshirt freshman Jesse Ginn (6-5, 305), and sophomores Trevor Rehm (6-3, 244, SQ) and Taylor Tuliaupupu (6-0, 265, SQ, who was moved from linebacker) are expected to contribute as well.
Coach Gregorak: "To me those are two perfect, FCS D-tackles. They are both about 6-2, 6-3 and close to 300 pounds. They are both playing themselves into good condition. They show such great flashes with their quickness and hands. They need to become more consistent too, and when they do that they will become prime time guys.
"Big Jesse Ginn, who is coming off surgery and missed the first couple of weeks, is just such a big body kid. He's a pup. If and when the light goes on, I think you are talking about someone who could help us. Taylor, who we moved down from linebacker, has nice quickness off the ball, and he's done a nice job of improving this spring. Trevor Rehm is a worker who will work his way into playing time at Montana."
Q-What were your main areas of emphasis and concern as you headed into spring football drills?
Coach Gregorak: "Any time you lose the number of not just players, but quality players that we lost off of last year's defense, and then multiply that by losing a coordinator (Mike Breske) who did a heck of a job in two different stints here, you have a lot of holes to fill. Breske has a very good defensive mind, with pressure packages and his combination of both coverage and pressure. I learned a lot from Mike in my one year with them. So, that being said, I wanted to keep a lot of the things the same. Yes we did tweak some things, but most of our defensive philosophy remained the same.
"We lost five D-linemen and five secondary players. We lost two corners who were outstanding players, and one (Trumaine Johnson) was an All-American and will be drafted here in a couple of weeks. Mike McCord has been around here for years and was a solid safety for us.
"And then up front, Bobby Alt, Ryan Fetherston, Bryan Waldhauser, Tyrone Duncan, Ben Hughes are all gone, so you can see we lost a big chunk in the front and the back.
"Saying all of that, we lost the Big Sky defensive player (linebacker Caleb McSurdy) of the year, not to mention Alex Shaw, who started three years when he was here. We lost a couple of quality linebackers, but I think we're returning one heck of a solid group too.
"With (junior linebacker) Jordan Tripp coming back, there are some things I'd like do a lot more of, but we just don't have the ability to do that without Jordan being able to go through contact. I think that Jordan is that dynamic of a player, and in terms of coverage and pressure, he can really change the overall scheme of a defense."
QUESTION: You have been the linebackers coach (a position he still holds, along with defensive coordinator) at Montana for several seasons now. So, what is it like now serving as the defensive coordinator?
Coach Gregorak: "Obviously I am a young coordinator, but it is my ninth year here, and I feel like I've learned from some quality, quality coaches. I am not talking about just coordinators, but Bobby Hauck and Robin Pflugrad, and now Mick Delaney who is a wonderful friend and I think a fantastic coach.
"I want to do such a good job for all of the awesome guys who I have got to coach over the last eight years. All the great, great guys we've had over the years on this team. I want to do a great job for them. I love this community and this state, and I feel so strongly about The University of Montana.
"We've gone through some turmoil in the last couple of weeks. I want to help Mick (Delaney) and help this program pick up the flag and move forward. There's no going back. We will be fine. This is a good program, filled with good kids, and I want to do a great job for them."
QUESTION: Was that recent scrimmage ( April 14th) a tough one for you because the offense racked up so many yards on your defense?
"I think everyone saw last Saturday night (at UM's evening spring game), and I am going to give credit where credit is due - the offense played very well. That being said, I didn't like the energy and fire and attitude that we (the defense) came out with.
"To quote (Griz offensive coordinator) Timm Rosenbach, `if I was to look at your defense - you are young and inexperienced and we'd try to punch you in the mouth early and see how you responded.' That's what I told the defense yesterday (Tuesday, April 17). Rosie's philosophy was to hit us in the mouth and see how we responded, and we did not respond. Between now and South Dakota (UM's 2012 opener in Missoula on Sept. 1) we need to learn how to respond.
"I am looking for some guys to step up. We just didn't have that. I started the meeting saying `it is on me guys. I will do everything in my power to get us better in the next few days, and next four months. When we get things rolling in the fall, we as a group have to be better than the performance we showed on Saturday night, because that's going to get us beat. I am not going to say that we didn't make plays, but even when a kid would make a play there just wasn't that zest you need. We just didn't come to play. I was very, very frustrated.
"But we have shown a lot of good things this spring. That's what disappointed me the most. They didn't run anything, nor did we run anything against them that we hadn't run all spring, and had some success doing it at times. We didn't play very well and we've got to get better."
QUESTION: Which players have been your biggest surprises so far this spring?
Coach Gregorak: "I have really liked the development of the two big D-tackles (Bienemann and Takai). For not getting a ton of playing time last year, I think they have come along really nicely. `Wags" (Wagenmann) has shown some real good stuff. Josh Harris is our war-daddy. Josh Dennard is still a ways away, but he is trying and getting better every day
