mthoopsfan
Well-known member
With no Griz game this week, I've paid some attention to the Cats' game v. New Mexico. I posted this on a UNM message board earlier today. While there have been a number of Cat posters on the site, none have commented on my post yet. Interesting. See below. This is link to the New Mexico message board. https://foreverlobos.com/board/1/unm-football-fanatics
My analysis, from afar, is that UNM is more than going to give MSU a game. I don’t get the huge point spread. Of course, don’t spreads develop over time from which side the bets are on, and not from experts?
The Cats are known for having a number of delusional fans who always think their team and their players are all-world, especially earlier in the season. This isn’t most Cat fans, just a number of the big talkers on the internet and in bars. The joke at egriz (Montana’s message board) is that some of these Cat fans declare their team pre-season national champions every year.
The Cats appear to be good and have some depth. Their qb is terrific. He’s smart, very fast, and elusive. He can really hurt you when he runs or scrambles, and he throws okay or better on the run. He has not been a good or consistent drop back passer, except when he throws jump balls down the sidelines to big receivers. He doesn’t get sacked much. In the past 2 seasons, he has usually had to run a lot to generate offense, and did run a lot, and was usually very effective. However, he has gotten hurt and missed some games, due to the pounding he sometimes takes. MSU has had a very good backup qb, who was also a terrific and harder runner, for the past 2 years. He could replace Mellott, without much drop-off. It was a luxury for the Cats. He’s graduated now. While the Cats say they are developing a good new backup, he will not be able to run like those two did.
There is talk that the Cats may be developing more of a short passing game, which they have not used, to try to take the physical pressure off Mellott, i.e. the pounding. I think they have a couple transfer receivers. I don’t know anything about them.
The Cats have had good o-lines in recent years, and expect to have another this season. Their center, who is out, is very good, but the guy replacing him is a former center and a very good lineman. He’s just shifted over. I think Perkins has been hurt all camp, so the other guy has done all the practicing. This shouldn’t hurt the Cats, unless the replacement at the other vacated position is a bit weaker. Their lineman are mobile. They’re a bit bigger this year, having been on the smaller side in the past. They know how to block very well for their scheme, tho.
Your defense is going to have to be disciplined and not make mistakes or step or lean the wrong way. Perhaps UNM playing Air Force will help in facing the Cats. Montana didn’t have the right scheme two years ago, made many mistakes from the first play of the game, and got clobbered. Last year, UM had a new DC (who went to the Dolphins in offseason) and a defensive analyst who is a former Griz, 13 years in NFL, the coach’s brother, and a great football mind. He is now the co-DC with another good co-DC. The new D scheme and its execution pretty much shut down the Cats last season. 1-10 on 3d down conversions and 0-4 on 4th down conversions, and very few completed passes. I assume Bronco and his coaches know some of the Montana, or other Big Sky, coaches and have talked to them to prepare.
Bronco isn’t going to let his team beover-confident. I’m sure he’s told the team about recent Big Sky success over the MW, as well as his first game loss to Richmond at Virginia. So, MSU isn’t going to catch UNM sleeping. And being able to bring in a bunch of players from the Portal makes it much easier for a new coach to get more good players in place in his first year, compared to the old days. Sure, players have to get used to playing with each other, but I can’t imagine the UNM team and transfers are not going to be fired up not to be embarrassed in their first game with a new coach, who is a big time coach.
I can’t imagine that the 5 big transfer o-linemen, from places like USC, are going to let the Cats push them around. Your corners look very good. Your backers and d-lineman, as well as secondary, will have to be disciplined and not be fooled into taking the wrong half step or lean. It looks like your O has nice speed. I’m not yet sold on the Cat D yet, and they weren’t great last year, but who knows. I’ll have to watch some games.
While I generally don’t make game predictions, even though I always think my team can win, I do pick against the Cats from time to time, like this time. I look forward to watching the game. Good luck.
My analysis, from afar, is that UNM is more than going to give MSU a game. I don’t get the huge point spread. Of course, don’t spreads develop over time from which side the bets are on, and not from experts?
The Cats are known for having a number of delusional fans who always think their team and their players are all-world, especially earlier in the season. This isn’t most Cat fans, just a number of the big talkers on the internet and in bars. The joke at egriz (Montana’s message board) is that some of these Cat fans declare their team pre-season national champions every year.
The Cats appear to be good and have some depth. Their qb is terrific. He’s smart, very fast, and elusive. He can really hurt you when he runs or scrambles, and he throws okay or better on the run. He has not been a good or consistent drop back passer, except when he throws jump balls down the sidelines to big receivers. He doesn’t get sacked much. In the past 2 seasons, he has usually had to run a lot to generate offense, and did run a lot, and was usually very effective. However, he has gotten hurt and missed some games, due to the pounding he sometimes takes. MSU has had a very good backup qb, who was also a terrific and harder runner, for the past 2 years. He could replace Mellott, without much drop-off. It was a luxury for the Cats. He’s graduated now. While the Cats say they are developing a good new backup, he will not be able to run like those two did.
There is talk that the Cats may be developing more of a short passing game, which they have not used, to try to take the physical pressure off Mellott, i.e. the pounding. I think they have a couple transfer receivers. I don’t know anything about them.
The Cats have had good o-lines in recent years, and expect to have another this season. Their center, who is out, is very good, but the guy replacing him is a former center and a very good lineman. He’s just shifted over. I think Perkins has been hurt all camp, so the other guy has done all the practicing. This shouldn’t hurt the Cats, unless the replacement at the other vacated position is a bit weaker. Their lineman are mobile. They’re a bit bigger this year, having been on the smaller side in the past. They know how to block very well for their scheme, tho.
Your defense is going to have to be disciplined and not make mistakes or step or lean the wrong way. Perhaps UNM playing Air Force will help in facing the Cats. Montana didn’t have the right scheme two years ago, made many mistakes from the first play of the game, and got clobbered. Last year, UM had a new DC (who went to the Dolphins in offseason) and a defensive analyst who is a former Griz, 13 years in NFL, the coach’s brother, and a great football mind. He is now the co-DC with another good co-DC. The new D scheme and its execution pretty much shut down the Cats last season. 1-10 on 3d down conversions and 0-4 on 4th down conversions, and very few completed passes. I assume Bronco and his coaches know some of the Montana, or other Big Sky, coaches and have talked to them to prepare.
Bronco isn’t going to let his team beover-confident. I’m sure he’s told the team about recent Big Sky success over the MW, as well as his first game loss to Richmond at Virginia. So, MSU isn’t going to catch UNM sleeping. And being able to bring in a bunch of players from the Portal makes it much easier for a new coach to get more good players in place in his first year, compared to the old days. Sure, players have to get used to playing with each other, but I can’t imagine the UNM team and transfers are not going to be fired up not to be embarrassed in their first game with a new coach, who is a big time coach.
I can’t imagine that the 5 big transfer o-linemen, from places like USC, are going to let the Cats push them around. Your corners look very good. Your backers and d-lineman, as well as secondary, will have to be disciplined and not be fooled into taking the wrong half step or lean. It looks like your O has nice speed. I’m not yet sold on the Cat D yet, and they weren’t great last year, but who knows. I’ll have to watch some games.
While I generally don’t make game predictions, even though I always think my team can win, I do pick against the Cats from time to time, like this time. I look forward to watching the game. Good luck.
