Big Sky Conference

[Sam A. Blitz]

I think it will be EWU, MSU, and possibly UI at the top tier. WSU and SUU will take a step back. NAU could surprise, but we say that every year... UM has a ton of question marks at OL, DB, and QB, which are key positions. I see us in that 4-6 position in year 1 for Hauck. Will be pleasantly surprised if we reach the playoffs. I see us making that RTD in year 2. Snead will have a year of experience under his belt, the OL will have matured, and those young and talented WR's will be at their peak. We also have some good young talent at LB and DL that will hopefully reach their potential by then to replace the strength of our team this year. Defense will have had a good solid year of good coaching and development by then. Need to recruit the dickens out of the DB positions. I like a healthy Sandry and Robertson at safety, but we are deficient in depth overall in the secondary this year and will need to add some horses by year 2.

As most of you probably know, I'm neither a sugar-coater nor a doom-and-gloom guy.

There's no question there will be some growing pains, but I think this team will do better than many people think ... sooner rather than later. And it's not out of the question that they will be very good. I have no hard evidence (numbers) to back up that opinion ... but I do know this: We (and I am not immune) tend to focus, and sometimes agonize, over what is wrong (we think) with the Griz. What awful weaknesses do they have?

But the reality is -- proven year after year, at all levels -- is that every team has weak spots and things that are "wrong." When we're down in the dumps about problems with the Griz, we tend to magnify the strong points of the opposition. But none of them are really the NFL Super Bowl champs (or even the FCS national champions). They too have holes to fill, problems to work out, and will inevitably suffer key injuries. Will the Griz be playoff contenders? I have no idea. But it's not like the Griz has no talent whatsoever. With some breaks in avoiding injuries, and some key talents that step up, I truly believe they can be a pretty good team ... and maybe even a damn good team.

And I know they'll be trying all the way, and ... in the end ... that's all you can really ask.

It is true that every team has has weak spots. However, having a 1st year QB and a very young and unproven OL (especially at OT) doesn't have my expectation for the offense to be very high year 1, even with the weapons we have at the skill positions. Sneed and the OL played well in the scrimmage, but it was against a D that stayed in their expected base and didn't blitz or stunt. It's difficult to know what to expect out of those positions. There are also question marks on our ability to have a reliable pass rush and of our secondary, particularly our CB's to cover. I don't see where the talent is materially upgraded in the secondary from the D that gave up a huge amount of yards passing yards.

Our seniors will be on their 3rd head coach, 3rd defensive coordinator, and 3rd offensive coordinator. You can't discount that. I'm very happy Hauck is back and am even more impressed with the staff he has assembled, but I think it will take a year to get back to the high expectations fans have.

The future is bright. We just need to be patient. Hopefully those question marks end up being steady early this year, but that would be contrary to what most programs deal with new coaching staffs with very different philosophies.

 

[nzone]

Honestly the only “weakness” we may have is in the secondary. The offensive line is more of an unknown than an actual weakness. Hell they may gel and make things happen or whiff and flop. Only time will tell. They have a great offensive line coach who understands what Rosenbach is doing and will bring them along...how fast is the question. Not to mention they practice against a pretty good defensive front 4. With the running backs we have, the wide receivers we have and yes Sneed at qb this team could be eerily good this year.

Go Griz!

 

[4theluvofgriz]

I keep reading comments about Jensen being an All-American freshman QB. What does this really mean? Does it mean that he was given that honor by being compared to other FCS frosh QBs? If that is the case, how big of a deal is it in reality since very few teams started a freshman QB last season?

 

[PlayerRep]

Honestly the only “weakness” we may have is in the secondary. The offensive line is more of an unknown than an actual weakness. Hell they may gel and make things happen or whiff and flop. Only time will tell. They have a great offensive line coach who understands what Rosenbach is doing and will bring them along...how fast is the question. Not to mention they practice against a pretty good defensive front 4. With the running backs we have, the wide receivers we have and yes Sneed at qb this team could be eerily good this year.

Go Griz!

This is what I too am hoping for. Perhaps a stretch; perhaps not. I also wonder If different secondary coaches, different techniques, and/or different schemes may make a difference. Not saying they will, but wondering.

 

[Sam A. Blitz]

Honestly the only “weakness” we may have is in the secondary. The offensive line is more of an unknown than an actual weakness. Hell they may gel and make things happen or whiff and flop. Only time will tell. They have a great offensive line coach who understands what Rosenbach is doing and will bring them along...how fast is the question. Not to mention they practice against a pretty good defensive front 4. With the running backs we have, the wide receivers we have and yes Sneed at qb this team could be eerily good this year.

Go Griz!

This is what I too am hoping for. Perhaps a stretch; perhaps not. I also wonder If different secondary coaches, different techniques, and/or different schemes may make a difference. Not saying they will, but wondering.

This is where I'm at. There is talent on the OL, but there aren't a lot of starts or PT on the 2 deep. There isn't a lot of depth period. OT is a concern. Hopefully Thayne Jackson can get healthy and be the stalwart. It's been said that Keintz has emerged out of nowhere to be an option, but has no experience as a walk-on freshman. Beaver had a nice spring but hasn't played much yet at OT. You don't know until they play though and the squad didn't have enough bodies to fill a 2 deep this spring without converting some players. A transfer OT would be helpful.

I think safety will be better with Robertson addition and a healthy Sandry. Epperly also played well at the end of the year. CB is a concern. Hopefully we can get a reliable pass rush to take some pressure off of them.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Seems like the best place for this, since there's no NFL draft thread (why bother?).

Anyway, the first Big Sky player drafted was Taron Johnson, CB from Weber. Not too many FCS draftees yet, one being the Richmond QB. Supposed to be a couple dozen eventually.

 

[Spanky2]

This team will be good and will be well coached. Many of you don’t remember how good of a teacher Bobby is and will be again with this group of student-athletes. It will be fun to watch the current naysayers change their tune as the team wins game after game.

 

[Diesel]

wont wear out my welcome. Thanks for being kind, IMO, the wealth of your program is in your fans which are some of the most passionate in the country, and the pride of your alumni which shows in your facilities. The wins are iceing on the cake. Im so passionate about EWU football for what it and coach Best has done for my son helping him grow from a good young man into a really good man. He is a young Lombardi, in the way he instills the kind of atributes into his athleats that makes a dad proud! So regardless of the W-L record , what the coaching staff and EWU has done for my son is priceless. Both my boys were greatly served by playing college fooball. Good luck to you Grizzies except when you play EWU.Protect the Red!!!

Thanks IdaEag92 good info about Idaho. I haven’t liked much about EWU over the years, now I have some positive reasons to cheer for them and the success of your son. After the heart wrenching loss to EWU their fans were great to visit with. After several years of negative dealings with EWU fans it’s strange to accept than there are some good people involved with and support the Eagles.

 

[Sam A. Blitz]

This team will be good and will be well coached. Many of you don’t remember how good of a teacher Bobby is and will be again with this group of student-athletes. It will be fun to watch the current naysayers change their tune as the team wins game after game.

Not a naysayer and really value BH's ability to develop players. I just think they are a year away. I'll be more excited than anybody if that process happens sooner.

 

[Grizzoola]

Griz are not a top 4 team in the BSC in 2018.

:thumb: Give BH & crew some space this year. IOW, we won't need the Chicken Littles at end of season, whatever the outcome.

 

[coyote]

Griz are not a top 4 team in the BSC in 2018.

:thumb: Give BH & crew some space this year. IOW, we won't need the Chicken Littles at end of season, whatever the outcome.

Something tells me they beat State.

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