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Defense
- Thread starter indiancoyote
- Start date
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
Ihatelife said:
So you think they need to be perfect.
I find it ridiculous that at 12-1 there is so much complaining. Furman was an excellent football team. Better than most of us probably expected. It was no fluke that this was a tough game that took overtime to win. They had some straight up dudes! But there were also missed opportunities for the Griz to open up that lead! By my count the Griz left between 16-20 points on the field just in the plays that were open that they didn’t make in several key dropped passes, and missed field goals. I see this as a positive though. It gives Bobby a reason to really work the dudes hard this week, and it probably motivates the players, who had to face some adversity to scratch out a win. I’d guess they’re working extra hard to work out some stuff this week. The defense outside of 2 series played excellent. I don’t know what the Debbie downers are seeing, but what I saw were 2 series at the beginning of the game where the defense was in a cover zero like formation that I would prefer we never see again. It burned us twice and then we didn’t do it again the rest of the game. Outside of that though they played great. The defense is going to give up some plays to good teams. They are in the quarters and the semifinals for a reason! Christ guys we’re 12-1, enjoy it! I was very critical at the beginning of the season, but I’ve eaten my crow and am now just enjoying the ride. Try it out! This team is good. We’re a bit banged up, but maybe, just maybe we get a guy or two back in the lineup this week that helps out a bit. Enjoy this ride. It’s a historically good season that very few saw coming.
Stop_HammerTime69
Well-known member
I'm not concerned about the defense at all. They played incredibly well against a top team in Furman. They came in clutch when they needed to most in OT.
My only concern for the defense will be if the offense can't maintain possession to give the defense time to rest in the game. The offense is where my concerns lie, but if we can establish the run and the OL figures out how to pass block again, the Griz will roll. NDSU is a tough team, but after Saturday, I think I take Furman's front seven over the Bison's this year in terms of physicality and speed and power. The Bison defense is good, but Furman was like looking in a mirror.
My only concern for the defense will be if the offense can't maintain possession to give the defense time to rest in the game. The offense is where my concerns lie, but if we can establish the run and the OL figures out how to pass block again, the Griz will roll. NDSU is a tough team, but after Saturday, I think I take Furman's front seven over the Bison's this year in terms of physicality and speed and power. The Bison defense is good, but Furman was like looking in a mirror.
indiancoyote
Well-known member
Dominic Roberto 1 Yd Run (Axel Lepvreau Kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:25indiancoyote said:
T.Huff pass complete to FUR 29. Catch made by C.Hinton at FUR 29. Gain of 70 yards. Tackled by N.Fouch at MONT 1.
Tyler Huff 53 Yd Run (Ian Williams Kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:23
Chandler Harvin 44 Yd pass from Ryan O'Connor (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed) 3 plays, 79 yards, 0:45
indiancoyote
Well-known member
bgbigdog said:
Out of position.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
indiancoyote said:
Wrong scheme against MSU and many mistakes. Some big mistakes against NDSU. Otherwise I don’t know. Both had great running offenses. Defense was mostly good against other top teams. The team didn’t have T. Hauck designing the D’s game plan and scheme.
indiancoyote said:
Last season, they played almost an entire game more than the offense. Twenty minutes alone in the bozeman game. They were beat up and worn out and in the biggest games, and it lead to blowout losses. Without an offense to hold up their end of the bargain, any teams defense will wind up the same.
This season, the Griz offense has been on the field for about two minutes more per game, twenty six more than the defense, and scored about ten more touchdowns throughout the season than they did the last. There are significantly fewer three and out drives, and the rest the defense has gotten has helped them perform and remain motivated. Last week, they ran into a top three FCS defense. Rather than going away from tendency, Hauck and Pease doubled down. Inside zone and try to out tough them with a patchwork o l i n e. There are professional coaches and recruited athletes on the other sidelines. They are going to make plays. Minimizing them and maximizing your own is the goal.
What you're worried about is the offense not holding up it's end of the bargain. The defense isnt going to stone every opponent or be in position for every play. Furman literally had three big plays and were well contained for the rest of it. They took advantage of an interception and that was their scoring - good teams do that. If the offense plays up to its potential, they'll score more points than the guys on the other sidelines. Relying on Bergen to score on kick returns isnt a great strategy. Beating UNDSU will require the offense to be a whole bunch better than they were last Friday. Some of that difficulty was a dogged determination to run inside, with a patchwork o l i n e. Pretending things are like they were when Brown and Walker were healthy isn't realistic. They needed to adapt to that, perhaps a quick passing game and a method for keeping Furman from stacking against the run and forcing them to pass. UNDSU will stack the box on Saturday. What Pease does to keep them from doing that will be the difference in the game.
bgbigdog said:
Thanks for your explanation for us laymen out there. I agree with what you say.
Stop_HammerTime69 said:
Honestly, I'm not all that concerned about the offense either. We put up 356 total yards, 208 passing, 148 rushing. That is mighty impressive to be able to do that to Furman's defense. The offense was moving the ball throughout the game. We should be able to continue moving the ball against NDSU.
Stop_HammerTime69
Well-known member
get'em_griz said:
I like that context. It sure as hell didn't feel like 356 yards though, with all the 3nOuts and Gilman being held to like 3 yards for the majority of the game. But absolutely, given the intensity of that Furman defense, putting up those yards is a heck of an accomplishment.
But we definitely have to hold on to the ball. NDSU'S offense seems a lot more capable of making us pay for poor possession than Furman's was
AZGrizFan said:
I agree. This defense is going to remind a lot of folks AGAIN (especially the folks down the road to the east) why they are one of the premier defenses in the FCS. Even down Mggouran, kaschmitter, and Nuce all season they were straight up nasty. Now we got Nuce back. Let’s all just cross our fingers that Fouch and Meyer can return for this game. With all its dudes, this defense is just FREAKIN GOOD
HelenaHandBasket
Well-known member
If the OP would have said they need to do a better job limiting explosive plays and penalties, sure, I would agree. I think this week is more about the offense.
hm.grwn.grizfan said:
Couldn't agree more, this defense is so stout. We gave up two big plays in this game, both out of the same defensive formation, that did look like last year. Everyone in the box, no safety back, zero coverage and two missed tackles. Honestly we haven't really seen that alignment at all this year, but we did a ton last year. We play the alignment we did the other 99% of the game, those plays don't happen. Easy fix it seems. Continue to let our guys do their thing in space, bring pressure from every direction, and stay locked down on the outside and NDSU is going to struggle moving the ball.