Defense

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

Furman, a top FCS team, got 282 yards total offense and 94 rushing. How much better do you expect?

I think they need to play better this week. This is the best and most talented offense we’ve faced and if they play like they did against Furman I’m not sure UM wins. Especially if we continue to commit the same amount of penalties.

The best offense we played was MSU. This will probably be the third best, after Idaho

 

[Ihatelife]

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.

I agree with this.

 

[Ihatelife]

I think they need to play better this week. This is the best and most talented offense we’ve faced and if they play like they did against Furman I’m not sure UM wins. Especially if we continue to commit the same amount of penalties.

The best offense we played was MSU. This will probably be the third best, after Idaho

It’s certainly debatable. If our defense plays like they did against MSU I like our chances. The Idaho game is the better comparison.

 

[mthoopsfan]

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.

This is a terrific post and "right on the money". The D was terrific in this game. I don't know what D was being used when the 2 long splays occurred, but there was a missed tackle in the long run (when the d-back was up, and perhaps too close, to the action when the runner got through the hole. I haven't gone back to see the formation and where the defender came from. Long and explosive plays are very good for an O, and bad for a D, and part of games, but other than 2/3 big plays, the D pretty much shut down Furman. My Dartmouth football coach friend who was with me, was really impressed with our D;

 

[HelenaHandBasket]

Furman, a top FCS team, got 282 yards total offense and 94 rushing. How much better do you expect?

I think they need to play better this week. This is the best and most talented offense we’ve faced and if they play like they did against Furman I’m not sure UM wins. Especially if we continue to commit the same amount of penalties.

I am not sure how much more you can squeeze out of the defense. The offense will have to step up.

 

[Mousegriz]

MONTANA defense

JANACARO, FLINK, HILL, TIRRELL, LEE, GRAVES, GRADNEY, DETRICK, KLUCEWICH, NUCE

That's a lot of Montana contributors!

 

[mthoopsfan]

MONTANA defense

JANACARO, FLINK, HILL, TIRRELL, LEE, GRAVES, GRADNEY, DETRICK, KLUCEWICH, NUCE

That's a lot of Montana contributors!

And I assume many/most were walk-ons.

 

[Ihatelife]

I think they need to play better this week. This is the best and most talented offense we’ve faced and if they play like they did against Furman I’m not sure UM wins. Especially if we continue to commit the same amount of penalties.

I am not sure how much more you can squeeze out of the defense. The offense will have to step up.

Well I’ll be doing my part in NEZ to help em out.

 

[Mousegriz]

MONTANA defense

JANACARO, FLINK, HILL, TIRRELL, LEE, GRAVES, GRADNEY, DETRICK, KLUCEWICH, NUCE

That's a lot of Montana contributors!

And I assume many/most were walk-ons.

MSUs just oozed so much more "talent". Most of these guys probably weren't on their radar. They were too busy "owning the state".

 

[mtgriz]

All this hand wringing about relying on the two kick returns to win. C’mon man! They weren’t relying on them, but the fact they happened definitely impacts how the game plays out. Without them, Pease is probably not committing to establishing the run between the tackles as long as he did. So it’s conceivable he would have taken more shots down the field if he didn’t have those special teams points to play with. And if the game is tied or Furman’s ahead, maybe Bradford isn’t trying to bury them with the zero coverage that was burned twice for scores.

 

[indiancoyote]

Dominic Roberto 1 Yd Run (Axel Lepvreau Kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:25

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

Thanks for proving my point. A couple busted plays. ONE sustained drive (the last one in regulation). Lockdown defense otherwise. We play like that Saturday and we’ll be in Frisco.

Thank you for proving my point.

 

[argh!]

Thanks for proving my point. A couple busted plays. ONE sustained drive (the last one in regulation). Lockdown defense otherwise. We play like that Saturday and we’ll be in Frisco.

Thank you for proving my point.

a couple busted plays that might have put furman in friscco...

 

[Fahque]

The defense needs to play better than they have the last two weeks and the penalties are a concern.

So you think they need to be perfect.

Is that too much to ask? :?: :lol:

 

[Htowngriz]

:arrow:

Thank you for proving my point.

a couple busted plays that might have put furman in friscco...

But, they didn't. :roll:

 

[WaGriz4life]

Griz D has to tighten up if we’re going to win it all. End of story.

This!

We give up two huge plays and then they average 1.2 yards per play after that, but the defense is definitely a concern

 

[Alaska Griz]

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.

I just posted about Furman's defense which hardly anyone could score on this season, but this is a great post!

 

[kemajic]

This!

We give up two huge plays and then they average 1.2 yards per play after that, but the defense is definitely a concern

We are where we are because of our defense. If we keep allowing but 94 yards a game rushing, we win.

 

[Alaska Griz]

I think they need to play better this week. This is the best and most talented offense we’ve faced and if they play like they did against Furman I’m not sure UM wins. Especially if we continue to commit the same amount of penalties.

The best offense we played was MSU. This will probably be the third best, after Idaho

I think NDSU has a better offense than MSU, certainly better kicking and passing, and as a program, they have actually won big games before. Should be a good game, certainly closer than our blowout of the cats.

 

[WaGriz4life]

We give up two huge plays and then they average 1.2 yards per play after that, but the defense is definitely a concern

We are where we are because of our defense. If we keep allowing but 94 yards a game rushing, we win.

Correct and we play offense to compliment our superior defense. “Why don’t we go for it!!!!” Because their offense can do nothing against our defense and we want to make them go 80+ yards and then play special teams against us.

 

[bgbigdog]

We give up two huge plays and then they average 1.2 yards per play after that, but the defense is definitely a concern

We are where we are because of our defense. If we keep allowing but 94 yards a game rushing, we win.

And the defense has been effective for most of the season without three all-american types, because unlike last season, they haven't been hung out to dry. They gave up 200 on the ground against bozeman and still kicked their asses. That was no accident or the result of a number of kick returns for touchdowns. Get this offense rolling and the defense will doubltless hold up their end of the bargain even better.