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Delaney’s message to Griz: ‘Let’s go’
On Tuesday, Montana Grizzlies’ football Mick Delaney mixed in terse comments with his usual deft answers concerning opponents, both past and future.
His Griz will head to Weber State this weekend without three starters and their first-year head coach not surprisingly talked a lot more about John Schmaing, Logan Hines and Addison Owen than the suspended players they’re replacing (left tackle Trevor Poole, center Kjelby Oiland and linebacker John Kanongata’a and reserve linebacker Nick Holt).
“Our message was, ‘Let’s go guys,’ ” Delaney said. “I’m only worried about what’s here and not what’s not here. We’re going to coach them up and they’re going to practice up and we’re going to go play a football game.”
Asked if any of the suspended players were going to be on the practice field, Delaney added: “I’d just as soon not comment on that.”
Weber State, which plays host to the Griz Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain (ROOT Sports), is scuffling along at 1-7. But that lone win came at Southern Utah on Oct. 20. Southern Utah beat the 4-5 Griz on Oct. 13 and then knocked off then-No. 1 Eastern Washington last week.
The Wildcats, who had a bye this past Saturday, have also beaten Montana on its last two trips to Ogden, Utah.
“They have struggled winning games but they have not struggled being in games,” Delaney said of the Wildcats. “We have struggled down at Weber State, since I’ve been here, anyway. We have lost twice down there and not played particularly well.”
Like the Griz, the Wildcats have had some upheaval at head coach: Ron McBride retired last December after seven seasons and John L. Smith bolted for Louisville after taking the Wildcats through spring drills. Jody Sears, a close friend and former Washington State teammate of Griz offensive coordinator Timm Rosenbach, was handed the reins three days after Smith left.
A year ago Weber State came to Montana and fell 45-10 to the Griz. Mike Hoke, the Wildcats’ talented quarterback, did not play because of a separated shoulder.
“They’re solid,” Delaney said. “Hoke is an excellent quarterback. He runs the ball better than anybody we’ve played to this point, except for maybe the guy from App State (Jamal Jackson).
“They have quality receivers, as they always do at Weber State.”
* * *
Shay Smithwick-Hann attended his second straight Tuesday press conference, ahead of what will assuredly be his second start as the Griz QB.
The sophomore echoed his coach’s statements about the suspended Griz.
“The University of Montana is better than just a couple of players,” he said. “Whoever is on the field is always expected to perform.
“Schmaing has played a lot – he’s a guy who could easily be a starter for us and Hines will do a great job at center. We’re confident that whoever’s on the field for us will get in the film room, study and know what to expect. You know what to expect and the game’s a lot slower.”
Delaney added that Schmaing, a 270-pound redshirt freshman from Billings, has been playing 35-40 snaps a game. Hines, a 291-pounder out of Phoenix, has been on the field at key times.
“So he’s not really what you’d consider a backup,” he said of Schmaing. “He’ll go in and play very well. John’s a good football player.
“And at center Logan has gotten better and better. Cripes, he’s gone in on a goal-line, red-zone situation twice when Kjelby lost a helmet and was fine. We scored both times.”
How the defense adjusts is less clear-cut. Redshirt freshman Addison Owen has played sparingly at Kanongata’s outside linebacker spot.
“There are a couple of scenarios,” Delaney said. “No. 1, Josh Stuberg has played a ton and Brock Coyle’s able to go out and play on the outside. And Addison Owen has been playing very well. He could go on the outside and Brock could stay inside.
“Basically it will be Stuberg or Addison Owen, depending on what personnel groups their offense has in the game and what Coach Ty (Gregorak, UM’s defensive coordinator) wants to do.”
* * *
Delaney said running back Dan Moore won’t play at Weber State. That will mark five missed games since the senior suffered a high-ankle sprain at Eastern Washington.
“It’s not improving like he would like it, or we would like it,” said the coach, who noted Moore has logged many hours on physical rehabilitation. “Our goal now is to hopefully get him back on the field for Montana State (Nov. 17) and if nothing else, scare the heck out of them.”
QUICK KICKS: The Griz have a bye next week. … DE Tyrone Holmes was Montana’s nominee for Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week and RB Peter Nguyen was the nominee on offense. … MSU’s Cody Kirk, a junior from Frenchtown, was also nominated for offensive POW. … Weber leads the Football Championship Subdivision in punting with a 46.9-yard average, though Tony Epperson suffered an MCL tear against Cal Poly on Oct. 5. Epperson, a safety who is second on the team in tackles with 42, is likely out for the season. … The forecast calls for 54 degrees and sunny Saturday in Ogden. … Griz LB Jordan Tripp is tied for first in the Big Sky in tackles for loss with 12. … UM dropped 11 spots to No. 41 among FCS teams in the Sagarin Ratings after its 70-24 win over Idaho State last week. ISU rose 10 spots to No. 100. … MSU is No. 5 in the Sagarin, best among Big Sky teams.
Delaney’s message to Griz: ‘Let’s go’
On Tuesday, Montana Grizzlies’ football Mick Delaney mixed in terse comments with his usual deft answers concerning opponents, both past and future.
His Griz will head to Weber State this weekend without three starters and their first-year head coach not surprisingly talked a lot more about John Schmaing, Logan Hines and Addison Owen than the suspended players they’re replacing (left tackle Trevor Poole, center Kjelby Oiland and linebacker John Kanongata’a and reserve linebacker Nick Holt).
“Our message was, ‘Let’s go guys,’ ” Delaney said. “I’m only worried about what’s here and not what’s not here. We’re going to coach them up and they’re going to practice up and we’re going to go play a football game.”
Asked if any of the suspended players were going to be on the practice field, Delaney added: “I’d just as soon not comment on that.”
Weber State, which plays host to the Griz Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Mountain (ROOT Sports), is scuffling along at 1-7. But that lone win came at Southern Utah on Oct. 20. Southern Utah beat the 4-5 Griz on Oct. 13 and then knocked off then-No. 1 Eastern Washington last week.
The Wildcats, who had a bye this past Saturday, have also beaten Montana on its last two trips to Ogden, Utah.
“They have struggled winning games but they have not struggled being in games,” Delaney said of the Wildcats. “We have struggled down at Weber State, since I’ve been here, anyway. We have lost twice down there and not played particularly well.”
Like the Griz, the Wildcats have had some upheaval at head coach: Ron McBride retired last December after seven seasons and John L. Smith bolted for Louisville after taking the Wildcats through spring drills. Jody Sears, a close friend and former Washington State teammate of Griz offensive coordinator Timm Rosenbach, was handed the reins three days after Smith left.
A year ago Weber State came to Montana and fell 45-10 to the Griz. Mike Hoke, the Wildcats’ talented quarterback, did not play because of a separated shoulder.
“They’re solid,” Delaney said. “Hoke is an excellent quarterback. He runs the ball better than anybody we’ve played to this point, except for maybe the guy from App State (Jamal Jackson).
“They have quality receivers, as they always do at Weber State.”
* * *
Shay Smithwick-Hann attended his second straight Tuesday press conference, ahead of what will assuredly be his second start as the Griz QB.
The sophomore echoed his coach’s statements about the suspended Griz.
“The University of Montana is better than just a couple of players,” he said. “Whoever is on the field is always expected to perform.
“Schmaing has played a lot – he’s a guy who could easily be a starter for us and Hines will do a great job at center. We’re confident that whoever’s on the field for us will get in the film room, study and know what to expect. You know what to expect and the game’s a lot slower.”
Delaney added that Schmaing, a 270-pound redshirt freshman from Billings, has been playing 35-40 snaps a game. Hines, a 291-pounder out of Phoenix, has been on the field at key times.
“So he’s not really what you’d consider a backup,” he said of Schmaing. “He’ll go in and play very well. John’s a good football player.
“And at center Logan has gotten better and better. Cripes, he’s gone in on a goal-line, red-zone situation twice when Kjelby lost a helmet and was fine. We scored both times.”
How the defense adjusts is less clear-cut. Redshirt freshman Addison Owen has played sparingly at Kanongata’s outside linebacker spot.
“There are a couple of scenarios,” Delaney said. “No. 1, Josh Stuberg has played a ton and Brock Coyle’s able to go out and play on the outside. And Addison Owen has been playing very well. He could go on the outside and Brock could stay inside.
“Basically it will be Stuberg or Addison Owen, depending on what personnel groups their offense has in the game and what Coach Ty (Gregorak, UM’s defensive coordinator) wants to do.”
* * *
Delaney said running back Dan Moore won’t play at Weber State. That will mark five missed games since the senior suffered a high-ankle sprain at Eastern Washington.
“It’s not improving like he would like it, or we would like it,” said the coach, who noted Moore has logged many hours on physical rehabilitation. “Our goal now is to hopefully get him back on the field for Montana State (Nov. 17) and if nothing else, scare the heck out of them.”
QUICK KICKS: The Griz have a bye next week. … DE Tyrone Holmes was Montana’s nominee for Big Sky Conference defensive player of the week and RB Peter Nguyen was the nominee on offense. … MSU’s Cody Kirk, a junior from Frenchtown, was also nominated for offensive POW. … Weber leads the Football Championship Subdivision in punting with a 46.9-yard average, though Tony Epperson suffered an MCL tear against Cal Poly on Oct. 5. Epperson, a safety who is second on the team in tackles with 42, is likely out for the season. … The forecast calls for 54 degrees and sunny Saturday in Ogden. … Griz LB Jordan Tripp is tied for first in the Big Sky in tackles for loss with 12. … UM dropped 11 spots to No. 41 among FCS teams in the Sagarin Ratings after its 70-24 win over Idaho State last week. ISU rose 10 spots to No. 100. … MSU is No. 5 in the Sagarin, best among Big Sky teams.
