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Eric Sanders New DC

Last I checked the Griz gave up 48 to them much later in the year, with a national championship appearance on the line and “experienced” defensive staff running the vaunted 3-3-5……I’d say that’s even worse.
The score of the game was Montana 29, EWU 24 so you should check again.
 
I like the switch to an interchangeable 4-3-4/4-2-5. !!! I think we will be more effective stopping the run and not giving up 5.5 to 6 ypc like we did against MSU, and having an extra DT should reduce some of our DB injuries--our DB's were dropping like flies last year in the 3-3-5. : ( !!!

After watching us give up 453 yards, 9.8 ypc against NDSU in Fargo in Dec. of 22, even with Gubs @ NT and Seattle Seahawk and Super Bowl Champ POC @ L OLB, 250 yds, 5.5- 6 yds per carry against MSU this year, witnessing the almost complete annihilation of TCU's 3-3-5 in humiliating fashion to Georgia, 65-7 in The 2023 FBS National Championship game, I have sadly concluded that unless the 3-3-5 is used sparingly against an " Air Bear 🐻 " or " Air Raid * 😳 spread offense only, it's an ineffective
defense against a balanced pro-style or run heavy ( NDSU, MSU ) offense.

Increasingly, I think the 3-3-5 is the defensive gimmick equivalent to Bob Stitt's ineffective no-huddle, hand and arm signal, hurry-up offense : ( !!!
 
I like the switch to an interchangeable 4-3-4/4-2-5. !!! I think we will be more effective stopping the run and not giving up 5.5 to 6 ypc like we did against MSU, and having an extra DT should reduce some of our DB injuries--our DB's were dropping like flies last year in the 3-3-5. : ( !!!

After watching us give up 453 yards, 9.8 ypc against NDSU in Fargo in Dec. of 22, even with Gubs @ NT and Seattle Seahawk and Super Bowl Champ POC @ L OLB, 250 yds, 5.5- 6 yds per carry against MSU this year, witnessing the almost complete annihilation of TCU's 3-3-5 in humiliating fashion to Georgia, 65-7 in The 2023 FBS National Championship game, I have sadly concluded that unless the 3-3-5 is used sparingly against an " Air Bear 🐻 " or " Air Raid * 😳 spread offense only, it's an ineffective
defense against a balanced pro-style or run heavy ( NDSU, MSU ) offense.

Increasingly, I think the 3-3-5 is the defensive gimmick equivalent to Bob Stitt's ineffective no-huddle, hand and arm signal, hurry-up offense : ( !!!
And you leave out all the good games.

And you go back to NDSU in 2022 and leave the later Bison game in 2023. 175 yards, 4.4 per carry, and a playoff win.

And you know more than the Ill coach and Rocky Long.

And Georgia sometimes runs a version of the 3–3-5.

Got it. Some of you cite only bad games or bad plays to try to support your narrative.
 
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And you leave out all the good games.

And you go back to NDSU in 2022 and leave the later Bison game in 2023. 175 yards, 4.4 per carry, and a playoff win.

And you know more than the Ill coach and Rocky Long.

And Georgia sometimes runs a version of the 3–3-5.

Got it. Some of you cite only bad games or bad plays to try to support your narrative.

My bad. !!!

You're so right--I left out the fact that Rocky Long went 5-9 in bowl games 🏈 and won 0 national championships..

And that South Dakita State ran the ball 34 times for 188 yards, 5.5 ypc, in beating us 22-3 in the 2024 national championship game in Frisco, just like MSU did in their two victories over us in 2025 on their way to a national championship.

Or that Matt Campbell ran the 3-3-5 @ Iowa State, went 3-4 in bowl games in Ames over 10 years, and while his 2025 8-4 team did qualify to play a bowl game, The Cyclones opted out of playing a bowl game due to a lack of healthy players.

And I omnitted to mention again no college team or NFL team ever won a FBS national championship or a Super Bowl playing the
3-3-5 as their base defense.

Again, my 👎 bad. : ( !!! More teams, college and pro, should be playing the 3-3-5 because it's just been so damn successful ... or has it ?
 
I like to keep it simple. Our defense was good in 2023 with Bradford leading it and a bunch of seasoned players in it. It has not been good since. Last year it was not good. Couldn’t stop the run a number of times when needed, not very gap sound, and I have never seen a team give up more third and longs than last year.

If we needed a makeover anywhere it’s on defense. So this is 100% okay with me….all of it…new coaches, new scheme, new energy, all of it. We were fortunate our offense averaged 40 points per game last year or we would have lost a few more games. This defense just needs to hold opponents to 21 pts or less as our offense will cook again.
 
My bad. !!!

You're so right--I left out the fact that Rocky Long went 5-9 in bowl games 🏈 and won 0 national championships..

And that South Dakita State ran the ball 34 times for 188 yards, 5.5 ypc, in beating us 22-3 in the 2024 national championship game in Frisco, just like MSU did in their two victories over us in 2025 on their way to a national championship.

Or that Matt Campbell ran the 3-3-5 @ Iowa State, went 3-4 in bowl games in Ames over 10 years, and while his 2025 8-4 team did qualify to play a bowl game, The Cyclones opted out of playing a bowl game due to a lack of healthy players.

And I omnitted to mention again no college team or NFL team ever won a FBS national championship or a Super Bowl playing the
3-3-5 as their base defense.

Again, my 👎 bad. : ( !!! More teams, college and pro, should be playing the 3-3-5 because it's just been so damn successful ... or has it ?
You are cherry picking. The coaches of those teams know way more about football and D than you. That is the point. The stats you use are mostly irrelevant. You have proven over time on egriz that you don’t understand football.

If your point is that Long’s bowl record shows that 3-3-5 D is bad, you need to provide a lot of analysis. Your point is just plain stupid. Just an irrelevant stat.
 
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I like to keep it simple. Our defense was good in 2023 with Bradford leading it and a bunch of seasoned players in it. It has not been good since. Last year it was not good. Couldn’t stop the run a number of times when needed, not very gap sound, and I have never seen a team give up more third and longs than last year.

If we needed a makeover anywhere it’s on defense. So this is 100% okay with me….all of it…new coaches, new scheme, new energy, all of it. We were fortunate our offense averaged 40 points per game last year or we would have lost a few more games. This defense just needs to hold opponents to 21 pts or less as our offense will cook again.
I don’t agree with your assessment of the Griz D. Much better than what you say.
 
I like the switch to an interchangeable 4-3-4/4-2-5. !!! I think we will be more effective stopping the run and not giving up 5.5 to 6 ypc like we did against MSU, and having an extra DT should reduce some of our DB injuries--our DB's were dropping like flies last year in the 3-3-5. : ( !!!

After watching us give up 453 yards, 9.8 ypc against NDSU in Fargo in Dec. of 22, even with Gubs @ NT and Seattle Seahawk and Super Bowl Champ POC @ L OLB, 250 yds, 5.5- 6 yds per carry against MSU this year, witnessing the almost complete annihilation of TCU's 3-3-5 in humiliating fashion to Georgia, 65-7 in The 2023 FBS National Championship game, I have sadly concluded that unless the 3-3-5 is used sparingly against an " Air Bear 🐻 " or " Air Raid * 😳 spread offense only, it's an ineffective
defense against a balanced pro-style or run heavy ( NDSU, MSU ) offense.

Increasingly, I think the 3-3-5 is the defensive gimmick equivalent to Bob Stitt's ineffective no-huddle, hand and arm signal, hurry-up offense : ( !!!
I disagree with your assertion that the no huddle offense was not effective at Montana. It scored a lot of points and was fun to watch a team running over 90 plays a game on offense. As far as the 3-3-5 I disagree with your statement that it is a gimmick. What makes it a gimmick? Please do not include personnel in your answer because that is not the scheme.
 
The score of the game was Montana 29, EWU 24 so you should check again.
I’m not referencing the Montana/EWU game, I’m referencing the super brawl. My post was in response to EWU giving up 57 to the Cats and that giving up 48 with a national title appearance on the line is worse.
 
What if I told you that Eric Sanders will run the 3-3-5?
To me it looks like that could be the best option for the upcoming season because the players have been playing the 3-3-5 and the program was recruiting and developing for the 3-3-5. It does appear that his experience at both Stanford and EWU was with a flexible 4-3 base that primarily plays the 4-2-5 primarily against 11 and 12 personnel. In my opinion this is the best defense to run currently in college football in general.
 
What if I told you that Eric Sanders will run the 3-3-5?
If he is unable to get the players we need to run the 4-2-5, in the summer he won’t have much choice. But IF the Griz are able to survive next year and the current coaching staff is rehired I would put money in us recruiting the personnel to run the 4 man front Sanders and Johnson ran at eastern.
 
Yeah doesn't exactly scream a fantastic hire, but maybe he's got the juice for the griz.

I'm super excited about the Cats hiring back Bobby Daly from UTEP, he's probably heir apparent to Vigen.
So if we go on performance as DC last year Bobby Daly would be questioned as a good hire. This is sarcasm as we all know he is quality coach and person. Good hire
 
I disagree with your assertion that the no huddle offense was not effective at Montana. It scored a lot of points and was fun to watch a team running over 90 plays a game on offense. As far as the 3-3-5 I disagree with your statement that it is a gimmick. What makes it a gimmick? Please do not include personnel in your answer because that is not the scheme.
When the design of the scheme includes using tiny players as part of its function, it is part of the scheme.
 
You are cherry picking. The coaches of those teams know way more about football and D than you. That is the point. The stats you use are mostly irrelevant. You have proven over time on egriz that you don’t understand football.

If your point is that Long’s bowl record shows that 3-3-5 D is bad, you need to provide a lot of analysis. Your point is just plain stupid. Just an irrelevant stat.
The most important stat is that BH gifted the Cats a national title with that D. He'll be headed for real retirement at the end of next season.
 
If he is unable to get the players we need to run the 4-2-5, in the summer he won’t have much choice. But IF the Griz are able to survive next year and the current coaching staff is rehired I would put money in us recruiting the personnel to run the 4 man front Sanders and Johnson ran at eastern.
What if I told you EWU ran multiple fronts against us last year?
 
If he is unable to get the players we need to run the 4-2-5, in the summer he won’t have much choice. But IF the Griz are able to survive next year and the current coaching staff is rehired I would put money in us recruiting the personnel to run the 4 man front Sanders and Johnson ran at eastern.
Contact who you know who can get bodies here then
 
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