Is Choate Taking Cats in Right Direction?

[RayWill]

It is my contention this weekend will define Coach Choate's program. As noted by other posters previously, he's building the OL and DL. He has recruited several decent skill kids and serviceable DBs and picked up some good transfers. Do I think the kids can line up and go four quarters with NDSU? Would like to see if the kids are putting the requisite hours in the weight room as the linemen in the upper tier programs do, but...I don't think they can just line up and truck anyone late in the game yet.

The one glaring weakness in his recruiting is a lack of receivers. It amazes me how many dropped passes I've seen the last two years by Cat receivers.

Special teams is that one area I feel he's made marked improvement over these three years.

All things considered, I'm actually surprised he's gotten the kids to this level in just three years given the roster he had when he got there.

And QB

 

[CatGrad-UMGradStu]

It is my contention this weekend will define Coach Choate's program. As noted by other posters previously, he's building the OL and DL. He has recruited several decent skill kids and serviceable DBs and picked up some good transfers. Do I think the kids can line up and go four quarters with NDSU? Would like to see if the kids are putting the requisite hours in the weight room as the linemen in the upper tier programs do, but...I don't think they can just line up and truck anyone late in the game yet.

The one glaring weakness in his recruiting is a lack of receivers. It amazes me how many dropped passes I've seen the last two years by Cat receivers.

Special teams is that one area I feel he's made marked improvement over these three years.

All things considered, I'm actually surprised he's gotten the kids to this level in just three years given the roster he had when he got there.

And QB

I actually like the one he has now. I think he throws it better than Dennis Erickson, Paul Dennehy, Mike Holder, Mike Godfrey, Brock Spencer, etc. Not certain but if memory serves correctly in 77 Paul was 0-4 in the Cat-Griz game. Now I will concede Troy could throw to where the receiver is going to be instead of to the receiver on slants to minimize throwing behind the receiver as much as he does but I'm also more than willing to point out he is only a sophomore and the coaches tried to play him at different positions his freshman year. Two years ago on November 16th he was a high school quarterback and safety.

 

[MikeyGriz]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

 

[Spanky2]

Why all of the rave reviews about state college football? It seems they have had another year much the same as was normal under the previous coach. FTC!!

 

[SoldierGriz]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

 

[SoldierGriz]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

 

[1972]

Is it Choate or Gregorak? Offense isn't nearly as good as before he was hired, defense is much improved and whats been keeping them in the games in my opinion. So personally, I'd say it's Gregorak. (sp?)

 

[PlayerRep]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

In the last 3 years, Ash was 5-6 in his last season, lost 3 times in a row to the Griz, and made the playoffs once.

In case anyone cares about the facts. 6-4 with a chance to beat the Griz (for the 3d year in a row) and make the playoffs, seems like an upward trend from 5-6 and losing to the Griz, to me.

 

[Grisly Fan]

He has beat our ass the last 2 years, so I would say yes. Hopefully we turn that trend around starting this weekend.

I agree and would be happy to see the Griz this weekend help get him going in the wrong direction.

 

[HookedonGriz]

If the right direction is one more win each season than before, then sure he’s headed the right way. Griz Nation wouldn’t stand for a 4-7, 5-6, 6-5 in 3 years. I think that was evident when we canned a 7-4 coach. They would be ecstatic over 7-4. I personally wouldn’t be impressed with my coach with a 6-5 record in year 3.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

If the right direction is one more win each season than before, then sure he’s headed the right way. Griz Nation wouldn’t stand for a 4-7, 5-6, 6-5 in 3 years. I think that was evident when we canned a 7-4 coach. They would be ecstatic over 7-4. I personally wouldn’t be impressed with my coach with a 6-5 record in year 3.

But what if you had no choice because your school extended his contract early after 2 losing seasons? You might start to find the positive in him like the dorky kid does with a homely prom date.

 

[HookedonGriz]

If the right direction is one more win each season than before, then sure he’s headed the right way. Griz Nation wouldn’t stand for a 4-7, 5-6, 6-5 in 3 years. I think that was evident when we canned a 7-4 coach. They would be ecstatic over 7-4. I personally wouldn’t be impressed with my coach with a 6-5 record in year 3.

But what if you had no choice because your school extended his contract early after 2 losing seasons? You might start to find the positive in him like the dorky kid does with a homely prom date.

How’d you know about my prom date! Damnit! That’s a valid point, after a while you find thinks you like about your clunker of a car

 

[SoldierGriz]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

In the last 3 years, Ash was 5-6 in his last season, lost 3 times in a row to the Griz, and made the playoffs once.

In case anyone cares about the facts. 6-4 with a chance to beat the Griz (for the 3d year in a row) and make the playoffs, seems like an upward trend from 5-6 and losing to the Griz, to me.

Yeah I get Ash crashed and burned....but he did win three straight league titles...have the cats ranked well, and go the playoffs regularly. The new coach has done none of those things...yet. Perhaps he will. Just not clear to me right now.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

In the last 3 years, Ash was 5-6 in his last season, lost 3 times in a row to the Griz, and made the playoffs once.

In case anyone cares about the facts. 6-4 with a chance to beat the Griz (for the 3d year in a row) and make the playoffs, seems like an upward trend from 5-6 and losing to the Griz, to me.

Yeah I get Ash crashed and burned....but he did win three straight league titles...have the cats ranked well, and go the playoffs regularly. The new coach has done none of those things...yet. Perhaps he will. Just not clear to me right now.

But the current Choach has done it despite being unwilling or unable to recruit and/or play a serviceable QB. He's really done a bang up job replacing the winningest coach in program history since the 1950s. Great move.

 

[Ursa Major]

I have a theory that Coachote has convinced Waded that the next major development of college football will be to outlaw the forward pass. The cats are well positioned to exploit this development and once again regain their status as an annual top 30 FCS team.

 

[CDAGRIZ]

I have a theory that Coachote has convinced Waded that the next major development of college football will be to outlaw the forward pass. The cats are well positioned to exploit this development and once again regain their status as an annual top 30 FCS team.

That very well might be. Either way, continuity at HC is paramount at this level, as long as it's not a conference winner and playoff maker. You gotta get rid of him after his first losing season, and prematurely extend his successor after his second losing season in a row, because he showed promise. It's kind of like making the best of moving from a house to a condo, by choice, with the hope that the condo will someday become a house, because the original house needed a new roof and dishwasher.

 

[mcg]

No idea as a football coach, but as a marketer he's a freaking genius. Ride for the brand and win state are unmitigated genius: Ride for the brand is soft and subjective and no matter who he recruits he wins and the fans love it; Win state, well he won state.

 

[PlayerRep]

If the right direction is one more win each season than before, then sure he’s headed the right way. Griz Nation wouldn’t stand for a 4-7, 5-6, 6-5 in 3 years. I think that was evident when we canned a 7-4 coach. They would be ecstatic over 7-4. I personally wouldn’t be impressed with my coach with a 6-5 record in year 3.

The question was whether he is taking the Cats in right direction, not whether it would be good enough for the Griz.

 

[griz4life]

For me personally, Choad is a, great MSU coach, overall losing record, struggling to get to 7 wins for the first time as a head coach ever.
Montana beats him this year and the cats finish w/ 7 wins or less next year, that should end the Choad era.
There are at least 3, maybe 4 coaches in the big sky hired around the same time as Choad. Their teams are improving much more quickly than MSU. That should be the bench mark. Those teams assure choad hits his ceiling at about 5th place.

 

[RobGriz]

He hasn't gotten them any further than they were before he arrived. By this measure, I'd say they were already headed in the right direction under the previous coach. Let's see what the situation is after Saturday.

This is where I am as well. The previous coach had them in the playoffs regularly...ranked...and winning or close to winning the league. They will finish 6 and 5. But hey, it is better than 5 and 6...

In the last 3 years, Ash was 5-6 in his last season, lost 3 times in a row to the Griz, and made the playoffs once.

In case anyone cares about the facts. 6-4 with a chance to beat the Griz (for the 3d year in a row) and make the playoffs, seems like an upward trend from 5-6 and losing to the Griz, to me.

Agree. His ability (or lack there of) to find a qb is a concern but other than that I think he is doing a good job of making a program.