MSU Bobcats Scouting Report

[kurtismichael]

Thanks for another great scouting report. I feel if I can finish at least a 6 pack before kickoff I'll be in top form in the NEZ!

 

[mondayamqb]

In this series it seems that a hero emerges to lead his team to the victory. Those names are forever linked to that particular game. Who will it be this year?

 

[Htowngriz]

In this series it seems that a hero emerges to lead his team to the victory. Those names are forever linked to that particular game. Who will it be this year?

I think Canada is rolling and primed for another big game. But I wouldn't mind seeing Van bust a couple big ones at crucial junctions. :thumb:

 

[BWahlberg]

In this series it seems that a hero emerges to lead his team to the victory. Those names are forever linked to that particular game. Who will it be this year?

Interesting point. Thinking back on recent history...

2007 - Lex Hilliard, covered in mud in all-white uniforms
2008 - Marc Mariani, punt return TD, receiving TD, throwback unis
2009 - Kroy Biermann maybe? He had that incredible downfield tackle on a WR also forced a deciding INT
2010 - McGhee with his 2 early TDs or Davis with his pinball-like TD that gave MSU the permanent lead
2011 - Dan Moore and Peter Nguyen
2012 - Caleb Schreibeis, just wrecked the UM offense the whole day
2013 - Jordan Canada and Brock Coyle

 

[GrizGuy]

Oh, I am sorry I didn't include info from the Cats media guides, previous box scores, and meaningless graphs for your benefit.

Geezus....if you don't like his scouting reports then stay the f u c k out of his threads! What a f***[*] baby.

This.
Jeezus, it's like Alpha/Stevie/pickle/AZ rolled into one. It'd be nice to get through one thread w/o some douche hijacking it.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

This game will come down to which team gives it away. Turnovers, special team miscues or other huge mistakes. I am predicting a very close game so the big mistake will be the clincher. Rivalry games are not just about the players that rise up. There are goats too..,,

 

[Umista]

Speaking of goats. Please o please pray we don't try a field goal. And do not kick it to Johnson. Punting? kick it out of bounds

Wish for some 6-7 yard completions. The world knows we try a run up the gut with Canada running sideways looking for an opening and then the long pass play for 25-35 yards. That describes our offense. Some exceptions: The sideways bubble screen that NEVER works and of course the plain middle screen never works because the four D linemen are always in our back field so screens turn into screams!

In spite of this I think we wow msu into a final late season melt down. We still win!

 

[Fahque]

...screens turn into screams!

:lol: that's good stuff

 

[CatzWillRise]

I wonder how healthy Johnson (Shawn) will be on Saturday. Hamstrings are a bugger for a guy with his burst and agility, might not be 100% yet. But we can pepper him in, we don't need a ton of plays for him, just a few here and there. He brings an X factor no one else (sans maybe Prukop) can bring for us offensively. He can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

If the Griz establish the run early, which they very well could, it could be a long day for the Cats. Teams have had good luck running against our defense, especially dynamic offenses. Teams set up the run via the pass.

This should be a pretty good matchup on all sides of the ball. It's like strength vs strength (MSU O vs UM D), and weakness vs weakness (UM O vs MSU D). I like UM's O vs our D better than our O versus your D, but anything can happen.

The MSU coaching staff I feel is pretty darn good at putting together gameplans for opponents, which is why we start fast. But I don't feel they do a great job adjusting or deviating from the gameplan, no matter how badly the other team has figured it out.

 

[BWahlberg]

I wonder how healthy Johnson (Shawn) will be on Saturday. Hamstrings are a bugger for a guy with his burst and agility, might not be 100% yet. But we can pepper him in, we don't need a ton of plays for him, just a few here and there. He brings an X factor no one else (sans maybe Prukop) can bring for us offensively. He can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

If the Griz establish the run early, which they very well could, it could be a long day for the Cats. Teams have had good luck running against our defense, especially dynamic offenses. Teams set up the run via the pass.

This should be a pretty good matchup on all sides of the ball. It's like strength vs strength (MSU O vs UM D), and weakness vs weakness (UM O vs MSU D). I like UM's O vs our D better than our O versus your D, but anything can happen.

The MSU coaching staff I feel is pretty darn good at putting together gameplans for opponents, which is why we start fast. But I don't feel they do a great job adjusting or deviating from the gameplan, no matter how badly the other team has figured it out.

Well according to many here the Griz don't adjust at all, so that might not matter, ha.

I actually think a heavy dose of Knight and Newell and ton package could be killer. Brekke is no slouch either. I'm going to be interested to see how/if our pass rushers Wags and Holmes can get to Bleskin and what kind of effect that could have.

 

[EverettGriz]

...screens turn into screams!

:lol: that's good stuff

Agree. That was funny.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

I have a feeling that MSU is anxious to showcase their new high flying offense and will attempt to throw all over the Griz, specially if Prokup isn't playing and in there to run the zone read.

 

[Pin2Win]

I have a feeling that MSU is anxious to showcase their new high flying offense and will attempt to throw all over the Griz, specially if Prokup isn't playing and in there to run the zone read.

I honestly don't think so. Bleskin is just effective enough with the zone read to keep somebody honest. The Cats oline has been really good as the season has gone on that they'll absolutely try to control the ball with the run. The benefit I saw last week of having Bleskin in there was that he was much better in the pocket than Prukop had been for the past month. Prukop's rushing yards were so high due to him pulling it down and running so quickly before things really developed. He is fast and effective enough to pull it off, but it limited what the offense was able to do. The offense Bleskin was orchestrating last weekend looked a lot more like the high scoring offense we saw earlier this season before Prukop started slumping in the passing game. But the run game was imperative in allowing that to happen.

 

[Filthy McGrizzly]

Supposedly Prukop is starting. On a windy afternoon, if they call holding at all ,Wags shatters the sack record as Prukop runs for his life.

 

[bobcatOninetails]

I wonder how healthy Johnson (Shawn) will be on Saturday. Hamstrings are a bugger for a guy with his burst and agility, might not be 100% yet. But we can pepper him in, we don't need a ton of plays for him, just a few here and there. He brings an X factor no one else (sans maybe Prukop) can bring for us offensively. He can take it to the house from anywhere on the field.

If the Griz establish the run early, which they very well could, it could be a long day for the Cats. Teams have had good luck running against our defense, especially dynamic offenses. Teams set up the run via the pass.

This should be a pretty good matchup on all sides of the ball. It's like strength vs strength (MSU O vs UM D), and weakness vs weakness (UM O vs MSU D). I like UM's O vs our D better than our O versus your D, but anything can happen.

The MSU coaching staff I feel is pretty darn good at putting together gameplans for opponents, which is why we start fast. But I don't feel they do a great job adjusting or deviating from the gameplan, no matter how badly the other team has figured it out.

Well according to many here the Griz don't adjust at all, so that might not matter, ha.

I actually think a heavy dose of Knight and Newell and ton package could be killer. Brekke is no slouch either. I'm going to be interested to see how/if our pass rushers Wags and Holmes can get to Bleskin and what kind of effect that could have.

The pass rush is what I fear the most. Wageman is an animal. If we can keep hi somewhat at bay, and by that I mean two or less sacks, then we have a great chance. Also, I'd like one of you stat guys to look at the turnover margin. If I'm not mistaken, whoever has won that battle has won the game each of the last five years.

 

[BWahlberg]

The pass rush is what I fear the most. Wageman is an animal. If we can keep hi somewhat at bay, and by that I mean two or less sacks, then we have a great chance. Also, I'd like one of you stat guys to look at the turnover margin. If I'm not mistaken, whoever has won that battle has won the game each of the last five years.

What's funny is that each match-up recently one team or the other has had a stud senior DE and usually in the game that guy was kept under wraps for the most part.

Turnover margin, here's what I got:

2008: UM +5 - Griz won
2009: UM +2 - Griz won
2010: MSU +4 - Cats won
2011: UM +1 - Griz Won
2012: No margin, both teams had 1 turnover - Cats wo
2013: UM +2 - Griz won