New transfer Matai Mata’afa DE Mississippi State

[AZGrizFan]

Annnd yet Weber should have beat you at home. Unbelievably lucky. The one dimensional nature of MSU’s offense will not get it done to win a natty. Proof being the past two years and getting smoked in big games. Won’t happen. Passing game is their Achilles. I predict between a tougher schedule this year, potential injuries to one or both QB’s because of so much running and MSU could have a sub par season. I say could because the Big Sky is a damn dumpster fire now. Three solid teams and maybe four. Weber is a dark horse. Grizzlies offense will be very tough.

I get what you're saying Copper. And I agree we need to take a step forward in the passing game for sure. I do think it's a little overblown though. Maybe because our rushing attack was SO good, it makes the passing game look worse? I'm not sure. But if you look at the numbers last season, it's not like we were miles away from what the Griz did throwing the ball. You guys passed for like 40 yards more per game than we did. Think you only passed for like 100 yards more than us for the season, though we obviously played a couple more games. We threw for a higher percentage than the Griz and also more yards per throw. We had less interceptions and had 21 TD's to your guys' 24 TD's through the air.

This isn't meant as any type of trash talk. I just don't think we're as terrible of a passing team as people make us out to be. But when you're running the ball for 310 yards a game, it's tough to want to air it out too much I'd assume. But I agree if we want to beat the Dakotas, the passing game needs to progress this season.

As long as you keep signing receivers who win jump balls (because about 75% of the passes are that, let's be honest) you should be fine.

 

[SoldierGriz]

That is a great link with a good, well simplified overview. Thanks for sharing!

13 years old. Evolution on both sides of the ball since.

Not as much as you'd think ---the basic premise of the 3-3-5 is unchanged.

Fundamentally - it was and is still designed to cloak the blitzer(s) and disrupt decision making of the offense. The advantages and disadvantages stated in the article all remain true.

 

[bgbigdog]

13 years old. Evolution on both sides of the ball since.

Not as much as you'd think ---the basic premise of the 3-3-5 is unchanged.

Fundamentally - it was and is still designed to cloak the blitzer(s) and disrupt decision making of the offense. The advantages and disadvantages stated in the article all remain true.

Bradford is looking for real pressure from the front three this season, thus the two transfers. TCU's Front three got pressure on most of the teams they played until they got to the pro-caliber SEC lines. If Bradford's version of the defense doesn't have to blitz every down, they'd be able to provide better coverages and when they do blitz, it can be more effective. There were way too many downs last season where the backer literally ran into the guard and was quickly swallowed. Other teams knew it was coming and blocked it pretty effectively in the second half of the season.

 

[Griz til I die]

I think the Griz D works very well most of the time. Obviously, was horrible against the Cats last fall. Stopped the Cats cold the prior season. Worked fairly well against NDSU, except for 3 or 4 big runs. Big runs had not been a problem with the D last season until that game. Don't know what the problem was that gave up so many long runs, but obviously those long runs killed us. Having a good or at least more consistent O, which the Griz didn't have when Johnson was hurt, helps with defense.

It will be interesting to see what the new DC, along with younger coaches at different positions, combined with Tim Hauck and the new young D-line coach from San Diego St, do to improve the D. I have heard generally, that the players like their new position coaches.

Agreed on the bolded statement, and also on what the new DC will bring...hoping for some tweaks that address some of those more glaring issues against the top-shelf teams.

I was told by a player 2 weeks ago that the Defense already has special packages in place for Idaho and the cats. He said he feels so good about their packages for Idaho that he would be very surprised if we lost to them this year. He said they'd really start working on the cats here in the coming weeks

 

[AZGrizFan]

Agreed on the bolded statement, and also on what the new DC will bring...hoping for some tweaks that address some of those more glaring issues against the top-shelf teams.

I was told by a player 2 weeks ago that the Defense already has special packages in place for Idaho and the cats. He said he feels so good about their packages for Idaho that he would be very surprised if we lost to them this year. He said they'd really start working on the cats here in the coming weeks

man that is music to my ears. In RB we trust!

 

[mthoopsfan]

With the limited coach participation in summer Player Run Practices, and the emphasis on passing drills, I wonder how opponent specific “packages” can be put in.

 

[Griz til I die]

With the limited coach participation in summer Player Run Practices, and the emphasis on passing drills, I wonder how opponent specific “packages” can be put in.

Probably did a lot of it during Spring Ball. They’ll do a ton of it during Fall Camp as well!

 

[SoldierGriz]

Agreed on the bolded statement, and also on what the new DC will bring...hoping for some tweaks that address some of those more glaring issues against the top-shelf teams.

I was told by a player 2 weeks ago that the Defense already has special packages in place for Idaho and the cats. He said he feels so good about their packages for Idaho that he would be very surprised if we lost to them this year. He said they'd really start working on the cats here in the coming weeks

The package better account for the best WR position group in the BSC...they will make the catch just beyond the sticks time and time again. Better get to that QB early and often.