Post Game: Humbling loss

[indian-outlaw]

Worst BSC loss since 1994. Worst FCS loss since 1998. Worst O-Line performance since IDK. not a giant surprise considering what happened last weekend (#Focus#United#). Next week is telling on how this season will go. Griz typically struggle for homecoming games. Could get ugly, or might turn around. Griz are way better than this game showed, but who knows at this point. #united or ?. This week will tell but as of right now Griz need to realize they are a middle to bottom of the pack BSC team missing the playoffs #again# until team decides every game is important.

Motivation? no Senior on this team has officially won a BSC title or playoffs game (with the 2011 Pflugrad debacle). #Focus#United#

The PSU game will be interesting, Watching them against CP they are loaded with talent, they have 16 FBS transfers, 11 just this year. if they can ever stop shooting themselves in the foot they could beat any team in the BSC

They've always been an orphanage for FBS dropdowns, that is not always a good thing. We will beat them like we always do.

 

[Robsnotes4u]

There's really nothing positive to take away from this loss. The Griz for the 3rd time in their first 4 games opened the game giving up a long opening drive and things got worse from there. Colter with the Bobcat Beat probably spoke for what most of the impartial coaches, media members, and those that vote in the rankings thought:

Colter Nuanez ‏@Bobcat_Beat 33m
After watching how truly bad UND defense is today and now watching Montana against a real team, looks more and more like Griz are overrated

My thoughts as I watched this game:

- The game essentially ended on the blundered 4th and goal call. When you're on the road and it's that early in the game you take the points. The Griz would have been down 14-6 getting the ball to start the 3rd and who knows, it might've been a whole different ball game. I believe that whoever made that call (to go for it) made a huge mistake. If there was a single moment that sealed the game it was that one.

- Then shortly after that given the chance to muster some sort of points after the Tripp interception the Griz call a deep pass when they had 2 time outs and 15 seconds, only needing to move the ball upfield 10 yards to be in Worst's range. Instead we go deep ball and then some cluster of a slow developing play that turns into a half-assed hail mary that gets batted down. Again, coaching blunder in my opinion, and that cost another change at 3 points. Griz could have been down 21-6 and starting with the ball in the 2nd half with a chance to get it to 21-13 (or 14) and it's a whole different ball game. Lots of "what ifs" of course.

- Tackling today on defense was bad. Like... 2012 bad. I'm no expert but I don't think that hitting guys with your shoulder and head down or arms folded in is the best way to stop NAU. Lots of plays where Bauman or even the WRs would bounce off a few of these "knock down" attempt tackles and get more yardage.

- I can't help but wonder the loss of Hermanson and what that did for the defense. His position is the "QB" of the defense. There were A LOT of plays where the defense looked confused, guys running around to get in place, NAU players wide open (like Bauman repeatedly, how do you ever leave him uncovered?)

- For supposedly being the best O-line in the conference our guys up front were embarrassed tonight. Lots of sacks, tons of pressure and knockdowns - and usually just rushing 4. Multiple plays were some of our supposedly best linemen like Poole and Kistler whiffing guys or missing their assignment and giving NAU a free shot to Jordy. Multiple false starts, holding penalties, and even a chop-block call. Many times the penalties were drive-killers early on.

- Play calling made no sense. Deep route after deep route. Meanwhile JJ is getting pummeled while our O-line is getting manhandled and they're still calling long and drawn out deeper routes. No quick routes, no screens. We quickly scrapped the run game. I dunno..

- Bad ball control, three very costly fumbles, one stopped a promising drive the other two were turned into points right away on scoop and scores.

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Well props to NAU, they outplayed the Griz in every facet of the game. Bauman once again made the Griz his b*tch in this game and Kyren Poe played fairly well. The NAU defense is legit, lots of people that weren't wearing maroon glasses called a result like this after watching NAU's defense. It'll be interesting to see if the Jacks can duplicate this magic on the road next week (I bet not).

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Beyond that though I've got to get this off of my chest. There's some additional factors at play here that have me frustrated. I'm typing this up just as the game clock is winding out here. This team is full of great football players and incredibly smart kids. They're passionate as all hell and they've been talking this whole season as if the past is forgotten and all has been corrected. We saw tonight some issues remain, on the field, off the field, with the players, and with the staff. The Griz go into this game without their second leading tackler because he got drunk and out of control (where were his teammates/friends to keep him from getting into that kind of trouble? I don't believe he was totally alone.) That's common damn sense, be smart when you're drinking, this team should know that. Speaking of common sense maybe one of our team captains should show better respect to the team rules and not be found downtown the night after a game as well. These kind of actions while not overly horrible add up. They affect the team on the field and off it as well. I had wondered about this point, the whole united theme is a great one, it's a good rally cry. But how well tested is it now after a loss like this and some off-field blunders as well.

I feel like I say this every year but the response we see from the Griz will define this season. Before call camp if you told me the Griz would be 3-1 after their first four games I'd be pretty darn happy. And I still am, this loss has me frustrated right now but that will pass. We all knew the Big Sky was going to be the toughest it's maybe ever been and we're seeing that already from the top ranks of the conference. This team needs to re-group and come into the PSU game pissed and focused on the win.

Safe travels home Griz and Griz Nation. Lets pack the house for homecoming because the Griz need the fans all there and ready to cheer them back into the win column.

Go Griz!

Great post


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Mr. Greenjeans]

I mentioned this on another thread but why are we not running it right at a team like NAU that's smaller up front (other than their massive nose tackle)? That is the strength of this O line. One play stood out when a blitzer who was probably at least 80 pounds lighter stood Poehls up and pushed him straight back. That is not using these guy's best skills.

It was like last year, running east/west stuff when north/south is our forte. You can do some east/west with Van, other than that file 13. Pound it with quick hitters and use play action off of it. It may not be sexy but it works best for this group on offense. It sucked that we hardly used the power set with the fullback and extra TE. Geddes, Charlie and I and also almost choked when the fullback shifted out to the slot. That is not what he does best.

How about we ram it down people's craw, it plays to our Oline's best skills.....working pretty well for Stanford. Let's take it out on PSU next week. I'll be there...

 

[Quig]

This pleases me
Still, "We all want what Nebraska has. We all want what North Dakota State has, what Montana has, what Appalachian State had.", John Stiegelmeier (South D St.)

 

[1Griz_Fan]

Well said Brint. I could not agree with you more, especially on how the bad call on fourth down ruined any chance the Griz had by boosting the momentum all the way back in NAU's favor. That was by far the worst coaching decision of this season and concerns me that some of last years awful calls may be returning. The offensive line was completely dominated and there were a few dropped passes that cost the Griz big time. Even if Jones would have caught that TD I doubt the Griz could have stayed in this game the way they played. I was working during the game but listened to part on the radio and watched a little on TV, what I seen blew my mind.

A few questions come to mind. Did the coaches make any good halftime adjustments? Are the Griz actually this bad or did they have an off night. Or maybe NAU had a great game plan and played the game of their lives. Maybe the Griz took into too much of the hype. I hope they can figure things out and turn things around but it doesn't look good for a conference title now. The playoffs are seeming pretty far off too because they could easily lose any of their upcoming games, even to the doormats. The defense and coaching from last season do not seem to much improved in some areas. And the offense looked pathetic. If the line does not dominate the line of scrimmage Johnson may be plummeting to the bottom of the FCS passing efficiency ratings. And the turnovers killed the Griz tonight.

One final thing, maybe I am just hanging on to hope but back in 2004 the Griz got embarrassed at Sam Houston and came back to win all games, including a revenge win, until getting beat down by James Madison. The way the Griz looked tonight reminded me of how the CAA teams dominated the Griz in the past. NDSU would destroy this team, but I am pretty sure that matchup will have to wait until next season. LOL

I will still be making it to the EWU game but OMG that game could be ugly. The defense better bring their A game and the offense better show up. The coaches may just say F%#^ it and decide to go for it on fourth down instead of punting it from now on. At this point nothing would surprise me with the coaches. Don't expect any coach of the year awards any time soon. Sorry had to vent a little about how I feel about the coaching staff. I guess their back, and so may be the 2012 Griz.

Go Griz!!!

 

[1Griz_Fan]

I mentioned this on another thread but why are we not running it right at a team like NAU that's smaller up front (other than their massive nose tackle)? That is the strength of this O line. One play stood out when a blitzer who was probably at least 80 pounds lighter stood Poehls up and pushed him straight back. That is not using these guy's best skills.

It was like last year, running east/west stuff when north/south is our forte. You can do some east/west with Van, other than that file 13. Pound it with quick hitters and use play action off of it. It may not be sexy but it works best for this group on offense. It sucked that we hardly used the power set with the fullback and extra TE. Geddes, Charlie and I and also almost choked when the fullback shifted out to the slot. That is not what he does best.

How about we ram it down people's craw, it plays to our Oline's best skills.....working pretty well for Stanford. Let's take it out on PSU next week. I'll be there...

I may be wrong but I think the Griz running game sucked all night except for maybe one or two plays. They tried a couple similar, if not the same runs up the middle to the right on 2nd and 3rd down before that 4th down blunder. Time to take Jordan Tripp's name of the Buck Buchanen watch list too. Bauman completely ran him over to score that one TD. It reminded me of that big muscle head on the movie, The Program, getting ran over after he stopped juicing. The Griz do not have the best front seven in the Big Sky, let alone the FCS, so let's stop that nonsense right now. This team may be good, but thus far are far from great.

 

[1Griz_Fan]

Worst BSC loss since 1994. Worst FCS loss since 1998. Worst O-Line performance since IDK. not a giant surprise considering what happened last weekend (#Focus#United#). Next week is telling on how this season will go. Griz typically struggle for homecoming games. Could get ugly, or might turn around. Griz are way better than this game showed, but who knows at this point. #united or ?. This week will tell but as of right now Griz need to realize they are a middle to bottom of the pack BSC team missing the playoffs #again# until team decides every game is important.

Motivation? no Senior on this team has officially won a BSC title or playoffs game (with the 2011 Pflugrad debacle). #Focus#United#

The PSU game will be interesting, Watching them against CP they are loaded with talent, they have 16 FBS transfers, 11 just this year. if they can ever stop shooting themselves in the foot they could beat any team in the BSC

They've always been an orphanage for FBS dropdowns, that is not always a good thing. We will beat them like we always do.

I would not count on PSU being a pushover. The Griz defense could be in trouble against their offense. Speaking of offense, has anyone seen the Griz's. It was MIA tonight.

 

[1Griz_Fan]

Meant to add. I mused that the choppy and sloppy game against Panhandle State might set a bad tone heading into conference play. Nothing to like about that game and how the team was in a funk (especially the 1st team). Tough to say the affects of that game but it seems the funk from that game carried over.

The ones should have played at least one full half and probably a series or two into the 3rd quarter. Better yet, just stop scheduling lower division schools, even if it means they play an FBS team.

 

[BWahlberg]

Meant to add. I mused that the choppy and sloppy game against Panhandle State might set a bad tone heading into conference play. Nothing to like about that game and how the team was in a funk (especially the 1st team). Tough to say the affects of that game but it seems the funk from that game carried over.

The ones should have played at least one full half and probably a series or two into the 3rd quarter. Better yet, just stop scheduling lower division schools, even if it means they play an FBS team.

True, a loss vs an FBS has the same meaning as a win vs a D2

 

[Mr. Greenjeans]

This is not the end of the season, not even close.

We went up against a solid NAU team and simply got outplayed and outcoached tonight. In addition to being outplayed, these players made game-changing mistakes. 2 fumbles returned for scores - there's 14 points we literally handed to them, and two scoring opportunities we screwed ourselves out of...Not to mention the third fumble and lost scoring opportunity. Even if we take away those points we handed them but don't score on those opportunities, we're still in this game - we GAVE them 14 points and lost by 18. You simply cannot make this many mistakes and expect to stay in a game - the effect of these mistakes on morale is in and of itself a game-changer.

The big factor tonight IMO was our offensive line. Our OL looked as though they thought they could simply show up and half-ass it, and NAU would bend to their whim. Not so. NAU D Line bent them over tonight. They should be ashamed. They were NOT ready for the caliber of line that NAU put on the field tonight. They better show up to practice next week ready to make amends.

Our receivers had several key drops. Our D had a rough time, but given the offensive non-productivity and the amount that was asked of them, I thought they played OK.

This is a chance for this group to take a good long look at their themselves and their gameplan, both players and coaches. Their has been a lot of hype to this team so far with the 3-0 start. This is a wake-up call to remind the Griz that they have to show up EACH AND EVERY WEEKEND. Personally I'd rather the Griz check their shit and get a wake-up call at this point in the season than later. This loss can be a good thing if the team learns from it.

We can rebound like we did in 2011, or we can hobble along like we did in 2012. I still believe this team is for real and will get better and better, ESPECIALLY if they take this game to heart and build from it.

I believe in another 2011-like rebound, with an improving team with the ability to go deep in the playoffs... DO YOU?

My sentiments exactly, we got outplayed and had some bad bounces early, the football Gods bounced a couple fumble gifts right into NAU's paws, twice in one game is bad luck, odds are that won't continue.

Could it, sure, but not probable..7 conference games remaining so I'm not slitting my wrist. Let's start using our big line to run down opponents throats which is our strength. 5o carries, 250 plus rushing and we won't lose many going forward.

 

[Tokyogriz]

I have definitely over estimated the Griz this year. All the trash talking about them playing shitty teams is pretty much true. This go fuck youself punch in the face loss really sets the clock back to Zero for this team as far as ANYONE being able to judge their real ability.

PATHETIC on both the Griz players and coaches is very fair criticism.

Is this it for these kids? Is this all they can actually do? Or are they going to take this castration and grow a new set?

BUT....

The Season isn't over. Win or lose I will still cheer them, but god damn if winning would sure be a HELL of ALOT better than this embarrassing performance or any repeat of this.

Time will tell. Lets see how they react to this punch in the face.

Go Griz!

 

[George Ferguson]

I predicted the Griz would be 3-1 with a loss at NAU. I'm on track and so are the Griz. They win at home and they'll be just fine. I have no fear of a repeat on the road, and the only scary road game left is MSU.

 

[PDXGrizzly]

I predicted the Griz would be 3-1 with a loss at NAU. I'm on track and so are the Griz. They win at home and they'll be just fine. I have no fear of a repeat on the road, and the only scary road game left is MSU.

After tonight's collapse, every road game and some home games worry me (Portland State, Eastern Washington, and Cal Poly). I get the feeling that the team lost who they were tonight. It remains to be seen if they can find their identity again.

 

[kurtismichael]

I mentioned this on another thread but why are we not running it right at a team like NAU that's smaller up front (other than their massive nose tackle)? That is the strength of this O line. One play stood out when a blitzer who was probably at least 80 pounds lighter stood Poehls up and pushed him straight back. That is not using these guy's best skills.

It was like last year, running east/west stuff when north/south is our forte. You can do some east/west with Van, other than that file 13. Pound it with quick hitters and use play action off of it. It may not be sexy but it works best for this group on offense. It sucked that we hardly used the power set with the fullback and extra TE. Geddes, Charlie and I and also almost choked when the fullback shifted out to the slot. That is not what he does best.

How about we ram it down people's craw, it plays to our Oline's best skills.....working pretty well for Stanford. Let's take it out on PSU next week. I'll be there...

I may be wrong but I think the Griz running game sucked all night except for maybe one or two plays. They tried a couple similar, if not the same runs up the middle to the right on 2nd and 3rd down before that 4th down blunder. Time to take Jordan Tripp's name of the Buck Buchanen watch list too. Bauman completely ran him over to score that one TD. It reminded me of that big muscle head on the movie, The Program, getting ran over after he stopped juicing. The Griz do not have the best front seven in the Big Sky, let alone the FCS, so let's stop that nonsense right now. This team may be good, but thus far are far from great.

I'm drunk so don't take it personally but you say to take Jordan Tripp off the Buchanen Watch List. I'm Drunk but are you High? Seemed like he made several score saving tackles tonight and a INT. Props to JP and Coyle Too. Hope you are not suggesting JT is juicing with your movie reference either.

 

[kurtismichael]

2004: big loss to Sam Houston. Result: Chatty
2008: big loss to Weber St. Result: Chatty
2011: big loss to Sac St. Result: Semifinals and beat down of the Cats.
2013: big loss to NAU. Result: ?? I still believe!

Go Griz and pass the friggin Kool Aid!

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

I predicted the Griz would be 3-1 with a loss at NAU. I'm on track and so are the Griz. They win at home and they'll be just fine. I have no fear of a repeat on the road, and the only scary road game left is MSU.

And it's not as if NAU can't go 11 - 1 this year. Who do they have on their schedule that can come close to what they displayed against the Griz?

 

[Catsrback76]

Clearly this was a humbling loss for the griz, but as wise posters have shared, one game does not a season make. Suffice it to say that the griz are not as bad as this loss nor the Cats as good as their win. Still more to be seen, but the field is indeed leveling out and we are seeing more and able to really get a read on the conference. It's a good season that is shaping up before us!

 

[bigforkgriz]

Too long, too often, too early.

We went away from possession football as early as being down 14-0. JJ got beat up and the O-line had to protect again and again on Long developing pass plays. NAU was teeing-off because we were predictable. We threw nothing underneath which NAU's offense did numerous times to slow down our pass rush. I don't know if JJ ever audibled when it was obvious they were blitzing, he went with deep ball under pressure. We abandoned the run game also too early. We we're play calling with despair.

I still felt we are a good team on both sides. The two turnovers for touchdowns were bizarre bounces of the ball and crushing psychologically. We aren't as bad as this loss makes us look. The play calling and securing the ball for this game was bad. We can beat any team in this conference, but we can lose to some of them too.

 

[Copper Griz]

The Griz had an off night and about everything that could go wrong - did go wrong. The loss and a bad game bother me, but not nearly as much as what I saw from the sidelines. This team is in trouble and not because of the talent they have on the field. They are in trouble because of the coaching staff. I have NEVER seen such piss poor scheming and play calling in my time of watching Griz football. Never. This staff looks lost and I mean lost. The first real test of the season and they got housed. Turnovers kill you, but their was no air in the tires folks. The staff did nothing to instill confidence in the kids and it was clear this game was over with 14 minutes to go in the third. I had zero faith in a comeback based purely off body language. You could see the kids were lost and had not one idea of how they were going to gain some momentum and mount a comeback. Clearly the two offensive coordinator philosophy DID NOT WORK. Rookie, head up your ass play calling that did nothing to address what the other team was doing play after play after play. How do you not adjust? There are high school coaches in Montana that could have called better plays on offensive. Unless the coaching staff pulls a total 180 on us - this is going to be another long season. I could not stand Bobby ball, but dammit his teams had discipline, were prepared, and the team had confidence that the sidelines knew exactly what they were doing. I saw none of that last night.

 

[Blgs Griz Fan]

Great post as usual by Brint. Especially regarding the 4th and goal call and resulting fumble. That was THE one pivotal play in the game. Whoever called up that play needs to be held accountable and Delaney needs to take responsibility for it.
The coaches lost patience and control of the game. No doubt about it. It looked as if they panicked at halftime.
Is it just me or have the Griz changed since the bye week? The first tow games the Griz came out with purpose and desire. Since the bye they seem to really be lackluster and lost. The 1's really didn't look shard against OPSU. Even JJ seemed dazed in that game.
I wonder what went on in that week off. It just seems there has to be some background issue with this team that surfaced during the bye.