Post Game: Now Introducing...

[Blgs Griz Fan]

This is a great win for the Griz and about time they get rewarded for their hard work. The only negative thing I can say is that this is likely the last App State Griz game and I am really going to miss those games. App State has a great program, great team and some of the classiest fans in football today. Best of luck to them the rest of the season and long into the future. Go App State!

 

[BWahlberg]

The defense played a sick game and I breathed a huge sigh of relief watching the secondary. One thing to consider - the Griz were missing a player on defense due to disciplinary issues. Holy hell they are loaded up front. The Big Sky is tough this year, but the Griz are a force to be reckoned with. Pray they stay healthy and this could be one hell of a season.

Yeah last night was out together without the services of Tonga Takai, add in that Gamboa and Bo Harris will be back as well and the defense stands to improve even more.

 

[OrgonGriz]

This was a great game and showing for our Griz! Best of luck to our App State brothers the rest of the year and in there FBS move. They will be missed.

This Griz team is smash mouth and blue color. I liked the uniforms very simple but serious. I will take simple and serious if the play continues and improves.

We might not have the zip and flash of the spread offense. However look at how the traditional power football SEC teams handle Oregon and the spread.

Also great show by all Griz fans at the game. You likes good on TV and did the nation proud.

 

[Jaredkuehn]

Thanks as always for the wright up Brint. Defense looked amazing last night. I was glad to see Tripp was up and moving after getting twisted up. The running game looks beastly. Can't wait to watch this team grow this season. Bring on ND!

 

[GrizPony]

Gee, looks like my prediction that Trayvon and Shaw would have breakout seasons seems fairly accurate after one game anyway. :thumb:

 

[Blgs Griz Fan]

It looked like the overall team discipline was pretty good. There really weren't too many penalties. It also looks like this team has returned to the Hauck era conditioning. Hauck's teams were in such good condition they could play a double header if they had to unlike the last three years.

 

[grizfan95]

Some really awesome pictures here: http://www.gogriz.com/view.gal?id=146023

 

[uofmman1122]

This pretty much sums up the entire night. :clap:

 

[packerbacker]

Just found this board a couple days ago. The griz looked solid all the way around. The offense clicked on all cylinders and Jordan Johnson brings a whole new energy to the team. The receivers were electric as were the running backs. The tight ends were utilized much more than last year. Pierson was having a great game in the first half and threw some incredible blocks, but on the play that Van broke his longest run, Pierson trap blocked down and appeared to hurt himself. I seen him after the game in street clothes with his hand taped up, and it sounds like he will be out a few weeks with a broken hand. He is definitely the best blocingk TE we have and his hands have been really impressive this fall. Hopefully he can get healed up and be back shortly. The defense was MUCH improved. Our front 7 is as good as advertised and our safety looked better. It was great to see Tully have a nice game....hopefully he won't take so much flack this year. Hermey was back to his old ways, but our corners need some work. The coverage was pretty good for the most part, but the tackling was sub pa. All in all I think the Griz looked really well prepared and it should be a fun season. Go Griz!

 

[Redonkuless1]

BW,

Thanks for the great write up. I was blown away at how the Griz looked to be at mid-season form. With the bye in week 2, they have two weeks to prepare for a UND passing attack that was effective last year. Let's hope they figure out a better plan than last years. Pass rush was unreal, LB's Got Isolated on WR's for some 1 on 1's that didn't favor the Griz but I think that was to let the safety's play over the top(and help them out).
The LB's for this team are unreal with speed and against the run, taking on pulling OL and blowing up the play.
They made App. States QB look pretty crappy(I know the Kid is good). Big Big win, Congrats to this team, A good way to start the season. I think I can hear the Bison Coming! :shock:

 

[Montanan]

Your 2013 Montana Grizzlies!...

Good write-up.


I saw exactly what happened on the blocked point after attempt. Appalachian State decided to attempt the block (overload) from the end of the line of scrimmage on the eastside. The two Griz on the very end of the line to that side were Clay Pierson and Tyronne Holmes, with Holmes back a step on the very end. I've seen coach Gragg coach this position in person--and it's how it's taught everywhere. Everyone downblocks (takes a jab step), in other words, takes one step to the center to protect their inside gap. The end guy that is slightly off the line of scrmmage (Holmes) does as well, but that guy (Holmes) also has to stick his right arm out (throw a jab) simultaneously to delay for a split second the very end rusher. Gragg said if the end rusher goes around that jab then he will not be able to block the kick, which is true.

What happened on the block was Pierson was uncovered (their was no defender directly over him), but their was two extremely quick defenders to the right of him to his outside. When the ball was snapped Pierson downblocked and blocked the back of a defender that was already engaged, that allowed the defender that was just to Pierson's right to slide in between the back of Pierson and cross the face of Holmes. So Holmes had to go all out, with both arms, to block that guy to the inside, which allowed the fastest guy on Appalachian States team to go unblocked (no stiff arm jab from Holmes because he had to focus all his efforts to the inside which was a more direct route to the kicker). The most outer speedy defender got after it (pedal to the meddle), laid out, and bam the kick was rejected.

What? Put the beer down! My bad, I guess thats exactly what ya did. :lol:

 

[cody45051]

Only thing I make an argument against is the BSC is better than any conference. The MVC is superior to the BSC this year. Northern Iowa, South Dakota State,Youngstown and NDSU are all championship contenders. Can say the same for EWU, MSU and the boys but I fall in favor of the run game of the MVC. Good arguments for both conferences.

 

[Rockmeister]

Jordan brings such confidence to the team! It's like he didn't miss a beat after losing last season! The defense was incredible-but then some rest sure helps! App St. sure has some classy fans! I met the grandfather of the nose guard @ the Broadway Inn and he was very respectful of our program-as I was of the App St. program! It looked to me like the Griz were the one's that should be headed up to the FBS! What a great week for the FCS! Go Griz :thumb: But I hope they don't! Love the FCS! :clap:

 

[behappp]

It looked like the overall team discipline was pretty good. There really weren't too many penalties. It also looks like this team has returned to the Hauck era conditioning. Hauck's teams we in such good condition they could play a double header if they had to unlike the last three years.

Glad to see someone has mentioned the coaches. For all the crap that MD and his assistant's receive on this board - and there were some times last year that it was deserved - last night's play calling was outstanding. It looked like they could've opened it up at anytime if needed but pounding the run game really paid off in the 4th quarter when App State was just beat. Lots of depth for the Griz and they were utilized well.


Holding AppSt without a TD says a lot. Looked like the secondary played off the receivers most of the evening. Only time I remember App receivers being open behind the D was when our defender (Hermy?) had a double move put on him and slipped. And on the long interception we were in perfect shape. Seemed like the perfect bend but don't break D and we never did break. They had to earn everything they got, that's for sure. I just don't think we have the personnel that can handle big risk, big reward with lots of blitzing and the corners left alone one on one. Team defense seems to be the order of the day - as it was last year, but they seemed so much better at understanding where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do than last year. Guess we'll know for sure if we get in a tight game and see what happens in the last few minutes then.

With JJ throwing like he did (no incompletions in the first half, right?) and Canada and Van the Man doing what they do, there may not be many close games at the end this year. Now that would be like old time Griz ball. Pflu and his staff learned from their first year mistakes and it looks like the current staff may do the same.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

FB Wilson for sure deserves a lot of credit for springing the tailbacks.

The FBS transfers contributed big-time. Van, Wilson and Jones will be all-conf... course Jones is just a soph...

And don't forget that Ellis Henderson was one of the top-rated out of five (three-star) players for the 2011 recruiting class of the University of Hawaii < http://hawaii.scout.com/a.z?s=219&p=9&c=4&yr=2011" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He recruited as a CB...one of four of the top five of which were recruited were for the defensive background; one S coming from a JC. I guess he'd rather get his hands on the ball and does so as a WR instead. He was also the scorer of the first Griz TD this year; along with the passer. Sounds like he'd be a go-to player while Jones & Warren handle the one-on-one routes. If the opponent double-teams any of our WRs I'd bet it'd be Henderson they put two players on. I'd really like to see just who is good enough, at least in FCS, to cover Jones one-on-one.
Henderson did get 8 catches for 112 yds last year against North Dakota; a long of 45 against NAU. What's good to see is the 'yards after catch.' This from both Henderson and Jones.

 

[WyomingGrizFan]

Gee, looks like my prediction that...Shaw would have breakout seasons...

I thought he had a breakout year last year.

 

[uofmman1122]

How about them WRs?

With such a huge question mark coming in, I thought Henderson and Jones looked amazing, and give us a pretty formidable 1-2 punch (and they're only Sophomores!). It seemed like every time we needed a 3rd down converted, Jones was there to make the play.

I think the WR position will be in great hands for the next few years. :thumb:

 

[GrizPony]

Gee, looks like my prediction that...Shaw would have breakout seasons...

I thought he had a breakout year last year.

I did too, but it seemed like he didn't get much recognition locally. Maybe I am wrong on that.

 

[NorthEndZoneDan]

Gotta give Tulley his due props! He felt what was going to happen (the deep route) before the snap and he pounced on it! That is being aware of the situation, my kind of player! That didn't happen last year, it was a coaching emphasis this off-season, to "know" what is coming... GREAT JOB TULLEY. Keep being instinctive :!:

from the NEZ it was obvious Tulley had a bead on the ball from 12 - 14 steps out, he closed that gap with some pretty amazing speed! I'm all in on the Tulley Bandwagon :clap:

 

[GlacierGrizX]

JJ connecting to 10 different receivers is a game changer! How do you game plan against that? Even FB Wilson had a reception out of the backfield. Henderson and Jones are going to be tough to cover, allowing the other 8 recievers to be open. I can't wait for all the mix and match combos this season, along with play action!