I can honestly say I didn't expect the defense to lock down this tricky Sacramento offense the way they did and keep them out of the end zone until a junk TD against the 2s/3s with less than a minute in the game. Sac went 1-4 scoring TDs in the red zone and the defense bent a little bit but stood tall when needed. It helped the offense to do enough to put the game out of reach too. Early when Sac went right down and kicked a fieldgoal I was thinking, "Oh boy, here we go." The Griz answer with a TD and Sac goes on the move again. Then Van Ack picks off a pass and you could get the feeling the Grizzly defense wasn't going to allow a Cal Poly repeat.
Some observations from the game:
1. If you looked at just the stats you'd think Sac maybe beat us or it was a close game. Sac had 34:36 in TOP, out-gained the Griz by about 20 total yards, ran 26 more plays on offense, and especially passed for 262 yards compared to Montana's 143. However another stat worth bringing forth is 3rd down defense for the Griz. Sac had 4 conversions on the day, while the instant stats don't say I'd bet they were something like 4-12 or so on 3rd down. The defense made huge plays on 3rd down and even a few on 4th down as well.
2. Best game pass-blocking from this O-line yet. Jordy got sacked once I believe and hit hard a few other times but overall the offensive line protected well and allowed for passing plays to develop. I watched Reese and Dietrich who did very well, especially in some key 1-on-1 situations too. The interior line swallowed up delayed blitzes very well too. Run blocking wasn't the greatest - some of the bigger plays came on cut-backs and broken plays, but that's what our running backs can do. There were other nicely blocked run plays too. I thought this after the Poly game and feel it even more now, while still not "good" this O-line has dramatically improved this season.
3. This could have been the ideal game for the Griz when facing a better team. Think about it, the offense didn't blow the doors off but did plenty and put the game out of reach into the 4th quarter. The defense was great on 3rd down, forced a turnover, kept their offense out of the endzone for the most part, and kept most RZ attempts to either fieldgoals or even a turnover on downs. I don't think our offense will be able to light up the scoreboard this season but when you put this kind of efficient game from them together with the performance from the defense, you've got a good win on your hands.
4. What a better tune-up for the Griz vs EWU than this one? I still can't imagine we won't see Vernon Adams and it's going to be interesting to compare how a mid-season form Safron will compare to a possibly rusty and back from injury Vernon Adams. Adams has better players around him top to bottom for sure, but this game helped the Griz prepare as best as possible on defense.
5. Some concerns; I think Nguyen might've got lucky on that punt return where it appeared he fumbled, also had two close calls running the ball. A few too many easy completions allowed by our corners and safeties in the middle of the field. Sac attacked our cover-2 sending their running backs out and then having their receiver find the soft spot between the safety and the corner - that worked for a bit but not all day. Holmes especially had issues with the zone-read, or at least it appeared he did - Sac picked up on him as will EWU.
6. Last week the jumping/juking/cutting back didn't work against Poly for our running backs. This week it did. It's feast or famine on those plays. Not sure if we'll have luck vs EWU - their defensive stats suggest maybe - but we'll have to see.
7. I really liked the game Kose put together. Early on, maybe the 1st drive, he misses Safron on a zone-read but after that he buckled down. Just before half blowing up a run play forcing a 3rd and goal from the 4 for Sac which eventually lead to a fieldgoal instead of a TD. Then batting down a 4th down pass to force a turnover on downs in the 3rd. Another guy that was making a ton of plays on defense was Rehm. I really like what this guy brings to the team, a guy that still plays with a chip on his shoulder. I believe 3rd in tackles including a huge sack to help kill a Sac drive. And then there's Van Ackeren who lead the team again in tackles and had the one forced turnover of the day. Many pointed out the defense lost it's edge once Van Ack left in the Poly game. This gives a little more evidence to that - with him back out there the LBs and the defense as a whole got back on track.
8. I do wish on that 2nd quarter goal-line stand that the Griz would've used their timeouts. Sac bled about 6:00 of total clock time off that short drive. The Griz might've been able to get a fieldgoal attempt or maybe even a TD and then open the 2nd half with another score - putting the game further out of reach. Easy to piss and moan about this in a good win, maybe not that big of a deal but it was an opportunity that wasn't taken/attempted.
9. The one thing I do wish that we would've seen was reps for Simis and Gustafson. I agree reps are important for SSH to keep him sharp in case he needs to come in like he did in the UND game, but in this one the game was over, and there was a missed opportunity for whoever will be next year's QB. This is a staple of this coaching staff, run that clock like no ones business with a comfy lead late in the game.
10. I'll give the students a pass... barely. It was a WEAK showing for them, I saw even KPAX put a photo up calling the student section out for poor attendance. However it's the morning after halloween and I'd bet half the student body was nursing hangovers. Add in that this was an early kickoff and a high chance of rain... like I said... I'll give them a pass.
11. Thanks again to the Washington Family. That was a cool video and nice to see them get a (mostly) standing ovation - which was much deserved.
12. Josh Janssen sure makes some great catches doesn't he? His 25 yarder that set up the 1st score was highly contested but he won that battle. After the game Coach Meyers was on 1290 talking to Mick saying how Jones, Haynes, Burke, and Janssen all bench/curl/lift real high weight which allows them to win those contested hand-battles to hang onto passes.
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It's time to keep the momentum going. The Griz can exorcise some serious demons with a road win @ EWU but it'll take an even better performance than the one we saw this afternoon. I didn't notice too many injuries - a few rolled up ankles, etc - so I assume the team will come out in as full as possible strength for the game.
I like where this team is at coming off this game. The Griz now need to prove they can play their "home game" in someone else's house. Rest up Griz and get after it this week! GO GRIZ!
Some observations from the game:
1. If you looked at just the stats you'd think Sac maybe beat us or it was a close game. Sac had 34:36 in TOP, out-gained the Griz by about 20 total yards, ran 26 more plays on offense, and especially passed for 262 yards compared to Montana's 143. However another stat worth bringing forth is 3rd down defense for the Griz. Sac had 4 conversions on the day, while the instant stats don't say I'd bet they were something like 4-12 or so on 3rd down. The defense made huge plays on 3rd down and even a few on 4th down as well.
2. Best game pass-blocking from this O-line yet. Jordy got sacked once I believe and hit hard a few other times but overall the offensive line protected well and allowed for passing plays to develop. I watched Reese and Dietrich who did very well, especially in some key 1-on-1 situations too. The interior line swallowed up delayed blitzes very well too. Run blocking wasn't the greatest - some of the bigger plays came on cut-backs and broken plays, but that's what our running backs can do. There were other nicely blocked run plays too. I thought this after the Poly game and feel it even more now, while still not "good" this O-line has dramatically improved this season.
3. This could have been the ideal game for the Griz when facing a better team. Think about it, the offense didn't blow the doors off but did plenty and put the game out of reach into the 4th quarter. The defense was great on 3rd down, forced a turnover, kept their offense out of the endzone for the most part, and kept most RZ attempts to either fieldgoals or even a turnover on downs. I don't think our offense will be able to light up the scoreboard this season but when you put this kind of efficient game from them together with the performance from the defense, you've got a good win on your hands.
4. What a better tune-up for the Griz vs EWU than this one? I still can't imagine we won't see Vernon Adams and it's going to be interesting to compare how a mid-season form Safron will compare to a possibly rusty and back from injury Vernon Adams. Adams has better players around him top to bottom for sure, but this game helped the Griz prepare as best as possible on defense.
5. Some concerns; I think Nguyen might've got lucky on that punt return where it appeared he fumbled, also had two close calls running the ball. A few too many easy completions allowed by our corners and safeties in the middle of the field. Sac attacked our cover-2 sending their running backs out and then having their receiver find the soft spot between the safety and the corner - that worked for a bit but not all day. Holmes especially had issues with the zone-read, or at least it appeared he did - Sac picked up on him as will EWU.
6. Last week the jumping/juking/cutting back didn't work against Poly for our running backs. This week it did. It's feast or famine on those plays. Not sure if we'll have luck vs EWU - their defensive stats suggest maybe - but we'll have to see.
7. I really liked the game Kose put together. Early on, maybe the 1st drive, he misses Safron on a zone-read but after that he buckled down. Just before half blowing up a run play forcing a 3rd and goal from the 4 for Sac which eventually lead to a fieldgoal instead of a TD. Then batting down a 4th down pass to force a turnover on downs in the 3rd. Another guy that was making a ton of plays on defense was Rehm. I really like what this guy brings to the team, a guy that still plays with a chip on his shoulder. I believe 3rd in tackles including a huge sack to help kill a Sac drive. And then there's Van Ackeren who lead the team again in tackles and had the one forced turnover of the day. Many pointed out the defense lost it's edge once Van Ack left in the Poly game. This gives a little more evidence to that - with him back out there the LBs and the defense as a whole got back on track.
8. I do wish on that 2nd quarter goal-line stand that the Griz would've used their timeouts. Sac bled about 6:00 of total clock time off that short drive. The Griz might've been able to get a fieldgoal attempt or maybe even a TD and then open the 2nd half with another score - putting the game further out of reach. Easy to piss and moan about this in a good win, maybe not that big of a deal but it was an opportunity that wasn't taken/attempted.
9. The one thing I do wish that we would've seen was reps for Simis and Gustafson. I agree reps are important for SSH to keep him sharp in case he needs to come in like he did in the UND game, but in this one the game was over, and there was a missed opportunity for whoever will be next year's QB. This is a staple of this coaching staff, run that clock like no ones business with a comfy lead late in the game.
10. I'll give the students a pass... barely. It was a WEAK showing for them, I saw even KPAX put a photo up calling the student section out for poor attendance. However it's the morning after halloween and I'd bet half the student body was nursing hangovers. Add in that this was an early kickoff and a high chance of rain... like I said... I'll give them a pass.
11. Thanks again to the Washington Family. That was a cool video and nice to see them get a (mostly) standing ovation - which was much deserved.
12. Josh Janssen sure makes some great catches doesn't he? His 25 yarder that set up the 1st score was highly contested but he won that battle. After the game Coach Meyers was on 1290 talking to Mick saying how Jones, Haynes, Burke, and Janssen all bench/curl/lift real high weight which allows them to win those contested hand-battles to hang onto passes.
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It's time to keep the momentum going. The Griz can exorcise some serious demons with a road win @ EWU but it'll take an even better performance than the one we saw this afternoon. I didn't notice too many injuries - a few rolled up ankles, etc - so I assume the team will come out in as full as possible strength for the game.
I like where this team is at coming off this game. The Griz now need to prove they can play their "home game" in someone else's house. Rest up Griz and get after it this week! GO GRIZ!
