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Post game: time to hit the panic button?

Don’t also forget that teams that are run first like Sac, go to the passing game cuz we can’t cover it.
Teams also resort to the passing game because we have a really good run defense. Why would they run it when our defense is constantly locking it down? When our pass defense gives up as many yards as it does and our run defense is as tough as it is, it makes absolutely no sense to run the ball.
 
This team has played 10 games in a row, anyone who has played at any level understands how hard that is on the body. I'm not worried what I saw saturday as the Griz started as good as you can expect in the first quarter. I would assume the players probably let off a little getting up 22-0, I would say that has more to do with who they were playing and being the 10th game in a row than anything to panic over.

We only rushed for 48 yards in the second half, which is a complete anomaly, which tells me this team is need of rest. They will be ready for November 22nd!
 
That's how dumb you are—not getting off the field on third down limits the number of offensive possessions--playing pass defense takes way more energy than playing run defense. To quote Hoops, "Learn football."
We are in the middle of the pack on 3rd down conversions. Not great, but not terrible. The problem against EWU was we only had 53 offensive plays mostly due to poor 3rd down execution on offense. The defense was on the field literally the whole second half.
 
The Griz secondary is really thin right now. I think fans like to lizard brain substitutions ( just plug and play). The reality is subs are a half step slower with thier own assignment and a little less familiar with what thier teamates are doing, too. Montana is playing one true freshman on defense now. If it wasn't for a knee injury, they would be playing two!

Looked to me like Montana leaned hard on the pass rush while trying to keep everthing in front of a compromised secondary. That's a plan that reflects the circumstance the Griz are in. They would be in that circumstance regardless, w/ a front 7 or 6.

Broadly, I think the two biggest risks the Griz faced this season were struggling to play as a team in the first third of the season and to play injured in the final third.

Because so many of these athletes had never played together before, it was going to be harder in the first third of the season to get 11 athletes to do the right thing at the same time with the same intensity for an entire game. I seem ot remember Hauck saying at one point that only two Griz on D had started before this season. The Griz pulled it off. Not every team does.

The final third of the season was certain to be difficult because there was no bye week to mend up, let alone true up any class work. If Montana manages to win its next two games, while managing injuries, it will be the best untold Griz story of the season, not just a lucky break. Managing team health is a huge part of the game.

If the Griz get a players back somewhat healthy after a first-round bye, they will be in good shape. If they don't get a bye, injuries could be brutal in December.
 
And yet, still ranked 2nd in points allowed....
I was watching a FCS show on YouTube (FCS Fan Network) and one of the hosts is an official voter for the Top 25 and awards. According to them we have the 86th rated overall Defense in FCS, that needs to change (hopefully it will if we get healthy) and cant have our Offense dissappear and Pease can't call a game like he did on Saturday. As long as the Offense plays well it will help our defense.

 
I was watching a FCS show on YouTube (FCS Fan Network) and one of the hosts is an official voter for the Top 25 and awards. According to them we have the 86th rated overall Defense in FCS, that needs to change (hopefully it will if we get healthy) and cant have our Offense dissappear and Pease can't call a game like he did on Saturday. As long as the Offense plays well it will help our defense.

It all depends on the metrics people want to look at, and that is the problem with statistics. Does anyone truly believe Harvard's defense is better than the Griz? No, they just haven't played the same level of competition.
 
It all depends on the metrics people want to look at, and that is the problem with statistics. Does anyone truly believe Harvard's defense is better than the Griz? No, they just haven't played the same level of competition.
Not wrong, but at the same time I agree that it needs to improve especially with the Cats and the Playoffs around the corner. At this point in the season however getting guys healthy seems to be the only way we will have a quick turnaround in the secondary.

The biggest thing that needs to change from last Saturday is the offense + its execution and the coaching/play calling. Both put the Defense in a tough spot, and we won't be able to keep teams better then EWU out of the endzone if the Offense disappears again.
 
Not wrong, but at the same time I agree that it needs to improve especially with the Cats and the Playoffs around the corner. At this point in the season however getting guys healthy seems to be the only way we will have a quick turnaround in the secondary.

The biggest thing that needs to change from last Saturday is the offense and its execution and the coaching/play calling. Both put the Defense in a tough spot.
Totally agree, 100%, with the first half of your post.

I was frustrated that it seemed like we stepped back to a lot of the play calling that bothers me on third and long, but other than that it was just some missed opportunities. The defensive secondary had more give than anyone would want, yes, but there were a couple of really bad PI calls that bailed the offense out. The last one was particularly egregious, as the ball landed well out of bounds and was clearly uncatchable.

Obviously it wasn't the performance any of us would love, but it also wasn't nearly as bad as some folks are suggesting.
 
Totally agree, 100%, with the first half of your post.

I was frustrated that it seemed like we stepped back to a lot of the play calling that bothers me on third and long, but other than that it was just some missed opportunities. The defensive secondary had more give than anyone would want, yes, but there were a couple of really bad PI calls that bailed the offense out. The last one was particularly egregious, as the ball landed well out of bounds and was clearly uncatchable.

Obviously it wasn't the performance any of us would love, but it also wasn't nearly as bad as some folks are suggesting.
That last PI call that put them on the 8 or 9 at the end of the game was completely bogus. Was right in front of our section. The offensive player was actually playing defense so Lawler couldn't pick it. He had better position than the WR. Rauch was also flying over to come pick that rainbow ball. Ref blew that call big time. Should have been Offensive PI.
 
That last PI call that put them on the 8 or 9 at the end of the game was completely bogus. Was right in front of our section. The offensive player was actually playing defense so Lawler couldn't pick it. He had better position than the WR. Rauch was also flying over to come pick that rainbow ball. Ref blew that call big time. Should have been Offensive PI.
Absolutely, or just no call as the ball seemed completely uncatchable to me. If not for that blown call, none of us are having this conversation today about whether the sky is falling.
 
Absolutely, or just no call as the ball seemed completely uncatchable to me. If not for that blown call, none of us are having this conversation today about whether the sky is falling.
It was a bad call, but we shouldn't have been in a position to leave the game in the refs hands to begin with. If the offense converts a few 3rd downs we probably still win by 14, and the hands team not watching the onside kick coming towards them giving them insane momentum etc. Was just an ugly game all round.
 
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It was a bad call, but we shouldn't have been in a position to leave the game in the refs hands to begin with. If the offense converts a few 3rd downs we probably still win by 14, and the hands team not watching the onside kick coming towards them goving them insane momentum etc. Was just an ugly game all round.
Mistakes were definitely made, thankfully we just made less than the other team. If the Griz can play their worst game of the season and still win, I am a very happy fan.
 
It was a bad call, but we shouldn't have been in a position to leave the game in the refs hands to begin with. Just an ugly game all around.
Agreed UT. It isn't why EWU was in the game, they had already scored their last touchdown. But there were several bad PI calls that bailed EWU out when they were behind the sticks. Seemed like the Griz didn't get the benefit of any penalties. EWU only had 2 five yard penalties.
 
Mistakes were definitely made, thankfully we just made less than the other team. If the Griz can play their worst game of the season and still win, I am a very happy fan.
Agreed, back when I coached I'd tell my guys the best part about ugly wins are yall know how you're gonna get your ass kicked in practice next week (jokingly).

We have things to clean up, with the injuries in the secondary we're going to have to depend on our offense not stalling out and better coaching and play calling to achieve that.
 
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