You can hang this loss on failed execution, mostly on the offense, too many errors that sunk the Griz into too much of a hole. I think our defense did a great job throughout the evening, one missed containment and one pretty well thrown pass otherwise our defense did as much as it could have been asked to do.
Lets review the issues:
- Last week in scoring on 4th down conversions the Griz were +10 points. This week they were -10 allowing a TD and the game-winning fieldgoal. Last week 4th down conversions paid off, this week it really didn't. Montana was 0-3 on 4th down. The most costly might've been the final failed attempt where we shifted two players (players not normally used to that position) which draws a flag - but yet we still run the play handing off to our staring outside linebacker, who is stopped short. Another frustrating 4th down turnover was an early one that hit Naccarato in the hands. A play or two later Chris Brown would be off to the endzone, untouched.
- Fieldgoal kicking. 1-2 tonight on a wide-right shot that had the power but never was lined up right, the other was a sideways wobbler that did get through but the crowd seemed pretty stunned it was good. If the missed kick was made who knows how that game shakes out, but if the final score by Poly would've held - we're talking a Griz win. However it's not fair to hang 1 missed kick on the loss, there were plenty of other missed opportunities.
- The interceptions. Luckily we got 1 back on a freak fumble and tackle. All 3 picks though came on similar types of passes - what appeared to be major over-throws with no Montana player in the nearby vicinity. Brady's pick last week was the same way - big overthrow and an easy pick.
- The drops. Oh the drops. I don't think the stat books report drops but there just way too many tonight and many coming on key 3rd down passes and one even on a 4th down pass.
- High passes. It seemed a ton of passes were thrown too high today. Many missed opportunities on overthrown balls.
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However this is just 1 game and even better for the Griz, it's a non-conference game. They'll learn from this and improve. We've got two weeks to rest up and get prepared for a major road test. It's not a "must win" game but it's one that would sure be great to have so we can roll into conference with some good confidence.
Additionally some other takeaways from this game:
- Our defense is good. Yeah I'm worried about DT health especially now that it seems Peevey is hurt too, but overall this defense can flat out play. KVA, Kose, and Gamboa are great linebackers. Harris and Nelson are a very good duo. And the rotation at safety is working great, Yamen, Manu, Whitted, and Johnson all had some big plays tonight. Tryone Holmes is a beast and Crittenden made such a major late play. I really like what I'm seeing out of this group. If we can get DT settled in and Kidder back this group is going to turn into something real good.
- Jamaal Jones's catch I've not yet seen a replay of but I want to. It looked pretty incredible.
- John Nguyen showing once again his best asset - that he's so tough to bring down cleanly. I still think he was robbed by not getting the TD there, that run was an incredible effort.
- Also haven't seen the replay but I think Ellis was down on that early called fumble.
- Oline again was good... not great... but much better than what a lot of posters on here feared. Luke had some earrant and wild snaps and there were some breakdowns here and there but mostly (especially in the 2nd half) Brady had decent time.
- 20 tackles for Kendrick Van Ackeren today? Wow. He was in on most plays, they went after him and with just 1 exception did not seem to have much to show for it. That 1 exception wasn't really his fault either, he had to guard both the pitch and the QB, chose the pitch and the QB ran right past him.
- 92 plays again today I believe. Shows how sometimes the turnovers and lack of 4th down success really take the wind out of the play count. Add in the amount of negative yards plays, Going by CP TFL's there were 6... seemed like a lot more.
- The defensive plan to put a hurt on Chris Johnson seemed to work pretty good. That guy was in real pain as the game went on and took some major punishment. Take away that 60 yard TD and he would've just had 80 yards tonight. Regardless he was still about 85 yards less than he had last year and was just 4-12 passing for 56 yards.
- The fly sweep tonight sure didn't work the 1 time we saw it....
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But lets look at it like this. Most all of us expected the Griz to be 1-1 at this point, just not in this fashion. We've now got a bye week to rest up and then hit the road. We're 0-0 in conference still, and have all the team goals still in front of them. I watched the Griz leave the field, they looked mad and upset with themselves, understandably. However I do have great confidence that they'll bounce back and that this loss will actually help this team to improve.
Alright Griz Nation, it's late and take heart - there's a lot more fun to come. Days like today are going pains of a new system. But think about it like this. After all of the turnovers and failures in execution, the Griz were right there until the end. They had a chance to win despite everything else that didn't go their way. As they work to clean things up these types of games will fade and they'll be able to come away with more wins.
Get some sleep gang, and enjoy the rest of your weekend! GO GRIZ!
