Regular Season Predictions...

[SaskGriz]

Can we please keep politics out of just one thread!!!!!

Sorry that was totally my fault. Carry on.

 

[brewskis]

8-3

I think the OL will be improved and that will allow Gus more time to throw and give our inexperienced receivers time to get open. Running game should also be a bit better with OL improvement and basically the same stable of RBs. If OL hasn't madee the progress they have been said to made and become noticeably better next fall, then I'd tack on another loss or 2 to that above prediction.

I think our DL will be good, but I also think we will be missing that dominant pass rusher that we've had the past few years. Kidder is likely to have a monster year, but I don't know if he can get to the QB as quickly as Wags or Holmes. I could see Schye becoming an important x-factor if he can prove he can be trusted to be more than just a pass rusher.

CB is an obvious concern, but inexperience at the LB position is also an unproven. Pass defense has become more and more important for LBs, probably why we've seen a lot of converted safeties at that position recently. I think those guys can fly around the field and make plays, but I will be interested to see if they can provide serviceable pass coverage. There is a learning curve there...

I think the issue of lacking a pass rusher is going to not be as big of a concern as you think. Ty's defense basically survived on guys like Wags and Holmes.

Look at Saban's defense at Bama for example. They don't really have guys who are jumping off the stat sheet with nation leading sack totals. They still get home though, that's because there are zero weak links and Kirby and Nick have done their homework and have blitz packages that either result in sacks or bad throws.

I think Ryan Johnson will surprise some this season with a double-digit sack season. Kidder will get his too, but the main benefit there is that no Big Sky team will have the ability to run on his side of the line. The interior is stouter than last season, deeper as well. I don't think we'll see QBs have much time to sit in the pocket.

 

[griz5700]

7-4

O-line still negates an effective run game, forcing us the throw too often
Phillips takes over the starting QB job during the season for an ineffective Gus
Defense shows flashes of great things to come, but gives up big plays due to lack of experience and lack of time playing together as a unit.
CB play still haunts the Griz, like it has done for several seasons.
Safety play improves tremendously over past few years.
D-line play is solid, and we stop the run much better than in recent years.
Lots of dropped passes
The worst kicking game in 30+ years at UM

What makes you think the D-line will be that much better against the run?

 

[Atlanta Griz1]

7-4

O-line still negates an effective run game, forcing us the throw too often
Phillips takes over the starting QB job during the season for an ineffective Gus
Defense shows flashes of great things to come, but gives up big plays due to lack of experience and lack of time playing together as a unit.
CB play still haunts the Griz, like it has done for several seasons.
Safety play improves tremendously over past few years.
D-line play is solid, and we stop the run much better than in recent years.
Lots of dropped passes
The worst kicking game in 30+ years at UM

What makes you think the D-line will be that much better against the run?

We've got some new beef at D-tackle, and I think our rotation at D-end will prove to be better against the run than last year. As good as Holmes was as a pass rusher, he was not that strong against the run. Also, we have a little more size at LB, and supposedly our new safety is very strong against the run.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

7-4

O-line still negates an effective run game, forcing us the throw too often
Phillips takes over the starting QB job during the season for an ineffective Gus
Defense shows flashes of great things to come, but gives up big plays due to lack of experience and lack of time playing together as a unit.
CB play still haunts the Griz, like it has done for several seasons.
Safety play improves tremendously over past few years.
D-line play is solid, and we stop the run much better than in recent years.
Lots of dropped passes
The worst kicking game in 30+ years at UM

What makes you think the D-line will be that much better against the run?

We've got some new beef at D-tackle, and I think our rotation at D-end will prove to be better against the run than last year. As good as Holmes was as a pass rusher, he was not that strong against the run. Also, we have a little more size at LB, and supposedly our new safety is very strong against the run.

I'm thinking along similar lines. The run D last year was weak. In fact, it was a huge liability. Maybe the imported talent can make a difference at DT. If you can't stop the run, you're screwed.... We'll see.

 

[CV Griz Fan]

7-4

O-line still negates an effective run game, forcing us the throw too often
Phillips takes over the starting QB job during the season for an ineffective Gus
Defense shows flashes of great things to come, but gives up big plays due to lack of experience and lack of time playing together as a unit.
CB play still haunts the Griz, like it has done for several seasons.
Safety play improves tremendously over past few years.
D-line play is solid, and we stop the run much better than in recent years.
Lots of dropped passes
The worst kicking game in 30+ years at UM

What makes you think the D-line will be that much better against the run?

We've got some new beef at D-tackle, and I think our rotation at D-end will prove to be better against the run than last year. As good as Holmes was as a pass rusher, he was not that strong against the run. Also, we have a little more size at LB, and supposedly our new safety is very strong against the run.

I'm thinking along similar lines. The run D last year was weak. In fact, it was a huge liability. Maybe the imported talent can make a difference at DT. If you can't stop the run, you're screwed.... We'll see.

 

[brewskis]

7-4

O-line still negates an effective run game, forcing us the throw too often
Phillips takes over the starting QB job during the season for an ineffective Gus
Defense shows flashes of great things to come, but gives up big plays due to lack of experience and lack of time playing together as a unit.
CB play still haunts the Griz, like it has done for several seasons.
Safety play improves tremendously over past few years.
D-line play is solid, and we stop the run much better than in recent years.
Lots of dropped passes
The worst kicking game in 30+ years at UM

What makes you think the D-line will be that much better against the run?

We've got some new beef at D-tackle, and I think our rotation at D-end will prove to be better against the run than last year. As good as Holmes was as a pass rusher, he was not that strong against the run. Also, we have a little more size at LB, and supposedly our new safety is very strong against the run.

No more Ty should help as well.

 

[first11]

8-3 regular season seems an optimistic and realistic record.

Questionable kicking game, offensive line appear to be our flaws.

 

[George Ferguson]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

 

[Sam A. Blitz]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

He had some struggles his first couple years against the run. That might be what people remember. Not real fair since he was playing as a true Frosh... He didn't seem to become an all-around DE till his JR year. By his SR year he was dominant in all facets. I think we have the guys to maintain or maybe even improve our rush defense on the DL, but there are some big shoes to fill in the pass rush...

 

[Atlanta Griz1]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

Not true. Watch the game tapes.

 

[Yukon]

A lot of debby downers on here. I like how Stitt and company are excited about this team. I say 9-2.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

Not true. Watch the game tapes.

I'm certainly not going to pin the team's dismal run-stopping on TH. But, it was not good last season.

Offensive line production and stopping the run are the two areas I believe we need the most improvement in for the upcoming season. I am optimistic for the latter - I think our scheme will be better. I am less optimistic for the former.

 

[George Ferguson]

Atl, I don't need to watch the tapes. My scout friend from the NFL already told me what I need to know.

 

[jcu27]

Griz go undefeated...

 

[Yukon]

Griz go undefeated...

Hope you're correct. That would be awesome.

 

[tgreseth]

Atl, I don't need to watch the tapes. My scout friend from the NFL already told me what I need to know.

I like this side of your personality Hav...well played!

 

[getgrizzy]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

Not true. Watch the game tapes.

I'm certainly not going to pin the team's dismal run-stopping on TH. But, it was not good last season.

Offensive line production and stopping the run are the two areas I believe we need the most improvement in for the upcoming season. I am optimistic for the latter - I think our scheme will be better. I am less optimistic for the former.

Considering that Holmes and Kidder led the league in tackles for a DE and DT and we allowed the second least yards per carry I'm going to call bullshit. We also played the top five rushing teams in our conference. I can't believe how much crap people make up on this board.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

Not true. Watch the game tapes.

I'm certainly not going to pin the team's dismal run-stopping on TH. But, it was not good last season.

Offensive line production and stopping the run are the two areas I believe we need the most improvement in for the upcoming season. I am optimistic for the latter - I think our scheme will be better. I am less optimistic for the former.

Considering that Holmes and Kidder led the league in tackles for a DE and DT and we allowed the second least yards per carry I'm going to call bullshit. We also played the top five rushing teams in our conference. I can't believe how much crap people make up on this board.

Maybe they were the top five rushing teams BECAUSE they got to play the Grizzlies....hmmmm? :lol: :lol:

 

[SoldierGriz]

Tyrone Holmes was considered by many to be the best run defendin d-end the Griz have ever had. lmao

Not true. Watch the game tapes.

I'm certainly not going to pin the team's dismal run-stopping on TH. But, it was not good last season.

Offensive line production and stopping the run are the two areas I believe we need the most improvement in for the upcoming season. I am optimistic for the latter - I think our scheme will be better. I am less optimistic for the former.

Considering that Holmes and Kidder led the league in tackles for a DE and DT and we allowed the second least yards per carry I'm going to call bullshit. We also played the top five rushing teams in our conference. I can't believe how much crap people make up on this board.

Really? You don't recall teams running straight down hill...at will...against us last year? If you don't remember - I can't help you. We were decent on the edges, but we were NOT good against teams that ran right at us. This might not hurt us in the conference - although it DID last year. But, I guarantee it has and will hurt us in the playoffs. They need to get it fixed.