South Dakota State Jackrabbits Scouting Report

[armonte]

I have and the rest of our defense, getting off the blocks is a vast improvement from last year.
I see the front 3 occupying 5 Oline men but need 4-5 for the pressure to put a hurry up in the QB.
I see our 5 DEs having a big role against their TE- Tackles, can't let the TE off the line untouched.

 

[Jackedforlife]

Watch the film. Gubner is a better athlete than most of the line at SDSU. This is going to be fun watching him take over the game.

Well at least you said most, but I’ll take that as you saying “most” to keep it civil.

Honestly I think most Griz fans would say Gubner is most athletic player in the trenches for both teams. They should, they should have that confidence. Just as Jackrabbit fans would say otherwise. Just as Jacks fans would say they feel confident that the OL interior will do well enough to neutralize Gubner.

The game will have skill positions scoring points to win but the game will be won in the trenches.

 

[Wolf777]

Watch the film. Gubner is a better athlete than most of the line at SDSU. This is going to be fun watching him take over the game.

Well at least you said most, but I’ll take that as you saying “most” to keep it civil.

Honestly I think most Griz fans would say Gubner is most athletic player in the trenches for both teams. They should, they should have that confidence. Just as Jackrabbit fans would say otherwise. Just as Jacks fans would say they feel confident that the OL interior will do well enough to neutralize Gubner.

The game will have skill positions scoring points to win but the game will be won in the trenches.

Honestly, that is strength on strength. That will be a battle all game and both sides will win some downs, but the real difference in the trenches in this game will be griz o line versus your d line. Whoever wins that battle will probably make the most difference for their team.

 

[griz fanatic]

SDSU does not win last year if NDSU hadn't lost KEY players to the portal and injuries. Think Florida State this year vs Georgia.
Everyone has made the rabbits into something they are not; and that is a dominant giant killing program.
Montana is a giant killer and has a history of such.

 

[Westernjack]

SDSU does not win last year if NDSU hadn't lost KEY players to the portal and injuries. Think Florida State this year vs Georgia.
Everyone has made the rabbits into something they are not; and that is a dominant giant killing program.
Montana is a giant killer and has a history of such.

Well SDSU beat them in Fargo when they were full strength last year so not sure where your logic for this statement comes from

 

[BWahlberg]

Watch the film. Gubner is a better athlete than most of the line at SDSU. This is going to be fun watching him take over the game.

Well at least you said most, but I’ll take that as you saying “most” to keep it civil.

Honestly I think most Griz fans would say Gubner is most athletic player in the trenches for both teams. They should, they should have that confidence. Just as Jackrabbit fans would say otherwise. Just as Jacks fans would say they feel confident that the OL interior will do well enough to neutralize Gubner.

The game will have skill positions scoring points to win but the game will be won in the trenches.

Thanks for hopping on the thread here! Appreciate the insight.

One thing about Gub - like any good/great NT, neutralizing him essentially means NOT having to spend 2 interior OL on him the whole game. The guy is double teamed a ton and his value is that he still does well fighting through those. He's not a stat monster but in a 3 man front with all sorts of various blitz schemes when he takes up the center and 1 guard he's doing his job.

SDSU's OL is incredible, this should be quite the matchup. If they think they can go 1 on 1 with him that'll presumably close down some lanes in the A gap and limit the Grizzly interior blitz. If it works, big advantage SDSU. If it doesn't... look out!

 

[Westernjack]

Well at least you said most, but I’ll take that as you saying “most” to keep it civil.

Honestly I think most Griz fans would say Gubner is most athletic player in the trenches for both teams. They should, they should have that confidence. Just as Jackrabbit fans would say otherwise. Just as Jacks fans would say they feel confident that the OL interior will do well enough to neutralize Gubner.

The game will have skill positions scoring points to win but the game will be won in the trenches.

Thanks for hopping on the thread here! Appreciate the insight.

One thing about Gub - like any good/great NT, neutralizing him essentially means NOT having to spend 2 interior OL on him the whole game. The guy is double teamed a ton and his value is that he still does well fighting through those. He's not a stat monster but in a 3 man front with all sorts of various blitz schemes when he takes up the center and 1 guard he's doing his job.

SDSU's OL is incredible, this should be quite the matchup. If they think they can go 1 on 1 with him that'll presumably close down some lanes in the A gap and limit the Grizzly interior blitz. If it works, big advantage SDSU. If it doesn't... look out!

SDSU’s center Gus Miller was named the Rimington award winner for best center in the FCS. That matchup between Gubner and Miller will be great to watch. I fully agree, if Miller can handle Gubner 1on1 that is a massive advantage for sdsu

 

[griz fanatic]

SDSU does not win last year if NDSU hadn't lost KEY players to the portal and injuries. Think Florida State this year vs Georgia.
Everyone has made the rabbits into something they are not; and that is a dominant giant killing program.
Montana is a giant killer and has a history of such.

Well SDSU beat them in Fargo when they were full strength last year so not sure where your logic for this statement comes from

The logic is during the playoffs is when it counts. The rest is just practice.

 

[griz fanatic]

Thanks for hopping on the thread here! Appreciate the insight.

One thing about Gub - like any good/great NT, neutralizing him essentially means NOT having to spend 2 interior OL on him the whole game. The guy is double teamed a ton and his value is that he still does well fighting through those. He's not a stat monster but in a 3 man front with all sorts of various blitz schemes when he takes up the center and 1 guard he's doing his job.

SDSU's OL is incredible, this should be quite the matchup. If they think they can go 1 on 1 with him that'll presumably close down some lanes in the A gap and limit the Grizzly interior blitz. If it works, big advantage SDSU. If it doesn't... look out!

SDSU’s center Gus Miller was named the Rimington award winner for best center in the FCS. That matchup between Gubner and Miller will be great to watch. I fully agree, if Miller can handle Gubner 1on1 that is a massive advantage for sdsu

First play is Davis up the middle with Gubner TFL. Mark it down.

 

[Westernjack]

Well SDSU beat them in Fargo when they were full strength last year so not sure where your logic for this statement comes from

The logic is during the playoffs is when it counts. The rest is just practice.

But we did beat them in the playoff, it was the national championship game

 

[Yukon]

https://twitter.com/khansen406/status/1742644777659834675?s=20

 

[Grizzlies1982]

As always. Great write up Brint!

Definitely need our guys to play their best game. Your lopsided comparison above is a fair assessment of how this looks on paper. Rightfully so, our Grizzlies are the underdogs.

So Dakota St has all those gaudy defensive numbers. Though as 'Wolf777' said above, key is how well our offensive line does against their defensive front. For the Griz to win this one we must maintain a decent running game. Not to mention giving McDowell time when throwing would be helpful We have more than enough talent at RB & WR once they get off the mark, and Clifton gives us that wildcard element to keep their D honest. Unless our line caves in, we are going to pose more of a threat to them than they expect.

In essence it really will hinge on our ability to dominate time of possession and keep the ball away from their offense. We must stop Davis. He doesn't seem that special. Not particularly large, nor fast... until he busts yet another 50 yard TD run. He is so friggin dangerous. Somehow we must neutralize him. If we can, Montana wins this game. I trust our blitzing linebackers, and our DB's coverage will keep their all-star QB off balance just enough for our guys to win this.

Hit them hard and hit them often!
Go Griz!

 

[hardcore]

SDSU does not win last year if NDSU hadn't lost KEY players to the portal and injuries. Think Florida State this year vs Georgia.
Everyone has made the rabbits into something they are not; and that is a dominant giant killing program.
Montana is a giant killer and has a history of such.

South Dakota state was by far and away the best team in the fcs last year and they are by far the best in the fcs this year.

I will say other than the 2013 and 2019 bison teams that won the Natties, these last two years for the rabbits are on par with any other bison championship team they are that good.

Can Montana pull off the upset and win, sure they can anything is possible

I got south Dakota state 30-13 over the griz, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's not similar to the ndsu-msu national championship score.

 

[fltheadgriz]

Everyone is overlooking special teams...hope SDSU does the same

 

[AZGrizFan]

SDSU does not win last year if NDSU hadn't lost KEY players to the portal and injuries. Think Florida State this year vs Georgia.
Everyone has made the rabbits into something they are not; and that is a dominant giant killing program.
Montana is a giant killer and has a history of such.

South Dakota state was by far and away the best team in the fcs last year and they are by far the best in the fcs this year.

I will say other than the 2013 and 2019 bison teams that won the Natties, these last two years for the rabbits are on par with any other bison championship team they are that good.

Can Montana pull off the upset and win, sure they can anything is possible

I got south Dakota state 30-13 over the griz, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's not similar to the ndsu-msu national championship score.

We were told for 10 weeks that it was the ‘Scats, the Jacks and then a uuuuuuuuuuuge divide to the rest of FCS. Well we put that rumor to rest on the 17th of November. I see nothing that would preclude me from thinking we can put another rumor to rest on the 7th.

 

[putter]

I think a huge advantage for the Griz is the coaching staff. The amount of FBS, FCS, and NFL experience is tremendous. Can this staff, with 3 weeks to prepare, out X and O a first-year head coach and OC to be another X factor?

 

[MinnesotaJack]

This was a tremendous write up, very thorough and accurate. I would add as 2 more players to watch for SDSU are CB's DyShawn Taylor (#5) & Dalys Beanum (#7). Neither are pure lockdown corners, but are still good enough to keep the other teams best receivers relatively in check in single coverage. With your dangerous trio of WR's on offense, their ability to cover 1-on-1 will be a key match up when the Griz are on offense.

 

[armonte]

#14 Fontes hasn't been having very good games lately and I think he is due as he is talented, might be
the best pure athlete, the other two you'll prepare for, him not so much. I think this game he's an Ace in the Hole!
Griz Win!

This was a tremendous write up, very thorough and accurate. I would add as 2 more players to watch for SDSU are CB's DyShawn Taylor (#5) & Dalys Beanum (#7). Neither are pure lockdown corners, but are still good enough to keep the other teams best receivers relatively in check in single coverage. With your dangerous trio of WR's on offense, their ability to cover 1-on-1 will be a key match up when the Griz are on offense.

 

[GrizRick]

Brint, as usual, did an outstanding job. In a follow up, he quoted the Sagarin rankings. I question the reliability of the Sagarin rankings. As of today his rankings for the top 4 FCS teams are:

19 - SDSU
54 - NDSU
66 - Pity Kitties
68 - The Good Guys

I think the flaw in his system is reliance on strength of schedule, which if I understand it correctly depends on the ranking of the opponent at the time a game is played, and ignores how well that opponent has done since. So, if the Pity Kitties play a team that is ranked highly at the start of the season but that team then goes on to have a poor season, the Kitties still get the benefit to their strength of schedule of having played a highly ranked team. If this works different from how I have described, please elucidate.

 

[griz fanatic]

I think a huge advantage for the Griz is the coaching staff. The amount of FBS, FCS, and NFL experience is tremendous. Can this staff, with 3 weeks to prepare, out X and O a first-year head coach and OC to be another X factor?

Not enough is said about the inexperience of the SDSU coaching staff. Some of them are not far removed from being players, or having their own personal playing careers ended by the Griz.
I look for the wisdom and experience of the Montana staff to shine under pressure and the emotional inexperienced SDSU staff to wilt under pressure.