Stop complaining about the OL and give them some love

[Copper Griz]

What it really all comes down to is not whether the lines are adequate but whether they are elite, which is what we need in order to win a natty. Some of us just simply form opinions by watching the team play on a weekly basis, And therefore it doesn't seem that they are up to the standard needed. Maybe I'm wrong, I certainly might be. Or I could be right. I guess we'll find out.

I always find it interesting that some on the board try to downplay or degrade the opinions of others based on their experience as a player, who they know in coaching or the players they talk to. (Or a lack thereof) If you listen to any three coaches having a beer together, there will be a ton of disagreement. In the case of the Griz, what is it going to take to win a natty? That’s the real question right now. Bobby Hauck has climbed every mountain, but he hasn’t planted the national championship flag. Until he does and even after, prepare for concerns about his teams, criticism and debate. The o line and 3-3-5 are easy targets based on what you stated. Opinions of numerous posters watching the games and making general observations. Win the natty Bobby and silence the doubters and discourse. How lucky are Griz fans that there is so much discussion on the board, fan support and frustration. I would like to see more people post and think the snarky experts on the board actually decrease discussion. That is unfortunate.

 

[AnotherGrizFan]

I always find it interesting that some on the board try to downplay or degrade the opinions of others based on their experience as a player, who they know in coaching or the players they talk to. (Or a lack thereof) If you listen to any three coaches having a beer together, there will be a ton of disagreement. In the case of the Griz, what is it going to take to win a natty? That’s the real question right now. Bobby Hauck has climbed every mountain, but he hasn’t planted the national championship flag. Until he does and even after, prepare for concerns about his teams, criticism and debate. The o line and 3-3-5 are easy targets based on what you stated. Opinions of numerous posters based on their watching the games. Win the natty Bobby and silence the doubters and discourse. How lucky are Griz fans that there is so much discussion on the board, fan support and frustration. I would like to see more people post and think the snarky experts on the board actually decrease discussion. That is unfortunate.

Great post. Here’s a perfect example…about a month ago I posted that I would like to see our defensive line play with more physicality in preparation for the challenges they will most definitely see during a deep run in the playoffs. I was immediately called out by a guy who tried to diminish my point of view (which is shared by many) because in his mind he’s positive he’s the smartest guy on the board. I had no idea who he was until he felt compelled to publish his resume which was questionable at best. This guy is a master of creating a narrative and then supporting it with confirmation bias without ever demonstrating an actual football IQ. Instead of allowing a new participant to voice an opinion he decides he to make crazy accusations about me being some guy that he had somehow run off the site. Unbelievable. Anyone can go read the posts I’ve made and see that I have not been critical of the program so I have no idea why this guy feels he has to flex up on me but I see him do it to others posters incessantly and I’m not sure why it’s tolerated. I’m going to go back to ignoring him now but I appreciate your post.

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

Schmidt and Colter talk OLine in this episode, and even mention the PFF grades some want to dismiss. They argue that the OLines just not very good. They argue that they don’t pass the eye test or grade well on paper. Schmidt has played the game. They have a lot to say in this weeks episode. It was a good one

Side note, colter says we should try to be more like 2010 EWU. He and I agree on this one and it’s something I’ve said before. Since the OLine sucks we should lean into passing more. Let’s do our best 2010 EWU impression. Then next offseason try to find the NIL funds to go buy an offensive line since we can’t develop one in house. (Colter didn’t say that part)

 

[nicktaber58]

Schmidt and Colter talk OLine in this episode, and even mention the PFF grades some want to dismiss. They argue that the OLines just not very good. They argue that they don’t pass the eye test or grade well on paper. Schmidt has played the game. They have a lot to say in this weeks episode. It was a good one

Side note, colter says we should try to be more like 2010 EWU. He and I agree on this one and it’s something I’ve said before. Since the OLine sucks we should lean into passing more. Let’s do our best 2010 EWU impression. Then next offseason try to find the NIL funds to go buy an offensive line since we can’t develop one in house.

The o line does not suck dorks

 

[nicktaber58]

The o line does not suck dorks

Nerd alert on Isle 4 for the egrizzers who feel compelled to dog on a position group fairly important to the #1 offense in the conference.

Elite? Probably not. But they're getting it done for the most part. We'll see continued improvement.

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

Nerd alert on Isle 4 for the egrizzers who feel compelled to dog on a position group fairly important to the #1 offense in the conference.

Elite? Probably not. But they're getting it done for the most part. We'll see continued improvement.

I work with and talk football with Brad Daly often. He’s pretty fair in his assessment of the Griz, and I’m pretty fair in my assessment when discussing his bobcats. His number one critique of the Griz, is that save a player here and there, the OL and DL are without doubt lacking, but specifically the OL. He’s not impressed. That dude, and especially his brother KNOW BALL. He’d be licking his chops to face off against our tackles

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

The o line does not suck dorks

The thing we are always trying to convey is the lens this is analyzed through.

The Griz have one of the three or four best offensive lines in the Big Sky Conference. Which, in turn, makes the Griz offensive line one of the 15 best offensive lines in the country and probably more like the top 8-10 units in the nation. So they are better than 115+ FCS offensive lines....But what are the two things that NDSU has had as an advantage over everybody else over the last 15 years? QB and OL.

Low and behold....Montana figured out the QB. I think Ah Yat is better than Cole Payton and if/when he hits his ceiling, I think he's about as good as you can have at the FCS level. And the fact that he's a legacy guy who is likely going to stay makes him a unicorn.

But the OL is not close to what NDSU has rolled out the last decade and a half. I've stood on the sideline in Frisco four times and watched the entire NDSU offensive line battery warm up. They have dudes we have not seen at Montana or anywhere else in spades. It's also an unfair comparison because NDSU has better offensive line prestige and tradition than all but about 20-25 college football programs in the country, period. Very few college football programs are pumping out top 100 OL NFL draft picks like NDSU...

Which brings me back to the EWU point. Montana State has been NDSU light for the last 6-7 years. And what has that gotten them? On one hand, a collection of playoff wins, six out of 8 in the rivalry and two title game appearances. On the other hand, it's gotten then five playoff losses to...NDSU. And another to SDSU.

SDSU was trying to be NDSU-light...then they figured out that you need Mark Gronowski and the Jahnke twins and electric skill players to get over the top....and they did. What do the Griz have right now? An electric battery of skill players.

So, therefore, my point is not necessarily that the Griz should try to be EWU ala 2010, although that team beat NDSU and ran the table to become the last Big Sky team to win the natty. My point is that the mid-2010s EWU teams led by Vernon Adams & Gage Gubrud flanked by Cooper Kupp and Kendrick Bourne might be the blue print.

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

Nerd alert on Isle 4 for the egrizzers who feel compelled to dog on a position group fairly important to the #1 offense in the conference.

Elite? Probably not. But they're getting it done for the most part. We'll see continued improvement.

We talked quite a bit about how the offensive play calling, having an elite QB and the great skill players that the Griz have + continued improvement can continue to cater to the Griz being lights out on offense.

 

[nicktaber58]

The thing we are always trying to convey is the lens this is analyzed through.

The Griz have one of the three or four best offensive lines in the Big Sky Conference. Which, in turn, makes the Griz offensive line one of the 15 best offensive lines in the country and probably more like the top 8-10 units in the nation. So they are better than 115+ FCS offensive lines....But what are the two things that NDSU has had as an advantage over everybody else over the last 15 years? QB and OL.

Low and behold....Montana figured out the QB. I think Ah Yat is better than Cole Payton and if/when he hits his ceiling, I think he's about as good as you can have at the FCS level. And the fact that he's a legacy guy who is likely going to stay makes him a unicorn.

But the OL is not close to what NDSU has rolled out the last decade and a half. I've stood on the sideline in Frisco four times and watched the entire NDSU offensive line battery warm up. They have dudes we have not seen at Montana or anywhere else in spades. It's also an unfair comparison because NDSU has better offensive line prestige and tradition than all but about 20-25 college football programs in the country, period. Very few college football programs are pumping out top 100 OL NFL draft picks like NDSU...

Which brings me back to the EWU point. Montana State has been NDSU light for the last 6-7 years. And what has that gotten them? On one hand, a collection of playoff wins, six out of 8 in the rivalry and two title game appearances. On the other hand, it's gotten then five playoff losses to...NDSU. And another to SDSU.

SDSU was trying to be NDSU-light...then they figured out that you need Mark Gronowski and the Jahnke twins and electric skill players to get over the top....and they did. What do the Griz have right now? An electric battery of skill players.

So, therefore, my point is not necessarily that the Griz should try to be EWU ala 2010, although that team beat NDSU and ran the table to become the last Big Sky team to win the natty. My point is that the mid-2010s EWU teams led by Vernon Adams & Gage Gubrud flanked by Cooper Kupp and Kendrick Bourne might be the blue print.

So why fixate on the one position group that isnt the number one? Isn't it more fun to discuss things that are the best? It'd be like if I spent my energy on the financial planning concepts that I thought were not as great all day, but I could talk about the plans that are successful but chose not to. It truly doesn't make sense to me. Pods and mental time is being consummed by a decent position group but perhaps not the best aspect of the team, when we could be talking about the successes of which position groups are then truly responsible for being the #1 offense in the conference.

 

[nicktaber58]

I work with and talk football with Brad Daly often. He’s pretty fair in his assessment of the Griz, and I’m pretty fair in my assessment when discussing his bobcats. His number one critique of the Griz, is that save a player here and there, the OL and DL are without doubt lacking, but specifically the OL. He’s not impressed. That dude, and especially his brother KNOW BALL. He’d be licking his chops to face off against our tackles

Amick would whoop his ass and hes only a freshman

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

Amick would whoop his ass and hes only a freshman

Ok now I know you’re not serious. Daly was absolutely one of the best pass rushers in the FCS in the last 30+ years. Definitely one of the best in my lifetime, cats or griz. Also, had he been healthy the dude would have been in the league. No doubt about it

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

So why fixate on the one position group that isnt the number one? Isn't it more fun to discuss things that are the best? It'd be like if I spent my energy on the financial planning concepts that I thought were not as great all day, but I could talk about the plans that are successful but chose not to. It truly doesn't make sense to me. Pods and mental time is being consummed by a decent position group but perhaps not the best aspect of the team, when we could be talking about the successes of which position groups are then truly responsible for being the #1 offense in the conference.

For me it’s because I see the offense sputter and get shut down for a quarter or two at a time, arguably because we can’t get a push on the offensive line and establish a run game. Consistency would shut me right up

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

So why fixate on the one position group that isnt the number one? Isn't it more fun to discuss things that are the best? It'd be like if I spent my energy on the financial planning concepts that I thought were not as great all day, but I could talk about the plans that are successful but chose not to. It truly doesn't make sense to me. Pods and mental time is being consummed by a decent position group but perhaps not the best aspect of the team, when we could be talking about the successes of which position groups are then truly responsible for being the #1 offense in the conference.

If you listen to ALL the content, I spend the majority of my time talking about the positive aspects of the Griz. We did 1/3 of the show this week with Brooks about how the Griz have three bonafide Walter Payton Award candidates (Gillman, Ah Yat, Wortham) - how fun!

We've also done deep dives on Ah Yat's progress, my obsession with Evan Shafer, the fact that this is the most fun Griz season I can remember since I was in college, the fact that Wortham is an all-time Griz already, the fact that Gillman is threatening the baddest MoFo I've ever known in Lex Hilliard ....and on and on.

Don't lump us in with the Griz Fan Pod nerds

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

If you listen to ALL the content, I spend the majority of my time talking about the positive aspects of the Griz. We did 1/3 of the show this week with Brooks about how the Griz have three bonafide Walter Payton Award candidates (Gillman, Ah Yat, Wortham) - how fun!

We've also done deep dives on Ah Yat's progress, my obsession with Evan Shafer, the fact that this is the most fun Griz season I can remember since I was in college, the fact that Wortham is an all-time Griz already, the fact that Gillman is threatening the baddest MoFo I've ever known in Lex Hilliard ....and on and on.

Don't lump us in with the Griz Fan Pod nerds

All true. I listen to every show, and they’re mostly positive, so a fair critique of the OL and DL is nice for balance.

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

If we had this years skill players and QB with the 2007 offensive line……..

 

[nicktaber58]

All true. I listen to every show, and they’re mostly positive, so a fair critique of the OL and DL is nice for balance.

Yep, im talking about chatter on this site and in several of the pod circles. Colter knows I love him

 

[nicktaber58]

If we had this years skill players and QB with the 2007 offensive line……..

This o line could be

If you listen to ALL the content, I spend the majority of my time talking about the positive aspects of the Griz. We did 1/3 of the show this week with Brooks about how the Griz have three bonafide Walter Payton Award candidates (Gillman, Ah Yat, Wortham) - how fun!

We've also done deep dives on Ah Yat's progress, my obsession with Evan Shafer, the fact that this is the most fun Griz season I can remember since I was in college, the fact that Wortham is an all-time Griz already, the fact that Gillman is threatening the baddest MoFo I've ever known in Lex Hilliard ....and on and on.

Don't lump us in with the Griz Fan Pod nerds

 

[Colter_Nuanez56]

If we had this years skill players and QB with the 2007 offensive line……..

The 2007 Griz were the most talented team in school history. People talk about the 2008 and 2009 losses in the natty because they were in the natty....and those are my boys, my roommates and my classmates that were seniors those two years....but the 2007 team had the greatest convergence of talent ever.

Offensive skill talent:

QB – Cole Bergquist – CFL

WR – Marc Mariani (NFL Draft Pick), Ryan Bagley (played in the CFL and AFL), Mike Ferriter (had cancer or would've gotten a shot), Craig Chambers (Washington transfer), Erik Allen (Oklahoma State transfer), Ty Palmer (would’ve gotten an NFL chance without a Matt Miller-esque ankle injury)

RB – Lex Hilliard, Chase Reynolds, Andrew Schmidt

FB – Kevin Klaboe

TE – Steve Pfahler (NFL), Dan Beaudin (NFL),

Plus a top-notch OL.....plus a defense that included NFL draft picks Kroy Biermann, Shann Schillinger, Colt Anderson, sick linebackers and on and on and on.

 

[nicktaber58]

The 2007 Griz were the most talented team in school history. People talk about the 2008 and 2009 losses in the natty because they were in the natty....and those are my boys, my roommates and my classmates that were seniors those two years....but the 2007 team had the greatest convergence of talent ever.

Offensive skill talent:

QB – Cole Bergquist – CFL

WR – Marc Mariani (NFL Draft Pick), Ryan Bagley (played in the CFL and AFL), Mike Ferriter (had cancer or would've gotten a shot), Craig Chambers (Washington transfer), Erik Allen (Oklahoma State transfer), Ty Palmer (would’ve gotten an NFL chance without a Matt Miller-esque ankle injury)

RB – Lex Hilliard, Chase Reynolds, Andrew Schmidt

FB – Kevin Klaboe

TE – Steve Pfahler (NFL), Dan Beaudin (NFL),

Plus a top-notch OL.....plus a defense that included NFL draft picks Kroy Biermann, Shann Schillinger, Colt Anderson, sick linebackers and on and on and on.

And yet lost via the triple option wofford terriers and a missed field goal at the buzzer by their nfl bound kicker. Kinda my case in point. Teams can win and lose via a variety of ways. Our o line is serviceable, and fixating on their perceived short comings is nerd alert fan behavior.

 

[hm.grwn.grizfan]

The 2007 Griz were the most talented team in school history. People talk about the 2008 and 2009 losses in the natty because they were in the natty....and those are my boys, my roommates and my classmates that were seniors those two years....but the 2007 team had the greatest convergence of talent ever.

Offensive skill talent:

QB – Cole Bergquist – CFL

WR – Marc Mariani (NFL Draft Pick), Ryan Bagley (played in the CFL and AFL), Mike Ferriter (had cancer or would've gotten a shot), Craig Chambers (Washington transfer), Erik Allen (Oklahoma State transfer), Ty Palmer (would’ve gotten an NFL chance without a Matt Miller-esque ankle injury)

RB – Lex Hilliard, Chase Reynolds, Andrew Schmidt

FB – Kevin Klaboe

TE – Steve Pfahler (NFL), Dan Beaudin (NFL),

Plus a top-notch OL.....plus a defense that included NFL draft picks Kroy Biermann, Shann Schillinger, Colt Anderson, sick linebackers and on and on and on.

It was fun watching that team as well as the ‘08 and ‘09 squads. I was a sophomore at UM in ‘08. Those were some sweet teams.