The Offense...

[Will C]

I absolutely agree Van needs to be used in different ways. It's rough seeing him on the sidelines for thirty offensive snaps. Get him in space and give him a chance to make some plays. Like I've said before, UM offense could be one of the best in the BS, maybe the nation.

 

[montana_jack]

Why isn't bring back Air Bear an option???

Full house, triple option is our only chance next year.

 

[Silvertip]

The dog ate Mick's game plan...

 

[Montana Born]

We were in Max protection a bunch of times. Ran a wheel route to Canada one
time for 50 yards and never ran it again. So their linebackers filled the gaps and Henderson and Jones got double coverage. Also in this same package the CC backers would flow to the back on a run play and JJ would carry out his fake and the weak side was wide open,he didn't keep the ball one time. Opportunities were there but we didn't take advantage.

 

[bigkid]

Last night coaches show was telling. As far as the offense went JJ thought the offense played pretty well. Definite emphasis on returning skill players and he seemed kinda shocked at the outcome. Cold weather bothered him and it was the first time he wore a glove. Said it was different. Delaney seemed excited about next year. Commented on the o-line mentioning that ever since he remembered we always had a big physical offense line and that will continue if the up coming replacements do the things necessary once winter workouts start. No doubt they will miss Oiland,Poehls, and Kistler and both indicated it. Delaney seemed excited about the linebacker spot and even mentioned Gamboa(sp). As far as defense I think Delaney was surprised at the lackluster effort and mentioned that Tye was surprised the performance. Defense IMO was a huge let down Saturday. All in all I think the disappointment and surprise was evident by both Delaney and JJ. I did like Delaneys demeanor and attitude.. Bottom line is if you think you're dissapointed and frustrated the team feels far worse. All in all we had a good season.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

Our offense scored exactly 2.8 ppg less than Eastern. Our defense gave up 5.2 ppg less than Eastern.

 

[poorgriz]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

Our offense scored exactly 2.8 ppg less than Eastern. Our defense gave up 5.2 ppg less than Eastern.

Apples and Oranges. EWU had a WAY tougher schedule.

 

[montana_jack]

Last night coaches show was telling. As far as the offense went JJ thought the offense played pretty well. Definite emphasis on returning skill players and he seemed kinda shocked at the outcome. Cold weather bothered him and it was the first time he wore a glove. Said it was different. Delaney seemed excited about next year. Commented on the o-line mentioning that ever since he remembered we always had a big physical offense line and that will continue if the up coming replacements do the things necessary once winter workouts start. No doubt they will miss Oiland,Poehls, and Kistler and both indicated it. Delaney seemed excited about the linebacker spot and even mentioned Gamboa(sp). As far as defense I think Delaney was surprised at the lackluster effort and mentioned that Tye was surprised the performance. Defense IMO was a huge let down Saturday. All in all I think the disappointment and surprise was evident by both Delaney and JJ. I did like Delaneys demeanor and attitude.. Bottom line is if you think you're dissapointed and frustrated the team feels far worse. All in all we had a good season.

Good post. Anyone have a link to the recorded version?

 

[griz4life]

Last night coaches show was telling. As far as the offense went JJ thought the offense played pretty well. Definite emphasis on returning skill players and he seemed kinda shocked at the outcome. Cold weather bothered him and it was the first time he wore a glove. Said it was different. Delaney seemed excited about next year. Commented on the o-line mentioning that ever since he remembered we always had a big physical offense line and that will continue if the up coming replacements do the things necessary once winter workouts start. No doubt they will miss Oiland,Poehls, and Kistler and both indicated it. Delaney seemed excited about the linebacker spot and even mentioned Gamboa(sp). As far as defense I think Delaney was surprised at the lackluster effort and mentioned that Tye was surprised the performance. Defense IMO was a huge let down Saturday. All in all I think the disappointment and surprise was evident by both Delaney and JJ. I did like Delaneys demeanor and attitude.. Bottom line is if you think you're dissapointed and frustrated the team feels far worse. All in all we had a good season.

The offense did play pretty well, 82 plays, 35 points, 388 passing yards, 174 rushing---5 ypc avg, 557 total yards, 28:23 top. That should be enough to win most games.

 

[Eriul]

Our offense was actually pretty well this year, the question is whether or not we can recover from losing 3 o-lineman and I think we can. I personally just like a scheme change but I dunno, that's why I'm not a coach.

 

[Eriul]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

Our offense scored exactly 2.8 ppg less than Eastern. Our defense gave up 5.2 ppg less than Eastern.

Yah... SoS...Oregon state?

Apples/oranges.

 

[Htowngriz]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

He may not be on Kupp's level, but Hendo is easily the second best receiver in the conference.

 

[Griz!ron]

The article about Boise state is fantastic! It got me thinking that the struggles we have had this year is in the play callers hands, like many have chimed in about. My bent is that our coordinators are in a learning process themselves.

Case in point: Many of our games this year we starting off decently, but then the other team made adjustments and score 2-3 touchdowns before the half (CC, EWU, ??? ) We make adjustments at the half and then keep the other team out of the end zone for most of the second half, while we mount a comeback. IF our coordinators were quicker at recognizing what the other team is attempting to do and adjusting sooner we may have won a couple more games, or blown a few more team out. The color commentator on the CC game made many comments about how we not making the adjustments. e.g. the QB scrambles are killing the Griz D, they should put a spy on the QB. By the end of 3rd quarter we did just that. Another example from that game was the insistence that we would throw the ball over the top into the wind vs. heavy blitz. During the comeback effort we finally went to slants vs the man coverage. Maybe we should hire that ex-coach.

Calling for the firing of the Coordinators is premature. U of Montana is not a careering ending destination for most coaches. They are too many FBS and a few FCS school that pay quite a bit more, UNLV, Wyoming & NDSU all come to mind. That makes UM a training school. Any young coach is going to be in a learning phase of his career.

 

[griz4life]

I don't think Hynson is in a learning phase. If you're training wheels are still on after 10 years as a coach, you're kind of at the end of your rope.

This was the first year the team was in the Pro style offense woth the exception of two transfers who arrived in fall camp. That's going to limit what you can do with pre snap adjustments. You can't confuse your own athletes. It takes a lot to get 11 players to do the right things at the same time.
The offensive line at times has a hard time staying on their blocks--based on the number who were standing up blocking nobody before plays ended. Another spring and fall of practice should help a lot. I think Scarver and Ralston probably benefited from easing into the system. They should be far along by the first game. Things should be firing better.

 

[statler & waldorf]

I would have thought that, given the players you have, you essentially have a game of stud poker. You would have to play to the strengths you have, JJ being the big suit. If the coaching staff didn't play to the strengths, they need to leave a forwarding address. I did not get to see one snap this year, so my information is what I read on this site, and a one paragraph summary in the local paper.

 

[Griz!ron]

I don't think Hynson is in a learning phase. If you're training wheels are still on after 10 years as a coach, you're kind of at the end of your rope.

This was the first year the team was in the Pro style offense woth the exception of two transfers who arrived in fall camp. That's going to limit what you can do with pre snap adjustments. You can't confuse your own athletes. It takes a lot to get 11 players to do the right things at the same time.
The offensive line at times has a hard time staying on their blocks--based on the number who were standing up blocking nobody before plays ended. Another spring and fall of practice should help a lot. I think Scarver and Ralston probably benefited from easing into the system. They should be far along by the first game. Things should be firing better.

Two fine points regarding not confusing your players and the O-line not holding their blocks. However, I don't see how that explains away the lack of timely in game adjustments.

 

[Big G]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

Really?

 

[mtgrizrule]

Imagine how much better this offense could have been if they learned to consistently utilize dquick short to medium passes. My only complaint on the offense are way too many deep throws. Especially disappointed in the number of attempts against CC. The obsession with the long ball cost us dearly this season.

 

[AZGrizFan]

I think we can all agree the defense needs work, but do you all really think the offense (especially against good teams where we couldn't do anything until the 4th quarter) was good enough?

I think we have the talent to be as potent an offense as Eastern Washington, and we're simply not running the scheme we need to to get there.

We have no one that compares to Adams or Kupp.

Our offense scored exactly 2.8 ppg less than Eastern. Our defense gave up 5.2 ppg less than Eastern.

Apples and Oranges. EWU had a WAY tougher schedule.

THe conference stats aren't that much different. And UM's conference schedule was WAY more difficult than EWU's.

 

[zirge]

I don't think Hynson is in a learning phase. If you're training wheels are still on after 10 years as a coach, you're kind of at the end of your rope.

This was the first year the team was in the Pro style offense woth the exception of two transfers who arrived in fall camp. That's going to limit what you can do with pre snap adjustments. You can't confuse your own athletes. It takes a lot to get 11 players to do the right things at the same time.
The offensive line at times has a hard time staying on their blocks--based on the number who were standing up blocking nobody before plays ended. Another spring and fall of practice should help a lot. I think Scarver and Ralston probably benefited from easing into the system. They should be far along by the first game. Things should be firing better.

i like your overall observation....especially on the o-line...what i saw as well, with new linemen coming in i am not sure of the spring/fall as being much of a factor as for the coaches we will see.