Post-game thoughts, EWU-style

catsalltheway · Post by **catsalltheway** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 4:59 pm

I think Bozone Cat did an excellent job of telling us his thoughts...you could tell he put alot of time in it...I agree with him in almost everything...I also have a few thoughts...we should have, why didn't he, etc., etc....but it is over...and we have to look at next week...one thing I question though...field posistion from our punting and kickoffs...not good...if Dorski is hurt, why didn't they let EJ kick it long???? I watched him before the game and almost every kick was into and beyond the end zone...and I know Lulay whoo is just fantastic...but why can't he just punt it the regular way when his style of punting wasn't working there for awhile????
I give credit to all the kids...especially the seniors who played their hearts out....and can't wait for next week with the Grizz...go Bobcats

blazerbird · Post by **blazerbird** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:35 pm

I watched the 'Cats/Eagles game on TV yesterday and was ecstatic my team won. However, I've seen my team on the losing end many times and know what true 'Cats fans are feeling. Yesterday's loss shouldn't define your team, though. Of all the teams I've seen my Eagles play this year, the MSU Bobcats are probably the best. Better than Air Force, definitely better than the Griz. Offensively, the 'Cats are amazing. They're powerful at RB, QB, and WR. On defense, they pressured Meyer all day. Something I've not seen much of until the Cal Poly Game.
I used to think the Griz and their fans were the class of our league, and they may still be. Yesterday's game cast some doubt in my mind, though. You've got great players all over the field, and good-spirited fans in the stands and on this board. Next Saturday, the red and white will be pulling for the 'Cats. Go 'Cats go

Eastcoastgriz · Post by **Eastcoastgriz** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 6:54 pm

BozoneCat wrote:After a little sleep to calm down and regain some objectivity, here are some thoughts about the Eastern game:

OTHER

Finally, congrats to Eastern. They played a hell of a game. We did everything I thought we needed to do to win, and still lost. They are going to be a crappy draw for whatever team pulls them in the playoffs. I hope they do the Big Sky proud!

I also thought it was plainly obvious that yesterday's game was an epic battle between the two BY FAR superior teams in the conference. If Eastern hadn't laid an egg against the griz and had played like that against them, they would have beaten the griz by 30. If we play like that next week, we will win by probably at least 20. That is a tough order, though - how can these guys bounce back from a loss like that? Our coaches have their hands full getting our guys ready this week, I hope they are up to the task! Somehow, I think they will...[/b]

BY FAR superior teams?? I am sure we will hear this again next week after we beat the cats.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:02 pm

jagur1 wrote:BozoneCat: i I think Myers proved who the best QB was and it wasn't Lulay. Why? This isn't smack either. The Best QB in the BSC would score from the 2 with 7 plays to get it done.

Football is a team game, one player doesn't win or lose the game all by himself. First off, we actually had 4 plays from the 2, not 7. Second, the play calling that had been so masterful all game long disappeared once we reached that 2 yard line. I don't see that as being Lulay's fault. Third, Eastern's defensive line made two great plays to knock down passes on third and fourth down. Lulay has been able to resurrect this team many times throughout his career, and just because he wasn't able to make the final play yesterday doesn't mean anything. Micheal Jordan didn't hit every last-second shot he took either. Lulay passed for 400+ yards and ran for 110 - I think that clearly demonstrates his superiority. I don't mean to knock Eric Meyer, who is a very, very good quarterback - I just think this highly of Travis. Craig Ochs probably also deserves to have his name included in this discussion, although I think most objective observers would rate him third behind these two.

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:28 pm

BozoneCat: 7 plays from the 4. Next week will give somebody another bullet in the Lulay vrs Craig argument. Lulay had to put up those numbers ala MJ before Pippen. That doesn't prove young MJ was better than old MJ. Better relationship. Marino put up all the numbers and Montana won all the Super Bowls....I will take Meyers over Lulay for BSC MVP. I still don't know how you lost that game yesterday after watching it. All I know is the cat defense isn't even close to the one everybody was talking about at the start of the year. (a I told you so) replacing Joey and Ione wasn't as easy as every cat fan acted like it would be at the start of the year.

Next year the cats will have to replace another great player....good luck

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:47 pm

If we want to get technical, it was 7 plays from the 8. Don't get me wrong, I am still in a state of shock that we weren't able to punch it in, I am just saying that it certainly wasn't Lulay's fault that we lost. I think it should be clear by now that Travis does more than put up numbers - in fact, only a month ago, the knock on Travis was that he never put up MVP-caliber numbers, but DAMN the kid is a winner. Just because we lost yesterday doesn't mean the kid isn't a winner anymore, only now he has the stats to back it up. If you wouldn't take Lulay over Meyer after watching yesterday's game, more power to ya, that is your opinion and that's cool. I have a strong feeling you might be in the minority on that one if a group of non-partisan bystanders were polled, though.

I agree and don't know what else to say about the defense. I don't know who on here or who you were talking to that thought replacing Joey Thomas and Kane Ioane (don't forget to mention two other all-Big Sky secondary members, Kenneth Qualls and Jay Hackett) would be easy. I had a strong feeling we would struggle in the secondary, but I had more faith in our coaches to figure out new defensive alignments and strategies to help them out. We lose four great defensive starters next year, and I already think it will be difficult to replace them, even if they are at positions of depth. You just don't go out and replace guys like Roger Cooper, Beau Clark, Ray Sebastyen, and Jonathon Molock - you just hope someone steps into their shoes and continues the tradition.

Bigtime75 · Post by **Bigtime75** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 7:58 pm

I really don't think "most" people would rate Travis as a better QB than Ochs. No doubt Travis is a great QB, but his stats have been inflated by the nature of our offense. The Griz run a more balanced offense, so it really limits his opportunity for big numbers. Both a great athletes(Anyone see Ochs' TD run on that pass back play yesterday?)and field generals who are highly mobile and have good arms. My uncle, who is an official scout for the Falcons, gives a slight edge to Ochs because he says that "the kid throws the best ball in the conference." Needless to say, I really think next week will go a long way towards deciding this match up.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:41 pm

Ochs throws the best ball in the conference? In what respect(s)?

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:44 pm

Unfortunately, the coaches lost this game for the kids. I said we should have doubled Kimble earlier in the week. How can you expect a freshman cb to cover the best receiver in the league who has NFL type skills? You would think that after having been burned not once1, not twice, but three times; Kramer and company would double up on Kimble and let their run game beat us. With the big lead, I would rather see EWU run for 400 yards for the game. At least time would have been ticking away.

The play calling in OT was horrible. Do I need to say more.

On the bright side, what a beautiful day it was a for a college football in the middle of November in Montana.

Bigtime75 · Post by **Bigtime75** » Sun Nov 14, 2004 8:51 pm

Bleedinbluengold wrote:Ochs throws the best ball in the conference? In what respect(s)?

This guy was the receivers Coach for the Cinncinati Bengals for 4 years before taking the Sac. State job. He knows QB talent.

Sacramento State Head Coach Steve Mooshagian:

"A couple of those throws, he threaded the needle. Those are NFL throws that he made. A qb that can make those kind of throws can play at the next level. He convinced me, as an NFL guy, that he can play at the next level because of those throws he made on third down. He's getting better and better. I really like Erik Meyer and Travis Lulay, but Craig played one of the most efficient games of any qb I've been around. He doesn't screw up. My all-conference QB vote will go to Ochs."

Eagle_Power04 · Post by **Eagle_Power04** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 5:42 am

BozoneCat wrote: QB: Travis went out and proved he is the best QB in the Big Sky, hands down. Every week, I keep thinking that he can't possibly play better than he did the last week, and he just keeps doing it. Meyer is a very good QB, but I think to everyone in attendence yesterday, it was plainly obvious that Travis is a notch above him.

[/b]

I think that's arguable. Both Qb's were absolutely amazing. I can see where you would think Lulay is a better QB based on this game, and only seeing Meyer place once or twice a year. The UM/MSU games were not his best. But when you look at how he's completely embarassed opposing defenses all year long I would tend to take Meyer over anyone in the conference. Lulay is very, very good, though. I think both schools are lucky to have such great QB's.

Kimble, on the other hand, is another story. I'm not sure there's anyone in the conference that can cover him. Good news for us is, both Meyer and Kimble are back next year. Gotta love it.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 8:48 am

jagur1 wrote:BozoneCat: i I think Myers proved who the best QB was and it wasn't Lulay. Why? This isn't smack either. The Best QB in the BSC would score from the 2 with 7 plays to get it done.

jag - if you would have watched the game, you'd know who had the better game, plain and simple. You would also know who is the most valuable to his team.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:48 am

Bigtime: I respect what your buddy said and there is no question that if his job is finding NFL talent that simply by virtue of the fact that he's risen to that level, he knows a lot.

[in my best Steven A Smith voice] HOWEVAH! Are these the same Cincinnati Bengals that have picked QB's with 4 or 5 #1 draft picks, and they've ended up with the likes of Akili Smith?
Although it finally looks like they hit the bullseye with Palmer...finally.

In my ignorant opinion, however, I think we're pretty much splitting hairs between Ochs, Meyer, Lulay, Leadingham, and Murietta. Of those, I still have to take Lulay and/or Meyer. Those guys have proven that they can single-handedly win games.

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:04 pm

bigtime,

you need to retake logic 101. The fact that ochs plays in a more balanced offense automatically makes it EASIER for him to succeed. Defenses have to be aware of a ground game which makes them play tighter to the line AND more vulnerable to play-action.

TRAVIS LULAY IS VASTLY SUPERIOR TO CRAIG JOKES. The last 4 weeks, every Bobcat opponent KNEW we had to throw the football and yet Big Red has posted the biggest numbers of his career! If the griz suddenly lost their running game and the opposing D knew they had to throw 50+ times to try and win, do you HONESTLY believe jokes could match Lulay's results? To paraphrase Robert DeNiro (again): "I got two words for you: NO F*CKING WAY!"

Meyer may be a better pure passer than TL, but he has better weapons to throw to. He is Travis' equal when it comes to pocket pressence & eluding the rush. I'd be very confident with either of these 2 at the helm, but I'll take TL simply because we already have him and he is the GREATEST QUARTERBACK EVER TO WEAR A BOBCAT UNIFORM.

Cats 79
Griz 77

4 OT's

I'll elaborate later; if you can't wait, see the egriz prediction thread...

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Mon Nov 15, 2004 12:20 pm

I have listened to many NFL scouts talk about passers including Mel Kyper on draft day, and the one thing that stands out is changing the sidearm delevery to something more over the top.

Meyer has extremelty quick feet and a true QB presence about him. He feels pressure and escapes he also has a good downfield touch but if we were to compare NFL styles, Lulay has the better classic release and the stronger arm. Meyer's realease reminds me of David Carr when he came out of school...the Texans' first chore was to change his release to "over the top" as much as they could.

Ochs is also a QB with great presence, but like you said he has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and he has played at home most of this year. He played 4 away and lost 2 of them. Has he ever brought the team back from a deficit late in a game? If he did it might have been once. We'll see if he gets a chance this weekend!

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:50 pm

[quote="HelenaCat"]

Finally, I guess I still disagree with the small defensive lineman approach. It is fine at D-end, but our tackles just get worn down-late in games and especially late in the season. The last few years our defense has gotten worse as the season went on and I think they just get worn down as the season goes on. Some beef in the middle would help run defense. With our potential on offense next year, gte some beef in there early in the game and then bring in the speed guys in the second half when the other team has to pass to catch up.

quote]

HC,
I agree with several of your thoughts, but not this one. Sorry. I think that the quicker Dline wreaked havoc on the griz last year, remember the two sacks the forced a FG. BEAU CLARK def tackle.

LETS ALL JUST FOCUS ON AN A$$ WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPIN THAT WE ARE GONNA HAND THE griz.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 9:59 pm

Yeah, but they also rammed it up the gut and controlled the clock all day long. In the first half alone, they managed to eat up something like 25 minutes (I don't have the exact figures, but it was A LOT). I would love to see us get some beef inside, combined with some smaller, quicker players to dominate passing downs. Can you imagine what that defense would have been like with the two DT's Portland State has?! Also, keep in mind that most playoff (especially Southern) teams are primarily running teams with huge offensive lines - if we want to make a run and plan for the playoffs, I think getting some beef inside will be integral in matching up with them.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:12 pm

Louis Saucedo is a freshman that is 6-5 315 lbs and was recruited as a defensive tackle. I saw hium run in practice and he is fast! Because of our deficit at OT this year he was moved over to the OL to back up all of the Offensive linemen. I think he will move back to the DL next year and back up Matakis and Rogers. rogers is 270 ish and Matakis is smaller but really strong. This might fill the gap you are talking about.

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:31 pm

Every year, we all fret about who is gonna do what and who is gonna replace who. Granted I will miss this group of seniors, because of the what they have accomplished in their tenure, but we will be ok, IMO. Kramer has done a great job of getting the proper holes filled. Due to injuries, we have been exposed and that is what football is all about.

Another way to look at this, is that we are obviously headed in the right direction as a program, if we pound the griz, do we steal some of the fence riding seniors that are contemplating our great schools.

Post-game thoughts, EWU-style

Get the Griz