Cats Defense Vulnerable?

[rfischer94]

The Cats defense is far and away better than USDs, yikes!!

I was really surprised by how poorly USD played. They seemed grossly unprepared for that game.

Grossly! It's like they never even watched film.

USD was the #6 defense in the MVFC. They did a good job on Gillman and vs the run in general aside from one play. Gave up too many big plays.

They did bottle up Gilman well, I agree.

[HookedOnGriz]

The Cats defense is far and away better than USDs, yikes!!

I was really surprised by how poorly USD played. They seemed grossly unprepared for that game.

Grossly! It's like they never even watched film.

USD was the #6 defense in the MVFC. They did a good job on Gillman and vs the run in general aside from one play. Gave up too many big plays.

They did bottle up Gilman well, I agree.

Their keying on Gillman allowed Wortham to rack up 250 yards rushing and receiving with 3 TDs. Gotta pick your poison.

[iaafan]

Griz are a big play team. Stop that and it’s over. The first game had wortham 35 run, Davis 34 catch and Gillman 52 run. Davis’s catch led to blocked FG and Gillman’s run should’ve been called back but they got 14 points there. Also Ah Yat’s TD run was on 3rd and 12. Otherwise it isn’t close. Stop the big plays and it’s over.

[RangeCat]

MSU plays its safeties a little deep. That means the LBs have to cover the middle and teams try to get a Wr matched up on one. But msu knows that and has an Eye on it and leans to it at times.

Yeah, and it seems like teams are starting to attack the seams against us. SFA had some good success doing that, especially on the drive before the half. Hope it’s a good learning experience.

[TomCat88]

MSU plays its safeties a little deep. That means the LBs have to cover the middle and teams try to get a Wr matched up on one. But msu knows that and has an Eye on it and leans to it at times.

Yeah, and it seems like teams are starting to attack the seams against us. SFA had some good success doing that, especially on the drive before the half. Hope it’s a good learning experience.

I’d have to look but it seems like most of MSU’s interceptions are in that area.

[TomCat88]

MSU’s defense has played very well at home in the last three Cat-Griz games.

2024
Griz averaged 33.4 ppg, 411 ypg, 6.0 ypp.
Cats allowed 11, 234, 4.0

2022*
Griz averaged 33.9, 379, 5.3
Cats allowed 21, 315, 5.5

2019
Griz averaged 36.7, 440, 5.9
Cats allowed 14, 241, 4.2

*Griz had 151 yards and 14 points in the fourth quarter after falling behind 48-7.

This Cat defense is better than any of those defenses. Griz offense is better than any of those offenses.

This year in Missoula:
Griz averaged 42.3, 465, 6.7
Cats allowed 28, 364, 6.0

2021 in Missoula:
Griz averaged 29.6, 361, 5.2
Cats allowed 29*, 288, 4.7
*13 off special teams

[RangeCat]

MSU plays its safeties a little deep. That means the LBs have to cover the middle and teams try to get a Wr matched up on one. But msu knows that and has an Eye on it and leans to it at times.

Yeah, and it seems like teams are starting to attack the seams against us. SFA had some good success doing that, especially on the drive before the half. Hope it’s a good learning experience.

I’d have to look but it seems like most of MSU’s interceptions are in that area.

Oh that is a good observation, I believe you’re on to something there.

[TomCat88]

MSU plays its safeties a little deep. That means the LBs have to cover the middle and teams try to get a Wr matched up on one. But msu knows that and has an Eye on it and leans to it at times.

Yeah, and it seems like teams are starting to attack the seams against us. SFA had some good success doing that, especially on the drive before the half. Hope it’s a good learning experience.

I’d have to look but it seems like most of MSU’s interceptions are in that area.

Oh that is a good observation, I believe you’re on to something there.

It's also worth noting that some receivers don't necessarily like going across the middle. The balls off Wortham's and the SFA's receiver's hands might have been a by-product of that. Then add to that the fact that MSU's DBs are hard hitters.

[HelenaCat]

The Cats defense is far and away better than USDs, yikes!!

I was really surprised by how poorly USD played. They seemed grossly unprepared for that game.

Grossly! It's like they never even watched film.

USD was the #6 defense in the MVFC. They did a good job on Gillman and vs the run in general aside from one play. Gave up too many big plays.

USD just looked extremely SLOOOOOOW to me, on offense and especially on defense. I was surprised how bad they were.

[MSU Doc]

Great question. I’d love @BobcatBuiltTexan to explain this.

Well its really an easy thing to dissect.....our safeties don't cover well... I've said this all along. But this is actually pretty normal. If you can actually cover you play cb.

They isolated the safeties and lbs and made them cover and we gave up plays. I mean if we really want to get into it dowler was beat but he's luckier than a 3 peckered dog and got the int.

The sticks routes are a product of coverage. Msu doesn't press in those situations so we end up giving up those plays most times. We'd rather line up and play than give up a big play.

What most people don't see is that about half of the sacks we got were due to the cbs taking away the first read which made the qb hold it and we got the pressure we needed. We cover well and confuse the qb often.

We are fine in coverage, when we are in coverage. Williams, regardless of being an AA, doesn't cover well he's always late and gets beat deep often they just so happen to not catch the ball. Mcmillan is good against everything but the fade ball, they HAVE to work on that. Johnson comes put of his break well on short routes but is iffy at best on deep routes.

All in all they play complementary ball so many of their weaknesses are covered up, which is what a championship level team does. The coaches are done really good coaches because they can plays based off who they got out there ac what they can and can't do well. They put our players in the best position to win, which again is what championship level teams do.

I've said it all along...... we might not win pretty but we'll win and bring a natty back to bozeman... just relax and ride the wave.

Nailed it. I didn't realize when you wrote this that I needed to get my cardiologist on speed dial.

[GoCats18]

So, two DB’s already in the portal and losing some dudes on the d-line that are seniors, I hope this staff hits the transfer portal hard this next week and finds some playmakers to fill those spots.

[BobcatBuiltTexan]

Great question. I’d love @BobcatBuiltTexan to explain this.

Well its really an easy thing to dissect.....our safeties don't cover well... I've said this all along. But this is actually pretty normal. If you can actually cover you play cb.

They isolated the safeties and lbs and made them cover and we gave up plays. I mean if we really want to get into it dowler was beat but he's luckier than a 3 peckered dog and got the int.

The sticks routes are a product of coverage. Msu doesn't press in those situations so we end up giving up those plays most times. We'd rather line up and play than give up a big play.

What most people don't see is that about half of the sacks we got were due to the cbs taking away the first read which made the qb hold it and we got the pressure we needed. We cover well and confuse the qb often.

We are fine in coverage, when we are in coverage. Williams, regardless of being an AA, doesn't cover well he's always late and gets beat deep often they just so happen to not catch the ball. Mcmillan is good against everything but the fade ball, they HAVE to work on that. Johnson comes put of his break well on short routes but is iffy at best on deep routes.

All in all they play complementary ball so many of their weaknesses are covered up, which is what a championship level team does. The coaches are done really good coaches because they can plays based off who they got out there ac what they can and can't do well. They put our players in the best position to win, which again is what championship level teams do.

I've said it all along...... we might not win pretty but we'll win and bring a natty back to bozeman... just relax and ride the wave.

Nailed it. I didn't realize when you wrote this that I needed to get my cardiologist on speed dial.

I told all my buddies this game would go one of two ways....1. We friggin roll them and it isn't even close or 2.its going to be gawdawfully close..... it was two lolol. Wasn't pretty but we won... that's all that matters.

[tetoncat]

So, two DB’s already in the portal and losing some dudes on the d-line that are seniors, I hope this staff hits the transfer portal hard this next week and finds some playmakers to fill those spots.

We didn't hit it hard last year and it worked out okay. Hopefully have had honest discussion, know who is leaving and if we can fill from within or not.

[MSU01]

So, two DB’s already in the portal and losing some dudes on the d-line that are seniors, I hope this staff hits the transfer portal hard this next week and finds some playmakers to fill those spots.

We didn't hit it hard last year and it worked out okay. Hopefully have had honest discussion, know who is leaving and if we can fill from within or not.

MSU has already signed 11 more incoming freshmen than they have graduating seniors. So unless there's a mass exodus in the portal I don't think mathematically there will be enough spots open on the roster to sign more than a handful of incoming transfers at key positions.

[GoCats18]

Illinois States O-Line was incredible. I went back and looked and they only allowed 1 sack against NDSU, 1 against UC Davis, 1 against Nova and 0 to the Cats. That is freakin crazy.

[TomCat88]

Illinois States O-Line was incredible. I went back and looked and they only allowed 1 sack against NDSU, 1 against UC Davis, 1 against Nova and 0 to the Cats. That is freakin crazy.

Yeah, they were for real and they keyed everything they did on offense. Rittenhouse saw very little pressure and misfired numerous times. I wasn't super impressed with any of their skill players, considering how good the OL was. They were good, but Sobkowicz isn't Cooper Kupp as one of their coaches said. Lord had a great game but that's because MSU was taking Sobkowicz out. Dawson had some good runs but nothing devastating, and he was bottled on a couple of key plays. 29-124 (4.3) is good, but with that line he should've had 180 on 29 carries (6.0+). If ISU's skill players were as good as some people were saying they were, then ISU should've only lost one game all year never got behind MSU.

The pass interference calls hurt. A bad call by the side judge(?) on a third and 4 on ISU's first TD of the second half also hurt.

ISU was very smart, however, they obviously studied the UM 1.0 game, which laid the groundwork for how to move the ball on MSU. Be patient

MSU's offense was abysmal in the second half. They completely took themselves down and it wasn't just the false starts. Lamson had a really poor stretch and never really got going. He was 12-13 at half, then missed on 1 of 6 to start 2nd half and was just 5 of 8 the rest of the way. He made the one pass that he had to though.

ISU defense was not good. MSU should've won the game 42-28 or 38-28. The first and third drives of the second half were a huge disappointment. If MSU scores on two of first three (it scored on 3 of 4 in first half), ISU doesn't have time to come back. Should've been 35-21 middle of fourth quarter with MSU needing a FG or long sustained drive to seal it.

[TomCat88]

The Bobcats only gave up TD drives on three consecutive possessions twice (UM 2.0 and Illinois St) this year vs. FCS teams. Both times with Caden Dowler out of the lineup. Coincidence? I know I don't think so. He's the one who the defensive alignments are sent in to. He also makes a lot of last second adjustments (after the communication device is shut off).

[tetoncat]

Illinois States O-Line was incredible. I went back and looked and they only allowed 1 sack against NDSU, 1 against UC Davis, 1 against Nova and 0 to the Cats. That is freakin crazy.

Yeah, they were for real and they keyed everything they did on offense. Rittenhouse saw very little pressure and misfired numerous times. I wasn't super impressed with any of their skill players, considering how good the OL was. They were good, but Sobkowicz isn't Cooper Kupp as one of their coaches said. Lord had a great game but that's because MSU was taking Sobkowicz out. Dawson had some good runs but nothing devastating, and he was bottled on a couple of key plays. 29-124 (4.3) is good, but with that line he should've had 180 on 29 carries (6.0+). If ISU's skill players were as good as some people were saying they were, then ISU should've only lost one game all year never got behind MSU.

The pass interference calls hurt. A bad call by the side judge(?) on a third and 4 on ISU's first TD of the second half also hurt.

ISU was very smart, however, they obviously studied the UM 1.0 game, which laid the groundwork for how to move the ball on MSU. Be patient

MSU's offense was abysmal in the second half. They completely took themselves down and it wasn't just the false starts. Lamson had a really poor stretch and never really got going. He was 12-13 at half, then missed on 1 of 6 to start 2nd half and was just 5 of 8 the rest of the way. He made the one pass that he had to though.

ISU defense was not good. MSU should've won the game 42-28 or 38-28. The first and third drives of the second half were a huge disappointment. If MSU scores on two of first three (it scored on 3 of 4 in first half), ISU doesn't have time to come back. Should've been 35-21 middle of fourth quarter with MSU needing a FG or long sustained drive to seal it.

Good summary. If Cats either keep going up 2 scores until 10 minutes left or go up 3 scores in third I think it completely changes what ISU kept doing. Long time consuming drives. All year Cats bent but got a lot of TO or penalties to force 3rd and longs and get stops inside the 30. Did that in 1st half and couldn't in 2nd.

I agree oline was good. I do think they missed 2 or 3 holds at critical times. The PF hands to face on Crews the olineman had his hand right up under his mask.should have been penalty on both or neither. That turned a 2nd or 3rd and 10 into redzone trip and they scored. (I think 1st or 2nd drive of 2nd half).

[HelenaCat95]

The running into the kicker in the first half when it was 4th and 4 gave them a 1st down, and they ended up scoring on that drive. If we had gotten the ball back and potentially drove for a score there, it would've completely changed the dynamic of the game.....and kept our defense off the field.

[technoCat]

The running into the kicker in the first half when it was 4th and 4 gave them a 1st down, and they ended up scoring on that drive. If we had gotten the ball back and potentially drove for a score there, it would've completely changed the dynamic of the game.....and kept our defense off the field.

I don't think they scored after that but it allowed them to get their TOP machine working. I do agree that it might have allowed us to be up even more going into the half.