The Bobcat Nation

Coach Kramer said today that Mike Bass has a torn ACL and will be out at least six weeks and possibly the season. Jason Gathing has been moved back to running back and will start on Thursday. It appears Erin Gove just can't pass block good enough to get any playing time. The coach keeps bringing this up whenever asked.

This is truly bad news. I do believe that Mike Bass was our best RB this year and was waiting for him to break a big one. I think Gathing will be good back at RB, but would love to see Groves get some time in there because Groves is already better than Domineck when it comes to running the ball.

First, when did this happen? This week?

Second, Groves should be able to pass block as well as Bass did. Bass was whiffing on everyone he tried to block. Groves should at least get some time in the 5 wide receiver set then like Bass was getting. I think that Groves should get some playing that is for sure as he can break the big runs and is very shifty.

This makes me sad. I think that Justin and Groves can handle it though. Will Domineck start?

4 games in and Bass makes 5 starters gone for the season...

Why have Gathing start? JD isn't the best pure runner, but he is hands down the best pass protection back.

JD is now 3rd string behind Bass and Gathing? I find that hard to believe.

CelticCat wrote:Why have Gathing start? JD isn't the best pure runner, but he is hands down the best pass protection back.

JD is now 3rd string behind Bass and Gathing? I find that hard to believe.

Exactly. It should be JD, Groves, Gathing.

I myself want to see what Gathing can do if he is pegged as the starter. Give him a few carries and see if he can get us some tough inside yards. In this offense we just need a RB that can get us the tough 3.5-5.5 yards a pop in the middle. I just don't see us having a RB this year that will pop off a 50-60 yard TD score (Bass maybe .. but not going to happen now). We need a runner that can get the tough yards inside and can catch the swing pass out of the backfield (JD can do both pretty good as well). I just would like to see Gathing a few times. I'm sure if he's not cutting the mustard he will be replaced by JD. Kramer might be just giving Gathing a shot to see if he can give us a spark there.

Sounds like it happened on his 16 yard run on the drive in the fourth quarter. Kramer said they will be looking at Gathing, Groves, and Taito to try to find a bit more speed than Justin has.

Crap! Every time I log on here I hear about another big injury. I think Kramer will play musical running backs from here on out and we will see a lot of the 5 wide sets - ala the last 6 games of last season. I look for Travis to throw the 0-5 yard quick hits to offset the loss of the running game - I bet he tops the 300 yard mark for the first time this season this weekend.

I agree that if Domenick isn't going to get the carries than Groves should be in because his pass blocking can't be any worse than Bass' was.

On the Sports Nuts today Coah Kramer said Groves and Taito will play at running back along with Gathing. It will be good to see Groves get an oppportunity and I think the real sleeper is Taito. He has been impressive in practices. He has good size and excellent speed. He apppears to be a natural. Plus, he has a great attitude!

Kramer said on the Sports Nuts that he likes Dominecks pass blocking expertise and his ability to catch the ball, but he wants more speed at running back.

He also said we're down to about 11 scholarship players on defense (not counting freshmen).

The offense better heat up real quick!

The Coach also mentioned that JD would still play a lot in certain situations but overall he is slow. The other three backs are much faster.
Bass hurt his knee in the game on Saturday. It should be interesting to see Goves and Taito and how they can do.

Just watching the way that JD has run in his chances this year, he is so tentative when he gets to the line, I am not convinced he can be our RB. Groves hits the line hard and Gathing loves to hit people, just that mentality. I think that either of them are a better option when it comes to running the ball than Domineck. JD may pass-block better, but if we want to establish the running game, we have to go in a different direction than his.

What has happened to JD? Why is he no longer considered an option? He was on the field a lot with Bass at the same time last week (as a fullback?). Is this his new position, a blitz picking up RB? If so, then lets put him in there WITH Groves or Taito.

Being the eternally optimistic fan... the run game cant get any worse people. Maybe the new blood in Groves/Taito/Gathing will put a spark into things. Hell, if all they do is hit the hole hard, that is all I ask. They dont need to hit a homerun every time they touch the ball, just get consistent yards behind what is supposed to be one of the better O-lines in the conference.

Its all good Bobcat fans, we are going to be A-OKAY!

bobcatbob wrote:The Coach also mentioned that JD would still play a lot in certain situations but overall he is slow. The other three backs are much faster.

profisme wrote:Just watching the way that JD has run in his chances this year, he is so tentative when he gets to the line, I am not convinced he can be our RB. Groves hits the line hard and Gathing loves to hit people, just that mentality. I think that either of them are a better option when it comes to running the ball than Domineck. JD may pass-block better, but if we want to establish the running game, we have to go in a different direction than his.

This is exactly what I was looking for, thanks fellas. I think MSU just got better offensively.

I read some of the reports and when it says Gaithing will start Thursday, I think that meant start practicing at RB.

Cat Pride wrote:Being the eternally optimistic fan... the run game cant get any worse people. Maybe the new blood in Groves/Taito/Gathing will put a spark into things. Hell, if all they do is hit the hole hard, that is all I ask. They dont need to hit a homerun every time they touch the ball, just get consistent yards behind what is supposed to be one of the better O-lines in the conference.

I was thinking the exact same thing. The way the running game has gone, change isn't exactly a bad thing. We still have our best running back, Lulay.

Was Bass a red shirt senior? Is there a chance for a medical red shirt?

Man, that poor kid has had more bad luck with his knees... sorry to see ya get hurt Mike, wish you well

As a side note, Bass may not have been the best Pass blocker, but I saw him pick up a couple CRUCIAL Blocks in the NDSU game, one against a DE.

How many times in the passed has other Big Sky opponents unleashed a no name running back on the CATS? Only to have that no name RB rip off huge numbers against us. Maybe it is time for us to spring some suprises on the rest of the league. Bring on GROVES!!

I too saw JD in as a fullback. Not a bad option if we are going to throw. Let him pick up the blitzing LB or slip him underneath for the dump off.

After the CP game, everyone was b!tch!ng about the inability to pick up the blitz. Against NDSU, there were a lot of swing passes, (many were bad throws or drops) passes underneath, and other quick passes that slowed down the pass rush.