Concerns

[utucats]

Two games in and 2-0. Plenty to be excited about but three areas that I’m concerned about after watching our first couple games:

1. Field goals- kicking game sure doesn’t look like it’s improved much from last season. Considering how last year ended, that is a bit alarming.

2. Pass protection - as dominant as we are running the ball, we’ve been bad in pass pro. Tommy has rarely had time or been able to throw without taking a shot. Two turnovers for scores in game one were directly related to this. Tommy could have made different decisions for sure but our pass pro is at least part of the issue.

3. Not getting pressure on opposing QB - defense has been really good but one surprise has been our lack of ability to get to the opposing QB. We have guys who have proven effective in the past so it’s been a head scratcher. I thought that we would see an improvement here yesterday. Perhaps a turn in front of our own fans will get that group going a bit.

[tdub]

Two games in and 2-0. Plenty to be excited about but three areas that I’m concerned about after watching our first couple games:

1. Field goals- kicking game sure doesn’t look like it’s improved much from last season. Considering how last year ended, that is a bit alarming.

2. Pass protection - as dominant as we are running the ball, we’ve been bad in pass pro. Tommy has rarely had time or been able to throw without taking a shot. Two turnovers for scores in game one were directly related to this. Tommy could have made different decisions for sure but our pass pro is at least part of the issue.

3. Not getting pressure on opposing QB - defense has been really good but one surprise has been our lack of ability to get to the opposing QB. We have guys who have proven effective in the past so it’s been a head scratcher. I thought that we would see an improvement here yesterday. Perhaps a turn in front of our own fans will get that group going a bit.

You’re not wrong on any of your points. My glass-half-full take on it is this:

1. I will defer judgement until the starter is back. Getting a good kicker is difficult, so expecting the backup kicker at an FCS school to be on point is probably setting the bar too high. But snaps and protection on the other hand…

2. I think this is a result of shuffled o-line and injuries. Pass pro takes way more timing, communication and trust than run blocking does. Getting off double teams late to pick up blitzes and things like that should get better with reps.

3. The lack of pressure leaves me scratching my head too. Is it by design that there’s a lot of “safe” pass rushes? Like more bull-rush style so no scramble lanes open up? That made sense at UNM, but not sure about yesterday. But hard to think it wasn’t effective by the starting D not giving up a first down.

[BleedingBLue]

I'm still having a hard time with folks talking about our "lack" of QB pressure. Hill was under pressure all night, and the majority of their pass plays were designed to negate the DL. UNM did the same. If teams want to drop back and let routes develop, we'll make their QB hurt. Not a concern.

[MSU01]

#1 - Yes, definitely a concern. I'm sure the coaches would agree. All they can do is keep working on it and hope it improves, I guess.

#2 - I'll be concerned about this if the pass protection issues still exist once MSU is playing something closer to its original starting lineup on the offensive line. I'd also not put all the blame here on the o-line, as I think in a couple cases in particular Tommy has held onto the ball too long trying to make a play when throwing it away would've been the smarter play.

#3 - I disagree here and thought the DL had a very good game yesterday. No sacks, but they were able to disrupt the QB which helped lead to several inaccurate throws helping MSU to get off the field on defense. Utah Tech only ran 40 total plays on offense the entire game while MSU doubled that total. I'd need to rewatch the game but I don't recall MSU running very many blitz packages at all last night, so they were going with a 4-man rush almost exclusively and being very successful with it. You don't allow zero first downs in three quarters if even one part of your defense unit isn't playing well.

[Prodigal Cat]

While the pass rush might not have “gotten home”. They harassed the QBs all night and I’m certain those guys a very sore this morning.

[Catsrgrood]

Lack of sacks does not equal lack of pressure.

[Camo_Cat]

1. You are not wrong about the kicking game. I understand that we have our backup in there at the moment, but some of these problems are not on the kicker, but they're on the line as well. We are allowing waaaay too much pressure from the opposing team.

2. A lot of the passing game woes is due to the reshuffling of our line. IMHO, we're actually doing an admirable job up front, considering the injuries we are dealing with. Things will improve once we get guys back and playing in their normal positions. But some of this is on Tommy too. I know people get crucified on this site for criticizing Tommy, but he's got to get better. He needs to learn when to step up in the pocket, get rid of the ball sooner, etc.

3. I don't think this defense is built for sacks. It's built for containing offenses to short yardage gains and 3 and outs. And they did fantastic last night. Loved what I saw from that side of the ball.

[TomCat88]

It’s more difficult for teams to play on the road. You need to evaluate these games through that prism (not to mention the OL situation, of which the guy off the street would think MSU’s current OL unit has been playing together for years). I don’t think MSU has any glaring concerns. Most of the things that have gone wrong are fluky or just inexperience. They’ve vastly over performed over consecutive road games. You’d be hard pressed to find back to back road games that stack up to these two games. Over 500 yards per game, while allowing 250/game.

Both games had strange things happen in their own way with penalties with the PIs vs New Mexico and holds vs Utah Tech. The fumbles by Mellott were fluky. The kicker hasn’t missed an XP and the whole process there seems better than a year ago. The blocked FG was not his fault. He was 2 for 3 on his end of the equation. No one else is going to come close to holding UT to zero first downs and 41 yards thru three quarters this year. Mellott has struggled in the first quarter but I think that’s more of a coincidence than anything.

[wbtfg]

Two games in and 2-0. Plenty to be excited about but three areas that I’m concerned about after watching our first couple games:

1. Field goals- kicking game sure doesn’t look like it’s improved much from last season. Considering how last year ended, that is a bit alarming.

2. Pass protection - as dominant as we are running the ball, we’ve been bad in pass pro. Tommy has rarely had time or been able to throw without taking a shot. Two turnovers for scores in game one were directly related to this. Tommy could have made different decisions for sure but our pass pro is at least part of the issue.

3. Not getting pressure on opposing QB - defense has been really good but one surprise has been our lack of ability to get to the opposing QB. We have guys who have proven effective in the past so it’s been a head scratcher. I thought that we would see an improvement here yesterday. Perhaps a turn in front of our own fans will get that group going a bit.

Losing Perkins was big from the standpoint of making OL calls and blitz pickup. Getting him back (eventually) will be a big addition.

Not that sain is doing bad, perk is just so good/smart.

[CodyCat]

No concerns.

Back up kicker. Decimated o line. New coordinators. Road game. Defense played unbelievable. Zero first downs given up by the #1 guys. I said it last night, defense wins road games.

Im happy the Cats aren’t peaking in August. Keep working. Keep rolling. I like what I saw last night when this team goes back on the road at ISU.

[Lord Vigo]

I'm still having a hard time with folks talking about our "lack" of QB pressure. Hill was under pressure all night, and the majority of their pass plays were designed to negate the DL. UNM did the same. If teams want to drop back and let routes develop, we'll make their QB hurt. Not a concern.

I would second this-- Utah Tech's passing game was abysmal in large part because the QB's were rushing the process and frantically getting the ball out.

46% completion and 4.0 YPA.

[Lord Vigo]

Two games in and 2-0. Plenty to be excited about but three areas that I’m concerned about after watching our first couple games:

1. Field goals- kicking game sure doesn’t look like it’s improved much from last season. Considering how last year ended, that is a bit alarming.

2. Pass protection - as dominant as we are running the ball, we’ve been bad in pass pro. Tommy has rarely had time or been able to throw without taking a shot. Two turnovers for scores in game one were directly related to this. Tommy could have made different decisions for sure but our pass pro is at least part of the issue.

3. Not getting pressure on opposing QB - defense has been really good but one surprise has been our lack of ability to get to the opposing QB. We have guys who have proven effective in the past so it’s been a head scratcher. I thought that we would see an improvement here yesterday. Perhaps a turn in front of our own fans will get that group going a bit.

Losing Perkins was big from the standpoint of making OL calls and blitz pickup. Getting him back (eventually) will be a big addition.

Not that sain is doing bad, perk is just so good/smart.

Not having the starting center and a general lack of health/cohesion. After Moore came out, they were down three starters and the two remaining weren't in their normal positions. The first backup at guard has also been out. And all of this after an offseason in which two starters transferred from the program.

Frankly, I'm impressed with how well the OL has handled the attrition.

[VimSince03]

I'm still having a hard time with folks talking about our "lack" of QB pressure. Hill was under pressure all night, and the majority of their pass plays were designed to negate the DL. UNM did the same. If teams want to drop back and let routes develop, we'll make their QB hurt. Not a concern.

1st possession from Utah Tech:

- QB hit by Brody Grebe - led to big hit in the flat by Danny U on a pass that hung his RB out to dry.
- QB hit by Brody Grebe - incomplete
- Brody got his hands up and affected the pass - incomplete

All I'm proving here is that Brody is still very much so impacting the passing game and they decided to double/triple team him after the first three possessions. Alec Eckert has flashed as a pass rusher from the inside the first two games as well just hasn't quite gotten home. Overall, like I said in the game thread, I expect the sacks to start racking up once we play a team who wants to throw the ball a lot which we have several in the Big Sky. If the team's gameplan is to employ a quick passing game to minimize our pass rush, that's fine by me as we have good tacklers in the flat now as Caden Dowler, Miles Jackson, and Rylan Ortt have been great so far this year.

[tetoncat]

Lack of sacks does not equal lack of pressure.

Agree. Last year what did they have 41 or 42 sacks yet many thought Defense wasn't solid. Rather give up fewer 1st downs and points that get sacks.

[luckyirishguy25]

I'm going to hop on board the optimistic train, choo choo! While we probably didn't see the utter domination of an opponent, Grebe ripping QB's in half... which would have been impossible anyway, That Qb looked like he'd have no trouble putting away a 12 pack any day of the week. We did dominate them in every facet of the game... well maybe not kicking be that's never lost us a game!

Also I guarantee that wasn't an easy game to play 600 miles from home at 8pm in 90 degree heat and it was probably a little sticky too. Sounds like one of those BYOE games to me, glad we brought it and got it done. On to next week, gotta get my shirt!

[St George]

Lack of sacks does not equal lack of pressure.

Agree. Last year what did they have 41 or 42 sacks yet many thought Defense wasn't solid. Rather give up fewer 1st downs and points that get sacks.

MSU vs Utah Tech, UT played 3 quarters without a first down and I would guess we had second and third string in when they did get a first down.

[utucats]

I'm still having a hard time with folks talking about our "lack" of QB pressure. Hill was under pressure all night, and the majority of their pass plays were designed to negate the DL. UNM did the same. If teams want to drop back and let routes develop, we'll make their QB hurt. Not a concern.

I hope that is true. I’ve seen a few plays where the QB took a little time and it didn’t seem like we were putting much pressure on them but it’s a small sample and I’m no football coach. Just something I thought would be more of a strength at this point. Can’t complain with the results.

[utucats]

Lack of sacks does not equal lack of pressure.

Agreed. I didn’t go play by play thru the game but it seems to me that the opposing QBs have had more time than they should overall. I could very well be wrong in that and is the least of the three concerns I listed.

[utucats]

I'm going to hop on board the optimistic train, choo choo! While we probably didn't see the utter domination of an opponent, Grebe ripping QB's in half... which would have been impossible anyway, That Qb looked like he'd have no trouble putting away a 12 pack any day of the week. We did dominate them in every facet of the game... well maybe not kicking be that's never lost us a game!

Also I guarantee that wasn't an easy game to play 600 miles from home at 8pm in 90 degree heat and it was probably a little sticky too. Sounds like one of those BYOE games to me, glad we brought it and got it done. On to next week, gotta get my shirt!

I’m with you and always optimistic about the Cats. Just a few things I’d like to see us improve on.

[Helcat72]

Lack of sacks does not equal lack of pressure.

Agreed. I didn’t go play by play thru the game but it seems to me that the opposing QBs have had more time than they should overall. I could very well be wrong in that and is the least of the three concerns I listed.

It seems that way to me also. I've watched Brodie and it seems that although he is powerful, he looks less quick than he used to be and slower. Maybe I just expect different results but he looks musclebound.