kicking game and run game

[aucat]

These are the two ingredients holding the Cats back right now.

1. We need a good, tough TB who can pick up 2 or 3 yards when needed.
A 170 pound TB simply cannot do that.

Nick Lasane weighs 220. Dang, he sure blew it with his bad decisions, but
hopefully he will get his life on track and be the TB we need when his 4 game
suspension is up.

2. Two missed field goals, a blocked PAT. That's 7 points. Guess what: 27 plus 7 equals 34.
That equals a win, even with the hold on the TD pass. Even with the underthrown TD
pass that was intercepted. Even with getting outcoached on the fake field goal.

Not sure what we need to do here regarding the kicking game. You simply cannot
win close tough games if you do not have a reliable field goal kicker. I know that
our guy feels worse than anybody, but it is the responsibility of the coaching staff
to go out and recruit top notch reliable kickers.

Ask any college coach about the importance of field goal kickers. These guys
make the difference between Ws and Ls several times during the season.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

We also need to get the penalties cleaned up too. The second missed FG should have been a TD if not for being called back on a holding call. So you could add +7 instead of +3 (on missed points) on that possession if that TD had held up. Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't coach Choate a special teams guru for a time I thought I read? That fake FG still gets me mad. You give them the FG try and nothing else there! I just don't get it. That play totally changed the game.


That being said, on to next week. Maybe the extra week off will help shore up the special teams play. I think the players will be chomping at the bit ready to go in 2 weeks.

[91catAlum]

These are the two ingredients holding the Cats back right now.

1. We need a good, tough TB who can pick up 2 or 3 yards when needed.
A 170 pound TB simply cannot do that.

Nick Lasane weighs 220. Dang, he sure blew it with his bad decisions, but
hopefully he will get his life on track and be the TB we need when his 4 game
suspension is up.

2. Two missed field goals, a blocked PAT. That's 7 points. Guess what: 27 plus 7 equals 34.
That equals a win, even with the hold on the TD pass. Even with the underthrown TD
pass that was intercepted. Even with getting outcoached on the fake field goal.

Not sure what we need to do here regarding the kicking game. You simply cannot
win close tough games if you do not have a reliable field goal kicker. I know that
our guy feels worse than anybody, but it is the responsibility of the coaching staff
to go out and recruit top notch reliable kickers.

Ask any college coach about the importance of field goal kickers. These guys
make the difference between Ws and Ls several times during the season.

I think Vander will be just fine in short yardage situations. He picked up the critical 4th and 1 in the second quarter that kept our first scoring drive alive.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Mr Lisle]

Preseason is over and the 2017 Bobcats have found out a lot about themselves, thanks to playing two high quality opponents. The last thing this team needed was a DII game after the Cougars. A 40 point win would have hurt more than helped. I'm concerned about the load Murray is carrying. He's taking about 40 hits a game. If the past is an indicator of the future then I think the placekicking game will smooth out. I like a lot about our defense. The offensive line needs a lot of work including cleaning up the untimely penalties. Even tho' 0-2, this team has exceeded my expectations. I thought the Coug game would be more like what the Dogs did to the griz. And a coulda-shoulda- woulda game vs. a really fine, experienced #4 team like SDSU is totally unexpected. The 2017 Bobcats might just be "dangerous".
In the meantime our next opponent, UND is getting prepared for a very tough and highly rated South Dakota team. This bye week might be a great time for the Cats to do some repair and rebuild! Call me "guardedly optimistic".

[aucat]

I completely agree with the comment about Murray. All the more reason for a solid running
game with tough tailback that runs downhill.

Murray's passing is getting better. He shouldn't have to also carry the load
for running yardage. Sure a scramble now and then is fine, but dang, you
have to be able to hand the ball off to a back who can break tackles.

I recall some plays when the O line had a decent hole and an arm
was stuck out and brought down our TB. Any decent sized TB would have
waltzed right through that arm tackle.

[BleedingBLue]

I completely agree with the comment about Murray. All the more reason for a solid running
game with tough tailback that runs downhill.

Murray's passing is getting better. He shouldn't have to also carry the load
for running yardage. Sure a scramble now and then is fine, but dang, you
have to be able to hand the ball off to a back who can break tackles.

I recall some plays when the O line had a decent hole and an arm
was stuck out and brought down our TB. Any decent sized TB would have
waltzed right through that arm tackle.

I think Murray is adding to his own workload unnecessarily. There were at least 4 read options on Saturday where he made the wrong read. I recall one where had he handed off, Jones had a gaping hole on the right side, but Murray kept it and had 3 guys on him immediately. Another I remember vividly was on a option to the left and he kept the ball and was tackled by 3 defenders, but could have pitched to Jones who looked like he would have got the corner and gained some decent yards. Nearly half of his rushing attempts Saturday were scrambles as well, but he needs to make better reads for sure.

[Hawks86]

I'm no expert, but it is a read option type offense. As far as small vs. big, I'd personally like to see Burgess get more reps.

[kwcat]

I completely agree with the comment about Murray. All the more reason for a solid running
game with tough tailback that runs downhill.

Murray's passing is getting better. He shouldn't have to also carry the load
for running yardage. Sure a scramble now and then is fine, but dang, you
have to be able to hand the ball off to a back who can break tackles.

I recall some plays when the O line had a decent hole and an arm
was stuck out and brought down our TB. Any decent sized TB would have
waltzed right through that arm tackle.

I think Murray is adding to his own workload unnecessarily. There were at least 4 read options on Saturday where he made the wrong read. I recall one where had he handed off, Jones had a gaping hole on the right side, but Murray kept it and had 3 guys on him immediately. Another I remember vividly was on a option to the left and he kept the ball and was tackled by 3 defenders, but could have pitched to Jones who looked like he would have got the corner and gained some decent yards. Nearly half of his rushing attempts Saturday were scrambles as well, but he needs to make better reads for sure.

This.

He is getting better all the way around game by game.

[AFCAT]

These are the two ingredients holding the Cats back right now.

1. We need a good, tough TB who can pick up 2 or 3 yards when needed.
A 170 pound TB simply cannot do that.

Nick Lasane weighs 220. Dang, he sure blew it with his bad decisions, but
hopefully he will get his life on track and be the TB we need when his 4 game
suspension is up.

2. Two missed field goals, a blocked PAT. That's 7 points. Guess what: 27 plus 7 equals 34.
That equals a win, even with the hold on the TD pass. Even with the underthrown TD
pass that was intercepted. Even with getting outcoached on the fake field goal.

Not sure what we need to do here regarding the kicking game. You simply cannot
win close tough games if you do not have a reliable field goal kicker. I know that
our guy feels worse than anybody, but it is the responsibility of the coaching staff
to go out and recruit top notch reliable kickers.

Ask any college coach about the importance of field goal kickers. These guys
make the difference between Ws and Ls several times during the season.

I'm pretty sure the coaches know the importance of the kicking game and special teams. Daly isn't some slug kicker. He was an all Big Sky honorable mention as a Sophomore, before his injury. He has a strong leg and I thought he was the best kicker in the Spring and Fall practices and scrimmages that I attended.
I'm not real happy with the run game either. The o-line has issues and the play execution hasn't been up to par yet, but I bet that that stuff will improve a lot over the next few weeks. I'd like to see Burgess get some carries soon and Vander given the ball more. Once LaSane gets back in the game, the running game will be a force to be reckoned with.

[Hawks86]

https://twitter.com/turbittkxlf/status/907304323448684544

[Mr Lisle]

https://twitter.com/turbittkxlf/status/907304323448684544

Exactly the right thing to do.

[catscat]

I am having trouble understanding why our OLine is not doing well (or at least some think it's not). Admittedly we lost a great O lineman in JP, but didn't we have two lineman that started at least part of the season last year, plus the other 3 that started all season long? Is it just losing Flynn that's making all the difference? Why is Murray not picking up the yards he did last year? Sure, folks are keying on him, but he ran the QB draw time after time on um and they never did stop it. Was last year's OLine the difference and that brings us back to where I started this.

[TomCat88]

I am having trouble understanding why our OLine is not doing well (or at least some think it's not). Admittedly we lost a great O lineman in JP, but didn't we have two lineman that started at least part of the season last year, plus the other 3 that started all season long? Is it just losing Flynn that's making all the difference? Why is Murray not picking up the yards he did last year? Sure, folks are keying on him, but he ran the QB draw time after time on um and they never did stop it. Was last year's OLine the difference and that brings us back to where I started this.

The OL didn't give up a sack and MSU ran for 5.0/carry. That's against 8-9 in box. I say if Murray's passing continues to improve so will the run game.

[cats2506]

I am having trouble understanding why our OLine is not doing well (or at least some think it's not). Admittedly we lost a great O lineman in JP, but didn't we have two lineman that started at least part of the season last year, plus the other 3 that started all season long? Is it just losing Flynn that's making all the difference? Why is Murray not picking up the yards he did last year? Sure, folks are keying on him, but he ran the QB draw time after time on um and they never did stop it. Was last year's OLine the difference and that brings us back to where I started this.

you answered your own question, it was um, their strategy was to not let him get out the sides of the pocket but left the middle open to accomplish it

[spring creek cat]

I am also concerned about the running game! Jones is a great runner, just not an every down back. He just isn't big enough for that. Can't wait for a few of the guys to heal up. Vander, roper, Or Lasane off of suspension, any of these guys at full speed will help open up the offense and help the o-line. I think Andersen should be playing defense, especially when those guys are full speed!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[six--man]

I agree that the kicking game was overlooked on the recruiting trail. Still, in preseason Daly was bangin' em through.
If he can get over the psychological hurdle by sticking one vs NO Dak we'll be ok
Be interesting to see if they get #15 Troy Anderson toting the mail again.

[bobcat92]

Daly only handling punting and kick off duties for UND.

Anderson will be getting more carries against UND. Healed up according to Choate.

[TomCat88]

Daly only handling punting and kick off duties for UND.

Anderson will be getting more carries against UND. Healed up according to Choate.

Andersen adds a whole new dimension to the offense if he is healed up. He was missed last week. Like Murray, it's only a matter of time (as in real soon) before he starts ripping it up.

[Sotallytober]

And Daly has lost his spot... https://twitter.com/gregrachac/status/910978260682633218

[VimSince03]

And Daly has lost his spot... https://twitter.com/gregrachac/status/910978260682633218

The grammar in his post is also wide right but with plenty of distance...