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[BozoneCat]

I think Bobby has some game changer type guys, but they are all on D. Utterback (out of sight out of mind I guess), Joyce is a complete stud, Metter is doing quite good. Bierman and Murphy are both game changer type guys. When all is said and done Bierman will go down as a great DE. He may be the most athletic DE we've got, and that is saying a lot. Though Dlouhy is the fastest, and not a Hauck recruit. Murphy is a Hauck recruit and is taking on double teams and beating them. Murphy is one of the top DE in I-AA, and definately high on the list for the BSC.
Other than loosing Saenz, the Griz D will be significantly better next year, than this year.

As far as offense goes, get back to me. It doesn't look to promising. Though I do see a diamond in the rough in Thomas Brooks-Fletcher. Nobody seems to have talked about him, but I watched him in practice a few times prior to him getting hurt. He is the real deal. If he stays healthy, Griz fans are going to love how this kid plays.

Lex is definitely very good, but as SHSU, JMU, and EWU showed, he can be stopped. When Lex gets a good head of steam built up before anyone hits him though, look out.

Tyler Joyce is very, very good. I have been more impressed with his play than anyone else on the griz this year. I wish we had him.

Alan Saenz is the best player on the griz, IMO. I have liked him since he was a sophomore, and I personally thought he should have been starting even back then. The guy is just unstoppable, his productivity is amazing, he is always dangerous on special teams, and as he showed this last weekend he plays with tremendous heart. If I could have one guy from the griz, I would choose Saenz without hesitation. He also seems like a really good guy.

Correct me if I'm wrong Jah, but wasn't Murphy a Glenn recruit? I thought Glenn got him to come to UM as a greyshirt along with Hartman. I believe Wolf stated that he is a senior, which I know is false (unfortunately for Cats fans). He is a stud, and he is great at putting relentless pressure on opposing QBs.

Utterback is also good, but he needs to learn to play with a little more discipline. I don't mean that as a knock, it is just what most young players do. I wish MSU wouldn't have dropped the ball on him, that's for sure.

Right now, I see nothing to fear from the griz offense, this year or next year. Bergquist has played solid so far, but nothing spectacular. I think there will be good teams that will bait him and end up with some picks because he never checks off his receivers. It is smart for the griz coaches to keep him under tight reigns, because I think he would make some costly mistakes if they didn't. We did the same thing with Travis when he was a freshman. Pretty good formula when you have a freshman QB, a stud RB, and decent WRs (although I think the 2002 Cats had much better receivers than the 2005 griz). What will be most telling will be to see how Cole handles himself when the game is on the line late in the 4th quarter.

[JahGriz]

Regarding Brooks-Fletcher, I don't think he is injury prone, but did do a number on his knee apparently. Since he is only a true frosh I can't say whether he is injury prone or not. But in practice he was very good. It isn't often a guy impresses me right away, but the first look I got at TBF was him slicing thru a narrow hole, breaking a tackle, then carrying about 3 guys another 5 yards. Not explosive like lex, but more fluid. Still pretty fast. If he stays healthy and the few practices I saw weren't some kind of abrasions, he will be good.

Regarding Murphy, I think you are right, he may have been a Glenn recruit, now that I think about it. My bad. Still, Hauck has done no worse than Glenn over all, IMO. Heck Glenn won the NC with Dennehy guys, I didn't hear anyone saying anything about that.

Anyway. I do believe Hauck/Hauck staff, has recruited some good guys, but like other past Griz coaches including Dennehy and Glenn, he gets some questionable guys. And guys you can't help but to think he missed on. That is recruiting, there are no sure things, and you can't get them all.

[Ponycat]

He makes a few freshman mistakes, but so far I've been pretty impressed with Ferriter.

Another one I think the Cats let slip through our hands.

[JahGriz]

Ferriter did make some nice catches last week. Something that has been lacking unless your name is Talmage. That is a WR's job, and they should be making nice catches. All the nice catches other than a couple from Talmage, a catches that should be made. The one Talmage had against ISU was incredible, not sure if anyone saw it, but it was Moss'ish, for real.
I hope you are right on Ferriter, and I hope he continues to improve and impress. No doubt we need, more than any position other than QB for WR's to get the job done, and to not only catch the ball, but make things happen after the catch. Haven't seen the after the catch part yet, but guys are starting to catch the ball, and probably running better routes, or at least the correct routes given the D.
Bagely did show a few things last week too. Though I want to see these guys prove immediately why they were recruited, I know that is asking a bit much. The good news is improvement seems to be happening, the rate, and the ceiling of the improvement has yet to be determined.

I still think the Griz need a Ricky Gatewood. Nearly every team in the Big Sky has one, Kimball, Bodiford, Okebar, the Weber transfer from Utah. Not sure who Sac has. And each of these teams have other guys who almost match up. The guy other than Miller, and possibly Miller for that matter for the cats. Lacey, and others for ISU. Vil something for EWU. You get the point.
Right now, we have Talmage, and a bunch of young guys. Heck, in a year or two, I may be happy we went thru this and half of these young Griz guys may be great. We'll have to wait and see. I don't like waiting.

[Wolfman]

Jah, you mean our recruiting genius head coach has failed to recruit a big-play receiver? Nawwww! You're kidding me, right?

We got Rodamer and Allen as IA drop-downs. That should be enough, right?

[Wolfman]

yeah, I meant Spencer is a senior, not Murphy. You are correct, Murphy was recuited by Glenn, as a grey shirt, along with Hartman. He was not recruited by our resident recruiting genius, Bobby Hauck. You know, the recruiter who is responsible for that great U. of Washington group of athletes.

[anacondagriz]

You know whats funny Wolfman is how civil & level headed you sound as long as people are agreeing w/you. I don't really have the sky falling view like you do but I can see your point in some situations.

[Wolfman]

I'm level-headed all of the time. I'm just not gonna agree that Bobby Hauck is a great recruiter, or is a good head coach, until he proves that he is. Hype is for the media. The truth lies on the playing field.

Was Hauck a great recruiter at UDub? NO WAY! There are almost no seniors from his last recruiting class starting for Washington now.

He has failed to recruit game breaking receivers, nor a solid QB.

And, need I say any more about the offense he uses? Or, the play calling?

I want him GONE, before he totally ruins this program!

[jagur1]

The Griz will be fine.

[JahGriz]

I don't see any proof that they haven't recruited a solid QB. We may not have go luck with a great one, but I see no reason why Berquist won't improve dramatically over the course of this year.

WR wise, I don't thing we have any great guys. But again, there is no proof there won't be someong who steps up and does become good. We've got to keep in mind, ALL of these guys are young and inexperienced. Just because I don't see a game changing type WR right now, doesn't mean someone won't be at some point.

I do think we need to step away from recruiting MT WR this year. We've got more than our quota of MT WR's, lets look out of state for a fast, playmaker. I don't ever remember MT WR good enough to go to a good I-A school on scholarship. I'm sure there has been a coulpe, but I certainly can't name any. Some QB from Bozeman walked on at Boise as a WR, but if he ever plays I will be very surprised.
I'm not saying MT doesn't produce good WR's from time to time, but unless the kid is a complete sick player, lets take our chances with a quality transfer or California or Washington kid.

[Ponycat]

Some QB from Bozeman walked on at Boise as a WR, but if he ever plays I will be very surprised.

I believe he did get some money and is currently seeing time on the special teams. Bissell is his name.

[JahGriz]

That's right pony. And good for him. Would like to see him get in at WR to see how he does. I won't hold my breath though. Boise gets good WR's year after year, maybe not Florida talent types, but good WR's. If Bissel can compete with them for some time or even a starting job, that would be great.
Even though he hasn't seen time at WR, I'll count him as 1 guy. Can anyone think of another MT WR who had played I-A and done anything?

I know a few have done well in I-AA. Cockhill was a MT kid. Wells Oregon, Etu not MT, Ferris not MT, Talmage CA, Douglas Oregon and TR.

Another question, maybe I'm straying off topic, but trying to get to the bottom of some things. Who are the 5 best WR's produced in MT?

[Ponycat]

Turnquist was a good MT kid for us.

I think as far a MT kids go in 1-A we seem to produce top notch tight ends.

[JahGriz]

Turquist was pretty good. Was he kind of hurt for the McNeese game? Seemed he was hurt around that time, or just got back from injury. I definately liked him, and worried about him. I'm hoping Bagely rises to that level.
How was Turnquist his Frosh and Soph years? Was he hyped big. I believe the guys who get all the hype, on average, are no better than the guys who aren't big hyped recruits. I know this seems to be the case for the Griz, though some people think every recruit will be an all-american. Statistically and realistically speaking, this just is never the case.
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Yep TE, at least one LB, OL, DL, even QB are produced in MT. WR, Corner, even Safety, though is another story, at least for I-A. Even at the I-AA level WR and Corner are in very short supply from MT. Safety MT does pretty well.
Seems the cut off is when you need real speed in combination with playmaker agility and moves, with enough size to make it count.

[Hell's Bells]

arie grey was good but seemed to be on bad teams
there was a kid who played for carrol college that lit things up at wr
didnt the griz have someone from helena in the late 90's?


hmmm who else?

i can think of noone off of the bobcat roster who is from mt currently

off of the griz

ferriter is going to be good, likewise with bagley and no 11

[anacondagriz]

arie grey was good but seemed to be on bad teams
there was a kid who played for carrol college that lit things up at wr
didnt the griz have someone from helena in the late 90's?


hmmm who else?

i can think of noone off of the bobcat roster who is from mt currently

off of the griz

ferriter is going to be good, likewise with bagley and no 11

#11 is Matt Troxel who is from Cour D'Alene or however you spell it

[UMclassof2002]

arie grey was good but seemed to be on bad teams
there was a kid who played for carrol college that lit things up at wr
didnt the griz have someone from helena in the late 90's?


hmmm who else?

i can think of noone off of the bobcat roster who is from mt currently

off of the griz

ferriter is going to be good, likewise with bagley and no 11

#11 is Matt Troxel who is from Cour D'Alene or however you spell it

Couer D'Alene is french for Couer of Alene

[elkmcc]

Can anyone think of another MT WR who had played I-A and done anything?

I know a few have done well in I-AA. Cockhill was a MT kid. Wells Oregon, Etu not MT, Ferris not MT, Talmage CA, Douglas Oregon and TR.

Another question, maybe I'm straying off topic, but trying to get to the bottom of some things. Who are the 5 best WR's produced in MT?

Jah: I can't believe your forgot Jeremy Watkins '96-99 Missoula kid, great kid, wheels like few others. His Dad was a bobcat.

Best WR's in MT history:

1. Joe Douglass
2. Jimmy Farris
3. Jeremy Watkins
4. Jefferson Heidelberger
5. Jon Talmage

[JahGriz]

I'm talking Montana kids. What kids who were in H.S. in Montana were the best WRs in college at the I-AA or I-A level. Other than Bissell has any MT kid been on a I-A team as a WR, or even better, actually played WR for a I-A team. The list must be about as big as my little toe.
Watkins though is a start. I'm not sure I agree with your list of UM's best WR though elk. But opinions vary.

Anyway, so far the best WR's to come from MT and play Div I football, as given by other posters:
Turnquist
Watkins

So far the list doesn't bode well for assuming a WR prospect from MT will be great. There has to be others. What about Cockhill and Gurnsey. Both MT kids I believe, and WR's in college. That would make the list better, in fact so far Cockhill may be the best WR to come out of MT.

[MaZooLaGriz]

The "dump Bobby" bandwagon is filling quickly.

Put me down as tettering.