Good Bad Ugly - UC Davis

[CodyCat]

I wasn't able to watch much of this game and I wanted to resurrect the GBU Thread because I enjoy reading all your takes.

[Bobcat4Ever]

GOOD: Elijah Elliott and Garrett Coon pounding out some tough gains and first downs to keep the running game smoking.

[91catAlum]

Good:
Great night for Chambers and the offense. Great blocking, especially on the outside. On both his long TD runs, chambers wasn't even touched.

4th quarter defense. They stepped up when it mattered most.

Very nice conference win against another quality opponent. Now we should be able to get through the next 2 games with wins and get to 4-0 in conference, barring something crazy happening.

Bad:
First quarter defense could've been better. Hate to give up 10 points at home in the first quarter.

Safety play hasn't been very good so far, especially against the run. They completely whiffed in the open field on Gilliam's first quarter TD. Didn't even get a finger on him. Granted, Gilliam is a really elusive player. I believe we get Ortt back next week so that will help a bit.

Need to be a little more situationally aware on special teams.

Ugly, I wouldn't say anything was ugly. Good win, now we'll be playing more of a griz-type schedule with Idaho State and UNCU upcoming.

[1catz]

Great-The play calling Housewright used with Chambers. The more passing plays we get on film the more difficult it will be able to scheme a defense. Who will be our starting QB going forward? I trust Coach V to make the correct decision. I'm on the edge of my seat! With anticipation!!
Not so great- Defense against the run and special teams.

[MTCowpoke22]

Ugly: Giving up first downs, scores, and chunk yardage on trick plays. Hawkins was pulling out all the stops in the playbook, and we got caught with our pants down on the fake punt for a first down, Gillam's Touchdown pass, and the 2-point run on the point after.

[1catz]

Ugly: Giving up first downs, scores, and chunk yardage on trick plays. Hawkins was pulling out all the stops in the playbook, and we got caught with our pants down on the fake punt for a first down, Gillam's Touchdown pass, and the 2-point run on the point after.

I will admit I was duped on that special teams play. They took two penalties then ran the play. I have only seen that sequence one time in the big sky and I hate to admit that it was by coach Hauck.

[84CatGrad]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

[gtapp]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Not sure what is going on with the D. We have a lot of very good players/athletes on our Defense. Too many to be giving up 6 yards per carry and a lot of yards after the catch. Is it coaching, scheme, play calling??? The good news it should be fixable because we do have very good players on our defense.

[catsrback76]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Not sure what is going on with the D. We have a lot of very good players/athletes on our Defense. Too many to be giving up 6 yards per carry and a lot of yards after the catch. Is it coaching, scheme, play calling??? The good news it should be fixable because we do have very good players on our defense.

Everytime I see that alignment where the LB’s are split wide and the D Linemen stunt to the middle…I CRINGE! It really hasn’t worked and it leaves the middle exposed to be exploited…and it is for the short passing game and the cut back lanes for the backs. We’re much better at every aspect of the D game when we line up in the standard alignment with LB’s IMO!

[1catz]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Not sure what is going on with the D. We have a lot of very good players/athletes on our Defense. Too many to be giving up 6 yards per carry and a lot of yards after the catch. Is it coaching, scheme, play calling??? The good news it should be fixable because we do have very good players on our defense.

Everytime I see that alignment where the LB’s are split wide and the D Linemen stunt to the middle…I CRINGE! It really hasn’t worked and it leaves the middle exposed to be exploited…and it is for the short passing game and the cut back lanes for the backs. We’re much better at every aspect of the D game when we line up in the standard alignment with LB’s IMO!

I noticed that too. I'm not an expert by any means but there were some gigantic holes. I think it will get fixed though... Makes no sense.

[Bocephus]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Had some friends that drove back to Great Falls and got in at 3AM!

[WalkOn79]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Had some friends that drove back to Great Falls and got in at 3AM!

[Marana CAT]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Not sure what is going on with the D. We have a lot of very good players/athletes on our Defense. Too many to be giving up 6 yards per carry and a lot of yards after the catch. Is it coaching, scheme, play calling??? The good news it should be fixable because we do have very good players on our defense.

This years front 6 besides O’Reilly were all very good if not great #2’s last year behind 4 absolute beasts…. I believe our biggest drop off from last year’s Defense is we don’t have YET the # 2’s (depth) that we had last year. Hopefully each game will help build on the depth especially for the front 4.

[GeauxCats41]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Had some friends that drove back to Great Falls and got in at 3AM!

Ouch. Are they still sleeping?

[Prodigal Cat]

Mark this on the GOOD:

UC Davis has on their offensive line 2 seniors, a Center (Pettek) and a Guard (Parks) that both have all conference accolades. Yet despite being really good on the interior, Seabass was unblockable for huge portions of the game. We went a long time between Minter and Benson to have an D-lineman that demands double teams for every snap they are out there but we've now gone back to back. Cats could go back to back on Defensive player of the year. I haven't watched anyone as good as him in the conference yet.

[WalkOn79]

Good: The crowd, especially before the half.
Bad: What was with the run-out? The flag guys did it twice and we didn't let the band play the school song?

[WalkOn79]

And I also agree with Seabass. Loved Benson but I think Sebastian will be every bit as good, or better by the time he's done.

[tetoncat]

Good: The crowd, especially before the half.
Bad: What was with the run-out? The flag guys did it twice and we didn't let the band play the school song?

Did that have something to do with delayed start.

[WalkOn79]

Good: The crowd, especially before the half.
Bad: What was with the run-out? The flag guys did it twice and we didn't let the band play the school song?

Did that have something to do with delayed start.

I think so. ESPN even screwed up the runout!!

[kwcat]

Good: Chambers. What a beast. And added a nice passing game. Needs to stop forcing passes. Could easily have had two picks.

Bad: Our D is still a work in progress but I think it's getting better.

Ugly: Getting home to Columbus at 1:40 AM.

Had some friends that drove back to Great Falls and got in at 3AM!

I will add this to the good column! We tailgated until 2:45 AM!
I always like to stay late take my time cleaning up and drink a few waters and enjoy the fire