Defense
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:07 am
MSU football: Bobcats look to build on defense
By TIM DUMAS, Chronicle Sports Writer
Twenty-nine days remain until Montana State begins its season of change.
After last year's November stumble (3 games, 3 losses), the final outcome is expected to be better this fall.
But no matter what happens come Thanksgiving week, the Bobcats will enter the 2005 campaign with a different look.
Mostly on defense.
The biggest changes involve both alignment and philosophy.
According to head coach Mike Kramer, the Bobcats will use three linemen and four linebackers instead of the four linemen, three linebacker set they employed last season.
Additionally, the secondary will play zone instead of man-to-man.
"It's totally different from what we've done," Kramer said Monday after returning from Spokane, where he spent time with his ailing father. "Now we're the attack-er. The issue is, we need three physical guys to play on the defense line."
Finding that trio shouldn't be difficult; Kramer has seven big bodies to choose from.
As last season ended, most of MSU's D-linemen were either hurt - and rarely practiced - and/or too light (245 pounds or less).
The Bobcats have since bulked up.
Projected starters Aaron Papich (tackle, 287 pounds), Louis Saucedo (nose guard, 325) and Ryan Cogley (end, 258) each give Kramer increased girth.
And it doesn't stop there: Behind them are Daryl Rogers (255), David Siataga (295), Chris Kolone (295) and Joe Rothenberger (285).
"Those seven guys form the core of who we are," Kramer said.
Andy Matakis played at 250 pounds last year and is expected back in early October from an spring ACL injury
Behind the line, Kramer has moved Clive Lowe from defensive end to outside linebacker, and two-time leading tackler Mac Mollohan returns to the inside.
Speedy sophomore Epikopo King saw action in six games as a backup, but , should start inside at weakside linebacker while Nick Marudas plays Rover.
Kramer will not use a nickel back because of the extra linebacker. That means the above foursome will be on the field more, and on kick coverage less.
"We have to be real careful conditioning-wise as to what we ask our linebacking corps to do," Kramer said.
Instead, a tight end or a defensive back may be used on kicks, and occasionally a wide receiver.
Washington State transfer Jevon Miller did so with the Cougars in 2002 and tackled Joey Thomas on the 7-yard line when MSU played in Pullman. That was the last time Thomas returned a kick for the Bobcats.
This year, when MSU's linebackers are on the field, they'll be blitzing.
"Rather than play man and blitz occasionally, we're going to play zone and blitz all the time," Kramer said. "We're going to take the three biggest guys (linemen) and drive them into gaps and free up smaller, quicker linebackers to come through the opening.
"We'll blitz so much that it'll be a standard part of our defense."
The one part of the defense that has a familiar ring is the secondary.
2004 starters Ryan Force and Andre Fuller return at safety and cornerback. Kahiam Hunter missed the 2004 season, but was a nickel back in '03 and tops the 2005 depth chart at the other corner spot.
Behind Hunter are two well traveled corners, Eddie Smith and Derrick Davis.
Smith was a tailback at St. Mary's (Berkeley, Calif.) High School and began his college career at Oregon before transferring to San Mateo Junior College, then to MSU. He saw action in two games last season due to a severe hamstring injury.
Davis started three games for the Bobcats in 2002 as a true freshman, but was dismissed from school the following spring for what Kramer called "conduct unbecoming." Davis is back as a non-scholarship player with two years of eligibility.
"He served his penalty and now he comes back humbly as a walk-on," Kramer said. "It's been an odyssey."
Toph Grenfell will start at the other safety position with redshirt freshman Luke Holden behind him. Holden was last year's scout team defensive player of the year at corner, but missed the spring to jump with the MSU track and field team.
Kory Austin and New Mexico transfer Chris Davis, one of the fastest players on the team, are just behind Fuller on a seasoned depth chart.
A big change from when two freshmen (Fuller and Austin) and a sophomore (Force) started.
"At the end of the fall last year, our secondary was our weakness by far," Kramer said. "We are now better in our secondary physically than we've been since the 2003 season (when Joey Thomas, Kane Ioane, Jay Hackett and Kenneth Qualls were seniors).
"Whether they can play as well as those guys ..."
By TIM DUMAS, Chronicle Sports Writer
Twenty-nine days remain until Montana State begins its season of change.
After last year's November stumble (3 games, 3 losses), the final outcome is expected to be better this fall.
But no matter what happens come Thanksgiving week, the Bobcats will enter the 2005 campaign with a different look.
Mostly on defense.
The biggest changes involve both alignment and philosophy.
According to head coach Mike Kramer, the Bobcats will use three linemen and four linebackers instead of the four linemen, three linebacker set they employed last season.
Additionally, the secondary will play zone instead of man-to-man.
"It's totally different from what we've done," Kramer said Monday after returning from Spokane, where he spent time with his ailing father. "Now we're the attack-er. The issue is, we need three physical guys to play on the defense line."
Finding that trio shouldn't be difficult; Kramer has seven big bodies to choose from.
As last season ended, most of MSU's D-linemen were either hurt - and rarely practiced - and/or too light (245 pounds or less).
The Bobcats have since bulked up.
Projected starters Aaron Papich (tackle, 287 pounds), Louis Saucedo (nose guard, 325) and Ryan Cogley (end, 258) each give Kramer increased girth.
And it doesn't stop there: Behind them are Daryl Rogers (255), David Siataga (295), Chris Kolone (295) and Joe Rothenberger (285).
"Those seven guys form the core of who we are," Kramer said.
Andy Matakis played at 250 pounds last year and is expected back in early October from an spring ACL injury
Behind the line, Kramer has moved Clive Lowe from defensive end to outside linebacker, and two-time leading tackler Mac Mollohan returns to the inside.
Speedy sophomore Epikopo King saw action in six games as a backup, but , should start inside at weakside linebacker while Nick Marudas plays Rover.
Kramer will not use a nickel back because of the extra linebacker. That means the above foursome will be on the field more, and on kick coverage less.
"We have to be real careful conditioning-wise as to what we ask our linebacking corps to do," Kramer said.
Instead, a tight end or a defensive back may be used on kicks, and occasionally a wide receiver.
Washington State transfer Jevon Miller did so with the Cougars in 2002 and tackled Joey Thomas on the 7-yard line when MSU played in Pullman. That was the last time Thomas returned a kick for the Bobcats.
This year, when MSU's linebackers are on the field, they'll be blitzing.
"Rather than play man and blitz occasionally, we're going to play zone and blitz all the time," Kramer said. "We're going to take the three biggest guys (linemen) and drive them into gaps and free up smaller, quicker linebackers to come through the opening.
"We'll blitz so much that it'll be a standard part of our defense."
The one part of the defense that has a familiar ring is the secondary.
2004 starters Ryan Force and Andre Fuller return at safety and cornerback. Kahiam Hunter missed the 2004 season, but was a nickel back in '03 and tops the 2005 depth chart at the other corner spot.
Behind Hunter are two well traveled corners, Eddie Smith and Derrick Davis.
Smith was a tailback at St. Mary's (Berkeley, Calif.) High School and began his college career at Oregon before transferring to San Mateo Junior College, then to MSU. He saw action in two games last season due to a severe hamstring injury.
Davis started three games for the Bobcats in 2002 as a true freshman, but was dismissed from school the following spring for what Kramer called "conduct unbecoming." Davis is back as a non-scholarship player with two years of eligibility.
"He served his penalty and now he comes back humbly as a walk-on," Kramer said. "It's been an odyssey."
Toph Grenfell will start at the other safety position with redshirt freshman Luke Holden behind him. Holden was last year's scout team defensive player of the year at corner, but missed the spring to jump with the MSU track and field team.
Kory Austin and New Mexico transfer Chris Davis, one of the fastest players on the team, are just behind Fuller on a seasoned depth chart.
A big change from when two freshmen (Fuller and Austin) and a sophomore (Force) started.
"At the end of the fall last year, our secondary was our weakness by far," Kramer said. "We are now better in our secondary physically than we've been since the 2003 season (when Joey Thomas, Kane Ioane, Jay Hackett and Kenneth Qualls were seniors).
"Whether they can play as well as those guys ..."
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