The Bobcat Nation

There is a lot of talk about how good are the cats. We have played 3 bad FCS teams and a bad FBS team. Some would say we aren’t a top 5 team because we haven’t played a single good team while others attribute a 4-0 record with an FBS win as a top 5 resume. Without a doubt this cats team is very senior led and talented and has looked very impressive when the starters are out but for some reason no one seems to give the cats the credit. For crying out loud SDSU beat Augustana (d2) 24-3, NDSU made an incredible comeback against ETSU and had a close game against Towson, Idaho nearly lost to ACU, yet the cats are the ones that get questioned? Hope other viewers could share some opinions of where the team really sits based on stats, film, “rankings”, etc. Really hoping the team can prove themselves this weekend as I feel this is a massive game to show the FCS how good we actually are.

I think we will find out the answer to this question Saturday Evening.

We're a title contender if the #1 unit stays healthy...specifically at these positions:

QB
LB
Nickel
CB
SS

We are deep enough everywhere else but if Tommy, McCade and/or Danny, Jackson and/or Dowler, Woodard and/or Johnson, or Ortt go down, we will be stress tested pretty hard against the best competition. For example, if Tommy gets hurt, our run game is dominant enough to at least make the playoffs...possibly win out. If we lose both starting LBs, we are good enough on offense to compensate for more plays the defense will give up. But our #1 defense needs all of its bullets and the offense needs Tommy if we want a title shot.

St George wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 27, 2024 7:24 am

I think we will find out the answer to this question Saturday Evening.

If we lose, yes. However, in the Big Sky, you take any wins you get on the road. The same goes for teams in the Missouri Valley. Look back at old schedules of NDSU, SDSU, and UM title run seasons and you'll find a pile of close wins on opponents with lesser teams on the road. Get the FCS win and move forward. We aren't going to find out much until we play Idaho at home.

I could honestly careless what people are saying about the Cats. The conference slate will iron out how good MSU is. As a fan I'd like to see better non-conference competition. But in terms of the playoffs, two or three cupcake FCS teams is nice. Easy wins, FCS wins, and MSU's backups get a bunch of reps. MSU's strength of schedule will always be just fine with being in the Big Sky. Another component to this is this program is expected to be in the Semi's every year. So, getting through September with easy wins pays dividends in December. Its a long season when the boys start in late July and play into late December or early Jan.

Thats what is nice about the FCS, the playoffs will iron out who is the best.

Fans already put extra weight into cat/griz but Vigen needs to look and prepare that game as the first round of the playoffs, win or go home mindset. This isn’t like his days at NDSU where if they lose to rival SDSU, they get more games to sneak back up to a 1 or 2 seed with a loss. Cats have to win that game and get home field. yes it didn’t pay off against NDSU last year, but teams that make it to Frisco are usually hosting the semifinal game. If cats lose to the griz, they jeopardize themselves on being on the road.

In 3 games against lower quality FCS the first units dominated and left no doubt.
Against a poor FBS team, with no film and many unknowns, overcame 2 fumble tds, adjusted came back, and great win on road. That team has played better than expected this year, QB is solid they just can't finish. But they would beat most FCS schools.

Not very good

The only thing I think could hurt us this week is if Idaho State plays us close this week people will not give them credit for being good but rather us for not being legit. We need to remember they just beat a SUU team that has an FBS win and nearly beat UC Davis.

Resume doesn't matter in Week 4. Getting your starters some game reps together matters. Figuring out which backups you can count on matters. Banking some D1 wins matters.

Let’s steal a line from a Bobcat great: NO QUESTION.

Put the game out of reach early and let the pups look at live reps.

Post Idaho St (who I actually thought was solid). We are very good defensively but I think when teams stop our explosive runs we are going to struggle more offensively. Coaches definitely are recognizing our inability to get sacks and with Valdez gone defenses can focus on Grebe which is definitely hurting his ability to get to the QB. So they tried to run some different looks that were interesting. We definitely are going to get a good challenge in the BSC this year but if we can control the line of scrimmage I feel confident.

Monymony wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:38 pm

Post Idaho St (who I actually thought was solid). We are very good defensively but I think when teams stop our explosive runs we are going to struggle more offensively. Coaches definitely are recognizing our inability to get sacks and with Valdez gone defenses can focus on Grebe which is definitely hurting his ability to get to the QB. So they tried to run some different looks that were interesting. We definitely are going to get a good challenge in the BSC this year but if we can control the line of scrimmage I feel confident.

Again with "inability" to get sacks? ISU's QB was hurting 3 plays into the game on Saturday from getting knocked on his a$$ twice. Smart teams are going to call more quick throws than deep drops against us for that reason. We were getting pressure ALL DAY LONG.

BleedingBLue wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:43 pm

Monymony wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:38 pm

Post Idaho St (who I actually thought was solid). We are very good defensively but I think when teams stop our explosive runs we are going to struggle more offensively. Coaches definitely are recognizing our inability to get sacks and with Valdez gone defenses can focus on Grebe which is definitely hurting his ability to get to the QB. So they tried to run some different looks that were interesting. We definitely are going to get a good challenge in the BSC this year but if we can control the line of scrimmage I feel confident.

Again with "inability" to get sacks? ISU's QB was hurting 3 plays into the game on Saturday from getting knocked on his a$$ twice. Smart teams are going to call more quick throws than deep drops against us for that reason. We were getting pressure ALL DAY LONG.

I watched the Ewu/gris game and on the 4th down throw to Bergen they ran a double fake with play action and a jet sweep WR and I thought please please run that vs the Cats. Bergen will be headed to the end zone with no ball and the QB will be a$$ down laying on the turf.

I think we can be very good but as Michael Rider said on "Riding with Rider" this week, the back 7 is suspect. He called out the talent level and depth of that group and suggested it needs to be cleaned up. We have a lot of Seniors in that group so I think they can play better. They will have to when we play the better teams in the Big Sky and especially when we play NDSU and SDSU.

Good enough to know better.

gtapp wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 5:17 pm

I think we can be very good but as Michael Rider said on "Riding with Rider" this week, the back 7 is suspect. He called out the talent level and depth of that group and suggested it needs to be cleaned up. We have a lot of Seniors in that group so I think they can play better. They will have to when we play the better teams in the Big Sky and especially when we play NDSU and SDSU.

Well that isn’t a very detailed description of what makes the secondary suspect. That’s a suspect breakdown. C’mon Rider you must be able to do better than that. The numbers they allowed to New Mexico and ISU were good, especially when compared to what those two have done against everyone else. The two scores by ISU were pretty flukey.

MSU’s special teams have been the big highlight so far. Every phase is doing really well. Dowler’s returns, Hall’s punting, Sanstead’s placekicking. Pretty potent combination.

MSU’s big area that is lacking is forcing turnovers. I think MSU has been super focused on tackling and leverage that it has missed a couple “easy” interceptions. I recall one in particular vs ISU. I think that will payoff in the long run. MSU has probably been better off not getting a bunch of turnovers at this stage of their progression. I wouldn’t be surprised if that all turns around soon.

Monymony wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:38 pm

Post Idaho St (who I actually thought was solid). We are very good defensively but I think when teams stop our explosive runs we are going to struggle more offensively. Coaches definitely are recognizing our inability to get sacks and with Valdez gone defenses can focus on Grebe which is definitely hurting his ability to get to the QB. So they tried to run some different looks that were interesting. We definitely are going to get a good challenge in the BSC this year but if we can control the line of scrimmage I feel confident.

I think Cats ran different looks as a progression of the defense. Also scheme based on opponent. Grebe gets pressure but coming from different angles should free him. Similar to Cheeta package that puts 4 speed rushers up front

BleedingBLue wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:43 pm

Monymony wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 03, 2024 4:38 pm

Post Idaho St (who I actually thought was solid). We are very good defensively but I think when teams stop our explosive runs we are going to struggle more offensively. Coaches definitely are recognizing our inability to get sacks and with Valdez gone defenses can focus on Grebe which is definitely hurting his ability to get to the QB. So they tried to run some different looks that were interesting. We definitely are going to get a good challenge in the BSC this year but if we can control the line of scrimmage I feel confident.

Again with "inability" to get sacks? ISU's QB was hurting 3 plays into the game on Saturday from getting knocked on his a$$ twice. Smart teams are going to call more quick throws than deep drops against us for that reason. We were getting pressure ALL DAY LONG.

No doubt our pressure has been phenomenal. But I will say when we only brought 4 we didn’t get great pressure and it was only through blitzing that we got actual pressure. Sacks are overrated but getting teams to 2nd, 3rd and long will pay off. I do agree with you but if we didn’t blitz against ISU it would’ve been different as the qb was great when he had time.