The Bobcat Nation

I know you guys think Matt is kissing Griz buttocks, but I've attached his comment from this week.

Best Top 25 Win: No. 4 Montana 26, No. 14 Portland State 20

There might be more impressive wins in the score column, but no victory will resonate more for the rest of the season than Montana’s triumph at Portland State. With a few of the predicted Big Sky contenders going through tough times, the Grizzlies and Vikings had already emerged as the top two teams in the conference. A strong start, big plays from the defense and a good rushing effort against a very tough Viking defense lifted the Grizzlies to the 26-20 victory and put them in the driver’s seat for the Big Sky title and at least a top four seed in the postseason. Montana opened the scoring on defense, as Tuff Harris intercepted a Rob Freeman pass and returned it 14 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Montana lead. The defense dominated throughout the early stages, and the offense turned good field possession into another touchdown when Josh Swogger hit Ryan Bagley for a score and a 14-0 advantage. Another strong drive by the defense preceded a bad snap on a punt and a safety for the Vikings, and the Grizzlies were off with a 16-0 lead. Portland State would close to within 16-10 in the third quarter, but Reggie Bradshaw capped off a 72-yard drive with a 23-yard TD run for a 23-10 edge. The Vikings again rallied to cut the gap to 23-20 with a safety and ensuing punt return touchdown with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Grizzlies used a 43-yard scramble by Swogger to set up a field goal and the defense held strong before sealing the win with a Quinton Jackson interception in the final seconds. Montana’s defense overwhelmed the Portland State passing attack, forcing Viking quarterbacks Rob Freeman and Brian White into a combined 8-of-23 effort for 148 yards and three interceptions. Bradshaw led a 166-yard effort against a Viking defense that was only allowing 3.26 yards per carry. But the potential lasting significance of the win is even more important. The Grizzlies will be heavy favorites in road dates against Eastern Washington, Weber State and Northern Colorado, and any remaining tests come in the friendly confines of Washington-Grizzly Stadium. That slate should help the Grizzlies finish with at least a 9-2 mark, which should also have them in great position for a playoff seed and potential run in the postseason.

Worst Top 25 Loss: Montana State 39, No. 25 Northern Arizona 32

Anybody that has followed Montana State over the years knows that trying to figure out how the Bobcats will play is a senseless task. This year’s team had just suffered three ugly home losses after winning the season opener at Colorado, so it looked dead in the water heading into this one. But the Bobcats’ recovered for a 39-32 win at Northern Arizona, which dealt a crippling blow to any potential playoff hopes for the Lumberjacks. Northern Arizona had momentum after last week’s win at Idaho State, but let Montana State’s slumping offense off the mat in this one. A Bobcat team that had just 10 points in the last two weeks recorded 559 yards of total offense against the Lumberjacks, as both quarterback Cory Carpenter (300 yards, 2 TD) and running back Aaron Mason (24 carries, 192 yards, 2 TD) had their way all game. Montana State jumped out to a 32-14 third-quarter lead before the Lumberjacks started to show some fight. Northern Arizona did rally to tie the game at 32 with 6:52 left in the game, but quickly gave up a five-play, 80-yard drive for a Bobcat touchdown with 4:55 to play and could not mount a drive to tie it up in the final minutes. The loss wasted another quality effort from resurgent quarterback Jason Murrietta (23-of-39, 286 yards, 2 TD). More importantly, a team that appeared to have a chance to emerge from the Big Sky pack took a crucial step back. With a pair of I-A losses and a Division II game in non-conference play, the Lumberjacks likely already need to win out to make the early success of Murrietta and wide receiver Alex Watson pay off with a playoff berth.

perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

He would be crazy to not pick PSU. They'll still be ranked and the Cats won't be.

Bleedinbluengold wrote:

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

He would be crazy to not pick PSU. They'll still be ranked and the Cats won't be.

Especially if that QB transfer from Colorado starts. He worries me.

HelenaCat95 wrote:

Bleedinbluengold wrote:

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

He would be crazy to not pick PSU. They'll still be ranked and the Cats won't be.

Especially if that QB transfer from Colorado starts. He worries me.

Yep, he looks very good. Hopefully he will have some growing pains (ups and downs) like most QB's in a new system go through. I'm pretty sure he will be starting because their 3rd string QB didn't look very good at all (inexperienced). We need to stick with the same type game plan and use different sets and confuse as well as HIT HARD AND SWARM.

If Sawyer Smith is healthy, I don't see any reason he won't be starting against us. Otherwise it will probably be White.

CelticCat wrote:If Sawyer Smith is healthy, I don't see any reason he won't be starting against us. Otherwise it will probably be White.

Then, it feels odd for me to say this because he is good, but I hope Smith is healthy. I would rather face him than White.

Excluding the game where he was injured (he was 1-3 at that point), Smith has a rating of 151 this year, with 4 TDs and 1 INT, which he threw against New Mexico. He also had a decent year last year, coming on strong towards the end (especially against us).

White may prove to be the best QB they have, but in no way should PSU bench Sawyer Smith.

Forget who plays QB. You better start worrying about their defense.

CelticCat wrote:If Sawyer Smith is healthy, I don't see any reason he won't be starting against us. Otherwise it will probably be White.

I don't know ... White looked pretty darn good out there. Not sure really which one I want playing yet Maybe White because he doesn't know the system as well and could make more mistakes maybe.

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

I've noticed that too. Everytime he pics for or against you guys he's been flat out 0-5. He actually admits he can't figure you guys out. I think Cat fans should agree with him on that fact. They can't figure their team out either.

GrizinWashington wrote:Forget who plays QB. You better start worrying about their defense.

That's definitely another thing that needs to be addressed. I was kind of wondering what kind of speed the defense has. Are they big and physical but slower? Fast? Did the Griz have any luck running to the outside?

HelenaCat95 wrote:

Bleedinbluengold wrote:

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

He would be crazy to not pick PSU. They'll still be ranked and the Cats won't be.

Especially if that QB transfer from Colorado starts. He worries me.

This whole Colorado thing is like a 6 degrees thing. We beat Colorado. We get a transfer from Colorado. We play a team with a transfer from Colorado. The capper would be to beat the team with the Colorado transfer, on a game ending sack by Henderson (the transfer from Colorado)....

grizzh8r wrote:

HelenaCat95 wrote:

Bleedinbluengold wrote:

barechestcat wrote:perfectly fine by me. I say we all e-mail Matt and have him pick PSU this week. He's been wrong every week this year on his MSU picks and I'd like him to keep that streak alive.

He would be crazy to not pick PSU. They'll still be ranked and the Cats won't be.

Especially if that QB transfer from Colorado starts. He worries me.

This whole Colorado thing is like a 6 degrees thing. We beat Colorado. We get a transfer from Colorado. We play a team with a transfer from Colorado. The capper would be to beat the team with the Colorado transfer, on a game ending sack by Henderson (the transfer from Colorado)....

we have to be in his head with how sh!ty he played that first game...he does have a cannon for an arm tho

barechestcat wrote:

GrizinWashington wrote:Forget who plays QB. You better start worrying about their defense.

That's definitely another thing that needs to be addressed. I was kind of wondering what kind of speed the defense has. Are they big and physical but slower? Fast? Did the Griz have any luck running to the outside?

Their defense is big and athletic but overran a ton of plays. The Griz should have had 40 on them. How many did that Cats have last year on them down there as well (44+)? If we can get the running game going and are balanced on offense we'll be just fine on offense. I am more worried about their offensive line and stopping their run AND getting to the QB to be honest.

I think that the coaches will really hone in on what the griz did to beat PSU. I also think that whoever the vikes put in at QB, we need to get a ton of pressure on. I am not super high on our CB's and they really need to step up their coverage. If #27 plays a big role this week for the CATS, we are in trouble. We need LeBlanc healthy and Force too!!

we have to be in his head with how sh!ty he played that first game...he does have a cannon for an arm tho

I'm pretty sure that White didn't play in that game. I think that's why he left - after several games with poor play from the quarterbacks he was still buried on the bench despite having a decent performance last year when he was in.

That is what the announcer said, when he did not run onto the field to play against MSU he decided it was time to go somewhere else.

barechestcat wrote:

GrizinWashington wrote:Forget who plays QB. You better start worrying about their defense.

That's definitely another thing that needs to be addressed. I was kind of wondering what kind of speed the defense has. Are they big and physical but slower? Fast? Did the Griz have any luck running to the outside?

They're not overly large, but they are quick and they are VERY physical. I'd say they were comparable to Iowa from a physical standpoint, although obviously they don't have the play-makers that Iowa does. They are also extremely adept at creating TO's. If I'm not mistaken, they have created 13 turnovers on the year. Take care of the football and match them physically and the cats will be fine. Don't do those things, and get prepared for a looonnnngggg afternoon. Their defense is good.

Griz/Wash-

Did you just compare PSU's defense to Iowa's from a physical standpoint? Laughable. Did you do that to show what a great win it was for the Griz?

On a side note, White did not play a down for Colorado this year. If he had, then he wouldn't have been able to transfer.