Bobcat Defense

[Lord Vigo]

As I've noted, the Cats have allowed 28 total points in the first halves of FCS contests, 3.1/game.

UCD has allowed 78 points in the first halves of FCS contests, 8.7/game.

First half offense:
vs. FCS:
UCD - 17.5; MSU 24.2
Last 4 games:
UCD - 26.8; MSU 28.8
UCD home - 21.4
MSU road - 24.0

Vs. Common Opponents (UT, ID, PSU, EW, UNC):

-UCD: +16.6
-MSU: +27.4

[BelgradeBobcat]

As I've noted, the Cats have allowed 28 total points in the first halves of FCS contests, 3.1/game.

UCD has allowed 78 points in the first halves of FCS contests, 8.7/game.

First half offense:
vs. FCS:
UCD - 17.5; MSU 24.2
Last 4 games:
UCD - 26.8; MSU 28.8
UCD home - 21.4
MSU road - 24.0

Vs. Common Opponents (UT, ID, PSU, EW, UNC):

-UCD: +16.6
-MSU: +27.4

[cats2506]

[catatac]

It’s hard to win on the road in the BSC.

I don’t know if the Cats will win, but I predict they will.

The Cats are the better team offensively AND defensively. The Cats defense IS elite. Saturday they get a chance to show it to Herder and the rest of the naysayers.

Sometimes... but sometimes not! Didn't seem very hard for the Cats to beat PSU on the road. Jumped out to a what, 41 zip lead before PSU scored?

[GoldstoneCat]

Sam Herder mentioned that the Cats defense isnt elite. What would they need to do to become elite? I just dont know how the defense could play much better. Yes, the Eastern game wasnt their best performance. But, as its been said a lot of times here, the Cats D held them below all their averages.

So I just listened to the entirety of this interview. Sam didn't necessarily slight our defense if you listen to it in context. I just think he used a poor choice of words, maybe, and I'm probably guilty of the same line of thinking. When I think of elite defenses my mind goes to the 85 bears, 2001 ravens, mid 80s giants. Teams that made lots of splash plays and compiled gaudy stats. Teams that had signature players, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, etc. At this level you think of troy, or the Kroy Biermann led defenses at montana, jabril cox ndsu. We aren't making a ton of splashy plays or getting big turnover numbers or sacks. We don't really have "that guy." Brody is a good to very good player of course but he's not flying off the screen at you. So when you watch, it doesn't "feel" like an elite defense. Then you look up at the end of the 3Q every week and, oh, wow, it's 52-7 again. Then you go look at the stats and realize yes, this is a great to elite defense that isn't flashy, that is kind of "boring" in a sense, but is absolutely sound and solid and is 100% a national championship level unit as a whole. Hope that made sense.

[onceacat]

Sam Herder mentioned that the Cats defense isnt elite. What would they need to do to become elite? I just dont know how the defense could play much better. Yes, the Eastern game wasnt their best performance. But, as its been said a lot of times here, the Cats D held them below all their averages.

So I just listened to the entirety of this interview. Sam didn't necessarily slight our defense if you listen to it in context. I just think he used a poor choice of words, maybe, and I'm probably guilty of the same line of thinking. When I think of elite defenses my mind goes to the 85 bears, 2001 ravens, mid 80s giants. Teams that made lots of splash plays and compiled gaudy stats. Teams that had signature players, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, etc. At this level you think of troy, or the Kroy Biermann led defenses at montana, jabril cox ndsu. We aren't making a ton of splashy plays or getting big turnover numbers or sacks. We don't really have "that guy." Brody is a good to very good player of course but he's not flying off the screen at you. So when you watch, it doesn't "feel" like an elite defense. Then you look up at the end of the 3Q every week and, oh, wow, it's 52-7 again. Then you go look at the stats and realize yes, this is a great to elite defense that isn't flashy, that is kind of "boring" in a sense, but is absolutely sound and solid and is 100% a national championship level unit as a whole. Hope that made sense.

I think you are on to something. Theres no-one on this D that just screams next level talent. Sacks down, takeaways down, not a lot of highlight reel hits.

Just exceptional execution & TEAM D.

[Bocephus]

Sam Herder mentioned that the Cats defense isnt elite. What would they need to do to become elite? I just dont know how the defense could play much better. Yes, the Eastern game wasnt their best performance. But, as its been said a lot of times here, the Cats D held them below all their averages.

So I just listened to the entirety of this interview. Sam didn't necessarily slight our defense if you listen to it in context. I just think he used a poor choice of words, maybe, and I'm probably guilty of the same line of thinking. When I think of elite defenses my mind goes to the 85 bears, 2001 ravens, mid 80s giants. Teams that made lots of splash plays and compiled gaudy stats. Teams that had signature players, Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, etc. At this level you think of troy, or the Kroy Biermann led defenses at montana, jabril cox ndsu. We aren't making a ton of splashy plays or getting big turnover numbers or sacks. We don't really have "that guy." Brody is a good to very good player of course but he's not flying off the screen at you. So when you watch, it doesn't "feel" like an elite defense. Then you look up at the end of the 3Q every week and, oh, wow, it's 52-7 again. Then you go look at the stats and realize yes, this is a great to elite defense that isn't flashy, that is kind of "boring" in a sense, but is absolutely sound and solid and is 100% a national championship level unit as a whole. Hope that made sense.

I think you are on to something. Theres no-one on this D that just screams next level talent. Sacks down, takeaways down, not a lot of highlight reel hits.

Just exceptional execution & TEAM D.

AMEN! The only stat that matters is POINTS ALLOWED! This team doesn’t need all the extra frosting to get the job done!

[bpcats20]

I think our corners and safeties are pretty solid.

On defensive line we are really missing Valdez’s or his type of play on the interior portion of the line.

We do not have a true offset to Groebe at the other Defensive line.

We don’t have any elite linebackers. I really liked how UC Davis played at that position.

We kind of have a no-name no star player defense that is well coached.

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

[ilovethecats]

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

This would be very surprising to me but I guess is depends on your version of "tear up our defense" means.

I have no doubt they are a good offense. But I have yet to see anyone tear up our defense and I'm just struggling to see why this is the team that is going to do it. I think they'll get their yards. Score some points.

[GoldstoneCat]

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

This would be very surprising to me but I guess is depends on your version of "tear up our defense" means.

I have no doubt they are a good offense. But I have yet to see anyone tear up our defense and I'm just struggling to see why this is the team that is going to do it. I think they'll get their yards. Score some points.

Brooks said essentially the same thing on his weekly spot with Colter. I don't know if we're going to get "diced" or "torn up." I don't think Hastings is that type of player. I think they'll move the ball methodically through the air, dink dunk, and the game will be close if they convert for touchdowns and not close if they don't. Because I'm pretty convinced they are not going to stop us or slow us down all that much. Nobody has yet.

[ilovethecats]

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

This would be very surprising to me but I guess is depends on your version of "tear up our defense" means.

I have no doubt they are a good offense. But I have yet to see anyone tear up our defense and I'm just struggling to see why this is the team that is going to do it. I think they'll get their yards. Score some points.

Brooks said essentially the same thing on his weekly spot with Colter. I don't know if we're going to get "diced" or "torn up." I don't think Hastings is that type of player. I think they'll move the ball methodically through the air, dink dunk, and the game will be close if they convert for touchdowns and not close if they don't. Because I'm pretty convinced they are not going to stop us or slow us down all that much. Nobody has yet.

I caught that too. And I love Brooks and their podcast. Again I just think it depends on what that means. Does that mean he thinks they're just gonna march down on us every drive with ease? I just don't see that happening. But they are a good offense, and good offenses will move the ball.

If I'm not mistaken I could have swore I heard Brooks say what Davis did to the griz, and followed that by saying the Cat defense is no griz defense. Implying they were a better unit and if Davis did that to the griz, they'd surely do worse to the cats.

In what world do you look at the games, look at the stats, and still come to the conclusion that that griz D we've been watching is so much better than the Cats defense?

I swear this time of year I find myself scratching my head every weekend.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Probably the best offense we’ve seen this year put up 324 yards and 17 points on this defense. There were two defensive touchdowns which absolutely reduced the offensive yardage, and possibly the offensive points, but regardless, still a good showing. That same offense, with our game included, is averaging 480 offensive yards per game. Against FBS opponents. Averaging 30.5 offensive points a game. Against FBS opponents.

We beat all those averages, handedly, and won the game. The defense is playing even better than they did that game. I think this idea that we don’t have star players is so far out of bounds. They might not be accumulating as many stats as others, but Grebe is a freaking star. He’s the best edge rusher in the conference. As good against the run as he is the pass. Polidore and Ortt are probably the best safety duo in the conference, the CB’s are one of the top groups in the conference, the DT’s don’t have much pass rushing juice, but they’re fantastic against the run. LB would probably be the only weak spot, and they’re not that weak. This defense has played lights out for the entire freaking season, and yet there are still fans and pundits doubting them. I don’t get it.

[BelligerentBobcat]

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

This would be very surprising to me but I guess is depends on your version of "tear up our defense" means.

I have no doubt they are a good offense. But I have yet to see anyone tear up our defense and I'm just struggling to see why this is the team that is going to do it. I think they'll get their yards. Score some points.

Brooks said essentially the same thing on his weekly spot with Colter. I don't know if we're going to get "diced" or "torn up." I don't think Hastings is that type of player. I think they'll move the ball methodically through the air, dink dunk, and the game will be close if they convert for touchdowns and not close if they don't. Because I'm pretty convinced they are not going to stop us or slow us down all that much. Nobody has yet.

I caught that too. And I love Brooks and their podcast. Again I just think it depends on what that means. Does that mean he thinks they're just gonna march down on us every drive with ease? I just don't see that happening. But they are a good offense, and good offenses will move the ball.

If I'm not mistaken I could have swore I heard Brooks say what Davis did to the griz, and followed that by saying the Cat defense is no griz defense. Implying they were a better unit and if Davis did that to the griz, they'd surely do worse to the cats.

In what world do you look at the games, look at the stats, and still come to the conclusion that that griz D we've been watching is so much better than the Cats defense?

I swear this time of year I find myself scratching my head every weekend.

Brooks will say he isn’t, but when comparing MSU & UM, he will almost always be more positive towards UM. He’s not as biased as Akem, but boy is he biased.

[SparkCat]

I think our corners and safeties are pretty solid.

On defensive line we are really missing Valdez’s or his type of play on the interior portion of the line.

We do not have a true offset to Groebe at the other Defensive line.

We don’t have any elite linebackers. I really liked how UC Davis played at that position.

We kind of have a no-name no star player defense that is well coached.

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

UC Davis will get their points, but tear up…. I’ll be surprised and eat crow if they do.

[SparkCat]

I think that UC Davis is going to tear up our defense this weekend and it will be up to our offense to save us.

This would be very surprising to me but I guess is depends on your version of "tear up our defense" means.

I have no doubt they are a good offense. But I have yet to see anyone tear up our defense and I'm just struggling to see why this is the team that is going to do it. I think they'll get their yards. Score some points.

Brooks said essentially the same thing on his weekly spot with Colter. I don't know if we're going to get "diced" or "torn up." I don't think Hastings is that type of player. I think they'll move the ball methodically through the air, dink dunk, and the game will be close if they convert for touchdowns and not close if they don't. Because I'm pretty convinced they are not going to stop us or slow us down all that much. Nobody has yet.

I caught that too. And I love Brooks and their podcast. Again I just think it depends on what that means. Does that mean he thinks they're just gonna march down on us every drive with ease? I just don't see that happening. But they are a good offense, and good offenses will move the ball.

If I'm not mistaken I could have swore I heard Brooks say what Davis did to the griz, and followed that by saying the Cat defense is no griz defense. Implying they were a better unit and if Davis did that to the griz, they'd surely do worse to the cats.

In what world do you look at the games, look at the stats, and still come to the conclusion that that griz D we've been watching is so much better than the Cats defense?

I swear this time of year I find myself scratching my head every weekend.

Brooks will say he isn’t, but when comparing MSU & UM, he will almost always be more positive towards UM. He’s not as biased as Akem, but boy is he biased.

Man, maybe it’s just me, but listening to most of Akem’s breakdowns, I actually enjoy them. He’s improving with his analysis. Maybe a little bit bias towards Griz, however, he has also been extremely critical of them. He has called out Bobbie a number of times for coaching mistakes, and past internal team issues. Also, more times than not, he’s giving the Cats a lot of credit, minus a few comments, which believe it or not, outside of our bubble, many are still skeptical of the Cats. This week I have listened to 3-4 neutral analysis’, which typically have 2-3 individuals speaking. Id say his opinions are not much more different than others. So I’ll cut him some slack, he could only be covering the Griz, instead we are only getting more exposure with a former popular Griz player.

[ilovethecats]

Probably the best offense we’ve seen this year put up 324 yards and 17 points on this defense. There were two defensive touchdowns which absolutely reduced the offensive yardage, and possibly the offensive points, but regardless, still a good showing. That same offense, with our game included, is averaging 480 offensive yards per game. Against FBS opponents. Averaging 30.5 offensive points a game. Against FBS opponents.

We beat all those averages, handedly, and won the game. The defense is playing even better than they did that game. I think this idea that we don’t have star players is so far out of bounds. They might not be accumulating as many stats as others, but Grebe is a freaking star. He’s the best edge rusher in the conference. As good against the run as he is the pass. Polidore and Ortt are probably the best safety duo in the conference, the CB’s are one of the top groups in the conference, the DT’s don’t have much pass rushing juice, but they’re fantastic against the run. LB would probably be the only weak spot, and they’re not that weak. This defense has played lights out for the entire freaking season, and yet there are still fans and pundits doubting them. I don’t get it.

You and me both BB. I just don't get what this unit needs to on the field for people to stop doubting them. They're never going to be perfect. Teams are going to score on them. But why would anyone assume they're going to get "diced up" is beyond me.

I'm guessing that leading into the Brawl with an 11-0 record we'll have people saying how the griz offense is better than they look and what a challenge this will be for our defense.

It's not like we're suggesting we're the '85 Bears here. But what in the world could this unit do that they haven't done?! I just don't get it either BB.

[Common Cat]

So do we keep we rely on the front four and try to pinch Davis between the 20’s? Davis intermediate pass game and ability to play tempo will challenge us.

[onceacat]

Probably the best offense we’ve seen this year put up 324 yards and 17 points on this defense. There were two defensive touchdowns which absolutely reduced the offensive yardage, and possibly the offensive points, but regardless, still a good showing. That same offense, with our game included, is averaging 480 offensive yards per game. Against FBS opponents. Averaging 30.5 offensive points a game. Against FBS opponents.

We beat all those averages, handedly, and won the game. The defense is playing even better than they did that game. I think this idea that we don’t have star players is so far out of bounds. They might not be accumulating as many stats as others, but Grebe is a freaking star. He’s the best edge rusher in the conference. As good against the run as he is the pass. Polidore and Ortt are probably the best safety duo in the conference, the CB’s are one of the top groups in the conference, the DT’s don’t have much pass rushing juice, but they’re fantastic against the run. LB would probably be the only weak spot, and they’re not that weak. This defense has played lights out for the entire freaking season, and yet there are still fans and pundits doubting them. I don’t get it.

You and me both BB. I just don't get what this unit needs to on the field for people to stop doubting them. They're never going to be perfect. Teams are going to score on them. But why would anyone assume they're going to get "diced up" is beyond me.

I'm guessing that leading into the Brawl with an 11-0 record we'll have people saying how the griz offense is better than they look and what a challenge this will be for our defense.

It's not like we're suggesting we're the '85 Bears here. But what in the world could this unit do that they haven't done?! I just don't get it either BB.

I think the issue is more that none of those guys are next level players.

This D is STACKED with 2nd & 3rd team all BSC players...heck, there are rotational guys who are good enough to be all BSC Honorable mentions. It's just that theres no-one that really pops.

And I say that as a good thing...a defense is only as good as its weakest link, and the weakest links on this unit are still all BSC quality.

[RootinfortheCats]

Probably the best offense we’ve seen this year put up 324 yards and 17 points on this defense. There were two defensive touchdowns which absolutely reduced the offensive yardage, and possibly the offensive points, but regardless, still a good showing. That same offense, with our game included, is averaging 480 offensive yards per game. Against FBS opponents. Averaging 30.5 offensive points a game. Against FBS opponents.

We beat all those averages, handedly, and won the game. The defense is playing even better than they did that game. I think this idea that we don’t have star players is so far out of bounds. They might not be accumulating as many stats as others, but Grebe is a freaking star. He’s the best edge rusher in the conference. As good against the run as he is the pass. Polidore and Ortt are probably the best safety duo in the conference, the CB’s are one of the top groups in the conference, the DT’s don’t have much pass rushing juice, but they’re fantastic against the run. LB would probably be the only weak spot, and they’re not that weak. This defense has played lights out for the entire freaking season, and yet there are still fans and pundits doubting them. I don’t get it.

I’m with you.

Grebe is absolutely next level.

Also, O’Reilly is a 1 st team all Big Sky talent as well.

The 1st team defense had one moderately bad quarter all year at EWU. Otherwise dominant.

I expect the D to keep UCD to two scores under their average, at least.

I guarantee Daly will have a good plan to limit LL.

I like our DL vs. the UCD OL. I see some sacks coming in this game. Brody will get the double team and Eiden/Crews will make it home.

[Lord Vigo]

Defenses also tend to wrack up the flashy counting stats (sacks, INT's, defensive scores) later in games when opposing teams are in desperation mode trying to come back. The Cats typically don't see that. Usually they only play through Q3 and typically the opposing offense isn't in drop-back desperation mode because they're too far back anyways and the game is over.