Cat-Griz 2.0

[OldGriz]

This game might be like the Yellowstone Super Volcano and destroy the whole state before Saturday.

I can’t believe it’s so hard for people to say the winner of Saturday’s game will be the better team. Isn’t this America? No hedging. None of that “we’re better but we didn’t play well” crap. If you can’t say the best team wins, why even play the game? (Not you, Rye. I’m shooting over your shoulder.)

Not sure if I'm following your logic but I'll play along. Cats already proved they're the better team, by winning in Missoula. So now we get a 2nd game and obviously if the Cats win it won't change anything but if the Griz win then I'll guess we'll say the teams are exactly tied, totally equal. Fair?

I don’t think it works that way because then we’d have to say it’s 74-44 and the Cats have a lot of games to win to catch up. I agree with BlueAndGoldNation (above). If we can’t say the winner of the next game is the better team, why even play the game?

So you're going to count when they weren't even in the same division? I see what kind of a gris fan you are. The Gris should be way ahead in the rivalry if you are counting those games - its also probably why the gris continue to schedule a yearly D-2 game, gotta keep those win stats up.

You missed the point. I’m the guy who DOESN’T want to look backward more than one game. Then you agree with me that the winner of Saturday’s game is the better team?

No I don't. Or else why use the terminology "upset". It completely defeats the point. The best team DOESN'T always win. You think that when
Maryland got upset by the Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers that the Retrievers were the better team? No, they weren't, but they showed up that day and took down Maryland. That's the beauty of sports. What I will say is that right now the Cats are the better team (and are favored as such), but if the gris win, then good on them but its considered an upset. It's not a slight, just what it is.

So you are one of those guys who leaves room to say “we’re the better team but we just didn’t play like I had hoped we would today.” May you be well. I got nothing left to say to that.

[BOBCATBORN]

This game might be like the Yellowstone Super Volcano and destroy the whole state before Saturday.

I can’t believe it’s so hard for people to say the winner of Saturday’s game will be the better team. Isn’t this America? No hedging. None of that “we’re better but we didn’t play well” crap. If you can’t say the best team wins, why even play the game? (Not you, Rye. I’m shooting over your shoulder.)

Not sure if I'm following your logic but I'll play along. Cats already proved they're the better team, by winning in Missoula. So now we get a 2nd game and obviously if the Cats win it won't change anything but if the Griz win then I'll guess we'll say the teams are exactly tied, totally equal. Fair?

I don’t think it works that way because then we’d have to say it’s 74-44 and the Cats have a lot of games to win to catch up. I agree with BlueAndGoldNation (above). If we can’t say the winner of the next game is the better team, why even play the game?

So you're going to count when they weren't even in the same division? I see what kind of a gris fan you are. The Gris should be way ahead in the rivalry if you are counting those games - its also probably why the gris continue to schedule a yearly D-2 game, gotta keep those win stats up.

You missed the point. I’m the guy who DOESN’T want to look backward more than one game. Then you agree with me that the winner of Saturday’s game is the better team?

No I don't. Or else why use the terminology "upset". It completely defeats the point. The best team DOESN'T always win. You think that when
Maryland got upset by the Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers that the Retrievers were the better team? No, they weren't, but they showed up that day and took down Maryland. That's the beauty of sports. What I will say is that right now the Cats are the better team (and are favored as such), but if the gris win, then good on them but its considered an upset. It's not a slight, just what it is.

So you are one of those guys who leaves room to say “we’re the better team but we just didn’t play like I had hoped we would today.” May you be well. I got nothing left to say to that.

I personally think these teams are close, so it really doesnt matter much to me. But what your arguing doesn't make sense either. You're saying the the team that wins is the better team defacto, which just isn't the case. Are you implying that the Retrievers were the better team?

[MTmadeCat]

A few observations:

1) No class this week, all week to rehab and prepare.
2) In Hauck 2.0, Griz are losing in Bozeman by an average of 24.75 pts in 4 trips.
3) Cats had extra day of rest/prep playing the quarterfinal on Friday.
4) Gillman and Wortham were getting up real slow all game against USD. Those boys are tough and electric, but also beat up—Cats hard hitting D will make a difference.
5) Crowd will be electric and make a difference in this game.
6) The majority of our roster has played in the semifinals/natty and won’t overlook this opportunity. The majority of the Griz roster has not.
7) Ah Yat will get hit a lot more than he has the past 2 weeks, how he responds will be big.
Win the turnover battle, rushing battle, and special teams play, and Cats win this game.

[OldGriz]

This game might be like the Yellowstone Super Volcano and destroy the whole state before Saturday.

I can’t believe it’s so hard for people to say the winner of Saturday’s game will be the better team. Isn’t this America? No hedging. None of that “we’re better but we didn’t play well” crap. If you can’t say the best team wins, why even play the game? (Not you, Rye. I’m shooting over your shoulder.)

Not sure if I'm following your logic but I'll play along. Cats already proved they're the better team, by winning in Missoula. So now we get a 2nd game and obviously if the Cats win it won't change anything but if the Griz win then I'll guess we'll say the teams are exactly tied, totally equal. Fair?

I don’t think it works that way because then we’d have to say it’s 74-44 and the Cats have a lot of games to win to catch up. I agree with BlueAndGoldNation (above). If we can’t say the winner of the next game is the better team, why even play the game?

So you're going to count when they weren't even in the same division? I see what kind of a gris fan you are. The Gris should be way ahead in the rivalry if you are counting those games - its also probably why the gris continue to schedule a yearly D-2 game, gotta keep those win stats up.

You missed the point. I’m the guy who DOESN’T want to look backward more than one game. Then you agree with me that the winner of Saturday’s game is the better team?

No I don't. Or else why use the terminology "upset". It completely defeats the point. The best team DOESN'T always win. You think that when
Maryland got upset by the Baltimore County (UMBC) Retrievers that the Retrievers were the better team? No, they weren't, but they showed up that day and took down Maryland. That's the beauty of sports. What I will say is that right now the Cats are the better team (and are favored as such), but if the gris win, then good on them but its considered an upset. It's not a slight, just what it is.

So you are one of those guys who leaves room to say “we’re the better team but we just didn’t play like I had hoped we would today.” May you be well. I got nothing left to say to that.

I personally think these teams are close, so it really doesnt matter much to me. But what your arguing doesn't make sense either. You're saying the the team that wins is the better team defacto, which just isn't the case. Are you implying that the Retrievers were the better team?

I confess I know nothing about the Retrievers.

[iaafan]

Was usd keying on Gillman? 18 runs for 38 yards. Wortham had over half their total yards and 11 of the 21 receptions.

[nanacat]

A few observations:

1) No class this week, all week to rehab and prepare.
2) In Hauck 2.0, Griz are losing in Bozeman by an average of 24.75 pts in 4 trips.
3) Cats had extra day of rest/prep playing the quarterfinal on Friday.
4) Gillman and Wortham were getting up real slow all game against USD. Those boys are tough and electric, but also beat up—Cats hard hitting D will make a difference.
5) Crowd will be electric and make a difference in this game.
6) The majority of our roster has played in the semifinals/natty and won’t overlook this opportunity. The majority of the Griz roster has not.
7) Ah Yat will get hit a lot more than he has the past 2 weeks, how he responds will be big.
Win the turnover battle, rushing battle, and special teams play, and Cats win this game.

[CatBlitz]

Our interior O Line better figure it out, I'll say that.

But this will be a battle and a very stressful game. I trust Vigen to make the right adjustments and our playmakers to make the plays they've made all season.

Have they been playing bad? News to me.

Not sure I'm watching the same games as you then. The inside run game has been lackluster.

[WeedKillinCat]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

[CatBlitz]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

He absolutely will. Defense needs to take good angles and wrap up.

[Augustus]

The inside run game has been lackluster.

At best.

EIther Yale and SFA have really good D-lines, or something ain't right with our inside run game.

[Augustus]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

He absolutely will. Defense needs to take good angles and wrap up.

And tackle the legs and not the shoulder pads.

[BlueAndGoldNation]

The inside run game has been lackluster.

At best.

EIther Yale and SFA have really good D-lines, or something ain't right with our inside run game.

I think alot of that is down to schemes. I haven't seen alot of inside zone, pulling guards this year. We did that alot last year, and Yale did it to us. It's hard to not get 4 yards a pop when inside zone runs are executed at a high level. You have to have the personnel to run it though. Our OLine has taken a step back this year, but they are young and will continue to grow.

[OldGriz]

What impressed me in the SFA game was the Cat coverage in the defensive backfield (including some linebacker coverage back there). Many of Vidlak’s incompletions were great passes on great routes run almost perfectly by the receiver, but the defender was there to break it up. I don’t know what more the QB and receiver could have done to get a completion. Credit to the Cat secondary.

[TomCat88]

The inside run game has been lackluster.

At best.

EIther Yale and SFA have really good D-lines, or something ain't right with our inside run game.

SFA was the #4 defense in the nation entering the game.

It was lackluster vs UM? That last drive had at least four good inside runs. Second and third plays, then 4th and 1 (all Davis) then third and 5 by Lamson. Not sure about the rest of the game.

MSU has had a few slow starts rushing over the years. The WM game in 2022 was like that.

[CatBlitz]

The inside run game has been lackluster.

At best.

EIther Yale and SFA have really good D-lines, or something ain't right with our inside run game.

SFA was the #4 defense in the nation entering the game.

It was lackluster vs UM? That last drive had at least four good inside runs. Second and third plays, then 4th and 1 (all Davis) then third and 5 by Lamson. Not sure about the rest of the game.

MSU has had a few slow starts rushing over the years. The WM game in 2022 was like that.

It has been lackluster in the playoffs so far.
All I'm saying. Recency bias maybe. But it's 2 games in a row.
And I recognize SFA was good. But it's still a factor.

[CodyCat]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

It’s the semifinals. On the road in the most hostile environment not named WaGris. With a trip to the Natty on the line. I’d expect any coach to pull out all the stops and do whatever it takes.

[BlueAndGoldNation]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

It’s the semifinals. On the road in the most hostile environment not named WaGris. With a trip to the Natty on the line. I’d expect any coach to pull out all the stops and do whatever it takes.

I expect a whole lot of snap simulations and smack talking Davis at the bottom of the pile trying to get him to do something stupid. They are going to try every thing under the sun. Alot of exotic plays are definitely on the table. Sometimes, doing that will really hurt you instead of just trying to play the style of play that got you here in the first place. I hope they try to get too cute. It will be the death of them!

[CodyCat]

I think Hauck will coach desperate and throw in some trick plays and new wrinkles. Cats should be ready.

It’s the semifinals. On the road in the most hostile environment not named WaGris. With a trip to the Natty on the line. I’d expect any coach to pull out all the stops and do whatever it takes.

I expect a whole lot of snap simulations and smack talking Davis at the bottom of the pile trying to get him to do something stupid. They are going to try every thing under the sun. Alot of exotic plays are definitely on the table. Sometimes, doing that will really hurt you instead of just trying to play the style of play that got you here in the first place. I hope they try to get too cute. It will be the death of them!

They may have success running their statue of liberty against our 2s, late in the 4th quarter:D

[tetoncat]

Sports Bet MT opened with cats -5.5 favorites. This is going to be an epic brawl. I see the gris moving away from the 4-5 yrd pass in the flats they did in Brawl 1.0 by taking more downfield shots and they will try again to attack our lb’s in the pass game. We just need to limit mistakes, play sound and win by 1 effing point. However, It’d be awesome if we win by 21.

The spread being so low (-5.5) means it’s purely a home field advantage in the oddsmakers’ view. I’m not as confident as the house. I think the Cats are better and would bet them at home or on a neutral field. However, I can always be wrong. This game will show us which team is better for sure. Why do I sense that if the Griz win, a lot of posters here will say all that loser crap like, “We’re still better, we didn’t play well, yada yada, blah blah??” Can’t we at least agree that the better team wins this Saturday?

Nope

[rfischer94]

Hyped up Griz run defense coming into Bobcat Stadium. What could go wrong for them...

Can someone walk me through exactly what Kyon Loud's return does to make their defense so much better? What does it mean for the game on Saturday? @BobcatBuiltTexan, I always appreciate your analysis but any comments are welcome.