Montana Grizzlies

[J-Rod]

We need a football topic......

Opening day is less than 100 days away....Bohl era opens at home with the Montana Grizzlies. The Pokes have had a mixed relationship with FCS opponents in recent years. MrTitleist, or any other Griz fans reading....what can Wyoming expect from the Grizzlies? I know very little....not much beyond they went 10-3 last season and were bounced in the playoffs at home by Coastal Carolina, who were eventually stomped on by Bohl's Bison. Is this a young team? Veteran team? Strengths, weaknesses? Objectively, do the Griz stand a chance to win? I think most Cowboys fans are expecting a comfortable win...maybe not an Air Force-like blasting, but a comfortable win.

Anyways, we need a football topic. The Burman pinata needs a moment for refilling. :twisted:

 

[MrTitleist]

I'll elaborate more later.. basically, Montana returns a 5th year senior QB in Jordan Johnson, he's Brett Smith-like but smaller. Defense graduated a ton of players, including the entire starting LB corps, but return a 1st team All-Big Sky DE in Zach Wagenmann. He's a beast on the DL and moves in a hurry. WR threat Ellis Henderson is a guy Cowboy corners and safeties need to keep an eye on, he's quick and a threat to score whenever he touches the ball. Rushing attack is pretty good with Jordan Canada and Joey Counts. Canada is a small, quick back he runs with some power. Counts is a manbeast. The even smaller RB, Nguyen moves really fast, but like his older brother, appears to be a fumble machine. Griz graduated three seniors from the offensive line, two of them signed pro deals.. always a well coached group. Offense is transitioning from a zone-read to more of a pro-style offense, this is year two of that experiment. Defense is a standard 4-3. This won't be a comfortable win, especially given that the Pokes don't have a quarterback returning and an offensive line who is learning to go from a zone-read to a power, pro style offense. Plus, can the defense slow down a pretty good Montana offense?

 

[J-Rod]

I remember Ellis Henderson. He was going to be the next great slot at Hawaii before he opted to not go through with his LOI day commitment (Mack screwed that up if I remember correctly). He was very impressive on tape....good recruit coming out of high school. He'll be tough to deal with I'm sure.

 

[joshvanklomp]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

I would argue that this is not a baseline in any way, shape, or form.

 

[MrTitleist]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

Montana should have lost at South Dakota.. a last minute strip/return for TD gave Montana the late lead to squeak it out. Coastal pounded Montana.. their back Taliaferro didn't care that it was -10 outside, he ran for all the yards.

 

[J-Rod]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

A somewhat good barometer. Of course the transitive property is rarely flawless when it comes to sports. Wyoming nearly shocked Nebraska in Lincoln, but then a month later was blown to bits by Colorado State. I can assure you, Colorado St. would not have beaten Nebraska in 2013.

I watched that Coastal Carolina game though.....NDSU ran circles around them. It will be some time before Bohl has Wyoming firing on all cylinders like that.

Time will tell, but I'm still expecting a 31-10 type win over Montana. If the Pokes defense can't rise up and slow down Johnson and the Griz, this talk of a defensive emergence in 2014 will appear to be incorrect. A close game would not paint a pretty picture for the rest of the season.

 

[Bryoming]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

I would argue that this is not a baseline in any way, shape, or form.

Sure it is. It's Bohl and his schemes against Montana last season. I guarantee that Dave & Kevin bring up his game against Montana last season in their broadcast, as well as Gags and Vorel in their game previews.

 

[MrTitleist]

Montana and NDSU didn't play last year. They play this year though, in Fargo.

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

Looking at the two common opponents NDSU and Montana had last year

South Dakota (Joe Glenn's team)
Montana won 31-27
NDSU won 42-0

Coastal Carolina
Montana lost 42-35
NDSU won 48-14

I know the talent level is different between NDSU and Wyoming, but at least it gives somewhat of a baseline.

I would argue that this is not a baseline in any way, shape, or form.

Sure it is. It's Bohl and his schemes against Montana last season. I guarantee that Dave & Kevin bring up his game against Montana last season in their broadcast, as well as Gags and Vorel in their game previews.

If they had played Montana, sure, but this is the 7 degrees of Craig Bohl right here. Comparing how Team #1 did against Team #2 & Team #3, who also played Team #4 to take some sort of guess to how Team #5 (who didn't play Team #1-4) would do against Team #1. I'll see if I can somehow figure out a way to squeeze Kevin Bacon into this scenario..

 

[BackHarlowRoad]

And here we go: Craig is married to Leia Bohl, who once hosted North Dakota Today on NBC, which is also home to the Jimmy Fallon Show, who had Kevin Bacon on as guest a month or so ago.....

http://www.nbcchicago.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Tonight-Show-Starring-Jimmy-Fallon-Kevin-Bacon-Footloose_New-York-251661891.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Connecting UW to Montana took 5 degrees.
Connecting Bohl to Bacon took 4 degrees.

Nailed it. opcorn: Dude can dance.

 

[TheRealUW]

I have a really bad feeling about this game. Don't underestimate the importance of this being the first game of the season. Montana will have ample time to prepare for UW. I know it's Bohl's first year at UW and they won't have previous tape to review, but it's no secret what our schemes are going to be. I'd feel much more comfortable if this game fell at any other time besides the season opener.

If you put a gun to my head at this very second, I'd pick Montana to win this game. No lie.

 

[MrTitleist]

I have a really bad feeling about this game. Don't underestimate the importance of this being the first game of the season. Montana will have ample time to prepare for UW. I know it's Bohl's first year at UW and they won't have previous tape to review, but it's no secret what our schemes are going to be. I'd feel much more comfortable if this game fell at any other time besides the season opener.

If you put a gun to my head at this very second, I'd pick Montana to win this game. No lie.

Not entirely correct. I talked to Montana's asst offensive line coach at the gym a few weeks ago (mutual friend introduced us) and he said he'd already been watching NDSU game film (since Montana plays NDSU this year) and had been watching Wyoming film so he's already pretty studied up on Bohl and his staff. Montana's gonna be prepared. Also, fun note, UMs asst offensive line coach is a small dude.. kinda funny seeing a guy like that coach guys that could bench press him.

 

[J-Rod]

http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=201117" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

3387 passing yards, 32 TDs/5 INTs....pretty dang good numbers. Pokes defense will have to take Johnson seriously.

 

[MrTitleist]

Johnson's a threat to run, but this offense kind of neutered him. Him and Brett Smith were both Oregon QBs during the same time. Brett from Salem, Jordan from Eugene.

 

[J-Rod]

He looks pretty good from the highlights I'm watching on YouTube. Offense will need to be ready...I get the feeling winning this one 10-7 won't be a realistic option.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I think Wyo blows Montana out.
I think Bohl wants to send a message to Wyo fans. He doesn't want to embarrass Montana. He wants the casual fans who are watching scores on the bottom line see that Wyo won by 40+ points.

I think Wick and May have their biggest games all season with the Montana game.

 

[J-Rod]

I think Wyo blows Montana out.
I think Bohl wants to send a message to Wyo fans. He doesn't want to embarrass Montana. He wants the casual fans who are watching scores on the bottom line see that Wyo won by 40+ points.

I think Wick and May have their biggest games all season with the Montana game.

I have high doubts the offense will have the capabilities of mowing down someone to a 40+ point victory. Count me as skeptical that now that Bohl is here, all of a sudden Wyoming will be a juggernaut upfront and run people into the ground. There are elite teams that I'm not sure they would beat Montana by 40+ points via a power run game. There are still concerns going into fall camp about the O-Line, which was undoubtedly a weakness last season.

 

[fromolwyoming]

I think Wyo blows Montana out.
I think Bohl wants to send a message to Wyo fans. He doesn't want to embarrass Montana. He wants the casual fans who are watching scores on the bottom line see that Wyo won by 40+ points.

I think Wick and May have their biggest games all season with the Montana game.

I have high doubts the offense will have the capabilities of mowing down someone to a 40+ point victory. Count me as skeptical that now that Bohl is here, all of a sudden Wyoming will be a juggernaut upfront and run people into the ground. There are elite teams that I'm not sure they would beat Montana by 40+ points via a power run game. There are still concerns going into fall camp about the O-Line, which was undoubtedly a weakness last season.

Still, despite the o-line's ineptitude and being out of shape, Wick had nearly 1000 yards rushing in a runningback by comittee offense. And considering May has always been neck and neck with him, those two are sure to be something to watch when the o-line gives them a chance.

 

[J-Rod]

Still, despite the o-line's ineptitude and being out of shape, Wick had nearly 1000 yards rushing in a runningback by comittee offense. And considering May has always been neck and neck with him, those two are sure to be something to watch when the o-line gives them a chance.

That is true for the most part....but Smith sure made it hard to respect the run with his presence. In a pro-style offense with average QB play, it will become tougher to run the ball. If whoever starts at QB (likely Kirkegaard) can't keep defenses honest, I have a hard time seeing the run game mowing people down.