Are the Griz better than mediocre? [MT Superfans]
The Montana Mint Superfans check in weekly on the state of the Cats and Griz. This week they discuss if the Griz are better than mediocre, if the Cats defense is historically bad, and they preview this weekend’s games against Weber State and Sac State.
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Z-Train (Griz fan): I watched last weekend’s games from my cabin – The Cats on TV and the Griz on Gamecast – and have a few thoughts.
For the Cats, despite the loss, Dakota Prukop looked legit. If Prukop keeps up this level of play I got to think he is favorite for the Walter Peyton award. It’s insane to average over 100 rushing and be such a capable passer. Their defense on the other hand looked miserable. At halftime, NAU already more yards than they did against Griz in the whole game. NAU’s Casey Jahn rushed for 156 yds on 16 carries!!!!! 9.5 yds per carry!!!!
For the Griz, the exact opposite was true. I’d watch their defense get a big takeaway and then the offense would stall out on the UC-Davis 30. The final score should have been greater. Chad “Chaz’” Chalich started slow, but ended up doing a nice Dakota Prukop impersonation–263 pass yards, 60 some rush, 3 TDs.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Oddly, I’m slightly jealous of the Cats…despite believing we have a better all-around team. The Griz are stuck in middle. Lots of things are good, but basically nothing is great. Our passing yards per game (322 yards) is ranked #9 in the country, but I don’t think anyone who’s watched after the NDSU game would describe it as “great.” And it is overshadowed in the stacked Big Sky Conference where they are only the third best passing team, ranked behind EWU (#1 nationally) and Cats (#5). Look at the ranking the Griz are ranked in the middle-of-the-pack FOR EVERYTHING. Well, besides time of possession. The Griz rank 113. #stitt
The Cats on the otherhand have a dreadful defense but a great offense. I went over the stats last week, but I think this is the most telling contrast of their offensive prowess and defensive sadness – their redzone offense is ranked 8th in the nation (out of 123 teams) The defense is 114th.
I know it is frustrating for Cats fans to see teams like NAU march down the field, but at least part of the overall package is great – one of the best in the country. When the Cats have the ball, it must be a pleasure to watch. I can’t say it is a pleasure to watch either the Griz offense or defense. I’m mostly anxious and often times very sad regardless of who has the ball.
Z-Train (Griz fan): The way Big Sky teams score, I really think you need to be able to put up 28-35 points a week to be a contender, and the Griz are still working out kinks, especially in red zone execution and their run game. We’ve also had some awfully slow starts. Punting the first four possessions against zero-win UC Davis! We should be smoking teams that are at the bottom of the rankings.
But I disagree with Bear Tycoon. That Griz defense is just phenomenal, especially considering that it is often tasked with coming onto the field with less than favorable field possession after a failed conversion in midfield, or after a 3 and out that takes 35 seconds because of the offense’s pace. They are an incredible security blanket for what has been a mostly sputtering offense.
Hot Take Nate (Cats Fan): The Griz are just the Griz. It never really seems to change. They win… but they don’t have that Cat offensive swagger which really is fun to watch as a fan.
And we’ve talked about it before – the Cats make games fun. Is it fun when they give up 30 and put up 50? Yes. Does it frustrate the hell out of you when they lose after scoring 40? Hell yeah, that sucks.
Scotty Mint (Cats fan): Ok fellow Cat fans. We always say Griz fans are hysterical… But I just got this text from the Montana Mint’s gambling expert and big time-Cats fan, Montana Parlay. Is this hysterics of just accurate analysis?
“I’m officially worried about the Cat-Griz game. Was feeling confident as I watched UM struggle vs UC Davis and barely cover. Then the Cats D took the field against NAU. Griz offense is sloppy right now, but if Gustafson comes back… look out. A great defense can mask a poor offense, but very rarely do great offenses and shitty defenses win big games”
Coach (Cats fan): I’m not hysterical yet. Am I insanely frustrated by our defense? Yes. As of right now I’d say even with Prukop we’re at least a two touchdown underdog if we play the Griz tomorrow. Their defense will slow us down and our defense isn’t capable of putting pressure on the passer. I think we’ll be fine in the long run, but we aren’t national championship contenders and at this point we won’t beat the Griz. Might miss the playoffs altogether.
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): Two touchdown underdogs!?!? Might miss the playoffs?!?! I’m worried to see you when you are hysterical.
Z-Train (Griz fan): Clarence, get over to Coach’s right now. I have never heard him this down on Cats. We need a check in.
Coach (Cats fan): Ha! Not hysterical, just a realist. Stats are fun. Points are fun. Lollipops are fun too. I don’t give two shits about how exciting our offense is because we’re only 2-2. (This rhyme time is brought to you, in part, by Coach)
Look, I want to win fucking games, I want to win playoff games, and I want a goddamn National Championship. Give me that staunch defense any day along with a semi-explosive offense. Defense wins games. It’s clear that an explosive offense can only take a team so far.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): I’d be a little alarmed if coach was in a stable mental space. We all know what happened to the Bobcats this week. Their 49-41 loss against NAU provided another opportunity to prove true the idiom that defense wins championships, and prove moronic the idiom that the best defense is a good offense.
Up to this point, Prukop’s offensive eclipsed the lack-luster defense. But after NAU halfback Casey Jahn helped his team rack up 506 total yards, that benign nuisance Cat fans didn’t want to talk about at parties turned out to be a malignant elephant in a tiny ass room.
Hot Take Nate (Cats fan): I seriously just can’t believe the defense was THAT bad against NAU. But I disagree that we Cat fans don’t readily admit our defense is horrible. I’ve written consistently from the start of the season that our defense is God-awful.
Also, this tweet says it all. Can we move on to this week’s games?
Clarence Toole (Griz Fan): Sure. The Bobcats take on Sacramento State at home. Playing in the safety of Martel Field is significant for the Bobcats, as they haven’t won on the road in 364 days.
Sac State is 1-4 this season with their lone win coming against Eastern Oregon University, who hails from the vaunted Frontier Conference. Sac State dropped their last two games to Eastern Washington 28-20 and Northern Colorado 27-20. Yeah, that’s right. They held EWU to 28 points! Does that mean they can hold MSU to 28 or less? Probably not. Also, they only managed a measly 14 points against Weber State. I expect a sizeable win for MSU.
Z-Train (Griz fan): I am looking forward to this Weber State game. Griz are big time favorites ate home. How did Weber State nose dive so hard? They used to have some scary teams of 25 years olds who were just back from a mission in Siberia doing rocky lifts.
Clarence Toole (Griz fan): And their quarterback situation is hilarious. Last Saturday, after starting QB Jadrian Clark sputtered, the coaching staff called in the relief – 175lb freshman backup Justin Shaw. Here’s a recap of his 6 drop backs in sequential order:
Drop back #1: Sacked for a loss of 7 yards
Drop back #2: Intercepted, returned for a touchdown
Drop back #3: Incomplete pass
Drop back #4: Intercepted in the end zone
Drop back #5: Fumble after running backwards 15 yards
Drop back #6: Intercepted, returned for a touchdown
Final Stat Line: 0-4, 3 INTs, 1 Fumble, 3 INT (2 for TDs)
Bear Tycoon (Griz fan): oh my god. I can’t wait to play him. Think he could put up point on the Cats? I say yes. Lots of them.
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