Confident/Nervous

[DMMDCats]

1-0

[catatac]

Confident:

Best offense in the country that has proven over and over again to trust the process and get just a little bit better every rep, day, game.
Senior Day - team is loaded with veteran leaders that are confident and cool, and oh ya - very good football players.
Mentally and physically TOUGH team that has proven to all play together, trust each other, and fight back when faced with adversity (If that happens).
Crazy loud crowd that will be on top of the dark pinkies all day, every snap. I don't think they'll handle it very well.
Somewhat a repeat of above but every player interview I've seen - this team feels different, in terms of the drive and brotherhood, since January.

Nervous:

The Fife Factor. This one is a head scratcher to me based on the number of times the Griz have gone with Ah Yat this season. Yes I get he was trying a 2QB deal, and there's the legacy stuff, and I know how Bobby can be but I don't care how Bobby he goes..... that coaching staff is going to play the best players, period. So they must see things in practice, and being around these guys 24\7, telling them that Fife is not THE GUY or he would have been the clear cut starter all along. My personal opinion is that he's streaky, the coaches see that, and not consistent enough to be counted on in every game, every snap. I said this in another thread but I think the crowd, environment gets to him Saturday and we see the Griz offense unravel. But, that is no guarantee and if they handle it and play this game like I"ve seen that offense flash in certain games... they could make it a game.

That's it, that's my only concern about this game being close. Also, as everyone else has said, it's Cat-Griz so strange things can and will happen.

[cat-o-nine]

I'm still dealing with PTSD from the Davis game, but there are significant things that the Cats did in that game that make me confident going into this game. The Cats sacked the UCD QB numerous times against a much better O-line than the Gris have. The Cats stuffed Larison often enough to have reason to believe they can negate the Gris run game completely. I don't see Gilman as near the performer that Larison is.
If our boys show up with anything near the effort as they did against UCD, this game should be well under control by halftime.
I don't have much concern about the Cat's offense vs. the Gris for obvious reasons. The multi-headed run game has not been effectively stopped by any of our opponents this far, and the Gris defense is too weak to change that.
Reasons to be nervous might include trickeration plays that Bobby has dreamed up, or outrageously bad officiating like the two PI calls that kept Davis in the game. Even if these things happen, the Cats should be able to overcome and overwhelm the Gris.
If you were in Bobby's shoes, how would you prepare to attack the Cats offensively, knowing that their QB is going to be under pressure all the time? I would think the Cats should be prepared for quick slants, screens, and QB draws, but I don't think the Gris QB is going to have time for anything that takes very long to develop, like deep passes, etc.
I also have confidence that our new coordinators are much more up to the task than last year. The test against UCD should galvanize the players and the coaches into an even stronger performing machine.
Go CATS!!!

[The Butcher]

I'm still dealing with PTSD from the Davis game, but there are significant things that the Cats did in that game that make me confident going into this game. The Cats sacked the UCD QB numerous times against a much better O-line than the Gris have. The Cats stuffed Larison often enough to have reason to believe they can negate the Gris run game completely. I don't see Gilman as near the performer that Larison is.
If our boys show up with anything near the effort as they did against UCD, this game should be well under control by halftime.
I don't have much concern about the Cat's offense vs. the Gris for obvious reasons. The multi-headed run game has not been effectively stopped by any of our opponents this far, and the Gris defense is too weak to change that.
Reasons to be nervous might include trickeration plays that Bobby has dreamed up, or outrageously bad officiating like the two PI calls that kept Davis in the game. Even if these things happen, the Cats should be able to overcome and overwhelm the Gris.
If you were in Bobby's shoes, how would you prepare to attack the Cats offensively, knowing that their QB is going to be under pressure all the time? I would think the Cats should be prepared for quick slants, screens, and QB draws, but I don't think the Gris QB is going to have time for anything that takes very long to develop, like deep passes, etc.
I also have confidence that our new coordinators are much more up to the task than last year. The test against UCD should galvanize the players and the coaches into an even stronger performing machine.
Go CATS!!!

Throw in there a fake punt and/or FG.

[cat-o-nine]

Definitely. Bobby and the Gris in general have a history of those things in this game.

[msuhunter]

I see this as just a nice warm-up game against a subpar opponent before the playoffs begin. Think of it like Mercyhurst before the Big Sky portion of the schedule. Hopefully the 2s and 3s can get some good reps again ....

[tdub]

Confident: No Gubner-like player disrupting MSU’s zone blocking scheme. Flashes of weak edge-play from their DLine. MSU’s run game is set up for success. TE’s and Play-action game ripe for big gains against an aggressive defense. The Cats are machine-like in consistency and power and are simply the better football team.
How the Cats controlled their emotions and reactions to UCDavis guys that were trash-talking and post whistle antics was awesome, they have above average discipline which helps in this game. The Cats play with a very high level of controlled intensity and have done a great job limiting anything post whistle all year.
Nervous: The uncontrollables. Officiating, weather affecting ball security, injuries. The gris return games will always make me nervous and can change a game.

[GoldstoneCat]

1st team D has not given up much at home this year. The most scored in Bobcat Stadium this year was 24 by Maine. At least 10 of those points came against the 2nd and 3rd stringers.

This game reminds me of the times 5-6 years ago when we played NDSU. Our interior lines just couldn’t hold up. Without Gubner, they are in the same boat. They have good skill players, but I think they are out matched on the O and D line. Expect Daly to dial up pressure to get Fife on his heels.

If the Cats can force the gris to not score on 2 out of 3 of their first drives, they will take control of the game.

This right here. If we can get Fife off his spot and make him escape sideways this game will not be close. If he can sit back and throw his preferred read they'll score on us.

[SparkCat]

Just confident. Fife is decent but not even a significant upgrade to their other QB. We have seen 2-3 better QBs this year. Plus I’m a little drunk goes up now going into surgery shortly so not sure I’ll post again for awhile. Cats beat the Griz’s asses!

[tetoncat]

Cats have not been under 30, not likely to happen Sat. Have given up 29 total first half point in conference games, 0 at home. If Cats give up 0 or 7 infirst half gotta love the chances.

[wbtfg]

I think Bobby gave us a little insight on his strategy during the Monday press conference. He mentioned that initially Davis tried to manage the game, and that's when they fell behind. Davis made their run when "they started going for it"....which I interpret to mean as playing a lot more high risk, high reward football.

So I expect UM to play high risk fooball. Lots of deep shots. Probably some trick plays. Probably going for it on 4th and medium/long. Probably selling out to block kicks....things like that. If we are able to make them pay for their high risk tactics, I think we win by 30+. I they catch us back on our heals and execute some high risk plays, they may have a chance.

Defensively, I think they are going to blitz dudes at Tommy all game long, and essentially attack the mesh point and not let Tommy pull the ball.
Because of that, I expect some big plays in the passing game, as well as from the RB's when they break through the first layer.

[VimSince03]

I think Bobby gave us a little insight on his strategy during the Monday press conference. He mentioned that initially Davis tried to manage the game, and that's when they fell behind. Davis made their run when "they started going for it"....which I interpret to mean as playing a lot more high risk, high reward football.

So I expect UM to play high risk fooball. Lots of deep shots. Probably some trick plays. Probably going for it on 4th and medium/long. Probably selling out to block kicks....things like that. If we are able to make them pay for their high risk tactics, I think we win by 30+. I they catch us back on our heals and execute some high risk plays, they may have a chance.

Defensively, I think they are going to blitz dudes at Tommy all game long, and essentially attack the mesh point and not let Tommy pull the ball.
Because of that, I expect some big plays in the passing game, as well as from the RB's when they break through the first layer.

We are going to have 6+ sacks again. That's my confident take.

[wbtfg]

I think Bobby gave us a little insight on his strategy during the Monday press conference. He mentioned that initially Davis tried to manage the game, and that's when they fell behind. Davis made their run when "they started going for it"....which I interpret to mean as playing a lot more high risk, high reward football.

So I expect UM to play high risk fooball. Lots of deep shots. Probably some trick plays. Probably going for it on 4th and medium/long. Probably selling out to block kicks....things like that. If we are able to make them pay for their high risk tactics, I think we win by 30+. I they catch us back on our heals and execute some high risk plays, they may have a chance.

Defensively, I think they are going to blitz dudes at Tommy all game long, and essentially attack the mesh point and not let Tommy pull the ball.
Because of that, I expect some big plays in the passing game, as well as from the RB's when they break through the first layer.

We are going to have 6+ sacks again. That's my confident take.

I think that's a realistic possibility.

[KIX]

if they use the 2qb system fife will be gone when they are out of the playoffs.

Will he enter the Portal tomorrow? Fife will succumb to the Cats D-line sooner than later. Ah Yat seems to like to tuck and run, good luck. One or both, doesn't matter.

[KIX]

We are three days away from the best sporting event in the world.

I love Cat/Griz and the anticipation is intense every year.

So here's the question-- what has you confident going into this game and what has you nervous going into this game?

Here's mine.

Confident:

-The Cats are the better team in virtually every category. They score more points and they allow fewer points and the margins aren't all that close. Even the strength of schedule argument that Griz fans leaned on so hard all season has evaporated.

-The Cats are at home. They have not lost a regular season game inside Bobcat Stadium in 1,866 days. They haven't lost a Brawl inside Bobcat Stadium in 3,287 days. Bobcat Stadium isn't Wa Griz, but the homefield advantage has become even more pronounced.

Nervous:

-Last year, the Griz settled their QB controversy and caught lightning in a bottle. The whole team started playing better after they benched Vidlak and rode with McDowell. One concern I have is that the forced switch to Fife will create a similar dynamic.

-The rumors are that Hauck has been working on his gameplan for this contest basically all season. Vigen has come to understand and vocalize that this isn't just another game, but you can tell that he still brings the mindset that he wants to keep his approach the same and just execute. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I'm a little nervous that Hauck will have a lot of surprises in this one that could end up creating big swings.

Confident:
Cats more talented in every phase.

Nervous:
Boobie's typical tricks and cheap shots... i.e. Late hits, ankle twisting on bottom of piles, head hunting Tommy, Cats keeping their cool when provoked.

[justafan]

confident we are 11-0 and have not really played a bad game...nervous we are 11-0 and haven't really played a bad game.....

[MSU Doc]

Confident: We have a great team with great coaches and great athletes. Playing at home.

Nervous: Overconfidence. Keeping Tommy uninjured.

[luckyirishguy25]

I have Nervous Confidence...

[BelligerentBobcat]

I’m very confident. I think many are understating the talent difference this year. They don’t have Gubner anymore, and he was a special FCS talent.

[tdub]

I’m getting a kick out of the “they found their QB” narrative. They “found” their QB in the 2nd half against the 3rd to WORST pass efficiency defense in the FCS. That’s about as impressive as saying their defense was so much better after playing Poly and NoCo.