The Bobcat Nation

I just wanted to get avid Bobcat fans opinions on the biggest areas of need before the Cats open play on Sept. 11. I have my ideas, but I am really interested in what YOU think we need before that first kickoff. Let's prioritize with No. 1 need, No. 2 need,...etc. This could be fun to see. Basic rule: Post your opinion BEFORE reading others and then it will be fun to compare. I have mine already decided, but I won't post until others get a chance.

I think that we should be concerned with the obvious and that being the play of our crew of untested DB's. Alot of hype with Corky and Smith but when is the last time you have seen a JC transfer make your jaw drop.

I am totally interested in the RB situation. With Dan M stepping up (to keep the Skyview pride alive) it helps but last year we had 5 RB's at spring and were down to 2 in the fall. I think the Mayfield loss was bigger than we may think. I wasn't a huge fan of Mayfield but he ran hard.

Lets just hope Justin D is everything he is on paper. We haven't had a RB his size in a while it may be a perfect fit.

The best thing is that Beal has noved to D. It seems like he is one of Kramer's boys. After the NAU fumble I really dont want to have to rely on him to carry the load.

Scrimmage tommorrow.

Go Cats!!!!

I think you made some outstanding points, Bobcat Pride. Thanks for sending a reply to my question/opinion seeking message. I will add that Kenny Qualls ("Q") was a JC safety that made a huge impact! Lets hope Eddie and Corky can live up to their billing! RB is a definite concern, although McInerney and Gathing show promise. There's a couple of more "biggies" on my list, but I am waiting to see what other people think! If you are reading this, please post a reply--we all love to see what other Bobcats (or even Grizzlies--at least, rational ones) are thinking! Post a reply! Go Cats!!

I think the big questions going into the 04 season on offense are 1) who will setup and fill Swaggert and Matieo's shoes on the left side of our O-line, 2) can Cody S. and Jason G. get healthy at TE to gives us great depth at this position, 3) Will one of the new RB step-up - Milton, Gathing, or Domineck? 4) will the recieving corp have a person who can stretch the field like A. Hill or Jr. Adams did. On defense the biggest question marks are; 1) the secondary - will E smith and Corky L. help upon arrival, and will the young players in the system step-up (LeBrum, Fuller, Walls, Goins) 2) can the D-line put consistant pressure on the opposing Q-back to help our developing secondary. And finally special teams - 1) who will follow in Cory S. shoes at returning kicks and punts, and will they be half as effective as him. 2) kicking game - always a mystery?

#1 - depth at all positions: we've been extremely fortunate the last 2 years not to have any major injuries to significant contributors

#2 - defensive backfield: it all hinges on Smith, Lindsey and young Cats being able to play man-to-man with tall receivers. DBs produce, and this falls defense will be as good if not better than previous years.

#3 - Don Bailey: has this man ever called a good game in Bozeman? I honestly believe he is the weakest link on the entire football team - offensive, defensive and special teams play all rely on good offensive production. Travis Lulay makes this man look good. Put a little variety into the play calling, let Travis create for himself, and throw the ball to the *$#@!!!! tight ends!

#4 - kicking game: looks promising, but yet to be proven

1) Defensive secondary - Hopefully the JC guys come in and do well. I think we may have adequate depth here though if the JC guys can contribute RIGHT AWAY.

2) WR's - We need 1-2 big play guys to step it up. Gatewood could become one of them and I liked the way Demetrius Williams was playing last year. JC could come in and make an impact as well. I sure would like to see an impact Div-1A player transfer by spring though like Jr. Adams etc.

3) Kicking - unproven ... simple as that. But hard to think could be worse than last years (not counting the punting .. I'm happy Lulaly is gonna be punting again as his kicks DO NOT get returned at all).

Secondary - Will the transfers and young guys step up?
Strong side end - Who is going to replace a field general like Montoya?
Offensive Line - Seems Birkeland, Canfield, DeCock and Jensen are fighting to replace Toilolo and Swaggert. Will who ever wins will they play even close to those standards?
Back up QB - In case Lulay goes down will Coppack or Carpenter be able to step in?

Most important - Will we have a big play WR or two to streach defenses and help running game??


While young I think the overall depth will be good.

GO CATS!!

1) O line: The catalyst.
2) RBx2: Ball control
3) WR: Sudden strike.
4) Secondary: Makes the opposing Offense 1-Dimensional.
5) Backup QB: Always need 'em.
6) Return Spec: Wins 1 game every season.
7) Kicker: xtra points and FG's inside the 40 should be "money."

Kicking game for sure
Passing game - we have the tools, hope we use them - Jr. at coach will help. I'd love to see some big play guys develop - Kellen Alley? and I couldn't agree more with using the TE as receivers more AND letting Travis improvise more
RB - I'd love to see the Billings kid really get the chance to move into the #1 spot. Yeah, it'll take some time to fully develop but I just "feel" like its the right move. Look what happened when Travis got the full support of the coaching staff...
Defense I think will be solid - Beal will be a big play guy
Offensive line will be solid

The offense has to score more points-simple as that.

I don't think we can count on 5 or 6 extra touchdowns from our kicking game without Corey Smith.

Our secondary will be young and untested.

Lulay and company will have to be effective right from the start-as opposed to last season when defense kept the games within reach.

How many games would we have won last year with a more effective offense? Wyoming, Cal Poly, Northern Colorado, Idaho State, Eastern Washington...all games that were well within grasp had the offense not had terrible lapses.

Secondly, our kicking game! Imagine how much more awesome our defense would have been had we had a kicker who could get us a touchback now and then! This coming season we can't expect to let the team start on the 35 every drive and expect to be successful.

Thus my reasoning that Don Bailey is our weakest link on this team. Granted, the players are the ones who have to execute, and we didnt have any game breaker receivers last year (no offense Mr. Turnquist, but you were a possession receiver not a home run hitter). Still, Bailey needs to recognize, coach and playcall to the athletes that are on the field.

We have the resources to get better production than we have, and with Lulay in his 3rd year, the likes of Gatewood, Williams and Rosey having a year under their belts and Guinn coming in along with Domineck and Milton, our offense damn well better improve.

1. db's
2. kicking game
3. o-line
4. depth

i like mcinerney at rb. i saw him in great falls and i was impressed. he is fast to the hole and fast in it. i believe he will get his chance.

The first thing that comes to mind is replacing the Defensive Backs that we lost this year. I think the rest of the defense is solid, so they won't need to be as amazing as they have the last couple of years, but that is the most glaring spot right now.

A very, very close tie for second would have to be an improved running game and some wide recievers to step up. With the DB's likely not being as strong as last year, the offense has got to step up and win the time of possesion game. We need either one of the young RB's or one of the transfers to come in and provide us with the kind of running game we lost last year without Johnson. For the recievers, I don't even worry too much about having the deep burner that can get the long balls(though it would be nice) as much as I would like to see somebody come in and take over where Turnquist left off as a strong possesion reciever that was not afraid to go across the middle and get the tough catches. From the reports I hear from the Great Falls scrimmage it sounds as if they were going to the Tight End alot for this type of play, which I think is great and could be an excellent connection if Wolf and Lulay can really get in synch.

That's just my $.02.

No 1 would be to rebuild the offensive line.
No. 2 would be to rebuild the defensive secondary.
No. 3 would be a running back that would be a threat to go the distance anytime he got into the secondary.
No. 4 would be a group of wide receivers that can run good enough patterns that they can separate from the D-backs enough so that Travis can depend on at least one of them to be open on every play.
No 5. would be a kicker that can kickoff into the endzone.
No's 6,7,8,9, etc. Depth, depth, depth etc.

1. Defensive secondary-Looks like we have the potential, but......
2. Running Back-Looks like we have the potential, but......
3. Kicking game. Lack thereof has cost us big time!
4. Receivers
5. Defensive line. Don't appear to have the quality on hand that we had last year. Too small. um brutes ran all day.
6. Depth everywhere

It is comforting to feel good about the quarterback and offensive line potential for the first time since coach Kramer arrived. Linebackers look like the Cats of old (a good thing).

Well, I was the one that started this topic. The Cat fans are "right on" as I wrote my top four prior to my posting. Mine went:
1. A top notch safety and corner to add to the mix (hopefully Corky/Eddie)
2. A durable, explosive RB
3. A "speed" receiver to stretch defenses
4. Development of a young O-Line.

I totally agree that the strongest area on the team is LB. There is depth there and 6 experienced players! However, the most valuable individual is, without doubt, Lulay. Those are the things to build around.