The Bobcat Nation

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:39 pm

But will it really?

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 11:07 pm

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:39 pm

But will it really?

No. The Cats will rush for 300+ yards almost 100 percent guaranteed.

I believe the Cat run game is so strong, they could consistently run the ball on every team in college football, save about 30 Power 5 teams. For real. They could run for 300 yards on most of the non-Power 5 FBS and certainly every single team in the FCS save maybe a few in the Dakotas.

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 9:31 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 11:07 pm

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:39 pm

But will it really?

No. The Cats will rush for 300+ yards almost 100 percent guaranteed.

I believe the Cat run game is so strong, they could consistently run the ball on every team in college football, save about 30 Power 5 teams. For real. They could run for 300 yards on most of the non-Power 5 FBS and certainly every single team in the FCS save maybe a few in the Dakotas.

There is a good chance we attack like we did UC Davis.

That was a great listen. Seems like the chickens are commong home to roost over west. I wonder if a certain booster might have egg on his face?

Cat_gld wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 10:28 pm

That was a great listen. Seems like the chickens are commong home to roost over west. I wonder if a certain booster might have egg on his face?

The Griz have 26 graduating seniors and only signed 15 high school recruits today. Bobby is going to be raiding the portal to fill out the roster yet again next year after it worked so well this year for them. Just a total mess there. Good luck ever recruiting a decent QB after how they screwed over Fife and Ah Yat.

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 8:42 pm

Gus called last year Hauck’s greatest coaching job. Maybe that’s true but I think there was a lot of good timing going on. The win at UC Davis was without Larison. The Idaho game broke their way. The quarterfinal and semifinal wins probably don’t happen without Bergen and that’s not saying that STs aren’t part of the game or that they’re just luck but if we’re being honest, we have to concede that they aren’t going to carry you through the season like a good offense and/or defense will. There have been some great return guys at all levels throughout the years but I don’t recall any of them producing sustained wins or carrying teams to championships. UM had a great defense that was consistently good/great all season but the offense was inconsistent and the STs did about as good as a ST unit can do but even the best return guys are hit and miss at best, and not something you can depend on every game.

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 9:31 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 11:07 pm

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:39 pm

But will it really?

No. The Cats will rush for 300+ yards almost 100 percent guaranteed.

I believe the Cat run game is so strong, they could consistently run the ball on every team in college football, save about 30 Power 5 teams. For real. They could run for 300 yards on most of the non-Power 5 FBS and certainly every single team in the FCS save maybe a few in the Dakotas.

I don’t think they’ll get 300. I think UTM will force MSU to pass more and I think MSU is going to plan to pass more. That alone is enough to keep the number down. I think UTM has shown itself to be more consistent at stopping the run than anyone MSU has played this season.

lscottre, adan and mellott all have 100+ rushing.
outside run game will clip off 10+ per play
300 # dline will be gassed and asking for subs while tommie turns the corner and heads for first down and out of bounds

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:35 am

I think UTM has shown itself to be more consistent at stopping the run than anyone MSU has played this season.

That’s because they haven’t played MSU yet.

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:30 am

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 8:42 pm

Gus called last year Hauck’s greatest coaching job. Maybe that’s true but I think there was a lot of good timing going on. The win at UC Davis was without Larison. The Idaho game broke their way. The quarterfinal and semifinal wins probably don’t happen without Bergen and that’s not saying that STs aren’t part of the game or that they’re just luck but if we’re being honest, we have to concede that they aren’t going to carry you through the season like a good offense and/or defense will. There have been some great return guys at all levels throughout the years but I don’t recall any of them producing sustained wins or carrying teams to championships. UM had a great defense that was consistently good/great all season but the offense was inconsistent and the STs did about as good as a ST unit can do but even the best return guys are hit and miss at best, and not something you can depend on every game.

I agree, I think last year was a good team that made a great run, not a great team. Hauck has not adapted his recruiting to this century, much less the portal era. I think the run to Frisco masked a lack of depth and development in the program from the fans' perspective, and when they tried to address it in the portal they mostly failed.
The point that was really salient, I thought, was both Gus and Colter's point about the cone of silence that program chooses to exist in. It's detrimental to their fans and donors when you say "I don't care" when asked about the complete disaster they've created at QB, for one example. You can act like that when you win, but in times of adversity or teams that struggle a bit fans and players both want to hear the vision for how it gets fixed, not "trust us, we're smart." I think the floor is high there with Bobby because they'll still be able to out-talent the bottom of their schedule and they'll win a couple games at home they maybe shouldn't (ala Clemson?) but I don’t think he's the guy to take them consistently to their ceiling.

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:35 am

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 9:31 am

coloradocat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 11:07 pm

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 03, 2024 10:39 pm

But will it really?

No. The Cats will rush for 300+ yards almost 100 percent guaranteed.

I believe the Cat run game is so strong, they could consistently run the ball on every team in college football, save about 30 Power 5 teams. For real. They could run for 300 yards on most of the non-Power 5 FBS and certainly every single team in the FCS save maybe a few in the Dakotas.

I don’t think they’ll get 300. I think UTM will force MSU to pass more and I think MSU is going to plan to pass more. That alone is enough to keep the number down. I think UTM has shown itself to be more consistent at stopping the run than anyone MSU has played this season.

I agree that will be the plan. I also think the plan will adjust when the Cats gash them on the ground, build a lead, and go away from the pass late in the game when the UT Martin D is gassed from TOP and elevation.

Cats go over 300 on the ground.

TomCat88 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 05, 2024 1:30 am

Colter_Nuanez wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 04, 2024 8:42 pm

Gus called last year Hauck’s greatest coaching job. Maybe that’s true but I think there was a lot of good timing going on. The win at UC Davis was without Larison. The Idaho game broke their way. The quarterfinal and semifinal wins probably don’t happen without Bergen and that’s not saying that STs aren’t part of the game or that they’re just luck but if we’re being honest, we have to concede that they aren’t going to carry you through the season like a good offense and/or defense will. There have been some great return guys at all levels throughout the years but I don’t recall any of them producing sustained wins or carrying teams to championships. UM had a great defense that was consistently good/great all season but the offense was inconsistent and the STs did about as good as a ST unit can do but even the best return guys are hit and miss at best, and not something you can depend on every game.

The other area I disagree with him is on player development. Gus essentially said in football now you have to win in the portal and those who don't each year pay for it. Kind of discounted HS recruiting. I do believe bad teams can get better that way, bit the best FCS teams are still the ones who recruit HS kids, develop them, and fill gaps with portal.