griz d-line vs cats o-line

[MSUCATFAN]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

[Cat Pride]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

[Platinumcat]

I think a big match up is Hirst vs Murphy (I think I'm correct in this match up anyway).
I think if our tackles, in general, can handle their defensive ends that will be a huge part of our success. UM's D-ends are very athletic. If we have to utilize two people to block them, their linebackers will not allow big gains. But, if our guards are freed up to go after their 'backers, we may be able to have a decent day between the tackles.

[MSUCATFAN]

how will our pass protection do vs the griz pass rush? For some reason this makes me a little nervous.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

Yep, power running at first and then mix and match (run/pass) once we get it rolling on the ground. Seems to be the best mix against the Griz. Their DL is fast and aggressive but often gets too aggresive. Also look for that Groves/Mason and Jefferson reverse type option play as well. I have said it before and I will say it again you can physically punch the GRIZ D in the mouth and run on them as they are a speed team. Get some hard running at first and play action/dink and dunk off that.

[El_Gato]

One of the things I like about this matchup is the lack of sacks by the Griz this year; for some reason, even with Murphy & Beirman(sp?) up front, they simply have not gotten what I would consider a "normal" # of sacks. IF Jack gets good time to scan the field, I can see a lot of footballs flying to Jefferson, Wheaton, Lewis, Barnhardt, Bostick, etc...

I suspect, however, that Hauck & Paulson are going to look at the 2004 game and throw a LOT of blitzes at us. If they do, I'd love to see us keep in a TE AND a RB to pick up the pressure; I like the idea of Jefferson & Wheaton in single coverage on the turf!

[Helcat72]

I think a big match up is Hirst vs Murphy (I think I'm correct in this match up anyway).
I think if our tackles, in general, can handle their defensive ends that will be a huge part of our success. UM's D-ends are very athletic. If we have to utilize two people to block them, their linebackers will not allow big gains. But, if our guards are freed up to go after their 'backers, we may be able to have a decent day between the tackles.

Murphy will match up against Jensen who handled him last year...but I think he was slightly injured.

[LuvMaroon]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

Yeah, Cause Cal-Poly who has a much better running game than the Cats sure ran the ball for a lot of yards vs. the Griz!!!

[STREETCAT]

I think a big match up is Hirst vs Murphy (I think I'm correct in this match up anyway).
I think if our tackles, in general, can handle their defensive ends that will be a huge part of our success. UM's D-ends are very athletic. If we have to utilize two people to block them, their linebackers will not allow big gains. But, if our guards are freed up to go after their 'backers, we may be able to have a decent day between the tackles.

Murphy will match up against Jensen who handled him last year...but I think he was slightly injured.

Personally I think murphy is playing like ****** this year however the other DE Kroy Biermann is playing extremely well! Our big advantage will be to get Jefferson one on one with a small guy like tuff haris who has given up big plays this season

[Platinumcat]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

Yeah, Cause Cal-Poly who has a much better running game than the Cats sure ran the ball for a lot of yards vs. the Griz!!!

I think the matchup with the 'Cats will be a good one. But, to compare Cal Poly's run offense against ours isn't accurate. Cal Poly runs a lot of option type stuff which I can see the Griz doing well against due to their defensive speed. But, what we are talking about is running between the tackles. A more power running game may give the Griz some fits. It seems to me that Weber had some decent success running right at them.

[Cat-theotherwhitemeat]

Personally I think murphy is playing like ****** this year however the other DE Kroy Biermann is playing extremely well! ...

You must not have seen the game against Cal-Poly. He was incredible.

[El_Gato]

...But, what we are talking about is running between the tackles. A more power running game may give the Griz some fits. It seems to me that Weber had some decent success running right at them.

As did the Cats last year & JMU the year before. I've been thinking the same thing, bcc, but I do think the turf will help the Griz do a better job stopping a "smash-mouth" running game.

I do hope that we go into the game with a solid commitment to the run and that we don't abandon it too quickly if it doesn't yield immediate results. With Groves, Mason, Taito, and the O-line, I DO believe we can run between the tackles successfully. If so, the play-action passing game could very well take off for some huge plays...

All in all, although I'm not predicting a Bobcat blowout, I do like our chances, as long as we limit our penalties & turnovers.

[STREETCAT]

Personally I think murphy is playing like ****** this year however the other DE Kroy Biermann is playing extremely well! ...

You must not have seen the game against Cal-Poly. He was incredible.

He is hot and cold you know this as well as I do. Dont get me wrong, but I dont think he has face a guy of this talent yet this year!

[grizbeer]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

Yeah, Cause Cal-Poly who has a much better running game than the Cats sure ran the ball for a lot of yards vs. the Griz!!!

I think the matchup with the 'Cats will be a good one. But, to compare Cal Poly's run offense against ours isn't accurate. Cal Poly runs a lot of option type stuff which I can see the Griz doing well against due to their defensive speed. But, what we are talking about is running between the tackles. A more power running game may give the Griz some fits. It seems to me that Weber had some decent success running right at them.

Weber had a net of 116 yards rushing for the game. Pizarro (QB) had 24 of those yards scrambling. 2 running backs had big gains, 1 20 yard, the other 19 yards. Other than that WSU rushed for 53 yards on 24 carries.

I hope MSU tries to run over the Griz, they might get a couple big plays, but less than 200 yards rushing. I suspect instead they will try to throw deep on the Griz, that was pretty much the only thing that has worked against the Griz D this year.

[CARDIAC_CATS]

One of the things I like about this matchup is the lack of sacks by the Griz this year; for some reason, even with Murphy & Beirman(sp?) up front, they simply have not gotten what I would consider a "normal" # of sacks. IF Jack gets good time to scan the field, I can see a lot of footballs flying to Jefferson, Wheaton, Lewis, Barnhardt, Bostick, etc...

I suspect, however, that Hauck & Paulson are going to look at the 2004 game and throw a LOT of blitzes at us. If they do, I'd love to see us keep in a TE AND a RB to pick up the pressure; I like the idea of Jefferson & Wheaton in single coverage on the turf!

Exactly ... I say we make our O dictate to them what they run on defense. They BLITZ .. we'll make them pay. I love Jefferson and Wheaton on any of their corners one on one Hopefully we see some Blitzes so we can get some easy points down the field That could be huge in this game. I bet it will be a lot like last year where our line comes with an attitude and Groves/Taito/Mason give us 3-5 yards a pop. Nothing flashy, but just pure power down the GRIZ throat.

This is why I LOVE OUR CHANCES in this game. Make them bring up the extra safety to stop the run, we go down field on them. Make them bring extra guys in the BLITZ for pass rush and we go down field on them or do a quick swing pass to Groves/Mason and make them pay. MSU has both the run and the D to make sure the Griz guard every inch of the field. It will be a chess match, but I think the Cats have more pieces on the board on offense this year than the Griz do.
Make them bring up that extra safety to stop run

[Platinumcat]

this is where this game is going to be won. If the cats can slow down the griz d-line, we win. If we can't, we lose.

so who do you think has the edge in this area?

If we arent forced to throw (meaning we dont let the Griz get a big early lead)... then our oline can control the Griz dline, I have no doubts in that.

I really think you can run on the Griz. If you dedicate your game plan to running, and stick with it, I think that is the one chink in their armor. Their dline is quick and athletic, but can be handled with brute force.

Yeah, Cause Cal-Poly who has a much better running game than the Cats sure ran the ball for a lot of yards vs. the Griz!!!

I think the matchup with the 'Cats will be a good one. But, to compare Cal Poly's run offense against ours isn't accurate. Cal Poly runs a lot of option type stuff which I can see the Griz doing well against due to their defensive speed. But, what we are talking about is running between the tackles. A more power running game may give the Griz some fits. It seems to me that Weber had some decent success running right at them.

Weber had a net of 116 yards rushing for the game. Pizarro (QB) had 24 of those yards scrambling. 2 running backs had big gains, 1 20 yard, the other 19 yards. Other than that WSU rushed for 53 yards on 24 carries.

I hope MSU tries to run over the Griz, they might get a couple big plays, but less than 200 yards rushing. I suspect instead they will try to throw deep on the Griz, that was pretty much the only thing that has worked against the Griz D this year.

Thanks for the stats. I never took the time to check in on it. I was only going off of some of the offensive plays I saw when flipping channels back and forth that day.

I don't think anyone here envisions The 'Cats rushing for 200+. But, 100-150 would mean that MSU controlled the ball a good bit. Couple that with 250 potentially in passing (I think they'll go deep also quite a few times) and that's translates into some stats that could win the game for the 'Cats; turnover margin notwithstanding.

[The Butcher]

I just hope we don't try having our RBs block. That could get ugly.

Murphy did look good this weekend- made me a little nervous (just a little).

[CARDIAC_CATS]

I just hope we don't try having our RBs block. That could get ugly.

Murphy did look good this weekend- made me a little nervous (just a little).

Groves is a very good blocker. Mason and Taito are young and learning, but I have no problem with Groves in there blocking for us. Another thing the Cats do that I love is those CHOP blocks on obvious short passing situations. That definately cuts down on those FAST smaller DE's coming full throttle up the field. Throw a few of those their way and that should shut some speed off of the pass rush. Puts the fear of God into the defense. I'm sure we'll see some of those as well

[The Butcher]

I just hope we don't try having our RBs block. That could get ugly.

Murphy did look good this weekend- made me a little nervous (just a little).

Groves is a very good blocker. Mason and Taito are young and learning, but I have no problem with Groves in there blocking for us. Another thing the Cats do that I love is those CHOP blocks on obvious short passing situations. That definately cuts down on those FAST smaller DE's coming full throttle up the field. Throw a few of those their way and that should shut some speed off of the pass rush. Puts the fear of God into the defense. I'm sure we'll see some of those as well

I disagree with your assessment of Groves' blocking ability. Plus, there are very few RBs that can block Des (or even be effective helpers to a TE or OL), and the Griz safety blitz is devastating. For those two reasons alone I would not want to use our RBs in pass protection. I think they would be more effective running short routes for the QB to dump off to in blitz situations.

[The_Bobcats_Suck]

One of the things I like about this matchup is the lack of sacks by the Griz this year; for some reason, even with Murphy & Beirman(sp?) up front, they simply have not gotten what I would consider a "normal" # of sacks. IF Jack gets good time to scan the field, I can see a lot of footballs flying to Jefferson, Wheaton, Lewis, Barnhardt, Bostick, etc...

I suspect, however, that Hauck & Paulson are going to look at the 2004 game and throw a LOT of blitzes at us. If they do, I'd love to see us keep in a TE AND a RB to pick up the pressure; I like the idea of Jefferson & Wheaton in single coverage on the turf!

Exactly ... I say we make our O dictate to them what they run on defense. They BLITZ .. we'll make them pay. I love Jefferson and Wheaton on any of their corners one on one Hopefully we see some Blitzes so we can get some easy points down the field That could be huge in this game. I bet it will be a lot like last year where our line comes with an attitude and Groves/Taito/Mason give us 3-5 yards a pop. Nothing flashy, but just pure power down the GRIZ throat.

This is why I LOVE OUR CHANCES in this game. Make them bring up the extra safety to stop the run, we go down field on them. Make them bring extra guys in the BLITZ for pass rush and we go down field on them or do a quick swing pass to Groves/Mason and make them pay. MSU has both the run and the D to make sure the Griz guard every inch of the field. It will be a chess match, but I think the Cats have more pieces on the board on offense this year than the Griz do.
Make them bring up that extra safety to stop run

You act like you have a good offence? Yours is worse than ours! As if you could do these things against the 4th ranked defense in the !-AA land? The Griz defense is big and fast. Coach Ellerson from Calpoly stated that the Griz had the best defense they have faced all year, incuding the 2 1-A schools they played.

Puleeeze!