Keys against PSU

19CAT · Post by **19CAT** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:51 pm

Enough worrying about some idiot reporter that won't even be working at the Chronicle in 6 months, since I heard Bobby is advertising for a person to blow sunshine up his ass. We are tied for first in the Big Sky, for christ sakes lets act like it.

Now we all know the obvious ones like don't turn it over 3 times inside the 5. No penalties. Etc.

I am referring to stopping there run, mainly, it looks like their QB takes care of stopping the pass all by himself. From what I have read it looks like Joe Rubin really likes to start up the middle and then pop to the outside. This means we will have to keep or containment after he passes the line of scrimmage. After watching last weeks game that was something we did very well. It sounds like you have to keep him in front of you and you can slow him up quite a bit.

I really would like to see us try a couple gap blitzes on the running downs. Their line looks for real, but if we start sending a couple of extra guys I think we could change their mind a little.

The biggest thing we need to change is our attitude. It looked last week like they were thinking, well he only got 5 yards witch is better than 6. Until the fourth quarter...

After halftime of every game we seem to tighten things up a little or alot. Why can't we get some of those adjustments made during the first half while the offense is on the field.

I sure hope we don't fall into the one dimensional pass only team that surfaced last year. We need to keep groves and domnick busy and keep them honest.

My last point is I sure would not want to be the guy that get s to cover Ricky this weekend. He knows that was his worst showing ever and he is looking to make up for it. If I was PSU I would have 2 guys wak out of the lockerroom with him and never let him out of their sight, LOL.

BelgradeBobcat · Post by **BelgradeBobcat** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:01 pm

The obvious: Cut the penalities in half, and don't turn it over.

Offense: This has to be a game the rest of the team wins. If Lulay is running around on the artificial turf against a physical PSU defense he's going to get hurt. Remember last season? Wasn't it Portland State that almost knocked Lulay out right before halftime?

I'd keep Lulay in pocket and tell him to trust the offense and trust his receivers-save the scrambling for late, late in the game if necessary.

Early on and while it's close we need to try and get the running game going. If it's not there, go to the short passing game. Make those big PSU d-linemen have to work a bit and wear them down. Later on look for Miller on the left and maybe sneak Brandon Roosevelt in there-he's an Oregon kid and I think he's going to surprise us. Gatewood will bounce back and Tremaine Murray is catching everything-go with him, he has the hot hand right now. If the ball is over mid field or at least to their 40 we go for it on fourth down (most of the time).

Defense: Keep it in front of us. As Kramer said on the Sports Nuts today, our defense is playing soft, but when the play is over you look up and they still have a long ways to go for the touchdown. With a bit of an unproven quarterback maybe we play the safeties a little deeper and lie in wait for the inevitable tipped pass. I'd scream at Grenfell-don't hit a guy early when the dang ball is probably uncatchable anyway (first drive against Weber). Linebackers need to have a big day-PSU will run, run, run, and throw a lot of short passes. Hunter and Fuller need to be on the line as well to string out the runs to the sideline.

Special teams: Work on our snap to holder exchange for place kicks. Most of Hasting's missed PAT's and field goals have had to do with bad snaps and holds.

Kick it deep for crying out loud-I'm sick of giving the other team the ball on the 35 everytime.

I forsee at least one fake punt-somewhere near mid-field on 3rd and 3 or so (please Kramer no fakes inside the 20 like you tried to pull on Oklahoma State!).

If I'm coach I can't emphasize enought to Lulay-we need you more than we need this win. No matter what happens in Missoula it's good for the Cats-EWU has 2 losses or um gets a home loss. We can absorb a loss to PSU, but we can't absorb an injury to our star quarterback. Trust the offense, and make your throws.

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:12 am

The more obvious is WIN. We need to at least split our two road games left, and our chances are better at PSU than EWA. Don't worry about stats just score 1 more point than PSU. Oh, and maybe try to take the lead early.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:21 am

1) Good weekend for some man coverage by the corners? We've got the athletes here.

2) I say don't bring the safeties back. Instead bring them up to provide run support.

3) Toph's hits are both just fine. As a defender, you don't have the ability to stop and analyze a play like we do. If the guy is going up for the ball, you hit him when the ball gets there; which is what he's been doing.

4) We win the game big if we can win the war in the trenches. Upon watching the replay of the game on Monday, one of the things I saw consistently is that our D line is not the low man coming out of their stance. They are constantly being stood up and allowing the O-line to "get into them". If they do a better job of firing off of the ball and staying low, I say we win this battle.

5) Defense needs to fly to the ball. Someone mentioned that PSU uses a FB to lead block. It that's the case I can see why Rubin likes to bump it outside. We need two or three people at the point of attack everytime.

6) Tackle the waist, not the head and shoulders. WRAP UP!!!

7) O-line needs to come in with a chip on their shoulder. Fire off the ball and blow the D-Line back. Or, since they may be in a rusher's mindset, take them to the side and out of the play. Again, this is where we win the game this weekend.

Catch the ball!

9) Hit the hole hard and then look for wiggle room; be decisive!

10) Be disciplined on both sides

11) Secondary play the ball a little more. Whenever I've seen our guys actually do this, they have amazing closing speed.

That's all I can think of for now.

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:21 pm

How athletic are their LB's? What kind of statistics are they showing for sacks by PSU? We all know that teams are going to come after Lulay, so if we can slow down the rush, we should be okay. I would like to see some more delay running plays from Groves. Even some quick hitters would be great, the kid can flat out run the rock!

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:22 pm

What time is the game?

Is it on TV?

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:29 pm

Game starts at 7:05 and is carried by that Montana station.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:31 pm

Something we need to drastically improve on from last game - red zone scoring.

"Montana State penetrated the Weber State 20-yard line five times Saturday, but converted only two of those possessions into points."

Terrible! We score one more TD and 2 FGs and that game had a completely different outcome.

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:06 pm

I think I saw stats that PSU is 7th in total offense and 7th in total defense in the Bigy Sky. They can run, but other than that the stats don't add up to well for them. I say we take care of the ball, run a little, pass a lot and keep them under 200 rushing and we win.