The Cats - Just How Good Are They?

[catatac]

Probably didn't need it's own thread but I got to thinking about this, this is something I've heard a lot this season. Mainly from the Dark Pinks. So pre season, how good are they? Cats go down to New Mexico, overcome mistakes, and take care of business in thrilling, season defining fashion. Well, UNMmay be FCS but they suck. Surely Maine will give the Cats a game. Demolished, game pretty much over after the first quarter. Maine is absolute garbage. Surely EWU will give them fits on the inferno, always tough to win there. Eags keps it close for so awhile but Cats pull away late. Ya, but the Eagles suck. Here comes Idaho, first "good" team cats will play. Crushed them. Ya, well we thought Idaho was good before the game, but now we see they suck. Ok, UC Davis time. #4 in the country. How good are these Cats? Time to prove it... uphill sledding playing them in their house. Cats roll, up 30 to 6 with seven minutes left, then UCD storms back and makes it look closer, but Cats win. Well UC Davis isn't that good, and plus Cats barely won.

So now comes the true test. The pinnacle. Ya, but how good are they? Can they really pull off an undefeated 12 win season? Probably not against a pissed off Grizzly team that apparently just found their QB.

Can't wait for Saturday...

[RockyBearCat]

Never enough. Cats can win the chipper and if somehow don't play both XDSUs, they don't deserve it. [Eyeroll]

[GoldstoneCat]

Never enough. Cats can win the chipper and if somehow don't play both XDSUs, they don't deserve it. [Eyeroll]

If it all goes chalk Saturday they probably won't even have that one to hold over us bc we're going to have to beat them both to win it.

[catsrback76]

They are good, special, 1-0 … 11 times over! Historically good. And this weekend will fill the trophy case again with the next 2 plaques and trophies…1-0 is historically special as it yields to 12-0!

[TomCat88]

They’ve faced and overcome some adversity, while also being dominant. I think that’s a good mix. There isn’t much they haven’t seen. They were able to battle through costly mistakes and come from way behind, but were statistically dominant. They had to adjust to EWU’s curveball offense on the fly and then closed the door. And they had to hold on to an evaporating lead.

I think those three games, all on the road, were not only great wins but great experiences. I think they made MSU a better team.

I think the biggest team asset is their ability to control the first half, especially in league play. They seem to come into games locked in. 29 points allowed and 167 scored in first half. 4.1 to 23.8.

The team that moved the ball most consistently was EWU. They did with an unorthodox approach that MSU wasn’t fully prepared for.

The other tough time was the last 10 minutes vs UC Davis and it’s unclear if they found a weakness in MSU’s defense or not. UCD had more than half its yards in that stretch and of those a third came on one play and the final drive was against a gassed defense. Four plays of 77, 34, 33, 27 yards out of 18 plays. 171 of 220 yards on four plays; 49 yards on the other 14 plays. UCD had five plays over 25 yards and four came in the last ten minutes. MSU had just one play over 25 yards. 220 yards in last ten minutes; 196 in the previous 50 minutes. 213 of 416 yards on five plays; 203 on the other 62 (3.3). MSU 1 play for 53 yards; the other 58 got 280 (4.8 ) Wacky numbers.

[grizzh8r]

They’ve faced and overcome some adversity, while also being dominant. I think that’s a good mix. There isn’t much they haven’t seen. They were able to battle through costly mistakes and come from way behind, but were statistically dominant. They had to adjust to EWU’s curveball offense on the fly and then closed the door. And they had to hold on to an evaporating lead.

I think those three games, all on the road, were not only great wins but great experiences. I think they made MSU a better team.

I think the biggest team asset is their ability to control the first half, especially in league play. They seem to come into games locked in. 29 points allowed and 167 scored in first half. 4.1 to 23.8.

The team that moved the ball most consistently was EWU. They did with an unorthodox approach that MSU wasn’t fully prepared for.

The other tough time was the last 10 minutes vs UC Davis and it’s unclear if they found a weakness in MSU’s defense or not. UCD had more than half its yards in that stretch and of those a third came on one play and the final drive was against a gassed defense. Four plays of 77, 34, 33, 27 yards out of 18 plays. 171 of 220 yards on four plays; 49 yards on the other 14 plays. UCD had five plays over 25 yards and four came in the last ten minutes. MSU had just one play over 25 yards. 220 yards in last ten minutes; 196 in the previous 50 minutes. 213 of 416 yards on five plays; 203 on the other 62 (3.3). MSU 1 play for 53 yards; the other 58 got 280 (4.8 ) Wacky numbers.

It bears mentioning that All of that was aided by one suspect PI call on 4th down in the end zone, a completely missed fumble, and a completely botched offensive PI call that somehow became a defensive PI call. If any one of those situations were reversed, it's a completely different game and completely different box score.

[Cledus]

Never enough. Cats can win the chipper and if somehow don't play both XDSUs, they don't deserve it.

Gotcha covered.

[BelligerentBobcat]

They’re good enough to win the natty.

[TomCat88]

[iaafan]

Is that good?

[nanacat]

They're really good, across the board, top to bottom.
The thing is, last year's OC and DC likely wouldn't have made the necessary adjustments to win at UNM, EWU, or UCD. Shoot, we may have lost at ISU with last year's team and coordinators.
The 2s and 3s being called on most of the season to finish out games has provided invaluable experience, that was seen in real time as several starters went out with injuries. Tommy, being QB 1 and only, has elevated his game in so many ways. Nothing against Chambers, but the whole offense just functions completely different this year.
This is a special team with goals not yet met, who have learned from the mistakes of last year, but also never let a moment get too big. 1-0 has been more than a phrase, it's a purpose, a focus, a statement that will take them all the way to Frisco.

[coloradocat]

I don't care how bad those teams are, that's impressive!

[Camo_Cat]

I ABSOLUTELY love the narrative that the Cats aren't good enough. Our schedule is too weak. Teams lay down against us. Thank goodness dUMb wore down Davis for us. We haven't played anyone. Now here comes the dark pinkies with their high-flying offense and carnival sideshow ringleader, Bobbi, with his bag of secret tricks. Cats don't have a chance....

PLEASE, PLEASE keep up the narrative haters! Our beloved Bobcats have always played better with a chip on their shoulder. Nothing better than a little fire in your belly and a piss-and-vinegar attitude. Give 'em hell Cats!!!