Good-Bad-Ugly- MercyHurst

[BelligerentBobcat]

I just don’t think the offense did that bad.

Scored on 3/5 possessions where they were trying to score. Almost certainly would have scored on another if Lamson didn’t throw that pick. Would have had a TD instead of FG if Lamson didn’t uncharacteristically dirt a ball. Overall, ran well. Just didn’t get the ball very much, that’s all.

[coloradocat]

I didn't watch the game until tonight so I'm late to the party but the first 5 seconds of Vigen's response to this question sums it up.

[CelticCat]

I don't think people realize how hard it is to run the ball like we did during Tommy's time. No one in the country ran that well. Remember how running the ball was in 2021 before Tommy took over. About like it is now. We are still good, but we need to improve our passing game to come anywhere close to that productivity. 2022-2024 was an anomaly.

Not to mention... it didn't win an NC or beat the DSUs. We had arguments/discussions every year about being one-dimensional and how will that work in the playoffs. It was really really really good but we still came up short, except in 2021.

(I am in no saying saying we have now will win an NC)

[Cats and Dogs]

Bottom line . Cats should have handled Mercyhurst better than they did. Hopefully just a lack of respect for the opponent which led to a very mediocre effort! Next!

[VimSince03]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

[Catsrgrood]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is getting ahead of ourselves a bit, but what are your thoughts on this group moving forward? Both this year and into next season assuming they’re all back?

It’s a fairly young group, but all have had their moments already this year. It feels like they’re well on their way to having a serious logjam at LB. Potentially 5 dudes that belong and deserve to see the field.

[VimSince03]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is getting ahead of ourselves a bit, but what are your thoughts on this group moving forward? Both this year and into next season assuming they’re all back?

It’s a fairly young group, but all have had their moments already this year. It feels like they’re well on their way to having a serious logjam at LB. Potentially 5 dudes that belong and deserve to see the field.

Not sure how that isn't a great thing. Taylor elevating his play meant we were able to stand toe to toe with SDSU. Vigen has historically wanted to play three but would prefer to have four ready at all times. The group of Daily, Taylor, Grebe, Krahe, and Ahrens moving forward means there is zero concern going into 2026 and the rest of this year. Might be the deepest we've been since Vigen took over honestly.

[RangeCat]

Montana State had the sixth best "Success Rate" in Week 4 of the FCS.

How Success Rate is calculated, according to Timoty Rosario, "Success rate removes many of the underlying factors of a game and strictly tells you how well a team played down-to-down. While outliers can swing an individual game, success rate can be a better indicator of what future performance will be. A play is "successful" if 50% of the yards needed are gained on first down, 70% are gained on second down, and 100% are gained on third or fourth down."

[TomCat88]

Montana State had the sixth best "Success Rate" in Week 4 of the FCS.

How Success Rate is calculated, according to Timoty Rosario, "Success rate removes many of the underlying factors of a game and strictly tells you how well a team played down-to-down. While outliers can swing an individual game, success rate can be a better indicator of what future performance will be. A play is "successful" if 50% of the yards needed are gained on first down, 70% are gained on second down, and 100% are gained on third or fourth down."

I was just talking about how someone should build a formula similar to QB/passer efficiency rating for the offense and defense. Great find! Thanks.

[richmalmia]

Montana State had the sixth best "Success Rate" in Week 4 of the FCS.

How Success Rate is calculated, according to Timoty Rosario, "Success rate removes many of the underlying factors of a game and strictly tells you how well a team played down-to-down. While outliers can swing an individual game, success rate can be a better indicator of what future performance will be. A play is "successful" if 50% of the yards needed are gained on first down, 70% are gained on second down, and 100% are gained on third or fourth down."

Success Rate really helps show consistency beyond just the scoreboard, so being 6th in Week 4 says a lot about their play-by-play execution. If they can keep that level up, it should translate into strong results down the stretch.

[tetoncat]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is interesting. Cats also seemed to play multiple groups of DB and Dl. How the LB were paired with different groups may impact their results.

It also makes we wonder fans preference. Go all 1s, get up 35 and give up stats and points in 4th with all 2s and 3s in and win by 21 or 28. Or rotate backups with groups of 1s and have a closer game score wise but still dominate

[iaafan]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is interesting. Cats also seemed to play multiple groups of DB and Dl. How the LB were paired with different groups may impact their results.

It also makes we wonder fans preference. Go all 1s, get up 35 and give up stats and points in 4th with all 2s and 3s in and win by 21 or 28. Or rotate backups with groups of 1s and have a closer game score wise but still dominate

The combos are irrelevant. MH went four it on 4th down a lot. I invite everyone to try this vs us. It won’t go well for them.

[tetoncat]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is interesting. Cats also seemed to play multiple groups of DB and Dl. How the LB were paired with different groups may impact their results.

It also makes we wonder fans preference. Go all 1s, get up 35 and give up stats and points in 4th with all 2s and 3s in and win by 21 or 28. Or rotate backups with groups of 1s and have a closer game score wise but still dominate

The combos are irrelevant. MH went four it on 4th down a lot. I invite everyone to try this vs us. It won’t go well for them.

No they are not. If you have a back up LB in with full 2nd unit DL, or 2nd unit DBs, it can affect drive length, your need to tackle etc. One of the 3 long drives was with starting LB who was around them on that.

[iaafan]

LB Splits for Mercyhurst per drive:

Drive 1 - Grebe/Taylor (7 plays/32 yards/Punt)
Drive 2 - Grebe/Taylor (12 plays/65 yards/Fumble)
Drive 3 - Grebe/Taylor (4 plays/-2 yards/Downs)
(Halftime)
Drive 4 - Grebe/Krahe (3 plays/9 yards/Punt)
Drive 5 - Taylor/Ahrens (19 plays/58 yards/Punt)
Drive 6 - Grebe/Krahe (14 plays/56 yards/Interception)

Cole Taylor - 42 (6 Total Tackles/2 TFLs/1 PBU)
Bryce Grebe - 40 (2 Total Tackles)
Xavier Ahrens - 19 (3 Total Tackles/1 TFL)
Ryan Krahe - 17 (2 Total Tackles/1 INT)

Overall thought the group played well. Didn't quite get to their spots in coverage at times but very good against the run. This group has been a pleasant surprise this year along with the corners. Cole Taylor is a dude and true freshman Xavier Ahrens belongs.

This is interesting. Cats also seemed to play multiple groups of DB and Dl. How the LB were paired with different groups may impact their results.

It also makes we wonder fans preference. Go all 1s, get up 35 and give up stats and points in 4th with all 2s and 3s in and win by 21 or 28. Or rotate backups with groups of 1s and have a closer game score wise but still dominate

The combos are irrelevant. MH went four it on 4th down a lot. I invite everyone to try this vs us. It won’t go well for them.

No they are not. If you have a back up LB in with full 2nd unit DL, or 2nd unit DBs, it can affect drive length, your need to tackle etc. One of the 3 long drives was with starting LB who was around them on that.

You’re missing my point. We held them to 4-14 or 27% on third down, the average is 40%. Aside from one yard to go the average on fourth is 40%. I invite teams to keep going for it on fourth down. It won’t go well regardless of who is on the field.

[Bobcat4Ever]

When their number three wrapped up Lamson’s ankle and kept holding and twisting it to an obvious (but not called) personal foul - I needed to see a lineman run over and flatten that dude for messing with our qb. But nothing happened.

And get a penalty? This isn’t a movie.

Officiating should only miss one that blatant in a movie.

[94VegasCat]

Not whipping these guys looking worse and worse! Lost traction in the rankings

[kwcat]

Not whipping these guys looking worse and worse! Lost traction in the rankings

Only way to rectify that is to win out and we need South Dakota state to win out

[MSU01]

Not whipping these guys looking worse and worse! Lost traction in the rankings

The only ranking that matters will happen after the Cat/Griz game in November that will likely decide the Big Sky champion. SDSU didn't care about rankings when they only beat Drake by 16 the week after beating MSU.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Not whipping these guys looking worse and worse! Lost traction in the rankings

Oh no! We’ll probably never recover from what the poll says on September 29!

[Catsrgrood]

Not whipping these guys looking worse and worse! Lost traction in the rankings

Last week with the Cats and 4 and the gris at 5, the Cats were only 1 point ahead in the total vote tally.
The gris beat the #8 team and we beat (although in dominant fashion) a 1 win team.

Now we’re 14 points behind in the tally. Still incredibly close. Not surprised at all by that. Annoying yes, surprising no.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we either close that gap more or even leapfrog them back if the Cats go get a dominant road win against the #13 team and the gris don’t look dominant against IDST.

Ultimately doesn’t mean anything this time of year, but I still hate seeing them ahead in anything, even meaningless polls.