Assessing your team's chances

[CatMom]

How do you really see your team ending up this year or what are their chances of being/repeating a conference title?

I tried to sit back and look at our team. I can't say I'm unbiased but I do like our chances of repeating. That is assuming everything falls into place and the 'creek don't rise'

It's a kind of amateurish take but here goes:

I think they have the potential to win 9. They will take Angelo and not have a problem with Texas Southern. The whole SLC seems to be in a rebuilding year though I hope TXST is just reloading. I think they have the right coach (Bliel) and some good talent to fill in on the D. I feel Donovan King will be hard to replace.

I did see the freshman McCulloch, in the TSHCA game and he was impressive. Thompson, Houston and Clark will have to step up and motivate that D, though, if it is to be better and successful. The SLC has gone to an O league and we need to be better to shut everyone down. Williams, Wiggins and Bell will have to step it up and I think Bliel will have them ready. Hopefully, again, we will have someone unexpected come in and surprise also.

I can see us beating UCA and NWS this year, even if they are away games and I hope they remember how "out of it" they were against SUU last year so they take that one more seriously and come away with the W. Going into conference 3 - 1 would be good. SAM lost Bomar and even with Aston, you have to have balance in the air to compliment that. Their one chance might be having their incoming Frosh QB - Copeland, take over. He was also in the TSHCA game and looked good. NWS lost Brown and has new staff, so we'll see.

I know it will be hard to replace Cam Luke but I think Bush and Rivas will step up and the guys we have, while singularly not likely equaling what Cam did, may do so effectively as a unit. The O line looks solid. It will just be a matter of execution.

If we take UCA and/or NWS we could win more.Then again,if the D does not gel and the new WR corps does not pan out we could find ourselves falling hard.

I truly hope I am right but will have to see how it plays out. 1 major injury could turn it all on its head.

(this was an email I sent to someone so I just changed it here and there)

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't like to overplay things at the beginning and like to keep a low profile as to my thoughts on the Griz but I will say that we are stronger at most spots and deeper than we were last year but the thing that drives a team (the O Line) is a question yet. If the O line is even kinda solid then we will match last years team performance until the playoffs when it's anybodies guess. Overall the Griz are stronger, and faster than last years squad which very well may mean that we are only keeping pace with the other teams in our league that are gonna be a real problem I think this year. Every year at the beginning of the season it always looks like everybody is gonna be better than they were last year but the top four in the Big Sky look really solid to me this year, and 5&6 look like they could possibly be in the top four so I have no idea the more I look at it.

[Grizalltheway]

I don't like to overplay things at the beginning and like to keep a low profile as to my thoughts on the Griz but I will say that we are stronger at most spots and deeper than we were last year but the thing that drives a team (the O Line) is a question yet. If the O line is even kinda solid then we will match last years team performance until the playoffs when it's anybodies guess. Overall the Griz are stronger, and faster than last years squad which very well may mean that we are only keeping pace with the other teams in our league that are gonna be a real problem I think this year. Every year at the beginning of the season it always looks like everybody is gonna be better than they were last year but the top four in the Big Sky look really solid to me this year, and 5&6 look like they could possibly be in the top four so I have no idea the more I look at it.

Should be a fun ride, like always.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I don't like to overplay things at the beginning and like to keep a low profile as to my thoughts on the Griz but I will say that we are stronger at most spots and deeper than we were last year but the thing that drives a team (the O Line) is a question yet. If the O line is even kinda solid then we will match last years team performance until the playoffs when it's anybodies guess. Overall the Griz are stronger, and faster than last years squad which very well may mean that we are only keeping pace with the other teams in our league that are gonna be a real problem I think this year. Every year at the beginning of the season it always looks like everybody is gonna be better than they were last year but the top four in the Big Sky look really solid to me this year, and 5&6 look like they could possibly be in the top four so I have no idea the more I look at it.

Should be a fun ride, like always.

troof.

[JALMOND]

Portland State has the best chance in the conference of surprising because I do not think we are going to do well this year. A lot of returning talent but a lot of kids who will need to regain eligibility. Compound that with Mouse Davis retiring after spring ball and D'Ambrogio suffering a season ending (already??) injury and things look bleak. At the start of the fall, we need to figure out who is handling the offense, all the while knowing that our first two road games are at Oregon State and at Montana. Don't get me wrong, the pieces are in place, but with all the turmoil this summer, we have clearly fallen behind all the other teams in a much improved conference. Still, hold service at home (helped by the fact that we do play at Montana, yet Weber State comes here) and maybe pick up a win on the road somewhere (also helped by playing a "road" game in Seattle against Eastern Washington) and we could be a surprise. Remains to be seen.

[AshevilleApp]

I think we'll be good. If our offensive line improves and stays healthy. And if AE stays healthy. And if we develop a running game from someone other than AE. And if our defense improves. And if we can stop people on special teams.



Other than that, I don't see much need for improvement.

[Tailbone]

.......

I tried to sit back and look at our team. I can't say I'm unbiased but I do like our chances of repeating. That is assuming everything falls into place and the 'creek don't rise'

......

Will you be making the trip to Montana this year?

[dbackjon]

Not really expecting much other than 5 or 6 wins.

[SUUTbird]

I am very optomistic for SUU's chances this year as i have posted it several times in other posts. We have the best OL returning ever, stable of reliable Rrunning backs, a great WR core (easily one of the best in the west), a QB in Cade Cooper who doest turn the ball over and a defense that packed full of veterans including a GW conference LB in 05 returning from a mission (LDS, what you going to do ). We do have a tough Schedule having to play @ Two FBS (Utah State, San Diego State), @ Cal Poly and @ South Dakota. But we do get UC-Davis, North Dakota and Eastern Washington @ home. Hoping for a 2-0 record over Big Sky teams so maybe people can realize we belong in the Big Sky, even though it seems a lot of teams want to play us except Weber!

[ASUG8]

I think we'll be good. If our offensive line improves and stays healthy. And if AE stays healthy. And if we develop a running game from someone other than AE. And if our defense improves. And if we can stop people on special teams.



Other than that, I don't see much need for improvement.

What he said, plus we should be solid 3 deep at RB so AE won't have to wear his cape on every down.

[CatMom]

.......

I tried to sit back and look at our team. I can't say I'm unbiased but I do like our chances of repeating. That is assuming everything falls into place and the 'creek don't rise'

......

Will you be making the trip to Montana this year?

If I can manage it financially, which even at this early date doesn't look good. You know you guys could have come here in '05 if you hadn't lost to Cal Poly (totally unexpected that was.) At least it was warm here

[clenz]

UNI's chance or repeting as conference champs?


I like it. We have SIU at home this year, but have SDSU on the road.

Anything short of a co-title is a large failure.

I honestly see 9-2 at worst and 8-3 with something going terribly wrong.

[Tailbone]

....
You know you guys could have come here in '05 if you hadn't lost to Cal Poly (totally unexpected that was.) At least it was warm here

I lived in Phoenix for the better part of 20 years.
Warm is overrated.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

....
You know you guys could have come here in '05 if you hadn't lost to Cal Poly (totally unexpected that was.) At least it was warm here

I lived in Phoenix for the better part of 20 years.
Warm is overrated.

Amen Tail. I love it when people post that like it's a good thing. Ain't a chance in hell I'd pick warm over cool to watch a football game.

Good to see you posting a little bit bone. Don't be depriving us in the future.

[CatMom]

I lived in Phoenix for the better part of 20 years.
Warm is overrated.

Amen Tail. I love it when people post that like it's a good thing. Ain't a chance in hell I'd pick warm over cool to watch a football game.

Good to see you posting a little bit bone. Don't be depriving us in the future.

Well, being older and thinner blooded than I was in my youth, I'll take 50 degrees for a game in late Nov/early Dec over 30 or below any time.

[slycat]

I think its about time Montana headed south for the playoffs.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I think its about time Montana headed south for the playoffs.

MAKE US!!!

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Amen Tail. I love it when people post that like it's a good thing. Ain't a chance in hell I'd pick warm over cool to watch a football game.

Good to see you posting a little bit bone. Don't be depriving us in the future.

Well, being older and thinner blooded than I was in my youth, I'll take 50 degrees for a game in late Nov/early Dec over 30 or below any time.

50's is palatable. Good sweatshirt weather and enjoyable to be in. Being in the 70's is a god damned abomination in November/December though.

[slycat]

I think its about time Montana headed south for the playoffs.

MAKE US!!!

Damn the Griz and their consistent talent and nice facilities. It would be hard to see the Griz not getting a home game.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

MAKE US!!!

Damn the Griz and their consistent talent and nice facilities. It would be hard to see the Griz not getting a home game.

You never know when the NCAA will step in and make a 1/2 assed ruling and send the Griz on the road for the playoffs.

[guinzone]

YSU could be either very good or very bad, it all depends on the health of our QB. If Summers starts at QB every game, I am confident in saying we can make the playoffs. If Summers get's hurt, we'll likely have a repeat season of 2008.

[Tailbone]

.....Good to see you posting a little bit bone. Don't be depriving us in the future.

Forgot my password , always figured I'd fix it later.
I guess it's later.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

.....Good to see you posting a little bit bone. Don't be depriving us in the future.

Forgot my password , always figured I'd fix it later.
I guess it's later.

Now you just need your avatar my friend.

[BlueHen86]

I think its about time Montana headed south for the playoffs.

I'm sure Montana will be happy to head south to Chatty this year.

[death dealer]

We're gonna kick some ass, take some names, that sort of stuff.