Griz defense

[Vidav]

Fellers. . . I don't really understand the Xs and Os of football like a lot of you so I am hoping you can help me out. All season long when the Griz would face a team that liked to run the ball, especially outside, I would be happy. "Please, keep running the ball!" The UM defense was fast enough and would tackle well so it was no big deal. What was different about the game today? I know rival games can be tough but what did MSU do differently that the normally stout UM defense couldn't figure it out? Was it that they blocked better, that the Griz weren't playing well, a combination?

They just looked like shit today and I really want to understand if it was because MSU is great or if UM played poorly.

[SuperHornet]

I didn't see any FCS games today, much less the Brawl. But the obvious things that pop to mind as at least possibilities are injuries and the fact that MT State's OL might be better than the Griz' Front Seven. The Kitty receivers might also be doing a better job than earlier Griz opponents at running of the DBs, thereby preventing them from moving up to help the Front Seven. I'm sure there are Griz fans who actually saw the game that might be able to pin it down much better for you, though....

[uofmman1122]

Fellers. . . I don't really understand the Xs and Os of football like a lot of you so I am hoping you can help me out. All season long when the Griz would face a team that liked to run the ball, especially outside, I would be happy. "Please, keep running the ball!" The UM defense was fast enough and would tackle well so it was no big deal. What was different about the game today? I know rival games can be tough but what did MSU do differently that the normally stout UM defense couldn't figure it out? Was it that they blocked better, that the Griz weren't playing well, a combination?

They just looked like shit today and I really want to understand if it was because MSU is great or if UM played poorly.

Well, the main problem was MSU just manhandled us, so props to them for executing to perfection, but according to some former players on Twitter, among the things we could control it was a combination of things.

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.
2. We ran stunts on the line that let MSU's blockers get upfield easily.
3. We didn't load the box and left our nickle package on the field for much of the day.
4. Not a scheme thing, but we played way too passively, waiting for everything to happen before we reacted.

And finally, we just couldn't tackle. At all. Bad angles and poor technique.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Fellers. . . I don't really understand the Xs and Os of football like a lot of you so I am hoping you can help me out. All season long when the Griz would face a team that liked to run the ball, especially outside, I would be happy. "Please, keep running the ball!" The UM defense was fast enough and would tackle well so it was no big deal. What was different about the game today? I know rival games can be tough but what did MSU do differently that the normally stout UM defense couldn't figure it out? Was it that they blocked better, that the Griz weren't playing well, a combination?

They just looked like shit today and I really want to understand if it was because MSU is great or if UM played poorly.

My assessment is that Montana's defense apparently falls apart if their front can't control their opponent in the trenches. The Griz front got pushed around and couldn't get off blocks today against a superior O-Line, and that allowed MSU's runners a lot of space to do stuff.

We saw some of this against Sac when Skattebo was in the game, too. Sac has a really good O-Line, and Skattebo definitely had some success running ball outside at times (13 carries for 111 total).

[Mvemjsunpx]

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.

Reminiscent of the 2009 title game and Matt Szczur in the Wildcat.

[uofmman1122]

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.

Reminiscent of the 2009 title game and Matt Szczur in the Wildcat.

Oh god, don't remind me.

[SuperHornet]

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.
2. We ran stunts on the line that let MSU's blockers get upfield easily.
3. We didn't load the box and left our nickle package on the field for much of the day.
4. Not a scheme thing, but we played way too passively, waiting for everything to happen before we reacted.

And finally, we just couldn't tackle. At all. Bad angles and poor technique.

Your #2 coincides very well with Venus' point about the DL getting pushed off the ball. I know first hand as a HS coach about backs running behind stunts. I made the foolish mistake of trying to install the NUT stunt AT HALFTIME of a JV game...and the first I called it, the fullback went behind the cross for a 50-yard touchdown. NEVER try to install new stuff DURING A GAME. SMH....

I can see in your #3 how running five DBs (scared of the passing game, I'm sure) without at least calling an occasional Robber coverage (which would bring a safety into the box) would allow the RBs to run wild behind a superior OL; they're only playing against a Front Six, and the OL plus a TE or lead back would be enough to produce huge holes. But did you at least try coverage rotations like a cloud or sky coverage (your #1)? Ultimately, whatever is called, your #4 indicates that your defense was playing scared, something I NEVER thought I'd hear about a Griz team. I hope they get that fixed in time for the first round. We know from experience as fans in Sac how much a home one-and-done hurts....

[uofmman1122]

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.
2. We ran stunts on the line that let MSU's blockers get upfield easily.
3. We didn't load the box and left our nickle package on the field for much of the day.
4. Not a scheme thing, but we played way too passively, waiting for everything to happen before we reacted.

And finally, we just couldn't tackle. At all. Bad angles and poor technique.

Your #2 coincides very well with Venus' point about the DL getting pushed off the ball. I know first hand as a HS coach about backs running behind stunts. I made the foolish mistake of trying to install the NUT stunt AT HALFTIME of a JV game...and the first I called it, the fullback went behind the cross for a 50-yard touchdown. NEVER try to install new stuff DURING A GAME. SMH....

I can see in your #3 how running five DBs (scared of the passing game, I'm sure) without at least calling an occasional Robber coverage (which would bring a safety into the box) would allow the RBs to run wild behind a superior OL; they're only playing against a Front Six, and the OL plus a TE or lead back would be enough to produce huge holes. But did you at least try coverage rotations like a cloud or sky coverage (your #1)? Ultimately, whatever is called, your #4 indicates that your defense was playing scared, something I NEVER thought I'd hear about a Griz team. I hope they get that fixed in time for the first round. We know from experience as fans in Sac how much a home one-and-done hurts....

I'm growing less and less confident as the night goes on that we'll get a bid tomorrow, but we'll see.

[Vidav]

Reminiscent of the 2009 title game and Matt Szczur in the Wildcat.

Oh god, don't remind me.

That game makes me so angry. Mariani with over 200 yards in the first half and 0 in the second.

[uofmman1122]

Fellers. . . I don't really understand the Xs and Os of football like a lot of you so I am hoping you can help me out. All season long when the Griz would face a team that liked to run the ball, especially outside, I would be happy. "Please, keep running the ball!" The UM defense was fast enough and would tackle well so it was no big deal. What was different about the game today? I know rival games can be tough but what did MSU do differently that the normally stout UM defense couldn't figure it out? Was it that they blocked better, that the Griz weren't playing well, a combination?

They just looked like shit today and I really want to understand if it was because MSU is great or if UM played poorly.

Well, the main problem was MSU just manhandled us, so props to them for executing to perfection, but according to some former players on Twitter, among the things we could control it was a combination of things.

1. We rarely rotated out of our base package and left our safeties back.
2. We ran stunts on the line that let MSU's blockers get upfield easily.
3. We didn't load the box and left our nickle package on the field for much of the day.
4. Not a scheme thing, but we played way too passively, waiting for everything to happen before we reacted.

And finally, we just couldn't tackle. At all. Bad angles and poor technique.

I'll add to this, apparently Tommy Mellot said they knew we were not a very gap-sound defense, and it sure looked like they were right.